2 Maccabees

1But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day. 2Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all other days. 3Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept. 4And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and…

1After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy, 2Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his protector. 3Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar, 4Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also…

1In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea, 2And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks. 3Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor. 4But the King of kings moved…

1When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry. 2But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace. 3The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt. 4Who accepted of it according to…

1Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done. 2And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles, 3And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: 4Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and…

1Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city: 2But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down. 3And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and shewbread. 4When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any more against him, that he himself would…

1About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia 2For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame. 3Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus. 4Then swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made…

1Then Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them all such as continued in the Jews' religion, and assembled about six thousand men. 2And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people that was trodden down of all; and also pity the temple profaned of ungodly men; 3And that he would have compassion upon the city, sore defaced, and ready to be made even with the ground; and hear the blood that cried unto him, 4And remember the wicked slaughter of harmless…

1It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips. 2But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers. 3Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot: 4Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost…

1Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God: 2And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place. 3The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people: 4For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had…