2 Maccabees 9-15

Common English Bible

Antiochus retreats and dies

9 About this time Antiochus retreated in confusion out of the region of Persia. ² When he had come into Persepolis, he attempted to loot the temple and take over the city. However, he was decisively beaten when the populace took up arms. Antiochus fled from the inhabitants and had to make a shameful retreat. ³ News reached him at Ecbatana of what happened to Nicanor and to Timothy’s forces. ⁴ Swelling with rage, he planned to make the Jews pay for his own calamity when he was recently forced to flee. So he ordered his chariot driver to keep driving without stopping in order to complete the journey, but the judgment of heaven was already on him. He had said in his arrogance, “When I get to Jerusalem, I will turn it into a mass grave for the Jews.”

⁵ But the all-seeing Lord God of Israel struck him with a deadly and invisible blow. As soon as he had uttered this statement, he developed a pain in his stomach and a cruel torment in his internal organs from which he could find no relief. ⁶ This was altogether just, since he had tortured the inner organs of others with many extraordinary torments. ⁷ By no means, however, did it put a stop to his arrogance. In his contempt, a fiery anger against the Jews still filled him, and he issued a command to increase the speed of the journey. Then he fell from the chariot as it rushed along, and he suffered a severe accident that caused him pain all over his body. ⁸ Only a short time earlier, he had thought in his superhuman arrogance to command the waves of the sea and to be able to place the mountain peaks in a pair of scales. Now he was thrown down to the ground and was carried in a stretcher^[a] for the remainder of his journey, demonstrating God’s power to all. ⁹ Worms issued from the eyes^[b] of this ungodly man. While he was living in pain and in agony, his flesh was rotting away, and the whole camp stank of rottenness from his smell. ¹⁰ The one who had formerly thought that he could touch the stars of heaven couldn’t be transported by anyone because of the intense, unbearable stench.

¹¹ From this point on, he began to lose arrogance. He felt devastated and became aware of the divine punishment, suffering intense pain every moment. ¹² Unable to put up with his own odor, he said, “It is fair to submit to God and for humans to stop thinking that they are God’s equals.” ¹³ This repulsive individual solemnly promised to the Lord (although God no longer had mercy on him), declaring that ¹⁴ the holy city, to which he was rushing to knock down to the ground and turn into a mass cemetery, was now free. ¹⁵ And he would make all Jews equal to the Athenians, even though previously he had considered them unworthy of burial but fit only for bird food, and their infants fit for animals to prey upon. ¹⁶ He would adorn the holy temple, which he had formerly looted, with the most beautiful offerings. He would restore the temple equipment many times over and would give liberally from his own revenues to the expenses for the sacrifices. ¹⁷ In addition, he would become a Jew and would visit every inhabited place, announcing publicly God’s power. ¹⁸ When his pains didn’t diminish in any way—for God’s judgment had come upon him justly—and he had given up hope, he wrote to the Jews a letter of appeal. This was the content:

²⁸ Then the murderer, who also showed God the greatest disrespect, suffered the worst things, just as he had treated others. His life ended pitifully in a foreign area in the mountains. ²⁹ Philip, who was his close friend, transported his body home. But he was suspicious of the king’s son Antiochus, so he fled to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.

10 The Maccabee and his companions, with the Lord leading them, recovered the temple and the city. ² They demolished the altars that the foreigners built near the marketplace, as well as the sacred precincts. ³ They cleansed the temple and made another altar. Then they struck flints to make fire and they offered up sacrifices after a lapse of two years, and they prepared incense, lamps, and the sacred loaves. ⁴ After they had done these things, they bowed to the ground and pleaded with the Lord that they would not experience such misfortunes again, but if they should ever sin, they would be disciplined by him with fairness and not turned over to slanderous and barbaric nations. ⁵ On the anniversary of the temple’s defilement by foreigners, on that very day, the sanctuary was purified, on the twenty-fifth of the month, which is Kislev.^{[d] 6} They celebrated eight days with cheer in a manner like the Festival of Booths, remembering how during the previous Festival of Booths they had been roaming about in mountains and caverns like animals. ⁷ So they held ivy wands, beautiful branches, and also palm leaves, and offered hymns to the one who had made the purification of his own temple^[e] possible. ⁸ They voted and issued a public decree that all Jews should celebrate these days each year. ⁹ And so the matters concerning Antiochus called Epiphanes came to an end.

