Chronicles of Jerahmeel (Gaster, 1899) Reader

XCIV. (1) Judah, the son of Mattathias, and with him the assembly of the Hassidim, now went up to Jerusalem, and overthrowing the altars which the uncircumcised had built, they cleansed the temple of the abominations of the nations, and building a new altar, they placed upon it the flesh of the sacrifice, and arranged the wood, but the holy

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fire they could not find. Then calhng in prayer upon the Lord, fire came forth from a stone upon the altar, and they placed the wood upon it. This fire remained with them until the time of the third captivity. On the 25th of Kislev they dedicated the altar, and placing the showbread in its place and kindling the lights, they praised the name of the Lord by reading the ' Hallel Psalms ' for eight days.

(2) After this dedication, Judah marched to the land of Edom, and Gorgias came to meet him with a huge multi- tude of men, but Judah smote Gorgias and his camp, and put them all to flight. Pursuing them, Judah' s men left upon the field 20,000 of the enemy slain. Gorgias then fled to Arabia to Timotheos. And Timotheos, marching out with 120,000 men of the Macedonian and Arabian armies, went into the land of Gad and Gilead, and slew many of the Jews, so that they sent a letter to Judah, saying, ' Come up and save us, for the sword of Timotheos is consuming us.' Again another letter arrived, saying, ' The sword of Tyre and Sidon is destroying us, and the men of Macedonia who dwell there.' (3) As soon as Judah heard these words, he cried to the Lord in fasting and prayer, and selecting all the valiant men and the Hassi- dim, he made haste to pass the Jordan. Simeon also took with him 3,000 men of Judah, and hastening to Galilee, engaged in a fierce battle, in which he slew 8,000 men, and thus delivered his brethren in Galilee. Then, taking the spoil of the slain, he returned to Jerusalem.

(4) Judah the Anointed one of battle, having passed the Jordan, arrived at Gilead, where they found Timotheos attacking the city on Mount Gilead, and, having girded himself for the fray, a fierce battle ensued. The two armies stood opposite each other, that of Timotheos being mighty and strong, while Judah's army was few in number. And in the midst of the fight Judah cried unto the Lord, when he suddenly beheld five young horsemen, clothed in gold. Two of them stood in front of Judah, and then, placing themselves one on each side of him, protected him with their shields, while the other three fought against the

camp of Timotheos. As soon as Judah saw them, he at once knew that they were sent from heaven to assist the pious, and, encouraging his men, he pressed hard upon Timotheos's army and smote 20,500 of his men. Timo- theos himself and his army fled thence towards the Jordan, but Judah was after him, making havoc among them all the time until they came to Aza.

(5) Here Timotheos recruited his men and prepared again for battle, for the whole army of Philistia had now joined his ranks. When Judah arrived at that place he leaped upon them as a lion upon a flock of sheep. Timo- theos took to flight, and his whole army w^as scattered in confusion. The Hasmoneans pursued them and cut them to pieces until there were none left. Timotheos fled to Aza, and there took refuge within the closed gates of the city, from the high walls of which he still gave battle. For five days Judah and his men besieged it.

(6) On the fifth day the men of Timotheos, ascending the high tower, cursed and defied the Anointed one of battle, and taunted them all with words of insolence. At length twenty Hasmoneans, becoming heated through passion on account of the reproaches, took their shields in their left hands and their swords in their right hands, and, running towards the wall, scaled it one after another by means of a ladder. Then, smiting those upon the wall, they made room for their fellows, all of whom likewise scaled the wall. The twenty men then went into the market-place of the city, shouting and killing many of the enemy. Then, going towards the gate, they attacked it within, while the whole army of the Hasmoneans ap- proached it from without, and set fire to it, whereupon the gate fell to the ground. In this manner was the city of Aza captured. Then, seizing the men who defied the Anointed one of battle, they burnt them to death, and put the inhabitants to the edge of the sword. For two whole days they did not cease from their deadly work of slaughter.

(7) Timotheos, fleeing, hid himself in one of the pits and could not be found. But they discovered his brothers,

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Birean (|!?^0'?) and Apollopanis (D''J2i'?iqn*), and brought them to Judah, who ordered then- heads to be cut off. The spoil of the cit}^ they carried to Jerusalem with songs, praises and thanksgivings, and sang the Psalms of David, King of Israel, to the Lord, whose mercy endureth for ever.

XCV. (1) Now, when it came to the ear of Antiochus Eopator, son of Antiochus called Epiphanes, who had wrought such evil in Jerusalem, who slew the pious men, and who ultimately died from the severe plagues inflicted upon him, as we have stated above, (2) this Antiochus Eopator sent Lysias, his cousin, with an army of 80,000 horsemen and eighty elephants, a mighty army. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and gave battle at Bethter (inn^n); building a ditch round about the city, he began to attack the city with a battering-ram and with stones, while Judah and the whole army of the Hasmoneans dwelt in the forests and on the mountains away from the Greek army. Judah said to his men, ' Come, let us approach the Lord our God in fasting and in supplication, and then let us march against the Greek army of Javan, who are attacking Bethter.'

