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 VIIa
B.C.166
The account of the death of Mattathias, and the acts of Judas his son after him.
Now Mattathias became infirm. And when he was near to death, he called his B.C.166) who were five and said unto them: “I know of a certainty that very many and great wars will be kindled in the land of Judah, for the sake [or, by reason] of those matters for which the great and good God has stirred us up to wage war against our enemies. But I charge you that you fear God, and trust in him, and be zealous of the law, and the sanctuary, and the people also; and prepare yourselves to wage war against its enemies and fear not death, because, without doubt, this is decreed unto all men. So that, if God shall make you victorious, you have at once obtained that which you were longing for: but if you fall, that is no loss to you in his sight.
And Mattathias died and was buried; and his sons did according to that which he had commanded them.
And they agreed to make their brother Judas their leader. Now Judas their brother was the best in counsel, and bravest in strength of them all. And an army was sent against them by Felixb, under a man who was called Seronc, whom Judas with his company put to flight, and he slew great numbers. And the fame of Judas was spread abroad and increased greatly in the ears of men: and all the nations which were round about him feared him exceedingly.
And it was told to king Antiochus what Mattathias and his son Judas had done. News of this came also to the king of the Persians; so that he played false with Antiochus, departing from his friendship, following the example of Judas. Which giving Antiochus a great deal of uneasiness, he called to him one of his household officers named Lysiasd, a stout and brave man, and said to him; “I have now determined to go into the land of Persia to make war; and I wish to leave behind me my son in my stead; and to take with me the half of my army, and to leave the remainder with my son: and behold I have given to you the governance of my son, and the governance of the men whom I leave with him. And verily you know what Mattathias and Judas have done to my friends and my subjects. Wherefore, send one to lead a powerful army into the land of Judah;”
“and command him to attack the land of Judah with the sword, and to root them out, and to demolish their dwellings, and to destroy all traces of them.”
Then Antiochus departed into the country of Persia. But Lysias made ready three hardy and brave generals, skilled in war; of whom one was named Ptolemye a second Nicanor, and the third Gorgias. And with them he sent forty thousand chosen troops and seven thousand horsemen. He also charged them to bring with them an army of Syrians, and Philistines; and ordered them to root out the Jews entirely. And they marched forth, carrying with them a multitude of merchants, that they might sell to them the captives which they were about to obtain from among the Jews.
But tidings of this came to Judas the son of Mattathias and he went to the house of the great and good God; and assembled his men, and enjoined them a fast, and supplications, and prayers to the great and good God; and charged that they should beseech Him for victory against their enemies; which thing they did.
After this, Judas collecting his men, appointed over each thousand a chiefs, and likewise over each hundred, and over each fifty, and over each ten. Then he commanded proclamation to be made by trumpet throughout his army, that who soever was fearful, and whomsoever God commanded to be dismissed from the army, he should return home.
And great numbers returned; and there remained with them seven thousand stout and brave men, skilled in wars and accustomed nor had any one of them ever fled: and they marched against their enemies. But when they had drawn nigh to them, Judas prayed to his Lord, intreating Him that He would turn away from him the malice of his enemy; and that He would assist him, and render him victorious. Then he commanded the priests to sound the trumpets, which they did: and all his men called upon God and rushed upon the army of Nicanor. And God gave them victory over them, and they turned him and his men to flight, killing of them nine thousand men, and the rest were dispersed. And Judas and his company returned to Nicanor’s camp and made spoil of it; and plundered very much property of the merchants and sent it to be divided among the sick.
This battle took place on the sixth day of the week; wherefore Judas and his men remained on the same spot until the sabbath-day had passed. Then they marched against Ptolemy and Gorgias, whom they found and defeated, and gained a victory over them, slaying twenty thousand of their troops. And Ptolemy and Gorgias fled; whom Judas and his company pursued; yet he could not overtake them, because they betook themselves into a city of two idolsg, and fortified themselves therein with the remnant of their army. And Judas attacked Felix ; and he was put to flight before him. And Judas pursued him.
Who, coming to a certain house which was nigh at hand, entered it and closed the doors, for it was a fortified house. And Judas commanded, and he set fire to it; and the house was burned, and Felix was burnedh in it. So, Judas took vengeance on him for Eleazar and the others whom Felix had put to death. Afterwards the people returned to the slain and took their spoils and their armour; but the best of the prey they sent into the Holy Land. But Nicanor departed in disguise unknown, and returned to Lysias, and told him all which had happened to him and his company.
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