THE FIRST BOOK OF MACHABEES
These books are so called, because they contain the history
of the people of God under the command of Judas Machabeus
and his brethren: and he, as some will have it, was surnamed
Machabeus, from carrying in his ensigns, or standards, those
words of Exodus 15.11, Who is like to thee among the strong,
O Lord: in which the initial letters, in the Hebrew, are M.
C. B. E. I. It is not known who is the author of these
books. But as to their authority, though they are not
received by the Jews, saith St. Augustine, (lib. 18, De Civ.
Dei, c. 36,) they are received by the church: who, in
settling her canon of the scriptures, chose rather to be
directed by the tradition she had received from the apostles
of Christ, than by that of the scribes and Pharisees. And as
the church has declared these two Books canonical, even in
two general councils, viz., Florence and Trent, there can be
no doubt of their authenticity.
1 Machabees Chapter 1
The reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles
and profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death
all that will not forsake the law of God, and the religion
of their fathers.
1:1. Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of
Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming
out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius, king of
the Persians and Medes:
1:2. He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of
all, and slew the kings of the earth:
1:3. And he went through even to the ends of the earth: and
took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet
before him.
1:4. And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and
his heart was exalted and lifted up:
1:5. And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and
they became tributaries to him.
1:6. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and
knew that he should die.
1:7. And he called his servants, the nobles that were
brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his
kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
Divided his kingdom, etc... This is otherwise related by
Q. Curtius; though he acknowledges that divers were of
that opinion, and that it had been delivered by some
authors, lib. 10. But here we find from the sacred text,
that he was in error.
1:8. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.
1:9. And his servants made themselves kings, every one in
his place:
1:10. And they all put crowns upon themselves after his
death, and their sons after them, many years; and evils
were multiplied in the earth.
1:11. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus
the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a
hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and
thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
Antiochus the Illustrius... Epiphanes, the younger son of
Antiochus the Great, who usurped the kingdom, to the
prejudice of his nephew Demetrius, son of his elder
brother Seleucus Philopater.-Ibid. Of the kingdom of the
Greeks... Counting, not from the beginning of the reign
of Alexander, but from the first year of Seleucus Nicator.
1:12. In those days there went out of Israel wicked men,
and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go and make a
covenant with thc heathens that are round about us: for
since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.
1:13. And the word seemed good in their eyes.
1:14. And some of the people determined to do this, and
went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the
ordinances of the heathens.
1:15. And they built a place of excercise in Jerusalem,
according to the laws of the nations:
1:16. And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from
the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens,
and were sold to do evil:
1:17. And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and
he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he
might reign over two kingdoms.
1:18. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude,
with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great
number of ships:
1:19. And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt; but
Ptolemee was afraid at his presence and fled, and many were
wounded unto death.
1:20. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt:
and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.
1:21. And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt, in the hundred
and forty-third year, he returned and went up against
Israel.
1:22. And he went up to Jerusalem, with a great multitude.
1:23. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took
away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and
all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and
the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars
of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden
ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all
in pieces.
1:24. And he took the silver and gold, and the precious
vessels: and he took the hidden treasures, which he found:
and when he had taken all away, he departed into his own
country.
1:25. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very
proudly.
1:26. And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every
place where they were:
1:27. And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the
virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty
of the women was changed.
1:28. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride
that sat in the marriage bed, mourned:
1:29. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof,
and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
1:30. And after two full years, the king sent the chief
collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he
came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
The chief collector, etc... Apollonius.
1:31. And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit; and
they believed him.
1:32. And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it
with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in
Israel.
1:33. And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with
fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls
thereof round about:
1:34. And they took the women captive, and the chil- dren,
and the cattle they possessed.
1:35. And they built the city of David with a great and
strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress
for them:
The city of David... That is, the castle of Sion.
1:36. And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men,
and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up
armour;and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of
Jerusalem;
1:37. And laid them up there: and they became a great
snare.
1:38. And this was a place to lie in wait against the
sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.
An evil devil... That is, an adversary watching constantly
to do harm, as the evil spirit is always watching and
seeking whom he may devour.
1:39. And they shed innocent blood round about the
sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.
1:40. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason
of them and the city was made the habitation of strangers,
and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children
forsook her.
1:41. Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her
festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into
reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.
1:42. Her dishonour was increased according to her glory,
and her excellency was turned into mourning.
1:43. And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all
the people should be one: and every one should leave his
own law.
1:44. And all nations consented, according to the word of
king Antiochus.
1:45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they
sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.
1:46. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers
to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda; that they
should follow the law of the nations of the earth.
1:47. And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and
atonements to be made in the temple of God.
1:48. And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival
days to be celebrated.
1:49. And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and
the holy people of Israel.
1:50. And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and
idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean
beasts,
1:51. And that they should leave their children
uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with all
uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that they
should forget the law, and should change all the
justifications of God.
1:52. And that whosoever would not do according to the word
of king Antiochus, should be put to death.
1:53. According to all these words he wrote to his whole
kingdom: and he appointed rulers over the people that
should force them to do these things.
1:54. And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.
1:55. Then many of the people were gathered to them that
had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils
in the land:
1:56. And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking
holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.
1:57. On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the
hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the
abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and
they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round
about:
The abominable idol, etc... Viz., the statue of Jupiter
Olympius.
1:58. And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors
of the houses and in the streets. 1:59. And they cut in
pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:
1:60. And every one with whom the books of the testament of
the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the
Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the
king.
1:61. Thus by their power did they deal with the people of
Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.
1:62. And on the five and twentieth day of the month they
sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against
the altar of God.
1:63. Now the women that circumcised their children were
slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus,
1:64. And they hanged the children about their neck in all
their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put
to death.
1:65. And many of the people of Israel determined with
themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and
they chose rather to die, than to be defiled with unclean
meats:
1:66. And they would not break the holy law of God and they
were put to death:
1:67. And there was very great wrath upon the people. . j;
1 Machabees Chapter 2
The zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his
sons at his death.
2:1. In those days arose Mathathias, the son of John, the
son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from
Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin:
2:2. And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddis:
2:3. And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi;
2:4. And Judas, who was called Machabeus;
2:5. And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron; and Jonathan,
who was surnamed Apphus.
2:6. These saw the evils that were done in the people of
Juda, and in Jerusalem.
2:7. And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born
to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy
city, and to dwell there, when it is given into the hands
of the enemies?
2:8. The holy places are come into the hands of strangers
her temple is become as a man without honour.
2:9. The vessels of her glory are carried away captive; her
old men are murdered in the streets, and her young men are
fallen by the sword of the enemies.
2:10. What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and
gotten of her spoils?
2:11. All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free
is made a slave.
2:12. And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our
glory is laid waste, and the Gentiles have defiled them.
2:13. To what end then should we live any longer?
2:14. And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and
they covered themselves with haircloth, and made great
lamentation.
2:15. And they that were sent from king Antiochus, came
thither, to compel them that were fled into the city of
Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart
from the law of God.
2:16. And many of the people of Israel consented and came
to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.
2:17. And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering,
said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable,
and great man in this city, and adorned with sons, and
brethren.
2:18. Therefore, come thou first, and obey the king's
commandment, as all nations have done, and the men of Juda,
and they that remain in Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons
shall be in the number of the king's friends, and enriched
with gold, and silver, and many presents. 2:19. Then
Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although
all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man
from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to
his commandments:
2:20. I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of
our fathers.
2:21. God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us
to forsake the law, and the justices of God:
2:22. We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus,
neither will we sacrifice and transgress the commandments
of our law, to go another way.
2:23. Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a
certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols
upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the
king's commandment.
2:24. And Mathathias saw, and was grieved, and his reins
trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the
judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon
the altar:
2:25. Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who
compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and
pulled down the altar,
2:26. And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri,
the son of Salomi.
2:27. And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud
voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and
maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.
2:28. So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left
all that they had in the city.
2:29. Then many that sought after judgment, and justice,
went down into the desert
2:30. And they abode there, they and their children, and
their wives, and their cattle: because afflictions
increased upon them.
2:31. And it was told to the king's men, and to the army
that was in Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain
men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone away
into the secret places in the wilderness, and that many
were gone after them.
2:32. And forthwith they went out towards them, and made
war against them on the sabbath day.
2:33. And they said to them: Do you still resist? come
forth, and do according to the edict of king Antiochus, and
you shall live.
2:34. And they said: We will not come forth, neither will
we obey the king's edict, to profane the sabbath day.
2:35. And they made haste to give them battle.
2:36. But they answered them not, neither did they cast a
stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,
2:37. Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and heaven
and earth shall be witnesses for us, that you put us to
death wrongfully.
2:38. So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they
were slain, with their wives, and their children, and their
cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
2:39. And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they
mourned for them exceedingly.
2:40. And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all
do as our brethren have done, and not fight against the
heathens for our lives, and our justifications, they will
now quickly root us out of the earth.
2:41. And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever
shall come up against us to fight on the sabbath day, we
will fight against him: and we will not all die, as our
brethren that were slain in the secret places.
2:42. Then was assembled to them the congregation of the
Assideans, the stoutest of Israel, every one that had a
good will for the law.
The Assideans... A set of men that led a religious life;
and were zealous for the law and worship of God.
2:43. And all they that fled from the evils, joined
themselves to them, and were a support to them.
2:44. And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in
their wrath, and the wicked men in their indignation: and
the rest fled to the nations for safety.
2:45. And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and
they threw down the altars:
2:46. And they circumcised all the children whom they found
in the confines of Israel that were uncircumcised: and they
did valiantly.
2:47. And they pursued after the children of pride, and the
work prospered in their hands:
2:48. And they recovered the law out of the hands of the
nations, and out of the hands of the kings: and they
yielded not the horn to the sinner.
They yielded not the horn, etc... That is, they suffered
not the power of Antiochus, that man of sin, to abolish
the law and religion of God.
2:49. Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die,
and he said to his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement
gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath
of indignation:
2:50. Now, therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law,
and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
2:51. And call to remembrance the works of the fathers,
which they have done in their generations: and you shall
receive great glory, and an everlasting name.
2:52. Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it
was reputed to him unto justice?
2:53. Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the
commandment, and he was made lord of Egypt.
2:54. Phinees, our father, by being fervent in the zeal of
God, received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
2:55. Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler
in Israel.
Jesus... That is, Josue.
2:56. Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation,
received an inheritance.
2:57. David, by his mercy, obtained the throne of an
everlasting kingdom.
2:58. Elias, while he is full of zeal for the law, was
taken up into heaven.
2:59. Ananias and Azarias and Misael, by believing, were
delivered out of the flame.