Wars of Antiochus Eupator

¹⁰ We will now report about what occurred under Antiochus Eupator, that ungodly man’s son, summarizing the distressful events of the dreadful wars. ¹¹ When this man received the kingdom, he appointed a certain Lysias as supreme governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. ¹² Ptolemy, called Macron, took the lead in showing justice to the Jews because of the wrongs done to them, and he tried to handle matters concerning them peacefully. ¹³ Because of this, the king’s political advisors^[f] accused him before Eupator and branded him a traitor. They accused him of abandoning Cyprus after Philometor had entrusted him with it, and of going back to Antiochus Epiphanes. Because Ptolemy no longer commanded the respect of his high office,^[g] he poisoned himself and died.

¹⁴ Gorgias, who became governor of the region, maintained a mercenary army and waged constant war against the Jews. ¹⁵ In addition to him, the Idumeans who controlled some strategic fortresses harassed the Jews. They gave safe harbor to those who were driven from Jerusalem and tried to keep the war going. ¹⁶ The Maccabee and his followers were praying and calling on God to help them. They rushed against the Idumean fortresses. ¹⁷ After mounting a vigorous attack, they gained control of all the sites and held off those fighting on the wall. They slaughtered all those they encountered, killing at least twenty thousand. ¹⁸ When no fewer than nine thousand fled into two towers well equipped for a siege, ¹⁹ the Maccabee departed to other places that needed his urgent attention, leaving Simon, Joseph, and Zacchaeus with a sufficient force for the siege of these towers. ²⁰ Some men in the towers bribed greedy people around Simon. These people in turn, after receiving seventy thousand drachmen,^[h] allowed some of the enemy to slip away. ²¹ When the Maccabee found out what happened, he gathered the leaders of the people and accused them of selling their brothers for silver by setting free the enemy. ²² He executed the traitors and then quickly took the two towers. ²³ He was successful in all things relating to war and killed more than twenty thousand men in the two towers.

²⁴ Timothy, who was defeated by the Jews earlier, assembled a large number of foreign troops and brought many horses from Asia. He arrived intending to fight against Judea. ²⁵ As he approached, the Maccabee’s followers prayed to God for help. Sprinkling their heads with dust, wrapping themselves with mourning clothes, ²⁶ and falling down opposite the foundation of the altar, they begged God to be gracious to them, to be hostile to those hostile to them, and to be an opponent of their opponents, just as the Law promises.^{[i] 27} After praying, they took up arms and moved out some distance from the city. They drew near to their enemies and then halted. ²⁸ At dawn, each side attacked. As an assurance of success and victory, the Jews had their courage and their trust in the Lord, but the Greeks made rage the driving force of their struggles. ²⁹ When the battle became fierce, five magnificent men from heaven appeared to the enemy, riding on horses with gold bridles and leading the Jews. ³⁰ Two of them took the Maccabee between them, completely protecting him against harm with their own armor, and they shot arrows and thunderbolts into the ranks of their opponents. Thrown into confusion by blindness, the enemy then ran off in different directions, filled with terror. ³¹ Twenty thousand five hundred foot soldiers and six hundred cavalry were cut down.

³² But Timothy himself fled into a fortress called Gazara, a secured area commanded by Chaereas. ³³ The followers of the Maccabee eagerly attacked the area for four days. ³⁴ Because the place was strongly fortified, those inside verbally insulted the enemy, uttering unlawful words. ³⁵ As the fifth day began, twenty of the young men among the Maccabee’s followers burned with anger because of the verbal insults, and they bravely attacked the wall. In savage fury, they cut down anyone they found. ³⁶ As this destruction occurred, others also went up after them against those inside, set the towers on fire, stoked the flames, and burned the offenders alive. When others tore down the gates, letting in the rest of the army, they took the city. ³⁷ They slaughtered Timothy, who had hidden himself in a cistern, as well as his brother Chaereas and also Apollophanes. ³⁸ With these things accomplished, they praised the Lord with hymns and thanks for showing kindness to Israel and giving victory to them.

