The Second Book of Maccabees

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 13 -

Antiochus and Lysias again invade Judea. Menelaus is put to death. The king’s great army is worsted twice. The peace is renewed.

In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas understood that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a multitude against Judea,

And with him Lysias the regent, who had charge over the affairs of the realm, having with him a hundred and ten thousand footmen, five thousand horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.

Menelaus also joined himself with them: and with great deceitfulness besought Antiochus, not for the welfare of his country, but in hopes that he should be appointed chief ruler.

But the King of kings stirred up the mind of Antiochus against the sinner, and upon Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of all the evils, he commanded (as the custom is with them) that he should be apprehended and put to death in the same place.

Now there was in that place a tower fifty cubits high, having a heap of ashes on every side: this had a prospect steep down.

From thence he commanded the sacrilegious wretch to be thrown down into the ashes, all men thrusting him forward unto death.

And by such a law it happened that Menelaus the transgressor of the law was put to death: not having so much as burial in the earth.

And indeed very justly, for insomuch as he had committed many sins against the altar of God, the fire and ashes of which were holy: he was condemned to die in ashes.

But the king, with his mind full of rage, came on to shew himself worse to the Jews than his father was.

Which, when Judas understood, he commanded the people to call upon the Lord day and night, that as he had always done, so now also he would help them:

Because they were afraid to be deprived of the law, and of their country, and of the holy temple: and that he would not suffer the people, that had of late taken breath for a little while, to be again in subjection to blasphemous nations.

So when they had all done this together, and had craved mercy of the Lord with weeping and fasting, lying prostrate on the ground for three days continually, Judas exhorted them to make themselves ready.

But he with the ancients determined, before the king should bring his army into Judea, and make himself master of the city, to go out, and to commit the event of the thing to the judgment of the Lord.

So committing all to God, the creator of the world, and having exhorted his people to fight manfully, and to stand up even to death for the laws, the temple, the city, their country, and citizens: he placed his army about Modin.

And having given his company for a watchword, The victory of God, with most valiant chosen young men, he set upon the king’s quarter by night, and slew four thousand men in the camp, and the greatest of the elephants, with them that had been upon him,

And having filled the camp of the enemies with exceeding greet fear and tumult, they went off with good success.

Now this was done at the break of day, by the protection and help of the Lord.

But the king having taken a taste of the hardiness of the Jews, attempted to take the strong places by policy:

And he marched with his army to Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was repulsed, he failed, he rest his men.

Now Judas sent necessaries to them that were within.

But Rhodocus, one of the Jews’ army, disclosed the secrets to the enemies, so he was sought out, and taken up, and put in prison.

Again the king treated with them that were in Bethsura: gave his right hand: took theirs: and went away.

He fought with Jucias: and was overcome. And when he understood that Philip, who had been left over the affairs, had rebelled at Antioch, he was in a consternation of mind, and entreating the Jews, and yielding to them, he swore to all things that seemed reasonable, and, being reconciled, offered sacrifices, honoured the temple, and left gifts.

He embraced Machabeus, and made him governor and prince from Ptolemais unto the Cerrenians.

But when he was come to Ptolemais, the men of that city were much displeased with the conditions of the peace, being angry for fear they should break the covenant.

Then Lysias went up to the judgment seat, and set forth the reason, and appeased the people, and returned to Antioch: and thus matters went with regard to the king’s coming and his return.

Antiochus and Lysias again invade Judea. Menelaus is put to death. The king’s great army is worsted twice. The peace is renewed.

In the one hundred forty-ninth year, news was brought to Judas and his company that Antiochus Eupator was coming with multitudes against Judea,

and with him Lysias his guardian and chancellor, each having a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.

And Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great hypocrisy encouraged Antiochus, not for the saving of his country, but because he thought that he would be set over the government.

But the King of kings stirred up the anger of Antiochus against the wicked wretch. When Lysias informed him that this man was the cause of all the evils, the king commanded to bring him to Beroea, and to put him to death in the way customary in that place.

Now there is in that place a tower that is fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had all around it a (a)circular rim sloping steeply on every side into the ashes.

Here one who is guilty of sacrilege or notorious for other crimes is pushed down to destruction.

By such a fate it happened that the breaker of the law, Menelaus, died, without obtaining so much as a grave in the earth, and that justly;

for inasmuch as he had perpetrated many sins (b) against the altar, whose fire and whose ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.

Now the king,(c) infuriated in spirit, was coming with intent to inflict on the Jews the very worst of the sufferings that had been done in his father’s time.

But when Judas heard of these things, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, if ever at any other time, so now to help those who were at the point of being deprived of the law, their country, and the holy temple,

and not to allow the people who had just begun to be revived to fall into the hands of those profane heathen.

So when they had all done the same thing together, (d) begging the merciful Lord with weeping and fastings and prostration for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and commanded they should join him.

Having consulted privately with the elders, he resolved that before the king’s army entered into Judea and made themselves masters of the city, they should go out and decide the matter by the help of (e)God.

And committing the decision to the (f)Lord of the world, and exhorting those who were with him to contend nobly even to death for laws, temple, city, country, and way of life, he pitched his camp by Modin.

He gave out to his men the watchword, “VICTORY IS GOD’S”, with a chosen force of the bravest young men he attacked by the king’s pavilion by night, and killed of his army as many as two thousand men, and (g)brought down the leading elephant with him who was in the (h)tower on him.

At last they filled the (i)army with terror and alarm, and departed with good success.

This had been accomplished when the day was just dawning, because of the Lord’s protection that gave (j)Judas help.

But the king, having had a taste of the exceeding boldness of the Jews, made strategic attacks on their positions,

and on a strong fortress of the Jews at Bethsura. He advanced, was turned back, failed, and was defeated.

Judas sent the things that were necessary to those who were within.

But Rhodocus, from the Jewish ranks, made secrets known to the enemy. He was sought out, arrested, and shut up in prison.

The king negotiated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, attacked the forces of Judas, was put to the worse,

heard that Philip who had been left as chancellor in Antioch had become reckless, was confounded, made to the Jews an overture of peace, submitted himself and swore to acknowledge all their rights, came to terms with them and offered sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and the place,

showed kindness and graciously received Maccabaeus, left Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais even to the (k) Gerrenians,

and came to Ptolemais. The men of Ptolemais were displeased at the treaty, for they had exceedingly great indignation against the Jews. They desired to annul the articles of the agreement.

Lysias (l)came forward to speak, made the best defense that was possible, persuaded, pacified, gained their good will, and departed to Antioch. This was the issue of the attack and departure of the king.

Footnotes

(a)13:5 Gr. contrivance or machine.

(b)13:8 Gr. about.

(d)13:12 Gr. and implored.

(e)13:13 Some authorities read the Lord.

(f)13:14 Some authorities read Creator.

(g)13:15 The Greek text here is probably corrupt.

(h)13:15 Gr. house.

(i)13:16 Gr. camp.

(j)13:17 Gr. him.

(k)13:24 The form of this word is uncertain. Compare Girzites(or Gizrites), 1 Samuel 27:8 . One manuscript reads Gerarenes.

(l)13:26 Gr. came forward to the tribuneor judgment seat.