1. Makkabeler 5

¹Çevre uluslar, sunağın yeniden inşa edildiğini ve kutsal yerin önceki gibi ithaf edildiğini duyunca çok öfkelendiler.

²Aralarında yaşamakta olan Yakup soyunu ortadan kaldırmayı tasarladılar; böylece halkın arasında adam öldürmeye ve onları kökten yok etmeye başladılar.

³Yahuda, İsrail'i kuşatmış oldukları için İdumea'daki Akrabattine'de Esav oğullarıyla savaştı; onları büyük bir bozguna uğratarak sindirdi ve ganimetlerini aldı.

⁴Yollarda pusu kurarak halk için bir tuzak ve tökezleme taşı olan Bayan oğullarının kötülüğünü de hatırladı.

⁵Onları kulelere kapattı, karşılarında ordugah kurdu, onları tamamen yok edilmeye adayıp lanetledi; kuleleri içindeki tüm bulunanlarla birlikte ateşe verip yaktı.

⁶Sonra Ammon oğullarının üzerine geçti; orada güçlü bir askeri güç, kalabalık bir halk ve onların başında önderlik eden Timoteos'u buldu.

⁷Onlarla birçok kez savaşa girişti; sonunda onun önünde bozguna uğradılar ve onları vurdu.

⁸Yazer'i ve ona bağlı çevre köyleri ele geçirdikten sonra Yahudiye'ye geri döndü.

⁹Galaad'daki uluslar, topraklarında yaşayan İsraillileri yok etmek için onlara karşı toplandılar; ancak İsrailliler Datema Kalesi'ne kaçtılar.

¹⁰Yahuda ve kardeşlerine şöyle yazan mektuplar gönderdiler: "Çevremizdeki uluslar bizi yok etmek için üzerimize toplanmış durumdadırlar.

¹¹Sığındığımız kaleyi gelip ele geçirmeye hazırlanıyorlar ve ordularının başında Timoteos var.

¹²Şimdi gel ve bizi onların elinden kurtar, çünkü aramızdan çok sayıda kişi öldü.

¹³Tobias'ın topraklarında bulunan bütün kardeşlerimiz öldürüldü; karılarını, çocuklarını ve mallarını tutsak edip götürdüler; orada yaklaşık bir askeri tabur kadar, bin kişiyi yok ettiler."

¹⁴Mektuplar henüz okunmaktayken, Celile'den giysilerini yırtmış başka haberciler geldi ve benzer sözlerle şu haberi verdiler:

¹⁵"Bizi tamamen yok etmek için Batlamyus, Sur, Sayda ve yabancıların tüm Celile'sinden üzerimize toplandılar."

¹⁶Yahuda ve halk bu sözleri duyunca, sıkıntı içinde olan ve düşman saldırısına uğrayan kardeşleri için ne yapacaklarını kararlaştırmak üzere büyük bir meclis bir araya geldi.

¹⁷Yahuda, kardeşi Şimon'a, "Kendine adamlar seç, git ve Celile'deki kardeşlerini kurtar; ben ve kardeşim Yonatan ise Galaad bölgesine gideceğiz" dedi.

¹⁸Zekeriya oğlu Yosef'i ve Azarya'yı, halkın önderleri olarak ordunun geri kalanıyla birlikte korumaları için Yahudiye'de bıraktı.

¹⁹Onlara şu buyruğu verdi: "Biz dönünceye dek bu halka önderlik edin ve uluslarla savaşa girişmeyin."

²⁰Celile'ye gitmesi için Şimon'a üç bin adam, Galaad bölgesine gitmesi için de Yahuda'ya sekiz bin adam verildi.

²¹Şimon Celile'ye gitti, uluslarla birçok kez savaştı ve uluslar onun önünde bozguna uğradı.

²²Onları Batlamyus kapısına kadar kovaladı; uluslardan yaklaşık üç bin kişi öldü ve Şimon onların ganimetlerini aldı.

²³Celile'de ve Arvatta'da olanları, karıları, çocukları ve tüm mülkleriyle birlikte yanına alıp büyük bir sevinçle Yahudiye'ye getirdi.

²⁴Makabi Yahuda ve kardeşi Yonatan Şeria Irmağı'nı geçip çölde üç günlük yol aldılar.

