2. Makkabeler 12

¹Bu antlaşmalar yapıldıktan sonra Lisias kralın yanına döndü, Yahudiler ise kendilerini yeniden tarım işlerine verdiler.

²Ancak yerel askeri komutanlardan Timoteos ve Genneos oğlu Apollonios, ayrıca Hieronimos ve Demofon, bunların yanı sıra Kıbrıs askeri valisi Nikanor, Yahudilerin huzur bulmalarına ve barış içinde bir yaşam sürdürmelerine izin vermiyorlardı.

³Yafa halkı ise böylesine büyük bir kötülük yaptı: Aralarında yaşayan Yahudileri, sanki kendilerine karşı hiçbir düşmanlık yokmuş gibi, kendileri tarafından hazırlanan teknelere eşleri ve çocuklarıyla birlikte binmeye davet ettiler.

⁴Kentin resmi halk meclisi kararı uyarınca, barış içinde yaşamak isteyen ve hiçbir şeyden şüphelenmeyen Yahudiler bu daveti kabul ettiler; ancak denize açıldıktan sonra Yafalılar, sayıları iki yüz kişiden az olmayan bu insanları sulara gömerek boğdular.

⁵Yahuda, kendi ulusundan olanlara karşı yapılan bu vahşeti haber alınca yanındaki adamlara emir verdi;

⁶adil yargıç olan Tanrı'ya yakararak kardeşlerinin kanlı katillerinin üzerine yürüdü; geceleyin limanı ateşe verip tekneleri yaktı, oraya sığınanları ise mızrakla deşerek öldürdü.

⁷Kent kapıları kapatılıp abluka altına alındığı için, tüm Yafa vatandaş topluluğunu kökten yok etmek üzere tekrar geri dönmek niyetiyle oradan ayrıldı.

⁸Yavne'de yaşayanların da yanlarında ikamet eden Yahudilere aynı şeyi yapmayı tasarladıklarını öğrenince,

⁹geceleyin Yavnelilere de saldırıp limanı ve donanmayı ateşe verdi; öyle ki, çıkan yangının parıltısı iki yüz kırk stadia uzaklıktaki Yeruşalim'den bile görülebiliyordu.

¹⁰Oradan ayrılıp dokuz stadia yol almışlardı ki, en az beş bin piyade ve beş yüz süvariden oluşan bir Arap grubu onlara saldırdı.

¹¹Çetin bir savaş oldu ve Tanrı'nın yardımıyla Yahuda ile yanındakiler zafer kazandı. Yenilgiye uğrayan göçebe Araplar, kendilerine hayvan sürüleri vermeyi ve diğer konularda da yardımcı olmayı vaat ederek, dostluk güvencesi almak için Yahuda'dan barış dilediler.

¹²Yahuda, onların gerçekten de pek çok konuda yararlı olabileceğini düşünerek barış yapmayı kabul etti; karşılıklı el sıkıştıktan sonra Araplar kendi çadırlarına çekildiler.

¹³Yahuda ayrıca hendeklerle çevrili, köprülerle geçilen, surlarla korunmuş ve çeşitli uluslardan karma bir halkın yaşadığı Kaspia adındaki müstahkem bir kente saldırdı.

¹⁴Kenttekiler ise surların aşılmazlığına ve yiyecek stoklarına güvenerek Yahuda ile yanındakilere karşı oldukça küstahça davrandılar; onlara hakaret edip küfrettiler ve söylenmesi ilahi yasaya aykırı olan sözler sarf ettiler.

¹⁵Ancak Yahuda ile yanındakiler, Yeşu'nun zamanında koçbaşları ve mekanik savaş makineleri olmaksızın Eriha surlarını yerle bir eden evrenin yüce Egemenine yakararak surlara vahşice saldırdılar.

¹⁶Tanrı'nın iradesiyle kenti ele geçirip öyle akıl almaz bir katliam yaptılar ki, iki stadia genişliğindeki bitişik göl akan kanla dolup taşmış gibi görünüyordu.

¹⁷Oradan ayrılıp yedi yüz elli stadia yol alarak Haraks'a, Tubienliler denilen Yahudilerin yanına geldiler.

¹⁸Timoteos'u o bölgelerde bulamadılar; çünkü hiçbir şey elde edemeden oradan ayrılmış, ancak belirli bir yerde oldukça müstahkem bir garnizon bırakmıştı.

