Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 54

2 Mac 10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

2 Mac 10:8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.

2 Mac 10:9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.

2 Mac 10:10 Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of this wicked man, gathering briefly the calamities of the wars.

2 Mac 10:11 So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria and Phenice.

2 Mac 10:12 For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do justice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them, endeavoured to continue peace with them.

2 Mac 10:13 Whereupon being accused of the king's friends before Eupator, and called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus, that Philometor had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself and died.

2 Mac 10:14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:

2 Mac 10:15 And therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.

2 Mac 10:16 Then they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and besought G.o.d that he would be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,

2 Mac 10:17 And a.s.saulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept off all that fought upon the wall, and slew all that fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.

2 Mac 10:18 And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege,

2 Mac 10:19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them that were with him, who were enough to besiege them, and departed himself unto those places which more needed his help.

2 Mac 10:20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for money through certain of those that were in the castle, and took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of them escape.

2 Mac 10:21 But when it was told Maccabeus 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.

2 Mac 10:22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.

2 Mac 10:23 And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty thousand.

2 Mac 10:24 Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great mult.i.tude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of arms.

2 Mac 10:25 But when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned themselves to pray unto G.o.d, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,

2 Mac 10:26 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 declareth.

2 Mac 10:27 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.

2 Mac 10:28 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 their success and victory: the other side making their rage leader of their battle

2 Mac 10:29 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,

2 Mac 10:30 And took Maccabeus betwixt them, and covered him on every side weapons, and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness, and full of trouble, they were killed.

2 Mac 10:31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred hors.e.m.e.n.

2 Mac 10:32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.

2 Mac 10:33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days.

2 Mac 10:34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.

2 Mac 10:35 Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabeus' company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, a.s.saulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage killed all that they met withal.

2 Mac 10:36 Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them that 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,

2 Mac 10:37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with Apollophanes.

2 Mac 10:38 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.

2 Mac 11:1 Not long after the Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.

2 Mac 11:2 And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the hors.e.m.e.n, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles,

2 Mac 11:3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:

2 Mac 11:4 Not at all considering the power of G.o.d but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of hors.e.m.e.n, and his fourscore elephants.

2 Mac 11:5 So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.

2 Mac 11:6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.

2 Mac 11:7 Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.

2 Mac 11:8 And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.

2 Mac 11:9 Then they praised the merciful G.o.d all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.

2 Mac 11:10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them

2 Mac 11:11 And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred hors.e.m.e.n, and put all the other to flight.

2 Mac 11:12 Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.

2 Mac 11:13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty G.o.d helped them, he sent unto them,

2 Mac 11:14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.

2 Mac 11:15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.

2 Mac 11:16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:

2 Mac 11:17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the pet.i.tion subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.

2 Mac 11:18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.