²⁵Nabatalılarla karşılaştılar; Nabatalılar onları barışçıl bir biçimde karşıladı ve Galaad bölgesindeki kardeşlerinin başına gelen her şeyi onlara anlattılar.

²⁶Birçoğunun Bosora, Bosor, Alem, Hasfor, Maked ve Karnayin'de kuşatılıp kapalı kaldığını, bu kentlerin hepsinin korunaklı ve büyük olduğunu söylediler.

²⁷Galaad'ın öbür kentlerinde de kapalı kaldıklarını ve düşmanların ertesi gün kalelere saldırmayı, buraları ele geçirip hepsini tek bir günde yok etmeyi tasarladıklarını bildirdiler.

²⁸Bunun üzerine Yahuda ve ordusu aniden çöl yolundan Bosora'ya yöneldi; kenti ele geçirip bütün erkekleri kılıçtan geçirdi, tüm ganimetlerini aldı ve kenti ateşe verip yaktı.

²⁹Geceleyin oradan ayrılıp kaleye varıncaya dek ilerlediler.

³⁰Sabah olunca başlarını kaldırıp baktılar; kaleyi ele geçirmek için merdivenler ve kuşatma makineleri taşıyan, kaleye saldıran sayısız bir kalabalık gördüler.

³¹Yahuda savaşın başladığını, kentin feryadının, boru sesleri ve büyük haykırışlarla göğe yükseldiğini görünce,

³²Ordusundaki adamlara, "Bugün kardeşleriniz için savaşın!" dedi.

³³Üç bölük halinde arkalarından ilerlediler; borular çaldılar ve dualarla haykırdılar.

³⁴Timoteos'un ordusu gelenin Makabi olduğunu anlayınca onun önünden kaçtı; Yahuda onları büyük bir bozguna uğrattı ve o gün onlardan yaklaşık sekiz bin kişi öldü.

³⁵Sonra Masfa'ya yöneldi, oraya saldırıp kenti ele geçirdi; bütün erkeklerini öldürdü, ganimetlerini aldı ve kenti ateşe verip yaktı.

³⁶Oradan giderek Hasfon, Maked, Bosor ve Galaad bölgesinin öbür kentlerini ele geçirdi.

³⁷Bu olaylardan sonra Timoteos başka bir ordu topladı ve derenin karşı yakasında, Rafon'un karşısında ordugah kurdu.

³⁸Yahuda orduyu gözetlemek için adamlar gönderdi; ona şu haberi getirdiler: "Çevremizdeki bütün uluslar onlara katıldı, çok büyük bir güç oluşturdular.

³⁹Kendilerine yardım etmeleri için Arapları da kiraladılar; derenin karşı yakasında ordugah kurmuş, seninle savaşmaya gelmek için hazır bekliyorlar." Bunun üzerine Yahuda onlarla karşılaşmak için yürüdü.

⁴⁰Yahuda ve ordusu su deresine yaklaşırken Timoteos ordusunun komutanlarına şöyle dedi: "Eğer karşıya ilk önce o geçerse, ona karşı duramayız; çünkü bize kesinlikle üstün gelecektir.

⁴¹Ama korkar da nehrin karşı yakasında ordugah kurarsa, biz onun üzerine geçeriz ve ona üstün geliriz."

⁴²Yahuda su deresine yaklaşınca, halkın yazmanlarını derenin kenarına yerleştirdi ve onlara şu buyruğu verdi: "Hiçbir adamın ordugahta kalmasına izin vermeyin, herkes savaşa gelsin!"

⁴³Karşıya ilk önce kendisi geçti, bütün halk da onu izledi; bütün uluslar onun önünde bozguna uğradı, silahlarını atıp Karnayin'deki tapınağa kaçtılar.

⁴⁴Ama Yahudiler kenti ele geçirdiler ve tapınağı içindeki herkesle birlikte ateşe verip yaktılar. Böylece Karnayin boyun eğdirildi ve artık Yahuda'nın önünde duramadılar.

⁴⁵Sonra Yahuda, Galaad bölgesindeki bütün İsraillileri, küçükten büyüğe kadar, karıları, çocukları ve mallarıyla birlikte, Yahuda toprağına gitmek üzere çok büyük bir topluluk halinde bir araya getirdi.

⁴⁶Efron'a geldiler; burası yol üstünde, çok büyük ve son derece korunaklı bir kentti; sağa ya da sola sapmak olanaksızdı, içinden geçip gitmek gerekiyordu.

