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.
TO
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS, VAN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, TO WHOSE VALUABLE LIBRARY I HAD THE MOST GENEROUS ACCESS, THE PRESENT PUBLICATION IS ENGRAVED, IN TESTIMONY OF RESPECT AND REGARD.
THE
SECOND BOOK
OF
MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST
CHAPTER IV.
The wars of Judas. The sanctuary cleansed.
We learn where Hanukkah (Feast of Light)comes from.
B.C.166.
Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen and a thousand chosen horsemen, and the army re moved by night; to the end that he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews and smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his guides. Now when Judas heard thereof, he himself removed, and the valiant men with him, that he might smite the king’s army which was at Emmaus, while yet the forces were dispersed from the camp. In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains for said he. These fellows flee from us.
But as soon as it was day, Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, who, nevertheless had neither armour a nor swords to their minds. And they saw the host of the heathen, that it was strong, and well-armed, and the horsemen compassing it round about; and these were expert of war. Then said Judas to the men who were with him, fear ye not the multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red-sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army. Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord Israel will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day: that so all the heathens may know that there is one, who delivereth and saveth Israel. Then the strangers lifted up their eyes and saw them coming over against them. Wherefore, they went out of the camp to battle; and they which were with Judas sounded their trumpets.
So, they joined battle, and the heathen were discomfited, and fled into the plain. Howbeit, all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword for they pursued them unto Gazera b, and unto the plains of Idumaea c, and Azotus, and Jamnia,
so that there were slain of them about three thousand men. And Judas and his host returned again from pursuing them : and said to the people, be not greedy of the spoils, inasmuch as there is a battle before us. And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye shall freely take the spoils. As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them, shewing itself out of the mountain. And they perceived that their host had been put to flight, and that the Jews were burning the tents; (for the smoke which was seen declared what was done:) when therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight, they fled everyone into the land of strangers. Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches. After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his 25 mercy endureth for ever. Thus, Israel had a great deliverance that day.
Now as many of the strangers as had escaped, came and told Lysias all which had happened. Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass. The next year therefore following, Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice
B.C, 165
men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them. So, they came into Idumaea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura d, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said. Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst, quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of Philistines into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armour-bearer. Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and their horsemen, give to them cowardice, and melt away the boldness of their strength, and let them be over whelmed in their destruction; cast them down with the sword of them which love thee, and let all those who know thy name, praise thee in hymns. So, they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain. Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas’ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went to Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judaea.
Then said Judas and his brethren. Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary. Upon this all the
host assembled themselves together and went up into mount Sion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burnt down, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down. And they rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads, and fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried towards heaven.
Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those who were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary. So, he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law : and they cleansed the sanctuary and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place. And as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings which was profaned; a good counsel came into their minds to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it; wherefore they pulled it down. And laid up the stones in the mountain of the house in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them. Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar, according to the former. And built up the sanctuary, and the inner parts of the house, and hallowed the courts. They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar e of incense and the table. And upon the
altar they burnt incense, and the lamps which were upon the candlestick they lighted, and they gave light in the temple. Furthermore, they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils f, and finished all the works which they had begun to make. Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, (which is called the month Casleu g), in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning. And offered sacrifice according to the law, upon the new altar ofburnt-offerings, which they had made. At what time h, and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals. Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success. And so, they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered burn-offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise. They decked also the fore- front of the temple with crowns of gold, and with small shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed and hanged doors upon them. Thus, was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away. Moreover, Judas and his brethren, with the whole congregation of Israel, ordained that
the days of the dedication i of the altar should be kept in the season from year to year, by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and glad ness.
At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread 61 it down, as they had done before. And they set there a garrison to keep it : and fortified Bethsura to preserve it, that the people might have a de fence against the face of Idumaea.
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