2 Maccabees 10

1But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

2But he threw down the altars which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

3And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition.

4And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

5Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers on the very same day it was cleansed again; to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

6And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

7Therefore they now carried boughs and green branches and palms, for Him that had given them good success in cleansing His place.

8And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.

9And this was the end of Antiochus, that was called the Illustrious.

10But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator, the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.

11For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.

12For Ptolemee, that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.

13But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus, which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.

14But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.

15And the Jews that occupied the most commodious holds, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.

16Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:

17And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.

18And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,

19Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them, in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.

20Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.

21But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.

22So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.

23And having good success in arms, and all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.

24But Timotheus, who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

25But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,

26And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.

27And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.

28But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having, with their valour, the Lord for a surety of victory, and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.

29But when they were in the heat of the engagement, there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely, with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:

30Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.

31And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.

32But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong hold where Chereas was governor.

33Then Machabeus, and they that were with him cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.

34But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.

35But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds, because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage, got up upon it:

36Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

37And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.

38And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.

1Machabæus autem, et qui cum eo erant, Domino se protegente, templum quidem et civitatem recepit:

2aras autem quas alienigenæ per plateas exstruxerant, itemque delubra demolitus est:

3et purgato templo, aliud altare fecerunt, et de ignitis lapidibus igne concepto sacrificia obtulerunt post biennium, et incensum, et lucernas, et panes propositionis posuerunt.

4Quibus gestis, rogabant Dominum prostrati in terram, ne amplius talibus malis inciderent : sed et, siquando peccassent, ut ab ipso mitius corriperentur, et non barbaris ac blasphemis hominibus traderentur.

5Qua die autem templum ab alienigenis pollutum fuerat, contigit eadem die purificationem fieri, vigesima quinta mensis qui fuit Casleu.

6Et cum lætitia diebus octo egerunt in modum tabernaculorum, recordantes quod ante modicum temporis diem solemnem tabernaculorum in montibus et in speluncis more bestiarum egerant.

7Propter quod thyrsos, et ramos virides, et palmas præferebant ei qui prosperavit mundari locum suum.

8Et decreverunt communi præcepto et decreto universæ genti Judæorum omnibus annis agere dies istos.

9Et Antiochi quidem, qui appellatus est Nobilis, vitæ excessus ita se habuit.

10Nunc autem de Eupatore Antiochi impii filio quæ gesta sunt narrabimus, breviantes mala quæ in bellis gesta sunt.

11Hic enim suscepto regno, constituit super negotia regni Lysiam quemdam, Phœnicis et Syriæ militiæ principem.

12Nam Ptolemæus, qui dicebatur Macer, justi tenax erga Judæos esse constituit, et præcipue propter iniquitatem quæ facta erat in eos, et pacifice agere cum eis.

13Sed ob hoc accusatus ab amicis apud Eupatorem, cum frequenter proditor audiret, eo quod Cyprum creditam sibi a Philometore deseruisset, et ad Antiochum Nobilem translatus etiam ab eo recessisset, veneno vitam finivit.

14Gorgias autem cum esset dux locorum, assumptis advenis, frequenter Judæos debellabat.

15Judæi vero qui tenebant opportunas munitiones, fugatos ab Jerosolymis suscipiebant, et bellare tentabant.

16Hi vero qui erant cum Machabæo, per orationes Dominum rogantes ut esset sibi adjutor, impetum fecerunt in munitiones Idumæorum:

17multaque vi insistentes, loca obtinuerunt, occurrentes interemerunt, et omnes simul non minus viginti millibus trucidaverunt.

18Quidam autem cum confugissent in duas turres valde munitas, omnem apparatum ad repugnandum habentes,

19Machabæus ad eorum expugnationem relicto Simone, et Josepho, itemque Zachæo, eisque qui cum ipsis erant satis multis, ipse ad eas quæ amplius perurgebant pugnas conversus est.

20Hi vero qui cum Simone erant, cupiditate ducti, a quibusdam qui in turribus erant, suasi sunt pecunia : et septuaginta millibus didrachmis acceptis, dimiserunt quosdam effugere.

21Cum autem Machabæo nuntiatum esset quod factum est, principibus populi congregatis accusavit quod pecunia fratres vendidissent, adversariis eorum dimissis.

22Hos igitur proditores factos interfecit, et confestim duas turres occupavit.

23Armis autem ac manibus omnia prospere agendo in duabus munitionibus plus quam viginti millia peremit.