2:60. Daniel, in his innocency, was delivered out of the
mouth of the lions.
2:61. And thus consider, through all generations: that none
that trust in him, fail in strength.
2:62. And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory
is dung and worms:
2:63. Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be
found, because he is returned into his earth and his
thought is come to nothing.
2:64. You, therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave
manfully in the law: for by it you shall be glorious.
2:65. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man
of counsel: give ear to him always, and he shall be a
father to you.
2:66. And Judas Machabeus, who is valiant and strong from
his youth up, let him be the leader of your army, and he
shall manage the war of the people.
2:67. And you shall take to you all that observe the law:
and revenge ye the wrong of your people.
2:68. Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to
the precepts of the law.
2:69. And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers.
2:70. And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and
he was buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers,
in Modin, and all Israel mourned for him with great
mourning.
1 Machabees Chapter 3
Judas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows
Apollonius and Seron. A great army is sent against him out
of Syria. He prepares his people for battle by fasting and
prayer.
3:1. Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his
stead.
3:2. And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had
joined themselves to his father, and they fought with
cheerfulness the battle of Israel.
3:3. And he got his people great honour, and put on a
breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armour about
him in battles, and protected the camp with his sword.
3:4. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's
whelp roaring for his prey.
3:5. And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and
them that troubled his people he burnt with fire:
3:6. And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and
all the workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation
prospered in his hand.
3:7. And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with
his works, and his memory is blessed for ever.
3:8. And he went through the cities of Juda, and destroyed
the wicked out of them, and turned away wrath from Israel.
3:9. And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the
earth, and he gathered them that were perishing.
3:10. And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a
numerous and great army from Samaria, to make war against
Israel.
3:11. And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him:
and he overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell down
slain, and the rest fled away.
3:12. And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of
Apollonius, and fought with it all his lifetime.
3:13. And Seron, captain of the army of Syria, heard that
Judas had assembled a company of the faithful, and a
congregation with him,
3:14. And he said I will get me a name, and will be
glorified in the kingdom, and will overthrow Judas, and
those that are with him, that have despised the edict of
the king.
3:15. And he made himself ready; and the host of the wicked
went up with him, strong succours, to be revenged of the
children of Israel.
3:16. And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and
Judas went forth to meet him, with a small company.
3:17. But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they
said to Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to fight
against so great a multitude, and so strong, and we are
ready to faint with fasting today?
3:18. And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be
shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no difference
in the sight of the God of heaven to deliver with a great
multitude, or with a small company:
3:19. For the success of war is not in the multitude of the
army, but strength cometh from heaven.
3:20. They come against us with an insolent multitude, and
with pride, to destroy us, and our wives, and our children,
and to take our spoils.
3:21. But we will fight for our lives, and our laws:
3:22. And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our
face, but as for you, fear them not
3:23. And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, he
rushed suddenly upon them: and Seron, and his host were
overthrown before him:
3:24. And he pursued him by the descent of Bethoron, even
to the plain, and there fell of them eight hundred men, and
the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
3:25. And the fear of Judas, and of his brethren, and the
dread of them, fell upon all the nations round about them.
3:26. And his fame came to the king, and all nations told
of the battles of Judas.
3:27. Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was
angry in his mind: and he sent, and gathered the forces of
all his kingdom, an exceeding strong army.
3:28. And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the
army for a year: and he commanded them, that they should be
ready for all things.
3:29. And he perceived that the money of his treasures
failed, and that the tributes of the country were small,
because of the dissension, and the evil that he had brought
upon the land, that he might take away the laws of old
times:
3:30. And he feared that he should not have as formerly
enough for charges and gifts, which he had given before
with a liberal hand: for he had abounded more than the
kings that had been before him.
3:31. And he was greatly perplexed in mind, and purposed to
go into Persia, and to take tributes of the countries, and
to gather much money.
3:32. And he left Lysias, a nobleman of the blood royal to
oversee the affairs of the kingdom from the river Euphrates
even to the river of Egypt:
3:33. And to bring up his son, Antiochus, till he came
again.
3:34. And he delivered to him half the army, and the
elephants: and he gave him charge concerning all that he
would have done, and concerning the inhabitants of Judea,
and Jerusalem.
3:35. And that he should send an army against them to
destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the
remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away the memory of them
from that place.
3:36. And that he should settle strangers, to dwell in all
their coasts, and divide their land by lot.
3:37. So the king took the half of the army that remained,
and went forth from Antioch, the chief city of his kingdom,
in the hundred and forty-seventh year: and he passed over
the river Euphrates, and went through the higher countries.
3:38. Then Lysias chose Ptolemee, the son of Dorymenus, and
Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends.
3:39. And he sent with them forty thousand men, and seven
thousand horsemen: to go into the land of Juda, and to
destroy it, according to the king's orders.
3:40. So they went forth with all their power, and came,
and pitched near Emmaus, in the plain country.
3:41. And the merchants of the countries heard the fame of
them: and they took silver and gold in abundance, and
servants: and they came into the camp, to buy the children
of Israel for slaves: and there were joined to them the
forces of Syria, and of the land of the strangers.
3:42. And Judas, and his brethren, saw that evils were
multiplied, and that the armies approached to their
borders: and they knew the orders the king had given to
destroy the people, and utterly abolish them.
3:43. And they said, every man to his neighbour: Let us
raise up the low condition of our people, and let us fight
for our people, and our sanctuary.
3:44. And the assembly was gathered, that they might be
ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy
and compassion.
3:45. Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a
desert: there was none of her children that went in or out:
and the sanctuary was trodden down: and the children of
strangers were in the castle, there was the habitation of
the Gentiles: and joy was taken away from Jacob, and the
pipe and harp ceased there.
3:46. And they assembled together, and came to Maspha, over
against Jerusalem: for in Maspha was a place of prayer
heretofore in Israel.
3:47. And they fasted that day, and put on haircloth, and
put ashes upon their heads: and they rent their garments:
3:48. And they laid open the books of the law, in which the
Gentiles searched for the likeness of their idols:
3:49. And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the
first fruits and tithes, and stirred up the Nazarites that
had fulfilled their days:
3:50. And they cried with a loud voice toward heaven,
saying: What shall we do with these, and whither shall we
carry them?
3:51. For thy holies are trodden down, and are profaned,
and thy priests are in mourning, and are brought low.
3:52. And behold the nations are come together against us,
to destroy us: thou knowest what they intend against us.
3:53. How shall we be able to stand before their face,
unless thou, O God, help us?
3:64. Then they sounded with trumpets, and cried out with a
loud voice.
3:66. And after this, Judas appointed captains over the
people, over thousands, and over hundreds, and over
fifties, and over tens.
3:66. And he said to them that were building houses, or had
betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were
fearful, that they should return every man to his house,
according to the law.
3:67. So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south
side of Emmaus.
3:68. And Judas said: Gird yourselves, and be valiant men,
and be ready against the morning, that you may fight with
these nations that are assembled against us to destroy us
and our sanctuary.
3:59. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see
the evils of our nation, and of the holies:
3:60. Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of God in
heaven, so be it done.
1 Machabees Chapter 4
Judas routs the king's army. Gorgias flies before him.
Lysias comes against him with a great army, but is
defeated. Judas cleanses the temple, sets up a new altar,
and fortifies the sanctuary.
4:1. Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of
the best horsemen; and they removed out of the camp by
night.
4:2. That they might come upon the camp of the Jews and
strike them suddenly: and the men that were of the castle
were their guides.
4:3. And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant
men, to attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus.
4:4. For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp
The army was dispersed... That is, in different divisions,
not altogether encamped.
4:5. And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and
found no man; and he sought them in the mountains: for he
said: These men flee from us.
4:6. And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain
with three thousand men only, who neither had armour nor
swords:
Who neither had armour nor swords... Such as they wished
for.
4:7. And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was
strong, and the men in breastplates, and the horsemen round
about them, and these were trained up to war.
4:8. And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye
not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.
4:9. Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the
Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army.
4:10. And now let us cry to heaven, and the Lord will have
mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of our fathers,
and will destroy this army before our face this day:
4:11. And all nations shall know that there is one that
redeemeth and delivereth Israel.
4:12. And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them
coming against them.
4:13. And they went out of the camp to battle, and they
that were with Judas sounded the trumpet.
4:14. And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed,
and fled into the plain.
4:15. But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword and
they pursued them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains
of Idumea, and of Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of
them to the number of three thousand men.
4:16. And Judas returned again with his army that followed
him.
4:17. And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the
spoils; for there is war before us:
4:18. And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain:
but stand ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them,
and you shall take the spoils afterwards with safety.
4:19. And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part of
them appeared, looking forth from the mountain.
4:20. And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, and
that they had set fire to the camp: for the smoke that was
seen declared what was done.
4:21. And when they had seen this, they were seized with
great fear, seeing at the same time Judas and his army in
the plain ready to fight.
4:22. So they all fled away into the land of the strangers.
4:23. And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp,
and they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and
purple of the sea, and great riches.
4:24. And returning home, they sung a hymn, and blessed God
in heaven, because he is good, because his mercy endureth
for ever.
4:25. So Israel had a great deliverance that day.
4:26 And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told
Lysias all that had happened.
4:27. And when he heard these things, he was amazed and
discouraged: because things had not succeeded in Israel
according to his mind, and as the king had commanded.
4:28. So the year following, Lysias gathered together
threescore thousand chosen men, and five thousand horsemen,
that he might subdue them.
4:29. And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in
Bethoron, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
4:30. And they saw that the army was strong, and he prayed
and said: Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst
break the violence of the mighty by the hand of thy servant
David, and didst deliver up the camp of the strangers into
the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and of his armour
bearer.
4:31. Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel,
and let them be confounded in their host and their
horsemen. 32 Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness
of their strength to languish, and let them quake at their
own destruction.
4:33. Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee:
and let all that know thy name praise thee with hymns.
4:34. And they joined battle: and there fell of the army of
Lysias five thousand men.
4:35. And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight,
and how bold the Jews were, and that they were ready either
to live, or to die manfully, he went to Antioch, and chose
soldiers, that they might come again into Judea with
greater numbers.
4:36. Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies
are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy
places, and to repair them.
4:37. And all the army assembled together, and they went up
into Mount Sion.
4:38. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar
profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the
courts as in a forest, or on the mountains, and the
chambers joining to the temple thrown down.
4:39. And they rent their garments, and made great
lamentation, and put ashes on their heads:
4:40. And they fell down to the ground on their faces, and
they sounded with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried
towards heaven.
4:41. Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that
were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy places,
4:42. And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was
set upon the law of God.
4:43. And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the
stones that had been defiled into an unclean place.
4:44. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that
had been profaned, what he should do with it.
