The Compiler's Preface  2 19 The story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, and the purification of the great  temple, and the dedication of the altar, 20 and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator, 21 and the appearances that came from heaven to those  who fought bravely for Judaism, so that though few in number they seized the whole land and pursued the barbarian hordes, 22 and regained possession of the temple famous  throughout the world, and liberated the city, and re-established the laws that were about  to be abolished, while the Lord with great kindness became gracious to them-- 23 all this, which has been set forth by Jason of Cyrene in five volumes, we shall attempt to  condense into a single book. 24 For considering the flood of statistics involved and the difficulty there is for those who wish to enter upon the narratives of history because of  the mass of material, 25 we have aimed to please those who wish to read, to make it easy  for those who are inclined to memorize, and to profit all readers. 26 For us who have  undertaken the toil of abbreviating, it is no light matter but calls for sweat and loss of  sleep, 27 just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the benefit of  others. Nevertheless, to secure the gratitude of many we will gladly endure the  uncomfortable toil, 28 leaving the responsibility for exact details to the compiler, while  devoting our effort to arriving at the outlines of the condensation. 29 For as the master  builder of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction, while the one  who undertakes its painting and decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its  adornment, such in my judgment is the case with us. 30 It is the duty of the original  historian to occupy the ground, to discuss matters from every side, and to take trouble  with details, 31 but the one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for  brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment. 32 At this point therefore let us  begin our narrative, without adding any more to what has already been said; for it would  be foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history itself. Arrival of Heliodorus in Jerusalem 3 While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were strictly  observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of wickedness, 2 it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the  finest presents, 3 even to the extent that King Seleucus of Asia defrayed from his own  revenues all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices.  4 But a man named Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made captain of the  temple, had a disagreement with the high priest about the administration of the city  market. 5 Since he could not prevail over Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at  that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, 6 and reported to him that the  treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the amount of the funds  could not be reckoned, and that they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, but  that it was possible for them to fall under the control of the king. 7 When Apollonius met the king, he told him of the money about which he had been informed. The king chose  Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the  removal of the reported wealth. 8 Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to  make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to carry  out the king's purpose.  9 When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of the city, he told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had  come, and he inquired whether this really was the situation. 10 The high priest explained  that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans, 11 and also some money  of Hyrcanus son of Tobias, a man of very prominent position, and that it totaled in all  four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. To such an extent the impious  Simon had misrepresented the facts. 12 And he said that it was utterly impossible that  wrong should be done to those people who had trusted in the holiness of the place and in  the sanctity and inviolability of the temple that is honored throughout the whole world. Heliodorus Plans to Rob the Temple 13 But Heliodorus, because of the orders he had from the king, said that this money  must in any case be confiscated for the king's treasury. 14 So he set a day and went in to  direct the inspection of these funds.  There was no little distress throughout the whole city. 15 The priests prostrated  themselves before the altar in their priestly vestments and called toward heaven upon him  who had given the law about deposits, that he should keep them safe for those who had  deposited them. 16 To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart,  for his face and the change in his color disclosed the anguish of his soul. 17 For terror and  bodily trembling had come over the man, which plainly showed to those who looked at  him the pain lodged in his heart. 18 People also hurried out of their houses in crowds to  make a general supplication because the holy place was about to be brought into  dishonor. 19 Women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. Some  of the young women who were kept indoors ran together to the gates, and some to the  walls, while others peered out of the windows. 20 And holding up their hands to heaven,  they all made supplication. 21 There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole  populace and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish. The Lord Protects His Temple 22 While they were calling upon the Almighty Lord that he would keep what had been  entrusted safe and secure for those who had entrusted it, 23 Heliodorus went on with what  had been decided. 24 But when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, then and  there the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a manifestation that all  who had been so bold as to accompany him were astounded by the power of God, and  became faint with terror. 25 For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned  horse, with a rider of frightening mien; it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him  with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor and weapons of gold. 26 Two young  men also appeared to him, remarkably strong, gloriously beautiful and splendidly dressed,  who stood on either side of him and flogged him continuously, inflicting many blows on  him. 27 When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him, his men  took him up, put him on a stretcher, 28 and carried him away--this man who had just  entered the aforesaid treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard but was now  unable to help himself. They recognized clearly the sovereign power of God. Onias Prays for Heliodorus 29 While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention and deprived of  any hope of recovery, 30 they praised the Lord who had acted marvelously for his own  place. And the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and disturbance, was  filled with joy and gladness, now that the Almighty Lord had appeared.  31 Some of Heliodorus's friends quickly begged Onias to call upon the Most High to  grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath. 32 So the high priest, fearing that  the king might get the notion that some foul play had been perpetrated by the Jews with  regard to Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for the man's recovery. 33 While the high priest  was making an atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus dressed in  the same clothing, and they stood and said, "Be very grateful to the high priest Onias,  since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life. 34 And see that you, who have been  flogged by heaven, report to all people the majestic power of God." Having said this they  vanished. The Conversion of Heliodorus 35 Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to the  Savior of his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, he marched off with his forces to the  king. 36 He bore testimony to all concerning the deeds of the supreme God, which he had  seen with his own eyes. 37 When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be  suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied, 38 "If you have any enemy or  plotter against your government, send him there, for you will get him back thoroughly  flogged, if he survives at all; for there is certainly some power of God about the  place. 39 For he who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself and  brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it injury." 40 This was the  outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury. Simon Accuses Onias 4 The previously mentioned Simon, who had informed about the money against his own  country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodorus and had been  the real cause of the misfortune. 2 He dared to designate as a plotter against the  government the man who was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his compatriots,  and a zealot for the laws. 3 When his hatred progressed to such a degree that even  murders were committed by one of Simon's approved agents, 4 Onias recognized that the  rivalry was serious and that Apollonius son of Menestheus, and governor of Coelesyria  and Phoenicia, was intensifying the malice of Simon. 5 So he appealed to the king, not  accusing his compatriots but having in view the welfare, both public and private, of all the  people. 6 For he saw that without the king's attention public affairs could not again reach a  peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not stop his folly. Jason's Reforms 7 When Seleucus died and Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, succeeded to the  kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood by  corruption, 8 promising the king at an interview three hundred sixty talents of silver, and  from another source of revenue eighty talents. 9 In addition to this he promised to pay one  hundred fifty more if permission were given to establish by his authority a gymnasium  and a body of youth for it, and to enroll the people of Jerusalem as citizens of  Antioch. 