24At Timotheus, qui prius a Judæis fuerat superatus, convocato exercitu peregrinæ multitudinis, et congregato equitatu Asiano, advenit quasi armis Judæam capturus.

25Machabæus autem et qui cum ipso erant, appropinquante illo, deprecabantur Dominum, caput terra aspergentes, lumbosque ciliciis præcincti,

26ad altaris crepidinem provoluti, ut sibi propitius, inimicis autem eorum esset inimicus, et adversariis adversaretur, sicut lex dicit.

27Et ita post orationem, sumptis armis, longius de civitate procedentes, et proximi hostibus effecti, resederunt.

28Primo autem solis ortu utrique commiserunt : isti quidem victoriæ et prosperitatis sponsorem cum virtute Dominum habentes : illi autem ducem belli animum habebant.

29Sed cum vehemens pugna esset, apparuerunt adversariis de cælo viri quinque in equis, frenis aureis decori, ducatum Judæis præstantes:

30ex quibus duo Machabæum medium habentes, armis suis circumseptum incolumem conservabant : in adversarios autem tela et fulmina jaciebant, ex quo et cæcitate confusi et repleti perturbatione, cadebant.

31Interfecti sunt autem viginti millia quingenti, et equites sexcenti.

32Timotheus vero confugit in Gazaram præsidium munitum, cui præerat Chæreas.

33Machabæus autem et qui cum eo erant, lætantes obsederunt præsidium diebus quatuor.

34At hi qui intus erant, loci firmitate confisi, supra modum maledicebant, et sermones nefandos jactabant.

35Sed cum dies quinta illucesceret, viginti juvenes ex his qui cum Machabæo erant, accensi animis propter blasphemiam, viriliter accesserunt ad murum, et feroci animo incedentes ascendebant:

36sed et alii similiter ascendentes, turres portasque succendere aggressi sunt, atque ipsos maledicos vivos concremare.

37Per continuum autem biduum præsidio vastato, Timotheum occultantem se in quodam repertum loco peremerunt : et fratrem illius Chæream et Apollophanem occiderunt.

38Quibus gestis, in hymnis et confessionibus benedicebant Dominum, qui magna fecit in Israël, et victoriam dedit illis.

1Μακκαβαῖος δὲ καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τοῦ κυρίου προάγοντος αὐτοὺς τὸ μὲν ἱερὸν ἐκομίσαντο καὶ τὴν πόλιν

2τοὺς δὲ κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν βωμοὺς ὑπὸ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων δεδημιουργημένους ἔτι δὲ τεμένη καθεῖλαν

3καὶ τὸν νεὼ καθαρίσαντες ἕτερον θυσιαστήριον ἐποίησαν καὶ πυρώσαντες λίθους καὶ πῦρ ἐκ τούτων λαβόντες ἀνήνεγκαν θυσίας μετὰ διετῆ χρόνον καὶ θυμίαμα καὶ λύχνους καὶ τῶν ἄρτων τὴν πρόθεσιν ἐποιήσαντο

4ταῦτα δὲ ποιήσαντες ἠξίωσαν τὸν κύριον πεσόντες ἐπὶ κοιλίαν μηκέτι περιπεσεῖν τοιούτοις κακοῖς ἀλλ' ἐάν ποτε καὶ ἁμάρτωσιν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ μετὰ ἐπιεικείας παιδεύεσθαι καὶ μὴ βλασφήμοις καὶ βαρβάροις ἔθνεσιν παραδίδοσθαι

5ἐν ᾗ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ νεὼς ὑπὸ ἀλλοφύλων ἐβεβηλώθη συνέβη κατὰ τὴν αὐτὴν ἡμέραν τὸν καθαρισμὸν γενέσθαι τοῦ ναοῦ τῇ πέμπτῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ αὐτοῦ μηνός ὅς ἐστιν Χασελευ

6καὶ μετ' εὐφροσύνης ἦγον ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ σκηνωμάτων τρόπον μνημονεύοντες ὡς πρὸ μικροῦ χρόνου τὴν τῶν σκηνῶν ἑορτὴν ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς σπηλαίοις θηρίων τρόπον ἦσαν νεμόμενοι

7διὸ θύρσους καὶ κλάδους ὡραίους ἔτι δὲ καὶ φοίνικας ἔχοντες ὕμνους ἀνέφερον τῷ εὐοδώσαντι καθαρισθῆναι τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον

