The Second Book of Maccabees

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His victory over Timotheus.

But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the leaves of proposition.

And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

Therefore they now, carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.

And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.

But now we will relate the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.

For when he was come to the crown. he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.

For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.

But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.

But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.

And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.

Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:

And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.

And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,

Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.

Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded For the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.

But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.

So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.

And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.

But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,

And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.

And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.

But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety o victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.

But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:

Two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.

And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.

But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.

Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.

But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.

But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.

Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set Are to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.

And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.

The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His victory over Timotheus.

Then Maccabaeus and those who were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city.

They pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the foreigners, and also the sacred enclosures.

Having cleansed the sanctuary, they made another altar of sacrifice. (a)Striking flint and starting a fire, they offered sacrifices after they had ceased for two years, burned incense, lit lamps, and set out the show bread.

When they had done these things, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if they ever did sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen.

Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, upon that very day it came to pass that the sanctuary was cleansed, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chislev.

They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how (b)not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals.

Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who had successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place.

They ordained also with a public statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should observe these days every year.

Such were the events of the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.

Now we will declare what came to pass under Antiochus (c)Eupator, who proved himself a son of that ungodly man, and will summarize the main evils of the wars.

For this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to be chancellor and supreme governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

For Ptolemy who was called Macron, setting an example of observing justice toward the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, endeavored to deal with them on peaceful terms.

Whereupon being accused by the king’s (d)friends before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn because he had abandoned Cyprus which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiochus Epiphanes, and (e) failing to uphold the honor of his office, he took poison and did away with himself.

But when Gorgias was made governor of the district, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Jews.

Together with him the Idumaeans also, being masters of important strongholds, harassed the Jews; and received those who had taken refuge from Jerusalem, they endeavored to keep up the war.

But Maccabaeus and his men, having made solemn supplication and having implored God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Idumaeans.

Assaulting them vigorously, they took control of the positions, and kept off all who fought upon the wall, and killed those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.

Because no fewer than nine thousand had fled into two very strong towers having everything needed for a seige,

Maccabaeus, having left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed.

But Simon and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas, let some of them slip away.

But when word was brought to Maccabaeus of what was done, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them.

So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers.

Prospering with his weapons in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.

Now Timotheus, who had been defeated by the Jews before, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the cavalry which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he would take Judea by force of weapons.

But as he drew near, Maccabaeus and his men sprinkled dirt on their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God,

and falling down upon the step in front of the altar, implored him to become (f)gracious to them, and (g)be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares.

Rising from their prayer they took up their weapons, and advanced some distance from the city. When they had come near to their enemies, they(h) halted.

When the dawn was now breaking, the two armies joined in battle, the one part having this, beside virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they had fled to the Lord for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the fight.

When the battle became strong, there appeared out of heaven to their adversaries five splendid men on horses with bridles of gold, (i)and two of them, leading on the Jews,

and taking Maccabaeus in the midst of them, and covering him with their own armor, guarded him from wounds, while they shot arrows and thunderbolts at the enemies. For this reason, they were blinded and thrown into confusion, and were cut to pieces, filled with bewilderment.

Twenty thousand five hundred were slain, beside six hundred cavalry.

Timotheus himself fled into a stronghold called Gazara, a fortress of great strength, (j)where Chaereas was in command.

Then Maccabaeus and his men were glad and laid siege to the fortress for four days.

Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and hurled out impious words.

But at dawn of the fifth day, certain young men of Maccabaeus’ company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall with masculine force and with (k)furious anger, and cut down whoever came in their way.

Others climbing up in the same way, while the enemies were distracted with those who had made their way within, set fire to the towers, and kindled fires that burned the blasphemers alive, while others broke open the gates, and, having given entrance to the rest of the band, occupied the city.

They killed Timotheus, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.

When they had accomplished these things, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, blessing him who provides great benefits to Israel and gives them the victory.

Footnotes

(a)10:3 Gr. firing.

(b)10:6 Or, not long before they kept the feast of tabernacles by wandering

(d)10:13 See 2 Maccabees 8:9

(e)10:13 The Greek text here is corrupt.

(f)10:26 Gr. propitious.

(g)10:26 See Exodus 23:22 .

(h)10:27 Gr. were by themselves.

(i)10:29 Some authorities read and leading on the Jews; who also, taking.

(j)10:32 See ver. 37.

(k)10:35 Gr. passion as of wild animals.