The Second Book of Maccabees

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.

When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.

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.

The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly 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.

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.

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

And calling upon God 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.

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.

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

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.

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 horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.

Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas’ side by the help of God 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 assault against the walls,

And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.

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

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.

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.

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 horsemen.

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.

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.

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

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.

So when he had assured 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.

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

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 multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.

But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, 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,

From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,

But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;

They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.

And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,

Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.

And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.

At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.

Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.

And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias’ men, he put them to flight.

So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.

And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.

Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.

All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,

Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.

And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:

For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.

And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.

The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.

So when this agreement had been made, Lysias departed to the king, and the Jews went about their farming.

But some of the governors of districts, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, and also Hieronymus and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not allow them to enjoy tranquillity and live in peace.

Men of Joppa perpetrated this great impiety: they invited the Jews who lived among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had provided, as though they had no ill will toward them.

When(a) the Jews,(b) relying on the public vote of the city, accepted the invitation, as men desiring to live in peace and suspecting nothing, they took them out to sea and drowned not less than two hundred of them.

When Judas heard of the cruelty done to his fellow-countrymen, giving command to the men that were with him

and calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his kindred, and set the harbor on fire at night, burned the boats, and put to the sword those who had fled there.

But when the town gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men of Joppa.

But learning that the men of Jamnia intended to do the same thing to the Jews who lived among them,

he attacked the Jamnites at night, and set fire to the harbor together with the fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred forty furlongs(c) distant.

Now when they had drawn off nine furlongs(d) from there, as they marched against Timotheus, an army of Arabians attacked him, no fewer than five thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry.

And when a hard battle had been fought, and Judas and his company, by the help of God, had good success, the nomads being overcome implored Judas to grant them friendship, promising to give him livestock, and to help (e)his people in all other ways.

So Judas, thinking that they would indeed be profitable in many things, agreed to live in peace with them; and receiving pledges of friendship they departed to their tents.

He also attacked a certain city, strong and fenced with earthworks and walls, and inhabited by a mixed multitude of various nations. It was named Caspin.

Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the walls and their store of provisions, behaved themselves rudely toward Judas and those who were with him, railing, and furthermore blaspheming and speaking impious words.

But Judas and his company, calling upon the great Sovereign of the world, who without rams and cunning engines of war hurled down Jericho in the times of Joshua, rushed wildly against the wall.

Having taken the city by the will of God, they made unspeakable slaughter, so much that the adjoining lake, which was two furlongs(f) broad, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood.

When they had gone seven hundred fifty furlongs(g) from there, they made their way to Charax, to the Jews that are called (h)Tubieni.

They didn’t find Timotheus in that district, for he had by then departed from the district without accomplishing anything, but had left behind a very strong garrison in one place.

But Dositheus and Sosipater, who were captains under Maccabaeus, went out and destroyed those who had been left by Timotheus in the stronghold, more than ten thousand men.

Maccabaeus, arranging his own army in divisions, set (i)these two over the bands, and marched in haste against Timotheus, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry.

When Timotheus heard of the approach of Judas, he at once sent away the women and the children with the baggage into the fortress called (j)Carnion; for the place was hard to besiege and difficult of access by reason of the narrowness of the approaches on all sides.

When the band of Judas, who led the first division, appeared in sight, and when terror and fear came upon the enemy, because the manifestation of him who sees all things came upon them, they fled in every direction, carried this way and that, so that they were often injured by their own men, and pierced with the points of their own swords.

Judas continued the pursuit more vigorously, putting the wicked wretches to the sword, and he destroyed as many as thirty thousand men.

Timotheus himself, falling in with the company of Dositheus and Sosipater, implored them with much crafty guile to let him go with his life, because he had in his power the parents of many of them and the kindred of some. (k) “Otherwise, he said, little regard will (l) be shown to these.”

So when he had with many words confirmed the agreement to restore them without harm, they let him go that they might save their kindred.

