2 Maccabees 13
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
King James Version with Apocrypha
1In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas understood that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a multitude against Judea,
1In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,
2And 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.
2And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.
3Menelaus 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.
3Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor.
4But 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.
4But the King of kings moved Antiochus’ mind against this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.
5Now there was in that place a tower fifty cubits high, having a heap of ashes on every side: this had a prospect steep down.
5Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes.
6From thence he commanded the sacrilegious wretch to be thrown down into the ashes, all men thrusting him forward unto death.
6And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.
7And 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.
7Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:
8And 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.
8For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
9But the king, with his mind full of rage, came on to shew himself worse to the Jews than his father was.
9Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father’s time.
10Which, 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:
10Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:
11Because 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.
11And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.
12So 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.
12So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.
13But 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.
13And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king’s host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.
14So 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.
14So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:
15And 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,
15And having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king’s tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.
16And having filled the camp of the enemies with exceeding greet fear and tumult, they went off with good success.
16And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.
17Now this was done at the break of day, by the protection and help of the Lord.
17This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the Lord did help him.
18But the king having taken a taste of the hardiness of the Jews, attempted to take the strong places by policy:
18Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews, he went about to take the holds by policy,
19And 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.
19And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:
20Now Judas sent necessaries to them that were within.
20For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary.
21But Rhodocus, one of the Jews’ army, disclosed the secrets to the enemies, so he was sought out, and taken up, and put in prison.
21But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews’ host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.
22Again the king treated with them that were in Bethsura: gave his right hand: took theirs: and went away.
22The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave his hand, took their’s, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;
23He 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.
23Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly with the place,
24He embraced Machabeus, and made him governor and prince from Ptolemais unto the Cerrenians.
24And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;
25But 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.
25Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void:
26Then 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.
26Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king’s coming and departing.
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