The Second Book of Maccabees

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- Kapitel 9 -

The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus.

At the same time, Antiochus returned in dishonor from Persia.

For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude, rushing to arms, turned them to flight, and so it happened that Antiochus, after fleeing, returned in disgrace.(a)

And when he had arrived near Ecbatana, he realized what had happened to Nicanor and Timothy.

And so, rising up in anger, he thought to turn back upon the Jews the injury done by those who had put him to flight. And, therefore, he ordered his chariot to be driven without stopping along the way, for the judgment of heaven was urging him on, because he had spoken so arrogantly about how he would come to Jerusalem and make it into a mass grave for the Jews.

But the Lord God of Israel, who oversees all things, struck him with an incurable and invisible plague. For, as soon as he had finished these words, a dire pain in his abdomen seized him, with bitter internal torments.

And, indeed, it sprung forth justly, since he had tormented the internal organs of others with many strange and new tortures, yet he in no way ceased from his malice.

But, beyond this, being filled with arrogance, breathing fire with his soul against the Jews, and instructing the task to be accelerated, it happened that, as he was rushing on forcefully, he fell from the chariot, and his limbs were afflicted with a serious bruising of the body.

And he, being filled with arrogance beyond human means, seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea and to weigh even the heights of the mountains in a balance. But now, humbled to the ground, he was carried on a stretcher, calling himself as a witness to the manifest virtue of God.(b)

So then, worms swarmed from his impious body, and, as he lived on in pain, his flesh fell away, and then his odorous stench oppressed the army.

And him who, a little before, thought that he could touch the stars of heaven, no one could endure to carry, because of the intolerable stench.

And so, from then on, being led away from his heavy arrogance by the admonishment of a divine plague, he began to come to an understanding of himself, with his pains increasing through every moment.

And, when he could not even bear his own stench, he spoke in this way: “It is just to be subject to God, and a mortal should not consider himself equal to God.”

Then this wicked one prayed to the Lord, from whom, subsequently, there might be no mercy.(c)

(d)

And the city, to which he was going in haste to pull it down to the ground and to make it a mass grave, he now wanted to make free.

And the Jews, whom he had said he certainly did not consider worthy even to be buried, but would deliver them to be torn apart by birds and wild beasts, and would exterminate them with their little ones, he now promised to make equal with the Athenians.

And even the holy temple, which before he had plundered, he would adorn with the best gifts, and increase the holy vessels, and pay out from his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.

Beyond these things, he would even become a Jew himself, and would travel through every place on earth and declare the power of God.

But, when his pains did not cease, (for the just judgment of God had overwhelmed him,) in despair he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a supplication, a letter composed in this way:

“To the very good citizens of the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wishes much health, and welfare, and happiness.

If you and your sons are faring well, and if everything is according to your will, we give very great thanks.

And so, fixed in infirmity, yet kindly remembering you, I am returning from the places of Persia, and, having been seized by a serious infirmity, I considered it necessary to have a concern for the common good,

not despairing in myself, but having a great hope to escape the infirmity.

Moreover, considering that my father also, during the time that he led an army into the upper regions, revealed who would take up the leadership after him,

so that, if anything contrary should occur, or any if difficulties should be reported, those who were in the regions, knowing to whom the whole matter had been bequeathed, would not be disturbed.

In addition to these things, considering that whichever are the nearest powers and neighbors lie in ambush for the right time and await the right event, I have designated my son, Antiochus, as king, whom I frequently commended to many of you while traveling in the upper provinces. And I have written to him what I have added below.

And so, I beg you and petition you, that remembering the public and private benefits, each one will continue to be faithful to me and to my son.

For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and that, following my intentions, he will be impartial to you.”

And so the murderer and blasphemer, having been struck very badly, just as he himself had treated others, passed from this life in a miserable death on a journey among the mountains.

But Philip, who was nurtured with him, carried away his body, and, fearing the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemy Philometor.(e)

Fußnoten

(a)9:2 Persepolis:Otherwise called Elymais.(Challoner)

(b)9:8 The phrase ‘in semetipso contestans’ means ‘calling himself as a witness;’ the verb refers to calling a witness, but in this case before God, the witness is himself and his own misfortune.(Conte)

(c)9:13 In other words, there would be no mercy for him, if he did not soon repent, since he was wicked and near death.(Conte)

(d)9:13 Of whom he was not like to obtain mercy:Because his repentance was not for the offence committed against God: but barely on account of his present sufferings.(Challoner)

(e)9:29 The term ‘collactaneus’ literally refers to two infants both breast-fed by the same mother or nurse. However, in this case it may be more metaphorical, i.e. that they were raised together.(Conte)

The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus.

