 chapters one through five of the second book of Maccabees this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain more information on a volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the brethren the Jews that be in Jerusalem and in the land of Judea wish unto the brethren the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace God be gracious unto you and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob his faithful servants and give you all in heart to serve him and to do his will with a good courage and a willing mind and open your hearts in his law and commandments and send you peace and hear your prayers and be at one with you and never forsake you in time of trouble and now we be here praying for you what time was Demetrius reigned in the 103 score in ninth year we the Jews wrote unto you and the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the Holy Land and Kingdom and burned the porch and shed innocent blood then we prayed unto the Lord and were heard we offered also sacrifices and fine flour and lighted the lamps and set forth the loaves and now see that you keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the month of Kasslu in the 104 score in eighth year the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea and the Council and Judas St. Greetings and health unto Aristobulus King Ptolemaus's master who was of the stock of the anointed priests and to the Jews that were in Egypt and so much as God had delivered us from great perils we thank him highly as having been in battle against a king for he cast them out that fought within the holy city for when the leader was calm into Persia and the army with him that seemed invincible they were slain in the temple of Naniya by the deceit of Naniya's priests or Antiochus as though he would marry her came into the place and his friends that were with him to receive money in name of a dowry which when the priests of Naniya had set forth he was entered with a small company into the compass of the temple they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in and opening a privy door of the roof they threw stones like thunderbolts and struck down the captain hewed them in pieces smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without blessed be our God in all things who had delivered up the ungodly therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the 5 and 20th day of the month of Kasslu we thought it necessary to certify you thereof that he might also keep it as the feast of the tabernacles and of the fire which was given us whenemius offered sacrifice after that he had builded the temple and the altar for when our fathers were led into Persia the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privy and hid it in a hollow place of a pit without water where they kept it sure so that the place was unknown to all men after many years when it pleased God neemius being sent from the king of Persia did send of the posterity of those priests that had hid it to the fire but when they told us they found no fire but thick water then commanded he them to draw it up and to bring it and when the sacrifices were laid on it neemius commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid there on with water when this was done the time came that the sun shone which of four was hid in the cloud there was a great fire kindled so that every man marveled and the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming I say both the priests and all the rest Jonathan beginning and the rest answering there unto as neemius did and the prayer was after this manner the Lord Lord God greater of all things who are fearful and strong and righteous and merciful and the only and gracious king the only giver of all things the only just almighty and everlasting thou that deliver us Israel from all trouble and it is choose the fathers and sanctify them receive the sacrifice for the whole people Israel and preserve nine own portion and sanctify it gather those together that are scattered from us deliver them that serve among the heathen look upon them that are despised and abhorred and let the heathen know that thou art our God punish them that oppress us and with pride do us wrong plant thy people again in thy holy place as Moses has spoken and the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving now in a sacrifice was consumed ebius commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones when this was done there was candle to flame but it was consumed by the light that shine from the altar so when this matter was known it was told to the king of persia that in the place where the priests that were led away had hid the fire there appeared water and that nimious had purified the sacrifices there with then the king and closing the place made it holy after he had tried the matter and the king took many gifts and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify and nimious called this thing nephathar which is as much as to say a cleansing but many men call it nephai chapter two it is also found in the records that jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire as it hath been signified and how that the prophet having given them the law charged them not to forget the commandments of the lord and that they should not air in their minds when they see images of silver and gold with their ornaments with other such speeches exhorted he them that the law should not depart from their hearts it was also contained in the same writing that the prophet being warned of god commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him as he went forth into the mountain where moses climbed up and saw the heritage of god and when jeremy came thither he found an hollow cave wherein he laid the tabernacle and the ark and the altar of incense and so stopped the door and some of those that followed him came to mark the way but they could not find it which when jeremy perceived he blamed them saying as for that place it shall be unknown until the time that god gather his people again together and receive them unto mercy then shall the lord show them these things and the glory of the lord shall appear and the clouds also as it was showed under moses and as when solemn desired that the place might be honorably sanctified it was so declared that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication and of the finishing of the temple and as when moses prayed unto the lord the fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices even so prayed solemn also and the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and moses said because the sin offering was not to be eaten it was consumed so solemn kept those eight days the same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of nemias and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings and the prophets and of david and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts and like manner also judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had and they remained with us therefore if you have need there of send some to fetch them unto you whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification we have written unto you and ye shall do well if you keep the same days we hope also that the god that delivered all his people and give them all in heritage and the kingdom and the priesthood and the sanctuary as he promised in the law will shortly have mercy upon us and gather us together out of every land under heaven unto the holy place for he had delivered us out of great troubles and hath purified the place now as concerning judas maccabeus and his brethren and the purification of the great temple and the dedication of the altar and the wars against antiochus epiphanies and euphatter his son and the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behave themselves manfully to their honor for judaism so that being but a few they overcame the whole country and chased the barbarous multitudes and recovered again the temple renowned all the world over and freed the city and upheld the laws which were going down the lord being gracious unto them with all favor all these things i say being declared by jason of syrene in five books we will assay to a bridge in one volume for considering the infinite number and the difficulty which they find the desire to look into the narrations of the story for the variety of the matter we have been careful that they that will read may have delight and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit therefore to us that have taken upon us this painful labor of a bridging it was not easy but a matter of sweat and watching even as it is no ease unto him that prepare at the banquet and seek at the benefit of others yet for the pleasure of many we will undertake gladly this great pains leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular and laboring to follow the roles of an abridgement for as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building but he that undertake it to set it out and paint it must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof even so i think it is with us to stand upon every point and go over things at large and to be curious in particulars belonging to the first author of the story but to use brevity and to avoid much laboring of the work is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement here then we will begin the story only adding thus much to that which hath been said that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue and to be short in the story itself chapter three now when the holy city was inhabited with all peace and the laws were kept very well because of the godliness of oneis the high priest and his hatred of wickedness it came to pass that even the kings themselves did honor the place and magnify the temple with their best gifts and so much that salukas of asia of his own revenues bear all the cost belonging to the service of the sacrifices but one simon of the tribe of benjamin who was made governor of the temple fell out with the high priest about disorder in the city and when he could not overcome oneis he got him over to apple linus the son of throsses who was then governor of sylosiria and finis and told him that the treasury in jerusalem was full of infinite sums of money so that the multitude of their riches which did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices was innumerable and then it was possible to bring all into the king's hand now when apple linus became king and showed him of the money whereof he was told the king shows out heliodorus his treasurer