Gottes Neue Bibel

The Second Book of Maccabees

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Kapitel 14 -

Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him to be made high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his threats. The history of Razias.

1
But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius the son of Seleucus was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis to places proper for his purpose.
2
And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general Lysias.
3
Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
4
Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.
5
But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,
6
He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.
7
For I also being deprived of my ancestors’ glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:
8
Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king’s interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of those men.
9
Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,
10
For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
11
Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the king’s friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.
12
And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:
13
Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.
14
Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by docks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.
15
Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him, who chose his people to keep them for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.
16
Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.
17
Now Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor, but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
18
Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas’ companions, and the greatness of courage with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.
19
Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to present and receive the right hands.
20
And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, the) were all of one mind to consent to covenants.
21
So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.
22
But Judas ordered men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might he suddenly practiced by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.
23
And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.
24
And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.
25
And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
26
But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
27
Then the king being in a rage and provoked with this man’s wicked accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying, that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.
28
When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.
29
But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders.
30
But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner: and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.
31
But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
32
And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,
33
And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.
34
And when he had spoken thus he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35
Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.
36
Therefore now, O Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled which was lately cleansed.
37
Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his affection was called the father of the Jews.
38
This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews’ religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.
39
So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
40
For he thought by insnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.
41
Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:
42
Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.
43
But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:
44
But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.
45
And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:
46
And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels with both hands, he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.

Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him to be made high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his threats. The history of Razias.

