Bible in 90 Days

Sabbath Observance. ^15 (A)In those days I perceived that people in Judah were treading the wine presses on the sabbath; that they were bringing in sheaves of grain, loading them on their donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs, and every other kind of load, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the sabbath day. I warned them to sell none of these provisions. ¹⁶ In Jerusalem itself the Tyrians residing there were importing fish and every other kind of merchandise and selling it to the Judahites on the sabbath. ¹⁷ I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, demanding: “What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? ¹⁸ Did not your ancestors act in this same way, with the result that our God has brought all this evil upon us and upon this city? Would you add to the wrath against Israel by once more profaning the sabbath?”

¹⁹ When the shadows were falling on the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed and prohibited their reopening until after the sabbath. I posted some of my own people at the gates so that no load might enter on the sabbath day. ²⁰ The merchants and sellers of various kinds of merchandise spent the night once or twice outside Jerusalem, ²¹ but then I warned them: “Why do you spend the night alongside the wall? If you keep this up, I will beat you!” From that time on, they did not return on the sabbath. ²² Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to watch the gates, so that the sabbath day might be kept holy. This, too, remember in my favor, my God, and have mercy on me in accordance with your great mercy!

Mixed Marriages. ^23 (B)Also in those days I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, or Moab. ²⁴ Of their children, half spoke the language of Ashdod,^[a] or of one of the other peoples, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah. ²⁵ So I reprimanded and cursed them; I beat some of their men and pulled out their hair; and I adjured them by God: “You shall not marry your daughters to their sons nor accept any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves! ^26 (C)Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin because of them? Though among the many nations there was no king like him, and though he was beloved of his God and God had made him king over all Israel, yet even he was led into sin by foreign women. ²⁷ Must it also be heard of you that you have done this same terrible evil, betraying our God by marrying foreign women?”

^28 (D)One of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite! I drove him from my presence. ²⁹ Remember against them, my God, how they defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites!

³⁰ So I cleansed them of all foreign contamination. I established the various functions for the priests and Levites, so that each had an appointed task. ^31 (E)I also provided for the procurement of wood at stated times and for the first fruits. Remember this in my favor, my God!

Chapter 1

Tobit. ¹ This book tells the story of Tobit,^[b] son of Tobiel, son of Hananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, son of Raphael, son of Raguel, of the family of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali. ² During the days of Shalmaneser,^[c] king of the Assyrians, he was taken captive from Thisbe, which is south of Kedesh Naphtali in upper Galilee, above and to the west of Asher, north of Phogor.^(F)

I. Tobit’s Ordeals

His Virtue. ³ I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on paths of fidelity and righteousness. I performed many charitable deeds for my kindred and my people who had been taken captive with me to Nineveh, in the land of the Assyrians. ⁴ When I lived as a young man in my own country, in the land of Israel, the entire tribe of my ancestor Naphtali broke away from the house of David, my ancestor, and from Jerusalem, the city that had been singled out of all Israel’s tribes that all Israel might offer sacrifice there. It was the place where the temple, God’s dwelling, had been built and consecrated for all generations to come. ^5 (G)All my kindred, as well as the house of Naphtali, my ancestor, used to offer sacrifice on every hilltop in Galilee to the calf that Jeroboam, king of Israel, had made in Dan.^[d]

^6 (H)But I alone used to go often to Jerusalem for the festivals, as was prescribed for all Israel by longstanding decree.^[e] Bringing with me the first fruits of crops, the firstlings of the flock, the tithes of livestock, and the first shearings of sheep,^(I) I used to hasten to Jerusalem ^7 (J)and present them to the priests, Aaron’s sons, at the altar. To the Levites ministering in Jerusalem I used to give the tithe of grain, wine, olive oil, pomegranates, figs, and other fruits. Six years in a row, I used to give a second tithe in money, which each year I would go to pay in Jerusalem. ⁸ The third-year tithe I gave to orphans, widows, and converts who had joined the Israelites. Every third year I would bring them this offering, and we ate it in keeping with the decree laid down in the Mosaic law concerning it, and according to the commands of Deborah, the mother of my father Tobiel; for my father had died and left me an orphan.

⁹ When I reached manhood, I married Anna, a woman of our ancestral family. By her I had a son whom I named Tobiah. ¹⁰ Now, after I had been deported to the Assyrians and came as a captive to Nineveh, all my kindred and my people used to eat the food of the Gentiles,^{(K) 11} but I refrained from eating that Gentile food. ¹² Because I was mindful of God with all my heart, ¹³ the Most High granted me favor and status with Shalmaneser, so that I became purchasing agent for all his needs.^{(L) 14} Until he died, I would go to Media to buy goods for him there. I also deposited pouches of silver worth ten talents^[f] in trust with my kinsman Gabael, son of Gabri, who lived at Rages, in the land of Media. ¹⁵ When Shalmaneser died and his son Sennacherib^[g] came to rule in his stead, the roads to Media became unsafe, so I could no longer go to Media.

Courage in Burying the Dead. ¹⁶ In the days of Shalmaneser I had performed many charitable deeds for my kindred, members of my people. ^17 (M)I would give my bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked. If I saw one of my people who had died and been thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I used to bury him.^{[h] 18} Sennacherib returned from Judea, having fled during the days of the judgment enacted against him by the King of Heaven because of the blasphemies he had uttered; whomever he killed I buried. For in his rage he killed many Israelites, but I used to take their bodies away by stealth and bury them. So when Sennacherib looked for them, he could not find them. ¹⁹ But a certain Ninevite went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them, and I went into hiding. When I realized that the king knew about me and that I was being hunted to be put to death, I became afraid and took flight. ²⁰ All my property was confiscated; I was left with nothing. All that I had was taken to the king’s palace, except for my wife Anna and my son Tobiah.^[i]

²¹ But forty days did not pass before two of the king’s sons assassinated him and fled to the mountains of Ararat. A son of his, Esarhaddon,^[j] succeeded him as king. He put Ahiqar, my kinsman Anael’s son, in charge of all the credit accounts of his kingdom, and he took control over the entire administration.^{(N) 22} Then Ahiqar interceded on my behalf, and I returned to Nineveh. Ahiqar had been chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet ring, treasury accountant, and credit accountant under Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians; and Esarhaddon appointed him as Second to himself. He was, in fact, my nephew, of my father’s house, and of my own family.