and sends him with the commandments to bring him the foresaid money so forthwith heliodorus took his journey under a color of visiting the cities of sylosiria and finis but indeed to fulfill the king's purpose and when he was come to jerusalem and had been courteously received of the high priest of the city he told him what intelligence was given of the money and declared wherefore he came and asked if these things were so indeed then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of widows and fatherless children and that some of it belonged to hirkenas son of tobias a man of great dignity and not as that wicked simon had misinformed the somewhere of in all was 400 talents of silver and 200 of gold and that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs could be done unto them that had committed it to the holiness of the place and to the majesty and the inviolable sanctity of the temple honored over all the world but heliodorus because of the king's commandment given him said that in any wise it must be brought into the king's treasury so that the day which he appointed he entered in to order this matter wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city but the priests prostrating themselves before the altar and their priest vestments called into heaven upon him and made a law concerning the things to be given that they should safely be preserved for such as had committed them to be kept when who so had looked to the high priest in the face it would have wounded his heart for his countenance and changing of his color declared the inward agony of his mind but the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body that it was manifest to them that looked upon him what sorrow he now had in his heart others ran flocking out of their houses to the general supplication because the place was like to come and to contempt and the women girt with sackcloth under their breasts abounded in the streets and the virgins that were kept in ran some to the gates and some to the walls and others looked out of the windows and all holding their hands toward heaven made supplication then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the multitude of all sorts and the fear of the high priest being in such agony they then called upon the almighty lord to keep the things committed of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them nevertheless heliodorus executed that which was decreed now as he was there present himself with his guard about the treasury the lord of spirits and the prince of all power caused a great apparition so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the power of god and fainted and were sore afraid for there appeared unto them in horse with a terrible rider upon him and adorned with a very fair covering and he ran fiercely and smote at heliodorus with his four feet and it seemed that he that sat upon the horse had a complete harness of gold moreover two other young men appeared before him notable in strength excellent in beauty and comely in apparel who stood by him on either side and scourged him continually and give him many sore stripes and heliodorus fell suddenly onto the ground and was compassed with great darkness but they that were with him took him up and put him into a litter thus him that lately came with a great train and with all his guard into the said treasury they carried out being unable to help himself with his weapons and manifestly they acknowledged the power of god for he that by the hand of god was cast down and lay speechless without all hope of life but they praised the lord that had miraculously honored his own place for the temple which a little of four was full of fear and trouble when the mighty lord appeared was filled with joy and gladness then straight away is certain of heliodorus's friends prayed onius that he would call upon the most high to grant him his life who lay ready to give up the ghost so the high priest suspecting lest the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to heliodorus by the jews offered a sacrifice for the health of the man now as the high priest was making an atonement the same young men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside heliodorus saying give onius the high priest great thanks in so much as for his sake the lord had granted the life and seeing that thou has been scourged from heaven declare unto all men the mighty power of god and when they had spoken these words they appeared no more so heliodorus after he had offered sacrifice under the lord and made great vows in him that had saved his life and saluted onius returning with his host to the king then testified he to all men the works of the great god which he had seen with his eyes and when the king heliodorus who might be a fit man to be sent yet once again to Jerusalem he said if thou hast any enemy or traitor send him thither and now shall receive him well scourged if he escape with his life for in that place no doubts there is in a special power of god for he that dwelleth in heaven hath his eye on that place and defendeth it and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it and the things concerning heliodorus and the keeping of the treasury fell out on this sort this simon now of whom we spake afore having been a betrayer of the money and of his country slandered onius as if he had terrified heliodorus and been the worker of these evils thus was he bold to call him a traitor that had deserved well of the city and tendered his own nation and was so zealous of the laws but when their hatred went so far that by one of simon's faction murders were committed onius seeing the danger of this contention and then apolinas as being the governor of silo siria and finis did rage and increase simon's malice he went to the king not to be an accuser of his countrymen but seeking the good of all both public and private for he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue quiet and simon leave his folly unless the king did look there unto but after the death of celucus when antiochus called epiphanes took the kingdom jason the brother of onius labored under hand to be high priest promising unto the king by intercession 303 score talents of gold of another revenue 80 talents besides this he promised to assign and 150 more if he might have licensed to set him up a place for exercise and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen and to write them of jerusalem by the name of anti-okians which when the king had granted he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to greekish fashion and the royal privileges granted of special favor to the jews by means of john the father of epolamus who went ambassador to roam for amity and aid he took away and putting down the governments which were according to the law he brought up new customs against the law for he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself and brought the chief young men under his subjection and made them wear a hat now such was the height of greek fashions an increase of heathenish manners through the exceeding profaneness of jason that ungodly wretch and no high priest that the priest had no courage to serve anymore at the altar but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices hastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise after the game of disseus called them forth not setting by the honors of their fathers but liking the glory of the greecians best of all by reason where of sore calamity came upon them for they had them to be their enemies and avengers whose custom they followed so earnestly and unto whom they desired to be like in all things for it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of god but the time following shall declare these things now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at tiras the king being present this ungraces jason sent special messengers from jerusalem were anti-okians to carry 300 drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of hercules which even the bears thereof thought fit not to bestow upon the sacrifice because it was not convenient but to be reserved for other charges the money then in regard of the sender was appointed to hercules's sacrifice but because of the bears thereof it was employed to the making of galleys now in apollinas the son of minithias was sent into egypt for the coronation of king tolamas philometor and tyachus understanding him not to be well affected to his affairs provided for his own safety whereupon he came to jopa and from thence to jerusalem where he was honorably received of jason and of the city and was brought in with torchelites and with great shoutings and so afterward went with his host unto finise three years afterward jason sent then allows the aforesaid simon's brother to bear the money unto the king and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters but he being brought into the presence of the king when he had magnified him for the glorious appearance of his power got the priesthood to himself offering more than jason by 300 talents of silver so we came with the king's mandate bringing nothing worthy the high priesthood but having the fury of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage beast then jason who had undermined his own brother being undermined by another was compelled to flee into the country of the ammonites so manelos got the principality but as for the money that he had promised unto the king he took no good order for it albeit so straight as the ruler of the castle required it for unto him appertained the gathering of the customs therefore they were both called before the king now manelos left his brother lycemicos in his stead in the priesthood and so stratos left crats who was governor of the siperians while those things were in doing they of tarsus and malos made insurrection because they were given to the king's concubine called entayacus then came the king in all haste to appease matters leaving adronicus a man in authority for his deputy now malenos supposing that he had gotten a convenient time stole certain vessels of gold out of the temple and gave some of them to adronicus and some he sold into tyros and the city's roundabouts which when onius knew of usherty he reproved him and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at defne to lie by entayocchia therefore menelos taking adronicus apart prayed him to get onius into his hands who being persuaded there unto and coming to onius in deceit gave him his right hand with oaths and though he were suspected by him yet persuaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary whom forthwith he shut up without regard of justice for the witch cause not only the jews but many also of other nations took great indignation and were much greed for the unjust murder of the man and when the king was come again from the places about solacea the jews that were in the city and certain of the greeks that abhorred the fact also complained because onius was slain without cause wherefore entayacus was heartily sorry and moved to pity and wept because of the sober and modest behavior of him that was dead and being kindled with anger forthwith he took away adronicus his purple and rent off his clothes and leading him through the whole city unto that very place where he had committed impiety against onius there slew he the cursed murderer thus the lord rewarded him his punishment as he had deserved now in many sacrilegious had been committed in the city by lasimicus with the consent of menelos and the fruit thereof was spread abroad the multitude gathered themselves together against lasimicus many vessels of gold being already carried away whereupon the common people rising and being filled with rage lasimicus armed about three thousand men and began first to offer violence one uranos being the leader a man far gone in years and no less in folly they then seeing the attempt of lasimicus some of them caught stones some clubs others taking handfuls of dust that was next at hand cast them all together upon lasimicus and those that set upon them thus many of them were wounded and some of they struck to the ground and all of them they forced to flee but as for the church robber himself him they killed beside the treasury of these matters therefore there was an accusation against manelos now when the king came to tyros three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him but manelos being now convicted promised tolami the son of dora means to give him much money if he would pacify the king toward him whereupon tolami taking the king aside into a certain gallery as it were to take the air brought him to be of another mind and so much that he discharged manelos from the accusations who notwithstanding was the cause of all the mischief and those poor men who if they had been told their cause yea before the sithians should have been judged innocent them he condemned to death thus that followed the matter for the city and for the people and for the holy vessels did soon suffer unjust punishment therefore even they of tyros moved with hatred of that wicked deed caused them to be honorably buried and so through the covetedness of them that were of power manelos remained still in authority increasing in malice and being a great traitor to the citizens chapter five but at the same time and tyachus prepared his second voyage into egypt and then it happened that through all the city for the space almost of 40 days there were seen horsemen riding in the air in cloth of gold and armed with lances like a band of soldiers in troops of horsemen in array and capturing and running one against another with shaking of shields in multitude of pikes and drawing of swords and casting of darts and glittering of gold ornaments and harnesses of all sorts wherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good no one that was gone for the false rumor as though and tyachus had been dead jason took at the least a thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city and they that were upon the walls being put back in the city at length taken manelos fled into the castle but jason slew his own citizens without mercy not considering that to get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day for him but thinking they had been his enemies and not his countrymen whom he conquered albeit for all this he obtained not the principality but at the last received shame for the reward of his treason and fled again into the country of the ammonites in the end therefore he had an unhappy return being accused before erratus the king of the arabians fleeing from city to city pursuit of all men hated as a forsaker of the laws and being had an admonition as an open enemy of his country and countrymen he was cast into egypt thus he that had driven many out of their country perished in a strange land retiring to the lacedemonians and thinking there to find succor by reason of his kindred and he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him nor any solemn funerals at all nor sepulcher with his fathers now when this that was done came to the king's ear he thought that judah had revolted whereupon removing out of egypt in a furious mind he took the city by force of arms and commanded his men of war not to spare such as they met and to slay such as went upon the houses thus there was killing of young and old making a way of men women and children slaying of virgins and infants and there were destroyed within the space of three whole days four scored thousand whereof 40 000 were slain in the conflict and no fewer sold than slain it was he not content with this but presumed to go into the most holy temple of all the world manelos that traitor to the laws and to his own country being his guide and taking the holy vessels with polluted hands and with profane hands pulling down the things that were dedicated by other kings to the augmentation and glory and honor of the place he gave them away and so haughty was enticus in mind that he considered not that the lord was angry for a while for the sins of them that dwelt in the city and therefore his eye was not upon the place for had they not been formally wrapped in many sins this man as soon as he had come had forthwith been scourged and put back from his presumptuous as heliodorus was the king sent to view the treasury nevertheless god did not choose the people for the place of sake but the place for the people's sake and therefore the place itself that was partaker with them of the adversity that happened to the nation did afterward communicate in the benefits sent from the lord and as it was forsaken in the wrath of the almighty so again the great lord being reconciled it was set up with all glory so when enticus had carried out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents he departed in all haste into entiocchio weaning in his pride to make the land navigable and the sea passable by foot such was the haughtiness of his mind and he left governors to vex the nation at Jerusalem philip for his country a phyregan and for manners more barbarous than he that set him there and at garrism and dronicus and besides manelus who worse than all the rest bear and heavy hand over the citizens having a malicious mind against his country men the jews he sent also that detestable ringleader apollinus with an army of two and twenty thousand commanding him to slay all those that were in their best age and to sell the women and the younger sorts who were coming to jerusalem and pretending peace did forebear to the holy day of the sabbath when taking the jews keeping the holy day he commanded his men to arm themselves and so he slew all of them that were gone to the celebrating of the sabbath and running through the city with weapons slew great multitudes but judas maccabeus with nine others or there about withdrew himself into the wilderness and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts with his company who fed on herbs continually lest they should be partakers of the pollution end of chapters one through five chapters six through ten of the second book of maccabeus king james version the sleeper box recording is in the public domain chapter six not long after this the king sent an old man of athens to compel the jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and not to live after the laws of god and to pollute also the temple of jerusalem and to call it the temple of jupiter olympus and that's in gazerum of jupiter defender of strangers as they did desire that dwell in the place the coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people for the temple was filled with riots and reviling by the Gentiles who dallyed with harlots and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places and besides that brought in things that were not lawful the altar also was filled with profane things it's the law forbiddeth neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts or to profess himself at all to be a jew and in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices and when the fast of bachos was kept the jews were compelled to go in procession to bachos carrying ivy moreover there went out a decree to the neighbor cities of the heathen by the suggestion of tolami against the jews that they should observe the same fashions and be partakers of their sacrifices and whosoever would not conform themselves to the manners that the Gentiles should be put to death then might a man have seen the present misery for there were two women brought who had circumcised their children whom when they had openly led round about the city the babes handing at their breasts they cast them down headlong from the wall and others that had run together into caves nearby to keep the sabbathay secretly being discovered by philip were all burnt together because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honor of the most sacred day now i beseech those that read this book that they be not discouraged for these calamities but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction but for the chastening of our nation for it is a token of his great goodness when the wicked doers are not suffered any long time but forthwith punished for not as with other nations whom the lord patiently forbear to punish till they come to the fullness of their sins so dealt he with us lest that being come to the height of sin afterwards he should take vengeance of us and therefore he never withdrew his mercy from us and though he punish with adversity yet doth he never forsake his people but let this that we had spoken be for a warning unto us and now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words and the azar one of the principal scribes an aged man and of a well-favored countenance was constrained to open his mouth and to eat swine's flesh but he choosing rather to die gloriously than to live stained with such abomination spit it forth and came of his own accord to the torment as it behooved them to come that are resolute to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted but they that had the charge of the wicked feast for the old acquaintance they had with the man taking him aside besought him to bring flesh of his own provision such as was lawful for him to use and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commended by the king that in so doing he might be delivered from death and for the old friendship with them find favor but he began to consider discreetly and as became his age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honor of his gray head where on was come and his most honest education from a child or rather the holy law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly and willed them straight a ways to send him to the grave for it become if not our age said he in any wise to disassemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar being four score years old and ten were now gone to a strange religion and so they through mind hypocrisy and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and I get a stain to mine old age and make it abominable for though the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead wherefore now manfully changing this life I will show myself such and one as my age requires and leave a noble example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honorable and holy laws and when he had said these words immediately he went to the torment they that led him changing the goodwill they bear him a little before into hatred because the fore said speeches preceded as they thought from a desperate mind but when he was ready to die the stripes he groaned and said it is manifest unto the Lord that hath the holy knowledge that whereas I might have been delivered from death I now endure sore pains and body by being beaten but in soul and well content to suffer these things because I fear him and thus this man died leaving his death for an example of a noble courage in a memorial of virtue not only unto young men but unto all his nation chapter seven and it came to pass also that seven brethren with their mother were taken and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh and were tormented with scourges and whips but one of them that spake first said thus what would us thou ask or learn of us we are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers then the king being in a rage commanded pans and cauldrons to be made hot which forthwith being heated he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first and to cut off the utmost parts of his body the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on now when he was thus maimed in all his members he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire and to be fried in a pan and as the vapor of the pan was for a good space dispersed they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully saying thus the lord god looketh upon us and in truth hath comfort in us as moses in his song which witnessed to their faces declared saying that he shall be comforted in his servants so when the first was dead after this number they brought the second to make him a mocking stock and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair they asked him will thou eat for thou be punished throughout every member of thy body but he answered in his own language and said no wherefore he also received the next torment in order as the former did and when he was at the last gasp he said thou like a fury take us us out of this present life but the king of the world shall raise us up who have died for his laws unto everlasting life after him was the third made a mocking stock and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soon holding forth his hands manfully and said courageously these I had from heaven and for his laws I despise them and from him I hope to receive them again and so much that the king and they that were with him marveled at the young man's courage for that he nothing regarded the pains now when this man was dead also they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner so when he was ready to die he said thus it is good being put to death by men to look for hope from god to be raised up again by him as for thee thou shall have no resurrection to life afterward they brought the fifth also and mangled him then looked he unto the king and said thou has power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt, yet think not that our nation is forsaken of god but abide awhile and behold his great power how he will torment thee and thy seed after him also they brought the sixth who being ready to die said be not deceived without cause for we suffer these things for ourselves having sinned against our god therefore marvelous things are done unto us but think not thou that takest in hand to strive against god that thou shalt escape unpunished but the mother was marvelous above all and worthy of honorable memory for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day she bear it with a good courage because of the hope that she had in the lord yea she exhorted every one of them in her own language filled with courageous spirits and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach she said unto them I cannot tell how ye came into my womb for I neither gave you breath nor life neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you but doubtless the creator of the world who formed the generation of man and found out the beginning of all things will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again as ye now regard not your own selves for his law's sake now Antiochus thinking himself despised and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech whilst the youngest was yet alive did not only exhort him by words but also assured him with oaths that he would make him both a rich and happy man if he would turn from the laws of his father and that also he would take him for his friend and trust him with affairs and when the young man would in no case hearken unto him the king called his mother and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life and when he had exhorted her with many words she promised him that she would counsel her son but she bowing herself toward him laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn spake in her country language on this manner oh my son have pity upon me that bear the nine months in my womb and gave thee such three years and nourished thee and brought thee up unto this age and endured the troubles of education i beseech thee my son look upon the heaven and the earth and all that is therein and consider that god made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise fear not this tormenter but being worthy of thy brethren take thy death that i may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren while she was yet speaking these words the young man said whom wait ye for i will not obey the king's commandment but i will obey the commandments of the law that was given unto our fathers by moses and now that has been the author of all mischief against the hebrus so not escape the hands of god for we suffer because of our sins and though the living god be angry with us for a little while for our chastening and correction yet shall he be at one again with his servants but thou oh godless man of all other most wicked be not lifted up without a cause nor puffed up with uncertain hopes lifting up thy hand against the servants of god for thou has not yet escaped the judgment of almighty god who seeth all things for our brethren who now have suffered a short pain are dead under god's covenant of everlasting life but thou through the judgment of god shall receive just punishment for thy pride but i as my brethren offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers is teaching god that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation and that thou by torments and plagues may us confess that he alone is god and that in me and my brethren the wrath of the almighty which is justly brought upon our nation may cease then the king being in rage handed him worse than all the rest and took it grievously that he was mocked so this man died undefiled and put his whole trust in the lord last of all after the sons the mother died let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts and the extreme tortures chapter eight then judas mecca bs and they that were with them went privily into the towns and called their kins folk together and took unto them all such as continued in the jews religion and assembled about six thousand men and they called upon the lord that he would look upon the people that was trodden down of all and also pity the temple profaned of ungodly men and that he would have compassion upon the city sore defaced and ready to be made even with the ground and hear the blood that cried unto him and remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants and the blasphemies committed against his name and that he would show his hatred against the wicked but when mecca bs had his company about him he could not be was stood by the heathen for the wrath of the lord was turned into mercy therefore he came at unawares and burnt up towns and cities and got into his hands the most commodious places and overcame and put to flight no small number of his enemies but specially took he advantage of the night for such privy attempts in so much that the fruit of his holiness was spread everywhere so when philip saw that this man increased by little in little and that things prospered with him still more and more he wrote on totolemeas the governor of silo syria and finis to yield more aid to the king's affairs then forthwith choosing nikinor the son of patroclus one of his special friends he sent him with no fewer than 20 000 of all nations under him to root out the whole generation of the jews and with him he joined also gorgias a captain who in matters of war had great experience so nikinor undertook to make so much money of the captive jews as should defray the tribute of 2000 talents which the king was to pay to the romans therefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast proclaiming a sale of the captive jews and promising that they should have four score and ten bodies for one talent not expecting the vengeance that was to follow upon him from the almighty god now when the word was brought unto judas of nikinor's coming and he had imparted unto those that were with him that the army was at hand they that were fearful and just trusted the justice of god fled and conveyed themselves away others sold all that they had left and with all besot the lord to deliver them sold by the wicked nikinor before they met together and if not for their sakes yet for the covenants he had made with their fathers and for his holy and glorious namesake by which they were called so makabe has called his men together unto the number of 6000 and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen who came wrongfully against them but to fight manfully and to set before their eyes the injury that they had unjustly done to the holy place and the cruel handling of the city whereof they made a mockery and also the taking away of the governments of their forefathers for they said he trust in their weapons and boldness but our confidence is in the almighty who at abeck can cast down both them that come against us and also all the world moreover he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers had found and how they were delivered when under sennacherib in hundred four score and five thousand perished and he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians how they came but eight thousand and all to the business with four thousand Macedonians and that the Macedonians being perplexed the eight thousand destroyed and hundred and twenty thousand because of the help that they had from heaven and so received a great booty thus when he had made them bold with these words and ready to die for the law and the country he divided his army into four parts and joined with himself his own brethren leaders of each band to wit simon and joseph and jonathan giving each one fifteen hundred men also he appointed eliezer to read the holy books and when he had given them this watchword the help of god himself leading the first band and by the help of the almighty they slew above nine thousand of their enemies and wounded and maimed the most part of Nikenor's host and so put all to flight and took their money that came to buy them and pursued them far but lacking time they returned for it was the day before the Sabbath and therefore they would no longer pursue them so when they had gathered their armor together and spoiled their enemies they occupied themselves about the Sabbath yielding exceeding praise and thanks to god who had preserved them unto that day which was the beginning of mercy distilling upon them and after the Sabbath when they had given part of the spoils to the maims and the widows and the orphans the residue they divided among themselves and their servants when this was done they had made a common supplication they besought the merciful lord to be reconciled with his servants forever moreover of those that were with timotheus and backguides who fought against them they slew above twenty thousand and very easily got high and strongholds and divided among themselves many spoils more and made the maimed orphans widows yay and the aged also equal in spoils with themselves and when they had gathered their armor together they laid them up all carefully in convenient places and the remnant of the spoils they brought to Jerusalem they slew also phil arches that wicked person who was with timotheus and had annoyed the jew as many ways furthermore at such times as they kept the feast for the victory of their country they burned calithonese that had set fire upon the holy gates who had fled into a little house and so he received a reward meet for his wickedness as for that most ungracious nicanor who had brought a thousand merchants to buy the jews he was through the help of the lord brought down by them of whom he made least account and putting off his glorious apparel and discharging his company he came like a fugitive servant through the midlands unto Antioch having very great dishonor for that his host was destroyed thus he that took upon him to make good to the romans their tribute by means of the captives of in Jerusalem told abroad that the jews had god to fight for them and therefore they could not be hurt because they followed the laws that he gave them about that time came Antiochus with this honor out of the country of persia for he had entered the city called persopolis and went about to rob the temple and to hold the city whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight and so what happened that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame now when he came to eqpatana news was brought him what happened to nicanor and timotheus then swelling with anger he thought to avenge upon the jews the disgrace done under him by those that made him flee therefore commanded he his chariot man to drive without ceasing and to dispatch the journey the judgment of god now following him for he had spoken proudly in this sort that he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the jews but the almighty lord the god of israel smote him with an incurable and invisible plague or as soon as he had spoken these words a pain of the bowels that was remedy-less came upon him and soared torments of the inner parts and that most justly for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments albeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging and still was filled with pride breathing out fire in his rage against the jews and commanding to haste the journey but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot carried violently so that having a sore fall all the members of his body were much pained and thus he that a little of four thought he might command the waves of the sea so proud was he beyond the condition of man and weigh the high mountains in a balance was now cast on the ground and carried in a horse litter showing forth until all the manifest power of god so that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain his flesh fell away and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army and the man that thought a little of four he could reach the stars of heaven no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink here therefore being plagued he began to leave off his great pride and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of god his pain increasing every moment and when he himself could not abide his own smell he said these words it is me to be subject unto god and then a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were god this wicked person vowed also unto the lord who now no more would have mercy upon him saying thus that the holy city to the which he was going in haze to lay it even with the ground and to make it a common burying place he would set at liberty and as touching the jews whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens and the holy temple which before he had spoiled he would garnish with goodly gifts and restore all the holy vessels with many more and out of his own revenue and defrayed the charges belonging to the sacrifices yea and that also he would become a jew himself and go through all the world that was inhabited and declare the power of god but for all this his pains would not cease for the just judgment of god was come upon him therefore despairing of his health he wrote unto the jews the letter underwritten containing the form of a supplication after this manner and tychus king and governor to the good jews his citizens wish it much joy health and prosperity if ye and your children fare well your affairs be to your contentment i give very great thanks to god having my hope in heaven as for me i was weak or else i would have remembered kindly your honor and good well returning out of persia and being taken with a grievous disease i thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all not distrusting mind health but having great hope to escape this sickness but considering that even my father at what time he led an army into the high countries appointed a successor to the end that if anything fell out contrary to expectation or if any tidings were brought that were grievous they of the land knowing to whom the state was left might not be troubled again considering how that the princes that our borders and neighbors unto my kingdom wait for opportunities and expect what shall be the event i have appointed my son and tychus king whom i often committed and commended unto many of you when i went up into the high provinces to whom i have written as followeth therefore i pray and request you to remember the benefits that i have done unto you generally and in special that every man will be still faithful to me and my son for i am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favorably and graciously yield to your desires thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously as he and treated other men so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains and Philip that was brought up with him carried away his body who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemaus Philometer chapter 10 now Mekhubias and his company the lord guiding them recovered the temple and the city but the altars which the heathen had built in the open streets and also the chapels they pulled down 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 showbread 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 anymore against him that he himself would chasten them with mercy and that they might not be delivered unto the blasphemous and barbarous nations now upon the same day that the strangers profane the temple on that very same day it was cleansed again even the five and 20th day of the same month which is Caslu and they kept the eight days with gladness as in the feast of the tabernacles remembering that not long before they had held the feast of the tabernacles when as they wandered in the mountains in dens like beasts therefore they bear branches and fair boroughs and palms also and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place sore ordained also by a common statute and decree that every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews and this was the end of Antiochus called Epiphanes. Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Euphator who was the son of this wicked man gathering briefly the calamities of the wars 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 Silo-Syria and Phineas. Bertolomeus that was called Macron choosing rather to do justice under the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them endeavored to continue peace with them whereupon being accused of the king's friends before Euphator and called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus the philometer had committed unto him and departed unto Antiochus Epiphanes and seeing that he was in no honorable place he was so discouraged that he poisoned himself and died but when Gorgias was governor of the holds he hired soldiers and nourished war continually with the Jews and there with all the Ijumians 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 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 strongholds of the Ijumians 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 20,000 and because certain who were no less than 9,000 were fled together into two very strong castles having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph and Zaccheus also and them that were with him who were enough to besiege them and departed himself unto those places which more needed his help now they that were with Simon being led with covetness were persuaded for money through certain of those that were in the castle and took 70,000 drachmas and let some of them escape 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 so he slew those that were found traitors and immediately took the two castles and having good success with his weapons and all things he took in hand he slew in the two holds more than 20,000 now Timothyus 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 jewelry by force of arms when he drew near they that were with Maccabeus turned themselves to pray unto God and sprinkled earth upon their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth 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 declared 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 now the sun being newly risen they joined both together the one part having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the lord for a pledge of their success and victory the other side making their rage leader of their battle but when the battle waxed strong there appeared unto the enemies from heaven five comely men upon horses with brittles of gold the two of them led the Jews and took Maccabeus betwixt them and covered him on every side weapons and kept him safe but shot arrows and lightning against the enemies so that being confounded with blindness and full of trouble they were killed and there were slain of footmen 20,500 and 600 horsemen as for Timothyus himself he fled into a very stronghold called Gaurah where Charaeus was governor but they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days and they that were within trusting to the strength of the place blasphemed exceedingly and uttered wicked words nevertheless upon the fifth day early 20 young men of Maccabeus's company inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies assaulted the wall manly and with the fierce courage killed all that they met with all others likewise ascending after them whilst they were busyed with them that were within burnt the towers in kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive and others broke open the gates and having received in the rest of the army took the city and killed Timothyus that was hid in a certain pits and Charaeus his brother with the polyphoenies 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 end of chapters six through ten chapters 11 through 15 of the second book of Maccabeus king James version the sleeper box recording is in the public domain chapter 11 not long after Lyceus the king's protector and cousin who also managed the affairs took sore displeasure for the things that were done and when he had gathered about four score a thousand with all the horsemen he came against the Jews thinking to make the city in habitation of the Gentiles and to make a gain of the temple as of the other chapels of the heathen and to set the high priesthood for sale every year not at all considering the power of god but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen and his thousands of horsemen and his four score elephants so he came to Judah and drew near to Bessior which was a strong town but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs and he laid sore siege unto it now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he had besieged the holds they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons exhorting the other that he would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren so they went forth together with a willing mind and as they were at Jerusalem there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing shaking his armor of gold then they praised the merciful god all together and took heart in so much that they were ready not only to fight with men but with most cruel beasts and to pierce through walls of iron thus they marched forward in their armor having an helper from heaven for the lord was merciful unto them and giving a charge upon their enemies like lions they slew 11 000 footmen and 1600 horsemen and put all the other to flight many of them also being wounded escaped naked and lyceus himself fled away shamefully and so escaped who as he was a man of understanding casting with himself what loss he had had and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome because the almighty god helped them he sent unto them and persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them then mechabeus consented to all that lyceus desired being careful of the common good and whatsoever mechabeus wrote unto lyceus concerning the jews the king granted it for there were letters written under the jews from lyceus to this effect lyceus unto the people of the jews sendeth greeting john and absalom who were sent from you delivered me the petition subscribed and made requests for the performance of the contents thereof therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king i have declared them and he hath granted as much as might be and if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state hereafter also i will endeavor to be a means of your good but of the particulars i have given order both to these and the other that came from me to commune with you very ye well the 108th and 40th year the four and 20th day of the month eus corintheus now the king's letter contained these words king antiochus unto his brother lyceus sendeth greeting since our father is translated unto the gods our will is that they that are in our realm live quietly that everyone may attend upon his own affairs we understand also that the jews would not consent to our father for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles but had rather keep their own manner of living for the which cause they require of us that we should suffer them to live after their own laws therefore our mind is that this nation shall be in rest and we have determined to restore them their temple that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers thou shall do well therefore to send unto them and grant them peace that when they are certified of our mind they may be of good comfort and never go cheerfully about their own affairs and the letter of the king unto the nation of the jews was after this manner king antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council and the rest of the jews if ye fare well we have our desire we are also in good health then allows declared unto us that your desire was to return home and to follow your business wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct unto the thirteenth day of xanthikas with security and the jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws as before and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done i have sent also then allow us that he may comfort you very well in the hundred forty and eightieth year and the fifteenth day of the month xanthikas the romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words quintus the meas and titus manlius ambassadors of the romans send greetings unto the people of the jews whatsoever lisius the king's cousin hath granted therewith we also are well pleased but touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king after ye have advised thereof send one forthwith that we may declare as it is convenient for you for we are now going to antioch therefore send some with speed that we may know what is your mind farewell this hundred and eight and fortieth year the fifteenth day of the month xanthikas chapter 12 when these covenants were made lisius went unto the king and the jews were about their husbandry but of the governors of several places timotheus and apollonius the son of geneus also heronimus and dimofun and besides them nikannor the governor of cyprus would not suffer them to be quiet in live in peace the men of jopa 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 harm who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city being desirous to live in peace and suspecting nothing but when they were gone forth into the deep they drowned no less than 200 of them when jews heard of this cruelty down into his countrymen he commanded those that were with him to make them ready in 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 thither he slowed and when the town was shut up he went backward as if he would return to root out all them of the city of jopa but when he heard that the jamanites were minded to do in like manner unto the jews that dwelt among them he came upon the jamanites also by night and set fire on the haven and the navy so that the light of the fire was seen at jerusalem 240 furlongs off now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey towards timotheus no fewer than 5000 men on foot and 500 horsemen of the arabians set upon him whereupon there was a very sore battle but judas's side by the help of god got the victory so that the nomads of arabia being overcome besought judas for peace promising both to give him cattle and to pleasure him otherwise then judas thinking indeed that it would be profitable in many things granted them peace whereupon they shook hands and so they departed to their tents he went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city which was fanced about with walls and inhabited by men of diverse countries and the name of it was caspus but they that were within its put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of vitals that they behaved themselves rudely towards them that were with judas reeling and blaspheming and uttering such words as were not to be spoken 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 give a fierce assault against the walls and took the city by the will of god and made unspeakable slaughters in so much that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining their unto being filled full was seen running with blood then departed they from tents 750 furlongs and came to charasha unto the jews that are called tobeni but as for timotheus they found him not in the places but before he had dispatched anything he departed from tents having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold albeit dorotheos and susie patter who were of the mastodonians captains went forth and slew those that timotheus had left in the fortress above 10 000 men and macubius ranged his army by bands and set them over the bands and went against timotheus who had about 120 000 men of foot in 2500 horsemen now when timotheus had knowledge of judas's coming he sent the women and children in the other baggage unto a fortress called karnion for the town was hard to besiege and uneasy to come into by reason of the straightness of all the passages but when judas his first band came in sight the enemies being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things let him in one running unto this way another that way so that as they were often hurt of their own men and wounded with the points of their own swords judas also was very earnest in pursuing them killing those wicked wretches of whom he slew about 30 000 men moreover timotheus himself fell into the hands of dorotheos and susie patter whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life because he had many of the jew's parents and the brethren of some of them who if they put him to death should not be regarded 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 then maccabees march forth to karyon and to the temple of atagratis and there he slew five and 20 000 persons and after he had put to flight and destroyed them judas removed the host towards efron a strong city where lyceus abode and a great multitude of diverse nations and the strong young men kept the walls and defended them mightily wherein also was great provision of engines and darts but when judas and his company had called upon a mighty god who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies they won the city and slew 20 and 5 000 of them that were within from thence they departed to sythopolis which lieth 600 furlongs from jerusalem but when the jews that dwelt there had testified that the sythopolotians dealt lovingly with them and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity they gave them thanks and desiring them to be friendly still unto them and so they came to jerusalem the feast of the weeks approaching and after the feast called pentacost they went forth against gorgias the governor of idumia who came out with 3 000 men of foot and 400 horsemen and it happened that in their fighting together a few of the jews were slain in which time dosa theos one of bachonor's company who was on horseback and a strong man was still under 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 into maricia now when they that were with gorgias had fought long and were wary judas called upon the lord that he would show himself to be their helper and leader of the battle 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 so judas gathered his host and came into the city of odolam and when the seventh day came they purified themselves as the custom was and kept the Sabbath in the same place 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 and their father's graves now under the coats of everyone that was slain they found things consecrated to idols of the jamonites which is forbidden the jews by the law then every man saw that this was the case wherefore they were slain all the men therefore praising the lord the righteous judge who had opened the things that were hid we took themselves unto prayer and we saw him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance besides that noble judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin for so much as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain and when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver he sent it to jerusalem to offer a sin offering doing therein very well and honestly and that he was mindful of the resurrection 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 and also in that he perceived that there was great favor laid up for those that died godly it was in holy and good thought whereupon he made reconciliation for the dead that they might be delivered from sin chapter 13 in the 140th and ninth year it was told judas that antiochus youth patur was coming with a great power unto judia and with them lyceus his protector and ruler of his affairs having either with them a certain grecian power of footmen on hundred and ten thousand and horsemen five thousand and three hundred and elephants two and twenty and three hundred chariots armed with hooks then allow us also joined himself with them and with a great dissimulation encouraged antiochus not for the safeguard of the country but because he thought to have been made governor but the king of kings moved antiochus's mind against this wicked wretch and lyceus informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief so that the king commanded to bring him unto baria and to put him to death as the manor is in that place now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high full of ashes and it had a round instrument which on every side hang down into the ashes and whosoever was condemned of sacrilege or had committed any other grievous crime there did all men thrust him onto death such a death that happened that wicked men to die not having so much a burial in the earth and that most justly for in as much as he had committed many sins about the altar whose fire and ashes were holy he received his death in ashes now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the jews than had been done in his father's time which things when judas perceived he commanded the multitude to call upon the lord night and day that if ever at any other time he would now also help them being at the point to put from them their law from their country and from the holy temple and that he would not suffer the people that had even now been but a little refreshed to be in subjugation to the blasphemous nations so when they had all done this together and besought the merciful lord with weeping and fasting and lying flat upon the ground three days long judas having exhorted them commanded that they should be in readiness and judas being apart with the elders determined before the king's host should enter indigedia and get the city to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the lord so when he had committed all the creator of the world and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully even unto death for the laws the temple the city the country and the commonwealth he camped by modan and having given the watchword to them that were about him victory is of god and with the most valiant in choice young men he went in into the king's tent by night and slew in the camp about four thousand men and the chiefest of the elephants with all that were upon him and at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult and departed with good success this was done in the break of the day because the protection of the lord did help him now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the jews he went about to take the hold by policy and march towards beshura which was a stronghold of the jews but he was put to flight failed and lost of his men for judas had conveyed unto them that were in such things as were necessary but rodocos who was in the jews hosts disclosed the secrets to the enemies therefore he was sought out and when they had gotten him they put him in prison the king treated them in besam the second time gave his hand and took theirs departed fought with judas was overcome heard that philip who was left over the affairs in antioch was desperately bent confounded and treated the jews submitted himself and swear to all equal conditions agreed with them and offered sacrifice honored the temple and dealt kindly with the place and accepted well of makhabeas made him principal governor from tolemaeus unto gerhenes came to tolemaeus the people there were greed for the covenants for they stormed because they would make their covenants void lyceus went up to the judgment seat said as much as could be in defense of the cause persuaded pacified made them well affected returned to antioch thus it went touching the kings coming and departing chapter 14 after three years was judas informed that demetrius the son of celacus having entered by the haven of triplus who the great power and navy had taken the country and killed antiochus and lyceus his protector now one aclemus who had been high priests and had defiled himself witfully in the times of their mingling with the gentiles seeing that by no means he could save himself nor have any more access to the holy altar came to king demetrius in the 101 and 50th year presenting unto him a crown of gold and a palm and also the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple and so that day he held his peace albeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprise and being called into the council by demetrius and asked how the jews stood affected and what they intended he answered their unto those of the jews that he called acidians whose captain is judas mechabias nourish war in our seditious and will not let the rest be in peace therefore i being deprived of mine ancestors honor i mean the high priesthood and now come hither first verily for the unfair care i have of things pertaining to the king and secondly even for that i intend the good of mine own countrymen for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforesaid wherefore oh king seeing noist all these things be careful for the country and our nation which is pressed on every side according to the clemency that thou readily showest unto all for as long as judas liveth it is not possible that the state should be quiet this was no sooner spoken of him but others of the king's friends being maliciously set against judas did more in sense demetrius and forthwith calling the canor would be master of the elephants and making him governor over judia he sent him forth commanding him to slay judas and to scatter them that were with him and to make eclimus high priest of the great temple then the heathen that had fled out of judia from judas came to nikyanor by flocks thinking the harm and calamities of the jews to be their welfare now when the jews heard of nikyanor's coming and that the heathen were up against them they cast earth upon their heads and made supplication to him that had established his people forever and who always helped with his portion with manifestation of his presence so at the commandment of the captain they removed straightaways from dense and came near unto them at the town of desaw now simon judas's brother had joined the battle with