Lysias and the Jews

11 Lysias, the guardian and relative of the king, was in charge of the government. After a very short time he became extremely displeased at what happened. ² He led eighty thousand troops and all his cavalry against the Jews. He intended to make the city a Greek territory, ³ to make the temple subject to tribute like the sacred sites of other nations, and to put the high priesthood on sale every year. ⁴ He gave no thought whatsoever to the power of God but was inflated by his tens of thousands of foot soldiers, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants. ⁵ He entered Judea, drew near to Beth-zur (a strongly fortified town about a half mile^[j] from Jerusalem), and attacked it. ⁶ When the Maccabee’s followers received information that Lysias was surrounding the fortresses, they and all the people begged the Lord with laments and tears to send a good angel to save Israel. ⁷ The Maccabee was himself the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to run risks as he did and to come to the aid of their brothers. They dashed out at once, ready for action. ⁸ While they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman in white garments and wearing full body armor made of gold appeared to them and led them. ⁹ All together they praised the merciful God, and their souls were strengthened. They prepared themselves to attack not only men but also the most fierce animals and even the iron walls. ¹⁰ They proceeded in battle order, having a heavenly ally thanks to the Lord’s mercy toward them. ¹¹ Charging like lions against their enemies, they took down eleven thousand foot soldiers and sixteen hundred horses, and they put all the rest to flight. ¹² Most of them escaped wounded and naked, while Lysias himself escaped by disgracefully running away. ¹³ Showing intelligence, Lysias pondered the reality of this defeat and realized that the Hebrews, assisted by God’s power, couldn’t be defeated. So he sent a messenger ¹⁴ and persuaded them to come to a just settlement in all issues concerning civil rights. He also persuaded^[k] them that he would convince the king to become their friend. ¹⁵ The Maccabee consented to Lysias’ proposals, thinking it was best for all involved. Whatever the Maccabee presented in writing to Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted.

¹⁶ This is what Lysias’ letter^[l] to the Jews said:

²² This is what the king’s letter said:

²⁷ This is what the king’s letter to the nation said:

³⁴ Also the Romans sent a letter to the Jews that said:

Judas’ victories

12 Having reached these agreements, Lysias returned to the king while the Jews went back to farming. ² But some of the regional governors—Timothy and Apollonius (Gennaeus’ son), Hieronymous and Demophon, as well as Nicanor the commander from Cyprus—wouldn’t permit them to live in peace. ³ Some men from Joppa committed a horrible act. After calling together the Jews living among them with their wives and children, they invited them to go sailing in boats that they provided. They acted as if they had no hostility against them at all. ⁴ This was a decision made by the city as a whole. The Jews accepted the invitation because they desired to live together with them peaceably, and the Jews had no suspicions. But they took them out to sea and drowned them—no fewer than two hundred people. ⁵ When Judas received news of the cruelty that had happened to his fellow Jews, he gave orders to his troops. ⁶ After calling out to God the righteous judge, he moved against the murderers of their brothers, setting fire to the harbor by night, burning the boats, and killing those who took refuge there. ⁷ Because a large area of the city was secured against his attack, he departed, intending to return and root out the entire citizen community of Joppa. ⁸ He learned that the people of Jamnia were also planning to finish off the Jews living among them in the same way. ⁹ So Judas mounted a night attack against Jamnia and set its harbor and fleet on fire, so that the gleams of light shone in Jerusalem twenty-eight miles^[o] away.

