the demon will smell it and flee and will never be seen near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she has always been set apart for you. You will save her, and she will go with you. I know that you will have children by her, and they will be as brothers and sisters to you. Now say no more!” When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his sister, related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.

Arrival at Home of Raguel

Now when they entered Ecbatana, Tobias said to him, “Azariah, my brother, take me straight to our brother Raguel.” So he took him to Raguel’s house, where they found him sitting beside the courtyard door. They greeted him first, and he replied, “Many greetings, my brothers; welcome and good health!” Then he brought them into his house.

Then Edna questioned them, saying, “Where are you from, my brothers?” They answered her, “We belong to the descendants of Naphtali who are exiles in Nineveh.”

But Uzziah said to them, “Courage, my brothers and sisters! Let us hold out for five days more; by that time the Lord our God will turn his mercy to us again, for he will not forsake us utterly.

You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart or understand the workings of the human mind; how do you expect to search out God, who made all these things, and find out his mind or comprehend his thought? No, my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God.

“Therefore, my brothers, let us set an example for our kindred, for their lives depend upon us, and the sanctuary—both the temple and the altar—rests upon us.

Those Who Are Worthy of Praise

I take pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals: agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbors, and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.

Simon Son of Onias

The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people was the high priest, Simon son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house and in his time fortified the temple.

When he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brothers around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.

Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this town, and supported by sons and brothers.

I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors.

All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.

Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell on the nations all around them.

Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final destruction.

Cleansing and Dedication of the Temple

Then Judas and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.”

Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

and sent to Judas and his brothers letters that said, “The nations around us have gathered together to destroy us.

Thus the people suffered a great rout because, thinking to do a brave deed, they did not listen to Judas and his brothers.

The man Judas and his brothers were greatly honored in all Israel and among all the nations, wherever their name was heard.

Success at Hebron and Philistia

Then Judas and his brothers went out and fought the descendants of Esau in the land to the south. He struck Hebron and its villages and tore down its strongholds and burned its towers on all sides.

They brought to the king this accusation against the people: “Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your Friends and have driven us out of our land.

So they marched away and came with a large force into the land of Judah, and he sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with peaceable but treacherous words.

So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force and treacherously sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message,

“Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, so that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends.”

They looked out and saw a tumultuous procession with a great amount of baggage, and the bridegroom came out with his friends and his brothers to meet them with tambourines and musicians and many weapons.