8ἐδογμάτισαν δὲ μετὰ κοινοῦ προστάγματος καὶ ψηφίσματος παντὶ τῷ τῶν Ιουδαίων ἔθνει κατ' ἐνιαυτὸν ἄγειν τάσδε τὰς ἡμέρας

9καὶ τὰ μὲν τῆς Ἀντιόχου τοῦ προσαγορευθέντος Ἐπιφανοῦς τελευτῆς οὕτως εἶχεν

10νυνὶ δὲ τὰ κατὰ τὸν Εὐπάτορα Ἀντίοχον υἱὸν δὲ τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς γενόμενον δηλώσομεν αὐτὰ συντέμνοντες τὰ συνέχοντα τῶν πολέμων κακά

11οὗτος γὰρ παραλαβὼν τὴν βασιλείαν ἀνέδειξεν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων Λυσίαν τινά Κοίλης δὲ Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης στρατηγὸν πρώταρχον

12Πτολεμαῖος γὰρ ὁ καλούμενος Μάκρων τὸ δίκαιον συντηρεῖν προηγούμενος πρὸς τοὺς Ιουδαίους διὰ τὴν γεγονυῖαν εἰς αὐτοὺς ἀδικίαν ἐπειρᾶτο τὰ πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰρηνικῶς διεξάγειν

13ὅθεν κατηγορούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν φίλων πρὸς τὸν Εὐπάτορα καὶ προδότης παρ' ἕκαστα ἀκούων διὰ τὸ τὴν Κύπρον ἐμπιστευθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ Φιλομήτορος ἐκλιπεῖν καὶ πρὸς Ἀντίοχον τὸν Ἐπιφανῆ ἀναχωρῆσαι μήτε εὐγενῆ τὴν ἐξουσίαν εὐγενίσας φαρμακεύσας ἑαυτὸν ἐξέλιπεν τὸν βίον

14Γοργίας δὲ γενόμενος στρατηγὸς τῶν τόπων ἐξενοτρόφει καὶ παρ' ἕκαστα πρὸς τοὺς Ιουδαίους ἐπολεμοτρόφει

15ὁμοῦ δὲ τούτῳ καὶ οἱ Ιδουμαῖοι ἐγκρατεῖς ἐπικαίρων ὀχυρωμάτων ὄντες ἐγύμναζον τοὺς Ιουδαίους καὶ τοὺς φυγαδεύσαντας ἀπὸ Ιεροσολύμων προσλαβόμενοι πολεμοτροφεῖν ἐπεχείρουν

16οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον ποιησάμενοι λιτανείαν καὶ ἀξιώσαντες τὸν θεὸν σύμμαχον αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι ἐπὶ τὰ τῶν Ιδουμαίων ὀχυρώματα ὥρμησαν

17οἷς καὶ προσβαλόντες εὐρώστως ἐγκρατεῖς ἐγένοντο τῶν τόπων πάντας τε τοὺς ἐπὶ τῷ τείχει μαχομένους ἠμύναντο κατέσφαζόν τε τοὺς ἐμπίπτοντας ἀνεῖλον δὲ οὐχ ἧττον τῶν δισμυρίων

18συμφυγόντων δὲ οὐκ ἔλαττον τῶν ἐνακισχιλίων εἰς δύο πύργους ὀχυροὺς εὖ μάλα καὶ πάντα τὰ πρὸς πολιορκίαν ἔχοντας

19ὁ Μακκαβαῖος εἰς ἐπείγοντας τόπους ἀπολιπὼν Σιμωνα καὶ Ιωσηπον ἔτι δὲ καὶ Ζακχαῖον καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἱκανοὺς πρὸς τὴν τούτων πολιορκίαν αὐτὸς ἐχωρίσθη

20οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Σιμωνα φιλαργυρήσαντες ὑπό τινων τῶν ἐν τοῖς πύργοις ἐπείσθησαν ἀργυρίῳ ἑπτάκις δὲ μυρίας δραχμὰς λαβόντες εἴασάν τινας διαρρυῆναι

21προσαγγελέντος δὲ τῷ Μακκαβαίῳ περὶ τοῦ γεγονότος συναγαγὼν τοὺς ἡγουμένους τοῦ λαοῦ κατηγόρησεν ὡς ἀργυρίου πέπρακαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς τοὺς πολεμίους κατ' αὐτῶν ἀπολύσαντες

22τούτους μὲν οὖν προδότας γενομένους ἀπέκτεινεν καὶ παραχρῆμα τοὺς δύο πύργους κατελάβετο

