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 XII
B.C.164
Judas defeats Timotheus and Gorgias. He takes many cities
When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry. But of the governors of several places, Timotheus a, and Apollonius the son of Gennseus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet, and live in peace.
The men of Joppe also did such an ungodly deed as this: they prayed the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though nothing: they had meant them no hurt. Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned b no less than two hundred of them.
When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those who were with him to make them ready. And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren; and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those who fled thither he slew. But when the town was shut up, he retreated, with a determination to come again and root out the whole state and people of Joppe. But when he heard that the Jamnites c were minded doing in like manner unto the Jews who dwelt among them; he came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven, and the navy; so that the light of the fire was
seen at Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off. Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs, in their journey towards Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him. Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas side, by the help of God, got the victory so that the Nomades d of Arabia being overcome, be sought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to assist him in other matters. Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: and having received assurance of this, they de parted to their tents.
He went also about to take a certain city, which was strongly secured by bridges, and fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis e But they which were within it, put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely towards Judas and his company; railing also and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken. Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, (who without any rams or engines of war, did cast
down Jericho f in the time of Joshua,) gave a fierce assault against the walls; and took the city by the will of God and made unspeakable slaughters; insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad, near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, appeared to be running with blood.
Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews who are called Tubieni g. But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched anything, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold. Howbeit, Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus’s captains, went forth, and slew those whom Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands; and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen. Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas’ coming, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage, unto a fortress called Carnion h; (for the post was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straightness of all the places;) but when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies (being smitten with fear and terror, through the appearing of Him who see all things) fled amain; one running this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt by their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords. Judas also was
very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men. Moreover, Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life; because he had many of the Jews’ parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded. So, when he had confirmed the agreement i with many words, that he would restore these without hurt, they let him go, for the saving of their brethren.
Then Maccabaeus marched forth to Carnion, 26 and to the temple of Atargatis k; and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons. And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host towards Ephronl, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.
But when Judas and his company had called upon almighty God, (who with his power breach the strength of his enemies,) they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them which were within.
From thence they departed to Scythopolis m, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem. But when the Jews who dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dwelt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity; they gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so, they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.
And after the feast called Pentecost, they went n forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumaea o; who came out with three thousand men of foot, and four hundred horsemen. And it happened that in their fighting together, a few of the Jews were slain. At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, pressed close upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat, drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him, smote off his shoulder p, so that Gorgias escaped unto Marisai q. Now when Gorgias r and his men
had fought long and were weary; Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper, and leader of the battle. And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice; and rushing unawares upon Gorgias and his men, he put them to flight. So, Judas gathered his host, and came into the city Odollam s. And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, (as the custom was,) and kept the sabbath in the same place.
And upon the day following, as the use had been t, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them which were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves. Now under the coats of everyone who was slain, they found things u consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which are forbidden x the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain. All men therefore praising the Lord the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid, betook themselves unto prayer; and besought him, that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin; for so much as they saw before their eyes the things which came
to pass, for the sins of those who were slain. And when he had made a gathering throughout the company y to the sum of two thousand z drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin-offering, doing therein very well, and properly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection for if he had not hoped that they which were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead;) and also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those who died godly. (It was a holy and good thought.) Whereupon he made an expiation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
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