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Chapter 3

 

3:1
Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead. 2 And all his
brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they
fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel. 3 So he gat his people great
honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about
him, and he made battles, protecting the host with his sword.

 

4
In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion’s whelp roaring for his prey. 5
For He pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed
his people. 6 Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers
of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.

 

7
He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial
is blessed for ever. 8 Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying
the ungodly out of them, and turning away wrath from Israel: 9 So that he was
renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he received unto him such as
were ready to perish.

 

10
Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host out of Samaria,
to fight against Israel. 11 Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to
meet him, and so he smote him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the
rest fled. 12 Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius’ sword also,
and therewith he fought all his life long.

 

13
Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had
gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to go out with him to
war; 14 He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go
fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king’s
commandment. 15 So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty
host of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel.
16 And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet
him with a small company: 17 Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them,
said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great
a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this
day?

 

18
Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the
hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a
great multitude, or a small company: 19 For the victory of battle standeth not
in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven. 20 They come
against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and
children, and to spoil us: 21 But we fight for our lives and our laws. 22
Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you,
be ye not afraid of them.

 

23
Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so
Seron and his host was overthrown before him. 24 And they pursued them from the
going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred
men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines. 25 Then
began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding great dread, to fall
upon the nations round about them: 26 Insomuch as his fame came unto the king,
and all nations talked of the battles of Judas.

 

27
Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of indignation:
wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, even a
very strong army. 28 He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for
a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them.

 

29
Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed and that the
tributes in the country were small, because of the dissension and plague, which
he had brought upon the land in taking away the laws which had been of old
time; 30 He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer,
nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had
abounded above the kings that were before him.

 

31
Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into Persia,
there to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money. 32 So he
left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to oversee the affairs of
the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt: 33 And to bring up
his son Antiochus, until he came again.

 

34
Moreover he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the elephants, and
gave him charge of all things that he would have done, as also concerning them
that dwelt in Juda and Jerusalem: 35 To wit, that he should send an army
against them, to destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the remnant
of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from that place; 36 And that he
should place strangers in all their quarters, and divide their land by lot. 37
So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and departed from Antioch,
his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh year; and having passed the river
Euphrates, he went through the high countries.

 

38
Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty
men of the king’s friends: 39 And with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and
seven thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the
king commanded. 40 So they went forth with all their power, and came and
pitched by Emmaus in the plain country.

 

41
And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and
gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel
for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined
themselves unto them.

 

42
Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the
forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had
given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them; 43 They said
one to another, Let us restore the decayed fortune of our people, and let us
fight for our people and the sanctuary.

 

44
Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for
battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.

 

45
Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of her children that
went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down, and aliens kept the strong
hold; the heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from
Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased. 46 Wherefore the Israelites assembled
themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha
was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.

 

47
Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their
heads, and rent their clothes, 48 And laid open the book of the law, wherein
the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images. 49 They brought
also the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the
Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.

 

50
Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with
these, and whither shall we carry them away? 51 For thy sanctuary is trodden down
and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low. 52 And lo, the
heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things they
imagine against us, thou knowest. 53 How shall we be able to stand against
them, except thou, O God, be our help? 54 Then sounded they with trumpets, and
cried with a loud voice.

 

55
And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even captains over
thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. 56 But as for
such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting
vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every
man to his own house, according to the law.

 

57
So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus. 58 And Judas
said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that ye be in readiness
against the morning, that ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled
together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary: 59 For it is better for us
to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our
sanctuary. 60 Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do.