¹⁹Makkabi'nin komutanlarından Dositeos ile Sosipater harekete geçip Timoteos'un kalede bıraktığı on binden fazla adamı öldürdüler.

²⁰Makkabi ise ordusunu bölükler halinde düzene sokup başlarına komutanlar atadı ve yüz yirmi bin piyade ile bin beş yüz süvariye sahip olan Timoteos'un üzerine yürüdü.

²¹Yahuda'nın yaklaştığını öğrenen Timoteos, kadınları, çocukları ve diğer eşyaları Karnion denilen yere önceden gönderdi; çünkü burası, tüm geçitlerin darlığı yüzünden kuşatılması ve ulaşılması çok zor bir yerdi.

²²Yahuda'nın ilk bölüğü göründüğünde ve her şeyi gözetleyen Tanrı'nın belirmesiyle düşmanın üzerine dehşet ve korku çöktüğünde, her biri bir yana kaçmaya başladı; öyle ki, sık sık kendi adamları tarafından yaralanıyor ve birbirlerinin kılıç darbeleriyle delik deşik oluyorlardı.

²³Yahuda onları amansızca kovaladı, bu günahkar hainleri kılıçtan geçirerek yaklaşık otuz bin kişiyi yok etti.

²⁴Timoteos'un kendisi de Dositeos ile Sosipater'in eline düştü; eğer öldürülürse, Yahudilerden birçoğunun anne babasının ve kardeşlerinin zarar göreceğini söyleyerek, büyük bir kurnazlıkla kendisini sağ bırakmaları için onlara yalvardı.

²⁵Onları zarar görmeden geri vereceğine dair defalarca ant içip güvence verince, kardeşlerinin hayatını kurtarmak amacıyla onu serbest bıraktılar.

²⁶Ardından Yahuda, Karnion'a ve Atargatis Tapınağı'na doğru ilerleyerek yirmi beş bin kişiyi kılıçtan geçirdi.

²⁷Onları bozguna uğratıp yok ettikten sonra Yahuda, Lisias'ın ve çeşitli uluslardan büyük bir kalabalığın yaşadığı müstahkem Efron kentine yürüdü. Surların önünde mevzilenmiş güçlü gençler kenti yiğitçe savunuyorlardı; orada bol miktarda savaş makinesi ve fırlatılacak silah stoku bulunuyordu.

²⁸Ancak gücüyle düşmanların direncini paramparça eden Egemen'e yakararak kenti ele geçirdiler ve içeridekilerden yirmi beş bin kişiyi yere serdiler.

²⁹Oradan göç ederek, Yeruşalim'den altı yüz stadia uzaklıkta bulunan Skitopolis kentine doğru ilerlediler.

³⁰Ancak orada yaşayan Yahudiler, Skitopolis halkının kendilerine nasıl iyi davrandığına ve felaket zamanlarında kendilerine nasıl şefkatli bir yaklaşım gösterdiğine tanıklık ettiler.

³¹Yahudiler onlara teşekkür ettiler ve gelecekte de soylarına karşı iyi niyetli olmalarını rica ettiler; ardından, Haftalar Bayramı yaklaşırken Yeruşalim'e geldiler.

³²Pentekost denilen bu bayramdan sonra, İdumeya askeri komutanı Gorgias'ın üzerine yürüdüler.

³³Gorgias üç bin piyade ve dört yüz süvariyle karşılarına çıktı.

³⁴Savaş düzeni alıp çarpıştıklarında, Yahudilerden birkaç kişi öldü.

³⁵Bakenor'un adamlarından Dositeos adında güçlü bir atlı, Gorgias'ı yakaladı; pelerininden tutarak onu gücüyle sürükledi ve bu lanetli adamı diri diri ele geçirmek istedi. Ancak Trakyalı bir süvarinin üzerine saldırıp omzunu kesmesi üzerine Gorgias kaçarak Marisa'ya sığındı.

³⁶Esdris'in adamları uzun süre savaşıp bitkin düştüklerinde, Yahuda RAB'be yakararak kendilerine müttefik ve savaşta öncü olmasını diledi.

³⁷Ata dilinde ilahiler eşliğinde savaş çığlıkları atarak aniden Gorgias'ın adamlarının üzerine saldırdı ve onları bozguna uğrattı.

³⁸Yahuda ordusunu toplayıp Adullam kentine götürdü. Yedinci gün yaklaştığı için, töre uyarınca kendilerini dinsel olarak arındırıp Şabat gününü orada geçirdiler.

