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
THIRD BOOK
OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE OCCURRENCES OF ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS, NAMELY, FROM THE ACCESSION OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES TO THE DEATH OF NICANOE.
At the beginning are inserted two letters written at a later period; and likewise, the history of Heliodorus’ attempt to plunder the Temple.
CHAPTER VIII
B.C.166
The exploits of Judas. His victory over Nicanor.
Then Judas Maccabaeus, and they which were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together; and taking unto them all such as continued in the Jews’ religion, assembled about six thousand men: and they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people which was trodden down by all, and also pity the temple profaned by ungodly men: and that he would have compassion upon the city, sore defaced, and ready to be laid even with the ground, and hear the blood which cried unto him: and remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants a, and the blasphemies committed against his name; and that he would shew his hatred against the wicked. Now when Maccabaeus had his company about him, he could not be withstood by the heathen: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy. Therefore, he came at unawares and burnt up towns and cities and got into his hands the most commodious places and overcame and put to flight no small number of his enemies. But specially took the advantage of the night for such privy attempts, in so much that a fame of his manliness was spread everywhere. So, when Philip b saw that this man increased by little and little, and that things prospered with
him still increasingly; he wrote unto Ptolemaeus the governor c of Coelosyria and Phoenicia, to yield more aid to the king’s affairs. And forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty thousand of all nations under him, to root out the whole generation of the Jews; and with him he joined also Gorgias a captain, who in matters of war had great experience. So Nicanor undertook to make so much money of the captive Jews, as should defray the tribute of two thousand talents, which the king was to pay d to the Romans. Wherefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the seacoast, inviting them to a sale of the captive Jews; and promising that they should have fourscore and ten bodies for one talent; not expecting the vengeance which was about to follow upon him from the Almighty God. Now when word was brought unto Judas of Nicanor’s coming, and he had imparted unto those who were with him that the army was at hand they which were fearful, and distrusted the justice of God, fled, and conveyed themselves away. Others sold all which they had left, and withal besought the Lord to deliver them, being sold by the wicked Nicanor, before they met together and if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants he had made with their fathers, and for his
holy and glorious name’s sake, by which they were called. So Maccabseus, calling together those who remained with him, unto the number of six thousand, exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy; nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen, who came wrongfully against them, but to fight manfully: and to set before their eyes the injury which they had unjustly done to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the city, whereof they made a mockery, and also the taking away of the government of their forefathers. For they (said he) trust in their weapons e and boldness but our confidence is in the Almighty God, who with a nod can cast down both them which come against us, and all the world. Moreover, he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers had found; and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib an hundred four score and five thousand perished f And he told them of the battle which they had in Babylon with the Galatians g; how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians; and that the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed a hundred and twenty thousand, through the help which they had from heaven, and so received a great booty. Thus, when he had made them bold
with these words, and ready to die for the laws and the country, he divided his army into four and joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to wit, Simon, and Joseph h, and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred men. Also, he appointed Eleazar i to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, ” The help of God;” himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor. And by the help of the Almighty they slew above nine thousands of their enemies, and wounded and in aimed the most part of Nicanor’s host, and so put all to flight: and took the money of those who had come to buy them, and pursued them far: but being pressed for time, they returned. For it was the day before the sabbath, and therefore they did not long continue to pursue them. So, when they had gathered their armour together, and spoiled their enemies, they occupied themselves about the sabbath; yielding exceeding great praise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them unto that day, and distilled k upon them this the beginning of his mercy. And after the sabbath, when they had given part of the spoils to the maimed, and the widows, and orphans; the residue they divided among themselves and their servants. When this was done,
and they had made a common supplication; they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever. Moreover, of those who were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, they (B.C.165) slew above twenty thousand; and very easily won high and strong holds, and divided amongst themselves many spoils more; and made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves. And when they had gathered their armour together, they laid it all up carefully in convenient places; and the remnant of the spoils they brought to Jerusalem. They slew also Phylarches that wicked person, who was with Timotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways. Furthermore, at such time as they kept the feast for the victory in their country, they burnt Callisthenes l, who had set fire upon the holy gates, who was fled into a little house, who thus received a reward meet for his wickedness. As for that wicked wretch Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to buy the Jews; he was, through the help of the Lord, brought down by them of whom he made least account and putting off his glorious apparel, and discharging his company, he came like a fugitive servant through the midland unto Antioch, having very great misadventure, for that his host was destroyed. Thus he, who took upon him to make good to the Romans their tribute by means of the captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the Jews had God to fight for them; and therefore, they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws which he had appointed them.
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