10 When the king assented and Jason came to office, he at once shifted his  compatriots over to the Greek way of life.  11 He set aside the existing royal concessions to the Jews, secured through John the  father of Eupolemus, who went on the mission to establish friendship and alliance with  the Romans; and he destroyed the lawful ways of living and introduced new customs contrary to the law. 12 He took delight in establishing a gymnasium right under the citadel, and he induced the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat. 13 There was such  an extreme of Hellenization and increase in the adoption of foreign ways because of the  surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and no true high priest, 14 that the  priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar. Despising the sanctuary and  neglecting the sacrifices, they hurried to take part in the unlawful proceedings in the  wrestling arena after the signal for the discus-throwing, 15 disdaining the honors prized by  their ancestors and putting the highest value upon Greek forms of prestige. 16 For this  reason heavy disaster overtook them, and those whose ways of living they admired and  wished to imitate completely became their enemies and punished them. 17 It is no light  thing to show irreverence to the divine laws--a fact that later events will make clear. Jason Introduces Greek Customs 18 When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was  present, 19 the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antiochian citizens from  Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Hercules. Those  who carried the money, however, thought best not to use it for sacrifice, because that  was inappropriate, but to expend it for another purpose. 20 So this money was intended by  the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules, but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to  the construction of triremes.  21 When Apollonius son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt for the coronation of  Philometor as king, Antiochus learned that Philometor had become hostile to his  government, and he took measures for his own security. Therefore upon arriving at Joppa  he proceeded to Jerusalem. 22 He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city, and  ushered in with a blaze of torches and with shouts. Then he marched his army into  Phoenicia. Menelaus Becomes High Priest 23 After a period of three years Jason sent Menelaus, the brother of the previously  mentioned Simon, to carry the money to the king and to complete the records of essential  business. 24 But he, when presented to the king, extolled him with an air of authority, and  secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 25 After receiving the king's orders he returned, possessing no qualification for the  high priesthood, but having the hot temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage wild  beast. 26 So Jason, who after supplanting his own brother was supplanted by another  man, was driven as a fugitive into the land of Ammon. 27 Although Menelaus continued to  hold the office, he did not pay regularly any of the money promised to the king. 28 When Sostratus the captain of the citadel kept requesting payment--for the collection of the  revenue was his responsibility--the two of them were summoned by the king on account  of this issue. 29 Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus as deputy in the high  priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates, the commander of the Cyprian troops. The Murder of Onias 30 While such was the state of affairs, it happened that the people of Tarsus and of  Mallus revolted because their cities had been given as a present to Antiochis, the king's  concubine. 31 So the king went hurriedly to settle the trouble, leaving Andronicus, a man of high rank, to act as his deputy. 32 But Menelaus, thinking he had obtained a suitable  opportunity, stole some of the gold vessels of the temple and gave them to Andronicus;  other vessels, as it happened, he had sold to Tyre and the neighboring cities. 33 When Onias became fully aware of these acts, he publicly exposed them, having first withdrawn  to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. 34 Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus aside, urged him to kill Onias. Andronicus came to Onias, and resorting to  treachery, offered him sworn pledges and gave him his right hand; he persuaded him, though still suspicious, to come out from the place of sanctuary; then, with no regard for  justice, he immediately put him out of the way. Andronicus Is Punished 35 For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were grieved and  displeased at the unjust murder of the man. 36 When the king returned from the region of  Cilicia, the Jews in the city appealed to him with regard to the unreasonable murder of  Onias, and the Greeks shared their hatred of the crime. 37 Therefore Antiochus was  grieved at heart and filled with pity, and wept because of the moderation and good  conduct of the deceased.  38 Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple  robe from Andronicus, tore off his clothes, and led him around the whole city to that very  place where he had committed the outrage against Onias, and there he dispatched the  bloodthirsty fellow. The Lord thus repaid him with the punishment he deserved. Unpopularity of Lysimachus and Menelaus 39 When many acts of sacrilege had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the  connivance of Menelaus, and when report of them had spread abroad, the populace  gathered against Lysimachus, because many of the gold vessels had already been  stolen. 40 Since the crowds were becoming aroused and filled with anger, Lysimachus  armed about three thousand men and launched an unjust attack, under the leadership of a  certain Auranus, a man advanced in years and no less advanced in folly. 41 But when the  Jews became aware that Lysimachus was attacking them, some picked up stones, some  blocks of wood, and others took handfuls of the ashes that were lying around, and threw  them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and his men. 42 As a result, they wounded many of  them, and killed some, and put all the rest to flight; the temple robber himself they killed  close by the treasury.  43 Charges were brought against Menelaus about this incident. 44 When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented the case before him. 45 But Menelaus,  already as good as beaten, promised a substantial bribe to Ptolemy son of Dorymenes to win over the king. 46 Therefore Ptolemy, taking the king aside into a colonnade as if for refreshment, induced the king to change his mind. 47 Menelaus, the cause of all the  trouble, he acquitted of the charges against him, while he sentenced to death those  unfortunate men, who would have been freed uncondemned if they had pleaded even  before Scythians. 48 And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages and the  holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. 49 Therefore even the Tyrians, showing  their hatred of the crime, provided magnificently for their funeral. 50 But Menelaus, because of the greed of those in power, remained in office, growing in wickedness,  having become the chief plotter against his compatriots. Jason Tries to Regain Control 5 About this time Antiochus made his second invasion of Egypt. 2 And it happened that,  for almost forty days, there appeared over all the city golden-clad cavalry charging  through the air, in companies fully armed with lances and drawn swords-- 3 troops of  cavalry drawn up, attacks and counterattacks made on this side and on that, brandishing of shields, massing of spears, hurling of missiles, the flash of golden trappings, and armor of all kinds. 4 Therefore everyone prayed that the apparition might prove to have been a good omen.  5 When a false rumor arose that Antiochus was dead, Jason took no fewer than a thousand men and suddenly made an assault on the city. When the troops on the wall had  been forced back and at last the city was being taken, Menelaus took refuge in the citadel. 6 But Jason kept relentlessly slaughtering his compatriots, not realizing that success  at the cost of one's kindred is the greatest misfortune, but imagining that he was setting up trophies of victory over enemies and not over compatriots. 7 He did not, however, gain  control of the government; in the end he got only disgrace from his conspiracy, and fled again into the country of the Ammonites. 8 Finally he met a miserable end. Accused  before Aretas the ruler of the Arabs, fleeing from city to city, pursued by everyone, hated  as a rebel against the laws, and abhorred as the executioner of his country and his  compatriots, he was cast ashore in Egypt. 9 There he who had driven many from their own country into exile died in exile, having embarked to go to the Lacedaemonians in  hope of finding protection because of their kinship. 10 He who had cast out many to lie unburied had no one to mourn for him; he had no funeral of any sort and no place in the  tomb of his ancestors. 11 When news of what had happened reached the king, he took it to mean that Judea  was in revolt. So, raging inwardly, he left Egypt and took the city by storm. 12 He  commanded his soldiers to cut down relentlessly everyone they met and to kill those who went into their houses. 13 Then there was massacre of young and old, destruction of boys, women, and children, and slaughter of young girls and infants. 14 Within the total of three  days eighty thousand were destroyed, forty thousand in hand-to-hand fighting, and as  many were sold into slavery as were killed. Pillage of the Temple 15 Not content with this, Antiochus dared to enter the most holy temple in all the  world, guided by Menelaus, who had become a traitor both to the laws and to his  country. 16 He took the holy vessels with his polluted hands, and swept away with  profane hands the votive offerings that other kings had made to enhance the glory and  honor of the place. 17 Antiochus was elated in spirit, and did not perceive that the Lord  was angered for a little while because of the sins of those who lived in the city, and that  this was the reason he was disregarding the holy place. 18 But if it had not happened that  they were involved in many sins, this man would have been flogged and turned back  from his rash act as soon as he came forward, just as Heliodorus had been, whom King Seleucus sent to inspect the treasury. 19 But the Lord did not choose the nation for the  sake of the holy place, but the place for the sake of the nation. 20 Therefore the place  itself shared in the misfortunes that befell the nation and afterward participated in its benefits; and what was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was restored again in all its  glory when the great Lord became reconciled.  21 So Antiochus carried off eighteen hundred talents from the temple, and hurried away to Antioch, thinking in his arrogance that he could sail on the land and walk on the sea, because his mind was elated. 22 He left governors to oppress the people: at Jerusalem, Philip, by birth a Phrygian and in character more barbarous than the man who appointed  him; 23 and at Gerizim, Andronicus; and besides these Menelaus, who lorded it over his  compatriots worse than the others did. In his malice toward the Jewish citizens, 24 Antiochus sent Apollonius, the captain of the Mysians, with an army of  twenty-two thousand, and commanded him to kill all the grown men and to sell the  women and boys as slaves. 25 When this man arrived in Jerusalem, he pretended to be  peaceably disposed and waited until the holy sabbath day; then, finding the Jews not at  work, he ordered his troops to parade under arms. 26 He put to the sword all those who  came out to see them, then rushed into the city with his armed warriors and killed great  numbers of people.  27 But Judas Maccabeus, with about nine others, got away to the wilderness, and kept  himself and his companions alive in the mountains as wild animals do; they continued to  live on what grew wild, so that they might not share in the defilement. The Suppression of Judaism 6 Not long after this, the king sent an Athenian senator to compel the Jews to forsake  the laws of their ancestors and no longer to live by the laws of God; 2 also to pollute the  temple in Jerusalem and to call it the temple of Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in Gerizim the temple of Zeus-the-Friend-of-Strangers, as did the people who lived in that  place.  3 Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil. 4 For the temple was filled with  debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, who dallied with prostitutes and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and besides brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit. 5 The altar was covered with abominable offerings that were forbidden by the  laws. 6 People could neither keep the sabbath, nor observe the festivals of their ancestors, nor so much as confess themselves to be Jews.  7 On the monthly celebration of the king's birthday, the Jews were taken, under bitter constraint, to partake of the sacrifices; and when a festival of Dionysus was celebrated, they were compelled to wear wreaths of ivy and to walk in the procession in honor of  Dionysus. 8 At the suggestion of the people of Ptolemais a decree was issued to the  neighboring Greek cities that they should adopt the same policy toward the Jews and  make them partake of the sacrifices, 9 and should kill those who did not choose to change  over to Greek customs. One could see, therefore, the misery that had come upon  them. 10 For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children.  They publicly paraded them around the city, with their babies hanging at their breasts,  and then hurled them down headlong from the wall. 11 Others who had assembled in the  caves nearby, in order to observe the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and  were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of their regard for that most holy day. Providential Significance of the Persecution 12 Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities, but to  recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our  people. 13 In fact, it is a sign of great kindness not to let the impious alone for long, but to  punish them immediately. 14 For in the case of the other nations the Lord waits patiently  to punish them until they have reached the full measure of their sins; but he does not deal  in this way with us, 15 in order that he may not take vengeance on us afterward when our sins have reached their height. 16 Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us.  Although he disciplines us with calamities, he does not forsake his own people. 17 Let  what we have said serve as a reminder; we must go on briefly with the story. The Martyrdom of Eleazar 18 Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble  presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. 19 But he, welcoming  death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord,  spitting out the flesh, 20 as all ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is  not right to taste, even for the natural love of life.  21 Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside because of  their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own  providing, proper for him to use, and to pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal that had been commanded by the king, 22 so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them. 23 But  making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray  hairs that he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and  moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them  to send him to Hades.  24 "Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life," he said, "for many of the young  might suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year had gone over to an alien religion, 25 and  through my pretense, for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they would be led  astray because of me, while I defile and disgrace my old age. 26 Even if for the present I  would avoid the punishment of mortals, yet whether I live or die I will not escape the  hands of the Almighty. 27 Therefore, by bravely giving up my life now, I will show myself  worthy of my old age 28 and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good  death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws."  When he had said this, he went at once to the rack. 29 Those who a little before had  acted toward him with goodwill now changed to ill will, because the words he had uttered  were in their opinion sheer madness. 30 When he was about to die under the blows, he  groaned aloud and said: "It is clear to the Lord in his holy knowledge that, though I might  have been saved from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my body under this  beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these things because I fear him."  31 So in this way he died, leaving in his death an example of nobility and a memorial of  courage, not only to the young but to the great body of his nation. The Martyrdom of Seven Brothers 7 It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful  swine's flesh. 2 One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, "What do you intend to ask  and learn from us?  For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our  ancestors."  3 The king fell into a rage, and gave orders to have pans and caldrons heated. 4 These  were heated immediately, and he commanded that the tongue of their spokesman be cut out and that they scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of the brothers and the mother looked on. 5 When he was utterly helpless, the king ordered them to take  him to the fire, still breathing, and to fry him in a pan. The smoke from the pan spread  widely, but the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die nobly, saying, 6 "The Lord God is watching over us and in truth has compassion on us, as Moses  declared in his song that bore witness against the people to their faces, when he said, 'And  he will have compassion on his servants.' "  7 After the first brother had died in this way, they brought forward the second for their  sport. They tore off the skin of his head with the hair, and asked him, "Will you eat  rather than have your body punished limb by limb?" 8 He replied in the language of his  ancestors and said to them, "No." Therefore he in turn underwent tortures as the first  brother had done. 9 And when he was at his last breath, he said, "You accursed wretch,  you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an  everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws."  10 After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly  put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands, 11 and said nobly, "I got  these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get  them back again." 12 As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at  the young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing.  13 After he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same  way. 14 When he was near death, he said, "One cannot but choose to die at the hands of  mortals and to cherish the hope God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there  will be no resurrection to life!"  15 Next they brought forward the fifth and maltreated him. 16 But he looked at the  king, and said, "Because you have authority among mortals, though you also are mortal,  you do what you please. But do not think that God has forsaken our people. 17 Keep on,  and see how his mighty power will torture you and your descendants!"  18 After him they brought forward the sixth. And when he was about to die, he said,  "Do not deceive yourself in vain. For we are suffering these things on our own account,  because of our sins against our own God. Therefore astounding things have  happened. 