⁴⁷Kent halkı onları içeri almadı ve kapıları taşlarla kapattı.

⁴⁸Yahuda onlara barışçıl sözlerle şu haberi gönderdi: "Kendi ülkemize gitmek için topraklarınızdan geçip gideceğiz; kimse size zarar vermeyecek, yalnızca yürüyerek geçeceğiz." Ama kentin kapılarını ona açmak istemediler.

⁴⁹Bunun üzerine Yahuda, orduda herkesin bulunduğu yerde ordugah kurması için duyuru yapılmasını buyurdu.

⁵⁰Savaşçılar ordugah kurdular; bütün o gün ve bütün gece boyunca kente saldırdılar ve kent onun eline teslim edildi.

⁵¹Bütün erkekleri kılıçtan geçirdi, kenti yerle bir etti, ganimetlerini aldı ve öldürülenlerin üzerinden geçerek kentten ilerledi.

⁵²Şeria Irmağı'nı geçip Beyt-Şan'ın karşısındaki büyük ovaya çıktılar.

⁵³Yahuda arkada kalanları topluyor ve Yahuda toprağına varıncaya dek yol boyunca halkı yüreklendiriyordu.

⁵⁴Sevinç ve coşkuyla Siyon Dağı'na çıktılar; esenlikle dönünceye dek aralarından hiç kimse ölmediği için yakmalık sunular sundular.

⁵⁵Yahuda ile Yonatan Galaad'dayken ve kardeşleri Şimon Celile'de, Batlamyus'un karşısındayken,

⁵⁶Zekeriya oğlu Yosef ve Azarya, ordunun komutanları, onların yaptıkları yiğitlikleri ve savaş başarılarını duydular.

⁵⁷"Biz de kendimize bir ad yapalım, gidip çevremizdeki uluslarla savaşalım" dediler.

⁵⁸Yanlarındaki orduya buyruk verip Yamnia'ya doğru yürüdüler.

⁵⁹Gorgias ve adamları onlarla savaşmak üzere kentten çıktılar.

⁶⁰Yosef ve Azarya bozguna uğratıldı, Yahudiye sınırlarına kadar kovalandı; o gün İsrail halkından yaklaşık iki bin kişi öldü.

⁶¹İsrail halkı büyük bir bozguna uğradı; çünkü yiğitlik göstereceklerini sanarak Yahuda ve kardeşlerini dinlememişlerdi.

⁶²Oysa onlar, İsrail'e kurtuluşun elleriyle verildiği o adamların soyundan değillerdi.

⁶³Ama yiğit Yahuda ve kardeşleri, adlarının duyulduğu her yerde, bütün İsrail'in ve tüm ulusların gözünde çok yüceltildiler.

⁶⁴Halk onları övmek için çevrelerinde toplanıyordu.

⁶⁵Yahuda ve kardeşleri dışarı çıkıp güneydeki topraklarda Esav oğullarıyla savaştılar; Hebron'u ve ona bağlı köyleri vurdu, kalesini yıktı ve çevresindeki kuleleri ateşe verip yaktı.

⁶⁶Filistlilerin toprağına gitmek üzere yola çıktı ve Samiriye'den geçti.

⁶⁷O gün, düşüncesizce savaşa çıkıp yiğitlik göstermek isteyen bazı kâhinler savaşta öldü.

⁶⁸Yahuda Filistlilerin toprağındaki Aşdot'a yöneldi; onların sunaklarını yıktı, ilahlarının oyma putlarını ateşe verip yaktı, kentlerin ganimetlerini aldı ve Yahuda toprağına döndü.

¹ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἤκουσαν τὰ ἔθνη κυκλόθεν ὅτι ᾠκοδομήθη τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἐνεκαινίσθη τὸ ἁγίασμα ὡς τὸ πρότερον, καὶ ὠργίσθησαν σφόδρα

²καὶ ἐβουλεύσαντο τοῦ ἆραι τὸ γένος ᾿Ιακώβ τοὺς ὄντας ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἤρξαντο τοῦ θανατοῦν ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἐξαίρειν.

³καὶ ἐπολέμει ᾿Ιούδας πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ῾Ησαῦ ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιδουμαίᾳ, τὴν ᾿Ακραβαττήνην, ὅτι περιεκάθηντο τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς πληγὴν μεγάλην καὶ συνέστειλεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν.

⁴καὶ ἐμνήσθη τῆς κακίας υἱῶν Βαιάν, οἳ ἦσαν τῷ λαῷ εἰς παγίδα καὶ εἰς σκάνδαλον ἐν τῷ ἐνεδρεύειν αὐτοὺς ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς·

⁵καὶ συνεκλείσθησαν ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς πύργοις, καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀνεθεμάτισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐνεπύρισε τοὺς πύργους αὐτῆς ἐν πυρὶ σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνοῦσι.

⁶καὶ διεπέρασεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Αμμὼν καὶ εὗρε χεῖρα κραταιὰν καὶ λαὸν πολὺν καὶ Τιμόθεον ἡγούμενον αὐτῶν·

⁷καὶ συνῆψε πρὸς αὐτοὺς πολέμους πολλούς, καὶ συνετρίβησαν πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς.

⁸καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν ᾿Ιαζὴρ καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν εἰς τὴν ᾿Ιουδαίαν.

⁹Καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐν τῇ Γαδαὰδ ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ τοὺς ὄντας ἐπὶ τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῶν τοῦ ἐξᾶραι αὐτούς, καὶ ἔφυγον εἰς Δάθεμα τὸ ὀχύρωμα.

¹⁰καὶ ἀπέστειλαν γράμματα πρὸς ᾿Ιούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ἐπισυνηγμένα ἐστὶν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν τοῦ ἐξᾶραι ἡμᾶς

¹¹καὶ ἑτοιμάζονται ἐλθεῖν καὶ προκαταλαβέσθαι τὸ ὀχύρωμα, εἰς ὃ κατεφύγομεν, καὶ Τιμόθεος ἡγεῖται τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτῶν·

¹²νῦν οὖν ἐλθὼν ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν, ὅτι πέπτωκεν ἐξ ἡμῶν πλῆθος,

¹³καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν οἱ ὄντες ἐν τοῖς Τωβίου τεθανάτωνται, καὶ ᾐχμαλωτίκασι τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ τὴν ἀποσκευήν, καὶ ἀπώλεσαν ἐκεῖ ὡσεὶ μίαν χιλιαρχίαν ἀνδρῶν.

¹⁴ἔτι αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ ἀνεγινώσκοντο, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελοι ἕτεροι παρεγένοντο ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας διερρηχότες τὰ ἱμάτια ἀπαγγέλλοντες κατὰ τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα λέγοντες

¹⁵ἐπισυνῆχθαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἐκ Πτολεμαΐδος καὶ Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος καὶ πάσης Γαλιλαίας ἀλλοφύλων τοῦ ἐξαναλῶσαι ἡμᾶς.

¹⁶ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιούδας καὶ ὁ λαὸς τοὺς λόγους τούτους, ἐπισυνήχθη ἐκκλησία μεγάλη βουλεύσασθαι τί ποιήσωσι τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν, τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν θλίψει καὶ πολεμουμένοις ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν.

¹⁷καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιούδας Σίμωνι τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ· ἐπίλεξον σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας καὶ πορεύου καὶ ρῦσαι τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου τοὺς ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ· ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὁ ἀδελφός μου πορευσόμεθα εἰς τὴν Γαλααδῖτιν.

¹⁸καὶ κατέλιπεν ᾿Ιώσηφον τὸν τοῦ Ζαχαρίου καὶ ᾿Αζαρίαν ἡγουμένους τοῦ λαοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἐπιλοίπων τῆς δυνάμεως ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ εἰς τήρησιν

¹⁹καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγων· πρόστητε τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ μὴ συνάψητε πόλεμον πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη ἕως τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι ἡμᾶς.

²⁰καὶ ἐμερίσθησαν Σίμωνι ἄνδρες τρισχίλιοι τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, ᾿Ιούδᾳ δὲ ἄνδρες ὀκτακισχίλιοι εἰς τὴν Γαλααδῖτιν.

²¹καὶ ἐπορεύθη Σίμων εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ συνῆψε πολέμους πολλοὺς πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ συνετρίβη τὰ ἔθνη ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ,

²²καὶ ἐδίωξεν αὐτοὺς ἕως τῆς πύλης Πτολεμαΐδος. καὶ ἔπεσον ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς τρισχιλίους ἄνδρας, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν.

²³καὶ παρέλαβε τοὺς ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ καὶ ἐν ᾿Αρβάττοις σὺν ταῖς γυναιξὶ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἦν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἤγαγεν εἰς τὴν ᾿Ιουδαίαν μετ᾿ εὐφροσύνης μεγάλης.

²⁴καὶ ᾿Ιούδας ὁ Μακκαβαῖος καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ διέβησαν τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.

²⁵καὶ συνήντησαν τοῖς Ναβαταίοις, καὶ ἀπήντησαν αὐτοῖς εἰρηνικῶς καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτοῖς ἅπαντα τὰ συμβάντα τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ Γαλααδίτιδι.

²⁶καὶ ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν συνειλημμένοι εἰσὶν εἰς Βόσορρα καὶ Βοσόρ, ἐν ᾿Αλέμοις, Χασφώρ, Μακὲδ καὶ Καρναΐν, πᾶσαι αἱ πόλεις αὗται ὀχυραὶ καὶ μεγάλαι·

²⁷καὶ ἐν ταῖς λοιπαῖς πόλεσι τῆς Γαλααδίτιδός εἰσι συνειλημμένοι καὶ εἰς αὔριον τάσσονται παρεμβάλλειν ἐπὶ τὰ ὀχυρώματα καὶ καταλαβέσθαι καὶ ἐξᾶραι πάντας τούτους ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

²⁸καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν ᾿Ιούδας καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ὁδὸν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον Βόσορρα ἄφνω· καὶ κατελάβετο τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἀπέκτεινε πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας καὶ ἔλαβε πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐνέπρησεν αὐτὴν πυρί.

²⁹καὶ ἀπῇρεν ἐκεῖθεν νυκτός, καὶ ἐπορεύετο ἕως ἐπὶ τὸ ὀχύρωμα·

³⁰καὶ ἐγένετο ἑωθινῇ ᾖραν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἰδοὺ λαὸς πολύς, οὗ οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός, αἴροντες κλίμακας καὶ μηχανὰς καταλαβέσθαι τὸ ὀχύρωμα καὶ ἐπολέμουν αὐτούς.

³¹καὶ εἶδεν ᾿Ιούδας ὅτι ἦρκται ὁ πόλεμος καὶ ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς πόλεως ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν σάλπιγξι καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ,

³²καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀνδράσι τῆς δυνάμεως· πολεμήσατε σήμερον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν.

³³καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐν τρισὶν ἀρχαῖς ἐξόπισθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐσάλπισαν ταῖς σάλπιγξι καὶ ἐβόησαν ἐν προσευχῇ.

³⁴καὶ ἐπέγνω ἡ παρεμβολὴ Τιμοθέου ὅτι Μακκαβαῖός ἐστι, καὶ ἔφυγον ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς πληγὴν μεγάλην, καὶ ἔπεσον ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ εἰς ὀκτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας.

³⁵καὶ ἀπέκλινεν εἰς Μααφὰ καὶ ἐπολέμησεν αὐτὴν καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτὴν καὶ ἀπέκτεινε πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν αὐτῆς καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐνέπρησεν αὐτὴν πυρί.

³⁶ἐκεῖθεν ἀπῇρε καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν Χασφών, Μακέδ, Βοσὸρ καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς πόλεις τῆς Γαλααδίτιδος.

³⁷μετὰ δὲ τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα συνήγαγε Τιμόθεος παρεμβολὴν ἄλλην καὶ παρενέβαλε κατὰ πρόσωπον Ῥαφὼν ἐκ πέραν τοῦ χειμάρρου.

³⁸καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ᾿Ιούδας κατασκοπεῦσαι τὴν παρεμβολήν, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἐπισυνηγμένα εἰσὶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν, δύναμις πολλὴ σφόδρα·

³⁹καὶ ῎Αραβας μεμίσθωνται εἰς βοήθειαν αὐτοῖς καὶ παρενέβαλον πέραν τοῦ χειμάρρου ἕτοιμοι τοῦ ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ σὲ εἰς πόλεμον. καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Ιούδας εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν.

⁴⁰καὶ εἶπε Τιμόθεος τοῖς ἄρχουσι τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν ᾿Ιούδαν καὶ τὴν παρεμβολὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν χειμάρρουν τοῦ ὕδατος· ἐὰν διαβῇ πρὸς ἡμᾶς πρότερος, οὐ δυνησόμεθα ὑποστῆναι αὐτόν, ὅτι δυνάμενος δυνήσεται πρὸς ἡμᾶς·

⁴¹ἐὰν δὲ δειλωθῇ καὶ παρεμβάλῃ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, διαπεράσομεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δυνησόμεθα πρὸς αὐτόν.

⁴²ὡς δὲ ἤγγισεν ᾿Ιούδας ἐπὶ τὸν χειμάρρουν τοῦ ὕδατος, ἔστησε τοὺς γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ χειμάρρου καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγων· μὴ ἀφῆτε πάντα ἄνθρωπον παρεμβαλεῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐρχέσθωσαν πάντες εἰς τὸν πόλεμον.

⁴³καὶ διεπέρασεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς πρότερος καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνετρίβησαν πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ἔρριψαν τὰ ὅπλα αὐτῶν καὶ ἔφυγον εἰς τὸ τέμενος ἐν Καρναΐν.

⁴⁴καὶ προκατελάβοντο τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὸ τέμενος ἐνεπύρισαν ἐν πυρὶ σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐτροπώθη ἡ Καρναΐν, καὶ οὐκ ἐδύναντο ἔτι ὑποστῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον ᾿Ιούδα.

⁴⁵καὶ συνήγαγεν ᾿Ιούδας πάντα ᾿Ισραὴλ τοὺς ἐν τῇ Γαλααδίτιδι ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν ἀποσκευήν, παρεμβολὴν μεγάλην σφόδρα, ἐλθεῖν εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα.

⁴⁶καὶ ἦλθον ἕως ᾿Εφρών, καὶ αὕτη ἡ πόλις μεγάλη ἐπὶ τῆς εἰσόδου ὀχυρὰ σφόδρα, οὐκ ἦν ἐκκλῖναι ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς δεξιὰν ἢ ἀριστεράν, ἀλλ᾿ ἢ διὰ μέσου αὐτῆς πορεύεσθαι·

⁴⁷καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν αὐτοὺς οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐνέφραξαν τὰς πύλας λίθοις.

⁴⁸καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ᾿Ιούδας λόγοις εἰρηνικοῖς λέγων· διελευσόμεθα διὰ τῆς γῆς σου τοῦ ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐδεὶς κακοποιήσει ὑμᾶς, πλὴν τοῖς ποσὶ παρελευσόμεθα· καὶ οὐκ ἠβούλοντο ἀνοῖξαι αὐτῷ.

⁴⁹καὶ ἐπέταξεν ᾿Ιούδας κηρῦξαι ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ τοῦ παρεμβαλεῖν ἕκαστον ἐν ᾧ ἐστι τόπῳ·

⁵⁰καὶ παρενέβαλον οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν τὴν πόλιν ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα, καὶ παρεδόθη ἡ πόλις ἐν χερσὶν αὐτοῦ.

⁵¹καὶ ἀπώλεσε πᾶν ἀρσενικὸν ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας καὶ ἐξερρίζωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς καὶ διῆλθε διὰ τῆς πόλεως ἐπάνω τῶν ἀπεκταμμένων.

⁵²καὶ διέβησαν τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην εἰς τὸ πεδίον τὸ μέγα κατὰ πρόσωπον Βαιθσάν.

⁵³καὶ ἦν ᾿Ιούδας ἐπισυνάγων τοὺς ἐσχατίζοντας καὶ παρακαλῶν τὸν λαὸν κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν, ἕως οὗ ἦλθον εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα.

⁵⁴καὶ ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ὄρος Σιὼν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καὶ χαρᾷ καὶ προσήγαγον ὁλοκαυτώματα, ὅτι οὐκ ἔπεσεν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐθεὶς ἕως τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

⁵⁵Καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις, αἷς ἦν ᾿Ιούδας καὶ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐν τῇ Γαλαὰδ καὶ Σίμων ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ κατὰ πρόσωπον Πτολεμαΐδος,

⁵⁶ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιωσὴφ ὁ τοῦ Ζαχαρίου καὶ ᾿Αζαρίας ἄρχοντες τῆς δυνάμεως τῶν ἀνδραγαθιῶν καὶ τοῦ πολέμου, οἷα ἐποίησαν,

⁵⁷καὶ εἶπε· ποιήσωμεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἑαυτοῖς ὄνομα καὶ πορευθῶμεν πολεμῆσαι πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν.

⁵⁸καὶ παρήγγειλαν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῆς δυνάμεως τῆς μετ᾿ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐπὶ ᾿Ιάμνειαν.

⁵⁹καὶ ἐξῆλθε Γοργίας ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῖς εἰς πόλεμον.

⁶⁰καὶ ἐτροπώθη ᾿Ιώσηφος καὶ ᾿Αζαρίας, καὶ ἐδιώχθησαν ἕως τῶν ὁρίων τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας, καὶ ἔπεσον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ εἰς δισχιλίους ἄνδρας.

⁶¹καὶ ἐγενήθη τροπὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ λαῷ ᾿Ισραήλ, ὅτι οὐκ ἤκουσαν ᾿Ιούδα καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, οἰόμενοι ἀνδραγαθῆσαι·

⁶²αὐτοὶ δὲ οὐκ ἦσαν ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων, οἷς ἐδόθη σωτηρία ᾿Ισραὴλ διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν.

⁶³καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ᾿Ιούδας καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐδοξάσθησαν σφόδρα ἐναντίον παντὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν πάντων, οὗ ἠκούετο τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν·

⁶⁴καὶ ἐπισυνήγοντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὐφημοῦντες.

⁶⁵καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ᾿Ιούδας καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπολέμουν τοὺς υἱοὺς ῾Ησαῦ ἐν τῇ γῇ πρὸς νότον καὶ ἐπάταξε τὴν Χεβρὼν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς καὶ καθεῖλε τὸ ὀχύρωμα αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς πύργους αὐτῆς ἐνέπρησε κυκλόθεν.

⁶⁶καὶ ἀπῇρε τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων. καὶ διεπορεύετο τὴν Σαμάρειαν.

⁶⁷ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔπεσον ἱερεῖς ἐν πολέμῳ βουλόμενοι ἀνδραγαθῆσαι ἐν τῷ αὐτοὺς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς πόλεμον ἀβουλεύτως.

⁶⁸καὶ ἐξέκλινεν ᾿Ιούδας εἰς ῎Αζωτον γῆν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ καθεῖλε τοὺς βωμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ γλυπτὰ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν κατέκαυσε πυρὶ καὶ ἐσκύλευσε τὰ σκῦλα τῶν πόλεων καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς τὴν γῆν ᾿Ιούδα.

¹Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.

²Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.

³Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.

⁴Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.

⁵He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.

⁶Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.

⁷So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.

⁸And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.

⁹Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.

¹⁰And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:

¹¹And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.

¹²Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:

¹³Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.

¹⁴While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,

¹⁵And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.

¹⁶Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.

¹⁷Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.

¹⁸So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.

¹⁹Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.

²⁰Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.

²¹Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him.

²²And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.

²³And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.

²⁴Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days’ journey in the wilderness,

²⁵Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:

²⁶And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:

²⁷And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against to morrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.

²⁸Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,

²⁹From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.

³⁰And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.

³¹When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,

³²He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.

³³So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.

³⁴Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.

³⁵This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and burnt it with fire.

³⁶From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.

³⁷After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.

³⁸So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.

³⁹He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.

⁴⁰Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:

⁴¹But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.

⁴²Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.

⁴³So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.

⁴⁴But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.

⁴⁵Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.

⁴⁶Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.

⁴⁷Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.

⁴⁸Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.

⁴⁹Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.

⁵⁰So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:

⁵¹Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.

⁵²After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.

⁵³And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.

⁵⁴So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.

⁵⁵Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

⁵⁶Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.

⁵⁷Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.

⁵⁸So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.

⁵⁹Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.

⁶⁰And so it was, that Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.

⁶¹Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.

⁶²Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.

⁶³Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;

⁶⁴Insomuch as the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.

⁶⁵Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.

⁶⁶From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.

⁶⁷At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.

⁶⁸So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.