(3) After the fast he blew the Shofar, and then gave the signal for battle, and he and all his men went to assist their brethren in Bethter. When they came to Jerusalem they entered the temple, offered peace-offerings, sacrificed burnt- offerings, and cried to the Lord. Then, departing from Jerusalem to go to Bethter to the Macedonian camp, Judah said to his men, ' Be strong and of good cheer; for the people of the Lord and for our brethren, let us rather perish together in the fight than see any evil fall upon our people.'

(4) When he had finished speaking, he lifted up his eyes and beheld between heaven and earth a man, well dressed, riding upon a horse like a flame of fire, and in his hand a spear. His back was turned towards the Hasmoneans and his face to the camp of the Greeks, with his hand stretched out ready to smite it. Judah then exclaimed, ' Blessed be He who has sent His messenger to save His people and to

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smite the camp of His enemies.' Hastening thence, they went to Bethter, and, springing upon the Macedonian camp, they put them into confusion, and slaughtered 11,000 foot and 1,600 horsemen. Lysias and his men fled for their lives in shame and disorder, and Lysias then knowing that God was fighting against the enemies of Israel, made a covenant with Judah.

(5) The following is the letter which Lysias sent to the people of Judah:

* Lysias, chief of the king's army and vicegerent of Antiochus, to Judah the Anointed of battle and to all his people be there greeting! Be it known to you that I have received letters you sent through your messengers, Johanan and Absalom, and that I have carried out whatever they told me. I read the letter with good feeling and have fulfilled everything contained therein. I have told the king the message on your behalf, and have given answer to Johanan and Absalom. I have further charged the messengers I sent to you with words of peace.'

(6) This is the contents of the letter which the king sent to Lysias, his cousin:

' King Antiochus to Lysias my brother greeting! Be it known to thee that we have received the letter thou didst send us concerning the Jews, and that we have read it with every good feeling. My father has gone the way of all flesh, he has ceased to be with men and has been taken with angels; but I seek for the welfare of all my kingdom, to stop wars, and to establish peace. I have heard that the Jews refused to listen to my father to violate their law, and that they have therefore conquered by the sword and slain the chief men and the most honoured of my father's kingdom. Now give them thy right hand, and make a covenant with them that they may know it to be my will and my hearty desire that they live in peace and observe their law according to their own wish.'

(7) And this is the contents of the letter which the king

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sent to Judah: ' King Antiochus Eopator to Judah the Anointed one of battle and to the rest of the people greeting! Be it known to you that I have issued a decree throughout all my cities and to all the peoples subjected to my rule, that they should not oppress the Jews, but leave them to keep and to observe your law. Pardon whatever actions my father erringiy did, and if we have also erred we send you Menelaos to speak to you words of peace.'

XCVI. (1) In those days the Lord began to render the fourth kingdom more powerful than the third, that is the kingdom of Eome, which was stirred up against the kingdom of Greece. The name of the Koman was exalted over all the empires of the world. That was the fourth animal which Daniel, that greatly-beloved man, saw in a vision. Just as that animal devoured, crushed and trampled upon everything, so did this nation of Eomans devour and crush all the other nations. It was they who fought with Antiochus, King of Greece, his 120 elephants and a strong and powerful army of infantry and cavalry, whom they conquered in the battle, and compelled to pay the Eomans tribute.

(2) They also humbled the pride of Annibal, King of Africa, who reigned over the city whose name was Carthagene. Annibal entered the field with an army as mighty and as numerous as the sand upon the seashore. With him were all the armies of Ethiopia, Phut and Lud, and other mighty nations. Having crossed the narrow sea between Africa and Sefarad, he humbled the pride of the nation of the Goths (DiniJ). Journeying thence, he arrived in the land of Germania by the sea Oceanus. Thence he came to Italy and engaged in battle with the Eomans, who went out to meet him. It was a long and fierce contest, in which the Eomans were utterly routed.

(3) The Eomans, however, continued to fight, and in ten years no less than eighteen battles were fought with Annibal, but they could make no stand before him. At length, they again mustered all their warriors, at the head

of whom were two valiant men, ^milius and Varros. Having arranged their men in Kne of battle by the river Eopiros (on^siNS), the battle was fought at Canusi (^Di::p), a large city. Here a fierce and desperate battle was fought, in which 90,000 Komans met their death. (4) Among them was iEmilius, one of the Eoman commanders. Varros (onn), however, managed to escape to Venosia (nx^Dija), a city situated between the mountains and the plain. Of Annibal's men, 40,000 were killed in that battle. Having pursued the Romans up to the gates of the city, he besieged the city for eight days, and building turrets in front of the city, fought against it.

(5) Then the Roman counsellors said to each other, * Let us open the gate and come and make a covenant with Annibal, that we may live and not be put to death.' This they determined to do, when a young man, whose name was Scipios (d^N'-D''^), arose, and said to the 320 counsellors of the city, ' Far be it from us to subject ourselves to Annibal.' 'But what can we do,' answered they, 'since we have not been able to make a stand before Annibal for the last eighteen years?' 'Then,' said Scipio, 'come, let us take counsel. Give me about five legions of men, and I will go to the land of Africa and attack and destroy his land. As soon as Annibal hears this, he will hasten away from Rome to deliver his own land from my hands, and thus will ye obtain rest.'

(6) Having consented to his proposal, he took with him 30,000 Romans, and marching to Africa, the country of Annibal, he engaged in battle, in which Astrubal, Annibal's brother, was slain. Scipio cut ofi' his head and brought it to Rome, and, mounting the wall, he cried out to Annibal, ' Why art thou so eager for our land, and dost not go to deliver thy own land from my hands, which I am destroying?' He then sent Annibal his brother's head. When he recognised it he braced himself up, and hardening his heart, swore not to leave the city until he had taken it, and he besieged it for several days more.

(7) Scipio then returned to Africa and entirely destroyed

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it. Thence he went to Carthagene and besieged it. And the men of Carthagene sent Annibal a letter to Kome, saying, ' Why dost thoa desire a strange land, when thine own land is taken from thee? If thou wilt not hasten here and deliver us from the hand of Scipio, we shall open the gate and give the city of Carthagene with thy palace into his hands.' (8) When he read this letter he wept, and immediately raised the siege, and going to Epirus, where lay his ships, he slew there Komans without number, men, women and children who were taken prisoners. He then went to Africa with all his army. (9) But Scipio went out to meet him, and a fierce war ensued between them, in which Annibal was conquered and about 50,000 of his men slain. He was likewise conquered in three pitched battles with Scipio. After that Annibal fled to Egypt, but Scipio followed him, and Ptolemy the king delivered him into Scipio' s hands. He was brought to Africa in great honour, and there he drank poison and died and was buried. Scipio then captured the whole land of Africa, and the place that abounds in gold and silver. Thus Piome was exalted above all the other nations.

XCVn. (1) The following is the contents of the letter which the Piomans sent to Judah, the son of Mattathiah:

' Qinsius Minios, Scipio and Menelaos, princes of Eome, to Judah the Anointed one of battle, and to the elders of Judah greeting to you! for we have heard of your power and of your battles, and are glad, also of what Antiochus and Lysias have given you, and of what they wrote concerning the Jews. Now we also write to ask you whether you will become our associates and friends, but not the friends of the Greeks, who have afflicted you. We are now going to war against Antiochia, therefore hasten to let us know who are your enemies and who your friends.'

(2) The following is the text of the covenant made between the Komans and the Jews:

' Whether on the sea or on land, whenever war is

declared against the Eomans, the Jews are to assist them with all their power. They are not to supply Kome's enemies with either implements of war, with wheat or any other food, according to the decree of the Consul and the 320 counsellors. A.nd if, on the other hand, war be declared against the Jews, the Eomans in their turn are to assist the Jews with all their power, and are not to provide the enemies of the Jews with either implements of war, or wheat or food of any kind. They should themselves not take any food from them unless in trouble. Further, neither party is to add or to diminish what had been decreed by the Consul and the 320 counsellors.'

After that the land had rest for about eight months. At that time Judah began to judge his people, and to weed out the wicked from his people.

(3) At that time the Jews lived in all the cities on the sea-coast, extending from Aza until Acco; but the Macedonian nation and the people of Joppa and Jabneh brought about great evil, for they induced the Jews living among them to board their ships, together with their wives and children, to go and have sports on the sea. The Jews, trusting them, consented to go wdth them, but when they arrived in mid-ocean they were thrown into the water and drowned, to the number of 200 souls.

(4) When Judah was informed of it he wept and proclaimed a fast. Then, hastening to Joppa, he besieged it, and God delivered it into his hands After separating the Jews, he smote the city with the edge of the sword, man, woman, child and suckling, and burnt the city to the ground. The same he did to Jabneh, besides burning the ships of both cities. The burning and conflagration could be seen as far as Jerusalem, a distance of 240 stadia. He thus avenged the blood of the women and children that were drowned in the sea. Journeying thence, he went to the Arabian desert, and having smitten many Arabs, imposed a tribute upon them.

(5) He then returned to the land of... and during

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the journey had to pass a certain city by name Kaspon (psDD). It was very strongly fortified, for nations of all kinds dwelt therein. Eelying upon their strongholds, they cursed Judah, and uttered countless slanders about Judah's people. At this Judah exclaimed, ' 0 Almighty God, at the sound of the trumpet Thou didst deliver the city of Jericho by the hands of Thy servant Joshua; now deliver this city into our hands, that I may avenge the reproach they have cast upon the people of God.' (6) Then, taking his shield in his left hand and unsheath- ing his sword, he marched bravely onwards, followed by the Hasmoneans, at a very quick pace until they reached the gate of the city. After besmearing it with pitch, and placing bushes and thorns of the desert upon it, they set fire to it and it fell to the ground. God delivered the city into his hands, and he effected a slaughter such as has never yet been known, for the pool of blood which flowed from the city as a pool of water was two stadia in length and two in breadth.

(7) Journeying from that place, he travelled a distance of 750 stadia. And Timotheos came out to meet him with 120,000 foot and 1,000 horse. After offering up his sup- plication to God, Judah marched out against Timotheos with about 10,000 chosen men. A very fierce battle ensued, in which Judah slaughtered 30,000 of Timotheos's army. Timotheos forthwith tried to escape, but Dostios (Dositheus), the captain of Judah's army, and Sosipater, a gallant warrior of Israel, pursued him and brought him back to Judah, who ordered his head to be cut off. But Timotheos wept bitterly, and implored him, saying, ' 0 my lord Judah, do not kill me, for there are many Jews dwelling in my land, and I swear that I will do good to them all the days of my life.' And he took an oath. Judah had pity upon him and did not kill him, but allowed him to go his way, and Timotheos did no more evil to the Jews all the days of his life, for he kept the oath he had taken.

(8) Journeying thence, Judah marched in the direction of the wilderness, and, meeting the army of the king that

had come into Arabia, he smote them, and, pursuing them further, slew 25,000 of their men. He next journeyed to Ephron, a large city, and besieged it, and the Lord delivered it into his hands. He slew 20,000 in the contest.

(9) Marching onwards a journey of 600 stadia, he came to a city the name of which was Scitopolis (d^'pidid^::*); and the inhabitants of Scitopohs being sorely afraid of them, came out to meet them with entreaties and tears, saying, ' 0 lord, the Anointed one of battle, do thou, I pray thee, ask the Jews who dwell in our midst whether we have treated them kindly or not. Moreover, in the time of the cruel Antiochus many Jews made their escape to us and we maintained them.' To the truth of this the Jews among them testified. As soon as Judah heard this he blessed them, and desisted from attacking them, and he returned to Jerusalem, arriving there three days before the festival of Pentecost.

XCVni. (1) When the festival was at an end he marched out to Gorgios, the captain of the army of Edom, with 3,000 foot and 4,000 horse. A fierce battle took place between their two armies, in which some Hasmoneans were slain, and among them was Dostios, the captain of the host, who was sorely wounded on the shoulders; some of the Hasmonean warriors were nearly thrown back. When Judah realized what had happened, he then prayed to the Lord, and, encouraging his men, leaped forward into the camp of Gorgios and slaughtered many of his men. He then shouted out, ' At thee, Gorgios!' and stretched out his right hand to smite him, but Gorgios stepped back and thus escaped the blow, and throwing down his weapons, fled and made his escape, nor has he ever since been seen or recognised alive or dead. Some hold the opinion that he fled to the desert of Maresha (ncno), in the wilderness of Edom, and there died.

(2) Judah now returned to Edom, and, after destroying all their cities, took all the inhabitants prisoners. At this time graven images of the nations were discovered under the clothes of those Hasmoneans that were slain in battle.

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Judah then knew that they had fallen through then- iniquity, and said, ' Blessed be the Lord, who discovers that which is hidden, and who revealed these secrets.' He then exhorted the people to serve the Lord in holiness and purity, and returned to Jerusalem.

(3) Now, when Antiochus Eopator heard of all the battles Judah had waged and of the cities he had captured, he broke the covenant he had made with Judah, and marched out against him with an army as numerous as the sand upon the seashore, together with Lysias, his cousin, who also marched out at the head of a huge army. Having arrived in the land of Judah, he laid siege to Bethter. (4) Seeing this, Judah and all the elders of Israel called upon the Lord in fasting, tears, and in supplication. They also sacrificed burnt-ofTerings and offered peace-offerings. On that night Judah mustered all his chosen men of the Hasmoneans, and, dividing them round the camp of the king, he slew 4,000 men and the largest elephant. In the morning the king arranged his men in line of battle opposite Judah, and a very fierce engagement took place.

(5) Judah suddenly noticed an elephant coated with armour of gold, and as it was greater than all the other elephants, he thought the king must be riding it, and shouted out to his men, ' Who of you are with me?' And forthwith Eleazar, one of the young Hasmoneans, sprang forward and faced the elephant, felling to the ground all who came in his way, and, striking out right and left, the slain fell on either side of him; then, rushing in the thick of the fight, and placing himself between the elephant's legs, he pierced its belly with his sword, and it fell upon him, so that he died, having sacrificed his life for the Lord and for his people, and left a name after him, and courage to all who heard it. It was a day of mourning to his people. There fell in battle on that day 800 of the king's nobles, besides the other people that were slain among them.

(6) The king then ceased fighting, and returned to his tent. Soon after his return, he was informed that Phillip

had revolted against him, and that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus the king, was coming from Eome with a large army, in order to wrest the kingdom from his hands. Being sorely frightened, the king made peace, and made a covenant with Judah, embracing and kissing him, and ratified it by an oath, in which Lysias joined, saying, ' We shall never as long as we live go to war against Jerusalem.' The king then brought out much gold from his treasury, and gave it as a present to the house of God in Jerusalem.

(7) He took Menelaus, a Jud^ean, prisoner, who brought Antiochus to Jerusalem, and caused him to do evil, and also Eopator. The king, being very wrath with him, ordered him to be carried to a lofty tower, fifty cubits in height, and near it there was dust and ashes in immense quantities. Then, commanding him to be bound hand and foot, they cast him into the ashes, and buried him beneath them, so that he died in torment, through his iniquity, for he had committed many abominations before the altar of the Lord with the sacred dust and ashes. Thus this wicked man died, suffocated with the very ashes with which he committed abominations. Just is the Lord, who requites man according to his deeds and the fruit of his actions.

XCIX. (1) After this the king went his way to Macedon and Judah, judged his people, and did righteousness and justice. At that time Demetrius, the son of Seleucus the king, with a Koman army, engaged in battle with Antiochus Eopator, in which Antiochus and Lysias were slain, and he held the reins of government in Antiochia in Macedon.

(2) Now, Alkimos the priest, a worthless man, who ate swine's flesh during the reign of Antiochus, came to Demetrius, and said, ' Long live King Demetrius! How long wilt thou remain inactive on behalf of thy servants in the land of Judah, who have fallen by the sword of Judah, the son of Mattathias, and his people the Jews, who are called Hassidim? He slays us because we refuse to comply with many precepts of their law.'

(3) Demetrius, stirred to anger by this, sent Nicanor,

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the captain of his army, with a strong army, and chariots, horsemen, elephants, and footmen without number. Arriv- ing at Jerusalem, he sent word professing his friendship, and said, ' Come and let us see each other, and consult in a friendly manner.' Judah, fearing no treachery, went to meet him. When Nicanor met him, he embraced him, and asked after his welfare. Then, placing seats for both of them, they sat down and conversed. Judah, however, had commanded his young Hasmoneans to remain armed ready for battle, lest the enemy suddenly attack them. Accordingly, his men stood near him, ready at any moment for the fray, as Judah had ordered. Judah and Nicanor at length rose from their seats, and went into their respective tents, and they dwelt both in Jerusalem, there being no war between them. On the contrary, Nicanor was very fond of Judah, and said to him, ' Would it not be meet for a man like thee to take a wife and beget children?' Judah married, and begat children.

(4) When Alkimos recognised the love Judah and Nicanor bore each other, he again went to the king, and informed him what had taken place. The king thereupon sent a letter to Nicanor, saying, ' If thou wilt not send me Judah, son of Mattathiah, bound in chains, know that thou wilt surely be slain.' Judah soon became aware of this, and, leaving the city by night, he sounded the trumpet-call and gave the battle-signal, and when all the valiant Hassidim and Hasmoneans had mustered in full force, he went to Samaria, and remained there.

(5) In the meantime Nicanor went to the temple of the Lord, and said to the priests, ' Bring ye out the man who fled from me, that I may send him to the king bound in chains.' But the priests swore unto him, saying, ' He has not been here, nor have we seen him since the day before yesterday.' At this reply, Nicanor spoke blasphemously of the temple, and, spitting upon it, stretched out his right hand, and, baring his arm for slaughter, he said, ' I will overthrow this temple, and will not leave one single stone in its place, and I shall dig up and overturn all its founda-

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tions.' With this, he departed in anger, and the priests went about crying between the porch and the altar, and said, * 0 God, whose dwelling-place has of old been in this temple, now continue to rest here, for here is Thy throne, and here is Thy footstool, and all Thy service. The heart of Nicanor was filled with blasphemy towards Thy house and towards Thy habitation. He acted treacherously against the temple of Thy glory, and has committed abomination, therefore let him die as an abomination.'

(6) Nicanor searched all the houses of Jerusalem for Judah, and sent 500 troops to the house of Daqsios (DiN^Dpn), the Elder of Hassidim, who was tested in Antiochus's reign and found perfect, for he had suffered many tortures, and was called 'Father of the Jews and Judge in Jerusalem.'

(7) And as Nicanor was trying to show his bitter hatred of the Jews, he sent a messenger to fetch the old man, while his men surrounded the house to catch him; but the old man, unsheathing his sword and piercing his bowels, ran upon the wall, and threw himself upon Nicanor's troops, who made room for him, and he fell to the ground. But he soon rose up again, and went towards the troops. He stood on a large stone, and from the great loss of blood which was rapidly flowing from him, he became distracted, and took part of his entrails and threw it at the troops. Then, calling upon the Lord in prayer, he died, and was gathered to his people.

(8) When Judah heard these things, he waxed furious, and sent a message to Nicanor, saying, 'Why dost thou delay? Come into the field, and I will show thee the man thou hast been seeking in the chamber. Behold, he is here waiting for thee in the valley and in the plain.' Nicanor then gathered all his forces, and went to meet the Jews on a Sabbath. The Jews that were with him said, * 0 my lord, we beseech thee, do not act presumptuously; grant Him honour who gave the Sabbath.' 'And who, indeed, gave the Sabbath?' asked Nicanor. ' The God whose dwelling is in heaven,' answered they, ' and whose

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dominion extends over the whole world.' Nicanor then spoke such words of blasphemy as are not fit to be written down.

