History of the Maccabees

THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 6.28–7.16

...do even greater things than these, and you will not be able to stop them.” ^28 When the king heard this, he was very angry. He summoned his friends and the officers who were over the army. 30 Some versions read: A spear in his hand with a javelin. ^29 From other kingdoms and from the islands of the sea, many mercenary troops came to him. ^30 The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry armed with spears, and twenty thousand armored cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. War elephants were the "tanks" of the ancient world, used to break enemy lines and terrify infantry. ^31 They marched and passed through Edom. 31 Some versions: They passed through Idumea. They drew up their battle lines and surrounded the city of Beth-zur, fighting against it for many days. They prepared siege engines and machines. But the defenders came out from the city and burned the machines, fighting back with great courage. 32 Others: From that fortress. ^32 Then Judas withdrew from the citadel and marched to camp at Beth-zechariah, directly opposite the king's camp. ^33 The king rose early in the morning and moved his army toward Beth-zechariah. The troops were spread out and prepared for battle; the trumpets were sounded. 34 Others: with myrrh and mulberries. ^34 They prepared the elephants by showing them the juice of grapes, myrrh, and mulberries. original: "զմուռս և ՚ի զիփս" - It was a common ancient practice to provoke war elephants to a frenzy by showing them wine or red juices to simulate blood. ^35 They distributed the beasts among the phalanxes. For every elephant, they stationed a thousand men in coats of mail, and for the defense of the phalanxes, five thousand cavalrymen were assigned to protect the elephants. 36 Some: They will stay; wherever they go, they shall go. ^36 Wherever the beasts were, the soldiers were there also; and wherever they moved, the men moved with them. ^37 On the elephants, they fastened strong wooden towers with machines, and the elephant-drivers sat upon their heads. ^38 The rest of the cavalry was stationed on the right and left wings of the army. ^39 When the sun's rays caught the bronze and gold shields, the mountains flashed with light and shone like flaming torches. 39 Some: the tip released... from the shields... like lightning. ^40 A part of the king’s army was deployed on the high mountains and another part on the plains. 40 Some: And the heights above the mountains. ^41 They marched forward in order, and all who heard the noise of their multitude, the clashing of their arms, and the sound of the horses' hooves and the shouting of the shield-bearers were shaken. 41 Some: The fall and the heavy sound. ^42 Judas and his army approached for battle, and they engaged the king’s forces. In that place, opposite the king, six hundred armored cavalrymen were struck down. 42 Some: He made them fall as corpses. ^43 In that place, Eleazar Avaran looked up and saw one of the beasts equipped with royal armor and markings. (43) In that place, Eleazar Avaran looked up. He thought that the king himself was upon it. ^44 He charged into the midst of the phalanx, cutting down men to the right and left, until he reached the famous elephant. 44 Some: To the right and left he slaughtered until he reached the elephant marking. ^45 He went under the elephant, stabbed it, and killed it. ^46 The elephant fell upon him and crushed him to death there. ^47 When the Jews saw the strength of the king’s army, they turned away from them. ^48 But wherever they went, the royal troops met them, until they reached the region of Jerusalem. The king and his army camped in Judea and at Mount Zion. ^49 He offered terms of peace to the city of Beth-zur. The people came out of the city because they had no food there, for they had been besieged for a long time, and it was the Sabbatical year for the land. The Sabbatical year (Shmita) occurred every seven years, during which the Jews were commanded not to farm, leading to food shortages. ^50 The king took the city of Beth-zur and stationed a garrison there to guard it. ^51 Then he besieged the Holy Place for many days. He set up siege engines, machines, fire-throwers, stone-throwers, catapults for throwing arrows, and towers for slingers. 51 Some: And arrow-throwing towers and towers for slingers. ^52 The Jews also built machines to counter the king's machines and fought for many

days. 52 Some: Against his machines. ^53 But they found no food, for it was the seventh year in the land, and those who had fled for safety from the Gentiles had consumed the stored provisions. 53 Others: For the refugees of the nation. ^54 Only a few men remained in the Holy Place, for the famine had become so severe that the rest had scattered to their own places. ^55 Then Lysias heard that Philip—whom King Antiochus, before his death, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus to be king— 55 Oskan: When Lysias heard. ^56 had returned from Persia and Media with the king's army, and that he was seeking to take control of the government. 56 In the margin: All the troops went over to him. According to some in the original. ^57 So Lysias went and said to the king and the commanders: “We are suffering every day; our food is low, and our provisions are short. The place we are besieging is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom depend on us. ^58 Now let us offer terms of peace and make a treaty with these men and their nation. 58 Others: speak for reconciliation. Oskan: With the men of that nation. ^59 Let us agree that they may live by their own laws as they did before. For it was on account of their laws, which we tried to abolish, that they became angry and did all these things.” ^60 The proposal pleased the king and the commanders, and he sent messengers to offer peace, which the Jews accepted. ^61 The king and the commanders gave them their oath, and then the Jews came out from their stronghold. ^62 But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw how strong the place was, he broke the oath he had sworn. 62 Some: And he lied regarding the oath which. He gave orders to pull down the wall all around. ^63 Then he departed in haste for Antioch and found Philip in control of the city. He fought against him and took the city by force.

7 In the one hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, son of Seleucus, escaped from Rome. He came with a few men to a city by the sea and began his reign there. Demetrius I Soter was the rightful heir to the Seleucid throne who had been a hostage in Rome. ^2 As he was entering the royal palace of his ancestors, his troops seized Lysias and Antiochus to bring them to him. 7.2 Some: They brought them bound to De[metrius]. ^3 When they were shown to Demetrius, he said, "Do not let me see their faces!" 3 Some: Their faces to me. ^4 So the soldiers took them away and killed them, and Demetrius sat upon his royal throne. 4 Others: Outside the troops, and took. ^5 Then there came to him all the lawless and godless men of Israel, led by Alcimus, who wanted to be the high priest. ^6 They accused the people before the king, saying, "Judas and his brothers have killed all your friends and have driven us out of our land. ^7 Now send a man whom you trust to go and see the ruin he has brought upon us and the king's land, and let him punish them and all who help them." ^8 The king chose Bacchides, one of the King's Friends, the governor of the region Beyond the River, a great man in the kingdom and faithful to the king. The "King's Friends" was an elite rank of advisors and commanders in the Seleucid court. ^9 He sent him and the godless Alcimus, confirming him in the high priesthood, and commanded him to take vengeance on the children of Israel. ^10 So they set out with a large army and came to the land of Judah. He sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with deceitful words of peace. 10 Oskan adds: from that place to Judas, and to. ^11 But they paid no attention to his words, for they saw that he had come with a great army. 11 In the margin: To their words. According to some in the original. ^12 Then a group of scribes gathered before Bacchides and Alcimus to ask for justice. ^13 The Hasideans were the first among the children of Israel to seek peace from them. 13 Some: Were among the sons. The Hasideans (Assideans) were a group of pious Jews who were more concerned with religious freedom than political independence. ^14 For they said, "A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army; he will not do us any wrong." ^15 He spoke peaceful words to them and swore an oath, saying, "We will do no harm to you or your friends." ^16 They believed him, but he seized sixty of them and killed them in one day, according to the word...