for

For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.

For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,

And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.

But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.

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.

Also all they that fled for 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.

Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?

Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.

Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.

David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.

Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.

Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.

Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.

Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.

Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.

As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.

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.

In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion’s whelp roaring for his prey.

For He pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people.

Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.

He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever.

He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king’s commandment.

Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company:

For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.

But we fight for our lives and our laws.

Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them.

He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them.

He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had abounded above the kings that were before him.

And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them.

Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them;

They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed estate of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.

Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.

Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.

For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low.

But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law.

For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary.

For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary.

In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us

Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men.

Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done:

Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.

Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.

Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:

Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.

Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.

Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.

And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.

He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.

Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:

At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.

About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;

Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.

Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.

And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die.

Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care.

Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care.

And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power.

I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.

Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm,

And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom.

So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other engines.

For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritance.

Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.

Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.

As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.

Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.

But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.

As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings.

Yet at the last, their vessels being without victuals, (for that it was the seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;)

And covenant with them, that they shall live after their laws, as they did before: for they are therefore displeased, and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.

There came unto him all the wicked and ungodly men of Israel, having Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest, for their captain:

But they gave no heed to their words; for they saw that they were come with a great power.

For said they, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come with this army, and he will do us no wrong.

Wherefore the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, who said, There is neither truth nor righteousness in them; for they have broken the covenant and oath that they made.

But Alcimus contended for the high priesthood.

After this went Nicanor up to mount Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.

Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for thy people:

For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day a day of great gladness.

And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there;

Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby:

Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:

Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:

And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude.

Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,

When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.

But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now rather save our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren, and fight against them: for we are but few.

Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.

As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.

Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,

As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.

As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.

And they made enquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.

For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,

But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him.

Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us to day, as in time past: