Part 633 (2/2)

9:15. And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.

9:16. The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.

9:17. Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of G.o.d.

9:18. But his pains not ceasing, (for the just judgment of G.o.d was come upon him) despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:

9:19. To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness.

9:20. If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.

9:21. As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:

9:22. Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.

9:23. But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:

9:24. To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.

9:25. Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.

9:26. I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.

9:27. For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.

9:28. Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country, among the mountains.

9:29. But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.

2 Machabees Chapter 10

The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His victory over Timotheus.

10:1. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

10:2. But he threw down the altars which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

10:3. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition.

10:4. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

10:5. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers on the very same day it was cleansed again; to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

10:6. And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

10:7. Therefore they now carried boughs and green branches and palms, for him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

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