4:45. And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it
down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the
Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.
4:46. And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the
temple, in a convenient place, till there should come a
prophet, and give answer concerning them.
4:47. Then they took whole stones, according to the law and
built a new altar, according to the former:
4:48. And they built up the holy places, and the things
that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple
and the courts.
4:49. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the
candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table, into
the temple.
4:50. And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up
the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave
light in the temple.
4:51. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up
the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun
to make.
4:52. And they arose before the morning on the five and
twentieth day of the ninth month, (which is the month of
Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.
4:53. And they offered sacrifice, according to the law,
upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.
4:54. According to the time, and according to the day
wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it
dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and
cymbals.
4:55. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored,
and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them.
4:56. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days,
and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of
salvation, and of praise.
4:57. And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns
of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and
the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.
4:58. And there was exceeding great joy among the people,
and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.
4:59. And Judas, and his brethren, and all thc church of
Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar
should be kept in its season from year to year for eight
days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of
Casleu, with joy and gladness.
4:60. They built up also at that time Mount Sion, with high
walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles
should at any time come, and tread it down, as they did
before.
4:61. And he placed a garrison there, to keep it, and he
fortified it, to secure Bethsura, that the people might
have a defence against Idumea.
1 Machabees Chapter 5
Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country,
and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and
Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against
their enemies, are defeated.
5:1. Now it came to pass, when the nations round about
heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up, as
before, that they were exceeding angry.
5:2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob
that were among them, and they began to kill some of the
people, and to persecute them.
5:3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in
Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they
beset the Israelites round about, and he made a great
slaughter of them.
5:4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean:
who were a snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by
lying in wait for them in the way.
5:5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set
upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt
their towers with fire, and all that were in them.
5:6. Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he
found a mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was
their captain:
5:7. And he fought many battles with them, and they were
discomfited in their sight, and he smote them:
5:8. And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and
returned into Judea.
5:9. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled
themselves together against the Israelites that were in
their quarters, to destroy them: and they fled into the
fortress of Datheman.
5:10. And they sent letters to Judas, and his brethren,
saying: The heathens that are round about are gathered
together against us to destroy us:
5:11. And they are preparing to come, and to take the
fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is the
captain of their host.
5:12. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their
hands, for many of us are slain.
5:13. And all our brethren that were in the places of
Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their wives,
and their children, captives, and taken their spoils, and
they have slain there almost a thousand men.
5:14. And while they were yet reading these letters, behold
there came other messengers out of Galilee with their
garments rent, who related according to these words:
5:15. Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of
Sidon, were assembled against them, and all Galilee is
filled with strangers, in order to consume us.
5:16. Now when Judas and the people heard these words, a
great assembly met together to consider what they should do
for their brethren that were in trouble, and were assaulted
by them.
5:17. And Judas said to Simon, his brother: Choose thee
men, and go, and deliver thy brethren in Galilee: and I,
and my brother Jonathan, will go into the country of
Galaad:
5:18. And he left Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and
Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the
army in Judea, to keep it:
5:19. And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of
this people; but make no war against the heathens, till we
return.
5:20. Now three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go
into Galilee: and eight thousand to Judas, to go into the
land of Galaad.
5:21. And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles
with the heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before
his face, and he pursued them even to the gate of
Ptolemais.
5:22. And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand
men, and he took the spoils of them.
5:23. And he took with him those that were in Galilee and
in Arbatis, with their wives, and children, and all that
they had, and he brought them into Judea with great joy.
5:24. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan, his brother,
passed over the Jordan, and went three days' journey
through the desert.
5:25. And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a
peaceable manner, and told them all that happened to their
brethren in the land of Galaad,
5:26. And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in
Bosor, and in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in
Carnaim; all these strong and great cities.
5:27. Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of
the cities of Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring
their army on the morrow near to these cities, and to take
them, and to destroy them all in one day.
5:28. Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march
into the desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew
every male by the edge of the sword, and took all their
spoils, and burnt it with fire.
5:29. And they removed from thence by night, and went till
they came to the fortress.
5:30. And it came to pass that early in the morning, when
they lifted up their eyes, behold there were people without
number, carrying ladders and engines to take the fortress,
and assault them.
5:31. And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry
of the battle went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great
cry out of the city:
5:32. And he said to his host: Fight ye today for your
brethren.
5:33. And he came with three companies behind them, and
they sounded their trumpets, and cried out in prayer.
5:34. And the host of Timotheus understood that it was
Machabeus, and they fled away before his face and they made
a great slaughter of them, and there fell of them in that
day almost eight thousand men.
5:35. And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and
took it, and he slew every male thereof, and took the
spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.
5:36. From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth,
and Bosor, and the rest of the cities of Galaad.
5:37. But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and
camped over against Raphon, beyond the torrent.
5:38. And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought
him word, saying: All the nations, that are round about us,
are assembled unto him an army exceeding great:
5:39. And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and
they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to
come to fight against thee. And Judas went to meet them.
5:40. And Timotheus said to the captains of his army: When
Judas and his army come near the torrent of water, if he
pass over unto us first, we shall not be able to withstand
him: for he will certainly prevail over us.
5:41. But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the
other side of the river, we will pass over to them, and
shall prevail against him.
5:42. Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he set
the scribes of the people by the torrent, and commanded
them, saying: Suffer no man to stay behind: but let all
come to the battle.
5:43. And he passed over to them first, and all the people
after him, and all the heathens were discomfited before
them, and they threw away their weapons, and fled to the
temple that was in Carnaim.
5:44. And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with
fire, with all things that were therein: and Carnaim was
subdued, and could not stand against the face of Judas.
5:45. And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that
were in the land of Galaad, from the least even to the
greatest, and their wives and children, and an army
exceeding great, to come into the land of Juda.
5:46. And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a great
city, situate in the way, strongly fortified, and there was
no means to turn from it on the right hand or on the left,
but the way was through the midst of it.
5:47. And they that were in the city shut themselves in,
and stopped up the gates with stones: and Judas sent to
them with peaceable words,
5:48. Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into our
own country, and no man shall hurt you; we will only pass
through on foot. But they would not open to them.
5:49. Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the
camp, that they should make an assault, every man in the
place where he was.
5:50. And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted
that city all the day, and all the night; and the city was
delivered into his hands:
5:51. And they slew every male with the edge of the sword,
and he razed the city, and took the spoils thereof, and
passed through all the city over them that were slain.
5:52. Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain
that is over against Bethsan.
5:53. And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he
exhorted the people, all the way through, till they came
into the land of Juda.
5:54. And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness,
and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain,
till they had returned in peace.
5:55. Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the
land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee, before
Ptolemais,
5:56. Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captain of
the soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles
that were fought,
5:57. And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us go
fight against the Gentiles that are round about us.
5:58. And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and
they went towards Jamnia.
5:59. And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give
them battle.
5:60. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were
pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there fell on that
day, of the people of Israel, about two thousand men, and
there was a great overthrow of the people:
5:61. Because they did not hearken to Judas and his
brethren, thinking that they should do manfully.
5:62. But they were not of the seed of those men by whom
salvation was brought to Israel.
5:63. And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the
sight of all Israel, and of all the nations where their
name was heard.
5:64. And the people assembled to them with joyful
acclamations.
5:65. Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked
the children of Esau, in the land towards the south, and he
took Chebron and her towns: and he burnt the walls thereof,
and the towers all round it.
5:66. And he removed his camp to go into the land of the
aliens, and he went through Samaria.
5:67. In that day some priests fell in battle, while
desiring to do manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight.
5:68. And Judas turned to Azotus, into the land of the
strangers, and he threw down their altars, and he burnt the
statues of their gods with fire: and he took the spoils of
the cities, and returned into the land of Juda.
1 Machabees Chapter 6
The fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son
comes against Judas with a formidable army. He besieges
Sion: but at last makes peace with the Jews.
6:1. Now king Antiochus was going through the higher
countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia,
was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold,
6:2. And that there was in it a temple exceeding rich; and
coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which
king Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian, that reigned
first in Greece, had left there.
6:3. So he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage
it; but he was not able, because the design was known to
them that were in the city.
6:4. And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled
away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and
returned towards Babylonia.
6:5. And whilst he was in Persia there came one that told
him how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put
to flight:
6:6. And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was
put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that they
were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of
spoils which they had gotten out of the camps which they
had destroyed:
6:7. And that they had thrown down the abomination which he
had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had
compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before,
and Bethsura also, his city.
6:8. And it came to pass, when the king heard these words,
that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he
laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief,
because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined.
6:9. And he remained there many days: for great grief came
more and more upon him, and he made account that he should
die.
6:10. And he called for all his friends, and said to them:
Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my
heart is cast down for anxiety:
6:11. And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am
I come, and into what floods of sorrow wherein now I am: I
that was pleasant and beloved in my power!
6:12. But now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem,
from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of
silver, that were in it, and I sent to destroy the
inhabitants of Juda without cause.
6:13. I know, therefore, that for this cause these evils
have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a
strange land.
6:14. Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he
made him regent over all his kingdom.
6:15. And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his
ring, that he should go to Antiochus, his son, and should
bring him up for the kingdom.
6:16. So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred
and forty-nine.
6:17. And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he
set up Antiochus, his son, to reign, whom he had brought up
young: and he called his name Eupator.
6:18. Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the
Israelites round about the holy places: and they were
continually seeking their hurt, and to strengthen the
Gentiles.
6:19. And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called
together all the people, to besiege them.
6:20. And they came together, and besieged them in the year
one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and
engines.
6:21. And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men
of Israel joined themselves unto them.
6:22. And they went to the king, and said: How long dost
thou delay to execute judgment, and to revenge our
brethren?
6:23. We determined to serve thy father, and to do
according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
6:24. And for this they of our nation are alienated from
us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and
have spoiled our inheritances.
6:25. Neither have they put forth their hand against us
only, but also against all our borders.
6:26. And behold they have approached this day to the
castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the
strong hold of Bethsura:
6:27. And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do
greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to
subdue them.
6:28. Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he
called together all his friends, and the captains of his
army, and them that were over the horsemen.
6:29. There came also to him from other realms, and from
the islands of the sea, hired troops.
6:30. And the number of his army was an hundred thousand
footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two
elephants trained to battle.
6:31. And they went through Idumea, and approached to
Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but
they sallied forth, and burnt them with fire, and fought
manfully.
But they sallied forth... That is, the citizens of
Bethsura sallied forth and burnt them, that is, burnt the
engines of the besiegers.
6:32. And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the
camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp.
6:33. And the king rose before it was light, and made his
troops march on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam:
and the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and
they sounded the trumpets:
6:34. And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes,
and mulberries, to provoke them to fight.