23τοῖς δὲ ὅπλοις τὰ πάντα ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν εὐοδούμενος ἀπώλεσεν ἐν τοῖς δυσὶν ὀχυρώμασιν πλείους τῶν δισμυρίων

24Τιμόθεος δὲ ὁ πρότερον ἡττηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν Ιουδαίων συναγαγὼν ξένας δυνάμεις παμπληθεῖς καὶ τοὺς τῆς Ἀσίας γενομένους ἵππους συναθροίσας οὐκ ὀλίγους παρῆν ὡς δοριάλωτον λημψόμενος τὴν Ιουδαίαν

25οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον συνεγγίζοντος αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἱκετείαν τοῦ θεοῦ γῇ τὰς κεφαλὰς καταπάσαντες καὶ τὰς ὀσφύας σάκκοις ζώσαντες

26ἐπὶ τὴν ἀπέναντι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κρηπῖδα προσπεσόντες ἠξίουν ἵλεως αὐτοῖς γενόμενον ἐχθρεῦσαι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἀντικεῖσθαι τοῖς ἀντικειμένοις καθὼς ὁ νόμος διασαφεῖ

27γενόμενοι δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς δεήσεως ἀναλαβόντες τὰ ὅπλα προῆγον ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ἐπὶ πλεῖον συνεγγίσαντες δὲ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐφ' ἑαυτῶν ἦσαν

28ἄρτι δὲ τῆς ἀνατολῆς διαχεομένης προσέβαλον ἑκάτεροι οἱ μὲν ἔγγυον ἔχοντες εὐημερίας καὶ νίκης μετὰ ἀρετῆς τὴν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον καταφυγήν οἱ δὲ καθηγεμόνα τῶν ἀγώνων ταττόμενοι τὸν θυμόν

29γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης ἐφάνησαν τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐφ' ἵππων χρυσοχαλίνων ἄνδρες πέντε διαπρεπεῖς καὶ ἀφηγούμενοι τῶν Ιουδαίων

30οἳ καὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον μέσον λαβόντες καὶ σκεπάζοντες ταῖς ἑαυτῶν πανοπλίαις ἄτρωτον διεφύλαττον εἰς δὲ τοὺς ὑπεναντίους τοξεύματα καὶ κεραυνοὺς ἐξερρίπτουν διὸ συγχυθέντες ἀορασίᾳ διεκόπτοντο ταραχῆς πεπληρωμένοι

31κατεσφάγησαν δὲ δισμύριοι πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις ἱππεῖς δὲ ἑξακόσιοι

32αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Τιμόθεος συνέφυγεν εἰς Γαζαρα λεγόμενον ὀχύρωμα εὖ μάλα φρούριον στρατηγοῦντος ἐκεῖ Χαιρεου

33οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον ἄσμενοι περιεκάθισαν τὸ φρούριον ἡμέρας τέσσαρας

34οἱ δὲ ἔνδον τῇ ἐρυμνότητι τοῦ τόπου πεποιθότες ὑπεράγαν ἐβλασφήμουν καὶ λόγους ἀθεμίτους προΐεντο

35ὑποφαινούσης δὲ τῆς πέμπτης ἡμέρας εἴκοσι νεανίαι τῶν περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον πυρωθέντες τοῖς θυμοῖς διὰ τὰς βλασφημίας προσβαλόντες τῷ τείχει ἀρρενωδῶς καὶ θηριώδει θυμῷ τὸν ἐμπίπτοντα ἔκοπτον

36ἕτεροι δὲ ὁμοίως προσαναβάντες ἐν τῷ περισπασμῷ πρὸς τοὺς ἔνδον ἐνεπίμπρων τοὺς πύργους καὶ πυρὰς ἀνάπτοντες ζῶντας τοὺς βλασφήμους κατέκαιον οἱ δὲ τὰς πύλας διέκοπτον εἰσδεξάμενοι δὲ τὴν λοιπὴν τάξιν προκατελάβοντο τὴν πόλιν

37καὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἔν τινι λάκκῳ κατέσφαξαν καὶ τὸν τούτου ἀδελφὸν Χαιρέαν καὶ τὸν Ἀπολλοφάνην

38ταῦτα δὲ διαπραξάμενοι μεθ' ὕμνων καὶ ἐξομολογήσεων εὐλόγουν τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ μεγάλως εὐεργετοῦντι τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ τὸ νῖκος αὐτοῖς διδόντι