Then Judas, marching against (m)Carnion and the temple of Atergatis, killed twenty-five thousand people.

After he had put these to flight and destroyed them, he marched against Ephron also, a strong city, (n)wherein were multitudes of people of all nations. Stalwart young men placed (o)on the walls made a vigorous defense. There were great stores of war engines and darts there.

But calling upon the Sovereign who with might shatters the (p)strength of (q)the enemy, they took the city into their hands, and killed as many as twenty-five thousand of those who were in it.

Setting out from there, they marched in haste against Scythopolis, which is six hundred furlongs(r) away from Jerusalem.

But when the Jews who were settled there testified of the good will that the Scythopolitans had shown toward them, and of their kind treatment of them in the times of their misfortune,

they gave thanks, and further exhorted them to remain well disposed toward the race for the future. Then they went up to Jerusalem, the feast of weeks being close at hand.

But after the feast called Pentecost, they marched in haste against Gorgias the governor of Idumaea.

He came out with three thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry.

When they had set themselves in array, it came to pass that a few of the Jews fell.

A certain Dositheus, one (s) of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback and was a strong man, pressed hard on Gorgias, and taking hold of his cloke dragged him along by main force. While he planned to take the accursed man alive, one of the Thracian cavalry bore down on him and disabled his shoulder, and so Gorgias escaped to (t)Marisa.

When those who were with Esdris had been fighting long and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself, fighting on their side and leading in the battle.

Then in the language of his ancestors he raised the battle cry joined with hymns. Then he rushed against Gorgias’ troops when they were not expecting it, and put them to flight.

Judas gathered his army and came to the city of (u)Adullam. As the seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the Sabbath there.

On the following day, (v)when it had become necessary, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of those who had fallen, (w)and in company with their kinsmen to bring them back to the sepulchres of their ancestors.

But under the garments of each one of the dead they found (x)consecrated tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to have anything to do with. It became clear to all that it was for this cause that they had fallen.

All therefore, blessing the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who makes manifest the things that are hidden,

turned themselves to supplication, praying that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the multitude to keep themselves from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.

When he had made a collection man by man to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for sin, doing very well and honorably in this, in that he took thought for the resurrection.

For if he wasn’t expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead.

But if he was looking forward to an honorable memorial of gratitude laid up for those who (y)die (z)in godliness, then the thought was holy and godly. Therefore he made the atoning sacrifice for those who had died, that they might be released from their sin.

Footnotes

(a)12:4 Gr. they also.

(b)12:4 Gr. after.

(d)12:10 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 9 furlongs is about 1.8 km. or 1 1/8 miles

(e)12:11 Gr. them.

(f)12:16 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 2 furlongs is about 402 meters or 1/4 mile

(g)12:17 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 750 furlongs is about 151 km. or 94 miles

(h)12:17 That is, men of Tob:see Judges 11:3 2 Samuel 10:6 and compare 1 Maccabees 5:13 .

(i)12:20 Gr. them.

(j)12:21 Compare Carnain, 1 Maccabees 5:26 43, 44.

(k)12:24 Gr. and the result will be that these be disregarded.The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.

(l)12:24 Or, have been shown

(m)12:26 Compare Carnain, 1 Maccabees 5:26 43, 44.

(n)12:27 The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.

(o)12:27 Gr. in front of.

(p)12:28 Some authorities read weight.

(q)12:28 Or, his enemies

(r)12:29 a furlong is about 201 meters or 220 yards, so 600 furlongs is about 121 km. or 75 miles

(s)12:35 The Greek text is uncertain.

(t)12:35 Compare 1 Maccabees 5:65 .

(u)12:38 Gr. Odollam.

(v)12:39 The Greek text here is uncertain.

(w)12:39 Or, and to bring them back to be with their kinsmen in the sepulchres

(x)12:40 Perhaps these were consecrated images of the idols.

(y)12:45 Gr. fall asleep.

(z)12:45 Or, on the side of godliness