6:35. And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and
there stood by every elephant a thousand men in coats of
mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads: and five
hundred horsemen set in order were chosen for every beast.
6:36. These before the time wheresoever the beast was they
were there: and whithersoever it went, they went, and they
departed not from it.
These before the time... That is, these were ready for
every occasion.
6:37. And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers
which covered every one of them: and engines upon them, and
upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from
above: and an Indian to rule the beast.
6:38. And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side
and on that side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir
up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick
together in the legions thereof.
6:39. Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and
of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone
like lamps of fire.
6:40. And part of the king's army was distinguished by the
high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and
they marched on warily and orderly.
6:41. And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the
noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company,
and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding
great and strong.
6:42. And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and
there fell of the king's army six hundred men.
6:43. And Eleazar, the son of Saura, saw one of the beasts
harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than
the other beasts; and it seemed to him that the king was on
it:
6:44. And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to
get himself an everlasting name.
6:45. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the
legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and
they fell by him on this side and that side.
6:46. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put
himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground
upon him, and he died there.
6:47. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the
fierceness of his army, turned away from them.
6:48. But the king's army went up against them to
Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against
Judea and Mount Sion.
6:49. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura:
and they came forth out of the city, because they had no
victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest
to the land.
6:50. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a
garrison to keep it.
6:51. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many
days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines,
and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones
and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings.
6:52. And they also made engines against their engines, and
they fought for many days.
6:53. But there were no victuals in the city, because it
was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of
them that came from among the nations, had eaten the
residue of all that which had been stored up.
6:54. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for
the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed
every man to his own place.
6:55. Now Lysias heard that Philip; whom king Antiochus
while he lived had appointed to bring up his son,
Antiochus, and to reign,
6:56. Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army
that went with him and that he sought to take upon him the
affairs of the kingdom:
6:57. Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king
and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our
provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay
siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for
the affairs of the kingdom.
6:58. Now, therefore, let us come to an agreement with
these men, and make peace with them and with all their
nation.
6:59. And let us covenant with them, that they may live
according to their own laws, as before. For because of our
despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have
done all these things.
6:60. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the
king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make
peace: and they accepted of it.
6:61. And the king and the princes swore to them: and they
came out of the strong hold.
6:62. Then the king entered into Mount Sion, and saw the
strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that
he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall
round about.
6:63. And he departed in haste and returned to Antioch,
where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought
against him, and took the city.
1 Machabees Chapter 7
Demetrius is made king, and sends Bacchides and Alcimus the
priest into Judea, and after them Nicanor, who is slain by
Judas with all his army.
7:1. In the hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, the
son of Seleucus, departed from the city of Rome, and came
up with few men into a city of the sea coast, and reigned
there.
7:2. And it came to pass as he entered into the house of
the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized upon
Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring them unto hlm.
7:3. And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their
face.
7:4. So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the
throne of his kingdom:
7:5. And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of
Israel: and Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to
be made high priest.
7:6. And they accused the people to the king, saying: Judas
and his brethren have destroyed all thy friends, and he
hath driven us out of our land.
7:7. Now, therefore, send some men whom thou trustest, and
let him go, and see all the havoc he hath made amongst us,
and in the king's lands: and let him punish all his friends
and their helpers.
7:8. Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends,
that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was
faithful to the king: and he sent him,
7:9. To see the havoc that Judas had made: and the wicked
Alcimus he made high priest, and commanded him to take
revenge upon the children of Israel.
7:1O. And they arose, and came with a great army into the
land of Juda: and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas
and his brethren with peaceable words, deceitfully.
7:11. But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw
that they were come with a great army.
7:12. Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a
company of the scribes, to require things that are just:
7:13. And first the Assideans, that were among the children
of Israel, and they sought peace of them.
7:14. For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of
Aaron is come, he will not deceive us.
7:15. And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them,
saying: We will do you no harm, nor your friends.
7:16. And they believed him. And he took threescore of
them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that
is written: 7:17. The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of
them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was
none to bury them.
7:18. Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for
they said: There is no truth, nor justice among them: for
they have broken the covenant, and the oath which they
made.
7:19. And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and
pitched in Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them
that were fled away from him, and some of the people he
killed, and threw them into a great pit.
7:20. Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left
with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the
king. 7:21. But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his
chief priesthood.
7:22. And they that disturbed the people resorted to him,
and they got the land of Juda into their power, and did
much hurt in Israel.
7:23. And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they
that were with him, did to the children of Israel, much
more than the Gentiles.
7:24. And he went out into all the coasts of Judea round
about, and took vengeance upon the men that had revolted,
and they ceased to go forth any more into the country.
7:25. And Alcimus saw that Judas and they that were with
him, prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand against
them, and he went back to the king, and accused them of
many crimes.
7:26. And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal
lords, who was a great enemy to Israel: and he commanded
him to destroy the people.
7:27. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and
he sent to Judas and to his brethren deceitfully, with
friendly words,
7:28. Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and you:
I will come with a few men, to see your faces with peace.
7:29. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another
peaceably: and the enemies were prepared to take away Judas
by force.
7:30. And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to
him with deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and would
not see his face any more.
7:31. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered: and
he went out to fight against Judas, near Capharsalama.
7:32. And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five thousand
men, and they fled into the city of David.
7:33. And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and
some of the priests and the people came out to salute him
peaceably, and to shew him the holocausts that were offered
for the king.
7:34. But he mocked and despised them, and abused them: and
he spoke proudly,
7:35. And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his army
be delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in
peace, I will burn this house. And he went out in a great
rage.
7:36. And the priests went in, and stood before the face of
the altar and the temple: and weeping, they said:
7:37. Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to
be called upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer
and supplication for thy people.
7:38. Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them
fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer
them not to continne any longer.
7:39. Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped
near to Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him.
7:40. But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men:
and Judas prayed, and said:
7:41. O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib
blasphemed thee, an angel went out, and slew of them a
hundred and eighty-five thousand:
7:42. Even so destroy this army in our sight today and let
the rest know that he hath spoken ill against thy
sanctuary: and judge thou him according to his wickedness.
7:43. And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of
the month, Adar: and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and
he himself was first slain in the battle.
7:44. And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain they
threw away their weapons, and fled:
7:45. And they pursued after them one day's journey from
Adazer, even till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the
trumpets after them with signals.
7:46. And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea
round about, and they pushed them with the horns, and they
turned again to them, and they were all slain with the
sword, and there was not left of them so much as one.
7:47. And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and
they cut off Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he
had proudly stretched out, and they brought it, and hung it
up over against Jerusalem.
7:48. And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent
that day with great joy.
7:49. And he ordained that this day should be kept every
year, being the thirteenth of the month of Adar
7:50. And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time.
1 Machabees Chapter 8
Judas hears of the great character of the Romans: he makes
a league with them.
8:1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they
are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things
that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to
them, they have made amity with them, and that they are
mighty in power.
8:2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts
which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered
them, and brought them under tribute:
They heard, etc... What is here set down of the history
and character of the ancient Romans, is not an assertion,
or affirmation of the sacred writer: but only a relation
of what Judas had heard of them.
8:3. And how great things they had done in the land of
Spain, and that they had brought under their power the
mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten
possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:
8:4. And had conquered places that were very far off from
them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the
earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and
the rest pay them tribute every year.
8:5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses
the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms
against them, and had conquered them:
Ceteans... That is, the Macedonians.
8:6. And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to
fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants,
with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was
routed by them.
8:7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him,
that both he and they that should reign after him, should
pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and
that which was agreed upon,
8:8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and
of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those
which they had taken from them, they gave to king Eumenes.
Eumenes... King of Pergamus.
8:9. And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and
to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
8:10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with
them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away
their wives, and their children captives, and spoiled them,
and took possession of their land, and threw down their
walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.
8:11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time
had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under
their power.
8:12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them,
they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near,
and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were
afraid of them.
8:13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those
reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the
kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
8:14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in
purple, to be magnified thereby.
8:15. And that they had made themselves a senate house, and
consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in
counsel always for the people, that they might do the
things that were right:
8:16. And that they committed their government to one man
every year, to rule over all their country, and they all
obey one, and there is no envy nor jealousy amongst them.
To one man... There were two consuls: but one only ruled
at one time, each in his day.-Ibid. No envy, etc... So
Judas had heard: and it was so far true, with regard to
the ancient Romans, that as yet no envy or jealousy had
divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as
they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and
Sylla, etc.
8:17. So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of
Jacob, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to
Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them:
8:18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of
the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom
of Israel with servitude.
8:19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they
entered into the senate house, and said:
8:20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of
the Jews, have sent us to you to make alliance and peace
with you, and that we may be registered your confederates
and friends.
8:21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
8:22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote
back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to
Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial
of the peace, and alliance. 8:23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE
ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by sea, and by land,
for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
8:24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or
any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
8:25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as
the time shall direct, with all their heart:
8:26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are
fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or
ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall
obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.
8:27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the
nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all
their heart, according as the time shall permit them:
8:28. And there shall not be given to them that come to
their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it
hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe
their orders without deceit.
8:29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant
with the people of the Jews.
8:30. And, if after this, one party or the other shall have
a mind to add to these articles, or take away any thing,
they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall
add, or take away, shall be ratified.
8:31. Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the
king, hath done against them, we have written to him,
saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends
and allies, the Jews.
8:32. If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of
thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against
thee by sea and land.
1 Machabees Chapter 9
Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against
him with eight hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds
him and revenges the murder of his brother John. He fights
against Bacchides. Alcimus dies miserably. Bacchides
besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the siege and
leave the country.
9:1. In the mean time, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor
and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides
and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army with
them.
9:2. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and
they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they
made themselves masters of it, and slew many people.
9:3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second
year they brought the army to Jerusalem:
9:4. And they arose and went to Berea, with twenty thousand
men, and two thousand horsemen.
9:5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three
thousand chosen men with him:
9:6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were
many, and they were seized with great fear: and many
withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained of
them no more than eight hundred men.
9:7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the
battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down:
because he had not time to gather them together, and he was
discouraged.
9:8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and
go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against
them.
9:9. But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able,
but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren,
and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.
9:10. Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing,
and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us
die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our
glory.
9:11. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood
over against them: and the horsemen were divided into two
troops, and the slingers, and the archers, went before the
army, and they that were in the front were all men of
valour.
9:12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion
drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:
9:13. And they also that were on Judas's side, even they
also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the
armies: and the battle was fought from morning even unto
the evening.
9:14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the
army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout
of heart came together with him:
9:15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he
pursued them even to the mount Azotus.