Chapter 2

¹ Thus under King Esarhaddon I returned to my home, and my wife Anna and my son Tobiah were restored to me. Then on our festival of Pentecost, the holy feast of Weeks,^[k] a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat.^{(O) 2} The table was set for me, and the dishes placed before me were many. So I said to my son Tobiah: “Son, go out and bring in whatever poor person you find among our kindred exiled here in Nineveh who may be a sincere worshiper of God to share this meal with me. Indeed, son, I shall wait for you to come back.”^[l]

³ Tobiah went out to look for some poor person among our kindred, but he came back and cried, “Father!” I said to him, “Here I am, son.” He answered, “Father, one of our people has been murdered! He has been thrown out into the market place, and there he lies strangled.” ⁴ I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched, carried the dead man from the square, and put him in one of the rooms until sundown, so that I might bury him. ⁵ I returned and washed^[m] and in sorrow ate my food.^{(P) 6} I remembered the oracle pronounced by the prophet Amos against Bethel:^(Q)

⁷ Then I wept. At sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him.

⁸ My neighbors mocked me, saying: “Does he have no fear? Once before he was hunted, to be executed for this sort of deed, and he ran away; yet here he is again burying the dead!”

Tobit’s Blindness. ⁹ That same night I washed and went into my courtyard, where I lay down to sleep beside the wall. Because of the heat I left my face uncovered. ¹⁰ I did not know that sparrows were perched on the wall above me; their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing white scales^[n] on them. I went to doctors for a cure, but the more they applied ointments, the more my vision was obscured by the white scales, until I was totally blind. For four years I was unable to see, and all my kindred were distressed at my condition. Ahiqar, however, took care of me for two years, until he left for Elam.

¹¹ At that time my wife Anna worked for hire at weaving cloth, doing the kind of work women do. ¹² When she delivered the material to her employers, they would pay her a wage. On the seventh day of the month of Dystrus,^[o] she finished the woven cloth and delivered it to her employers. They paid her the full salary and also gave her a young goat for a meal. ¹³ On entering my house, the goat began to bleat. So I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from? It was not stolen, was it? Give it back to its owners; we have no right to eat anything stolen!” ^14 (R)But she said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.” Yet I would not believe her and told her to give it back to its owners. I flushed with anger at her over this. So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your righteous acts? Look! All that has happened to you is well known!”^[p]

Chapter 3

¹ Then sad at heart, I groaned and wept aloud. With sobs I began to pray:^[q]

Tobit’s Prayer for Death

II. Sarah’s Plight

Sarah Falsely Accused. ^7 [s]On that very day, at Ecbatana in Media, it so happened that Raguel’s daughter Sarah also had to listen to reproaches from one of her father’s maids. ⁸ For she had been given in marriage to seven husbands, but the wicked demon Asmodeus^[t] kept killing them off before they could have intercourse with her, as is prescribed for wives. The maid said to her: “You are the one who kills your husbands! Look! You have already been given in marriage to seven husbands, but you do not bear the name of a single one of them. ⁹ Why do you beat us? Because your husbands are dead? Go, join them! May we never see son or daughter of yours!”

¹⁰ That day Sarah was sad at heart. She went in tears to an upstairs room in her father’s house and wanted to hang herself. But she reconsidered, saying to herself: “No! May people never reproach my father and say to him, ‘You had only one beloved daughter, but she hanged herself because of her misfortune.’ And thus would I bring my father laden with sorrow in his old age to Hades. It is far better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord that I might die, and no longer have to listen to such reproaches in my lifetime.”^(W)

¹¹ At that same time, with hands outstretched toward the window,^[u] she implored favor:

Sarah’s Prayer for Death

An Answer to Prayer. ¹⁶ At that very time, the prayer of both of them was heard in the glorious presence of God. ^17 (Y)So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the white scales from Tobit’s eyes, so that he might again see with his own eyes God’s light; and to give Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, as a wife to Tobiah, the son of Tobit, and to rid her of the wicked demon Asmodeus. For it fell to Tobiah’s lot^[v] to claim her before any others who might wish to marry her.

At that very moment Tobit turned from the courtyard to his house, and Raguel’s daughter Sarah came down from the upstairs room.

III. Preparation for the Journey

Chapter 4

A Father’s Instruction. ¹ That same day Tobit remembered the money he had deposited in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media. ² He thought to himself, “Now that I have asked for death, why should I not call my son Tobiah and let him know about this money before I die?” ³ So he called his son Tobiah; and when he came, he said to him:^[w] “Son, when I die, give me a decent burial. Honor your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way.^{(Z) 4} Remember, son, how she went through many dangers for you while you were in her womb. When she dies, bury her in the same grave with me.

⁵ “Through all your days, son, keep the Lord in mind, and do not seek to sin or to transgress the commandments. Perform righteous deeds all the days of your life, and do not tread the paths of wickedness. ^6 (AA)For those who act with fidelity, all who practice righteousness, will prosper in their affairs.^[x]

⁷ “Give alms from your possessions. Do not turn your face away from any of the poor, so that God’s face will not be turned away from you.^{(AB) 8} Give in proportion to what you own. If you have great wealth, give alms out of your abundance; if you have but little, do not be afraid to give alms even of that little. ⁹ You will be storing up a goodly treasure for yourself against the day of adversity.^{(AC) 10} For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps one from entering into Darkness. ¹¹ Almsgiving is a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who practice it.^(AD)

¹² “Be on your guard, son, against every kind of fornication, and above all, marry a woman of your own ancestral family. Do not marry a foreign woman, one who is not of your father’s tribe, because we are descendants of the prophets, who were the first to speak the truth. Noah prophesied first, then Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our ancestors from the beginning of time. Son, remember that all of them took wives from among their own kindred and were blessed in their children, and that their posterity would inherit the land.^{(AE) 13} Therefore, son, love your kindred. Do not act arrogantly toward any of them, the sons and daughters of your people, by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in arrogance there is ruin and great instability. In idleness there is loss and dire poverty, for idleness is the mother of famine.