¹⁰ When Judas withdrew about a mile^[p] away from Jamnia, in pursuit of Timothy, Arabs attacked him with no fewer than five thousand men and five hundred cavalry. ¹¹ A fierce battle took place, but Judas’ followers were successful because of God’s help. The defeated nomads asked Judas for a pledge of friendship, promising to give them some livestock and to be of service to them in other ways. ¹² Judas agreed to make peace because he thought that they might truly be useful to them in many ways. After pledging friendship to each other, the Arabs^[q] departed into their tents.

¹³ Judas also made an attack on a city named Caspin, whose defenses included a fortified bridge and surrounding walls. It was inhabited by people from many nations. ¹⁴ Because the walls had been solidly secured and there was plenty of food for future use, the inhabitants acted disrespectfully. They not only spoke in an insulting way to Judas’ men, they were even uttering unlawful insults against God. ¹⁵ Calling out to the great mighty one of the universe who caused Jericho to fall in Joshua’s time even without battering rams or war engines, Judas’ forces attacked the wall furiously. ¹⁶ They took the city by God’s will and killed so many men that a nearby lake a quarter of a mile^[r] wide appeared to be filled with blood.

¹⁷ Withdrawing from there, they made a journey of ninety-four miles^[s] to Charax, to those Jews who are called Toubians. ¹⁸ They didn’t find Timothy in the area because he left the region without any success, except that he left behind one military force in a well-secured place. ¹⁹ But the Maccabee’s commanders Dositheus and Sosipater marched out and destroyed those Timothy left in the fortified place, killing more than ten thousand men. ²⁰ The Maccabee, dividing the army around him in units, set men in command over the units and moved quickly against Timothy, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand foot soldiers and twenty-five hundred horses. ²¹ After receiving information about Judas’ approach, Timothy sent the wives and children and their belongings ahead to a village called Carnaim. He did this because the place was difficult to surround or attack on account of the narrowness of the approaches. ²² After Judas’ first tactical unit appeared, the enemy was afraid, especially when the “one who sees all things” appeared to them. They took flight, running here and there, so that many were injured by their own comrades and pierced by the tips of their own swords. ²³ Judas pursued them vigorously. Stabbing sinners left and right, he killed as many as thirty thousand men. ²⁴ Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus, Sosipater, and their men. He skillfully argued that he should be set free, persuading them that he held many parents and other relatives as prisoners who might not receive any consideration. ²⁵ After he promised repeatedly to return them unharmed, they released him for the benefit of the safety of their relatives.

²⁶ Next Judas attacked Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, killing twenty-five thousand people. ²⁷ After overturning and destroying these places, he made war also on Ephron, a fortified city with a mixed population, where Lysias made his home. Strong young men fought bravely, however, in front of the walls where there were also many war engines and arrows. ²⁸ Calling on the Lord who crushes the strength of the enemy, the Jews took control of the city and killed about twenty-five thousand people. ²⁹ Then breaking camp and marching from there, they moved swiftly against Scythopolis, seventy-five miles^[t] from Jerusalem. ³⁰ But the Jews who lived there reported that the citizens of Scythopolis showed kindness and a civil attitude toward them even in times of misfortune. ³¹ They thanked them and encouraged them also to be well-disposed toward their people in the future as well. Then they returned to Jerusalem since the Festival of Weeks was about to begin.

³² After the Festival of Pentecost they moved against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea. ³³ He came out with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horses. ³⁴ A small number of Jews fell during the battle. ³⁵ Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s men, a strong man on horseback, had seized Gorgias. Holding on to the governor’s robe, he dragged him down roughly, trying to take the horrible man alive. But one of the Thracian cavalry men assaulted Dositheus, crushed his shoulder, and Gorgias escaped into Marisa. ³⁶ The men around Esdris were fighting fiercely but became weary. Judas called out to the Lord to show himself as their ally and to lead the battle. ³⁷ Beginning to sing hymns in the native language with a loud voice, he suddenly made an attack against Gorgias’ men and defeated them.