nikyanor but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies nevertheless nikyanor hearing the manliness of them that were with judas and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country thirst not try the matter by the sword therefore he sent pusodonius and theodotus and matatias to make peace so when they had long advisement thereupon and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith and it appeared that they were all of one mind they consented to the covenants and appointed a day to meet together by themselves when the day came the stools were set for either of them ludas placed our men ready in convenient places lest some treachery should be suddenly practiced by the enemies so they made a peaceable conference now nikyanor abode in jerusalem and did no hurt but sent away the people that came flocking unto him and he would not willingly have judas out of his sight for he loved the man from his heart he prayed him also to take a wife and to beget children so he married was quiet and took part of this life that alchemus perceiving the love that was betwixt them and considering the covenants that were made came to dimitrius and told him that nikyanor was not well affected toward the state for that he had ordained judas a traitor to his realm to be the king's successor then the king being in a rage and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man wrote to nikyanor signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants and commanding him that he should send makabeas prisoner and all haste unto anteach when this came into nikyanor's hearing he was much confounded in himself and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon the man being in no fault but because there was no dealing against the king he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy notwithstanding when makabeas saw that nikyanor began to be churlish unto him and that he entreated him more roughly than he was want perceiving that such sour behavior came not of good he gathered together not a few of his men and withdrew himself from nikyanor but the other knowing that he was notably prevented by judas's policy came into the great and holy temple and commanded the priests that were offering their usual sacrifices to deliver him the man and when they swear that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought he stretched out his right hand toward the temple and made an oath in this manner if you will not deliver me judas as a prisoner i will lay this temple of god even with the ground and i will break down the altar and erect a notable temple under bakas after these words he departed then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven and besoughts him that was ever a defender of their nation saying in this manner thou oh lord of all things who has need of nothing was pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us therefore now oh holy lord of all holies keep this house ever undefiled which lately was cleansed and stop every unrighteous mouth now was there accused unto nikyanor one razis one of the elders of jerusalem a lover of his countrymen and a man of very good reports who for his kindness was called a father of the jews or in the former times when they mingled not themselves with the gentiles he had been accused of judaism and did boldly jeopardy his body and life with all them and see for the religion of the jews sony kyanor willing to declare the hate that he bear unto the jews sent above 500 men of war to take him for he thought by taking him to do the jews much hurt now in the multitude would have taken the tower and violently broken into the outer door and bade that fire should be brought to burn it he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword choosing rather to die manfully than to come into the hands of the wicked to be abused otherwise then besiemed his noble birth but missing his stroke through haste the multitude also rushing within the doors he ran boldly up to the wall and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them but they quickly giving back and a space being made he fell down into the midst of the void place nevertheless while there was yet breath within him being inflamed with anger he rose up and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water and his wounds were grievous yet he ran through the midst of the throng and standing upon a steep rock when as his blood was now quite gone he plucked out his bowels and taking them in both hands he cast them upon the throng and calling upon the lord of life in spirit to restore him those again he thus died chapter 15 but Nikannor hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria resolved without any danger to set upon them on the Sabbath day nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said oh destroy knots so cruelly and barbarously but give honor to that day which he that seeeth all things hath honored with holiness above all other days then the most ungracious wretch demanded if there were a mighty one in heaven that he had commanded the Sabbath day to be kept and when they said there is in heaven a living lord and mighty who commanded the seventh day to be kept then said the other and I also am mighty upon earth and I command to take arms and to do the king's business yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done so Nikannor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him but Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the lord would help him therefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven and now to expect the victory and aid which should come unto them from the almighty and so comforting them out of the law and the prophets and with all putting them in minds of the battle that they wanted for he made them more cheerful and when he had stirred up their minds he gave them their charge showing them there with all the falsehood of the heathen and the breach of oaths thus he armed every one of them not so much with defensive shields and spears as with comfortable and good words and besides that he told them a dream worthy to be believed as if it had been so indeed which did not a little rejoice them and this was his vision that Onius who had been high priest a virtuous and a good man revered in conversation gentle and conditioned well spoken also and exercised from a child in all points of virtue holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews this done in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs and exceeding glorious who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty then Onius answered saying this is a lover of the brethren who prayed much for the people and for the holy city to wit Jeremiah's the prophet of God whereupon Jeremiah's holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold and in giving it spake thus take this holy sword a gift from God with the witch thou shall wound the adversaries thus being well comforted by the words of Judas which were very good and able to stir them up to Valor and to encourage the hearts of the young men they determined not to pitch camp but graciously to set upon them and manfully to try the matter by conflict because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger for the care that they took for their wives and their children their brethren and folks was in least account with them but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple also they that were in the city took not the least care being troubled for the conflict abroad and now when all looked what should be the trial and the enemies were already come near and the army set an array and the beast conveniently placed and the horsemen set in wings Maccabeus seeing the company of the multitude and the diverse preparations of armor and the fierceness of the beasts stretched out his hands towards heaven and called upon the Lord the worketh wonders knowing that victory cometh not by arms but even as it seemeth good to him he giveth it to such as are worthy therefore in his prayer he said after this manner a lord thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekius king of Judea and did his slay and the host of shenakareb and hundred forescore and five thousand wherefore now also O Lord of heaven send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them and through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror that come against thy holy people to blaspheme and he ended thus thus Nikannor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs but Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation in prayer so that fighting with their hands and praying unto God with their hearts they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered now when the battle was done returning again with joy they knew that Nikannor lay dead in his harness then they made a great shout and a noise praising the almighty in their own language and Judas who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind and who continued his love towards his countrymen all his life commanded to strike off Nikannor's head and his hand with his shoulder and bring them to Jerusalem so when he was there and called them of his nation together and set the priests before the altar he sent for them that were of the tower and showed them vile Nikannor's in the hand of that blasphemer which with proud bags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the almighty when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nikannor he commanded that he should give it by pieces unto the fowls and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple so every man praised toward the heaven the glorious lord seeing blessed be he that had kept his own place undefiled he hanged also Nikannor's head upon the tower and evidence and manifest sign unto all of the help of the lord and they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity but to celebrate the 30th day of the 12th month which in the syrian tongue is called Adar the day before Mark Joshius's day thus went it with Nikannor and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city and their power and here will I make an end and if I have done well and is fitting the story it is that which I desired but if slenderly and meanly it is that which I could attain unto for as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone and as wine mingled with water is pleasant and delightful the taste even so speech finally framed delighted the years of them that read the story and here shall be an end end of chapters 11 through 15 end of the second book of maccabees