2Mac 13:1 In the hundred forty and ninth year it
was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into
Judea,
2Mac 13:2 And 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.
2Mac 13:3 Menelaus 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.
2Mac 13:4 But 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.
2Mac 13:5 Now 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.
2Mac 13:6 And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any
other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.
2Mac 13:7 Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so
much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:
2Mac 13:8 For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose
fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
2Mac 13:9 Now 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.
2Mac 13:10 Which 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:
2Mac 13:11 And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been
but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.
2Mac 13:12 So 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.
2Mac 13:13 And 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.
2Mac 13:14 So 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:
2Mac 13:15 And 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.
2Mac 13:16 And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and
departed with good success.
2Mac 13:17 This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of
the Lord did help him.
2Mac 13:18 Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews,
he went about to take the holds by policy,
2Mac 13:19 And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews:
but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:
2Mac 13:20 For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as
were necessary.
2Mac 13:21 But 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.
2Mac 13:22 The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave his
hand, took theirs, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;
2Mac 13:23 Heard 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,
2Mac 13:24 And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from
Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;
2Mac 13:25 Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the
covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void:
2Mac 13:26 Lysias 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.