³⁸ Judas took his army and came into the city of Adullam. When the seventh day arrived, they purified themselves according to custom and observed the Sabbath. ³⁹ On the next day, it was necessary for Judas and his men to recover the bodies of the fallen and to bury them with their relatives in the ancestral tombs. ⁴⁰ They found sacred charms, idols from Jamnia that the Law forbids Jews to wear, under the clothing of each of the dead. It became clear to all why these men had fallen. ⁴¹ Then they all praised the Lord, the righteous judge who makes hidden things visible. ⁴² They appealed to God and prayed for the sin that had been committed to be completely wiped out. The honorable Judas called on the people to keep themselves free from sin, since everyone had seen what had happened because of the sin of those who fell. ⁴³ After taking a collection from each man, he sent the sum of two thousand silver drachmen^[u] to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. He was acting honorably and appropriately, thinking about the resurrection. ⁴⁴ If he hadn’t been looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, then it would have been unnecessary and frivolous to pray for them. ⁴⁵ He was looking, however, to that best reward laid up for those who die in godliness, and so this was a pious and holy thought. Thus he made an offering of reconciliation so that the dead would be forgiven of their sin.

Events in Modein and Beth-zur

13 In year 149^[v] the news reached Judas’ followers that Antiochus Eupator was moving against Judea with a large army. ² With him was Lysias, Antiochus’ guardian and head of the government. Each one had a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand foot soldiers, fifty-three hundred cavalry, and twenty-two elephants, as well as three hundred chariots armed with scythes. ³ Menelaus also joined them and encouraged Antiochus with many lies, not out of a concern for the safety of his homeland but because he expected that he would be set over the government. ⁴ The king of kings, however, aroused Antiochus’ anger against the sinner. When Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all the evils, Antiochus commanded that Menelaus be brought to Beroea and executed according to the custom there. ⁵ That place has a tower seventy-five feet tall and full of ashes with a steep rim on all sides leading into the ashes. ⁶ Here anyone guilty of temple robbery or other similar crimes is thrown down to their death. ⁷ In this manner the lawless Menelaus died. He didn’t receive a proper burial. ⁸ This was completely just, since he had committed many sins against the altar whose fire and ashes were holy, so in ashes he died.

⁹ The king became barbaric in his thoughts and intended to show the Jews far worse things than his father did. ¹⁰ When Judas learned of these things, he commanded the community to call on the Lord day and night—now if ever—to help those soon to be deprived of the Law, the homeland, and the holy temple. ¹¹ They were to pray that the people who had recently enjoyed temporary relief not be permitted again to come under the control of slanderous nations. ¹² After everyone had prayed in the same manner together—pleading with the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying facedown for three days—Judas called them together and commanded them to report for duty. ¹³ In consultation with the elders, Judas decided to march out to determine the matter by God’s help before the army of the king could enter Judah and take control of the city. ¹⁴ He left the decision to the creator of the universe and called on his men to fight to the death for the laws, temple, city, country, and citizenship. He made the region of Modein his headquarters ¹⁵ and gave his men the watchword “God’s Victory.” He chose the best of the young men, and attacked the king’s quarters in the enemy camp at night. They killed nearly two thousand men as well as the lead elephant, stabbing its rider. ¹⁶ After they filled the camp with fear and panic, they departed in good spirits. ¹⁷ This had happened just as the day was dawning because the Lord’s protection had come to Judas’ aid.

¹⁸ Having received a taste of the Jews’ courage, the king made an attempt on their military positions through other tricks. ¹⁹ He moved against a well-protected watch-post of the Jews at Beth-zur, but he was pushed back. He struck again, but this time he was defeated. ²⁰ Judas sent necessary supplies to those inside. ²¹ But Rhodocus from the Judean ranks gave military secrets to the enemies. When it was discovered, he was caught and imprisoned. ²² The king negotiated again with those in Beth-zur. They shared tokens of friendship. Then he went away, mounted an attack against Judas’ men, and was defeated. ²³ Meanwhile, he received news that Philip (left in charge of the government in Antioch) had rebelled. He was entirely caught off guard, and so offered reconciliation to the Jews, accepted their terms, swore to respect all their rights, and reached a settlement. He also offered a sacrifice, honored the temple, and was generous toward the place. ²⁴ He welcomed the Maccabee and made Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais to Gerar. ²⁵ Then he went to Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais found it hard to accept the agreement. They became very angry and wanted to annul the terms of the treaty. ²⁶ In defense Lysias spoke publicly as well as he could and convinced and appeased them. After gaining their support, he marched into Antioch. So this is how the advance and withdrawal of the king occurred.