1
Three years later, news was brought to Judas and his company that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a mighty army and a fleet,
2
had taken possession of the country, having made away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.
3
But one Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest, and had willfully polluted himself in the times when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, considering that there was no deliverance for him in any way, nor any more access to the holy altar,
4
came to King Demetrius in about the one hundred fifty-first year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and beside these some of the festal olive boughs of the temple. For that day, he held his peace;
5
but having gotten opportunity to further his own madness, being called by Demetrius into a meeting of his council, and asked how the Jews stood affected and what they intended, he answered:
6
“Those of the Jews called (a)Hasidaeans, whose leader is Judas Maccabaeus, keep up war and are seditious, not allowing the kingdom to find tranquillity.
7
Therefore, having laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood—I have now come (b)here,
8
first for the genuine care I have for the things that concern the king, and secondly because I have regard also to my own fellow citizens. For through the unadvised dealing of those of whom I spoke before, our whole race is in no small misfortune.
9
O king, having informed yourself of these things, take thought both for our country and for our race, which is surrounded by enemies, according to the gracious kindness with which you receive all.
10
For as long as Judas remains alive, it is impossible for the government to find peace.
11
When he had spoken such words as these, at once (c)the rest of the king’s (d)friends, having ill will against Judas, inflamed Demetrius yet more.
12
He immediately appointed Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and made him governor of Judea. He sent him out,
13
giving him written instructions to kill Judas himself and to scatter those who were with him, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the (e)great temple.
14
Those in Judea who (f)had driven Judas into exile thronged to Nicanor in flocks, supposing that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would be successes to themselves.
15
But when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s advance and the assault of the heathen, they sprinkled dirt on their heads and made solemn prayers to him who had established his own people for evermore, and who always, making manifest his presence, upholds those who are his own heritage.
16
(g)When the leader had given orders, he immediately set out from there and joined battle with them at a village called Lessau.
17
But Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor, yet not till late, having been delayed by reason of the sudden consternation caused by his adversaries.
18
Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the valor of those who were with Judas, and their courage in fighting for their country, shrank from bringing the matter to the decision of the sword.
19
Therefore he sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to give and receive pledges of friendship.
20
So when these proposals had been long considered, and the leader had made the (h)troops acquainted with them, and it appeared that they were all of like mind, they consented to the covenants.
21
They appointed a day on which to meet together by themselves. A chariot came forward from each army. They set up seats of honor.
22
Judas stationed armed men ready in convenient places, lest perhaps there should suddenly be treachery on the part of the enemy. They held a conference as was appropriate.
23
Nicanor waited in Jerusalem, and did nothing to cause disturbance, but dismissed the flocks of people that had gathered together.
24
He kept Judas always in his presence. He had gained a hearty affection for the man.
25
He urged him to marry and have children. He married, settled quietly, and took part in common life.
26
But Alcimus, perceiving the good will that was between them, (i)and having taken possession of the covenants that had been made, came to Demetrius and told him that Nicanor was disloyal to the government, for he had appointed that conspirator against his kingdom, Judas, to be his successor.
27
The king, falling into a rage, and being exasperated by the false accusations of that most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was displeased at the covenants, and commanding him to send Maccabaeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste.
28
When this message came to Nicanor, he was confounded, and was very troubled at the thought of annulling the articles that had been agreed upon, the man having done no wrong;
29
but because there was no opposing the king, he watched his time to execute this purpose by strategy.
30
But Maccabaeus, when he perceived that Nicanor was behaving more harshly in his dealings with him, and that he had become ruler in his customary bearing, understanding that this harshness came not of good, gathered together not a few of his men, and concealed himself from Nicanor.
31
But the other,(j) when he became aware that he had been bravely defeated by the strategy of Judas,(k) came to the great(l) and holy temple, while the priests were offering the usual sacrifices, and commanded them to hand over the man.
32
When they declared with oaths that they had no knowledge where the man was whom he sought,
33
he stretched out his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: “If you won’t deliver up to me Judas as a prisoner, I will level this (m)temple of God even with the ground, break down the altar, and I will erect here a temple to Dionysus for all to see.
34
And having said this, he departed. But the priests, stretching forth their hands toward heaven, called upon him who always fights for our nation, in these words:
35
“You, O Lord of the universe, who in yourself have need of nothing, were well pleased that a sanctuary of your habitation(n) should be set among us.
36
So now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed.”
37
Now information was given to Nicanor against one Razis, an elder of Jerusalem, who was a lover of his countrymen and a man of very good report, and one called Father of the Jews for his good will.
38
For in the former times when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, he had been accused of following the Jews’ religion, and had risked body and life with all earnestness for the religion of the Jews.
39
Nicanor, wishing to make evident the ill will that he bore against the Jews, sent above five hundred soldiers to seize him;
40
for he thought by seizing him to inflict an injury on them.
41
But when the (o)troops were at the point of taking the tower, and were forcing the door of the court, and asked for fire to burn the doors, he, being surrounded on every side, fell upon his sword,
42
choosing rather to die nobly than to fall into the hands of the wicked wretches, and suffer outrage unworthy of his own nobleness.
43
But since he missed his stroke through the excitement of the struggle, and the crowds were now rushing within the door, he ran bravely up to the wall and cast himself down bravely among the crowds.
44
But as they quickly gave back, a space was made, and he fell on the middle of (p)his side.
45
Still having breath within him, and being inflamed with anger, he rose up, and though his blood gushed out in streams and his wounds were grievous, he ran through the crowds, and standing upon a steep rock,
46
when as his blood was now well near spent, he drew forth his bowels through the wound, and taking them in both his hands he shook them at the crowds. Calling upon him who is Lord of life and spirit to restore him (q)these again, he died like this.

Fußnoten

(a)14:6 That is, Chasidim.
(b)14:7 Some authorities read a second time.
(c)14:11 Or, theking’s friends likewise
(d)14:11 See 2 Maccabees 8:9 .
(e)14:13 Gr. greatest.
(f)14:14 See 2 Maccabees 5:27 .
(g)14:16 The Greek text of this verse and the next is corrupt.
(h)14:20 Or, peopleGr. multitudes.
(i)14:26 Or, and the covenants that had been made, took occasion and came
(j)14:31 Or, though he was conscious that he had been nobly defeated by
(k)14:31 Gr. the man
(l)14:31 Gr. greatest.
(m)14:33 Or, chapelGr. enclosure.
(n)14:35 Gr. tabernacling.
(o)14:41 Or, peopleGr. multitudes.
(p)14:44 Or, the void place
(q)14:46 Some authorities read the same.