CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM CHAPTER NINE OF THE THIRD BOOK OF MACCABAEES
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 X
B.C.165
Judas purifies the temple. His valiant acts.
Now Maccabaeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city; but the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and the chapels, they pulled down. And having cleansed the temple, they made another altar; and striking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years a, and set forth incense, and lights, and shew-bread. When that was done, they fell flat down and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any more against him, that he himself would chasten b them with mercy; and that they might not be delivered unto the blasphemous and barbarous nations. Now upon the same day that the temple had been profaned by strangers, it happened that on the same day the purification of it took place; even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu. And they kept eight days with gladness, as in the feast of
the tabernacles; remembering that not long afore they had holdened c the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like wild beasts. Therefore, they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also; and sang psalms unto Him who had given them good success in cleansing his place. They ordained also, by a common statute and decree. That every year those days should be kept by the whole nation of the Jews. And this was the end of Antiochus called Epiphanes. But now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of this wicked (B.c.164) collecting briefly the calamities of the wars. For when he had come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm; and appointed him chief governor of Coelosyria and Phoenicia. For Ptolemaeus, who was called Macron d, choosing rather to do justice unto the Jews, for the wrong which had been done unto them, endeavoured to continue peace with them. Where upon being accused by the king’s friends before Eupator, and called traitor everywhere, because he had left Cyprus, which Phallometer had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes; and seeing that he was in no honourable place e, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself, and died.
But when Gorgias was made governor of the strong holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews: and therewithal the Idumaeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious fortresses, kept the Jews occupied; and receiving those who were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war. Then they which were with Maccabeus made supplication, and besought God that he would be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strong holds f of the Idumeans: and assaulting them valiantly, they won the holds; and kept off all who fought upon the wall, and slew all who fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand. And because certain (no fewer than nine thousand) were fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege; Maccabaeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacchaeus also, and them which were with him, who were enough to be siege them; and departed himself unto those places which more needed his help. Now Simon and his company being led with covetousness, were persuaded for money, (through certain of those who were in the castle,) and took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of them escape. But when it was told Maccabaeus what was done, he called the governors of the people together; and accused those men, that they had sold their brethren for money, and set their enemies free to fight against them. So, he slew those who were found traitors and immediately took the two castles. And
having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two strong holds more than twenty thousand.
Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome g when he had gathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Judaea by force of arms. But when he drew near, Maccabaeus and his company turned themselves to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth; and fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declared h. So, after the prayer, they took their weapons and went on further from the city: and when they drew near to their enemies, they kept by themselves. Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one part having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the Lord, for a pledge of success and victory: the other side making their courage leader of their battle. But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the enemies from heaven five comely men upon horses, with bridles of gold and two of them led the Jews, and took Maccabaeus betwixt them, and covered him on every side with their complete armour, and kept him safe; but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness,
and filled with confusion, they were cut to pieces. And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen. As for Timotheus himself, he fled into the hold called Gazara i a very strong garrison, of which Chaereas was governor. But Maccabeus and his company laid siege against the fortress courageously four days. And they which were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words. Nevertheless, upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabaeus’ company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manfully, and with a fierce courage killed all whom they met withal. Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them which were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires, burnt the blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates, and having received in the rest of the army, took the city: and killed Timotheus, who was hid in a certain pit, and Chaereas his brother, with Apollophanes. When this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and thanksgiving, who had done so great things for Israel, and given them the victory.
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