Alcimus and Nicanor

14 Three years later it was reported to Judas’ followers that Demetrius, Seleucus’ son, had sailed into the harbor at Tripolis with a strong army and a fleet. ² It was also reported that he had taken possession of the country, killing Antiochus and his guardian Lysias. ³ A certain Alcimus, who had become high priest earlier but had willingly defiled himself during the revolt, became aware that he was no longer safe and that he would no longer have access to the holy altar. ⁴ He approached King Demetrius in the year 151,^[w] bringing him a gold crown, a palm tree, and some customary gifts of olive branches from the temple. He kept quiet that day ⁵ but waited for the right opportunity to accomplish his folly. Finally, Demetrius called him into the council to ask him about the condition of the Jews and their frame of mind. He replied, ⁶ “The Jews called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas the Maccabee, maintain a warlike policy and rebel frequently, not permitting the kingdom to have peace. ⁷ Deprived of my ancestral glory—I speak of course of the high priesthood—I have now come here, ⁸ first out of a sincere concern for the king’s interests and second out of regard for my fellow citizens. Through the recklessness of those mentioned earlier, the entire nation is in a state of misfortune. ⁹ But, King, since you have knowledge of these things, take thought for both the country and our oppressed nation with the same generosity you have had for all. ¹⁰ As long as Judas lives, the government is powerless to establish peace.”

¹¹ Alcimus had no sooner finished speaking when the rest of the political advisors,^[x] who strongly disliked Judas, further enraged Demetrius. ¹² Immediately choosing Nicanor the commander of the elephants and appointing him governor of Judea, the king sent him out ¹³ with written orders to kill Judas and scatter those with him, and to install Alcimus as high priest of the greatest temple. ¹⁴ The Judean Gentiles who had fled from Judas joined Nicanor in large numbers, thinking that they would benefit from the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews.

¹⁵ When they heard about Nicanor’s advance and the support he had from the Gentiles, the Jews sprinkled themselves with earth. They prayed to the one who had established his own people forever and who always helped them by intervening on their behalf. ¹⁶ At the command of their leader Judas, they immediately broke camp, marched from there, and met the enemy at the village of Dessau. ¹⁷ Simon, Judas’ brother, met Nicanor in battle but was slowly losing ground because of the unexpected confusion caused by their enemies. ¹⁸ Nevertheless, when Nicanor heard that Judas’ troops were fighting bravely and courageously as they struggled for their homeland, he was somewhat afraid to decide the matter through bloodshed. ¹⁹ So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to develop a peace agreement. ²⁰ When the Jews had carefully inspected the proposal, and their leader Judas had informed the community, who appeared to give unanimous consent, they accepted the terms of the agreement. ²¹ They set a day on which the leaders from each side would come to the same place in private, a chariot coming from each side, with chairs set out for the meeting. ²² Judas placed armed men in appropriate places, in order to prevent unexpected treachery from the enemies. So they held successful negotiations.

²³ Nicanor lived for a time in Jerusalem and did nothing improper. He dismissed the crowds of ordinary people who gathered there. ²⁴ He kept Judas continually in his presence since he became strongly attached to the man. ²⁵ He encouraged him to marry and to have children. So Judas married, enjoyed tranquillity, and began to live a normal life.

