2 Maccabees 10

1But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

2But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

3And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the leaves of proposition.

4And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

5Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

6And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

7Therefore they now, carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

8And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.

9And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.

10But now we will relate the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.

11For when he was come to the crown. he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.

12For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.

13But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.

14But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.

15And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.

16Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:

17And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.

18And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,

19Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.

20Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded For the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.

21But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.

22So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.

23And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.

24But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

25But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,

26And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.

27And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.

28But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety o victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.

29But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:

30Two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.

31And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.

32But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.

33Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.

34But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.

35But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.

36Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set Are to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

37And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.

38And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.

1Machabæus autem, et qui cum eo erant, Domino se protegente, templum quidem et civitatem recepit:

2aras autem quas alienigenæ per plateas exstruxerant, itemque delubra demolitus est:

3et purgato templo, aliud altare fecerunt, et de ignitis lapidibus igne concepto sacrificia obtulerunt post biennium, et incensum, et lucernas, et panes propositionis posuerunt.

4Quibus gestis, rogabant Dominum prostrati in terram, ne amplius talibus malis inciderent: sed et, siquando peccassent, ut ab ipso mitius corriperentur, et non barbaris ac blasphemis hominibus traderentur.

5Qua die autem templum ab alienigenis pollutum fuerat, contigit eadem die purificationem fieri, vigesima quinta mensis qui fuit Casleu.

6Et cum lætitia diebus octo egerunt in modum tabernaculorum, recordantes quod ante modicum temporis diem solemnem tabernaculorum in montibus et in speluncis more bestiarum egerant.

7Propter quod thyrsos, et ramos virides, et palmas præferebant ei qui prosperavit mundari locum suum.

8Et decreverunt communi præcepto et decreto universæ genti Judæorum omnibus annis agere dies istos.

9Et Antiochi quidem, qui appellatus est Nobilis, vitæ excessus ita se habuit.

10Nunc autem de Eupatore Antiochi impii filio quæ gesta sunt narrabimus, breviantes mala quæ in bellis gesta sunt.

11Hic enim suscepto regno, constituit super negotia regni Lysiam quemdam, Phœnicis et Syriæ militiæ principem.

12Nam Ptolemæus, qui dicebatur Macer, justi tenax erga Judæos esse constituit, et præcipue propter iniquitatem quæ facta erat in eos, et pacifice agere cum eis.

13Sed ob hoc accusatus ab amicis apud Eupatorem, cum frequenter proditor audiret, eo quod Cyprum creditam sibi a Philometore deseruisset, et ad Antiochum Nobilem translatus etiam ab eo recessisset, veneno vitam finivit.

14Gorgias autem cum esset dux locorum, assumptis advenis, frequenter Judæos debellabat.

15Judæi vero qui tenebant opportunas munitiones, fugatos ab Jerosolymis suscipiebant, et bellare tentabant.

16Hi vero qui erant cum Machabæo, per orationes Dominum rogantes ut esset sibi adjutor, impetum fecerunt in munitiones Idumæorum:

17multaque vi insistentes, loca obtinuerunt, occurrentes interemerunt, et omnes simul non minus viginti millibus trucidaverunt.

18Quidam autem cum confugissent in duas turres valde munitas, omnem apparatum ad repugnandum habentes,

19Machabæus ad eorum expugnationem relicto Simone, et Josepho, itemque Zachæo, eisque qui cum ipsis erant satis multis, ipse ad eas quæ amplius perurgebant pugnas conversus est.

20Hi vero qui cum Simone erant, cupiditate ducti, a quibusdam qui in turribus erant, suasi sunt pecunia: et septuaginta millibus didrachmis acceptis, dimiserunt quosdam effugere.

21Cum autem Machabæo nuntiatum esset quod factum est, principibus populi congregatis accusavit quod pecunia fratres vendidissent, adversariis eorum dimissis.

22Hos igitur proditores factos interfecit, et confestim duas turres occupavit.

23Armis autem ac manibus omnia prospere agendo in duabus munitionibus plus quam viginti millia peremit.

24At Timotheus, qui prius a Judæis fuerat superatus, convocato exercitu peregrinæ multitudinis, et congregato equitatu Asiano, advenit quasi armis Judæam capturus.

25Machabæus autem et qui cum ipso erant, appropinquante illo, deprecabantur Dominum, caput terra aspergentes, lumbosque ciliciis præcincti,

26ad altaris crepidinem provoluti, ut sibi propitius, inimicis autem eorum esset inimicus, et adversariis adversaretur, sicut lex dicit.

27Et ita post orationem, sumptis armis, longius de civitate procedentes, et proximi hostibus effecti, resederunt.

28Primo autem solis ortu utrique commiserunt: isti quidem victoriæ et prosperitatis sponsorem cum virtute Dominum habentes: illi autem ducem belli animum habebant.

29Sed cum vehemens pugna esset, apparuerunt adversariis de cælo viri quinque in equis, frenis aureis decori, ducatum Judæis præstantes:

30ex quibus duo Machabæum medium habentes, armis suis circumseptum incolumem conservabant: in adversarios autem tela et fulmina jaciebant, ex quo et cæcitate confusi et repleti perturbatione, cadebant.

31Interfecti sunt autem viginti millia quingenti, et equites sexcenti.

32Timotheus vero confugit in Gazaram præsidium munitum, cui præerat Chæreas.

33Machabæus autem et qui cum eo erant, lætantes obsederunt præsidium diebus quatuor.

