2Macc 12
1
When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the Jews were about their
husbandry.
2
But of the governors of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus,
also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would
not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.
3
The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among
them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as
though they had meant them no hurt.
4
Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to
live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep,
they drowned no less than two hundred of them.
5
When Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded those that were
with him to make them ready.
6
And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren,
and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled there
he slew.
7
And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out
all them of the city of Joppa.
8
But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner to the Jews that
dwelt among them,
9
He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so
that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.
10
Now when they were gone from there nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus,
no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians
set upon him.
11
Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas’ side by the help of God got the
victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace,
promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.
12
Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted
them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.
13
He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about
with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.
14
But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision
of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas,
railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
15
Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without
rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce
assault against the walls,
16
And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that
a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running
with blood.
17
Then departed they from there seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa
to the Jews that are called Tubieni.
18
But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched
any thing, he departed from there, having left a very strong garrison in a certain
hold.
19
Nevertheless Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus’ captains, went forth,
and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
20
And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against
Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand
and five hundred horsemen.
21
Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas’ coming, he sent the women and children
and the other baggage to a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege,
and uneasy to come to, by reason of the straitness of all the places.
22
But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear
and terror through the appearing of him who sees all things, fled amain, one running
into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men,
and wounded with the points of their own swords.
23
Judas also was very earn in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom
he slew about thirty thousand men.
24
Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he
besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews’
parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not
be regarded.
25
So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt,
according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.
26
Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there
he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
27
And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron,
a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and
the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was
great provision of engines and darts.
28
But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with his power breaks
the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand
of them that were within,
29
From there they departed to Scythopolis, which lies six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,
30
But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly
with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;
31
They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still to them: and so they came
to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.
32
And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor
of Idumea,
33
Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.
34
And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.
35
At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback, and a strong
man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when
he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote
off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled to Marisa.
36
Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called
upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.
37
And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and
rushing unawares upon Gorgias’ men, he put them to flight.
38
So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh
day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the
same place.
39
And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take
up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their
fathers’ graves.
40
Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the
idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw
that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.
41
All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things
that were hid,
42
Betook themselves to prayer, and besought him whom the sin committed might wholly
be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves
from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for
the sins of those that were slain.
43
And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand
drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein
very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
44
For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had
been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
45
And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died
godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the
dead, that they might be delivered from sin.