Part 611 (1/2)

3:67. So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south side of Emmaus.

3:68. And Judas said: Gird yourselves, and be valiant men, and be ready against the morning, that you may fight with these nations that are a.s.sembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.

3:59. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see the evils of our nation, and of the holies:

3:60. Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of G.o.d in heaven, so be it done.

1 Machabees Chapter 4

Judas routs the king's army. Gorgias flies before him. Lysias comes against him with a great army, but is defeated. Judas cleanses the temple, sets up a new altar, and fortifies the sanctuary.

4:1. Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of the best hors.e.m.e.n; and they removed out of the camp by night.

4:2. That they might come upon the camp of the Jews and strike them suddenly: and the men that were of the castle were their guides.

4:3. And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus.

4:4. For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp

The army was dispersed... That is, in different divisions, not altogether encamped.

4:5. And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and found no man; and he sought them in the mountains: for he said: These men flee from us.

4:6. And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men only, who neither had armour nor swords:

Who neither had armour nor swords... Such as they wished for.

4:7. And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was strong, and the men in breastplates, and the hors.e.m.e.n round about them, and these were trained up to war.

4:8. And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye not their mult.i.tude, neither be ye afraid of their a.s.sault.

4:9. Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army.

4:10. And now let us cry to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this army before our face this day:

4:11. And all nations shall know that there is one that redeemeth and delivereth Israel.

4:12. And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming against them.

4:13. And they went out of the camp to battle, and they that were with Judas sounded the trumpet.

4:14. And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed, and fled into the plain.

4:15. But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword and they pursued them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains of Idumea, and of Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of them to the number of three thousand men.

4:16. And Judas returned again with his army that followed him.

4:17. And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the spoils; for there is war before us:

4:18. And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them, and you shall take the spoils afterwards with safety.