The Book of Maccabees I Reader

And that he should place strangers in all their quarters, and divide their land by lot.

So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and departed from Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh year; and having passed the river Euphrates, he went through the high countries.

Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends:

And with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the king commanded.

So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by Emmaus in the plain country.

And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them.

Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them;

They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed fortune of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.

Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.

Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of her children that went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down,

and aliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased.

Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.

Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes,

And laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images.

They brought also the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.

Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away?

For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low.

And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest.

How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O God, be our help?

Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.

And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law.

So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus.

And Judas said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men,

and see that ye be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary:

For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary.

Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do.

Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best horsemen, and removed out of the camp by night;

To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his guides.

Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the valiant men with him, that he might smite the king’s army which was at Emmaus, While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp.

In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us

But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to their minds.

And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war.

Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.

Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.

Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day:

That so all the heathen may know that there is one who delivereth and saveth Israel.

Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over against them. Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets.

So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain.

Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men.

This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them, And said to the people,

Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as there is a battle before us,

And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye may boldly take the spoils.

As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them looking out of the mountain:

Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done:

When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight, They fled every one into the land of strangers.

Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.

After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever.

Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened:

Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass.

The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.

So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura,

And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said,

Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armour bearer;

Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen:

Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction:

Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving.

So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.

Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas’ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea.

Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.

Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Sion.

And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down;

They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,

And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.

Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.

So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law: Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place.

And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;

They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,

And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them.

Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;

And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts.

They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.

And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.

Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.

Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning, And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.

Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals.

Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.

And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.

They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.

Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.

Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.

At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had done before.

And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve it; that the people might have a defence against Idumea.

Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.

Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.

Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.

Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.

He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.

Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.

So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them. And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.

Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.

The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us: And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.

Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:

Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.

While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,

And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.

Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.

Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.

So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.

Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.

Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.

Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him. And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais;

and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.

And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.

Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days’ journey in the wilderness,

Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:

And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great: And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad,

and that against to morrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.

Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city,

he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire, From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.

And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.

When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound, He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.

So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.

Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.

This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and burnt it with fire.

From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.

After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.

So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying,

All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.

He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.

Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook,

if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:

But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.

Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.

So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.

But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.

Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.

Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.

Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.

Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying,

Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.

Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.

So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:

Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and raised the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.

After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan. And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.

So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.

Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done. Wherefore they said,

Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.

So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.

Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them. And so it was, that Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.

Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act. Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.

Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of; Insomuch as the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.

Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.

From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.

At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.

So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.

About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;

And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left there.

Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,

Rose up against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, and returned to Babylon.

Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies, which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight:

And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power was driven away of the Jews; and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten of the armies, whom they had destroyed:

Also that they had pulled 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 his city Bethsura.

Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.

And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die.

Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care.

And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am!

But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem,

and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause.

I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.

Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm,

And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom.

So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.

Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator.