Part 634 (1/2)
10:8. And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.
10:9. And this was the end of Antiochus, that was called the Ill.u.s.trious.
10:10. But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator, the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.
10:11. For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.
10:12. For Ptolemee, that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them. 10:13. But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus, which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Ill.u.s.trious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.
10:14. But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.
10:15. And the Jews that occupied the most commodious holds, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.
The Jews, etc... He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed their countrymen.
10:16. Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:
10:17. And a.s.saulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.
10:18. And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,
10:19. Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them, in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.
10:20. Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.
10:21. But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he a.s.sembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape. 10:22. So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.
10:23. And having good success in arms, and all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.
10:24. But Timotheus, who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a mult.i.tude of foreign troops, and a.s.sembled hors.e.m.e.n out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.
10:26. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads, and girding their loins with haircloth,
10:26. And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.
10:27. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.
10:28. But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having, with their valour, the Lord for a surety of victory, and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.
10:29. But when they were in the heat of the engagement, there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely, with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:
10:30. Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and fireb.a.l.l.s against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.
10:31. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred hors.e.m.e.n.
10:32. But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong hold where Chereas was governor.
10:33. Then Machabeus, and they that were with him cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.
10:34. But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.