a

»crypha.
II. MACCA BEES, XIV.

Apocrypha.
But the King of kings moved Antiochus' mind 20 For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in
Eastinst this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the it such things as were necessary.
3

that this man was the cause of all mischief, 21 But Rhodicus, who was in the Jews' host, diswhere that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, closed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was Izlas: to put him to death, as the manner is in that sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put e.

him in prison. Email us Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits

22 The king treated with them in Bethsura the second keh, full of ashes; and it had a round instrument, time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, fought with sh.ch on every side hanged down into the ashes.

Judas, was overcome; i And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or bad

23 Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs mitted any other grievous crime, there did all men

in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, entreated ust him unto death. ? Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, ditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured

the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conhaving so much as burial in the earth ; and that the temple, and dealt kindly with the place, st justly. 13 For insomuch as he had committed many sins about

24 And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him prin* altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his cipal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians ; Baith in ashes.

25 Came to Ptolemais : the people there were grieved 322) Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty for the covenants; for they stormed because they would

ad to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done make their covenants void : Eg his father's time.

26 Lysias went up to the judgment-seat, said as 10 Which things when Judas perceived, he com

much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, nded the multitude to call upon the Lord 'night and pacified, made them well-affected, returned to Antioch. men, that if ever at any other time, he would now also Thus it went touching the king's coming and departing. aip them, being at the point to be put from their law, m their country, and from the holy temple :

CHAPTER XIV. 11 And that he would not suffer the people, that had tas en now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection 6 Alcimus uccuseth Judas. 18 Nicanor maketh peace with Judas : the blasphemous nations.

39 He seeketh to take Razis ; 46 who, to escape their hands,

killeth himself. 12 So when they had all done this together, and beright the weeping and fasting,

FTER years was informed that ving exhorted them, commanded they should be in haven of Tripolis with a great power

of adiness.

navy,

2 Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and 13 And Judas, being apart with the elders, deter- Lysias his protector. ined, before the king's host should enter into Judea, 3 Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and d get the

go forth and try the matter in fight had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their the help of the Lord.

mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he 14 So when he had committed all to the Creator could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight man- altar, "lly, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the 4 Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one y, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, odin :

and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used 15 And having given the watchword to them that solemnly in the temple : and so that day he held bis ere about him, Victory is of God; with the most peace. lliant and choice young men, he went into the king's

5 Howbeit, having gotten opportunity to further his nt by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand foolish enterprise, and being called into council by DeTeiseen, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that metrius, and asked how the Jews stood affected, and ere upon him.

what they intended, he answered thereunto: 16 And at last they filled the camp with fear and captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war, and are sedi

6 Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose imult, and departed with good success. 17 This was done in the break of the day, because tious, and will not let the realm be in peace.

7 'Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' de protection of the Lord did help him.

lying fat upon the ground three days long

, Juda, A Feries, the more Seleuces, having entered by the

city, to

HAPA

Apocrypha.

II. MACCA BEES, XIV. 9 Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which successor, is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that 27 Then the king being in a rage, and thou readily showest unto all.

the accusations of the most wicked man, 10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that nor, signifying that he was much disple the state should be quiet.

covenants, and commanding him that he 11 This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Anti the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, 28 When this came to Nicanor's her did more incense Demetrius.

much confounded in himself, and took it g 12 And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been he should make void the articles which master of the elephants, and making him governor over upon,

the man being in po fault. Judea, he sent him forth,

29 But because there was no dealin 13 Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter king, he watched his time to accomplish them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high policy. priest of the great temple.

30 Notwithstanding, when Maccabeuss 14 Then the heathen that had filed out of Judea from nor began to be churlish unto him, and Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm treated him more roughly than he was wo and calamities of the Jews to be their welfare.

that such sour behaviour came not of good 15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, together not a few of his men, and with

from earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him 31 But the other knowing that he wa that had established his people for ever, and who vented by Judas' policy, came into the g always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his temple, and commanded the priests, that presence.

their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the m 16 So at the commandment of the captain they re- 32 And when they sware that they moved straightways from thence, and came near unto where the man was whom he sought, them at the town of Dessau.

33 He stretched out his right hand tow 17 Now Simon, Judas's brother, had joined battle ple, and made an oath in this manner : with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay sudden silence of his enemies.

God even with the ground, and I will bry 18 Nevertheless, Nicanor, hearing of the manliness altar, and erect a notable temple unto Back of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness 34 After these words he departed. Th that they had to fight for their country, durst not try lifted up their hands toward heaven, and the matter by the sword.

that was ever a defender of their nation, 19 Wherefore we sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, manner : and Mattathias, to make peace.

