11:19. If, therefore, you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good.
11:20. But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you.
11:21. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus.
In the year 148... Viz., according to the computation followed by the Greeks; which was different from that of the Hebrews, followed by the writer of the first book of Machabees. However, by this date, as well as by other circ.u.mstances, it appears that the expedition of Lysias, mentioned in this chapter, is different from that which is recorded, 1 Mac. 6.
11:22. But the king"s letter contained these words King Antiochus to Lysias, his brother, greeting.
11:23. Our father being translated amongst the G.o.ds we are desirous that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their own concerns.
11:24. And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of the Greeks but that they would keep to their own manner of living and therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws.
11:25. Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their ancestors.
11:26. Thou shalt do well, therefore, to send to them, and grant them peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look to their own affairs.
11:27. But the king"s letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting.
11:28. If you are well, you are as we desire: we ourselves also are well.
11:29. Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are with us.
11:30. We grant, therefore, a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus,
11:31. That the Jews may use their own kind of meats, and their own laws, as before: and that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been done by ignorance.
11:32. And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
11:33. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
11:34. The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect: Quintus Memmius, and t.i.tus Manilius, amba.s.sadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting.
11:35. Whatsoever Lysias, the king"s cousin, hath granted to you, we also have granted.
11:36. But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch.
11:37. And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are.
11:38. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
2 Machabees Chapter 12
The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead.
12:1. When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the Jews gave themselves to husbandry.
12:2. But they that were behind, viz. Timotheus, and Apollonius, the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in peace, and to be quiet.
12:3. The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: they desired the Jews, who dwelt among them, to go with their wives and children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no enmity to them.
12:4. Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.
12:5. But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having called upon G.o.d, the just judge,
12:6. He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword them that escaped from the fire.
12:7. And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites.
12:8. But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them,
12:9. He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set the haven on fire, with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off.
12:10. And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen, and five hundred hors.e.m.e.n of the Arabians, set upon them.
12:11. And after a hard fight, in which, by the help of G.o.d, they got the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to a.s.sist him in other things.
12:12. And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they departed to their tents.
12:13. He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompa.s.sed with bridges and walls, and inhabited by mult.i.tudes of different nations, the name of which is Casphin.
12:14. But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
12:15. But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho, in the time of Josue, fiercely a.s.saulted the walls.
Rams... That is, engines for battering walls, etc., which were used in sieges in those times.
12:16. And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining, of two furlongs broad, seemed to run with the blood of the slain.
12:17. From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa, to the Jews that are called Tubianites.
12:18. But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold:
12:19. But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten thousand men.
12:20. And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, and divided them by bands, went forth against Timotheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, aad two thousand five hundred hors.e.m.e.n.
12:21. Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage, before him into a fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable, and hard to come at, by reason of the straitness of the places.
12:22. But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were struck with fear, by the presence of G.o.d, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of their own swords.
12:23. But Judas pursued them close, punishing the profane, of whom he slew thirty thousand men.
12:24. And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived.
12:25. And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the saving of their brethren.
12:26. Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty thousand persons.