³⁹Ertesi gün, artık görevin gerektirdiği üzere, Yahuda ile yanındakiler ölenlerin cesetlerini toplamak ve akrabalarıyla birlikte atalarının mezarlarına gömmek için geldiler.

⁴⁰Ölenlerin her birinin tuniğinin altında, yasanın Yahudilere yasakladığı Yavne putlarına ait kutsal adak nesneleri buldular. Böylece bu adamların neden öldüğü herkes için açıklık kazandı.

⁴¹Bunun üzerine herkes, gizli olanı açığa çıkaran adil yargıç RAB'bin işlerini övdü.

⁴²İşlenen günahın tamamen silinmesi için yakararak dua etmeye başladılar. Erdemli Yahuda ise, ölenlerin günahı yüzünden başlarına gelenleri kendi gözleriyle görmüş olan halkı, kendilerini günahtan uzak tutmaya çağırdı.

⁴³Adam başı bağış toplayarak yaklaşık iki bin gümüş drahmi biriktirdi ve günah sunusu sunulması için bunu Yeruşalim'e gönderdi; bunu yapmakla, ölülerin dirilişini düşünerek çok iyi ve onurlu bir davranışta bulundu.

⁴⁴Çünkü ölenlerin dirileceğini ummasaydı, ölüler için dua etmek gereksiz ve saçma olurdu.

⁴⁵Ancak dindarlık içinde uykuya dalanlar için harika bir ödülün saklı olduğunu düşünüyorduysa, bu kutsal ve dindarca bir düşünceydi. İşte bu nedenle, ölülerin günahlarından bağışlanması için kefaret sundu.

¹ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΩΝ τῶν συνθηκῶν τούτων, ὁ μὲν Λυσίας ἀπῄει πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, οἱ δὲ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι περὶ τὴν γεωργίαν ἐγίνοντο.

²τῶν δὲ κατὰ τόπον στρατηγῶν Τιμόθεος καὶ ᾿Απολλώνιος ὁ τοῦ Γενναίους, ἔτι δὲ ῾Ιερώνυμος καὶ Δημοφῶν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις Νικάνωρ ὁ Κυπριάρχης οὐκ εἴων αὐτοὺς εὐσταθεῖς καὶ τὰ τῆς ἡσυχίας ἄγειν.

³᾿Ιοππῖται δὲ τηλικοῦτο συνετέλεσαν τὸ δυσσέβημα· παρακαλέσαντες τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς οἰκοῦντας ᾿Ιουδαίους ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὰ παρασταθέντα ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν σκάφη σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις ὡς μηδεμιᾶς ἐνεστώσης πρὸς αὐτοὺς δυσμενείας,

⁴κατὰ δὲ τὸ κοινὸν τῆς πόλεως ψήφισμα, καὶ τούτων ἐπιδεξαμένων ὡς ἂν εἰρηνεύειν θελόντων καὶ μηδὲν ὕποπτον ἐχόντων, ἐπαναχθέντας αὐτοὺς ἐβύθισαν ὄντας οὐκ ἔλαττον τῶν διακοσίων.

⁵μεταλαβὼν δὲ ᾿Ιούδας τὴν γεγονυῖαν εἰς τοὺς ὁμοεθνεῖς ὠμότητα, παραγγείλας τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνδράσι

⁶καὶ ἐπικαλεσάμενος τὸν δίκαιον κριτὴν Θεόν, παρεγένετο ἐπὶ τοὺς μιαιοφόνους τῶν ἀδελφῶν· καὶ τὸν μὲν λιμένα νύκτωρ ἐνέπρησε καὶ τὰ σκάφη κατέφλεξε, τοὺς δὲ ἐκεῖ συμφυγόντας ἐξεκέντησε.

⁷τοῦ δὲ χωρίου συγκλεισθέντος, ἀνέλυσεν ὡς πάλιν ἥξων καὶ τὸ σύμπαν τῶν ᾿Ιοππιτῶν ἐκριζῶσαι πολίτευμα.

⁸μεταλαβὼν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐν ᾿Ιαμνείᾳ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐπιτελεῖν βουλομένους τρόπον τοῖς παροικοῦσιν ᾿Ιουδαίοις,

⁹καὶ τοῖς ᾿Ιαμνίταις νυκτὸς ἐπιβαλὼν ὑφῆψε τὸν λιμένα σὺν τῷ στόλῳ, ὥστε φαίνεσθαι τὰς αὐγὰς τοῦ φέγγους εἰς τὰ ῾Ιεροσόλυμα, σταδίων ὄντων διακοσίων τεσσαράκοντα.