(9) Judah heard of this, and said to his men, * How long will we be indolent, and refuse to give battle to this reviler and blasphemer? for who is this dead dog and outcast that defies the strength and glory of Israel?'

(10) He then marched in great anger and zeal to attack Nicanor, who came to meet him with a huge and powerful army. And Judah cried to the Lord, saying, ' 0 Lord my God, Thou didst send a messenger into the camp of Senna- cherib, whose men stood up outside the city and blasphemed Thee, and Thou didst smite his multitude by slaying 175,000 men; the slain we counted, but the slayer we did not see. Now, how much more deserving of death is this man, who has stood up against Thy temple, and has blasphemed Thy might and Thy glory?'

(11) On that day a very fierce and bloody battle was fought. When Judah saw Nicanor with drawn sword, he cried out, ' At thee, Nicanor!' and then ran against him in the fury of his anger. And Nicanor turned his back to flee, but Judah laid hold of him, and, cutting him in two, cast him to the ground. There fell on that day 30,000 men of the Macedonian army. The remainder fled, but were pursued by Judah's men, who all the while were sounding the Shofar. All the cities of Judah turned out to meet the enemy, and smote them, cutting them to pieces, so that not one of them remained alive. Then, proceeding to strip the slain, they found abundance of gold, precious stones, and purple garments. They cut off the head of Nicanor and the arm that he had stretched out against God's temple, and hung them up before the gate, which has henceforth until this very day been called ' The gate of Nicanor.' The people then rejoiced exceedingly, and sang the Psalms of David, King of Israel, concluding, ' For He is good, and His mercy endureth for ever.'

(12) Ever since that time the Jews celebrate this day as a feast and a holiday, on which wine is drunk — viz., the

13th day of Adar, one day before ' Purim/ And Judah judged all his people, and did justice and righteousness in the land.

C. (1) At the end of the year, the days of Judah drew to a close, and the Lord ordained that Judah end his days, and be gathered to his people the Hassidim. At this time Baqidos (on^pn) suddenly came upon Judah with 30,000 men of the Macedonian army, while he was in Laish (Leshem?). The 3,000 men that were with him fled as one man, and the only ones that remained were himself, his brothers, and 800 chosen men of Israel, who did not stir from their places. All these men were Judah's associates, tried veterans in all the wars that Judah had waged with the nations.

(2) Baqidos then brought forward 15,000 men, and arranged them in line of battle on the right of Judah, while on his left he placed another army to the number of 15,000. There was a great shouting, both on the right and left of Judah; but when he saw that the battle was very fierce, and that Baqidos stood on his right— for all the warriors of Baqidos remained on the right, and that the right wing was with him — he shouted and leaped forward followed by his brothers, and the few Hasmoneans. (3) He ran in the direction of Baqidos, and a fierce and terrible battle ensued, at the beginning of which heaps of Macedonians were slain. As soon as Judah saw Baqidos standing in the midst of the people, he ran towards him in the strength of his anger, and smote many of his warriors. He struck out right and left at all who came in his way, slaying enemies without number, until he had no place to walk except upon the slain. Upon these he made his way. (4) He then came face to face with Baqidos, with sword unsheathed and steeped in blood. As soon as Baqidos beheld Judah's face, it appeared to him like that of a lion robbed of its prey, and fear and trembling seized him. Turning his back, he attempted to flee in the direction of Ashdod, but Judah pursued him, and put all his men, 15,000, to the edge

of the sword.

19—2

292 [C. 5

(5) Baqidos succeeded in effecting his escape to Ashdod, and his army, which was behind him, finding Judah faint and weary, fell upon him. Baqidos came out from the city, and war was waged on every side, and many more were slain, Judah being among the number, falling upon those he had slain. His brothers Simeon and Jonathan took him and buried him on Mount Moda'ith, and all Israel mourned for him many days. The number of years during which Judah, surnamed Maccabee, ministered unto Israel was six years, and the Lord caused him to prosper all the days of his life.

[End of the Book of the Maccabee.]

APPENDIX.

Philonis Iudaei Antiquitatum Biblicarum Liber Incerto Interprete.

