Sefarim
Maqabim Alef16
1 Maccabees · Chapter 16
Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done.
Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father’s house, have ever from my youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Yisra'el; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Yisra'el oftentimes.
But now I am old, and ye, by Elohim’s mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from shamayim be with you.
So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modin.
And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.
So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.
That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies’ horsemen were very many.
Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.
At that time was Judas John’s brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.
So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace.
Moreover in the plain of Yericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:
For he was the high kohen’s son in torah.
Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.
Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Yericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:
Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.
So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.
In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.
Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities.
He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.
And others he sent to take Yerushalayim, and the mountain of the heikhal.
Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee also.
Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.
As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,
Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high kohen after his father.
Sefarim
Maqabim Bet1
2 Maccabees · Chapter 1
The brethren, the Jews that be at Yerushalayim and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Mitsrayim health and peace:
Elohim be gracious unto you, and remember his b'rit that he made with Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya'aqov, his faithful servants;
And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind;
And open your hearts in his torah and mitsvot, and send you peace,
And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
And now we be here praying for you.
What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,
And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the master, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu.
In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Yerushalayim and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus’ master, who was of the stock of the anointed kohanim, and to the Jews that were in Mitsrayim:
Insomuch as Elohim hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.
For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.
For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were slain in the heikhal of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea’s kohanim.
For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a dowry.
Which when the kohanim of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered with a small company into the compass of the heikhal, they shut the heikhal as soon as Antiochus was come in:
And opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without.
Blessed be our Elohim in all things, who hath delivered up the ungodly.
Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the heikhal upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep it, as the feast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the heikhal and the altar.
For when our fathers were led into Persia, the kohanim that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
Now after many years, when it pleased Elohim, Neemias, being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those kohanim that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water;
Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the kohanim to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.
When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marvelled.
And the kohanim made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming, I say, both the kohanim, and all the rest, Yonatan beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.
And the prayer was after this manner; O master, master Elohim, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, thou that deliverest Yisra'el from all trouble, and didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:
Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Yisra'el, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our Elohim.
Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Mosheh hath spoken.
And the kohanim sung psalms of thanksgiving.
Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones.
When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the place, where the kohanim that were led away had hid the fire, there appeared water, and that Neemias had purified the sacrifices therewith.
Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he had tried the matter.
And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify.
And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.
Sefarim
Maqabim Bet2
2 Maccabees · Chapter 2
It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the navi commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified:
And how that the navi, having given them the torah, charged them not to forget the mitsvot of the master, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.
And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the torah should not depart from their hearts.
It was also contained in the same writing, that the navi, being warned of Elohim, commanded the mishkan and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Mosheh climbed up, and saw the heritage of Elohim.
And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the mishkan, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.
Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that Elohim gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
Then shall the master shew them these things, and the glory of the master shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Mosheh, and as when Shelomoh desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.
It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the heikhal.
And as when Mosheh prayed unto the master, the fire came down from shamayim, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Shelomoh also, and the fire came down from shamayim, and consumed the burnt offerings.
And Mosheh said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.
So Shelomoh kept those eight days.
The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Neemias; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the nevi'im, and of Dawid, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.
In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us,
Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.
Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.
We hope also, that the Elohim, that delivered all his people, and gave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,
As he promised in the torah, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of every land under shamayim into the holy place: for he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.
Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great heikhal, and the dedication of the altar,
And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,
And the manifest signs that came from shamayim unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
And recovered again the heikhal renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the master being gracious unto them with all favour:
All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.
For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,
We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.
Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;
Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;
Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.
For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is with us.
To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:
But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.
Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to that which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.