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Apocrypha.' I

30 And betimes in the morning they looked up.and,behold,there was an innumerable people bearing Udders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them. ...

31 When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great found, .llU

31 He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.

33 So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.

34 Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.

35 This done, Judas turned aside to Malpha; and after he had assaulted it, he took it, and Hew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.

36From thence wenthe.andtookCal

phon, Maged, Bofor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.

37 After these things gathered Timotheus another host, and encamped a gainst Raphon beyond the brook.

38 So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are as sembled unto them, even a very great

39 He hath also hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched the;r tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.

40 Then Timotheus said untotbecaptains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we sliall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:

4T But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we (hall go over unto him, and prevail against him.

41 Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribea of the people to remain by the brook ■ unto whom be gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.

43 So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Garnaim.

44 But they took the city, and burned

MACCABEES Aptcryphr.

the temple.with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.

45 Then Judas gathered together ail the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.

46 Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified,) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.

47 Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.

48 Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying. Let os pass through your land to go into oar own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through os foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.

49 Wherefore Judas commanded 1 proclamation to be made throughout the hoft, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.

50 So the soldiers pitched, and affaufted the city all that day and all that night, till at%the length the city was delivered into his hands:

511 Who then Dew all the males wits the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.

5a After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethfao.

53 And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they cane into the land of Judea.

54 So they went up to mount Sios with joy and gladnese, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were (lain until they had returned in peace.

55 Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother iu Galilee before Ptolemais,

56 Joseph the sun of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.

57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against th: heathen that'are round about us. , j8 So when they had given charge unto

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Apocrypha. Chap

to the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamuia.

*9 Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to tight against them.

60 And so it was, that Joseph and Azarias where put to (light, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day os the people of Israel about two thousand men.

61 Thu» was there a great overthrow among the children ot Israel, because they were not obedient unto Jud as and bis brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.

61 Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.

63 Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the light of all Israel, and of all the heathen wheresoever their name was heard of;'

64 Insomuch as the people assembled onto them with joyful acclamations.

65 Afterward went Judas forth with bis brethren, and fought against the children ot Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.

66 From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.

67 At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.

68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down theiraltars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the laud of Judea.

C H A F. VI. 8 A niiochus dhth, 1 1 andcotiftjeth that he is plagued for the wrrong done to Jerusalem. A Boot that time king Antinchus travelling through the high countries beard fay, that Elymait in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;

a And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, wbichAlexander,/&« of Philip, thcMaccdonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left there.

3 Wherefore he came and sought to take the ciiy, and lo spoil it; but he was not abie, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,

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4 Rose fin against him he fled, and departed then heaviness, and returned tc

5 Moreover there cat brought him tidings into the armies, which went ag of Judea, were put to Bigl

6 And that Lyfias, wh first with a great power, \ way of the Jews, and th made strong by the armoui and store of spoils, which th of the armies, whom they h

7 Also that they had put abomination, which he ha( the altar in Jerusalem, a had compassed about the 1; high walla, as before, and 1 sura.

8 t Now when the kin words, he »ai astonished a ed: whereupon he laid h on his bed, and fell sick cause it had not befallen hi: ed for.

9 And there he continue* for his grief was ever mo and he made account that h

10 Wherefore he callec friends, and said unto thci is gone from mine eyes, s faileth for very care.

11 And I thought with what tribulation am I co great a flood of miser j is it, I am! for I was bountiful in my power.

1* \ But now I remerrj that I did at Jerusalem, an all the vessels of gold and fil therein, and sent to destro tauts of Judea without a c

13 I perceive therefore cause these troubles are coi and, behold, I peristt throuj in a strange land.

14 Then called he for F his friends, whom he m.11 all his realm,

15 And gave him the cr robe,aud his signet, to the ( bring up his son AntiochtiP him up for the kiiigdom.

16 So king Antiochus 1 the hundred forty and nin

17 Now when Lyli.is ki king was dead, he set up i son whom he had brouj young, to reign in his ft name he called Ktipator.

18 About this time they the tower Ihut up the Ur

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about the sanctuary, and sought always t heir hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen.

19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people together to besiege them.

ao So they came together, and besieged them in the hundredand fiftieth year, and he made mounts for ihot against them, and other engine*.

»i Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto » horn some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves:

a* And they went unto the king, and said, How long will it be ere'thou execute judgement, and avenge our brethren? °

33 We have been willing to serve thy father, and to do aa he would have us, and to obey his commandments;

*4 For which cause they of our nation besiege the to*er, and are alienated rrom us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritance.

.. V Nether have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against all their borders.

*6 And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower of Jerusalem, to take »: the sanctuary also and Bethsura nave they fortified.

»7 Wherefore if thou dost not prevent them quickly, they will do greater things than these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.

a8 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends, and the captains of his armv, and thole that had charge of the horse.

»9 There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers.

30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle.

31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war; but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.

31 Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over against the king's camp.

33 Then the king rising very early inarched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias, where hi6 armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.

Apocrypha.

34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.

35 Moreover they divided the beads among the armies; aud for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.

36 These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him.

37 And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt sift unto them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.

38 As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this Tide and that side at the two parts of the host, giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.

39 Now when the fun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered there with, and mined like lamps of fire.

40 So part of the king's army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.

41 Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.

41 Then Judas and his host drear near, and entered into battle, and there were slain of the lung's army fix hundred men.

43 1 Eleazar also,surnamtd Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him,

44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name:

4j Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, Haying on the right hand and on the left, lo that they were divided from him on both sides.