¹⁰᾿Εκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπασθέντων σταδίους ἐννέα, ποιουμένων τὴν πορείαν ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον, προσέβαλον ῎Αραβες αὐτῷ οὐκ ἐλάττους τῶν πεντακισχιλίων, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακόσιοι.

¹¹γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν διὰ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ βοήθειαν εὐημερησάντων, ἐλαττωθέντες οἱ νομάδες ῎Αραβες ἠξίουν δοῦναι τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν δεξιὰν αὐτοῖς, ὑπισχνούμενοι καὶ βοσκήματα δώσειν καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ὠφελήσειν αὐτούς.

¹²᾿Ιούδας δὲ ὑπολαβὼν ὡς ἀληθῶς ἐν πολλοῖς αὐτοὺς χρησίμους, ἐπεχώρησεν εἰρήνην ἄξειν πρὸς αὐτούς· καὶ λαβόντες δεξιὰς εἰς τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν ἐχωρίσθησαν.

¹³᾿Επέβαλε δὲ καὶ ἐπί τινα πόλιν γεφυροῦν ὀχυρὰν καὶ τείχεσι περιπεφραγμένην καὶ παμμειγέσιν ἔθνεσι κατοικουμένην, ὄνομα δὲ Κάσπιν.

¹⁴οἱ δ᾿ ἔνδον πεποιθότες τῇ τῶν τειχέων ἐρυμνότητι τῇ τε τῶν βρωμάτων παραθέσει, ἀναγωγότερον ἐχρῶντο τοῖς περὶ τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν λοιδοροῦντες καὶ προσέτι βλασφημοῦντες καὶ λαλοῦντες ἃ μὴ θέμις.

¹⁵οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν ἐπικαλεσάμενοι τὸν μέγαν τοῦ κόσμου δυνάστην, τὸν ἄτερ κριῶν καὶ μηχανῶν ὀργανικῶν κατακρημνίσαντα τὴν ῾Ιεριχὼ κατὰ τοὺς ᾿Ιησοῦ χρόνους, ἐνέσεισαν θηριωδῶς τῷ τείχει.

¹⁶καταλαβόμενοί τε τὴν πόλιν τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ θελήσει, ἀμυθήτους ἐποιήσαντο σφαγάς, ὥστε τὴν παρακειμένην λίμνην, τὸ πλάτος ἔχουσαν σταδίων δύο, κατάρρυτον αἵματι πεπληρωμένην φαίνεσθαι.

¹⁷᾿Εκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπάσαντες σταδίους ἑπτακοσίους πεντήκοντα διήνυσαν εἰς τὸν Χάρακα πρὸς τοὺς λεγομένους Τουβιήνους ᾿Ιουδαίους.

¹⁸καὶ Τιμόθεον μὲν ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων οὐ κατέλαβον, ἄπρακτόν τε ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ἐκλελυκότα, καταλελοιπότα δὲ φρουρὰν ἔν τινι τόπῳ καὶ μάλα ὀχυράν.

¹⁹Δοσίθεος δὲ καὶ Σωσίπατρος τῶν περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον ἡγεμόνων ἐξοδεύσαντες ἀπώλεσαν τοὺς ὑπὸ Τιμοθέου καταλειφθέντας ἐν τῷ ὀχυρώματι πλείους τῶν μυρίων ἀνδρῶν.

²⁰ὁ δὲ Μακκαβαῖος διατάξας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στρατιὰν σπειρηδόν, κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν σπειρῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον ὥρμησεν ἔχοντα περὶ αὐτὸν μυριάδας δώδεκα πεζῶν, ἱππεῖς δὲ χιλίους πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις.

²¹τὴν δὲ ἔφοδον μεταλαβὼν ᾿Ιούδα, ὁ Τιμόθεος προσεξαπέστειλε τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἀποσκευὴν εἰς τὸ λεγόμενον Καρνίον· ἦν γὰρ δυσπολιόρκητον καὶ δυσπρόσιτον τὸ χωρίον διὰ τὴν τῶν πάντων τῶν τόπων στενότητα.