¹⁴ “Do not keep with you overnight the wages of those who have worked for you, but pay them at once. If you serve God thus, you will receive your reward. Be on your guard, son, in everything you do; be wise in all that you say and discipline yourself in all your conduct.^{(AF) 15} Do to no one what you yourself hate. Do not drink wine till you become drunk or let drunkenness accompany you on your way.^(AG)

^16 (AH)“Give to the hungry some of your food, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and do not let your eye begrudge the alms that you give. ^17 (AI)Pour out your wine and your bread on the grave of the righteous, but do not share them with sinners.^[y]

¹⁸ “Seek counsel from every wise person, and do not think lightly of any useful advice. ^19 (AJ)At all times bless the Lord, your God, and ask him that all your paths may be straight and all your endeavors and plans may prosper. For no other nation possesses good counsel, but it is the Lord who gives all good things. Whomever the Lord chooses to raise is raised; and whomever the Lord chooses to cast down is cast down to the recesses of Hades. So now, son, keep in mind these my commandments, and never let them be erased from your heart.

²⁰ “Now, I must tell you, son, that I have deposited in trust ten talents of silver with Gabael, the son of Gabri, at Rages in Media. ²¹ Do not fear, son, that we have lived in poverty. You will have great wealth, if you fear God, avoid all sin, and do what is good before the Lord your God.”^(AK)

Chapter 5

The Angel Raphael. ¹ Then Tobiah replied to his father Tobit: “Everything that you have commanded me, father, I shall do. ² But how will I be able to get that money from him, since he does not know me, and I do not know him? What sign can I give him so that he will recognize and trust me, and give me the money? I do not even know the roads to Media, in order to go there.” ³ Tobit answered his son Tobiah: “He gave me his bond,^[z] and I gave him mine; I divided his into two parts, and each of us took one part; I put one part with the money. It is twenty years since I deposited that money! So, son, find yourself a trustworthy person who will make the journey with you, and we will give him wages when you return; but bring back that money from Gabael while I am still alive.”

⁴ Tobiah went out to look for someone who would travel with him to Media, someone who knew the way. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing before him (though he did not know^[aa] that this was an angel of God).^{(AL) 5} Tobiah said to him, “Where do you come from, young man?” He replied, “I am an Israelite, one of your kindred. I have come here to work.” Tobiah said to him, “Do you know the way to Media?” ⁶ “Yes,” he replied, “I have been there many times. I know the place well and am acquainted with all the routes. I have often traveled to Media; I used to stay with our kinsman Gabael, who lives at Rages in Media. It is a good two days’ journey from Ecbatana to Rages,^[ab] for Rages is situated in the mountains, but Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.” ⁷ Tobiah said to him, “Wait for me, young man, till I go in and tell my father; for I need you to make the journey with me. I will pay you your wages.”^{(AM) 8} He replied, “Very well, I will wait; but do not be long.”

⁹ Tobiah went in and informed his father Tobit: “I have found someone of our own Israelite kindred who will go with me!” Tobit said, “Call the man in, so that I may find out from what family and tribe he comes, and whether he is trustworthy enough to travel with you, son.”

¹⁰ Tobiah went out to summon him, saying, “Young man, my father is calling for you.” When Raphael entered the house, Tobit greeted him first. He replied, “Joyful greetings to you!” Tobit answered, “What joy is left for me? Here I am, a blind man who cannot see the light of heaven, but must remain in darkness, like the dead who no longer see the light! Though alive, I am among the dead. I can hear people’s voices, but I do not see them.” The young man said, “Take courage! God’s healing is near; so take courage!” Tobit then said: “My son Tobiah wants to go to Media. Can you go with him to show him the way? I will pay you your wages, brother.” He answered: “Yes, I will go with him, and I know all the routes. I have often traveled to Media and crossed all its plains so I know well the mountains and all its roads.” ¹¹ Tobit asked him, “Brother, tell me, please, from what family and tribe are you?” ¹² He replied, “Why? What need do you have for a tribe? Aren’t you looking for a hired man?” Tobit replied, “I only want to know, brother, whose son you truly are and what your name is.”^(AN)

¹³ He answered, “I am Azariah,^[ac] son of the great Hananiah, one of your own kindred.” ¹⁴ Tobit exclaimed: “Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family. It turns out that you are a kinsman, from a noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of the great Shemeliah. They used to go to Jerusalem with me, where we would worship together. They were not led astray; your kindred are good people. You are certainly of good lineage. So welcome!”

¹⁵ Then he added: “For each day I will give you a drachma as wages,^[ad] as well as expenses for you and for my son. So go with my son, and ¹⁶ I will even add a bonus to your wages!” The young man replied: “I will go with him. Do not fear. In good health we will leave you, and in good health we will return to you, for the way is safe.” ¹⁷ Tobit said, “Blessing be upon you, brother.” Then he called his son and said to him: “Son, prepare whatever you need for the journey, and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; may his angel accompany you for your safety, son.”

Tobiah left to set out on his journey, and he kissed his father and mother. Tobit said to him, “Have a safe journey.” ¹⁸ But his mother began to weep and she said to Tobit: “Why have you sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hands, as he goes in and out before us? ¹⁹ Do not heap money upon money! Rather relinquish it in exchange for our child! ²⁰ What the Lord has given us to live on is certainly enough for us.” ²¹ Tobit reassured her: “Do not worry! Our son will leave in good health and come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day when he returns to you safe and sound. So, do not worry; do not fear for them, my sister.^{[ae] 22} For a good angel^[af] will go with him, his journey will be successful, and he will return in good health.” ¹ Then she stopped weeping.

