CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
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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 II.
The firmness of Mattathias,
B. C. 167.
In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon a a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin”. And he
had five sons, Joannan, who was called Caddis: Simon, who was called Thassi: Judas, who was called Maccabaeus: Eleazar, who was called Avaran, and Jonathan, who was called Apphus. And when he saw the blasphemies c which were committed in Judah and Jerusalem, he said. Wo is mw! wherefore was I born to see this overthrow of my people, and of the holy city, and to dwell there when it was delivered into the hand of the enemies, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers? Her temple is become as a man without glory. Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, 15 her young men with the sword of the enemy.
What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom, and gotten of her spoils ? All her ornaments are taken away, of a free-woman she is become a bond-slave. And behold, our sanctuary d, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it. To what end therefore shall we live any longer? Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sack cloth, and mourned very sore.
In the meanwhile the king’s officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city
Modin, to make them sacrifice. And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together. Then answered the king’s officers and said to Mattathias on this wise; Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren. Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king’s commandment, like as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Judah also, and such as remain at Jerusalem : so shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the king’s friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards e. Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice. Though all the nations which are under the king’s dominion f obey him, to fall away everyone from the religion of their fathers and give consent to his commandments: yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. God forbid, that we should forsake the law and the ordinances. We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go aside from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.
Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the Jews in the sight of all, to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king’s commandment. Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and his reins trembled, neither could he g forbear
to shew his anger according to judgment: where fore he ran and slew him upon the altar. Also, the king’s commissioner h, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down. Thus, dealt he zealously for the law of God, like as Phinees ‘ did unto Zambri the son of Salom. And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying. Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me. So, he and his sons fled into the mountains and left all whichever they had in the city. Then many who sought after righteousness k and judgment, went down into the wilderness to dwell there: were multiplied upon them.
Now when it was told the king’s servants, and the host which was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king’s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness: they pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them and made war against them on the sabbath-day. And they said unto them. Let that which ye have done hitherto suf-
fice; come forth and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live. But they said. We will not come forth, neither will we do the king’s commandment, to profane the sab bath-day. So, then they gave them the battle with all speed. Howbeit, they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid; but said. Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth shall testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully. So, they rose up against them in battle on the sab bath, and they died with their wives and children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand souls l Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore. And one of them said to another. If we all do as our brethren have done and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth. At that time therefore they decreed, saying. Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sab bath-day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren died in the secret places. Then came there unto him a company of Assidaeans m, who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law. Also, all they who fled from persecution, joined
themselves unto them and were a stay unto them. So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger and wicked men in their wrath; but the rest fled to the heathen for succour. Then Mattathias and his friends went round about and pulled down the altars. And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised by force n. They pursued also after the sons of pride, and the work prospered in their hand. So, they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, and yielded not the horno of triumph to the sinner. B.C.166
Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons:
” Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of “destruction, and the wrath of indignation. Now therefore, my sons, “be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the
“covenant of our fathers. Call to remembrance what acts our fathers “did in their generations, so shall ye receive great honour, and an “everlasting name. Was not Abraham foundfaithful in temptation, “and it was imputed unto him for righteousness p? Joseph in the “time of his distress, kept the commandment, and was made lord of “Egypt q. Phinees our father, in being zealous and fervent, obtained “the covenant of an everlasting priesthood r. Jesus, for fulfilling the
” word, was made a judge in Israel s. Caleb, for bearing witness “before the congregation, received an heritage of the land’. “David, “for being merciful u, gained to himself the throne of an everlasting “kingdom x. Elias, for being zealous and fervent for the law, was “taken up into heaven y. Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing, “were saved out of the flame z. Daniel, for his innocency, was “delivered from the mouth of lions a. And thus consider ye “throughout all generations, that none who put their trust in Him, “shall fail. Fear not then the words of a sinful man; for his glory shall “be dung and worms. To-day he shall be lifted up, and tomorrow he “shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust b, and his “thought is come to nothing. Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and shew “yourselves men in the behalf of the law, for by it shall ye “obtain glory. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a “man “of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you. “As for Judas Maccabseus, he hath been mighty, and strong, even “from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of “the people. Take also unto you all those who observe the law and “avenge ye the wrong of your people. Recompense fully the heathen “and take heed to the commandments of the law.” So, he blessed them, and
was gathered to his fathers. And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers, at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.
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