34At hi qui intus erant, loci firmitate confisi, supra modum maledicebant, et sermones nefandos jactabant.

35Sed cum dies quinta illucesceret, viginti juvenes ex his qui cum Machabæo erant, accensi animis propter blasphemiam, viriliter accesserunt ad murum, et feroci animo incedentes ascendebant:

36sed et alii similiter ascendentes, turres portasque succendere aggressi sunt, atque ipsos maledicos vivos concremare.

37Per continuum autem biduum præsidio vastato, Timotheum occultantem se in quodam repertum loco peremerunt: et fratrem illius Chæream et Apollophanem occiderunt.

38Quibus gestis, in hymnis et confessionibus benedicebant Dominum, qui magna fecit in Israël, et victoriam dedit illis.

1But Maccabeus and those who were with him, the Lord protecting them, even recovered the temple and the city.

2Then he demolished the altars, which the foreigners had constructed in the streets, and likewise the shrines.

3And, having purged the temple, they made another altar. And, taking glowing stones from the fire, they began to offer sacrifices again after two years, and they set out incense, and lamps, and the bread of the Presence.

4Having done these things, they petitioned the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, lest they should fall once more into such evils, but also, if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more mildly, and not be delivered over to barbarians and blasphemous men.

5Then, on the day that the temple had been polluted by the foreigners, it happened on the same day that the purification was accomplished, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, which was Kislev.

6And they celebrated for eight days with joy, in the manner of the Feast of Tabernacles, remembering that, a little time before, they had celebrated the solemn days of the Feast of Tabernacles in mountains and caves, in the manner of wild beasts.

7Because of this, they now preferred to carry boughs and green branches and palms, for him who had prospered the cleansing of his place.

8And they decreed a common precept and decree, that all the people of the Jews should keep those days every year.

9Now certainly Antiochus, who was called illustrious, held himself to be so at the passing of his life.

10But next we will describe what happened with Eupator, the son of the impious Antiochus, abridging the evils which happened in the wars.

11For when he assumed the kingdom, he appointed, over the affairs of the kingdom, a certain Lysias, leader of the Phoenician and Syrian military.

12For Ptolemy, who was called Macer, decided to be strict in justice toward the Jews, especially because of the iniquity that had been done to them, and to deal with them peacefully.

13But, for this reason, he was accused before Eupator by his friends, and was frequently called a traitor. For he had deserted Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him. And so, transferring to Antiochus the illustrious, he even withdrew from him. And he ended his life by poison.

14But Gorgias, when he was the leader of the places, taking to him new arrivals, frequently made war against the Jews.

15In truth, the Jews, who held the strategic fortresses, took in those who were fleeing from Jerusalem, and they attempted to make war.

16In fact, those who were with Maccabeus, petitioning the Lord through prayers to be their helper, made a forceful attack upon the fortresses of the Idumeans.

17And, persevering with much force, they obtained the places, killing those they met, and cutting down in all no less than twenty thousand.

18Yet certain ones, when they had fled into two well-fortified towers, gave all appearance of fighting back.

19So Maccabeus left behind Simon and Joseph, and likewise Zachaeus, and those who were with them, to fight against them. And since those who were with them were sufficient in number, he turned back to those who attacked more forcefully.

20In truth, those who were with Simon, being led by avarice, were persuaded by money from certain ones who were in the towers. And accepting seventy thousand didrachmas, they allowed certain ones to flee.

21But when what was done had been reported to Maccabeus, gathering together the leaders of the people, he accused those who had sold their brothers for money, having sent away their adversaries.

22Therefore, he executed these who had acted as traitors, and he quickly captured the two towers.

23And so, having success in arms and in all things that he took in hand, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.

24And Timothy, who had been overcome by the Jews before, calling together a multitude of foreign troops and gathering horsemen from Asia, arrived as if he would capture Judea with arms.

25But Maccabeus, and those who were with him, as he was approaching, beseeched the Lord, sprinkling dirt on their heads and wrapping their waists with haircloth.

26And lying prostrate at the pedestal of the altar, they beseeched him to be forgiving to them, but to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, just as the law says.

27And so, after prayer, taking up arms, they proceeded further from the city, and, reaching close proximity to the enemies, they settled in.

28But, as soon as the sun rose, both sides joined battle: these ones having the guarantee of victory and success by the strength of the Lord, yet the others having courage as their leader in battle.

29But, while they were fighting vehemently, to the adversaries there appeared from heaven five men on horses, which were adorned with bridles of gold, providing leadership to the Jews.

30Two of them, having Maccabeus in the middle and surrounding him with their weapons, kept him safe. But, at the enemy, they cast darts and lightning, so that they fell down, being both confused with blindness and filled with disturbances.

31Moreover, there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, along with six hundred horsemen.

32In fact, Timothy fled away to Gazara, to a fortified stronghold, where Chaereas was in charge.

33Then Maccabeus, and those who were with him, joyfully besieged the stronghold for four days.

34But those who were inside, trusting to the strength of the place, spoke evil without limit and cast out nefarious words.

35But when the fifth day began to dawn, twenty youths of those who were with Maccabeus, inflamed in soul because of the blasphemy, manfully approached to the wall, and, advancing with fierce courage, ascended it.

36Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

37Then, having continued throughout two days to lay waste to the fortress, they killed Timothy, who was found hiding himself in a certain place. And they also killed his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.

38When this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and confessions, who had done great things in Israel and had given them the victory.