IV. Tobiah’s Journey to Media

Chapter 6

On the Way to Rages. ² When the young man left home, accompanied by the angel, the dog followed Tobiah out and went along with them. Both journeyed along, and when the first night came, they camped beside the Tigris River.^{[ag] 3} When the young man went down to wash his feet in the Tigris River, a large fish leaped out of the water and tried to swallow his foot. He shouted in alarm. ⁴ But the angel said to the young man, “Grab the fish and hold on to it!” He seized the fish and hauled it up on dry land. ⁵ The angel then told him: “Slit the fish open and take out its gall, heart, and liver, and keep them with you; but throw away the other entrails. Its gall, heart, and liver are useful for medicine.”^{[ah] 6} After Tobiah had slit the fish open, he put aside the gall, heart, and liver. Then he roasted and ate part of the fish; the rest he salted and kept for the journey.

Raphael’s Instructions. Afterward the two of them traveled on together till they drew near to Media. ⁷ Then the young man asked the angel this question: “Brother Azariah, what medicine is in the fish’s heart, liver, and gall?” ⁸ He answered: “As for the fish’s heart and liver, if you burn them to make smoke in the presence of a man or a woman who is afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, any affliction will flee and never return. ⁹ As for the gall, if you apply it to the eyes of one who has white scales, blowing right into them, sight will be restored.”

¹⁰ When they had entered Media and were getting close to Ecbatana, ¹¹ Raphael said to the young man, “Brother Tobiah!” He answered, “Here I am!” Raphael continued, “Tonight we must stay in the house of Raguel, who is a relative of yours. He has a beautiful daughter named Sarah, ¹² but no other son or daughter apart from Sarah. Since you are Sarah’s closest relative, you more than any other have the right to marry her. Moreover, her father’s estate is rightfully yours to inherit. The girl is wise, courageous, and very beautiful; and her father is a good man who loves her dearly.”^{(AO) 13} He continued: “You have the right to marry her. So listen to me, brother. Tonight I will speak to her father about the girl so that we may take her as your bride. When we return from Rages, we will have the wedding feast for her. I know that Raguel cannot keep her from you or promise her to another man; he would incur the death penalty as decreed in the Book of Moses.^[ai] For he knows that you, more than anyone else, have the right to marry his daughter. Now listen to me, brother; we will speak about this girl tonight, so that we may arrange her engagement to you. Then when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house.”

¹⁴ But Tobiah said to Raphael in reply, “Brother Azariah, I have heard that she has already been given in marriage to seven husbands, and that they have died in the bridal chamber. On the very night they approached her, they would die. I have also heard it said that it was a demon that killed them. ¹⁵ So now I too am afraid of this demon, because it is in love with her and does not harm her; but it kills any man who wishes to come close to her. I am my father’s only child. If I should die, I would bring the life of my father and mother down to their grave in sorrow over me; they have no other son to bury them!”^(AP)

¹⁶ Raphael said to him: “Do you not remember your father’s commands? He ordered you to marry a woman from your own ancestral family. Now listen to me, brother; do not worry about that demon. Take Sarah. I know that tonight she will be given to you as your wife! ¹⁷ When you go into the bridal chamber, take some of the fish’s liver and the heart, and place them on the embers intended for incense, and an odor will be given off. ¹⁸ As soon as the demon smells the odor, it will flee and never again show itself near her. Then when you are about to have intercourse with her, both of you must first get up to pray.^[aj] Beg the Lord of heaven that mercy and protection be granted you. Do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed. You will save her, and she will go with you. And I assume that you will have children by her, and they will be like brothers for you. So do not worry.”

When Tobiah heard Raphael’s words that she was his kinswoman, and of the lineage of his ancestral house, he loved her deeply, and his heart was truly set on her.

V. Marriage and Healing of Sarah

Chapter 7

At the House of Raguel. ¹ When they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said, “Brother Azariah, bring me straight to the house of our kinsman Raguel.” So he did, and they came to the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate. They greeted him first, and he answered, “Many greetings to you, brothers! Welcome! You have come in peace! Now enter in peace!” And he brought them into his house. ² He said to his wife Edna, “How this young man resembles Tobit, the son of my uncle!” ³ So Edna asked them, saying, “Where are you from, brothers?” They answered, “We are descendants of Naphtali, now captives in Nineveh.” ⁴ She said to them, “Do you know our kinsman Tobit?” They answered her, “Indeed, we do know him!” She asked, “Is he well?” ⁵ They answered, “Yes, he is alive and well.” Then Tobiah said, “He is my father!” ⁶ Raguel jumped up, kissed him, and broke into tears. ⁷ Then, finding words, he said, “A blessing upon you, son! You are the son of a good and noble father. What a terrible misfortune that a man so righteous and charitable has been afflicted with blindness!” He embraced his kinsman Tobiah and continued to weep. ⁸ His wife Edna also wept for Tobit; and their daughter Sarah also began to weep.

Marriage of Tobiah and Sarah. ⁹ Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a warm reception. When they had washed, bathed, and reclined to eat and drink, Tobiah said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to give me my kinswoman Sarah.” ¹⁰ Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the young man: “Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man has a greater right to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother. Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative. However, son, I must frankly tell you the truth. ¹¹ I have given her in marriage to seven husbands who were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her. But now, son, eat and drink. The Lord will look after you both.” Tobiah answered, “I will neither eat nor drink anything here until you settle what concerns me.”