46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, aud thrust him under, and flew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died. I 47 Howbeit lie reft of the Jev/i see

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ing the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from them.

48 S Then the king's army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judea, and against mount Sion.

49 But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year ot rest to the land.

50 So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it.

51 As for the sanctuary, be besieged it many days: and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast lire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings.

S% Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a long seasoH.

53 Yet at the last their vessels being without victuals, (for that it was the seventh year, and they in Judea, that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;)

54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary,because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were fain to disperse themselves, every man to his own place.

$s At that time Lyfias heard fay, that Philip whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king,

56 Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king'» host a,! so that went with him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of the affairs.

57 Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the captains of the host and the company, We decay daily, and our victuals are but small, and the place we lay siege unto is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us;

58'Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with them, and with all their nation;

59 And covenant with them, that they shall live alter their laws, as they did before: for they are therefore displeased, and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.

60 So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent unto them to make peace; and they accepted thereof.

61 Also the king and the princes made an oath unto them: whereupon they went out of the strong hold.

6» Then the king entered in Sion; but when he sow the ft the place, he brake his oath th made, and gave command met down the wall round about.

63 Afterward departed he in and returned unto Antiochia, found Philip to be master of th he fought against him, and too by force.

CHAP. vn. 1 Antiochus ustain,andD:m:tr

eth in his stead. 5 Alcimus

high priest.

IN the hundred and one an year Demetrius the son of departed from Rome, and cam. a few men unto a city of the and reigned there.

2 And as he entered into the his ancestors, so it was, that 1 had taken Antiochus and Ly sias them unto him.

3 Wherefore, when he km said, Let me not see their face

4 So his host flew them. N Demetrius was set upon the t his kingdom,

5 HThere came unto him all 1 ed and ungodly men of israe Alcimus, who was desirous U priest, for their captain:

6 And they accused the peoi king, saying, JudaB and his have flain ail thy friends, and 1 out of our o« 11 land.

7 Now therefore fend somem; thou trustest, and let him go what havock he hath made us, and in the king's land, am punish them with all them them.

8 Then the king chose Baa friend of the king, who ruled be flood, and was a great man in t dom, and faithful to the king.

9 And him he sent with thai Alcimus, whom he made hig and commanded that he should t gance of the children of Israel.

10 So they departed, and ca a great power into the land o where they sent messengers to J his brethren with peaceable wi ceitfully.

11 But they gave no heed words; for they sow that th come with a great power.

i» Then did there assemble cimm and Bacchides a com scribes, to require justice.

13 Now the Affideans were

Apocrypha. I. MACCABEES

among the children of Israel that sought peace of them:

14 For said they, One that is a priest of the feed of Aaron is come with this army, and he wilt do us no wroig.

15 So he spake unto them peaceably, and sware unto them, saying, We will procure the harm neither of you nor your friends.

16 Whereupon they believed him: howbeit he took of them threescore men, and flew them in one day, according to the words which he wrote,

17 The flesh of thy saints have they cast cut, and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury iliem.

18 Wherefore the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, who said, There i» neither truth nor righteousness in them; for they have broken the covenant and oath that they made.

19 After this re moved Bacchides from Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bezeth, where he sent and took many of the men that had forsaken him and certain of the people also, and when be had slain them, he cast them into the great pit.

»o Then committed he the country to Alcimus, and left with him a power to aid bim: so Bacchides went to the king.

ar But Alcimus contended for the bigb priesthood.

12 And unto him resorted all such as troubled the people, who, after they had gotten the land of Judea into their power, did much huct in Israel.

13 Now when Judas law all the mischief that Alcimus and his compan y had done among the Israelites, even above the heathen,

14 He went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance of them that had revolted from him, so that they durst no more go forth into the country.

»5 On the other fide, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had gotten the upper hand, and knew that be was not able to abide their force, he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could.

a6 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the people.

47 So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great ftree; and sent unto Judas and his brethren deceitfully with friendly words, faying,.

aS Let there be no battle between me

Jpeerjfk*.

and you, I will come with a few men, that 1 may fee you in peace.

ao He came therefore to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. Howbeit the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by violence.

30 Which thing after it was known to Judas, to <wit, that he came unto him with deceit, he was sore afraid of bim, and would fee his face no more.

31 Nicanor also, when he saw that hi* counsel was discovered, went out to right against Judas betide CapharsaJama:

31 Wherethere were slain of Nicanor's fide above hire thousand men, and the r;st fled into the city of David.

33 After this went Nicanor op to mount Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.

34 But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them sliamefully, and spake proudly,

35 And sware in his wrath, faying, Unless Judas and his host be now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again in safety, I will burn up this house: and with that he went out in a great rage.

36 Then the priests entered in, aid stood before the altar and the temple, weeping, and faying,

37 Thou, O Lord, didst choose thU house to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for thypeojle:

38 Be avenged of this man and bii host, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

39 So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem and pitched his tents in Bcthhoros, where an host out of Syria met him.

40 But Judas pitched in Adafa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,

41 O Lord, when they that uere sert from the king of the Assyrians blasphemed, thine angel went out, and fme'e an hundred fourtcore and five thouucd of them:

41 Even so destroy thou this host before us this day, that the rest may ktm» that be hath spoken blasphemously 1gainft thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

43 So the thirteenth day of the moeth Aciar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor's host was discomfited, and fe

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