9:16. And they that were in the left wing saw that the
right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas,
and them that were with him, at their back:
9:17. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many
wounded of the one side and of the other.
9:18. And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
9:19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas, their brother, and
buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers, in the city
of Modin.
9:20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great
lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.
9:21. And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved
the people of Israel!
9:22. But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and
of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness, are
not written: for they were very many.
9:23. And it came to pass, after the death of Judas, that
the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the
confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose
up.
9:24. In those days there was a very great famine, and they
and all their country yielded to Bacchides.
9:25. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them
lords of the country:
9:26. And they sought out, and made diligent search after
the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he
took vengeance of them, and abused them.
9:27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as
was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in
Israel.
9:28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said
to Jonathan:
9:29. Since thy brother Judas died there is not a man like
him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them
that are the enemies of our nation.
9:30. Now, therefore, we have chosen thee this day to be
our prince, and captain, in his stead, to fight our
battles.
9:31. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that
time, and rose up in the place of Judas, his brother
9:32. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill
him.
9:33. And Jonathan, and Simon, his brother, knew it, and
all that were with them: and they fled into the desert of
Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake Asphar,
9:34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself,
with all his army, over the Jordan, on the sabbath day.
9:35. And Jonathan sent his brother, a captain of the
people, to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that they
would lend them their equipage, which was copious.
9:36. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba,
and took John, and all that he had, and went away with
them.
9:37. After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon, his
brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage,
and were bringing the bride out of Madaba, the daughter of
one of the great princes of Chanaan, with great pomp.
9:38. And they remembered the blood of John, their brother:
and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert of
the mountain.
9:39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a
tumult, and great preparation: and the bridegroom came
forth, and his friends, and his brethren to meet them with
timbrels, and musical instruments and many weapons.
9:40. And they rose up against them from the place where
they lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell many
wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains, and they
took all their spoils:
9:41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the
noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.
9:42. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother:
and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.
9:43. And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath
day even to the bank of the Jordan, with a great power.
9:44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and
fight against our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday,
and the day before.
9:45. For behold the battle is before us, and the water of
the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks, and
marshes, and woods: and there is no place for us to turn
aside.
9:46. Now, therefore, cry ye to heaven, that ye may be
delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined
battle.
9:47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike
Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.
9:48. And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into
the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them.
9:49. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand
men: and they returned to Jerusalem,
9:50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress
that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in
Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high
walls, and gates, and bars.
9:51. And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage
war against Israel:
9:52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara,
and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provi- sions
of victuals:
9:53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country
for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in
custody.
9:54. Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the
second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner
court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of
the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.
9:55. At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were
hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with
a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give
order concerning his house.
9:56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
9:57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he
returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.
9:58. And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold
Jonathan, and they that are with him, dwell at ease and
without fear: now, therefore, let us bring Bacchides
hither, and he shall take them all in one night.
9:59. So they went, and gave him counsel.
9:60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent
secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea to
seize upon Jonathan, and them that were with him: but they
could not, for their design was known to them.
9:61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that
were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and
he slew them.
9:62. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him,
retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he
repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified it.
9:63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all
his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.
9:64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought
against it many days, and made engines.
9:65. But Jonathan left his brother, Simon, in the city and
went forth into the country, and came with a number of men,
9:66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children
of Phaseron, in their tents, and he began to slay, and to
increase in forces.
9:67. But Simon, and they that were with him, sallied out
of the city, and burnt the engines,
9:68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was
discomfited by them: and they afflicted him exceedingly,
for his counsel, and his enterprise was in vain.
9:69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given
him counsel to come into their country, and he slew many of
them: and he purposed to return with the rest into their
country.
9:70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent
ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore
to him the prisoners.
9:71. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to
his words, and swore that he would do him no harm all the
days of his life.
9:72. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before
had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned, and
went away into his own country, and he came no more into
their borders.
9:73. So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt
in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people,
and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.
1 Machabees Chapter 10
Alexander Bales sets himself up for king: both he and
Demetrius seek to make Jonathan their friend. Alexander
kills Demetrius in battle, and honours Jonathan. His
victory over Apollonius.
10:1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander, the
son of Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and
took Ptolemais, and they received him, and he reigned
there.
10:2. And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together
an exceeding great army, and went forth against him to
fight.
10:3. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan, with
peaceable words, to magnify him.
10:4. For he said: Let us first make a peace with him,
before he make one with Alexander against us.
10:5. For he will remember all the evils that we have done
against him, and against his brother, and against his
nation.
10:6. And he gave him authority to gather together a army,
and to make arms, and that he should be his confederate:
and the hostages that were in the castle, he commanded to
be delivered to him.
10:7. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters
in the hearing of all the people, and of them that were in
the castle.
10:8. And they were struck with great fear, because they
heard that the king had given him authority to gather
together an army.
10:9. And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he
restored them to their parents.
10:10. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build,
and to repair the city.
10:11. And he ordered workmen to build the walls, and mount
Sion round about with square stones for fortification: and
so they did.
10:12. Then the strangers that were in the strong holds,
which Bacchides had built, fled away.
10:13. And every man left his place, and departed into his
own country:
10:14. Only in Bethsura there remained some of them, that
had forsaken the law, and the commandments of God: for this
was a place of refuge for them.
10:15. And king Alexander heard of the promises that
Demetrius had made Jonathan: and they told him of the
battles, and the worthy acts that he and his brethren had
done, and the labours that they had endured.
10:16. And he said: Shall we find such another man? now,
therefore, we will make him our friend and our confederate.
10:17. So he wrote a letter, and sent it to him according
to these words, saying:
10:18. King Alexander to his brother, Jonathan, greetings.
10:19. We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great
power, and fit to be our friend:
10:20. Now therefore, we make thee this day high priest of
thy nation, and that thou be called the king's friend, (and
he sent him a purple robe, and a crown of gold) and that
thou be of one mind with us in our affairs, and keep
friendship with us.
10:21. Then Jonathan put on the holy vestment in the
seventh month, in the year one hundred and threescore, at
the feast day of the tabernacles: and he gathered together
an army, and made a great number of arms.
10:22. And Demetrius heard these words, and was exceeding
sorry, and said:
10:23. What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath
prevented us to gain the friendship of the Jews to
strengthen himself?
10:24. I also will write to them words of request, and
offer dignities, and gifts: that they may be with me to aid
me.
10:25. And he wrote to them in these words: King Demetrius
to the nation of tbe Jews, greeting.
10:26. Whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have
continued in our friendship, and have not joined with our
enemies, we have heard of it, and are glad.
10:27. Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity
towards us, and we will reward you with good things, for
what you have done in our behalf.
10:28. And we will remit to you many charges, and will give
you gifts.
10:29. And now I free you, and all the Jews, from tributes,
and I release you from the customs of salt, and remit the
crowns, and the thirds of the seed:
10:30. And the half of the fruit of trees, which is my
share, I leave to you from this day forward, so that it
shall not be taken of the land of Juda, and of the three
cities that are added thereto out of Samaria and Galilee,
from this day forth, and for ever:
10:31. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, with the borders
thereof: and let the tenths, and tributes be for itself.
10:32. I yield up also the power of the castle that is in
Jerusalem, and I give it to the high priest, to place
therein such men as he shall choose, to keep it.
10:33. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried
captive from the land of Juda in all my kingdom, I set at
liberty freely, that all be discharged from tributes, even
of their cattle.
10:34. And I will that all the feasts, and the sabbaths,
and the new moons, and the days appointed, and three days
before the solemn day, and three days after the solemn day,
be all days of immunity and freedom, for all the Jews that
are in my kingdom:
10:35. And no man shall have power to do any thing against
them, or to molest any of them, in any cause.
10:36. And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the
number of thirty thousand of the Jews: and allowance shall
be made them, as is due to all the king's forces and
certain of them shall be appointed to be in the fortresses
of the great king:
10:37. And some of them shall be set over the affairs of
the kingdom, that are of trust, and let the governors be
taken from among themselves, and let them walk in their own
laws, as the king hath commanded in the land of Juda.
10:38. And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of
the country of Samaria, let them be accounted with Judea:
that they may be under one, and obey no other authority but
that of the high priest:
10:39. Ptolemais and the confines thereof, I give as a free
gift to the holy places that are in Jerusalem, for the
necessary charges of the holy things.
10:40. And I give every year fifteen thousand sickles of
silver out of the king's accounts, of what belongs to me:
10:41. And all that is above, which they that were over the
affairs the years before, had not paid, from this time they
shall give it to the works of the house.
10:42. Moreover, the five thousand sickles of silver, which
they received from the account of the holy places, every
year, shall also belong to the priests that execute the
ministry.
10:43. And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in
Jerusalem, and in all the borders thereof, being indebted
to the king for any matter, let them be set at liberty, and
all that they have in my kingdom, let them have it free.
10:44. For the building also, or repairing the works of the
holy places, the charges shall be given out of the king's
revenues:
10:45. For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and
the fortifying thereof round about, the charges shall be
given out of the king's account, as also for the building
of the walls in Judea.
10:46. Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words,
they gave no credit to them, nor received them because they
remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel, for
he had afflicted them exceedingly.
10:47. And their inclinations were towards Alexander,
because he had been the chief promoter of peace in their
regard, and him they always helped.
10:48. And king Alexander gathered together a great army,
and moved his camp near to Demetrius.
10:49. And the two kings joined battle, and the army of
Demetrius fled away, and Alexander pursued after him, and
pressed them close.
10:50. And the battle was hard fought, till the sun went
down: and Demetrius was slain that day.
10:51. And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of
Egypt, with words to this effect, saying:
Ptolemee... Surnamed Philometer.
10:52. Forasmuch as I am returned into my kingdom and am
set in the throne of my ancestors, and have gotten the
dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius and possessed our
country,
10:53. And have joined battle with him, and both he and his
army have been destroyed by us, and we are placed in the
throne of his kingdom:
10:54. Now, therefore, let us make friendship one with
another: and give me now thy daughter to wife, and I will
be thy son in law, and I will give both thee and her gifts
worthy of thee.
10:55. And king Ptolomee answered, saying: Happy is the day
wherein thou didst return to the land of thy fathers, and
sattest in the throne of their kingdom.
10:56. And now I will do to thee as thou hast written but
meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another, and I
may give her to thee as thou hast said.
10:57. So Ptolemee went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his
daughter, and he came to Ptolemais, in the hundred and
sixty-second year.
10:58. And king Alexander met him, and he gave him his
daughter, Cleopatra: and he celebrated her marriage at
Ptolemais with great glory, after the manner of kings.
10:59. And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should
come and meet him.