19 But do not think that you will go unpunished for having tried to fight against  God!"  20 The mother was especially admirable and worthy of honorable memory. Although  she saw her seven sons perish within a single day, she bore it with good courage because of her hope in the Lord. 21 She encouraged each of them in the language of their  ancestors. Filled with a noble spirit, she reinforced her woman's reasoning with a man's courage, and said to them, 22 "I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It  was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you. 23 Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of humankind and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws."  24 Antiochus felt that he was being treated with contempt, and he was suspicious of her reproachful tone. The youngest brother being still alive, Antiochus not only appealed to him in words, but promised with oaths that he would make him rich and enviable if he  would turn from the ways of his ancestors, and that he would take him for his Friend and  entrust him with public affairs. 25 Since the young man would not listen to him at all, the king called the mother to him and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. 26 After much urging on his part, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native language as follows, deriding the cruel tyrant: "My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you.  28 I  beg you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see everything that is in them, and recognize that God did not make them out of things that existed. And in the same  way the human race came into being. 29 Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of  your brothers. Accept death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again along with  your brothers."  30 While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you waiting for? I will  not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the law that was given to our ancestors through Moses. 31 But you, who have contrived all sorts of evil against the  Hebrews, will certainly not escape the hands of God.  32 For we are suffering because of  our own sins. 33 And if our living Lord is angry for a little while, to rebuke and discipline  us, he will again be reconciled with his own servants. 34 But you, unholy wretch, you  most defiled of all mortals, do not be elated in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes, when you raise your hand against the children of heaven. 35 You have not yet escaped the  judgment of the almighty, all-seeing God. 36 For our brothers after enduring a brief  suffering have drunk of ever-flowing life, under God's covenant; but you, by the  judgment of God, will receive just punishment for your arrogance. 37 I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our ancestors, appealing to God to show mercy soon  to our nation and by trials and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God, 38 and  through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty that has justly fallen on our whole nation."  39 The king fell into a rage, and handled him worse than the others, being exasperated  at his scorn. 40 So he died in his integrity, putting his whole trust in the Lord.  41 Last of all, the mother died, after her sons.  42 Let this be enough, then, about the eating of sacrifices and the extreme tortures. The Revolt of Judas Maccabeus 8 Meanwhile Judas, who was also called Maccabeus, and his companions secretly entered the villages and summoned their kindred and enlisted those who had continued in  the Jewish faith, and so they gathered about six thousand. 2 They implored the Lord to  look upon the people who were oppressed by all; and to have pity on the temple that had  been profaned by the godless; 3 to have mercy on the city that was being destroyed and  about to be leveled to the ground; to hearken to the blood that cried out to him; 4 to  remember also the lawless destruction of the innocent babies and the blasphemies  committed against his name; and to show his hatred of evil.  5 As soon as Maccabeus got his army organized, the Gentiles could not withstand him, for the wrath of the Lord had turned to mercy. 6 Coming without warning, he would set  fire to towns and villages. He captured strategic positions and put to flight not a few of  the enemy. 7 He found the nights most advantageous for such attacks.  And talk of his  valor spread everywhere.  8 When Philip saw that the man was gaining ground little by little, and that he was  pushing ahead with more frequent successes, he wrote to Ptolemy, the governor of  Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to come to the aid of the king's government. 9 Then Ptolemy promptly appointed Nicanor son of Patroclus, one of the king's chief Friends, and sent  him, in command of no fewer than twenty thousand Gentiles of all nations, to wipe out  the whole race of Judea. He associated with him Gorgias, a general and a man of experience in military service. 10 Nicanor determined to make up for the king the tribute due to the Romans, two thousand talents, by selling the captured Jews into slavery. 11 So  he immediately sent to the towns on the seacoast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves and  promising to hand over ninety slaves for a talent, not expecting the judgment from the Almighty that was about to overtake him. Preparation for Battle 12 Word came to Judas concerning Nicanor's invasion; and when he told his companions of the arrival of the army, 13 those who were cowardly and distrustful of  God's justice ran off and got away. 14 Others sold all their remaining property, and at the same time implored the Lord to rescue those who had been sold by the ungodly Nicanor  before he ever met them, 15 if not for their own sake, then for the sake of the covenants  made with their ancestors, and because he had called them by his holy and glorious  name. 16 But Maccabeus gathered his forces together, to the number six thousand, and  exhorted them not to be frightened by the enemy and not to fear the great multitude of  Gentiles who were wickedly coming against them, but to fight nobly, 17 keeping before  their eyes the lawless outrage that the Gentiles had committed against the holy place, and  the torture of the derided city, and besides, the overthrow of their ancestral way of  life. 18 "For they trust to arms and acts of daring," he said, "but we trust in the Almighty  God, who is able with a single nod to strike down those who are coming against us, and  even, if necessary, the whole world."  19 Moreover, he told them of the occasions when help came to their ancestors; how, in  the time of Sennacherib, when one hundred eighty-five thousand perished, 20 and the time of the battle against the Galatians that took place in Babylonia, when eight thousand  Jews fought along with four thousand Macedonians; yet when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the eight thousand, by the help that came to them from heaven, destroyed  one hundred twenty thousand Galatians and took a great amount of booty. Judas Defeats Nicanor 21 With these words he filled them with courage and made them ready to die for their  laws and their country; then he divided his army into four parts. 22 He appointed his  brothers also, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, each to command a division, putting  fifteen hundred men under each. 23 Besides, he appointed Eleazar to read aloud from the  holy book, and gave the watchword, "The help of God"; then, leading the first division  himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.  24 With the Almighty as their ally, they killed more than nine thousand of the enemy, and wounded and disabled most of Nicanor's army, and forced them all to flee. 25 They  captured the money of those who had come to buy them as slaves. After pursuing them  for some distance, they were obliged to return because the hour was late.  26 It was the day before the sabbath, and for that reason they did not continue their pursuit.  27 When  they had collected the arms of the enemy and stripped them of their spoils, they kept the sabbath, giving great praise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them for that day  and allotted it to them as the beginning of mercy. 28 After the sabbath they gave some of  the spoils to those who had been tortured and to the widows and orphans, and distributed  the rest among themselves and their children. 29 When they had done this, they made common supplication and implored the merciful Lord to be wholly reconciled with his servants. Judas Defeats Timothy and Bacchides 30 In encounters with the forces of Timothy and Bacchides they killed more than  twenty thousand of them and got possession of some exceedingly high strongholds, and  they divided a very large amount of plunder, giving to those who had been tortured and to the orphans and widows, and also to the aged, shares equal to their own.  31 They collected the arms of the enemy, and carefully stored all of them in strategic places; the  rest of the spoils they carried to Jerusalem. 32 They killed the commander of Timothy's  forces, a most wicked man, and one who had greatly troubled the Jews.  33 While they  were celebrating the victory in the city of their ancestors, they burned those who had set fire to the sacred gates, Callisthenes and some others, who had fled into one little house;  so these received the proper reward for their impiety.  34 The thrice-accursed Nicanor, who had brought the thousand merchants to buy the Jews, 35 having been humbled with the help of the Lord by opponents whom he regarded as of the least account, took off his splendid uniform and made his way alone like a  runaway slave across the country until he reached Antioch, having succeeded chiefly in the destruction of his own army!  36 So he who had undertaken to secure tribute for the  Romans by the capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a  Defender, and that therefore the Jews were invulnerable, because they followed the laws ordained by him. The Last Campaign of Antiochus Epiphanes 9 About that time, as it happened, Antiochus had retreated in disorder from the region of  Persia. 2 He had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temples and  control the city. Therefore the people rushed to the rescue with arms, and Antiochus and  his army were defeated, with the result that Antiochus was put to flight by the  inhabitants and beat a shameful retreat. 3 While he was in Ecbatana, news came to him of  what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timothy. 