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
CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY
HENRY COTTON, D.C.L.
ARCHDEACON OF CASHEL,
AND DECEASED STUDENT AT CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD OXFORD, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. MDCCCXXXII.
THE
SECOND BOOK
OF
MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST
CHAPTER V.
B.C.164
The wars of Judas. The expedition of Simon.
Now it came to pass when the nations round about heard that the altar was built, and the sanctuary renewed as before, they were very wroth. Wherefore they took counsel to destroy the generation of Jacob, which was in the midst of them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy among the people. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau, in Idumaea, at Acrabattine a, because they besieged Israel and he gave them a great overthrow, and broughtthem down, and took their spoils. Also he remembered
the injury of the children of Baean b, who had been a snare and a stumbling block unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways. And they were shut up by him in the towers, and he encamped against them, and destroyed c them utterly, and burnt the towers of that place with fire, with all those who were therein. Afterwards he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain. So, he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited before his face; and he smote them. And when he had taken Jazer d and the towns e belonging thereto, he returned into Judaea. Then the heathen who were in Galaad f assembled themselves together against the Israelites who were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema g; and sent letters unto Judas and his brethren,
“The heathen who are round about us are assembled together “against us, to destroy us. And they are preparing to come and “take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being “captain of their host. ” Come now therefore and deliver us “from their hands,
” for many of us are slain. Yea, all our brethren who were in the “places of Tobie h are put to death: their wives and their children also “they have carried away captives, and home borne away their stuff, “and they have destroyed there about a “thousand men. While these “letters were yet reading, behold, “there came other messengers from Galilee, with their clothes rent, who reported according to these words, and said,
” They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the “Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.” Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren who were in trouble and assaulted by them. Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren who are in Galilee; but I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad. So, he left Joseph the son of Zacharias and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judaea, to keep it and he gave them commandment, saying, take ye the charge of this people, and make no war against the heathen, until the time that we come again. Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad. Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, and the heathen were discomfited before his face. And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemaisi; and there were slain
of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took. And those who were in Galilee, and in Arbatta j, with their wives and their children, and all which they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judaea with great joy. Judas Maccabaeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days’ journey in the wilderness; where they met with the Nabateans k, who came unto them in peaceable manner, and told them everything which had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad: and how that many of them were shut up in Bosora l, and Bosor m, and Alema n, Casphor o, Maked p, and Carnaimi q, (all these cities are strong and great:) and that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against tomorrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in
one day. Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosor; and he won the city and slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt the city with fire. From whence he removed by night and went till he 30 came to the fortress r. And by times in the morning, they lifted up their eyes, and behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders, and other engines of war to take the fortress, and they assaulted them. When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound; he said unto his host. Fight this day for your brethren. So, he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer. Then the host of Timotheus perceived that it was Maccabaeus and fled from his face: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there fell of them that day about eight thousand men. This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha s; and he assaulted it, and took it, and slew all the males therein, and gathered the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire. From thence went he and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country 37 of Galaad. After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped before Raphon t beyond the brook. So, Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying. All the
heathen which are round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host. He hath also hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them. Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host. When Judas and his host come near the water-brook, if he passes over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him for he will mightily prevail against us. But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him. Now when Judas came near the water-brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook and he charged them all, saying. Suffer no man to pitch his tent but let all come to the battle. So, he went over first unto them, and all the people after him; then all the heathen being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the templeU which was at Carnaim: but they took the city, and burnt the temple, with all who were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas. Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites who were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judah.
Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified,) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass
through the midst of it. Then they of the city shut them out and stopped up the gates with stones. Whereupon Judas sent unto them with peaceable words, saying, we will pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit, they would not open unto him. Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was. So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands: and he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and razed the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city, over them which were slain. And they passed over Jordan, into the great plain before Bethshan x. And Judas was gathering together those who were hindmost, and exhorting the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judah. So, they went up to mount Zion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace. Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in
Galilee before Ptolemais; Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the army, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done. Wherefore they said, let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen who are round about us. So, when they had given charge unto the army which was with them, they went towards Jamnia. Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to meet them in battle. And so it was that Joseph and Azarias were put to flight and pursued unto the borders of Judaea and there were slain that day of the people of Israel, about two thousand men. Thus, was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act. Moreover, these men came not of the seed of those by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel. And the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen wheresoever their name was heard. In so much that the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.
Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south; where he smote Hebron y, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burnt the towers thereof round about. From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines and passed through Samaria. At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly. So, Judas turned aside to Azotus in the land of the Philistines; and when he had pulled down their altars and burnt the carved images of their gods with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judah.
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