Sefarim
Maqabim Bet12
2 Maccabees · Chapter 12
When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.
But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.
The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.
Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.
When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.
And calling upon Elohim the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.
And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.
But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,
He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Yerushalayim two hundred and forty furlongs off.
Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.
Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas’ side by the help of Elohim got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.
Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.
He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.
But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great master of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Yericho in the time of Yehoshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,
And took the city by the will of Elohim, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.
Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.
But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.
Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus’ captains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.
Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas’ coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.
But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.
Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.
Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews’ parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.
So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.
Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the heikhal of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.
But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty Elohim, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,
From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Yerushalayim,
But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;
They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so they came to Yerushalayim, the feast of the weeks approaching.
And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,
Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.
And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.
At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.
Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the master, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.
And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias’ men, he put them to flight.
So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the shabbat in the same place.
And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.
Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the torah. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.
All men therefore praising the master, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,
Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Yerushalayim to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
Sefarim
Maqabim Bet13
2 Maccabees · Chapter 13
In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,
And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.
Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor.
But the King of kings moved Antiochus’ mind against this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.
Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes.
And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.
Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:
For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father’s time.
Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the master night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their torah, from their country, and from the holy heikhal:
And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.
So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful master with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.
And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king’s host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the master.
So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the heikhal, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:
And having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of Elohim; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king’s tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.
And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.
This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the master did help him.
Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews, he went about to take the holds by policy,
And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:
For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary.
But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews’ host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.
The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave his hand, took their’s, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;
Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured the heikhal, and dealt kindly with the place,
And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;
Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void:
Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king’s coming and departing.
Sefarim
Maqabim Bet14
2 Maccabees · Chapter 14
After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy,
Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his protector.
Now one Alcimus, who had been high kohen, and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,
Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the heikhal: and so that day he held his peace.
Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprize, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and asked how the Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:
Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the rest be in peace.
Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors’ honour, I mean the high priesthood, am now come hither:
First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforersaid.
Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.
For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king’s friends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense Demetrius.
And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,
Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high kohen of the great heikhal.
Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities ot the Jews to be their welfare.
Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.
So at the mitsvah of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.
Now Simon, Judas’ brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.
Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.
Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to make peace.
So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,
And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,
Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a peaceable conference.
Now Nicanor abode in Yerushalayim, and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.
And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he love the man from his heart
He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life.
But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king’s successor.
Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.
When this came to Nicanor’s hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.
But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy.
Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.
But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas’ policy, came into the great and holy heikhal, and commanded the kohanim, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,
He stretched out his right hand toward the heikhal, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this heikhal of Elohim even with the ground, and I will break down the altar, and erect a notable heikhal unto Bacchus.
After these words he departed. Then the kohanim lifted up their hands toward shamayim, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;
Thou, O master of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the heikhal of thine habitation should be among us:
Therefore now, O holy master of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.
Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Yerushalayim, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.
For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.
So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:
For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.
Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:
But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.
But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.
Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,
When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the master of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.