²²ἐπιφανείσης δὲ τῆς ᾿Ιούδα σπείρας πρώτης καὶ γενομένου δέους ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, φόβου τε ἐκ τῆς τοῦ πάντα ἐφορῶντος ἐπιφανείας γενομένου ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, εἰς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν ἄλλος ἀλλαχῇ φερόμενος, ὥστε πολλάκις ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων βλάπτεσθαι καὶ ταῖς τῶν ξιφῶν ἀκμαῖς ἀναπείρεσθαι.

²³ἐποιεῖτο δὲ τὸν διωγμὸν εὐτονώτερον ᾿Ιούδας συγκεντῶν τοὺς ἀλιτηρίους διέφθειρέ τε εἰς μυριάδας τρεῖς ἀνδρῶν.

²⁴αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐμπεσὼν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Δοσίθεον καὶ Σωσίπατρον, ἠξίου μετὰ πολλῆς γοητείας ἐξαφεῖναι σῷον αὐτὸν διὰ τὸ πλειόνων μὲν γονεῖς, ὧν δὲ ἀδελφοὺς ἔχειν καὶ τούτους ἀλογηθῆναι συμβήσεται, εἰ ἀποθάνοι.

²⁵πιστώσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ διὰ πλειόνων τὸν ὁρισμὸν ἀποκαταστήσειν τούτους ἀπημάντους, ἀπέλυσαν αὐτὸν ἕνεκα τῆς τῶν ἀδελφῶν σωτηρίας.

²⁶᾿Εξελθὼν δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ Καρνίον καὶ τὸ ᾿Αταργατεῖον κατέσφαξε μυριάδας σωμάτων δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.

²⁷μετὰ δὲ τὴν τούτων τροπὴν καὶ ἀπώλειαν ἐπεστράτευσεν ᾿Ιούδας καὶ ἐπὶ ᾿Εφρὼν πόλιν ὀχυράν, ἐν ᾗ κατῴκει Λυσίας καὶ πάμφυλα πλήθη· νεανίαι δὲ πρὸ τῶν τειχῶν καθεστῶτες ῥωμαλέοι ἀπεμάχοντο εὐρώστως, ἔνθα δὲ ὀργάνων καὶ βελῶν πολλαὶ παραθέσεις ὑπῆρχον

²⁸ἐπικαλεσάμενοι δὲ τὸν Δυνάστην τὸν μετὰ κράτους συντρίβοντα τὰς τῶν πολεμίων ἀλκάς, ἔλαβον τὴν πόλιν ὑποχείριον καὶ κατέστρωσαν τῶν ἔνδον εἰς μυριάδας δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.

²⁹ἀναζεύξαντες δὲ ἐκεῖθεν ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Σκυθῶν πόλιν ἀπέχουσαν ἀπὸ ῾Ιεροσολύμων σταδίους ἐξακοσίους.

³⁰ἀπομαρτυρησάντων δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ κατοικούντων ᾿Ιουδαίων, ἣν οἱ Σκυθοπολῖται ἔσχον πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὔνοιαν καὶ ἐν τοῖς τῆς ἀτυχίας καιροῖς ἥμερον ἀπάντησιν ἐποιοῦντο.

³¹εὐχαρηστήσαντες αὐτοῖς καὶ προσπαρακαλέσαντες καὶ εἰς τὰ λοιπὰ πρὸς τὸ γένος εὐμενεῖς εἶναι, παρεγένοντο εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα τῆς τῶν ἑβδομάδων ἑορτῆς οὔσης ὑπογύου.

³²Μετὰ δὲ τὴν λεγομένην Πεντηκοστὴν ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Γοργίαν τὸν τῆς ᾿Ιδουμαίας στρατηγόν.

³³ἐξῆλθε δὲ μετὰ πεζῶν τρισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ τετρακοσίων,

³⁴καὶ παραταξαμένων συνέβη πεσεῖν ὀλίγους τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων.

³⁵Δοσίθεος δέ τις τῶν τοῦ Βακήνορος, ἔφιππος ἀνὴρ καὶ καρτερός, εἴχετο τοῦ Γοργίου καὶ λαβόμενος τῆς χλαμύδος ἦγεν αὐτὸν εὐρώστως καὶ βουλόμενος τὸν κατάρατον λαβεῖν ζωγρίαν, τῶν ἱππέων Θρακῶν τινος ἐπενεχθέντος αὐτῷ καὶ τὸν ὦμον καθελόντος διέφυγεν ὁ Γοργίας εἰς Μαρισά.