Raguel said to him: “I will do it. She is yours as decreed by the Book of Moses. It has been decided in heaven that she be given to you! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her brother, and she is your sister.^[ak] She is given to you today and here ever after. May the Lord of heaven prosper you both tonight, son, and grant you mercy and peace.” ¹² Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with these words: “Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses I give her to be your wife. Take her and bring her safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you a safe journey in peace!”^{(AQ) 13} He then called her mother and told her to bring writing materials. He wrote out a copy of a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife as decreed by the law of Moses. Her mother brought the material, and he drew up the contract, to which he affixed his seal.^(AR)

¹⁴ Afterward they began to eat and drink. ¹⁵ Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said, “My sister, prepare the other bedroom and bring Sarah there.” ¹⁶ She went, made the bed in the room, as he had told her, and brought Sarah there. After she had cried over her, she wiped away her tears and said, ¹⁷ “Take courage, my daughter! May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief! Courage, my daughter!” Then she left.

Chapter 8

Expulsion of the Demon. ¹ When they had finished eating and drinking, they wanted to retire. So they brought the young man out and led him to the bedroom. ² Tobiah, mindful of Raphael’s instructions, took the fish’s liver and heart from the bag where he had them, and put them on the embers intended for incense.^{[al] 3} The odor of the fish repulsed the demon, and it fled to the upper regions of Egypt;^[am] Raphael went in pursuit of it and there bound it hand and foot. Then Raphael returned immediately.

⁴ When Sarah’s parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah rose from bed and said to his wife, “My sister, come, let us pray and beg our Lord to grant us mercy and protection.” ⁵ She got up, and they started to pray and beg that they might be protected. He began with these words:

⁸ They said together, “Amen, amen!” ⁹ Then they went to bed for the night.

But Raguel got up and summoned his servants. They went out with him and dug a grave, ¹⁰ for he said, “Perhaps Tobiah will die; then we would be a laughingstock and an object of mockery.” ¹¹ When they had finished digging the grave, Raguel went back into the house and called his wife, ¹² saying, “Send one of the maids in to see whether he is alive. If he has died, let us bury him without anyone knowing about it.” ¹³ They sent the maid, lit a lamp, and opened the bedroom door; she went in and found them sleeping together. ¹⁴ The maid came out and told them that Tobiah was alive, and that nothing was wrong. ¹⁵ Then they praised the God of heaven in these words:

¹⁸ Then Raguel told his servants to fill in the grave before dawn.

Wedding Feast. ¹⁹ He asked his wife to bake many loaves of bread; he himself went out to the herd and brought two steers and four rams, which he ordered to be slaughtered. So they began to prepare the feast. ²⁰ He summoned Tobiah and said to him, “For fourteen days^[an] you shall not stir from here, but shall remain here eating and drinking with me; you shall bring joy to my daughter’s afflicted spirit. ²¹ Now take half of what I own here; go back in good health to your father. The other half will be yours when I and my wife die. Take courage, son! I am your father, and Edna is your mother; we belong to you and to your sister both now and forever. So take courage, son!”

Chapter 9

The Money Recovered. ¹ Then Tobiah called Raphael and said to him: ² “Brother Azariah, take along with you from here four servants and two camels and travel to Rages.^[ao] Go to Gabael’s house and give him this bond. Get the money and then bring him along with you to the wedding celebration. ³ For you know that my father will be counting the days. If I should delay even by a single day, I would cause him intense grief. ⁴ You have witnessed the oath that Raguel has sworn; I cannot violate his oath.” ⁵ So Raphael, together with the four servants and two camels, traveled to Rages in Media, where they stayed at Gabael’s house. Raphael gave Gabael his bond and told him about Tobit’s son Tobiah, that he had married and was inviting him to the wedding celebration. Gabael got up and counted out for him the moneybags with their seals, and they packed them on the camels.

⁶ The following morning they both got an early start and traveled to the wedding celebration. When they entered Raguel’s house, they found Tobiah reclining at table. He jumped up and greeted Gabael, who wept and blessed him, exclaiming: “Good and noble child, son of a good and noble, righteous and charitable man, may the Lord bestow a heavenly blessing on you and on your wife, and on your wife’s father and mother. Blessed be God, because I have seen the very image of my cousin Tobit!”

VI. Tobiah’s Return Journey to Nineveh and the Healing of Tobit

Chapter 10

Anxiety of the Parents. ¹ Meanwhile, day by day, Tobit was keeping track of the time Tobiah would need to go and to return. When the number of days was reached and his son did not appear, ² he said, “Could it be that he has been detained there? Or perhaps Gabael has died, and there is no one to give him the money?” ³ And he began to grieve. ⁴ His wife Anna said, “My son has perished and is no longer among the living!” And she began to weep aloud and to wail over her son: ⁵ “Alas, child, light of my eyes, that I have let you make this journey!” ⁶ But Tobit kept telling her: “Be still, do not worry, my sister; he is safe! Probably they have to take care of some unexpected business there. The man who is traveling with him is trustworthy and one of our kindred. So do not grieve over him, my sister. He will be here soon.” ⁷ But she retorted, “You be still, and do not try to deceive me! My son has perished!” She would rush out and keep watch every day at the road her son had taken. She ate nothing. After the sun had set, she would go back home to wail and cry the whole night through, getting no sleep at all.^(AU)

Departure from Ecbatana. Now when the fourteen days of the wedding celebration, which Raguel had sworn to hold for his daughter, had come to an end, Tobiah went to him and said: “Send me off, now, since I know that my father and mother do not believe they will ever see me again. So I beg you, father, let me depart and go back to my own father. I have already told you how I left him.” ⁸ Raguel said to Tobiah: “Stay, son, stay with me. I am sending messengers to your father Tobit, and they will give him news of you.” ⁹ But Tobiah insisted, “No, I beg you to send me back to my father.”

¹⁰ Raguel then promptly handed over to Tobiah his wife Sarah, together with half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, donkeys and camels, clothing, money, and household goods. ¹¹ He saw them safely off. Embracing Tobiah, he said to him: “Farewell, son. Have a safe journey. May the Lord of heaven grant prosperity to you and to your wife Sarah. And may I see children of yours before I die!” ¹² Then he said to his daughter Sarah, “My daughter, honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law, because from now on they are as much your parents as the ones who brought you into the world. Go in peace, daughter; let me hear a good report about you as long as I live.” Finally he said good-bye to them and let them go.

Edna also said to Tobiah: “My child and beloved kinsman, may the Lord bring you back safely, and may I live long enough to see children of you and of my daughter Sarah before I die. Before the Lord, I entrust my daughter to your care. Never cause her grief all the days of your life. Go in peace, son. From now on I am your mother, and Sarah is your sister. Together may we all prosper throughout the days of our lives.” She kissed them both and saw them safely off.

¹³ Tobiah left Raguel, full of happiness and joy, and he blessed the Lord of heaven and earth, the King of all, for making his journey so successful. Finally he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna, and added, “I have been commanded by the Lord to honor you all the days of your life!”

Chapter 11

Homeward Journey. ¹ As they drew near to Kaserin, which is opposite Nineveh, ² Raphael said: “You know how we left your father. ³ Let us hurry on ahead of your wife to prepare the house while they are still on the way.” ⁴ So both went on ahead together, and Raphael said to him, “Take the gall in your hand!” And the dog ran along behind them.

⁵ Meanwhile, Anna sat watching the road by which her son was to come. ⁶ When she saw him coming, she called to his father, “Look, your son is coming, and the man who traveled with him!”

⁷ Raphael said to Tobiah before he came near to his father: “I know that his eyes will be opened. ⁸ Apply the fish gall to his eyes, and the medicine will make the white scales shrink and peel off from his eyes; then your father will have sight again and will see the light of day.”

Sight Restored. ⁹ Then Anna ran up to her son, embraced him, and said to him, “Now that I have seen you again, son, I am ready to die!” And she sobbed aloud.^{(AV) 10} Tobit got up and stumbled out through the courtyard gate to meet his son. Tobiah went up to him ¹¹ with the fish gall in his hand and blew into his eyes. Holding him firmly, he said, “Courage, father.” Then he applied the medicine to his eyes, and it made them sting. ^{12 , 13} Tobiah used both hands to peel the white scales from the corners of his eyes. Tobit saw his son and threw his arms around him. ¹⁴ Weeping, he exclaimed, “I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!” Then he prayed,

Then Tobit went back in, rejoicing and praising God with full voice. Tobiah related to his father how his journey had been a success; that he had brought back the money; and that he had married Raguel’s daughter Sarah, who was about to arrive, for she was near the gate of Nineveh.^(AW)

¹⁶ Rejoicing and blessing God, Tobit went out to the gate of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law. When the people of Nineveh saw him coming, walking along briskly, with no one leading him by the hand, they were amazed. ¹⁷ Before them all Tobit proclaimed how God had shown mercy to him and opened his eyes. When Tobit came up to Sarah, the wife of his son Tobiah, he blessed her and said: “Welcome, my daughter! Blessed be your God for bringing you to us, daughter! Blessed are your father and your mother. Blessed be my son Tobiah, and blessed be you, daughter! Welcome to your home with blessing and joy. Come in, daughter!” That day there was joy for all the Jews who lived in Nineveh. ¹⁸ Ahiqar and his nephew Nadin^[ap] were also on hand to rejoice with Tobit. Tobiah’s wedding feast was celebrated with joy for seven days, and many gifts were given to him.

VII. Raphael Reveals His Identity

Chapter 12

Raphael’s Wages.^{[aq] 1} When the wedding celebration came to an end, Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, “Son, see to it that you pay his wages to the man who made the journey with you and give him a bonus too.” ² Tobiah said: “Father, how much shall I pay him? It would not hurt to give him half the wealth he brought back with me.^{(AX) 3} He led me back safe and sound, healed my wife, brought the money back with me, and healed you. How much should I pay him?” ⁴ Tobit answered, “It is only fair, son, that he should receive half of all that he brought back.” ⁵ So Tobiah called Raphael and said, “Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and farewell!”

Exhortation.^{[ar] 6} Raphael called the two of them aside privately and said to them: “Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, and do not be slack in thanking him.^{[as] 7} A king’s secret should be kept secret, but one must declare the works of God and give thanks with due honor. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. ⁸ Prayer with fasting is good. Almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold,^{(AY) 9} for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life,^{(AZ) 10} but those who commit sin and do evil are their own worst enemies.

Raphael’s Identity. ¹¹ “I shall now tell you the whole truth and conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, ‘A king’s secret should be kept secret, but one must declare the works of God with due honor.’ ^12 (BA)Now when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you used to bury the dead.^{[at] 13} When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury that dead man, ¹⁴ I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. ¹⁵ I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”^(BB)

¹⁶ Greatly shaken, the two of them fell prostrate in fear. ¹⁷ But Raphael said to them: “Do not fear; peace be with you! Bless God now and forever. ¹⁸ As for me, when I was with you, I was not acting out of any favor on my part, but by God’s will. So bless God every day; give praise with song. ¹⁹ Even though you saw me eat and drink, I did not eat or drink anything; what you were seeing was a vision. ²⁰ So now bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God. Look, I am ascending to the one who sent me. Write down all that has happened to you.”^(BC) And he ascended. ²¹ They stood up but were no longer able to see him. ²² They kept blessing God and singing his praises, and they continued to give thanks for these marvelous works that God had done, because an angel of God appeared to them.

VIII. Tobit’s Song of Praise

Chapter 13

^1 [au]Then Tobit spoke and composed a song of joyful praise; he said:

IX. Epilogue

Chapter 14

Parting Advice. ¹ So the words of Tobit’s hymn of praise came to an end. Tobit died in peace at the age of a hundred and twelve and was buried with honor in Nineveh. ² He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his eyesight, and after he recovered it he lived in prosperity, giving alms; he continued to fear God and give thanks to the divine Majesty.

³ As he was dying, he summoned his son Tobiah and Tobiah’s seven sons, and commanded him, “Son, take your children^{(BN) 4} and flee into Media, for I believe God’s word that Nahum^[aw] spoke against Nineveh. It will all happen and will overtake Assyria and Nineveh; indeed all that was said by Israel’s prophets whom God sent will come to pass. Not one of all their words will remain unfulfilled, but everything will take place in the time appointed for it. So it will be safer in Media than in Assyria or Babylon. For I know and believe that whatever God has said will be accomplished. It will happen, and not a single word of the prophecies will fail.

As for our kindred who dwell in the land of Israel, they will all be scattered and taken into captivity from the good land. All the land of Israel will become a wilderness; even Samaria and Jerusalem will be a wilderness! For a time, the house of God will be desolate and will be burned.^{(BO) 5} But God will again have mercy on them and bring them back to the land of Israel. They will build the house again, but it will not be like the first until the era when the appointed times will be completed.^[ax] Afterward all of them will return from their captivity, and they will rebuild Jerusalem with due honor. In it the house of God will also be rebuilt, just as the prophets of Israel said of it.^{(BP) 6 (BQ)}All the nations of the world will turn and reverence God in truth; all will cast away their idols, which have deceitfully led them into error.^{[ay] 7} They will bless the God of the ages in righteousness. All the Israelites truly mindful of God, who are to be saved in those days, will be gathered together and will come to Jerusalem; in security will they dwell forever in the land of Abraham, which will be given to them. Those who love God sincerely will rejoice, but those who commit sin and wickedness will disappear completely from the land.^(BR)

^{8 , 9} “Now, my children, I give you this command: serve God sincerely and do what is pleasing in his sight; you must instruct your children to do what is right and to give alms, to be mindful of God and at all times to bless his name sincerely and with all their strength. Now, as for you, son, leave Nineveh; do not stay here. ¹⁰ The day you bury your mother next to me, do not even stay overnight within the confines of the city. For I see that there is much wickedness in it, and much treachery is practiced in it, and people are not ashamed. See, my son, all that Nadin^[az] did to Ahiqar, the very one who reared him. Was not Ahiqar brought down alive into the earth? Yet God made Nadin’s disgraceful crime rebound against him. Ahiqar came out again into the light, but Nadin went into the everlasting darkness, for he had tried to kill Ahiqar. Because Ahiqar had given alms he escaped from the deadly trap Nadin had set for him. But Nadin fell into the deadly trap himself, and it destroyed him.^{(BS) 11} So, my children, see what almsgiving does, and also what wickedness does—it kills! But now my spirit is about to leave me.”

Death of Tobit and Tobiah. They laid him on his bed, and he died; and he was buried with honor. ¹² When Tobiah’s mother died, he buried her next to his father. He then departed with his wife and children for Media, where he settled in Ecbatana with his father-in-law Raguel.^{(BT) 13} He took respectful care of his aging father-in-law and mother-in-law; and he buried them at Ecbatana in Media. Then he inherited Raguel’s estate as well as that of his father Tobit. ¹⁴ He died highly respected at the age of one hundred seventeen. ¹⁵ But before he died, he saw and heard of the destruction of Nineveh. He saw the inhabitants of the city being led captive into Media by Cyaxares,^[ba] the king of Media. Tobiah blessed God for all that he had done against the Ninevites and Assyrians. Before dying he rejoiced over Nineveh, and he blessed the Lord God forever and ever.

I. Assyrian Threat^[bb]

Chapter 1

Nebuchadnezzar Against Arphaxad.^{[bc] 1} It was the twelfth year^[bd] of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh. At that time Arphaxad was ruling over the Medes in Ecbatana.^{(BU) 2 [be]}Around Ecbatana he built a wall of hewn stones, three cubits thick and six cubits long. He made the walls seventy cubits high and fifty cubits wide. ³ At its gates he raised towers one hundred cubits high with foundations sixty cubits wide. ⁴ He made its gates seventy cubits high and forty cubits wide to allow passage of his mighty forces, with his infantry in formation. ⁵ At that time King Nebuchadnezzar waged war against King Arphaxad in the vast plain that borders Ragau.^{[bf] 6} Rallying to him were all who lived in the hill country, all who lived along the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Hydaspes, as well as Arioch, king of the Elamites, in the plains. Thus many nations joined the ranks of the Chelodites.^[bg](BV)

⁷ Then Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, contacted all the inhabitants of Persia^[bh] and all who lived in the west, the inhabitants of Cilicia and Damascus, Lebanon and Antilebanon, and all who lived along the seacoast, ⁸ the peoples of Carmel, Gilead, Upper Galilee, and the vast plain of Esdraelon, ⁹ and all in Samaria and its cities, and west of the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, Bethany, Chelous, Kadesh,^(BW) and the river of Egypt; Tahpanhes,^(BX) Raamses, all the land of Goshen, ¹⁰ Tanis, Memphis^(BY) and beyond, and all the inhabitants of Egypt as far as the borders of Ethiopia.

¹¹ But all the inhabitants of the whole land^[bi] made light of the summons of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, and would not join him in the war. They were not afraid of him, since he was only a single opponent. So they sent back his envoys empty-handed and disgraced.^{(BZ) 12} Then Nebuchadnezzar fell into a violent rage against all the land, and swore by his throne and his kingdom that he would take revenge on all the territories of Cilicia, Damascus, and Syria, and would destroy with his sword all the inhabitants of Moab, Ammon, the whole of Judea, and all those living in Egypt as far as the coasts of the two seas.^[bj]

Defeat of Arphaxad. ¹³ In the seventeenth year^[bk] he mustered his forces against King Arphaxad and was victorious in his campaign. He routed the whole force of Arphaxad, his entire cavalry, and all his chariots, ¹⁴ and took possession of his cities. He pressed on to Ecbatana, took its towers, sacked its marketplaces, and turned its glory into shame. ¹⁵ He captured Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, ran him through with spears, and utterly destroyed him once and for all. ¹⁶ Then he returned to Nineveh with all his consolidated forces, a very great multitude of warriors; and there he and his forces relaxed and feasted for one hundred and twenty days.^(CA)

Chapter 2

Revenge Planned Against the Western Nations.^{[bl] 1} In the eighteenth year,^[bm] on the twenty-second day of the first month, there was a discussion in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, about taking revenge on all the land, as he had threatened.^{(CB) 2} He summoned all his attendants and officers, laid before them his secret plan, and with his own lips recounted in full detail the wickedness of all the land. ³ They decided to destroy all who had refused to obey the order he had issued.

