The Second Book of Maccabees

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- Kapitel 12 -

The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.

When these covenants were made, Lyslas went to the king, and the Jews gave themselves to husbandry.

But they that were behind, namely, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in peace, and to be quiet.

The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: they desired the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no enmity to them.

Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.

But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having called upon God the just judge,

He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword them that escaped from the fire.

And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites.

But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them,

He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set the haven on fire with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.

And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen and Ave hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon them.

And after a hard fight, in which by the help of God they got the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other things.

And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they departed to their tents.

He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, the name of which is Casphin.

But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.

But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho in the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls.

And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining of two furlongs broad seemed to run with the blood of the slain.

From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa to the Jews that are called Tubianites.

But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold:

But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten thousand men.

And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, and divided them by bands, went forth against Timetheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.

Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage before him into a fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable and hard to come at, by reason of the straitness of the places.

But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of their own swords.

But Judas was vehemently earnest in punishing the profane, of whom he slew thirty thousand men.

And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived.

And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the saving of their brethren.

Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty thousand persons.

And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls made a vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, and a provision of darts.

But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city; and slew five and twenty thousand of them that were within.

From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem.

But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their adversity they had treated them with humanity:

They gave them thanks exhorting them to be still friendly to their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks being at hand.

And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias the governor of Idumea.

And he came out with three thousand footmen, and four hundred horsemen.

And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were slain.

But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor’s band, a valiant man, took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and so Gorgias escaped to Maresa.

But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the battle:

Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a loud voice, he put Gorgias’ soldiers to flight.

So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the place.

And the day following Judas cam with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers.

And they found under the coats of the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain.

Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden.

And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain.

And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,

(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)

And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.

It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.

So when this agreement had been made, Lysias departed to the king, and the Jews went about their farming.

But some of the governors of districts, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, and also Hieronymus and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not allow them to enjoy tranquillity and live in peace.

Men of Joppa perpetrated this great impiety: they invited the Jews who lived among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had provided, as though they had no ill will toward them.

When(a) the Jews,(b) relying on the public vote of the city, accepted the invitation, as men desiring to live in peace and suspecting nothing, they took them out to sea and drowned not less than two hundred of them.

When Judas heard of the cruelty done to his fellow-countrymen, giving command to the men that were with him

and calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his kindred, and set the harbor on fire at night, burned the boats, and put to the sword those who had fled there.

But when the town gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men of Joppa.

But learning that the men of Jamnia intended to do the same thing to the Jews who lived among them,

he attacked the Jamnites at night, and set fire to the harbor together with the fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred forty furlongs(c) distant.

Now when they had drawn off nine furlongs(d) from there, as they marched against Timotheus, an army of Arabians attacked him, no fewer than five thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry.

And when a hard battle had been fought, and Judas and his company, by the help of God, had good success, the nomads being overcome implored Judas to grant them friendship, promising to give him livestock, and to help (e)his people in all other ways.

So Judas, thinking that they would indeed be profitable in many things, agreed to live in peace with them; and receiving pledges of friendship they departed to their tents.

He also attacked a certain city, strong and fenced with earthworks and walls, and inhabited by a mixed multitude of various nations. It was named Caspin.

Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the walls and their store of provisions, behaved themselves rudely toward Judas and those who were with him, railing, and furthermore blaspheming and speaking impious words.

But Judas and his company, calling upon the great Sovereign of the world, who without rams and cunning engines of war hurled down Jericho in the times of Joshua, rushed wildly against the wall.

Having taken the city by the will of God, they made unspeakable slaughter, so much that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs(f) broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood.

When they had gone seven hundred fifty furlongs(g) from there, they made their way to Charax, to the Jews that are called (h)Tubieni.

They didn’t find Timotheus in that district, for he had by then departed from the district without accomplishing anything, but had left behind a very strong garrison in one place.

But Dositheus and Sosipater, who were captains under Maccabaeus, went out and destroyed those who had been left by Timotheus in the stronghold, more than ten thousand men.

Maccabaeus, arranging his own army in divisions, set (i)these two over the bands, and marched in haste against Timotheus, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry.

When Timotheus heard of the approach of Judas, he at once sent away the women and the children with the baggage into the fortress called (j)Carnion; for the place was hard to besiege and difficult of access by reason of the narrowness of the approaches on all sides.

When the band of Judas, who led the first division, appeared in sight, and when terror and fear came upon the enemy, because the manifestation of him who sees all things came upon them, they fled in every direction, carried this way and that, so that they were often injured by their own men, and pierced with the points of their own swords.

Judas continued the pursuit more vigorously, putting the wicked wretches to the sword, and he destroyed as many as thirty thousand men.

Timotheus himself, falling in with the company of Dositheus and Sosipater, implored them with much crafty guile to let him go with his life, because he had in his power the parents of many of them and the kindred of some. (k) “Otherwise, he said, little regard will (l) be shown to these.”

So when he had with many words confirmed the agreement to restore them without harm, they let him go that they might save their kindred.

Then Judas, marching against (m)Carnion and the temple of Atergatis, killed twenty-five thousand people.

After he had put these to flight and destroyed them, he marched against Ephron also, a strong city, (n)wherein were multitudes of people of all nations. Stalwart young men placed (o)on the walls made a vigorous defense. There were great stores of war engines and darts there.

But calling upon the Sovereign who with might shatters the (p)strength of (q)the enemy, they took the city into their hands, and killed as many as twenty-five thousand of those who were in it.

Setting out from there, they marched in haste against Scythopolis, which is six hundred furlongs(r) away from Jerusalem.

But when the Jews who were settled there testified of the good will that the Scythopolitans had shown toward them, and of their kind treatment of them in the times of their misfortune,

they gave thanks, and further exhorted them to remain well disposed toward the race for the future. Then they went up to Jerusalem, the feast of weeks being close at hand.

But after the feast called Pentecost, they marched in haste against Gorgias the governor of Idumaea.

He came out with three thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry.

When they had set themselves in array, it came to pass that a few of the Jews fell.

A certain Dositheus, one (s) of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback and was a strong man, pressed hard on Gorgias, and taking hold of his cloke dragged him along by main force. While he planned to take the accursed man alive, one of the Thracian cavalry bore down on him and disabled his shoulder, and so Gorgias escaped to (t)Marisa.

When those who were with Esdris had been fighting long and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself, fighting on their side and leading in the battle.

Then in the language of his ancestors he raised the battle cry joined with hymns. Then he rushed against Gorgias’ troops when they were not expecting it, and put them to flight.

Judas gathered his army and came to the city of (u)Adullam. As the seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the Sabbath there.

On the following day, (v)when it had become necessary, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of those who had fallen, (w)and in company with their kinsmen to bring them back to the sepulchres of their ancestors.

But under the garments of each one of the dead they found (x)consecrated tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to have anything to do with. It became clear to all that it was for this cause that they had fallen.

All therefore, blessing the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who makes manifest the things that are hidden,

turned themselves to supplication, praying that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the multitude to keep themselves from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.

When he had made a collection man by man to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for sin, doing very well and honorably in this, in that he took thought for the resurrection.

For if he wasn’t expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead.

But if he was looking forward to an honorable memorial of gratitude laid up for those who (y)die (z)in godliness, then the thought was holy and godly. Therefore he made the atoning sacrifice for those who had died, that they might be released from their sin.

Fußnoten

(a)12:4 Gr. they also.

(b)12:4 Gr. after.

(d)12:10 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 9 furlongs is about 1.8 km. or 1 1/8 miles

(e)12:11 Gr. them.

(f)12:16 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 2 furlongs is about 402 meters or 1/4 mile

(g)12:17 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 750 furlongs is about 151 km. or 94 miles

(h)12:17 That is, men of Tob:see Judges 11:3 2 Samuel 10:6 and compare 1 Maccabees 5:13 .

(i)12:20 Gr. them.

(j)12:21 Compare Carnain, 1 Maccabees 5:26 43, 44.

(k)12:24 Gr. and the result will be that these be disregarded.The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.

(l)12:24 Or, have been shown

(m)12:26 Compare Carnain, 1 Maccabees 5:26 43, 44.

(n)12:27 The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.

(o)12:27 Gr. in front of.

(p)12:28 Some authorities read weight.

(q)12:28 Or, his enemies

(r)12:29 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 600 furlongs is about 121 km. or 75 miles

(s)12:35 The Greek text is uncertain.

(t)12:35 Compare 1 Maccabees 5:65 .

(u)12:38 Gr. Odollam.

(v)12:39 The Greek text here is uncertain.

(w)12:39 Or, and to bring them back to be with their kinsmen in the sepulchres

(x)12:40 Perhaps these were consecrated images of the idols.

(y)12:45 Gr. fall asleep.

(z)12:45 Or, on the side of godliness