4 Transported with rage, he  conceived the idea of turning upon the Jews the injury done by those who had put him to  flight; so he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he completed the journey. But the judgment of heaven rode with him!  For in his arrogance he said, "When I get there I will make Jerusalem a cemetery of Jews."  5 But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and invisible blow. As soon as he stopped speaking he was seized with a pain in his bowels, for which  there was no relief, and with sharp internal tortures-- 6 and that very justly, for he had  tortured the bowels of others with many and strange inflictions. 7 Yet he did not in any  way stop his insolence, but was even more filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage  against the Jews, and giving orders to drive even faster. And so it came about that he fell  out of his chariot as it was rushing along, and the fall was so hard as to torture every limb of his body. 8 Thus he who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman  arrogance that he could command the waves of the sea, and had imagined that he could  weigh the high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and carried in a litter, making the power of God manifest to all. 9 And so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and  because of the stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay. 10 Because of his  intolerable stench no one was able to carry the man who a little while before had thought  that he could touch the stars of heaven. 11 Then it was that, broken in spirit, he began to  lose much of his arrogance and to come to his senses under the scourge of God, for he  was tortured with pain every moment. 12 And when he could not endure his own stench,  he uttered these words, "It is right to be subject to God; mortals should not think that  they are equal to God." Antiochus Makes a Promise to God 13 Then the abominable fellow made a vow to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him, stating 14 that the holy city, which he was hurrying to level to the ground and to make a cemetery, he was now declaring to be free; 15 and the Jews, whom he had  not considered worth burying but had planned to throw out with their children for the wild animals and for the birds to eat, he would make, all of them, equal to citizens of Athens; 16 and the holy sanctuary, which he had formerly plundered, he would adorn with  the finest offerings; and all the holy vessels he would give back, many times over; and the  expenses incurred for the sacrifices he would provide from his own revenues; 17 and in  addition to all this he also would become a Jew and would visit every inhabited place to proclaim the power of God. 18 But when his sufferings did not in any way abate, for the  judgment of God had justly come upon him, he gave up all hope for himself and wrote to  the Jews the following letter, in the form of a supplication. This was its content: Antiochus's Letter and Death 19 "To his worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus their king and general sends hearty greetings and good wishes for their health and prosperity.  20 If you and your children are well and your affairs are as you wish, I am glad. As my hope is in heaven, 21 I remember with affection your esteem and goodwill. On my way back from the region of Persia I suffered an annoying illness, and I have deemed it necessary to take thought for the general security of all. 22 I do not despair of my condition, for I have good hope of  recovering from my illness, 23 but I observed that my father, on the occasions when he  made expeditions into the upper country, appointed his successor, 24 so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm  would not be troubled, for they would know to whom the government was  left. 25 Moreover, I understand how the princes along the borders and the neighbors of my kingdom keep watching for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. So I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I have often entrusted and commended to most of you when I hurried off to the upper provinces; and I have written to him what is written here. 26 I therefore urge and beg you to remember the public and private services rendered to you and to maintain your present goodwill, each of you, toward me and my son. 27 For I am sure that he will follow my policy and will treat you with moderation and kindness."  28 So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the more intense suffering, such as he had inflicted on others, came to the end of his life by a most pitiable fate, among the  mountains in a strange land. 29 And Philip, one of his courtiers, took his body home; then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he withdrew to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt. Purification of the Temple 10 Now Maccabeus and his followers, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city; 2 they tore down the altars that had been built in the public square by the foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts.  3 They purified the sanctuary, and  made another altar of sacrifice; then, striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of two years, and they offered incense and lighted lamps and set out the bread of  the Presence.  4 When they had done this, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that  they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if they should ever sin, they  might be disciplined by him with forbearance and not be handed over to blasphemous and  barbarous nations. 5 It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the  twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev.  6 They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not long  before, during the festival of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves  like wild animals. 7 Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and  also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to  the purifying of his own holy place. 8 They decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that  the whole nation of the Jews should observe these days every year.  9 Such then was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes. Accession of Antiochus Eupator 10 Now we will tell what took place under Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of that  ungodly man, and will give a brief summary of the principal calamities of the wars. 11 This man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to have charge of the government and to be chief governor of Coelesyria and  Phoenicia. 12 Ptolemy, who was called Macron, took the lead in showing justice to the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, and attempted to maintain  peaceful relations with  them. 13 As a result he was accused before Eupator by the king's  Friends. He heard himself called a traitor at every turn, because he had abandoned  Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Unable to command the respect due his office, he took poison and ended his  life. Campaign in Idumea 14 When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept attacking the Jews. 15 Besides this, the Idumeans, who had control of important strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they received those who were banished from Jerusalem, and endeavored to keep up the war. 16 But Maccabeus and his forces, after making solemn supplication and imploring God to fight on their side, rushed to the strongholds of the Idumeans. 17 Attacking them vigorously, they gained possession of the places, and beat off all who fought upon the wall, and slaughtered those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.  18 When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers well equipped to withstand a siege, 19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and his troops, a force sufficient to besiege them; and he himself set off for places where he was  more urgently needed. 20 But those with Simon, who were money-hungry, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and on receiving seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip away. 21 When word of what had happened came to Maccabeus, he gathered the leaders of the people, and accused these men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22 Then he killed these men  who had turned traitor, and immediately captured the two towers. 23 Having success at  arms in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two  strongholds. Judas Defeats Timothy 24 Now Timothy, who had been defeated by the Jews before, gathered a tremendous force of mercenaries and collected the cavalry from Asia in no small number. He came on, intending to take Judea by storm. 25 As he drew near, Maccabeus and his men sprinkled dust on their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God.  26 Falling upon the steps before the altar, they implored him to be gracious to them  and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law  declares. 27 And rising from their prayer they took up their arms and advanced a  considerable distance from the city; and when they came near the enemy they halted. 28 Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having as  pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord,  while the other made rage their leader in the fight.  29 When the battle became fierce, there appeared to the enemy from heaven five  resplendent men on horses with golden bridles, and they were leading the Jews. 30 Two of them took Maccabeus between them, and shielding him with their own armor and  weapons, they kept him from being wounded. They showered arrows and thunderbolts  on the enemy, so that, confused and blinded, they were thrown into disorder and cut to  pieces. 31 Twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, besides six hundred cavalry.  32 Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well garrisoned, where Chaereas was commander. 33 Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged  the fort for four days. 34 The men within, relying on the strength of the place, kept  blaspheming terribly and uttering wicked words. 