2 Macabeos · Revised Version (con apócrifos)
2 Macabeos 13 Revised Version (con apócrifos)
1 In the hundred forty and ninth year tidings were brought to Judas and his company that Antiochus Eupator was coming with [great ] multitudes against Judaea,
1 In the one hundred forty-ninth year, news was brought to Judas and his company that Antiochus Eupator was coming with multitudes against Judea,
2 and with him Lysias his guardian and chancellor, each having a Greek force, a hundred and ten thousand footmen, and five thousand and three hundred horsemen, and two and twenty elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.
2 and with him Lysias his guardian and chancellor, each having a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.
3 And Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the saving of his country, but because he thought that he would be set over the government.
3 And Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great hypocrisy encouraged Antiochus, not for the saving of his country, but because he thought that he would be set over the government.
4 But the King of kings stirred up the passion of Antiochus against the wicked wretch; and when Lysias informed him that this man was the cause of all the evils, [the king ] commanded to bring him unto Beroea, and to put him to death after the manner of that place.
4 But the King of kings stirred up the anger of Antiochus against the wicked wretch. When Lysias informed him that this man was the cause of all the evils, the king commanded to bring him to Beroea, and to put him to death in the way customary in that place.
5 Now there is in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had all round it a gallery descending sheer on every side into the ashes.
5 Now there is in that place a tower that is fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had all around it a circular rim sloping steeply on every side into the ashes.
6 Here him that is guilty of sacrilege, or hath attained a preeminence in any other evil deeds, they all push forward into destruction.
6 Here one who is guilty of sacrilege or notorious for other crimes is pushed down to destruction.
7 By such a fate it befell the breaker of the law, Menelaus, to die, without obtaining so much as [a grave in ] the earth, and that right justly;
7 By such a fate it happened that the breaker of the law, Menelaus, died, without obtaining so much as a grave in the earth, and that justly;
8 for inasmuch as he had perpetrated many sins against the altar, whose fire and whose ashes were holy, in ashes did he receive his death.
8 for inasmuch as he had perpetrated many sins against the altar, whose fire and whose ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
9 Now the king, infuriated in spirit, was coming with intent to inflict on the Jews the very worst of the sufferings that had befallen [them ] in his father’s time.
9 Now the king, infuriated in spirit, was coming with intent to inflict on the Jews the very worst of the sufferings that had been done in his father’s time.
10 But when Judas heard of these things, he gave charge to the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, [beseeching him, ] if ever at any other time, so now to succour them that were at the point to be deprived of the law and their country and the holy temple,
10 But when Judas heard of these things, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, if ever at any other time, so now to help those who were at the point of being deprived of the law, their country, and the holy temple,
11 and not to suffer the people that had been but now a little while revived to fall into the hands of those profane heathen.
11 and not to allow the people who had just begun to be revived to fall into the hands of those profane heathen.
12 So when they had all done the same thing together, beseeching the merciful Lord with weeping and fastings and prostration for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and commanded they should join him [for service. ]
12 So when they had all done the same thing together, begging the merciful Lord with weeping and fastings and prostration for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and commanded they should join him.
13 And having gone apart with the elders he resolved that, before the king’s army should enter into Judaea and make themselves masters of the city, they should go forth and try the matter [in fight ] by the help of God.
13 Having consulted privately with the elders, he resolved that before the king’s army entered into Judea and made themselves masters of the city, they should go out and decide the matter by the help of God.
14 And committing the decision to the Lord of the world, and exhorting them that were with him to contend nobly even unto death for laws, temple, city, country, commonwealth, he pitched his camp by Modin.
14 And committing the decision to the Lord of the world, and exhorting those who were with him to contend nobly even to death for laws, temple, city, country, and way of life, he pitched his camp by Modin.
15 And given out to his men the watchword, VICTORY IS GOD’S, with a chosen body of the bravest young men he fell upon [the camp ] by night [and penetrated ] to the king’s tent, and slew [of ] the army as many as two thousand men, and brought down the chiefest elephant with him that was in the tower upon him.
15 He gave out to his men the watchword, “VICTORY IS GOD’S”, with a chosen force of the bravest young men he attacked the king’s pavilion by night, and killed of his army as many as two thousand men, and brought down the leading elephant with him who was in the tower on him.
16 And at last they filled the army with terror and alarm, and departed with good success.
16 At last they filled the army with terror and alarm, and departed with good success.
17 And this had been accomplished when the day was but now dawning, because of the Lord’s protection that gave Judas help.
17 This had been accomplished when the day was just dawning, because of the Lord’s protection that gave Judas help.
18 But the king, having had a taste of the exceeding boldness of the Jews, made attempts by stratagem upon their positions,
18 But the king, having had a taste of the exceeding boldness of the Jews, made strategic attacks on their positions,
19 and [upon ] a strong fortress of the Jews at Bethsura; he advanced, was turned back, failed, was defeated,
19 and on a strong fortress of the Jews at Bethsura. He advanced, was turned back, failed, and was defeated.
20 And Judas conveyed such things as were necessary unto them that were within.
20 Judas sent the things that were necessary to those who were within.
21 But Rhodocus, from the Jewish ranks, made known to the enemy the secrets [of his countrymen. ] He was sought out, and taken, and shut up in prison.
21 But Rhodocus, from the Jewish ranks, made secrets known to the enemy. He was sought out, arrested, and shut up in prison.
22 The king treated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, attacked the forces of Judas, was put to the worse,
22 The king negotiated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, attacked the forces of Judas, was put to the worse,
23 heard that Philip who had been left as chancellor in Antioch had become reckless, was confounded, made to the Jews an overture [of peace, ] submitted himself and sware to acknowledge all their rights, came to terms with them and offered sacrifice, honoured the sanctuary and the place,
23 heard that Philip who had been left as chancellor in Antioch had become reckless, was confounded, made to the Jews an overture of peace, submitted himself and swore to acknowledge all their rights, came to terms with them and offered sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and the place,
24 shewed kindness and graciously received Maccabaeus, left Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais even unto the Gerrenians,
24 showed kindness and graciously received Maccabaeus, left Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais even to the Gerrenians,
25 came to Ptolemais. The men of Ptolemais were displeased at the treaty, for they had exceeding great indignation [against the Jews: ] they desired to annul the articles of the agreement.
25 and came to Ptolemais. The men of Ptolemais were displeased at the treaty, for they had exceedingly great indignation against the Jews. They desired to annul the articles of the agreement.
26 Lysias came forward to speak, made the best defence that was possible, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, departed unto Antioch. This was the issue of the inroad and departure of the king.
26 Lysias came forward to speak, made the best defense that was possible, persuaded, pacified, gained their good will, and departed to Antioch. This was the issue of the attack and departure of the king.