1 Maccabees 7:21-50

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²¹ Alcimus struggled to maintain his high priesthood,^{(A) 22} and all who were troubling their people joined him. They gained control of the land of Judah and did great damage in Israel. ²³ And Judas saw all the wrongs that Alcimus and those with him had done among the Israelites; it was more than the nations had done. ²⁴ So Judas^[a] went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea, taking vengeance on those who had deserted and preventing those in the city^[b] from going out into the country. ²⁵ When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown strong and realized that he could not withstand them, he returned to the king and brought malicious charges against them.

Nicanor in Judea

²⁶ Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored princes, who hated and detested Israel, and he commanded him to destroy the people.^{(B) 27} So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force and treacherously sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message,^{(C) 28} “Let there be no fighting between you and me; I shall come with a few men to see you face to face in peace.”

²⁹ So he came to Judas, and they greeted one another peaceably, but the enemy were preparing to kidnap Judas. ³⁰ It became known to Judas that Nicanor^[c] had come to him with treacherous intent, and he was afraid of him and would not meet him again.^{(D) 31} When Nicanor learned that his plan had been disclosed, he went out to meet Judas in battle near Caphar-salama. ³² About five hundred of the army of Nicanor fell, and the rest^[d] fled into the city of David.

Nicanor Threatens the Temple

³³ After these events Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the people came out to greet him peaceably and to show him the burnt offering that was being offered for the king.^{(E) 34} But he mocked them and derided them and defiled them and spoke arrogantly, ³⁵ and in anger he swore this oath, “Unless Judas and his army are delivered into my hands this time, then if I return safely I will burn up this house.” And he went out in great anger.^{(F) 36} At this the priests went in and stood before the altar and the temple; they wept and said,^(G)

The Death of Nicanor

³⁹ Now Nicanor went out from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-horon, and the Syrian army joined him.^{(I) 40} Judas encamped in Adasa with three thousand men. Then Judas prayed and said, ⁴¹ “When the messengers from the king spoke blasphemy, your angel went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand of the Assyrians.^{[e](J) 42} So also crush this army before us today; let the rest learn that Nicanor^[f] has spoken wickedly against the sanctuary, and judge him according to this wickedness.”^(K)

⁴³ So the armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. The army of Nicanor was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle.^{(L) 44} When his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw down their arms and fled. ⁴⁵ The Jews^[g] pursued them a day’s journey, from Adasa as far as Gazara, and as they followed they kept sounding the battle call on the trumpets.^{(M) 46} People came out of all the surrounding villages of Judea, and they outflanked the enemy^[h] and drove them back to their pursuers,^[i] so that they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left. ⁴⁷ Then the Jews^[j] seized the spoils and the plunder; they cut off Nicanor’s head and the right hand that he had so arrogantly stretched out and brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem.^{(N) 48} The people rejoiced greatly and celebrated that day as a day of great gladness. ⁴⁹ They decreed that this day should be celebrated each year on the thirteenth day of Adar.^{(O) 50} So the land of Judah had rest for a few days.^(P)