²⁶ When Alcimus noted the goodwill that Nicanor and Judas had toward each other, he obtained the documents of agreement drawn up between them and went to Demetrius. He claimed that Nicanor was disloyal to the government because he had appointed Judas, who plotted against the king, as his successor. ²⁷ The king was furious and, provoked by the accusations of the thoroughly depraved Alcimus, wrote to Nicanor. He forcefully asserted that he was displeased with the terms of agreement and ordered him to send the Maccabee as a prisoner to Antioch immediately. ²⁸ When this order reached Nicanor, he was upset and found it difficult to revoke the agreements, seeing how the man had done no wrong. ²⁹ But he couldn’t defy the king, so he watched for an opportune time to set a trap. ³⁰ But the Maccabee noticed that Nicanor was becoming more reserved toward him, conducting customary meetings in a less courteous manner. Sensing that this new rudeness wasn’t for the best, he gathered a large number of men and hid from Nicanor. ³¹ When Nicanor realized that Judas had completely outwitted him, he went to the great and holy temple where priests were offering up the appropriate sacrifices and ordered them to hand over the man. ³² When they asserted with solemn pledges that they didn’t know where he was, ³³ he stretched out his strong hand against the temple and made the following pronouncement: “If you don’t turn Judas over to me as a prisoner, I will level the sacred area of God, tear down the altar to the ground, and build here a great temple to Dionysus.” ³⁴ With these words, he left. But the priests, stretching out their hands to heaven, called on the one who always fights in defense of our nation, saying, ³⁵ “You, Lord, who need nothing, made the temple your dwelling among us. ³⁶ Now, holy one, Lord of all holiness, keep your newly purified house free from all defilement forever.”

³⁷ A Jerusalem elder named Razis was denounced to Nicanor as someone who loved the citizens, was well spoken of, and was called “Father of the Jews” because of his kindness. ³⁸ Early on in the revolt, he had been put on trial for Judaism and risked body and soul for its cause. ³⁹ Wanting to make public the hatred he had toward the Jews, Nicanor sent a group of more than five hundred soldiers to take him, ⁴⁰ because he thought that by arresting him, he would create a problem for the Jewish people.^{[y] 41} When the mob was about to take the tower, forcing open the door of the courtyard, they commanded that the door be set on fire. Razis was surrounded on every side, so he fell on his own sword. ⁴² He wanted to die bravely rather than fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his own high birth. ⁴³ But the blow didn’t strike its mark because of the haste of the struggle and the surge of the mob through the doors. Running with honor out onto the wall, he courageously threw himself down into the mob. ⁴⁴ When they suddenly drew back, a space opened up, and he landed in the middle of it. ⁴⁵ While still breathing and burning with anger, he rose up, ignoring the gushing blood and the terrible injuries, and made his way through the crowd to stand on a pile of rubble. ⁴⁶ Entirely drained of blood, he tore out his intestines, took them in both hands, and threw them at the mob. As he did this, he called out to the one with authority over life and spirit to return his insides to him, and in this manner he died.

Nicanor’s defeat

15 Nicanor learned that Judas’ forces were in the region of Samaria, so he wanted to attack them on the day of rest when there would be no risk. ² But the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, “No! Don’t destroy with such cruelty and savagery, but respect the day that is honored with holiness above all others by the one who observes all.”

³ The repeat offender asked if there was in heaven some mighty one who commanded the keeping of the Sabbath day.

⁴ They declared, “The living Lord himself, the ruler in heaven, commands us to keep the seventh day.”

⁵ Nicanor replied, “And I am the ruler on earth who commands you to take up arms and to carry out the royal orders.” Nevertheless, he didn’t succeed in carrying out his terrible plan.

⁶ Nicanor, holding his head high with all his boasting, decided to build a public monument marking the defeat of Judas’ forces. ⁷ But the Maccabee was fully confident in his hope of obtaining the Lord’s help. ⁸ So he encouraged his troops not to fear the Gentiles’ attack but to remember the aid they had previously received from heaven and to look for victory from the almighty now. ⁹ Reassuring them with words from the Law and the Prophets, and reminding them of the struggles they had overcome, he made them even more eager. ¹⁰ Stirring up their spirits, he gave them orders and pointed out at the same time the treachery of the Gentiles and their violation of solemn pledges. ¹¹ He armed each of them not so much with the security of shields and spears as with the encouragement of good words. He also told them about a trustworthy dream—a kind of waking vision—which raised everyone’s morale.

