1 Machabees — Chapter 7

This vsurper with his complices deuised false accusations against Iudas and the rest, to incense the King against them.

abrode euerie wherc.* _ 8, But (b) Philip feeing the mato come forward by litle & litle, & that things forthe more part fucceeded with him profperoufly , wrote to Prolomee the gouernour of Coelefyria & Phoenicia, to giue ayde to the Kings affaires.g, And he with {peede sét Nicanor the sone of Patroclus, of the principals of his freinds, giuing him of the nations mingled toge- ther,noleffe then twentic thoufand armed men, rodeftroy veterly al the {tock of the ewes , adioyning alfo vnto him Gorgias a man of warrc, and in martial affayres of very great experience, 10. And Nicanor ap- pointed , that he would fupplie vnto the King thetribute that was to be giuen to the Romanes,two thoufand talents out of the captiuitie of the lewes : r1.and forthwith he fentto the cities by the fea fide, calling men together rothebuying of the lewith Maues , promifing tiaat he would fel ninetie flaues for a talent , not looking to the vengence , which waste folow him fromthe Almightic. 12. But ludas when he vnderftood it, fhewed to thofe lewes that were with hinn,the comming of Nicanor.

fold it,& witha! befought our Lord,that he would deliuer them from the impious Nicanor who had fold them before he came neere them:15. and if not forthem , yet {c) for the teftament that was with their fathers , & for the inuocation of his holie & magnifical name vpon them, 16, Bur Machabeus callin together feuen thoufand , that were with him , defired that they would not be reconciledto the enemies,nor feare the multitude of rhe enemies coming againft them vniuftly but would fight manfully: r7,hauing -be- fore their eyes the contumelie , chat was vniuftly done by them to the holic place,& morcouer the iniuric alfo of the citie being made a laugh- ing ftock,befides al{o the ordinances of the ancefters broken. 18. For but we cruftin the Almightie Lord,who can viterly deftroy both them, admonilhed them alfo of the aydes of God , that were giuento, their fa- thers : & that. vnder Sennacherib an hundred foure {core fiue thoufand perilhed.20,And of the battel,that they had againft the Galatians in Ba- felowes ftaggering , being only fix thoufand flewe an hundred twentie theufand, by reafon of the ayde giuen them from heauen, and for thefe things obteyned verie manie bencfits, 21. With thefe words they were made conftant,& readie todye for the lawes,and their countrie, 22. He appointed therfore his brethren captains ouer both orders, Simon , and Xxxxx 3 they indeed truftto their weapons , fayd he, andto their boldnes alfo;: comming againft vs,and the whole.world with- one beck: 19. Andhe bylonia, how al they,when it came tothe point, the Macedonians their lofeph, and Jonathas,vnder cucrie one putting a thoufand and fine bun- dreth.23. Befide this alfo the holie Booke being read vnto thein by Ef- dras, 24, anda figne of Gods helpe being giuen, in the, foreward the jaaffifted Antial duke called Sater, b) This Philip a Phrygian was , left in Ierufa- lem by Antio-: chus to afflig the Lewes. ch, J.Vidro ? ¢)Aiuftand re- lligions caufe lis the very bef- helpe, that car bein warres. Offthis battel j withthe Ga- : latians thereigs no other men-: tion in ‘ holysfcripturet but it feemeth to bethat, wherin th¢ chus the firft fyweny twherof Ap- {pianus writeth fin beRis Syraicis,: when he repel- led the Ga- latians inua- ding Afia: — And Tofephus teftufieth bi .12, ¢3. that Antio- chus Magnus (fonne of So-: ter ) much fa- uoured the Te- wes for their explotres donc in his fathers dayes,. pte Se andro orphans,& to widowes: and the reft themfelues had with their 3.5. being humbled through rhe helpe of our Lord by them , whom he 920 SECOND BOOK duke himfelf ioyned battel with Nicanor,. And the Almightie being made their helper, they flew. aboue nine thoufand men : and the greater part of Nicanors.armie being made weake with woundes , they forced to flye, 25. And.taking away their. money that came to buy them, they purfued them on euerie hand, 26. bit they. returned. being taken fhort withthe time : forit wasthe day before the Sabbath : for the which caufe they continewed not purfewing them, 27. Bur gathering together the armour and {poiles.ofthem,they. kept the Sabbath: bleffing our Lord thar deliuered themthis day, diftilling the beginning of mercie vpon them, 28. But after the Sabath they. divided-the Tpoyles.to the feeble felowes. 29. Thefethings therfore being done, and obfecration being madein common of al, they defired our merciful Lord, that he would be reconciled to his feruants ynro the end..70. And of them that were with Timnothee and.Bacchides fighting againft them, they dew aboue twentie thoufand , and wanne the high holds :_and they diuided manie prayes, making equal portion to the feeble , pupils, and widowes, yca and to the.elder men, 31.. And when they,had diligently gathered roge- thertheir-armour ,theylayd altogerher in conuenient places, and the refidue of. the {poiles they ¢ariedzo TJerufalem 232. and Philarches that was with Timothee, theyflew , a wicked man , which in manie things. had affliGed the lewes. 33. And when they kept the feaft of vidorie in Jerufalem, him that had. burnt the holie gates, chatis, Callifthenes, when he was fled into a certaine houfe , they burnt, a worthie reward being repayed him for his impieties:3 4. But the moft impious-Nicanor, who had brought a thoufand merchants to the. the fale of the lewes, efteemed no bodie, laying alide his garment.of glorie, flying by. rhe midland, came alone to Antioch, hauing gotten great intelicitie by the deftruGion of his armie.36, And he that bad promifed thathe would render tribute ro the Romanes.of the captiuitieof Ierufalem,now pro- feffed that che lewes had God their protectour, and that for himthey couldnotbe wounded, becaufe they folowed the lawes appointed by 4 Ui, Yc. 4.7.28, CHAP. OF MACHABEES,. 921

This Nicanor was the most terrible enimie against Iudas, but was at last slaine by him.

For my brethren hauing now fu- fteyned fhort payne, are become vnder the teftament of erernal life: but thou by the iudgement of God fhait receiue iuft punifhmét for thy pride,

And I as alfo my brethren doe yeald my lite and my bodie for the lawes of;our fathers : inuocating God io be propicious to our nation quickly , and that chou with torments and ftripes maift confeffe that he onlic is God. 38, But in me and in my brethren fhal the wrath of the Al- Then the King incenfed with anger, raged againft him more cruelly fame therfore died vnfpotted , wholy trufting in our Lord, 41. And laft of al after the fonnes the mother alfo was confumed. 42, Therfore of the facrifices, and of the exceeding cruelties there is enough fayd. * CHAP, VIIL Iudas Machabeus with fix thoufand men , commending their caufe to God , S. profpereth in bartel. 8. Philsppe foliciting for more belpe, Nicanor and Ger- bias are fent with twentie thoufand men againft Iudac, 12.Whofe men be- ginning to feaxe and fome flying be encourageth the reft,19 . resting manie examples of Gods aftBance: 22, difpoferh his armite , and preuaylech, 30. killing manie of Timethees and Bacchides men, 3.4. The principal hardly ef- caping by fight , acknowledge that God protecteth the lewes. 4 VT Iwdas Machabeus andthey that were with him, & went in fecretly into the townes: and calling together their kinfemen and taking vnto them thofe that con- tinued in ludaifme , they brought out to them fix thoufand men, 2. And (a) they inuocated our Lord, that he would haue refpect vnto his people that was mercie on thetemple, thar was contami- Bas in battel, As wel for good . fuccefle ( fup- pofing alwayes agood caufe) as alfo that eerie one aray for his owne foul, 4 bat it bein tate of grace, nated of the impious ; 3. he would haue pitie alfo vpon the deftrudtion would heare the voice of the bloud crying to him: 4. he would re- member alfo the moft vniuft deaths of innocent children, & the blaf- But Machabeus having gathered a multitude , became intolerable to the heathen : for the wrath of our Lord was turned into mercie, 6.And comming vpon the.caftels and.cities ynlooked for , he burnt them: and taking mightie ceafe , which hath iuftly been brought vpon al our ftocke. 39, aboue al the reft, caking it grieuoufly that he was mocked, 40. And this of the citie , which wasforthwith to be made flat with the ground, and phemies done to hisname,and would take indignation for them. 5,_ * Ui. 1.6, 2.0.1. ea --- PAGE 1936 --- * ite. 3.10, 4+ Reg. io OF MACHABEES. 919 taking commadious places, he made net few flaughters of the enemies:

