2Macc 10
1
Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the
city:
2
But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels,
they pulled down.
3
And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they took
fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense,
and lights, and shewbread.
4
When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord that they might come
no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any more against him, that he himself
would chasten them with mercy, and that they might not be delivered to the blasphemous
and barbarous nations.
5
Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day
it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is
Casleu.
6
And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering
that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered
in the mountains and dens like beasts.
7
Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms to
him whom had given them good success in cleansing his place.
8
They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should
be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.
9
And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.
10
Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of this wicked
man, gathering briefly the calamities of the wars.
11
So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm,
and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria and Phenice.
12
For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do justice to the Jews for
the wrong that had been done to them, endeavoured to continue peace with them.
13
Whereupon being accused of the king’s friends before Eupator, and called traitor at
every word because he had left Cyprus, that Philometor had committed to him, and departed
to Antiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged,
that he poisoned himself and died.
14
But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually
with the Jews:
15
And therewithal the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious holds,
kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that were banished from Jerusalem, they
went about to nourish war.
16
Then they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and besought God that he would
be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,
17
And assaulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept off all that fought upon
the wall, and slew all that fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty
thousand.
18
And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were fled together into
two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege,
19
Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them that were with him, who
were enough to besiege them, and departed himself to those places which more needed
his help.
20
Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for money
through certain of those that were in the castle, and took seventy thousand drachms,
and let some of them escape.
21
But when it was told Maccabeus what was done, he called the governors of the people
together, and accused those men, that they had sold their brethren for money, and
set their enemies free to fight against them.
22
So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
23
And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in
the two holds more than twenty thousand.
24
Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great multitude
of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take
Jewry by force of arms.
25
But when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned themselves to pray to
God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,
26
And fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and
to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law
declares.
27
So after the prayer they took their weapons, and went on further from the city: and
when they drew near to their enemies, they kept by themselves.
28
Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one part having together
with their virtue their refuge also to the Lord for a pledge of their success and
victory: the other side making their rage leader of their battle
29
But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared to the enemies from heaven five beautiful
men upon horses, with bridles of gold, and two of them led the Jews,
30
And took Maccabeus between them, and covered him on every side weapons, and kept him
safe, but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies: so that being confounded
with blindness, and full of trouble, they were killed.
31
And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred
horsemen.
32
As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gazara, where Chereas
was governor.
33
But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four
days.
34
And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly,
and uttered wicked words.
35
Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabeus’ company, inflamed
with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce
courage killed all that they met withal.
36
Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them that were
within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive; and others
broke open the gates, and, having received in the rest of the army, took the city,
37
And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with
Apollophanes.
38
When this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and thanksgiving, who had done
so great things for Israel, and given them the victory.