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 the 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 him.
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.
7:10. 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 provisions 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 the 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.