And hudas apprached in Adarfa with three thoufand men: and ludas prayed, and fayd : gx. They that were fent-by King Sennacherib, 6 Lord , becaufe they blafphemed thee , an angel came forth, and ftruck of them an hundred eightie fiuethoufand: 42. fo deftroy this armie in our fight to day , and let the reft know that he hath {poken it vpon the hoy places: and iudge thou him according to his malice. 43. And che armies toyned battel che thirteenth day of the month Adar:and the campe of Nicanor Was difcomfited , & himfelf was flaine firlt in the battel, 44. And as his armie {aw that Nicanor was flaine , they threw away their weapons ,& fled : 45. and they purfued them one dayes iourney from Adazer , euen til ye come into Gazara, & with trumpets they founded after them with (hyW hilkesTu- das difpofed things per- teyning tore- ligion, and the commoen- wealth : De- metrius pre- pared for war- res,th.9.U.3. (a) Ofthe re- fignifications. 46. And they went forth out of al the townes of lurie round about, and they pufhed them with the hornes , and they turned -againe tothem , and they were al flaine with the fword, and there was notleft of them fo much as one, 47, And they tooke the {poiles of them for a praye : and Nicanors head they cut off and his right hand, which he had proudly ftretched-forth, & they brought ic, & hung it P apaluft lerufalem. 48. And the people reioyced exceedingly , & they {pentthat day in great gladnes. 49. And he ordayned that this day fhould be kept euerie yeare the thirteenth of the month Adar.s5o0.And the land of luda was quiet for (b) a few dayes, * : in CHAP, VIII. Iudas knowing the Rowmanes to be «molt renowmed nation. , veciting their wer- thie aes,.17. fendeth.Embaffadersto enter league with-thcms : 23. Wherto nowmed ades ofthe Romis, other Hifto- riographers haue alfo writ- tenlargely: fefpecially Li- wus, Diedorus, Varve, Pimar- chs , and ma- nie others, What places thefe were Io- fephus expref- feth,t.12.¢,17- 4 Iuflinns, Florus,: they agreeing confirme a perpetual amitie with mutaal conditions, WON D Judas heard of (4) the name of the Romanes,, that R they are mightic of power , and agree vnto al things that ; areitequefted of chem; and whofoeuer haue come ynto € them ; they haue made amitie with them’; and: that they et are mighue of power. 2, Andthey heard of their bartels, and goodlie acts , which they did ia Galatia, that they ouercame them, and brought them vnder tribute:3.and how great things they did in the countrie of Spaine ,-& that they brought into their power the metals of filuer and gold , that are there, and poffefled euerte place by their counfel and patience : 4. and deftroyed the places that were very far off from them , and the Kings that came vponthem from the ends of the *la.c. If. Usle earth, OF MACHABEES. earth, and {truck them with a great plague : and the reft giue them tri- bute euerie yeare.5, And Philip and Perfes the King of the Ceteans, & the reft that had borne weapon againf them ;they difcomfired in bat- tel , and ouereame them: 6, and that Antiochus the great King of Afia, . who made batte] againftthem, hauing (4) an hundred aad twentie ele. phants, and horfeinen, and chariots an armie exceeding great was dif- comfited by them :7.and that they tooke him.aliue,and appointed him that himfelf and they that thould-reigne after him , fhould giuc a great tribute , and he fhould giue hoftages., and the thing appointed him, 8. and the region of the Indes ; andthe. Medes , and the Liydians of their beit. countries : and the fame being taken of them, ‘they gaue to Eu- menes the King, 9.Andthatthey which were in Hellada , would haue gone to difpatch them : and the word was knowen to them, 10, and they fent vntothem one captayne, -andrhey fought -againft them., and manie of them were-flaine ,and they led away-their wines captiue , and their children, and {peiled them, and paffeffed their land, and-deflroyed ‘their wals, and brought them into bondage euen vntil this day : 11, and - the refidue of Kingdoms , and iles that fome time had refifted them, . they {poyled, and brought vnder their power. 12, But with their freinds, and thofe that refted in them, they‘kept amitte, and obreyned the King- ‘doms , that were next, and that were far off: that whofoeuer heard - their name , feared them. 13. But fuch as they would helpe to reigne, thofe reigned : and whom they would , they depofed from the King- dom ; and they were exalted exceedingly. 14. And in al thefe none bare d crowne, nor was clothed with purple , to be magnified rherin, «5. And thar they made chemfelues a court, and confultéd dayly three han- dred and twentie , that fate in counfel alwayes for the multitude , thar they might doe the things that were conuenient :16. and they commit their gouerment (c) to one man euerie yeare to rule ouer.al their land, and al they obey one, and there is. no enuie , nor emulation amongft them. 17, And Iudaschofe Eupolemus the fonne of lohn , thefonne of lacob, and Tafon the fonne of Eleazar, & he fent themto Rome to make amitie and focietie with them: 18, and that they fhouldsake trom them the yoke of the Greeks, becaufe they faw tharthey prefled the Kingdom of Ifracl vnto bondage. 19, And they went to Rome, a way exceeding great, and they entred into the court , and fayd : 20.1udas Machabeus, ‘oe forTotaith ‘day foro. and his brethren , andhe people of the lewes haue.{entvs vito you to make focietie and peace with you, and to- write vs your-felowes and treinds, 21. And the word was liked in their-fight..22. And his is the tefcript that they wrot againe in tables of .braffe , and {ent imo Jeru- falem, thatit mightbe withthemthere.a memorial of peace and fecie- tie.23, BEIT WEL TO THE ROMANES, and to thenation ofthe lewes-by fea, and by land for euer : and {word and enemie.befar from them, 24. But-and if warre be toward the Romanes firlt, or al cheir. telowes in al their dominion : 25--the nation of the Iewes fa} give: OQaqaqqq 2 877 éruters;thén’ bé~ ‘been ef one ayde.. 6)P olybius Ui,s. writeth that Antiochus had inhiswarre again Prole. meus , & ther- \fore it is not to be merueled that he had ‘120. again the 'Romans, rT