35 But at dawn of the fifth day, twenty  young men in the army of Maccabeus, fired with anger because of the blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they met. 36 Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders and set fire to the  towers; they kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of the force, and they occupied the city. 37 They killed Timothy, who was hiding in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes. 38 When they had  accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them the victory. Lysias Besieges Beth-zur 11 Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of  the government, being vexed at what had happened, 2 gathered about eighty thousand  infantry and all his cavalry and came against the Jews. He intended to make the city a  home for Greeks, 3 and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the other nations, and to put up the high priesthood for sale every year.  4 He took no account  whatever of the power of God, but was elated with his ten thousands of infantry, and his  thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants. 5 Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five stadia from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard.  6 When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, prayed the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. 7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their kindred. Then they eagerly rushed off  together.  8 And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their  head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold.  9 And together they all praised  the merciful God, and were strengthened in heart, ready to assail not only humans but the wildest animals or walls of iron. 10 They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord had mercy on them. 11 They hurled themselves like lions against the enemy, and laid low eleven thousand of them and sixteen hundred cavalry, and forced all  the rest to flee. 12 Most of them got away stripped and wounded, and Lysias himself escaped by disgraceful flight. Lysias Makes Peace with the Jews 13 As he was not without intelligence, he pondered over the defeat that had befallen  him, and realized that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought on  their side. So he sent to them 14 and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms, promising that he would persuade the king, constraining him to be their  friend. 15 Maccabeus, having regard for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias urged. For the king granted every request in behalf of the Jews which Maccabeus delivered to Lysias in writing.  16 The letter written to the Jews by Lysias was to this effect:  "Lysias to the people of the Jews, greetings.  17 John and Absalom, who were sent by you, have delivered your signed communication and have asked about the matters  indicated in it.  18 I have informed the king of everything that needed to be brought before  him, and he has agreed to what was possible.  19 If you will maintain your goodwill toward  the government, I will endeavor in the future to help promote your welfare. 20 And  concerning such matters and their details, I have ordered these men and my  representatives to confer with you. 21 Farewell.  The one hundred forty-eighth year,  Dioscorinthius twenty-fourth."  22 The king's letter ran thus:  "King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings. 23 Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their  own affairs. 24 We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to Greek customs, but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own customs be allowed them.  25 Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also should be free from  disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they shall live  according to the customs of their ancestors.  26 You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of  good cheer and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs."  27 To the nation the king's letter was as follows:  "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greetings.  28 If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health. 29 Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after your own affairs.  30 Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission 31 for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and none of them shall be molested in any way for what may have been done in ignorance.  32 And I have also sent  Menelaus to encourage you. 33 Farewell. The one hundred forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth."  34 The Romans also sent them a letter, which read thus:  "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the  Jews, greetings.  35 With regard to what Lysias the kinsman of the king has granted you, we also give consent.  36 But as to the matters that he decided are to be referred to the  king, as soon as you have considered them, send some one promptly so that we may  make proposals appropriate for you. For we are on our way to Antioch. 37 Therefore  make haste and send messengers so that we may have your judgment.  38 Farewell.  The one hundred forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." Incidents at Joppa and Jamnia 12 When this agreement had been reached, Lysias returned to the king, and the Jews went about their farming.  2 But some of the governors in various places, Timothy and Apollonius son of  Gennaeus, as well as Hieronymus and Demophon, and in addition to these Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not let them live quietly and in peace.  3 And the people of Joppa did so ungodly a deed as this: they invited the Jews who lived among them to embark, with their wives and children, on boats that they had provided, as though there were no ill will to the Jews; 4 and this was done by public vote of the city. When they accepted, because they wished to live peaceably and suspected nothing, the people of Joppa took them out to sea and drowned them, at least two hundred.  5 When Judas heard of the cruelty visited on his compatriots, he gave orders to his men 6 and, calling upon God, the righteous judge, attacked the murderers of his kindred. He set fire to the harbor by night, burned the boats, and massacred those who had taken refuge there. 7 Then, because the city's gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again and root out the whole community of Joppa. 8 But learning that the people in Jamnia meant in the same way to wipe out the Jews who were living among them, 9 he attacked  the Jamnites by night and set fire to the harbor and the fleet, so that the glow of the light was seen in Jerusalem, thirty miles distant. The Campaign in Gilead 10 When they had gone more than a mile from there, on their march against Timothy, at least five thousand Arabs with five hundred cavalry attacked them. 11 After a hard fight, Judas and his companions, with God's help, were victorious. The defeated nomads begged Judas to grant them pledges of friendship, promising to give him livestock and to  help his people in all other ways. 12 Judas, realizing that they might indeed be useful in  many ways, agreed to make peace with them; and after receiving his pledges they went  back to their tents.  13 He also attacked a certain town that was strongly fortified with earthworks and walls, and inhabited by all sorts of Gentiles. Its name was Caspin. 14 Those who were  within, relying on the strength of the walls and on their supply of provisions, behaved  most insolently toward Judas and his men, railing at them and even blaspheming and saying unholy things. 15 But Judas and his men, calling upon the great Sovereign of the world, who without battering rams or engines of war overthrew Jericho in the days of  Joshua, rushed furiously upon the walls. 16 They took the town by the will of God, and  slaughtered untold numbers, so that the adjoining lake, a quarter of a mile wide, appeared to be running over with blood. Judas Defeats Timothy's Army 17 When they had gone ninety-five miles from there, they came to Charax, to the Jews who are called Toubian. 18 They did not find Timothy in that region, for he had by then  left there without accomplishing anything, though in one place he had left a very strong  garrison. 19 Dositheus and Sosipater, who were captains under Maccabeus, marched out  and destroyed those whom Timothy had left in the stronghold, more than ten thousand men. 20 But Maccabeus arranged his army in divisions, set men in command of the  divisions, and hurried after Timothy, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand  infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry. 21 When Timothy learned of the  approach of Judas, he sent off the women and the children and also the baggage to a  place called Carnaim; for that place was hard to besiege and difficult of access because of  the narrowness of all the approaches. 22 But when Judas's first division appeared, terror  and fear came over the enemy at the manifestation to them of him who sees all things. In  their flight they rushed headlong in every direction, so that often they were injured by  their own men and pierced by the points of their own swords. 23 Judas pressed the pursuit  with the utmost vigor, putting the sinners to the sword, and destroyed as many as thirty  thousand.  24 Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater and their men. With  great guile he begged them to let him go in safety, because he held the parents of most of  them, and the brothers of some, to whom no consideration would be shown. 25 And when  with many words he had confirmed his solemn promise to restore them unharmed, they  let him go, for the sake of saving their kindred. Judas Wins Other Victories 26 Then Judas marched against Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, and slaughtered  twenty-five thousand people. 27 After the rout and destruction of these, he marched also against Ephron, a fortified town where Lysias lived with multitudes of people of all  nationalities. Stalwart young men took their stand before the walls and made a vigorous  defense; and great stores of war engines and missiles were there. 28 But the Jews called  upon the Sovereign who with power shatters the might of his enemies, and they got the  town into their hands, and killed as many as twenty-five thousand of those who were in  it.  29 Setting out from there, they hastened to Scythopolis, which is seventy-five miles  from Jerusalem. 