Lysi as's re pare for er attack Traditional History wildest beasts and walls of iron, 10they advanced in array with him who came from Heaven to fight on their side, for the Lord had mercy on them. 11 Hurling themselves like lions on the enemy they slew of them eleven thousand footmen and sixteen hundred horsemen 12and forced all the rest to flee. But the greater part of them escaped wounded and naked. And Lysias also saved himself by shameful flight. History of the Hasmo neans: II Mac. 4 35But when treat to Lysias saw that his army pre- was retreating, and the anoth- boldness that had come upon those who were with Judas, and how they were ready either to live or to die nobly, he removed to Antioch and gathered together hired soldiers, that he might come again into Judea with a still greater force. His letter to the Jews Letter of Antiochus Jews treaty Judas 13 But as he was a man not without under- Lysistanding, after reflecting upon the defeat which ass had befallen him, he considered that the He- with brews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God fought on their side, and so he sent again 14and persuaded them to come to terms on perfectly just conditions, and promised that he would also constrain the king to become their friend. 15And Maccabeus gave consent to all that Lysias proposed, for whatever requests Maccabeus delivered in writing to Lysias concerning the Jews the king allowed. 16 For the letter written to the Jews from Lysias was to this effect: Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. 17John and Absalom, your messengers, having delivered the document signed by you," inquired concerning the things therein. 18Whatever, therefore, needed also to be brought before the king, these I reported, and whatever was possible he allowed. 19If then you will preserve your good-will toward the state, henceforth I also will endeavor to contribute to your welfare. 20In regard to the particulars, I have given order, both to these men and to those who are sent from me, to confer with you. 21 Fare you well. Written in the one hundred and fortyeighth year, on the twenty-fourth day of the month Dioscorinthus.x 22 And the king's letter was to this effect: King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. 23After our father deV con parted to the gods, it was our wish that the subjects of our kingdom should cerning the attend to the care of their own affairs undisturbed. 24Having heard that the Jews object to our father's purpose to convert them to the Greek usages, preferring their own manner of living and requesting that their own customs be allowed to them-25we therefore, desiring also that this nation should be free from disturbance, decide that their temple be restored to them, and that they live according to the customs which were in the days of their II Mac. 1116 Or, letters. 1117 Or possibly, the document written below. 1121 This word is evidently a corruption, either for the Cretan name of a month (Dioscuri) or else of the Macedonian month, Dius, November (so Syr.). Probably it is for March. 113. Traditional History ancestors. 26 You will therefore do well to send to them, and give them the right hand of friendship, that they, knowing our purpose, may be in good spirits and gladly devote themselves to their own affairs. 27 And to the nation the king's letter was as follows: His letter to King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting. etter 28If you fare well, we have our desire. We ourselves also are in good health. 29 Menelaus informed us that you desired to depart and attend to your own business. 30They, therefore, who depart up to the thirtieth day of Xanthicusa shall have our friendship, 31with full permission to the Jews to use their own laws, even as heretofore; and none of them shall be in any way molested for what was done in ignorance. 32I have moreover sent Menelaus to encourage you. 33 Fare you well. Written in the hundred and forty-eighth year,b on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus. 34And the Romans also sent to them a letter which read thus: from Ro mans Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, to Letter the Jewish people, greeting. 35In regard to the concessions which Lysias the the king's kinsman granted you, we also give consent. 36But as for the things which he judged should be referred to the king, as soon as you have considered these send some one at once that we may publish such decrees as befit your case, for we are on our way to Antioch. 37Therefore send some one quickly, that we also may learn what is your opinion. 38 Farewell. Written in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus. 12 When these agreements had been made Lysias departed to the Lysiking, and the Jews attended to their farming. § 181. Purification of the Temple and Restoration of its Service, I Mac. 436-61, II Mac. 101-9 History of the Hasmoneans Traditional History as's departure monial resto of the II Mac. 10 Then CereMaccabeus and those cleanswho were with him, ing and under the guidance of ration the Lord, recovered temple the temple and the 2And they pulled down the altars which had been built in the market I Mac. 4 36Then Judas and his brothers said, Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and to dedicate it again; so they went up to Mount Zion. 37 And all the army was gathered together and went up to Mount Zion. 38 And when they saw the sanctuary laid desolate, the altar profaned, the gates burnt, and shrubs growing in the courts, as in a forest or as on one of the mountains, and the priests' chambers pulled down, 39they tore their garments and made great lamentation, 40 and putting ashes upon their heads, they fell prone place by the for city. 1130 The Macedonian name of the Jewish month Nisan (Mar.-Apr.). b 113 165 B.C. § 181 I Mac. 103 makes the period during which the temple was desecrated two years; Josephus three and one-half years; but I Mac. exactly, three years, from Dec., 168 (154) to Dec., 165 (452). Institution of the dedica tion History of the Hasmoneans с upon the ground. Then they blew a signal on the e 52 And they arose early in the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is feast of the month Chislev, in the one hundred and fortyeighth year, 53and offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt-offering which they had made. 54 About the same time and on the same day, in which the heathen had profaned it, was it dedicated again with songs and harps and lutes and with cymbals. 55And all the people prostrated themselves and worshipped and gave praise to Heaven, who had given them good success. 56And they celebrated the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered Traditional History eigners and also the sacred places. 3And when they had cleansed the sanct uary they made another altar for sacrifice, and they struck sparks from stones and got fire out of them, and offered sacrifices, after an interval of two years, and attended to the incense and lights and the setting-forth of the showbread. 4After doing these things, they prostrated themselves and besought the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if ever they should sin again, they might be chastened by him with forbearance and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen. 5Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, upon that very day it came to pass that the cleansing of the sanctuary occurred, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chislev. 6And they kept eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how that not I Mac. 441 I.e., to distract their attention and thus to anticipate an unexpected sally. dI Mac. 447 Ex. 2025, Dt. 276. I Mac. 452 Dec., 165 B.C. History of the Hasmoneans burnt-offerings with gladness and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57 And they decorated the front of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields and rededicated the gates and the priests' chambers and made doors for them. 58And great joy reigned among the people, because the reproach of the heathen had been removed. 59 And Judas and his brothers and the whole congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons from year to year for the period of eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev, with gladness and joy. 60At that time also they fortified Mount Zion with high walls and strong towers all round, lest by any chance the heathen should come and tread them down, as they had done before. 61 And he stationed there a force to keep it, and they fortified Bethsura, that the people might have a stronghold in Idumea. Traditional History long before, during the $182. Successful Campaigns against the Surrounding Nations, I Mac. 5, II Mac. 1014-38, 122-45 History of the Hasmo neans I Mac. 5 1Now when the heathen round about heard that the altar had been built and the sanctuary dedicated as it was formerly, they were very angry and concluded 2to destroy the race of Jacob that was in the midst of them, and they began to slay and destroy among the people. 3Judas, however, fought against the people of Esau in Idumea Traditional History the means other Jews II Mac. 10 14 But Gorgias, when he became Slaughgovernor of the district, maintained a force of ter of mercenaries and at every turn kept up war with Iduthe Jews. 15And together with him the Idu- and means also, being masters of important strong-foes of holds, were harassing the Jews; and by receiving the the refugees from Jerusalem, were attempting to keep up war. 16 But Maccabeus and his men, having made solemn supplication, and having besought God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Idumeans, 17and by a vigorous assault made themselves masters of the positions and repulsed all who fought upon the wall and slew those who fell in their way. They § 182 I Mac. has a much simpler and more consistent narrative. That the account of Timotheus's campaign in II Mac. belongs before the account of his death in 10 is perfectly clear: At certain points both sources are evidently dependent upon popular tradition, and are therefore somewhat vague and confusing. It is also difficult to identify the parallels, for the variations are exceedingly wide. Out rage upon the Jews at History of the Hasmo neans at Akrabattine, because Traditional History killed no fewer than twenty thousand. 18Then, since no less than nine thousand had fled into two exceedingly strong towers, supplied with all things needed for a siege, 19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and also Zaccheus and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them and himself departed to places where he was most needed. 20But the officers of Simon, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by certain of those who were in the towers, and upon the receipt of seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip away. 21 When this act was reported to Maccabeus, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused these of having sold their fellow-countrymen for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22So he slew these men for having turned traitors and forthwith captured the two towers. 23Succeeding with his arms in all things, he put to death in the two strongholds more than twenty thousand. 12 2But certain of the governors of districts, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Genneus, and Hieronymus also and Demophon, and besides these Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not permit them to enjoy tranquillity Joppa and live in peace. 3And men of Joppa perpetrated this most impious deed: they invited the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had provided, as though they had no illwill toward them, but in accordance with the common decree of the city. And when these accepted, because they desired to live in peace and suspected nothing, they took them out to sea and drowned them, not less than two hundred in all. Judas's ven geance upon Joppa and 5But as soon as Judas heard of the cruelty done to his fellow-countrymen, he command to the men who were with him, and calling upon God the gave righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his fellow-countrymen and set the harbor on fire by night and burned the boats and put to the sword Jamnia those who had fled thither. 7As the town was closed against him, he withdrew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men of Joppa. But learning that the men of Jamnia were also disposed to act in the same manner against the Jews who were living among them, he likewise attacked the Jamnites by night and set fire to the harbor, together with the fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen as far as Jerusalem, twenty-seven and one-half miles away. hI Mac. 53 Probably in the region of the Scorpion Pass at the south of the Salt Sea, cf. Num. 344. i II Mac. 1020 Or, Simon and those who were with him. II Mac. 12 Or, when these were thinking that they (the men of Joppa) desired peace and would awake no suspicion. |