35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who 20 So when they had taken long advisement there- nothing, was pleased that the temple of thi upon, and the captain had made the multitude acquainted should be among us : therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one

36 Therefore now,

O holy Lord of all ! mind, they consented to the covenants,

this house ever undefiled, which lately was 21 And appointed a day to meet in together by them- stop every unrighteous mouth. selves : and when the day came, and stools were set for 37 Now was there accused unto Nicad either of them,

one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of 22 Judas placed armed men ready in convenient men, and a man of very good report, who places, lest some treachery should be suddenly prac- ness was called a father of the Jews. tised by the enemies : so they made a peaceable con- 38 For in the former times, when they ference.

themselves with the Gentiles, he had beer 23 Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto all vehemency for the religion of the Jews bim.

39 So Nicanor, willing to declare the hat 24 And he would not willingly have Judas out of unto the Jews, sent above five hundred me his sight: for he loved the man from his heart.

take him : 25 He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget

40 For he thought by taking him to children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of much hurt. this life.

41 Now when the multitude would bay 26 But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt tower, and violently broken into the oute them, and considering the covenants that were made,

bade that fire should be brought to burn came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was ready to be taken on every side, fell upon not well-affected towards the state: for that he had 42 Choosing rather to die manfully, th

:

a

ocrypha.

II. MACCABEES, XV.

Apocrypha.

the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise 11 Thus he armed every one of them, not so much a beseemed his noble birth :

with defence of shields and spears, as with confortable 3 But missing his stroke through haste, the multi- and good words: and besides that, he told them a dream e also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which

wall, and cast himself down' manfully among the did not a little rejoice them. kest of them.

12 And this was his vision : That Onias, who had 4 But they quickly giving back, and a space being been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend le, he fell down into the midst of the void place. in conversation, gentle in condition, well-spoken also,

and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, 10:5 Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within holding up his hands, prayed for the whole body of the can 1, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though

Jews. blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his inds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of

13 This done, in like manner there appeared a man throng; and standing upon a steep rock,

with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a

wonderful and excellent majesty. 21:6 When as his blood was now quite gone, he cked out his bowels, and taking them in both his

14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of ds, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon

the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, the holy city, to wit

, Jeremias the prophet of God. thus died.

15 Whereupon Jeremias holding forth bis right hand,

gave to Judas a sword of gold, and, in giving it, spake CHAPTER XV.

thus, ET 5. Di Ticanor's blasphemy. 8 Judas encourageth his men by his

16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the dream. 28 Nicanor is slain.

which thou shalt wound the adversaries.

17 Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, UT Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company which were very good, and able to stir them up to

were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, hout any danger to set upon them on the sabbath- they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to

set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by con2. Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go flict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple h him, said, O destroy not so cruelly and bar

were in danger. ously, but give honour to that day, which he, that 18 For the care that they took for their wives, and

h all things, hath honoured with holiness above their children, their brethren, and kinsfolks, was in least Er ar days.

account with them: but the greatest and principal fear Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if

was for the holy temple. were a Mighty One in heaven, that had com- 19 Also they that were in the city took not the least aded the sabbath-day to be kept.

care, being troubled for the conflict abroad. ***. And when they said, There is in heaven a living 20 And now, when as all looked what should be the

d, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the kept:

army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently DA; Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon placed, and the horsemen set in wings, i, Dirth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's 21 Maccabeus, seeing the coming of the multitude, iness. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness

of the beasts, stretched out his hands towards heaven, 3 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness de- and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing nined to set up a public monument of his victory that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemet r Judas and them that were with him.

good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy: By But Maccabeus had even sure confidence that the

22 Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner, Od would help him :

O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of 3 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand :

Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of aing of the heathen against them, but to remember 3. help which in former times they had received from

23 Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a Feirriven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them; uld come unto them from the Almighty.

24 And through the might of thine arm let those be And so comforting them out of the law and the stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people phets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles

to blaspheme. And he ended thus. unisit they won afore , he made them more cheerful.

re

ness.

27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty madness before the temple. and five thousand men : for through the appearance of 34 So every man praised toward the God they were greatly cheered.

glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that 28 Now when the battle was done, returning again own place undefiled, with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his har- 35 He hanged also Nicanor's head

ur an evident and manifest sign unto all of

Lord. 29 Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

36 And they ordained all with a comi 30 And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of

no case to let that day pass without sok the citizens, both in body and mind, and who continued

celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth

in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the d his love towards his countrymen all his life, commanded

docheus' day. to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his

37 Thus went it with Nicanor: and fi shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.

forth the Hebrews had the city in their 31 So when he was there, and had called them of

here will I make an end. his nation together, and set the priests before the altar,

38 And if I have done well, and as he sent for them that were of the tower,

story, it is that which I desired: but if 32 And showed them vile Nicanor's head, and the meanly, it is that which I could attain un hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he 39 For as it is hurtful to drink wine o had stretched out against the holy temple of the Al. and as wine mingled with water is plea mighty.

lighteth the taste : even so speech fine 33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that un- lighteth the ears of them that read the sto godly Nicanor, he commanded that they should give it shall be an end.

:

END OF THE APOCRYPHA.