10:60. And he went honourably to Ptolemais, and he met
there the two kings, and he gave them much silver, and
gold, and presents: and he found favour in their sight.
10:61. And some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked
life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: and
the king gave no heed to them.
10:62. And he commanded that Jonathan's garments should he
taken off, and that he shonld be clothed with purple: and
they did so. And the king made him sit by himself.
10:63. And he said to his princes: Go out with him into the
midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man
complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble
him for any manner of cause.
10:64. So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and
him clothed with purple, they all fled away.
10:65. And the king magnified him, and enrolled him amongst
his chief friends, and made him governor, and partaker of
his dominion.
10:66. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and
joy.
10:67. In the year one hundred and sixty-five, Demetrius,
the son of Demetrius, came from Crete into the land of his
fathers.
10:68. And king Alexander heard of it, and was much
troubled, and returned to Antioch.
10:69. And king Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who
was governor of Celesyria: and he gathered together a great
army, and came to Jamnia: and he sent to Jonathan, the high
priest,
10:70. Saying: Thou alone standest against us, and I am
laughed at and reproached, because thou shewest thy power
against us in the mountuins.
10:71. Now, therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come
down to us into the plain, and there let us try one
another: for with me is the strength of war.
10:72. Ask, and learn who I am, and the rest that help me,
who also say that your foot cannot stand before our face,
for thy fathers have twice been put to flight in their own
land:
10:73. And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen,
and so great an army in the plain, where there is no stone,
nor rock, nor place to flee to?
10:74. Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he
was moved in his mind: and he chose ten thousand men, and
went out of Jerusalem, and Simon, his brother, met him to
help him.
10:75. And they pitched their tents near Joppe, but they
shut him out of the city: because a garrison of Apollonius
was in Joppe, and he laid siege to it.
10:76. And they that were in the city being affrighted,
opened the gates to him: so Jonathan took Joppe.
10:77. And Apollonius heard of it, and he took three
thousand horsemen, and a great army.
10:78. And he went to Azotus, as one that was making a
journey, and immediately he went forth into the plain:
because he had a great number of horsemen, and he trusted
in them. And Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, and
they joined battle.
10:79. And Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand
horsemen behind them.
10:80. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind
him, and they surrounded his army, and cast darts at the
people from morning till evening.
10:81. But the people stood still, as Jonathan had
commanded them: and so their horses were fatigued.
10:82. Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the
legion: for the horsemen were wearied: and they were
discomfited by him, and fled.
10:83. And they that were scattered about the plain fled
into Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple,
there to save themselves.
10:84. But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that
were round about it, and took the spoils of them and the
temple of Dagon: and all them that were fled into it, he
burnt with fire.
10:85. So they that were slain by the sword, with them that
were burnt, were almost eight thousand men.
10:86. And Jonathan, removed his army from thence and
camped against Ascalon: and they went out of the city to
meet him with great honour.
10:87. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his
people, having many spoils.
10:88. And it came to pass, when Alexander, the king heard
these words, that he honoured Jonathan yet more.
10:89. And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is,
to be given to such as are of the royal blood. And he gave
him Accaron, and all the borders thereof, in possession.
1 Machabees Chapter 11
Ptolemee invades the kingdom of Alexander: the latter is
slain: and the former dies soon after. Demetrius honours
Jonathan, and is rescued by the Jews from his own subjects
in Antioch. Antiochus the younger favours Jonathan. His
exploits in divers places.
11:1. And the king of Egypt gathered together an army, like
the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships: and
he sought to get the kingdom of Alexander by deceit, and
join it to his own kingdom.
11:2. And he went out into Syria with peaceable words and
they opened to him the cities, and met him: for king
Alexander had ordered them to go forth to meet him, because
he was his father in law.
11:3. Now when Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put
garrisons of soldiers in every city.
11:4. And when he came near to Azotns, they shewed him the
temple of Dagon that was burnt with fire, and Azotus, and
the suburbs thereof, that were destroyed, and the bodies
that were cast abroad, and the graves of them that were
slain in the battle, which they had made near the way.
11:5. And they told the king that Jonathan had done these
things, to make him odious: but the king held his peace.
11:6. And Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with
glory, and they saluted one another, and they lodged there.
11:7. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river,
called Eleutherus: and he returned into Jerusalem.
11:8. And king Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by
the sea side, even to Seleucia, and he devised evil designs
against Alexander.
11:9. And he sent ambassadors to Demetrius, saying: Come,
let us make a league between us, and I will give thee my
daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in the
kingdom of thy father.
11:10. For I repent that I have given him my daughter: for
he hath sought to kill me.
11:11. And he slandered him, because he coveted his
kingdom,
11:12. And he took away his daughter, and gave her to
Demetrius, and alienated himself from Alexander, and his
enmities were made manifest.
11:13. And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two
crowns upon his head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia.
11:14. Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time:
because they that were in those places had rebelled.
11:15. And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him
battle: and king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met
him with a strong power, and put him to flight.
11:16. And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be
protected: and king Ptolemee was exalted.
11:17. And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head,
and sent it to Ptolemee.
11:18. And king Ptolemee died the third day after: and they
that were in the strong holds were destroyed by them that
were within the camp.
11:19. And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty-
seventh year.
11:20. In those days Jonathan gathered together them that
were in Judea, to take the castle that was in Jerusalem:
and they made many engines of war against it.
11:21. Then some wicked men that hated their own nation,
went away to king Demetrius, and told him that Jonathan was
besieging the castle.
11:22. And when he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith he
came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan that he should not
besiege the castle, but should come to him in haste, and
speak to him.
11:23. But when Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege
it still: and he chose some of the ancients of Israel, and
of the priests, and put himself in danger
11:24. And he took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many
other presents, and went to the king to Ptolemais and he
found favour in his sight.
11:25. And certain wicked men of his nation made complaints
against him.
11:26. And the king treated him as his predecessors had
done before: and he exalted him in the sight of all his
friends.
11:27. And he confirmed him in the high priesthood and all
the honours he had before, and he made him the chief of his
friends.
11:28. And Jonathan requested of the king that he would
make Judea free from tribute, and the three governments,
and Samaria, and the confines thereof: and he promised him
three hundred talents.
11:29. And the king consented: and he wrote letters to
Jonathan of all these things, to this effect.
11:30. King Demetrius to his brother, Jonathan, and to the
nation of the Jews, greeting.
11:31. We send you here a copy of the letter which we have
written to Lasthenes, our parent, concerning you, that you
might know it.
11:32. King Demetrius to Lasthenes, his parent, greetings.
11:33. We have determined to do good to the nation of the
Jews, who are our friends, and keep the things that are
just with us, for their good will which they bear towards
us.
11:34. We have ratified, therefore, unto them all the
borders of Judea, and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda,
and Ramatha, which are added to Judea, out of Samaria, and
all their confines, to be set apart to all them that
sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the
king received of them every year, and for the fruits of the
land, and of the trees.
Apherema... is found only in the Greek version.
11:35. And as for other things that belonged to us of the
tithes, and of the tributes, from this time we discharge
them of them: the saltpans also, and the crowns that were
presented to us.
11:36. We give all to them, and nothing hereof shall be
revoked from this time forth and for ever.
11:37. Now, therefore, see that thou make a copy of these
things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and set upon the
holy mountain, in a conspicuous place.
11:38. And king Demetrius, seeing that the land was quiet
before him, and nothing resisted him, sent away all his
forces, every man to his own place, except the foreign
army, which he had drawn together from the islands of the
nations: so all the troops of his fathers hated him.
11:39. Now there was one Tryphon who had been of
Alexander's party before: who seeing that all the army
murmured against Demetrius, went to Emalchuel, the Arabian,
who brought up Antiochus, the son of Alexander:
11:40. And he pressed him much to deliver him to him, that
he might be king in his father's place: and he told him all
that Demetrius had done, and how his soldiers hated him.
And he remained there many days.
11:41. And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that
he would cast out them that were in the castle in
Jerusalem, and those that were in the strong holds: because
they fought against Israel.
11:42. And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not
only do this for thee, and for thy people, but I will
greatly honour thee, and thy nation, when opportunity shall
serve.
11:43. Now, therefore, thou shalt do well if thou send me
men to help me: for all my army is gone from me.
11:44. And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to
Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king was very
glad of their coming.
11:45. And they that were of the city assembled themselves
together, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand
men, and would have killed the king.
11:46. And the king fled into the palace: and they of the
city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
11:47. And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and
they came to him all at once, and they all dispersed
themselves through the city.
11:48. And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men,
and they set fire to the city, and got many spoils that
day, and delivered the king.
11:49. And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had
got the city as they would: and they were discouraged in
their mind, and cried to the king, making supplication, and
saying
1:50. Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from
assaulting us, and the city.
11:51. And they threw down their arms, and made peace, and
the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and in
the sight of all that were in his realm, and were renowned
throughout the kingdom, and returned to Jerusalem with many
spoils.
11:52. So king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom:
and the land was quiet before him.
11:53. And he falsified all whatsoever he had said, and
alienated himself from Jonathan, and did not reward him
according to the benefits he had received from him, but
gave him great trouble.
11:54. And after this Tryphon returned, and with him
Antiochus, the young boy, who was made king, and put on the
diadem.
11:55. And there assembled unto him all the hands which
Demetrius had sent away, and they fought against Demetrius
who turned his back and fled.
11:56. And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself
master of Antioch. 11:57. And young Antiochus wrote to
Jonathan, saying: I confirm thee in the high priesthood,
and I appoint thee ruler over the four cities, and to be
one of the king's friends.
11:58. And he sent him vessels of gold for his service, and
he gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in
purple, and to wear a golden buckle:
11:59. And he made his brother, Simon, governor, from the
borders of Tyre even to the confines of Egypt.
11:60. Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the
cities beyond the river, and all the forces of Syria
gathered themselves to him to help him, and he came to
Ascalon, and they met him hononrably out of the city.
11:61. And he went from thence to Gaza: and they that were
in Gaza shut him out: and he besieged it, and burnt all the
suburbs round about, and took the spoils.
11:62. And the men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan,
and he gave them the right hand: and he took their sons for
hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem: and he went through
the country, as far as Damascus.
11:63. And Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius
were come treacherously to Cades, which is in Galilee, with
a great army, purposing to remove him from the affairs of
the kingdom.
11:64. And he went against them: but left his brother,
Simon, in the country.
11:65. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted
it many days, and shut them up.
11:66. And they desired him to make peace, and he granted
it them: and he cast them out from thence, and took the
city, and placed a garrison in it.
11:67. And Jonathan and his army encamped by the water of
Genesar, and before it was light they were ready in the
plain of Asor.
11:68. And behold the army of the strangers met him in the
plain, and they laid an ambush for him in the mountains:
but he went out against them.