Initio mundi Adam genuit tres filios, et unam filiam, Cain, Noaba, Abel, et Seth: Er uixit Adam, postquam genuit Seth, annos DCC. et genuit filios duodecim, et filias octo: Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Aeliseel, Suris, Aelamiel, Brabal, Naat, Harama, Zasam, Maathal, et Anath: Et hae filiae eius, Phua, lectas, Arebica, Siphatecia, Sabaasin. Et uixit Seth annos CV. et genuit Enos: Et uixit Seth, postquam genuit Enos annos DCCVII. et genuit fihos tres, et filias tres: Et haec sunt nomina filiorum eius, EUdia, Phonna et Matha: Fiharum uero, Mahda et Thila. Et uixit Enos annos CLXXX. et genuit Cainan: Et uixit Enos, postquam genuit Cainan annos DCCXV. et genuit filios duos et filiam: Et haec sunt nomina fiUorum eius, Phoe, Thaal: Fihae autem, Catennath. Et uixit Cainan annos DXX. et genuit Malalech: Et uixit Cainan, postquam genuit Malalech, annos DCCXXX. et genuit tres fihos et duas fihas: Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Athac, Socer, Lopha: Et nomina filiarum. Ana et Lena. Et uixit Malalech annos CLXV. et procreauit lareth: Et uixit Malalech postquam procreauit lareth, annos DCCXXX. et genuit filios septem, et filias quinquae: et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Leta, Mata, Cechar, Melie, Suriel, Lodootim: Et haec sunt nomina fiharum eius, Ada et Noa, lebal, Mada, Sella. Et uixit lareth annos CLXXII. et genuit Enoc: Et uixit lareth postquam genuit Enoc annos DCCC, et genuit filios quatuor, et filias duas: Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Lead, Anac, Soboac, et letar: Filiarum autem, Tetheco, Lesse. Et uixit Enoc annos CLX. et V. et genuit Mathusalam: Et uixit Enoc postquam genuit Mathusalam, amios CC. et genuit filios quinquae et filias tres. Placuit autem Enoc deo in tempore illo, et non inueniebatur, quoniam transtuUit ilium deus: Nomina autem filiorum eius, Anaz, Zeum, Achaun, Pheledi, Elid: Filiarum autem, Theth, Lephith, Leath. Et uixit Mathusalam annos CLXXX VII. et genuit Lamech: Et uixit Mathusalam, postquam genuit Lamech, annos DCCLXXXII. et genuit duos filios, et duas filias: Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Inab et

Eapho: Filiarum autem, Aluma, et Aniuga. Et iiixit Lamech annos CLXXXII. et genuit filium et uocauit eum secundum natiuitatem suam, Noe, dicens: Hie requiem dabit nobis, et terrae, ab his qui sunt in ea, in quibus uisitabitur, propter iniquitatem operum malorum. Et uixit Lamech, postquam procreauit Noe, annos DLXXX. et V. Et uixit Noe annos CCC. et genuit fihos tres, Sem, Cham, lapheth. Cain autem habitauit in terra tremens, secundum quod constituit ei deus, postquam interfecit Abel, fratrem suum: Et nomen muheris eius Themech: Et cognouit Cain Themech muherem suam, et concepit, et peperit Enoc. Cain autem erat annorum quindecim, quando fecit haec: Et ex eo (fol. 2) coepit aedificare ciuitates, quousque conderet ciuitates septem: Et haec sunt nomina ciuitatum: Nomen primae ciuitatis secundum nomen fihj sui Enoc: Nomen autem secundae ciuitatis MauH, et tertiae Leed, et nomen quartae Tehe, et nomen quintae lesca, nomen autem sextae Celet, et nomen septimae lebbat, Et uixit Cain postquam genuit Enoc annos DCCXV. et genuit tres filios et duas Alias: Et haec sunt nomina filiorum eius, Olad, Lizaph, Fosal: Et filiarum eius, Citha, et Maac. Et facti sunt omnes dies Cain anni DCCXXX. et mortuus est. Tunc accepit Enoc mulierem de filiabus Seth, et genuit ei Ciram, et Cuuth, et Madab: Ciram autem genuit Matusael, Matusael autem genuit Lamech, Lamech autem accepit sibi mulieres duas: nomen uni Ada: et nomen alteri Sella. Et peperit Ada lobab: ipse erat pater omnium habitantium in tabernaculis, et pascentium pecora: Et iterum genuit ei lobal, qui initiauit docere omnem psalmum organorum. In tempore illo cum initiassent habi- tantes terram operari iniqua, unusquisque in uxores proximi sui, con- taminantes eas, indignatus est deus, et coepit percutere cyneram, et cytharam, et omne organum dulcis psalterij, et corrumpere terram. Sella autem genuit Tobel, et Nuha, et Theffa: Et hie est Thobel, qui ostendit hominibus artes in plumbo et stagno, et ferro, et aeramento, et argento, et auro. Et tunc coeperunt habitantes terram facere sculptiha et adorare ea... (fol. 3)... Et fuerunt filij, Noe qui exierunt de area: Sem, Cam, et lapheth. Filij lapheth, Magog, Madai, Nidiazec, Tubal, Mocteras, Cenez, Eiphath, et Thegorma, Elisa, Dessin, Cethin, Tudant. Et filij Gomer, Thelez, Lud, Deber- let. Et filij Mago, Cesse, et Thipha, Pharuta, Ammiel, Phimei, Goloza, Samanac. Et fihj Duden, Sallus, Pheluciti, Phalhta. Et filij Tubal, Phanatanoua, Eteua. Et filij Tiras, Maac, Tabel, Ballana, Samplameac, Elaz. Et filij Mellec, Amboradat, Vrac, Bosara. Et filij Cenez, lubal, Zaraddana, Anac. Et filij Heri, Phuddet, Doad, Dephad, Zeath, Enoc. Et filij Torgoma, Abiuth, Saphath, Asapli, Zepthir. Et filij Elisa, et Zaac, Zenez, Mastisa, Eira. Et filij Zepti, Macziel, Temna, Aela, Phinon. Et filij Tessis, Meccul, Loon, Zelatabar. Et filij Duodennin, Itheb, Beath, Pheneth. Et hi sunt qui dispersi sunt, et habitauerunt in terra apud Persas et (fol. 4).

