Simon and his sons

encamped

** Gedor,

* Ashdod;

4 Ptolemy

I. MACCABEES, 16.

twenty thousand men of war with
horsemen, who went out against
Cendebeus, and rested that night
at Modin.

5 And when as they rose in the
morning, and went into the plain,
behold, a mighty great host both
of footmen and horsemen came
against them: how beit there was
a water brook betwixt them.

6 So he and his people 'pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.

7 That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies' horsemen were very many.

8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.

9 At that time was Judas John's brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.

slain by treachery.

of them; at which time he came
down himself to Jericho with his
sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the
hundred threescore and seven-
teenth year, in the eleventh
month, called Sabat:

5

7

15 Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.

16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

recom

17 In which doing he committed
a great treachery, and
pensed evil for good.

18 Then Ptolemee wrote these
things, and sent to the king, that
he should send him an host to aid
him, and he would deliver him the
country and cities.

19 He sent others also to Gazara to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.

20 And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

10 So they fled even unto the
towers in the fields of Azotus:
wherefore he burned it with fire:
21 Now one had run afore to Ga-
so that there were slain of them
about two thousand men. After-zara, and told John that his fa-
ward he returned into the land of ther and brethren were slain, and,
Judea in peace.
quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay
thee also.

11 Moreover in the plain of Jeri-
cho was Ptolemeus the son of
Abubus made captain, and he had
abundance of silver and gold:
12 For he was the high priest's

son in law..

13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.

14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering

* Or,

22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.

23 As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

24 Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

5 Sebat:

fortress, Dok,

The Jews delivered

II. MACCABEES, 1.

by Antiochus' death.

1 shew bread.

2 Chisleu.

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE

MACCABEES

5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.

6 And now we be here praying for you.

7 What

time as Demetrius

with him that seemed invincible,
they were slain in the temple of
Nanea by the deceit of Nanea's
priests.

14 For Antiochus, as though he
would marry her, came into the
place, and his friends that were
with him, to receive money in
name of a dowry.

Nanea had set forth, and he was
15 Which when the priests of
entered with a small company into
the compass of the temple, they
shut the temple as soon as Antio-

chus was come in :

16 And opening 5 a privy door of the roof. they threw "stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads, and cast them to those that were without.

17 Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the ungodly.

5 the secret door of the panelled ceiling, 6 stones,

7 prince,

18 Therefore whereas we are now reigned, in the hundred threescore purposed to keep the purification and ninth year, we the Jews wrote of the temple upon the five and unto you in the extremity of trou-twentieth day of the month Casleu, 8 Chisleu, ble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason we thought it necessary to certify and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,

8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.

9 And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month

2 Casleu.

10 In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, 3 Ptolemy's king Ptolemeus' master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:

teacher,

4* prince

3

11 Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.

12 For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.

13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army * That is, Antiochus.

you thereof, that ye also might
keep it, as the feast of the taber-
given us when Neemias offered sa-
nacles, and of the fire, which was
crifice, after that he had builded miah
the temple and the altar.

9

19 For when our fathers were led
into Persia, the priests that were
then devout took the fire of the
hol-

altar privily, and hid it in an
low place of a pit without water,
where they kept it sure, so that the
place was unknown to all men.

20 Now after many years, when
it pleased God, Neemias, being sent
from the king of Persia, did send of
the posterity of those priests that
had hid it to the fire: but when
they told us they found no fire, but
thick water;

21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.

22 When this done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, *So throughout this book.

9* Nehe

II. MACCABEES, 2.

that were lost by reason of the war
we had, and they remain with us.
15 Wherefore if ye have need
thereof, send some to fetch them
unto you.

16 Whereas we then are about to
celebrate the purification, we have
written unto you, and ye shall do
well, if ye keep the same days.

17 We hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people, and gave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,

18 As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place: for he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.

19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20 And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his

son,

Onias the high priest.

29 For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof; even so I think it is with us.

30 To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:

31 But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement.

6

5

5 put a writing into a new form.

32 Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to narration: that which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.

CHAPTER 3.

1 of the honour done to the temple by the
kings of the Gentiles. 4 Simon uttereth
what treasures are in the temple. 7 Helio-
dorus is sent to take them away. 24 He is
stricken of God, and healed at the prayer
of Onias.

21 And the manifest signs that
heaven unto those that
OW
city
came from huselves manfully, to when the holly cute, and
behaved
NOW
inhabited with peace,
their honour for Judaism: so that, the laws were kept very well, be-
being but a few, they overcame the
whole country, and chased barba cause of the godliness of Onias the
high priest, and his hatred of
rous multitudes,
wickedness,

22 And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord being gracious unto them with overthrown, all favour:

1 were

like to be

2 multitude of the numbers,

3 recall

23 All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

24 For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,

25 We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.

3

26 Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching:

27 Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for 4 sake of the the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;

gratitude

4

28 Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.

7 narration

5 And when he could not overcome Onias, he gat him to Apollonius the son of Thraseas, who 8 Thrasæus, then was governor of "Celosyria and Phenice,

ColeSyria and Phoenicia,

6 And told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of 10 infinite 10 untold sums of money, so that the multitude of their riches, which did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, was innumerable, and that it was possible to bring all into the king's hand.

7 Now when Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of the money whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorus his treasurer, and sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money.

So throughout this book.

II. MACCABEES, 3.

is smitten by a vision. 8 So forthwith Heliodorus took | walls, and others looked out of the his journey, under a colour of visit- windows. ing the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to fulfil the king's purpose.

20 And all, holding their hands toward heaven, made supplication.

21 Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the multitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest, being in such

4

22 They then called upon the distress. Almighty Lord to keep the things committed of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them. 23 Nevertheless Heliodorus exe

10 Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of widows and father-cuted that which was decreed. less children :

26 Moreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in strength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood 14 So at the day which he ap-by him on either side, and scourged pointed he entered in to order this him continually, and gave him matter: wherefore there was no many sore stripes. small agony throughout the whole city.