Now about that time, Antiochus retreated (a)in disorder from the region of Persia.

For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and he attempted to rob (b)a temple and to control the city. Therefore the multitudes rushed in and the people of the country turned to defend themselves with weapons; and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke his camp with disgrace.

While he was at Ecbatana, news was brought to him about what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timotheus.

Being overcome by his anger, he planned to make the Jews suffer for the evil deeds of those who had put him to flight. Therefore, with judgment from heaven even now accompanying him, he ordered his charioteer to drive without ceasing until he completed the journey; for he arrogantly said this: “I will make Jerusalem a common graveyard of Jews when I come there.”

But the All-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with a (c)fatal and invisible stroke. As soon as he had finished speaking this word, an incurable pain of the bowels seized him, with bitter torments of the inner parts—

and that most justly, for he had tormented other men’s bowels with many and strange sufferings.

But he in no way ceased from his rude insolence. No, he was filled with even more arrogance, breathing fire in his passion against the Jews, and giving orders to hasten the journey. But it came to pass moreover that he fell from his chariot as it rushed along, and having a grievous fall was tortured in all of the members of his body.

He who had just supposed himself to have the waves of the sea at his bidding because he was so superhumanly arrogant, and who thought to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, was now brought to the ground and carried in a litter, (d)showing to all that the power was obviously God’s,

so that worms swarmed out of the impious man’s body, and while he was still living in anguish and pains, his flesh fell off, and by reason of the stench all the army turned with loathing from his decay.

The man who a little before supposed himself to touch the stars of heaven, no one could endure to carry because of his intolerable stench.

Therefore he began in great part to cease from his arrogance, being broken in spirit, and to come to knowledge under the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.

When he himself could not stand his own smell, he said these words: “It is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not think they are equal to God.”

The vile man vowed to the sovereign Lord, who now no more would have pity upon him, saying

that the holy city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground and to (e)make it a common graveyard, he would declare free.

Concerning the Jews, whom he had decided not even to count worthy of burial, but to cast them out to the animals with their infants for the birds to devour, he would make them all equal to citizens of Athens.

The holy sanctuary, which before he had plundered, he would adorn with best offerings, and would restore all the sacred vessels many times multiplied, and out of his own revenues would defray the charges that were required for the sacrifices.

Beside all this, he said that he would become a Jew and would visit every inhabited place, proclaiming the power of God.

But when his sufferings did in no way cease, for the judgment of God had come upon him in righteousness, having given up all hope for himself, he wrote to the Jews the letter written below, having the nature of a supplication, to this effect:

“To the worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus, king and general, wishes much joy and health and prosperity.

May you and your children fare well, and may your affairs be as you wish. Having my hope in heaven,

I remembered with affection your honor and good will. Returning out of the region of Persia, and being taken with an annoying sickness, I deemed it necessary to take thought for the common safety of all,

not despairing of myself, but having great hope to escape from the sickness.

But considering that my father also, at the time he led an army into the upper country, appointed his successor,

to the end that, if anything fell out contrary to expectation, or if any unwelcome tidings were brought, the people in the country, knowing to whom the state had been left, might not be troubled,

and, moreover, observing how the princes who are along the borders and neighbors to my kingdom watch for opportunities and look for the future event, I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I often entrusted and commended to most of you when I was hurrying to the upper provinces. I have written to him what is written below.

I therefore urge you and beg you, having in your remembrance the benefits done to you in common and severally, to preserve your present good will, each of you, toward me and my son.

For I am persuaded that he in gentleness and kindness will follow my purpose and treat you with moderation and kindness.

So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the most intense sufferings, even as he had dealt with other men, ended his life among the mountains by a most piteous fate in a strange land.

Philip his foster brother took the body home and then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he withdrew himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.

Fußnoten

(a)9:1 Or, with dishonor

(b)9:2 Or, temples

(d)9:8 Or, showing manifestly to all the power of God

(e)9:14 Gr. build.