¹² In his vision, Judas saw Onias, who had been high priest and was virtuous, good, modest in all things, gentle of manners, and well-spoken. From childhood he had learned all things that properly belong to a good moral life. This man had his hands extended to pray for the entire nation of the Jews. ¹³ Then in the same manner, another man, noteworthy for his gray hair and dignity, appeared with astonishing and splendid glory. ¹⁴ Onias said, “This man is one who loves his brothers and sisters and prays many prayers for the people and the holy city: God’s prophet Jeremiah.”

¹⁵ Jeremiah extended his strong hand and gave to Judas a gold sword, saying, ¹⁶ “Take this holy sword as a gift from God, and with it you will destroy your enemies.”

¹⁷ Judas’ eloquent and powerful words urged them on to courage and made the young men’s spirits brave. They determined not to prepare for a long campaign but to attack honorably and fight hand-to-hand with all courage. In this way the matter would be decided, as danger faced their city, the holy things, and the temple. ¹⁸ They weren’t as concerned for their women and children, or their brothers and relatives, as they were for the holy temple. ¹⁹ Those trapped in the city were also very anxious, fearful of an attack in the open. ²⁰ Everyone was waiting for the upcoming conflict, with fighting units already formed, soldiers drawn up in battle order, beasts sent to strategic positions, and cavalry arranged on either side. ²¹ The Maccabee saw the masses that were before him, the diverse sorts of equipped military arms, and the fierceness of the elephants, so he extended his hands to heaven and called on the wonder-working Lord. He knew that it isn’t through arms that God decides to award victory but he gives it to those who deserve it. ²² He prayed like this: “You, my Lord, sent your angel to Hezekiah king of Judah and he killed one hundred eighty-five thousand from Sennacherib’s camp. ²³ Now ruler of the heavens, send a good angel in front of us to cause fear and trembling. ²⁴ May your mighty arm terrify those who come with verbal insults against your holy people.” With that he stopped speaking.

²⁵ Nicanor’s forces advanced with trumpet calls and battle cries. ²⁶ But Judas’ men battled against their enemies with appeals and prayers. ²⁷ Fighting with their hands but praying to God with their hearts and rejoicing in God’s appearance, they killed no fewer than thirty-five thousand soldiers. ²⁸ When they returned from the battle to their camp with joy, they found Nicanor lying dead in full armor. ²⁹ With shouts and excitement, they praised the ruler in their native language. ³⁰ Their leader, who had always fought for the citizens with body and soul and had carefully preserved the goodwill toward his fellow citizens from his youth, commanded that Nicanor’s head and arm be cut off and carried to Jerusalem. ³¹ After arriving there, Judas called together his fellow citizens, stationed the priests at the altar, and sent for those from the elevated fortress.^[z]

³² He displayed the head of the repulsive Nicanor and the slanderer’s hand, which he had extended against the almighty’s holy house while uttering great boasts. ³³ He cut out the tongue of the ungodly Nicanor and ordered that it be given to the birds in pieces, and he hung the rewards of his stupidity in front of the temple. ³⁴ Looking to heaven, everyone praised the Lord, who had made himself known, saying, “Blessed is the one who kept his own holy place pure.” ³⁵ Judas hung Nicanor’s head from the elevated fortress in plain sight of all, as a clear sign of the Lord’s help. ³⁶ The people decided to issue a regulation forbidding anyone to forget this day but reminding all to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar^[aa] in the Syrian language, the day before Mordecai’s day.

³⁷ After things turned out this way with Nicanor, the Hebrews controlled the city from that time on. So at this point I will stop. ³⁸ If the story was told effectively, this is what I wanted. But if it was told in a poor and mediocre fashion, this was the best I could do. ³⁹ Just as it is harmful to drink wine or water alone while wine mixed with water is delightful and produces joy, so also may the writing of this story delight the ears of those who encounter this work.

The end.