Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)

Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor.

But the King of kings moved Antiochus' mind against this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.

Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had a round instrument, which on every side hanged down into the ashes.

And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.

Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:

for inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.

Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father's time.

Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:

and that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.

So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.

And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king's host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter [in fight] by the help of the Lord.

So when he had committed [all] to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:

and having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king's tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.

And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.

This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the Lord did help him.

Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews, he went about to take the holds by policy,

and marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:

for Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary.

But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews' host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.

The king treated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his hand, took their's, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome:

heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly with the place,

and accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;

came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void.

Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king's coming and departing.

After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the [son] of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy,

had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his protector.

Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling [with the Gentiles], seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,

came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple: and so that day he held his peace.

Howbeit, having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprise, [and] being called into council by Demetrius, and asked how the Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:

Those of the Jews that be called Assideans, whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war, and are seditious, and will not let the realm be in peace.

Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honour, I mean the high priesthood, am now come hither:

first, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own citizens: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforesaid.

Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.

For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.

This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense Demetrius.

And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,

commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.

Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the Jews to be their welfare.

Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.

So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.

Now Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.

Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.

Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to make peace.

So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,

and appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,

Judas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a peaceable conference.

Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.

And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he loved the man from his heart.

He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life.

But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state: for that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king's successor.

Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.

When this came to Nicanor's hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.

But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy.

Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.

But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas' policy, came into the great and holy temple, and commanded the priests, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.

And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,

he stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and I will break down the altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.

After these words, he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;

Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:

therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.

Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.

For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.

So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:

for he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.

Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;

choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:

but missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.

But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.

Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,

when as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.

But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.

Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above [other days].

Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.

And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:

then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.

So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.

But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:

wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.

And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.

And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithal the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.

Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.

And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.

This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.

Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, [to wit], Jeremias the prophet of God.

Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,

Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.

Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.

For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and kinsfolks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.

Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.

And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,

Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:

therefore in his prayer he said after this manner: O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:

wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them;

and through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.

But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer.

So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.

Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.

Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

And [Judas], who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.