CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE FIFTH BOOK OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING A RECORD OF EVENTS FROM THE TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES INTO GREEK UNDER PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS, (B.C. 277,) TO THE DEATH OF HEROD’s TWO SONS, IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH YEAR BEFORE CHRIST.
CHAPTER VIIIa
The relation of Antiochus’ return and of his going into the land of Judah and of the disease which fell on him, of which he died in his journey.
But Antiochus returned out of the country of Persia, with his army disbanded. And when he had learned what had happened to his army which Lysias had sent forth, and to all his men, he went out with a large army, marching to the land of Judah. Now when in his progress he had reached the middle of his journey, God smote his troops with most mighty weapons: but this could not stop him from his journey; but he persisted in it, uttering all sorts of insolence against God, and saying that no one could turn him aside, nor hinder him from his determined purposes.
Wherefore the great and good God smote him also with ulcers which attacked the whole of his body: but even yet he did not desist, nor refrain from his journey; but was more filled with wrath, and inflamed with an eager desire to obtain what he had determined on, and to carry his resolution into effect. Now there were in his army very many elephants. It so happened that one of these ran away and made a bellowing: upon which the horses which were drawing the couch on which Antiochus lay, ran off, and threw him out. And as he was fat and corpulent, his limbs were bruised, and some of his joints were dislocated. And the bad smell of his ulcers, which already sent forth a foetid odour, was so much increased, that neither he shoulders himself could longer endure it, nor could those who came near him. So, when he fell, his servants took him up and carried him upon their shoulders but as the foul smell grew worse, they threw him down and departed to a distance. Therefore, perceiving the evils which surrounded him, he believed for certain that all that punishment had come upon him from the great and good God; by reason of the injury and the tyranny which he had used towards the Hebrews, and the unjust shedding of their blood. In fear therefore he turned himself to God, and, confessing his sins, said; “O God, in truth I deserve the thingsb which Thou hast sent upon me:”
“and indeed, just art Thouc in thy judgments; Thou humblest him who is exalted, and brings down him who is puffed up: but thine is greatness, and magnificence, and majesty, and prowess. Truly, I own, I have oppressed the people and have both acted and decreed tyrannically against them. Forgive, I pray Thee, O God, this my error; and wipe out my sin, and bestow on me my health: and my care shall be to fill the treasury of thy house with gold and silver: and to strewd the floor of the house of thy sanctuary with purple vestments; and to be circumcised; and to proclaim throughout all my kingdom, that Thou only art the true God, without any partner, and that there is no God besides thee.”
But God did not hear his prayers, nor accept his supplication: but his troubles so increased on him that he voided his bowels: and his ulcers increased to that degree, that his flesh dropped off from his body. Then he died and was buried in his place. And his son reigned in his stead, whose name was Eupator.
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