الإصحَاحُ
السَّادِسُ

Chapter 6

 

6:1
About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say,
that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches,
silver, and gold; 2 And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were
coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of
Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left
there. 3 Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he
was not able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof, 4 Rose up
against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness,
and returned to Babylon.

 

5
Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies,
which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight: 6 And that Lysias,
who went forth first with a great power was driven away of the Jews; and that
they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they
had gotten of the armies, whom they had destroyed: 7 Also that they had pulled
down the abomination, which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that
they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city
Bethsura.

 

8
Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved:
whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it
had not befallen him as he looked for. 9 And there he continued many days: for
his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die. 10
Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone
from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care. 11 And I thought with
myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it,
wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power. 12 But now I
remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of
gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea
without a cause. 13 I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are
come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.

 

14
Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his
realm, 15 And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he
should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom. 16 So
king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year. 17 Now when
Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had
brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator.

 

18
About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites round about
the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the
heathen. 19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people
together to besiege them. 20 So they came together, and besieged them in the
hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other
engines.

 

21
Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto whom some ungodly
men of Israel joined themselves: 22 And they went unto the king, and said, How
long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren? 23 We have
been willing to serve thy father, and to do as he would have us, and to obey
his commandments; 24 For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and
are alienated from us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew,
and spoiled our inheritance.

 

25
Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against
their borders. 26 And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem,
to take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified. 27 Wherefore
if thou dost not prevent them quickly, they will do the greater things than
these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.

 

28
Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his
friends, and the captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse.
29 There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea,
bands of hired soldiers. 30 So that the number of his army was an hundred
thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants
exercised in battle. 31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against
Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war; but they of
Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.

 

32
Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over
against the king’s camp. 33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely
with his host toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle,
and sounded the trumpets.

 

34
And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed them the
blood of grapes and mulberries. 35 Moreover they divided the beasts among the
armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats
of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every
beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best. 36 These were ready at
every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went,
they went also, neither departed they from him. 37 And upon the beasts were
there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt
fast unto them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty
strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.

 

38
As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at
the two parts of the host giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all
over amidst the ranks. 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and
brass, the mountains glistered therewith, and shined like lamps of fire. 40 So
part of the king’s army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on the
valleys below, they marched on safely and in order. 41 Wherefore all that heard
the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling
of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.

 

42
Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were
slain of the king’s army six hundred men. 43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran,
perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than
all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him, 44 Put himself in
jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name:
45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle,
slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him
on both sides. 46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him
under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he
died. 47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the
violence of his forces, turned away from them.

 

48
Then the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched
his tents against Judea, and against mount Sion. 49 But with them that were in
Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no
victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.

 

50
So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it. 51 As for the
sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with engines and
instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings. 52
Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a
long season. 53 Yet at the last, their vessels being without victuals, (for
that it was the seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the
Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;) 54 There were but a few left
in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were
fain to disperse themselves, every man to his own place.

 

55
At that time Lysias heard say, that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, whiles he
lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king, 56
Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king’s host also that went with
him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of the affairs. 57
Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the captains of the
host and the company, We decay daily, and our victuals are but small, and the
place we lay siege unto is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us:
58 Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with them,
and with all their nation; 59 And covenant with them, that they shall live
after their laws, as they did before: for they are therefore displeased, and
have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.

 

60
So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent unto them to make
peace; and they accepted thereof. 61 Also the king and the princes made an oath
unto them: whereupon they went out of the strong hold. 62 Then the king entered
into mount Sion; but when he saw the strength of the place, he broke his oath
that he had made, and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about. 63
Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antiochia, where he found
Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by
force.