³⁶τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν ῎Εσδριν ἐπὶ πλεῖον μαχομένων καὶ κατακόπων ὄντων, ἐπικαλεσάμενος ὁ ᾿Ιούδας τὸν Κύριον σύμμαχον φανῆναι καὶ προοδηγὸν τοῦ πολέμου,

³⁷καταρξάμενος τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ τὴν μεθ᾿ ὕμνων κραυγήν, ἀναβοήσας καὶ ἐνσείσας ἀπροσδοκήτως τοῖς περὶ τὸν Γοργίαν, τροπὴν αὐτῶν ἐποιήσατο.

³⁸᾿Ιούδας δὲ ἀναλαβὼν τὸ στράτευμα ἦγεν εἰς ᾿Οδολλὰμ πόλιν· τῆς δὲ ἑβδομάδος ἐπιβαλλούσης, κατὰ τὸν ἐθισμὸν ἁγνισθέντες αὐτόθι τὸ σάββατον διήγαγον.

³⁹τῇ δὲ ἐχομένῃ ἦλθον οἱ περὶ τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν καθ᾿ ὃν τρόπον τὸ τῆς χρείας ἐγεγόνει, τὰ τῶν προπεπτωκότων σώματα ἀνακομίσασθαι καὶ μετὰ τῶν συγγενῶν ἀποκαταστῆσαι εἰς τοὺς πατρῴους τάφους.

⁴⁰εὗρον δὲ ἑκάστου τῶν τεθνηκότων ὑπὸ τοὺς χιτῶνας ἱερώματα τῶν ἀπὸ ᾿Ιαμνείας εἰδώλων, ἀφ᾿ ὧν ὁ νόμος ἀπείργει τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους· τοῖς δὲ πᾶσι σαφὲς ἐγένετο διὰ τήνδε τὴν αἰτίαν τούσδε πεπτωκέναι.

⁴¹πάντες οὖν εὐλογήσαντες τὰ τοῦ δικαιοκρίτου Κυρίου τοῦ τὰ κεκρυμμένα φανερὰ ποιοῦντος,

⁴²εἰς ἱκετείαν ἐτράπησαν ἀξιώσαντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἁμάρτημα τελείως ἐξαλειφθῆναι. ὁ δὲ γενναῖος ᾿Ιούδας παρεκάλεσε τὸ πλῆθος συντηρεῖν ἑαυτοὺς ἀναμαρτήτους εἶναι, ὑπ᾿ ὄψιν ἑωρακότας τὰ γεγονότα διὰ τὴν τῶν προπεπτωκότων ἁμαρτίαν.

⁴³ποιησάμενός τε κατ᾿ ἀνδραλογίαν κατασκευάσματα εἰς ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς δισχιλίας, ἀπέστειλεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα προσαγαγεῖν περὶ ἁμαρτίας θυσίαν, πάνυ καλῶς καὶ ἀστείως πράττων ὑπὲρ ἀναστάσεως διαλογιζόμενος·

⁴⁴εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοὺς προπεπτωκότας ἀναστῆναι προσεδόκα, περισσὸν ἂν ἦν καὶ ληρῶδες ὑπὲρ νεκρῶν προσεύχεσθαι.

⁴⁵εἶτ᾿ ἐμβλέπων τοῖς μετ᾿ εὐσεβείας κοιμωμένοις κάλλιστον ἀποκείμενον χαριστήριον, ὁσία καὶ εὐσεβὴς ἡ ἐπίνοια· ὅθεν περὶ τῶν τεθνηκότων τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν ἐποιήσαντο τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολυθῆναι.

¹When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.

²But of the governors of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.

³The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.

⁴Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.

⁵When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.

⁶And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.

⁷And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.

⁸But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,

⁹He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.

¹⁰Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.

¹¹Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas’ side by the help of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.

¹²Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.

¹³He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.

¹⁴But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.

¹⁵Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,

¹⁶And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.

¹⁷Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.

¹⁸But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.

¹⁹Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus’ captains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.

²⁰And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.

²¹Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas’ coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.

²²But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.

²³Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.

²⁴Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews’ parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.

²⁵So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.

²⁶Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.

²⁷And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.

²⁸But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,

²⁹From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,

³⁰But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;

³¹They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.

³²And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,

³³Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.

³⁴And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.

³⁵At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.

³⁶Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.

³⁷And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias’ men, he put them to flight.

³⁸So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.

³⁹And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.

⁴⁰Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.

⁴¹All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,

⁴²Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.

⁴³And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:

⁴⁴For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.

⁴⁵And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.