30 But when the Jews who lived there bore witness to the goodwill that  the people of Scythopolis had shown them and their kind treatment of them in times of  misfortune, 31 they thanked them and exhorted them to be well disposed to their race in  the future also. Then they went up to Jerusalem, as the festival of weeks was close at  hand. Judas Defeats Gorgias 32 After the festival called Pentecost, they hurried against Gorgias, the governor of  Idumea, 33 who came out with three thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry. 34 When  they joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews fell. 35 But a certain Dositheus, one  of Bacenor's men, who was on horseback and was a strong man, caught hold of Gorgias, and grasping his cloak was dragging him off by main strength, wishing to take the  accursed man alive, when one of the Thracian cavalry bore down on him and cut off his  arm; so Gorgias escaped and reached Marisa.  36 As Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long time and were weary, Judas called  upon the Lord to show himself their ally and leader in the battle. 37 In the language of  their ancestors he raised the battle cry, with hymns; then he charged against Gorgias's  troops when they were not expecting it, and put them to flight. Prayers for Those Killed in Battle 38 Then Judas assembled his army and went to the city of Adullam. As the seventh day  was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath  there.  39 On the next day, as had now become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up  the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kindred in the sepulchres  of their ancestors. 40 Then under the tunic of each one of the dead they found sacred  tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became  clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. 41 So they all blessed the ways  of the Lord, the righteous judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; 42 and they  turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be wholly  blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for  they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of the sin of those  who had fallen. 43 He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two  thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In  doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. 44 For if  he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been  superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. 45 But if he was looking to the splendid  reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious  thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from  their sin. Menelaus Is Put to Death 13 In the one hundred forty-ninth year word came to Judas and his men that Antiochus  Eupator was coming with a great army against Judea, 2 and with him Lysias, his guardian,  who had charge of the government.  Each of them had a Greek force of one hundred ten  thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three  hundred chariots armed with scythes.  3 Menelaus also joined them and with utter hypocrisy urged Antiochus on, not for the  sake of his country's welfare, but because he thought that he would be established in  office. 4 But the King of kings aroused the anger of Antiochus against the scoundrel; and  when Lysias informed him that this man was to blame for all the trouble, he ordered them to take him to Beroea and to put him to death by the method that is customary in that  place. 5 For there is a tower there, fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it has a rim running  around it that on all sides inclines precipitously into the ashes. 6 There they all push to  destruction anyone guilty of sacrilege or notorious for other crimes. 7 By such a fate it  came about that Menelaus the lawbreaker died, without even burial in the earth. 8 And this  was eminently just; because he had committed many sins against the altar whose fire and  ashes were holy, he met his death in ashes. A Battle Near the City of Modein 9 The king with barbarous arrogance was coming to show the Jews things far worse than those that had been done in his father's time. 10 But when Judas heard of this, he ordered the people to call upon the Lord day and night, now if ever to help those who were on the point of being deprived of the law and their country and the holy  temple, 11 and not to let the people who had just begun to revive fall into the hands of the  blasphemous Gentiles. 12 When they had all joined in the same petition and had implored  the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying prostrate for three days without  ceasing, Judas exhorted them and ordered them to stand ready.  13 After consulting privately with the elders, he determined to march out and decide the  matter by the help of God before the king's army could enter Judea and get possession of  the city. 14 So, committing the decision to the Creator of the world and exhorting his  troops to fight bravely to the death for the laws, temple, city, country, and  commonwealth, he pitched his camp near Modein. 15 He gave his troops the watchword,  "God's victory," and with a picked force of the bravest young men, he attacked the king's  pavilion at night and killed as many as two thousand men in the camp. He stabbed the  leading elephant and its rider. 16 In the end they filled the camp with terror and confusion  and withdrew in triumph. 17 This happened, just as day was dawning, because the Lord's  help protected him. Antiochus Makes a Treaty with the Jews 18 The king, having had a taste of the daring of the Jews, tried strategy in attacking their  positions. 19 He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews, was turned  back, attacked again, and was defeated. 20 Judas sent in to the garrison whatever was  necessary. 21 But Rhodocus, a man from the ranks of the Jews, gave secret information  to the enemy; he was sought for, caught, and put in prison. 22 The king negotiated a second time with the people in Beth-zur, gave pledges, received theirs, withdrew, attacked Judas and his men, was defeated; 23 he got word that Philip, who had been left  in charge of the government, had revolted in Antioch; he was dismayed, called in the Jews, yielded and swore to observe all their rights, settled with them and offered sacrifice,  honored the sanctuary and showed generosity to the holy place. 24 He received  Maccabeus, left Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to Gerar, 25 and went to  Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais were indignant over the treaty; in fact they were so  angry that they wanted to annul its terms. 26 Lysias took the public platform, made the best possible defense, convinced them, appeased them, gained their goodwill, and set out  for Antioch. This is how the king's attack and withdrawal turned out. Alcimus Speaks against Judas 14 Three years later, word came to Judas and his men that Demetrius son of Seleucus  had sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a strong army and a fleet, 2 and had taken  possession of the country, having made away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.  3 Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had willfully defiled  himself in the times of separation, realized that there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy altar, 4 and went to King Demetrius in about the one  hundred fifty-first year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and besides these some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he kept  quiet. 5 But he found an opportunity that furthered his mad purpose when he was invited by Demetrius to a meeting of the council and was asked about the attitude and intentions  of the Jews. He answered:  6 "Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas Maccabeus, are keeping up war and stirring up sedition, and will not let the kingdom attain  tranquility. 7 Therefore I have laid aside my ancestral glory--I mean the high  priesthood--and have now come here, 8 first because I am genuinely concerned for the  interests of the king, and second because I have regard also for my compatriots. For  through the folly of those whom I have mentioned our whole nation is now in no small  misfortune. 9 Since you are acquainted, O king, with the details of this matter, may it please you to take thought for our country and our hard-pressed nation with the gracious  kindness that you show to all. 10 For as long as Judas lives, it is impossible for the  government to find peace." 11 When he had said this, the rest of the king's Friends, who  were hostile to Judas, quickly inflamed Demetrius still more. 12 He immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, appointed him governor of Judea, and sent him off 13 with orders to kill Judas and scatter his troops, and to install Alcimus as high priest of the great temple. 14 And the Gentiles throughout Judea, who had fled  before Judas, flocked to join Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the  Jews would mean prosperity for themselves. Nicanor Makes Friends with Judas 15 When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming and the gathering of the Gentiles, they sprinkled dust on their heads and prayed to him who established his own people forever  and always upholds his own heritage by manifesting himself. 16 At the command of the  leader, they set out from there immediately and engaged them in battle at a village called  Dessau. 17 Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor, but had been  temporarily checked because of the sudden consternation created by the enemy.  18 Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the valor of Judas and his troops and their courage  in battle for their country, shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed. 19 Therefore he  sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to give and receive pledges of  friendship. 20 When the terms had been fully considered, and the leader had informed the  people, and it had appeared that they were of one mind, they agreed to the  covenant. 21 The leaders set a day on which to meet by themselves. A chariot came  forward from each army; seats of honor were set in place; 22 Judas posted armed men in  readiness at key places to prevent sudden treachery on the part of the enemy; so they  duly held the consultation.  