Part 612 (1/2)

4:44. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been profaned, what he should do with it.

4:45. And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.

4:46. And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple, in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer concerning them.

4:47. Then they took whole stones, according to the law and built a new altar, according to the former:

4:48. And they built up the holy places, and the things that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple and the courts.

4:49. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table, into the temple.

4:50. And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple.

4:51. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun to make.

4:52. And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.

4:53. And they offered sacrifice, according to the law, upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.

4:54. According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals.

4:55. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them.

4:56. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.

4:57. And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.

4:58. And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.

4:59. And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.

4:60. They built up also at that time Mount Sion, with high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down, as they did before.

4:61. And he placed a garrison there, to keep it, and he fortified it, to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defence against Idumea.

1 Machabees Chapter 5

Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against their enemies, are defeated.

5:1. Now it came to pa.s.s, when the nations round about heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up, as before, that they were exceeding angry.

5:2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute them.

5:3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites round about, and he made a great slaughter of them.

5:4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by lying in wait for them in the way.

5:5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were in them.

5:6. Then he pa.s.sed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain: