Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 55

2 Mac 11:19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.

2 Mac 11:20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you.

2 Mac 11:21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.

2 Mac 11:22 Now the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:

2 Mac 11:23 Since our father is translated unto the G.o.ds, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.

2 Mac 11:24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.

2 Mac 11:25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers.

2 Mac 11:26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.

2 Mac 11:27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:

2 Mac 11:28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.

2 Mac 11:29 Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:

2 Mac 11:30 Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.

2 Mac 11:31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.

2 Mac 11:32 I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.

2 Mac 11:33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.

2 Mac 11:34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and t.i.tus Manlius, amba.s.sadors of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.

2 Mac 11:35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.

2 Mac 11:36 But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.

2 Mac 11:37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.

2 Mac 11:38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.

2 Mac 12:1 When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.

2 Mac 12:2 But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.

2 Mac 12:3 The men of Joppa also did such an unG.o.dly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.

2 Mac 12:4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.

2 Mac 12:5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.

2 Mac 12:6 And calling upon G.o.d 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 that fled thither he slew.

2 Mac 12:7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.

2 Mac 12:8 But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,

2 Mac 12:9 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.

2 Mac 12:10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred hors.e.m.e.n of the Arabians set upon him.

2 Mac 12:11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by the help of G.o.d got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.

2 Mac 12:12 Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.

2 Mac 12:13 He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.

2 Mac 12:14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.

2 Mac 12:15 Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce a.s.sault against the walls,

2 Mac 12:16 And took the city by the will of G.o.d, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.

2 Mac 12:17 Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.

2 Mac 12:18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.

2 Mac 12:19 Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus'

captains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.

2 Mac 12:20 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 hors.e.m.e.n.

2 Mac 12:21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas' coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.

2 Mac 12:22 But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.

2 Mac 12:23 Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.

2 Mac 12:24 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.

2 Mac 12:25 So when he had a.s.sured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.

2 Mac 12:26 Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.

2 Mac 12:27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great mult.i.tude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.

2 Mac 12:28 But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty G.o.d, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,

2 Mac 12:29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,