1 But after the space of three years Judas understood, and they that were with him, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus with a strong multitude, & with ships was come up by the port of Tripolis to commodious places,
1 But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis, to places proper for his purpose,
2 and held the countries against Antiochus, and his governor Lysias.
2 And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general, Lysias.
3 And one Alcimus that had been highpriest, but voluntarily was contaminated in the time of the confusion, considering that there was safety for him by no means, nor access to the altar,
3 Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had willfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
4 came to king Demetrius in the year an hundred fifty, offering him a crown of gold, & a palm, & besides these, Talloes, which seemed to be of the temple. And that same day indeed he held his peace.
4 Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs that seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.
5 But having gotten a commodious time for his madness, being called of Demetrius to counsel, and asked on what thing and counsels the Jews rested, he answered:
5 But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,
6 They of the Jews that are called Assidians, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish battles, and move seditions, neither do they suffer the realm to be quiet.
6 He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.
7 For I also being defrauded of my ancestors' glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am come hither:
7 For I also being deprived of my ancestor’s glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:
8 principally indeed keeping fidelity to the king's commodities, but secondly also providing for my citizens, for by their naughtiness all our stock is not a little vexed.
8 Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king’s interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of these men.
9 But all these things being known, o king, provide I pray thee, both for the country, and for our stock according to thy humanity published to all men.
9 Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men.
10 For as long as Judas is alive, it is unpossible that there be peace to the affairs.
10 For as long as Judas liveth it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
11 And such things being said of him, the other friends also behaving themselves as enemies against Judas, incensed Demetrius.
11 Now when this man had spoken to this effect the rest also of the king’s friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.
12 Who forthwith sent Nicanor, chief over the elephants captain into Jurie:
12 And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:
13 giving him commission, that he should take Judas himself: but them that were with him, he should disperse, & make Alcimus the high priest of the greatest temple.
13 Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.
14 Then the nations, which had fled from Judas out of Jurie, joined themselves by troops with Nicanor, esteeming the miseries and calamities of the Jews the prosperities of their own affairs.
14 Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea, from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.
15 The Jews therefore having heard of Nicanor's coming, and the assembly of the nations, being sprinkled with earth besought him, that ordained his people to keep them for ever, & that protecteth his portion by evident signs.
15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him who chose his people to keep them forever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.
16 And the captain commanding forthwith they removed from thence, and they came together to the castle of Dessau.
16 Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.
17 And Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor: but he was made afraid with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
17 Now Simon, the brother of Judas, had joined battle with Nicanor: but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
18 Nevertheless Nicanor hearing the manliness of Judas' companions, & greatness of courage, that they had for the conflicts of their country, was afraid to make trial by blood.
18 Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valor of Judas’ companions, and the greatness of courage, with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.
19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to give and take the right hands.
19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius and Matthias before to present and receive the right hands.
20 And when there was long consultation of these things, and the captain himself had moved it to the multitude, there was one sentence of them all to accord unto amity.
20 And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, they were all of one mind to consent to covenants.
21 Therefore they appointed a day, wherein they might secretly deal among themselves, and seats were brought forth & set for every one.
21 So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.
22 But Judas commanded armed men to be in places convenient, lest perhaps some mischief might suddenly arise from the enemies: and they made agreeable communication.
22 But Judas ordered armed men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might be suddenly practiced by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.
23 Nicanor abode at Jerusalem, and did nothing unjustly, and the flocks of the multitudes, that had been gathered together he diminished.
23 And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.
24 And he esteemed Judas always dear from the heart, and he was inclined to the man.
24 And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.
25 And he desired him to marry a wife, and to beget children. He made a marriage, he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
25 And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
26 But Alcimus seeing their charity one towards another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor assented to foreign matters, and that he meant to make Judas being a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
26 But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor had assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
27 Therefore the king being exasperated with this man's most wicked criminations, wrote to Nicanor, saying, that he indeed was greatly displeased for the covenant of their amity: nevertheless that he commanded him to send Machabeus quickly prisoner to Antioch.
27 Then the king, being in a rage, and provoked with this man’s wicked accusation, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.
28 Which things being known Nicanor was amazed, and took it grievously, if he should undo those things which they had covenanted, being nothing hurt of the man.
28 When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.
29 But because he could not resist the king, he observed opportunity whereby to accomplish the commandment.
29 But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders
30 But Machabeus seeing that Nicanor dealt with him more austerely, and that he exhibited his accustomed meeting more sternly, understanding this austerity not to be of good, a few of his company gathered together, he hid himself from Nicanor.
30 But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner; and was sensible that this rough behavior came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.
31 Which when he understood that he was stoutly prevented of the man, he came to the most great and most holy temple: and the Priests offering the accustomed hosts, he commanded the man to be delivered unto him.
31 But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
32 Who saying with an oath, that they knew not where he was, that was demanded, stretching out his hand to the temple,
32 And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,
33 he sware, saying: Unless you will deliver Judas prisoner unto me, I will beat down this temple of God to the flat ground, and will dig down the altar, and this temple I will consecrate to Liber pater.
33 And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.
34 And when he had said these things, he departed. But the Priests stretching forth their hands unto heaven, invocated him that was always the defender of their nation, saying thus:
34 And when he had spoken thus, he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35 Thou o Lord of all, which lackest nothing, wouldest a temple of thy habitation to be made among us.
35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.
36 And now o Lord holy of all holies, preserve for ever this house impolluted, which of late hath been cleansed.
36 Therefore now, O Lord, the holy of all holies, keep this house forever undefiled, which was lately cleansed.
37 And Razias one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and well reported of, who for his affection was called father of the Jews.
37 Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his kindness was called the father of the Jews.
38 This man long time kept the purpose of continency in Judaism, and content to give his body and life for perseverance.
38 This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews’ religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.
39 But Nicanor willing to manifest the hatred that he had against the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
39 So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
40 For he thought if he had entrapped him, that he should do the Jews very great hurt.
40 For he thought by ensnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.
41 But the multitudes coveting to rush into his house, and to break open the gate, and to set fire thereto, when he was in taking, he struck himself with a sword:
41 Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:
42 choosing to die nobly rather than to be made subject to sinners, and against his noble birth to suffer unworthy injuries.
42 Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.
43 But whereas for haste he had not made the wound with a sure struck, and the multitudes brake in within the doors, running back boldly to the wall, he threw down himself manfully headlong unto the multitudes:
43 But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:
44 who quickly giving place to his fall he fell upon his neck.
44 But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.
45 And when he had breathed, incensed in mind he arose: and when his blood ran with a great stream, and he was wounded with most grievous wounds, running he passed through the multitude:
45 And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind, he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:
46 and standing upon a certain steep rock, and now being become without blood, griping his bowels, with both hands he cast them upon multitudes, invocating the dominatour of life and spirit, that he would restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.
46 And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels, with both hands he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.