11:69. And they that lay in ambush rose out of their
places, and joined battle.
11:70. And all that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none
was left of them, but Mathathias, the son of Absalom, and
Judas, the son of Calphi, chief captain of the army.
11:71. And Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon
his head, and prayed.
11:72. And Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he
put them to flight, and they fought.
11:73. And they of his part that fled saw this, and they
turned again to him, and they all with him pursued the
enemies, even to Cades, to their own camp, and they came
even thither.
11:74. And there fell of the aliens in that day three
thousand men: and Jonathan returned to Jernsalem.
1 Machabees Chapter 12
Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and
Lacedemonians. The forces of Demetrius flee away from him.
He is deceived and made prisoner by Tryphon.
12:1. And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he
chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to
renew the amity with them:
12:2. And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other
places, according to the same form.
12:3. And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate
house, and said: Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation
of the Jews, have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance,
as it was before.
12:4. And they gave them letters to their governors in
every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with
peace. 12:5. And this is a copy of the letters which
Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
12:6. Jonathan, the high priest, and the ancients of the
nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the
Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.
12:7. There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high
priest, from Arius, who reigned then among you to signify
that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten
doth specify.
12:8. And Onias received the ambassador with honour and
received the letters, wherein there was mention made of the
alliance, and amity.
12:9. We, though we needed none of these things having for
our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,
12:10. Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood
and friendship, lest we should become stranger to you
altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent
to us.
12:11. We, therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in
our festivals, and other days wherein it is convenient,
remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our
observances, as it is meet and becoming to remember
brethren.
12:12. And we rejoice at yonr glory.
12:13. But we have had many troubles and wars on every
side; and the kings that are round about us have fought
against us.
12:14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the
rest of our allies and friends, in these wars.
12:15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been
delivered, and our enemies are humbled.
12:16. We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of
Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent
them to the Romans, to renew with them the former amity and
alliance.
12:17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and
salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the
renewing of our brotherhood.
12:18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer
hereto.
12:19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent
to Onias:
12:20. Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high
priest, greeting.
12:21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and
the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the
stock of Abraham.
12:22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do
well to write to us of your prosperity.
12:23. And we also have written back to you, That our
cattle, and our possessions, are yours: and yours, ours.
We, therefore, have commanded that these things should be
told you.
12:24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius
were come again with a greater army than before to fight
against him.
12:25. So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the
land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his
country.
12:26. And he sent spies into their camp, and they came
back, and brought him word that they designed to come upon
them in the night.
12:27. And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men
to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight,
and he set sentinels round about the camp.
12:28. And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were
ready for battle: and they were struck with fear and dread
in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.
12:29. But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it
not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
12:30. And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them
not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.
12:31. And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are
called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils
of them.
12:32. And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and
passed through all that country.
12:33. Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon,
and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to
Joppe, and took possession of it,
12:34. (For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold
to them that took part with Demetrius) and he put a
garrison there to keep it.
12:35. And Jonathan came back, and called together the
ancients of the people; and he took a resolution with them
to build fortresses in Judea,
12:36. And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a
mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from
the city, that so it might have no communication, and that
they might neither buy nor sell.
12:37. And they came together to build up the city: for the
wall that was upon the brook, towards the east, was broken
down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:
12:38. And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it,
and set up gates and bars.
12:39. Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make
himself king of Asia and to take the crown, and to stretch
out his hand against king Antiochus:
12:40. Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but
would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and
to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.
12:41. And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty
thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.
12:42. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great
army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him.
12:43. But received him with honour, and commended him to
all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded
his troops to obey him, as himself.
12:44. And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all
the people, whereas we have no war?
12:45. Now, therefore, send them back to their own houses:
and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come
with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and
the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that
have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is
the cause of my coming.
12:46. And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and
sent away his army, and they departed into the land of
Juda:
12:47. But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he
sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with
him.
12:48. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they
of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and
all them that came in with him they slew with the sword.
12:49. Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee,
and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's
company.
12:50. But they, when they understood that Jonathan, and
all that were with him, were taken and slain, encouraged
one another, and went out ready for battle.
12:51. Then they that had come after them, seeing that they
stood for their lives, returned back.
12:52. Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of
Juda and they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been
with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great
lamentation.
12:53. Then all the heathens that were round about them,
sought to destroy them. For they said:
12:54. They have no prince, nor any to help them: now
therefore, let us make war upon them, and take away the
memory of them from amongst men.
1 Machabees Chapter 13
Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother.
Jonathan is slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by
Demetrius: he taketh Gaza, and the castle of Jerusalem.
13:1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a
very great army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy
it.
13:2. And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear,
he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people,
13:3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great
battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have
fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses
that we have seen:
13:4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their
lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.
13:5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any
time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.
13:6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and
our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered
together to destroy us out of mere malice.
13:7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as
they heard these words:
13:8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art
our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy
brother:
13:9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever
thou shalt say to us.
13:10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made
haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he
fortified it round about.
13:11. And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with
him a new army, into Joppe, and he cast out them that were
in it, and himself remained there.
13:12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great
army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him
in custody.
13:13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.
13:14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up
in the place of his brother, Jonathan, and that he meant to
join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,
13:15. Saying: We have detained thy brother, Jonathan, for
the money that he owed in the king's account, by reason of
the affairs which he had the management of.
13:16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his
two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he
may not revolt from us, and we will release him.
13:17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him;
nevertheless, he ordered the money and the children to be
sent, lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of
the people of Israel, who might have said:
13:18. Because he sent not the money and the children
therefore is he lost.
13:19. So he sent the children and the hundred talents and
he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.
13:20. And after this, Tryphon entered within the country,
to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth
to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place
whithersoever they went.
Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever
they went... That is, whithersoever Tryphon and his
horsemen went in order to oppose them.
13:21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to
Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the
desert, and send them victuals.
13:22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that
night; but there fell a very great snow, and he came not
into the country of Galaad.
13:23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan
and his sons there.
13:24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.
13:25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his
brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.
13:26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation:
and they mourned for him many days.
13:27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and
of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished
stone, behind and before:
13:28. And he set up seven pyramids, one against another,
for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren:
13:29. And round about these he set great pillars; and upon
the pillars, arms, for a perpetual memory; and by the arms,
ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the
sea.
13:30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin, even
unto this day.
13:31. But Tryphon, when he was upon a journey with the
young king, Antiochus, treacherously slew him.
13:32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of
Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.
13:33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea,
fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and
gates and bars: and he stored up victuals in the
fortresses.
13:34. And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to
the end that he should grant an immunity to the land; for
all that Tryphon did, was to spoil.
13:35. And king Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote
a letter in this manner:
13:36. King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, and friend
of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the
Jews, greeting:
13:37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we
have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with
you, and to write to the king's chief officers to release
you the things that we have released.
13:38. For all that we have decreed in your favour shall
stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall
be your own.
13:39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto
this day, we forgive it: and the crown which you owed: and
if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not
be taxed.
13:40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours,
let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
13:41. In the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the
Gentiles was taken off from Israel.
13:42. And the people of Israel began to write in the
instruments, and public records, The first year under
Simon, the high priest, the great captain, and prince of
the Jews.
13:43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round
about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city,
and he struck one tower, and took it.
13:44. And they that were within the engine leapt into the
city: and there was a great uproar in the city.
13:45. And they that were in the city went up, with their
wives and children, upon the wall, with their garments
rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to
grant them peace.
13:46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our
evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.
13:47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them but yet
he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses
wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it
with hymns, blessing the Lord:
13:48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed
in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it,
and made it his habitation.
13:49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were
hindered from going out and coming into the country, and
from buying and selling: and they were straitened with
hunger, and many of them perished through famine.
13:50. And they cried to Simon for peace, and he granted it
to them: and he cast them out from thence and cleansed the
castle from uncleannesses.
13:51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day
of the second month, in the year one hundred and
seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees,
and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and
canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of
Israel.
13:52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every
year with gladness.
13:53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was
near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that
were with him.
13:54. And Simon saw that John, his son, was a valiant man
for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he
dwelt in Gazara.
1 Machabees Chapter 14
Demetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes
under the government of Simon.
14:1. In the year one hundred and seventy-two king
Demetrius assembled his army, and went into Media to get
him succours to fight against Tryphon.
14:2. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that
Demetrius was entered within his borders, and he sent one
of his princes to take him alive, and bring him to him.
14:3. And he went, and defeated the army of Demetrius: and
took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into
custody.
14:4. And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of
Simon, and he sought the good of his nation: and his power,
and his glory pleased them well all his days.
14:5. And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and
made an entrance to the isles of the sea.
14:6. And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made
himself master of the country.
14:7. And he gathered together a great number of captives,
and had the dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the
castle: and took away all uncleanness out of it, and there
was none that resisted him.
14:8. And every man tilled his land with peace, and the
land of Juda yielded her increase, and the trees of the
fields their fruit.
14:9. The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated
together of the good things of the land, and the youug men
put on them glory, and the robes of war.
14:10. And he provided victuals for the cities, and he
appointed that they should be furnished with ammunition, so
that the fame of his glory was renowned even to the end of
the earth.
14:11. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with
great joy.
14:12. And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig
tree: and there was none to make them afraid.
14:13. There was none left in the land to fight against
them: kings were discomfited in those days.
14:14. And he strengthened all those of his people that
were brought low, and he sought the law, and took away
every unjust and wicked man.
14:15. He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the
vessels of the holy places.
14:16. And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that
Jonathan was dead: and they were very sorry.
14:17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, was
made high priest in his place, and was possessed of all the
country, and the cities therein:
14:18. They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the
friendship and alliance which they had made with Judas and
with Jonathan, his brethren.
14:19. And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem.
And this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.
14:20. The princes and the cities of the Spartans, to
Simon, the high priest, and to the ancients, and the
priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, their
brethren, greeting.
14:21. The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have
told us of your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced
at their coming.
14:22. And we registered what was said by them in the
councils of the people, in this manner: Numenius, the son
of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, ambassadors
of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with
us.
14:23. And it pleased the people to receive the men
honourably, and to put a copy of their words in the public
records, to be a memorial to the people of the Spartans.
And we have written a copy of them to Simon, the high
priest.
14:24. And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a
great shield of gold, of the weight of a thousand pounds,
to confirm the league with them. And when the people of
Rome had heard
14:25. These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to
Simon, and his sons:
14:26. For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven
away in fight the enemies of Israel from them: and they
decreed him liberty, and registered it in tables of brass,
and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.
14:27. And this is a copy of the writing. The eighteenth
day of the month Elul, in the year one hundred and
seventy-two, being the third year under Simon, the high
priest, at Asaramel,
14:28. In a great assembly of the priests, and of the
people, and the princes of the nation, and the ancients of
the country, these things were notified: Forasmuch as there
have often been wars in our country,
14:29. And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the children of
Jarib, and his brethren, have put themselves in danger, and
resisted the enemies of their nation, for the maintenance
of their holy places, and the law: and have raised their
nation to great glory.
14:30. And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was
made their high priest, and he was laid to his people.
14:31. And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy
their country, and to stretch forth their hands against
their holy places.
14:32. Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and
laid out much of his money, and armed the valiant men of
his nation, and gave them wages.
14:33. And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura
that lieth in the borders of Judea, where the armour of the
enemies was before: and he placed there a garrison of Jews.
14:34. And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the sea: and
Gazara, which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies
dwelt before, and he placed Jews here: and furnished them
with all things convenient for their reparation.
14:35. And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what
glory he meant to bring his nation, made him their prince
and high priest, because he had done all these things, and
for the justice and faith which he kept to his nation, and
for that he sought by all means to advance his people.
14:36. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so
that the heathens were taken away out of their country, and
they also that were in the city of David, in Jerusalem, in
the castle, out of which they issued forth, and profaned
all places round about the sanctuary, and did much evil to
purity.
14:37. And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the
country, and of the city, and he raised up the walls of
Jerusalem.
14:38. And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high
priesthood.
14:39. According to these things he made him his friend,
and glorified him with great glory.
14:40. For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews
their friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that
they had received Simon's ambassadors with honour:
14:41. And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented
that he should be their prince and high priest for ever,
till there should arise a faithful prophet:
14:42. And that he should be chief over them, and that he
should have the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should
appoint rulers over their works, and over the country, and
over the armour, and over the strong holds;
14:43. And that he should have care of the holy places; and
that he should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings
in the country should be made in his name; and that he
should be clothed with purple and gold:
14:44. And that it should not be lawful for any of the
people, or of the priests, to disannul any of these things,
or to gainsay his words, or to call together an assembly in
the country without him: or to be clothed with purple, or
to wear a buckle of gold.
14:45. And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void
any of these things, shall be punished.
14:46. And it pleased all the people to establish Simon,
and to do according to these words.
14:47. And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to
execute the office of the high priesthood, and to be
captain, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and of the
priests, and to be chief over all.
14:48. And they commanded that this writing should be put
in tables of brass, and that they should be set up within
the compass of the sanctuary, in a conspicuous place:
14:49. And that a copy thereof should be put in the
treasury, that Simon, and his sons, may have it.
1 Machabees Chapter 15
Antiochus son of Demetrius honours Simon. The Romans write
to divers nations in favour of the Jews. Antiochus quarrels
with Simon, and sends troops to annoy him.
15:1. And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent
letters from the isles of the sea to Simon, the priest, and
prince of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people:
15:2. And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon,
the high priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
15:3. Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the
kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the
kingdom, and to restore it to its former estate; and I have
chosen a great army, and have built ships of war.
15:4. And I design to go through the country, that I may
take revenge of them that have destroyed our country, and
that have made many cities desolate in my realm.
15:5. Now, therefore, I confirm unto thee all the oblations
which all the kings before me remitted to thee, and what
other gifts soever they remitted to thee:
15:6. And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy
country:
15:7. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the
armour that hath been made, and the fortresses which thou
hast built, and which thou keepest in thy hands, let them
remain to thee.
15:8. And all that is due to the king, and what should be
the king's hereafter, from this present and for ever, is
forgiven thee.
15:9. And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will
glorify thee, and thy nation, and the temple, with great
glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the
earth.
15:10. In the year one hundred and seventy-four, Antiochus
entered into the land of his fathers, and all the forces
assembled to him, so that few were left with Tryphon.
15:11. And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled
along by the sea coast and came to Dora.
15:12. For he perceived that evils were gathered together
upon him, and his troops had forsaken him.
15:13. And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and
twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen:
15:14. And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by
sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and
suffered none to come in, or to go out.
15:15. And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came
from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings,
and countries, the contents whereof were these:
15:16. Lucius, the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee,
greeting.
Ptolemee... Surnamed Physeon, brother and successor to
Philometer.
15:17. The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to
us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, being sent
from Simon, the high priest, and the people of the Jews.
15:18. And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand
pounds.
15:19. It hath seemed good therefore to us, to write to the
kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor
fight against them, their cities, or countries: and that
they should give no aid to them that fight against them.
15:20. And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield
of them.
15:21. If, therefore, any pestilent men are fled out of
their country to you, deliver them to Simon, the high
priest, that he may punish them according to their law.
15:22. These same things were written to king Demetrius,
and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,
Attalus, etc... Attalus was king of Pergamus; Ariarathes
was king of Cappadocia; and Arsaces was king of the
Parthians.
15:23. And to all the countries: and to Lampsacus and to
the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and
Caria, and Samus, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and
Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes,
and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and
Cyrene.
15:24. And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon, the high
priest, and to the people of the Jews.
15:25. But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second
time, assaulting it continually, and making engines: and he
shut up Tryphon, that he could not go out.
15:26. And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid
him, silver also, and gold, and abundance of furniture.
15:27. And he would not receive them, but broke all the
covenant that he had made with him before, and alienated
himself from him.
15:28. And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends,
to treat with him, saying: You hold Joppe and Gazara, and
the castle that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my
kingdom:
15:29. Their borders you have wasted, and you have made
great havoc in the land, and have got the dominion of many
places in my kingdom.
15:30. Now, therefore, deliver up the cities that you have
taken, and the tributes of the places whereof you have
gotten the dominion without the borders of Judea.
15:31. But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of
silver, and for the havoc that you have made, and the
tributes of the cities, other five hundred talents: or else
we will come and fight against you.
15:32. So Athenobius, the king's friend came to Jerusalem,
and saw the glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold,
and silver, and his great equipage, and he was astonished,
and told him the king's words.
15:33. And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have
neither taken other men's land, neither do we hold that
which is other men's, but the inheritance of our fathers,
which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.
15:34. But we having opportunity, claim the inheritance of
our fathers.
15:35. And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and
Gazara, they did great harm to the people, and to our
country: yet for these we will give a hundred talents. And
Athenobius answered him not a word.
15:36. But returning in a rage to the king, made report to
him of these words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all
that he had seen, and the king was exceeding angry.
15:37. And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias.
15:38. And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea
coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen.
15:39. And he commanded him to march with his army towards
Judea: and he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to
fortify the gates of the city, and to war against the
people. But the king himself pursued after Tryphon.
15:40. And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke
the people, and to ravage Judea, and to take the people
prisoners, and to kill, and to build Gedor.
15:41. And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they
might issue forth, and make incursions upon the ways of
Judea, as the king had commanded him.
1 Machabees Chapter 16
The sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon
with two of his sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee
his son in law.
16:1. Then John came up from Gazara, and told Simon, his
father, what Cendebeus had done against their people.
John... He was afterwards surnamed Hircanus, and succeeded
his father in both his dignities of high priest and
prince. He conquered the Edomites, and obliged them to a
conformity with the Jews in religion; and destroyed the
schismatical temple of the Samaritans.
16:2. And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John,
and said to them: I and my brethren, and my father's house,
have fought against the enemies of Israel from our youth
even to this day: and things have prospered so well in our
hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.
16:3. And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my
brethren, and go out, and fight for our nation: and the
help from heaven be with you.
16:4. Then he chose out of the country twenty thousand
fighting men, and horsemen, and they went forth against
Cendebeus: and they rested in Modin.
16:5. And they arose in the morning, and went into the
plain: and behold a very great army of footmen and horsemen
came against them, and there was a running river between
them.
16:6. And he and his people pitched their camp over against
them, and he saw that the people were afraid to go over the
river, so he went over first: then the men seeing him,
passed over after him.
He... Viz., John.
16:7. And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in
the midst of the footmen: but the horsemen of the enemies
were very numerous.
16:8. And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus and
his army were put to flight: and there fell many of them
wounded, and the rest fled into the strong hold.
16:9. At that time, Judas, John's brother, was wounded: but
John pursued after them, till he came to Cedron, which he
had built:
Cedron... Otherwise called Gedon, the city that Cendebeus
was fortifying.
16:10. And they fled even to the towers that were in the
fields of Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there
fell of them two thousand men, and he returned into Judea
in peace.
16:11. Now Ptolemee, the son of Abobus, was appointed
captain in the plain of Jericho, and he had abundance of
silver and gold.
16:12. For he was son in law of the high priest.
16:13. And his heart was lifted up, and he designed to make
himself master of the country, and he purposed treachery
against Simon and his sons, to destroy them.
16:14. Now Simon, as he was going through the cities that
were in the country of Judea, and taking care for the good
ordering of them, went down to Jericho, he and Mathathias
and Judas, his sons, in the year one hundred and
seventy-seven, the eleventh month: the same is the month
Sabath.
16:15. And the son of Abobus received them deceitfully into
a little fortress, that is called Doch, which he had built:
and he made them a great feast, and hid men there.
16:16. And when Simon and his sons had drunk plentifully,
Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and
entered into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his
two sons, and some of his servants.
16:17. And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and
rendered evil for good.
16:18. And Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the
king that he should send him an army to aid him, and he
would deliver him the country, and their cities, and
tributes.
16:19. And he sent others to Gazara to kill John: and to
the tribunes he sent letters to come to him, and that he
would give them silver, and gold, and gifts.
16:20. And he sent others to take Jerusalem, and the
mountain of the temple.
16:21. Now one running before, told John in Gazara, that
his father and his brethren were slain, and that he hath
sent men to kill thee also.
16:22. But when he heard it, he was exceedingly afraid: and
he apprehended the men that came to kill him, and he put
them to death: for he knew that they sought to make him
away.
16:23. And as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and
his wars, and the worthy deeds, which he bravely achieved,
and the building of the walls, which he made, and the
things that he did:
16:24. Behold, these are written in the book of the days of
his priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest
after his father.
The text in this file was taken with permission from Catholic Software's Douay Bible program, a complete multimedia Bible for the PC. The complete product description follows:
Douay Bible ME: A multimedia Bible. Text and footnotes are from the 1899 version of the Douay-Rheims Bible. Supports unlimited cut and paste as well as searches. It also has a concordance, topical index, and maps. These features make it powerful and easy to use. Music and color photography make it a visual and auditory feast. However, if your computer doesn't support multimedia, you can suppress these features at installation time. Available for DOS, Windows, or Windows 95. $85.00. Order from: Catholic Software, P.O. Box 1914, Murray, KY 42071. Phone: 1-502-753-8198.