23 Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem and did nothing out of the way, but dismissed the  flocks of people that had gathered. 24 And he kept Judas always in his presence; he was warmly attached to the man. 25 He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life. Nicanor Turns against Judas 26 But when Alcimus noticed their goodwill for one another, he took the covenant that  had been made and went to Demetrius. He told him that Nicanor was disloyal to the  government, since he had appointed that conspirator against the kingdom, Judas, to be his  successor. 27 The king became excited and, provoked by the false accusations of that  depraved man, wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the covenant and  commanding him to send Maccabeus to Antioch as a prisoner without delay.  28 When this message came to Nicanor, he was troubled and grieved that he had to annul their agreement when the man had done no wrong. 29 Since it was not possible to  oppose the king, he watched for an opportunity to accomplish this by a stratagem. 30 But  Maccabeus, noticing that Nicanor was more austere in his dealings with him and was  meeting him more rudely than had been his custom, concluded that this austerity did not  spring from the best motives.  So he gathered not a few of his men, and went into hiding  from Nicanor. 31 When the latter became aware that he had been cleverly outwitted by  the man, he went to the great and holy temple while the priests were offering the  customary sacrifices, and commanded them to hand the man over. 32 When they declared  on oath that they did not know where the man was whom he wanted, 33 he stretched out  his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground and tear down the altar, and build here a splendid temple to Dionysus."  34 Having said this, he went away. Then the priests stretched out their hands toward  heaven and called upon the constant Defender of our nation, in these words: 35 "O Lord  of all, though you have need of nothing, you were pleased that there should be a temple  for your habitation among us; 36 so now, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been so recently purified." Razis Dies for His Country 37 A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a man  who loved his compatriots and was very well thought of and for his goodwill was called  father of the Jews. 38 In former times, when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, he  had been accused of Judaism, and he had most zealously risked body and life for Judaism. 39 Nicanor, wishing to exhibit the enmity that he had for the Jews, sent more  than five hundred soldiers to arrest him; 40 for he thought that by arresting him he would do them an injury. 41 When the troops were about to capture the tower and were forcing  the door of the courtyard, they ordered that fire be brought and the doors burned. Being  surrounded, Razis fell upon his own sword, 42 preferring to die nobly rather than to fall  into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth. 43 But in the  heat of the struggle he did not hit exactly, and the crowd was now rushing in through the  doors. He courageously ran up on the wall, and bravely threw himself down into the  crowd. 44 But as they quickly drew back, a space opened and he fell in the middle of the  empty space. 45 Still alive and aflame with anger, he rose, and though his blood gushed  forth and his wounds were severe he ran through the crowd; and standing upon a steep  rock, 46 with his blood now completely drained from him, he tore out his entrails, took them in both hands and hurled them at the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit  to give them back to him again.  This was the manner of his death. Nicanor's Arrogance 15 When Nicanor heard that Judas and his troops were in the region of Samaria, he made plans to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest. 2 When the Jews who  were compelled to follow him said, "Do not destroy so savagely and barbarously, but  show respect for the day that he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days," 3 the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a sovereign in heaven who  had commanded the keeping of the sabbath day. 4 When they declared, "It is the living  Lord himself, the Sovereign in heaven, who ordered us to observe the seventh day," 5 he  replied, "But I am a sovereign also, on earth, and I command you to take up arms and  finish the king's business." Nevertheless, he did not succeed in carrying out his  abominable design. Judas Prepares the Jews for Battle 6 This Nicanor in his utter boastfulness and arrogance had determined to erect a public  monument of victory over Judas and his forces. 7 But Maccabeus did not cease to trust  with all confidence that he would get help from the Lord. 8 He exhorted his troops not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to keep in mind the former times when help had come  to them from heaven, and so to look for the victory that the Almighty would give them. 9 Encouraging them from the law and the prophets, and reminding them also of the  struggles they had won, he made them the more eager. 10 When he had aroused their  courage, he issued his orders, at the same time pointing out the perfidy of the Gentiles  and their violation of oaths. 11 He armed each of them not so much with confidence in shields and spears as with the inspiration of brave words, and he cheered them all by  relating a dream, a sort of vision, which was worthy of belief.  12 What he saw was this: Onias, who had been high priest, a noble and good man, of  modest bearing and gentle manner, one who spoke fittingly and had been trained from  childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched hands for the  whole body of the Jews. 13 Then in the same fashion another appeared, distinguished by  his gray hair and dignity, and of marvelous majesty and authority. 14 And Onias spoke,  saying, "This is a man who loves the family of Israel and prays much for the people and  the holy city--Jeremiah, the prophet of God." 15 Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and  gave to Judas a golden sword, and as he gave it he addressed him thus: 16 "Take this holy  sword, a gift from God, with which you will strike down your adversaries."  17 Encouraged by the words of Judas, so noble and so effective in arousing valor and  awaking courage in the souls of the young, they determined not to carry on a campaign  but to attack bravely, and to decide the matter by fighting hand to hand with all courage,  because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger. 18 Their concern for  wives and children, and also for brothers and sisters and relatives, lay upon them less  heavily; their greatest and first fear was for the consecrated sanctuary. 19 And those who had to remain in the city were in no little distress, being anxious over the encounter in the open country. The Defeat and Death of Nicanor 20 When all were now looking forward to the coming issue, and the enemy was already  close at hand with their army drawn up for battle, the elephants strategically stationed  and the cavalry deployed on the flanks, 21 Maccabeus, observing the masses that were in  front of him and the varied supply of arms and the savagery of the elephants, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the Lord who works wonders; for he knew  that it is not by arms, but as the Lord decides, that he gains the victory for those who  deserve it. 22 He called upon him in these words: "O Lord, you sent your angel in the time  of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he killed fully one hundred eighty-five thousand in the  camp of Sennacherib. 23 So now, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel to  spread terror and trembling before us. 24 By the might of your arm may these  blasphemers who come against your holy people be struck down." With these words he ended his prayer.  25 Nicanor and his troops advanced with trumpets and battle songs, 26 but Judas and his  troops met the enemy in battle with invocations to God and prayers. 27 So, fighting with  their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand,  and were greatly gladdened by God's manifestation.  28 When the action was over and they were returning with joy, they recognized  Nicanor, lying dead, in full armor. 29 Then there was shouting and tumult, and they  blessed the Sovereign Lord in the language of their ancestors. 30 Then the man who was  ever in body and soul the defender of his people, the man who maintained his youthful  goodwill toward his compatriots, ordered them to cut off Nicanor's head and arm and  carry them to Jerusalem. 31 When he arrived there and had called his compatriots together  and stationed the priests before the altar, he sent for those who were in the citadel. 32 He  showed them the vile Nicanor's head and that profane man's arm, which had been  boastfully stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty. 33 He cut out the tongue  of the ungodly Nicanor and said that he would feed it piecemeal to the birds and would  hang up these rewards of his folly opposite the sanctuary. 34 And they all, looking to  heaven, blessed the Lord who had manifested himself, saying, "Blessed is he who has  kept his own place undefiled!" 35 Judas hung Nicanor's head from the citadel, a clear and  conspicuous sign to everyone of the help of the Lord. 36 And they all decreed by public vote never to let this day go unobserved, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth  month--which is called Adar in the Aramaic language--the day before Mordecai's day.  37 This, then, is how matters turned out with Nicanor, and from that time the city has  been in the possession of the Hebrews. So I will here end my story. The Compiler's Epilogue 38 If it is well told and to the point, that is what I myself desired; if it is poorly done and  mediocre, that was the best I could do. 39 For just as it is harmful to drink wine alone, or,  again, to drink water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious and  enhances one's enjoyment, so also the style of the story delights the ears of those who  read the work. And here will be the end.