Monadas, in insulis, quae sunt in mari. Et ascendit Plianat, filius Dudeni, et praecepit fieri naues maris, et tunc diuisa est pars tertia terrae. Domereth, et filij eius acceperunt Ladech. Magoge autem, et filij eius acceperunt Degalmadam — et filij eius acceperunt Besto. luban, et filij eius acceperunt Ceel. Tubal, et filij eius acceperunt Pheed. Misech, et filij eius acceperunt Nepthi. Iras, et filij eius acceperunt ^ Duodennut et filij eius acceperunt "^ Goda- riphath, et filij eius acceperunt Bosarra. Tergoma, et filij eius accepe- runt * Fudelisa et filij eius acceperunt "^ Thabolathesis, et filij eius acceperunt Marecham. Cethim, et filij eius acceperunt Thaan. Dudennin, et filij eius acceperunt Caruba. Et tunc coeperunt operari terram, et seminare super earn. Et cum sitiret terra, ex- clamauerunt habitantes earn ad dominum, et exaudiuit eos, et ampli- auit pluuia. Et factum est cum descenderet pluuia super terram, apparuit arcus in nube: Et uiderunt habitantes terram memoriam testamenti, et ceciderunt in faciem suam, et immolauerunt offerentes holocaustomata domino. Filij autem Cam, Chus, et Mestra, et Phuni, et Chanaan. Filij Ethij, Chus, Saba, et Tudan. Et filij Effuntenus, Zeleutelup, Geluc, Lephuc. Et filij Sidona, Endain, Kacin, Simmin, Vruin, Nenugin, Amathinnephin, Telaz, Elat, Cusin. Chus autem genuit Nembroth, ipse initiauit esse superbus ante dominum. Mestram uero genuit Ludin, et luenugin, et Labin, et Latuin, et Petrosonum, et Ceslun: Vnde exierunt Philistini et Cappadoces. Et tunc coeperunt etiam et ipsi aedificare ciuitates. Et hae sunt civitates, quas aedifi- cauerunt, Sidona, et circumiacentia eius, id est, Kesun, Beosamaza, Gerras, Calon, Dabircaino, Tellunlacis, Sodoma, et Gomorra, Adama, et Segom. Et filij Sem, Elam, Assur, Arphaxa, Luzi, Aram. Et filiarum, Assum, Gedrummese. Arphaxas autem genuit Sala, Sala genuit Heber: Et Heber nati sunt duo fifij, nomen uni, Phalech: Quoniam in diebus eius diuisa est terra: Et nomen fratris eius leptam. leptam autem genuit EHmodan, et Salastra, et Mazaam, Eea, Dura, Vzia, Deglabal, Mimoel, Sabthphin, Euilac, lubab. Et filij Phalec, Kagau, Kephuth, Zepheram, Aculon, Sachar, Siphaz, Nabi, Suri, Seciur, Phalacus, Eapho, Phalthia, Zaldephal, Zaphis, et Arteman, Heliphas. Hij filij Phalec, et haec nomina eorum. Et acceperunt sibi uxores de filiabus lectan, et generauerunt filios et filias, et compleuerunt terram. Kagau autem accepit sibi raulierem, Melcham, filiam Kuth, et genuit ei Seruch. Et quum factus fuisset dies partus eius, dixit: Ex isto nascetur in quarta generatione, qui ponat habitationem super excelsa, et perfectus uocabitur, et immaculatus, et pater gentium erit, et non dissoluetur testamentum eius, et semen eius in seculum multiplicabitur. Et uixit Kagau, postquam genuit Seruch, annos CXVIIII. Et genuit septem filios, et quinque filias: Et haec sunt nomina fihorum eius, Abielobth, Salma, Dedasal, Zeneza, Accur, Nephes, Et haec nomina filiarum eius, Cedema, Derisa, Seipha, Pherita, Theila. Efc uixit Seruch annos

XXIX. et genuit Nachor. Et uixit Seruch, postquam genuit Nachor, annos LXVII. et genuit quatuor filios, et tres filias. Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Zela, Zobadica, et Phodde. Et hae filiae eius Tephila, Oda, Selipha, et uixit Nachor annos XXXIIII. et genuit Tharram. Et uixit Nachor, postquam genuit Tharram (fol. 5), annos CC. et genuit VIII. fiUos, et V. filias. Et haec sunt nomina uirorum, Eecap, Dediap, Berechap, losac, Sithal, Nisab, Nadab, Camoel. Et filiae eius, Esca, Thiphabruna, Ceneta. Et uixit Tharra annos LXX. et genuit Ambram, et Nachor, et Arram. Tharram autem genuit Loth....