⁴ When he had fully recounted his plan, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, summoned Holofernes, the ranking general^[bn] of his forces, second only to himself in command, and said to him: ⁵ “Thus says the great king, the lord of all the earth: Go forth from my presence, take with you men of proven valor, one hundred and twenty thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry,^{(CC) 6} and proceed against all the land of the west, because they disobeyed the order I issued. ⁷ Tell them to have earth and water^[bo] ready, for I will come against them in my wrath; I will cover all the land with the feet of my soldiers, to whom I will deliver them as spoils. ⁸ Their wounded will fill their ravines and wadies, the swelling river will be choked with their dead; ⁹ and I will deport them as exiles to the very ends of the earth.

¹⁰ “Go before me and take possession of all their territories for me. If they surrender to you, guard them for me until the day of their sentencing. ¹¹ As for those who disobey, show them no mercy, but deliver them up to slaughter and plunder in all the land you occupy.^{(CD) 12} For as I live,^[bp] and by the strength of my kingdom, what I have spoken I will accomplish by my own hand.^{(CE) 13} Do not disobey a single one of the orders of your lord; fulfill them exactly as I have commanded you, and do it without delay.”

Campaigns of Holofernes.^{[bq] 14} So Holofernes left the presence of his lord, and summoned all the commanders, generals, and officers of the Assyrian forces. ¹⁵ He mustered one hundred and twenty thousand picked troops, as his lord had commanded, and twelve thousand mounted archers, ¹⁶ and drew them up as a vast force organized for battle. ¹⁷ He took along a very large number of camels, donkeys, and mules for carrying their supplies; innumerable sheep, cattle, and goats for their food;^{(CF) 18} abundant provisions for each man, and much gold and silver from the royal palace.

¹⁹ Then he and all his forces set out on their expedition in advance of King Nebuchadnezzar, to overrun all the lands of the western region with their chariots, cavalry, and picked infantry. ²⁰ A huge, irregular force, too many to count, like locusts, like the dust of the earth, went along with them.^(CG)

²¹ After a three-day march^[br] from Nineveh, they reached the plain of Bectileth, and camped opposite Bectileth near the mountains to the north of Upper Cilicia. ²² From there Holofernes took all his forces, the infantry, cavalry, and chariots, and marched into the hill country. ²³ He devastated Put and Lud,^[bs] and plundered all the Rassisites and the Ishmaelites on the border of the wilderness toward the south of the Chelleans.^(CH)

²⁴ Then, following the Euphrates, he went through Mesopotamia, and battered down every fortified city along the Wadi Abron, until he reached the sea. ²⁵ He seized the territory of Cilicia, and cut down everyone who resisted him. Then he proceeded to the southern borders of Japheth, toward Arabia. ²⁶ He surrounded all the Midianites, burned their tents, and sacked their encampments.^{(CI) 27} Descending to the plain of Damascus at the time of the wheat harvest, he set fire to all their fields, destroyed their flocks and herds, looted their cities, devastated their plains, and put all their young men to the sword.^(CJ)

^28 (CK)Fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the coastland, upon those in Sidon and Tyre,^(CL) and those who dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and the inhabitants of Jamnia. Those in Azotus and Ascalon also feared him greatly.^[bt]

Chapter 3

Submission of the Vassal Nations. ¹ So they sent messengers to him to sue for peace in these words: ² “We, the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the great king, lie prostrate before you; do with us as you will. ³ See, our dwellings and all our land and every wheat field, our flocks and herds, and all our encampments are at your disposal; make use of them as you please. ⁴ Our cities and their inhabitants are also at your service; come and deal with them as you see fit.”

⁵ After the spokesmen had reached Holofernes and given him this message, ⁶ he went down with his forces to the seacoast, stationed garrisons in the fortified cities, and took selected men from them as auxiliaries. ⁷ The people of these cities and all the inhabitants of the countryside received him with garlands and dancing to the sound of timbrels. ⁸ But he devastated their whole territory and cut down their sacred groves, for he was allowed to destroy all the gods of the land, so that every nation might worship only Nebuchadnezzar, and all their tongues and tribes should invoke him as a god.^{[bu](CM) 9} At length Holofernes reached Esdraelon in the neighborhood of Dothan,^[bv] the approach to the main ridge of the Judean mountains; ¹⁰ he set up his camp between Geba^[bw] and Scythopolis, and stayed there a whole month to replenish all the supplies of his forces.

II. Siege of Bethulia^[bx]

Chapter 4

Israel Prepares for War.^{[by] 1} When the Israelites who lived in Judea heard of all that Holofernes, the ranking general of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had looted all their shrines^[bz] and utterly destroyed them, ² they were in very great fear of him, and greatly alarmed for Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord, their God. ³ Now, they had only recently returned from exile, and all the people of Judea were just now reunited, and the vessels, the altar, and the temple had been purified from profanation.^{[ca](CN) 4} So they sent word to the whole region of Samaria, to Kona, Beth-horon, Belmain, and Jericho, to Choba and Aesora, and to the valley of Salem.^{[cb] 5} The people there secured all the high hilltops, fortified the villages on them, and since their fields had recently been harvested, stored up provisions in preparation for war.

⁶ Joakim, who was high priest^[cc] in Jerusalem in those days, wrote to the inhabitants of Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which is opposite Esdraelon, facing the plain near Dothan,^{(CO) 7} and instructed them to keep firm hold of the mountain passes, since these offered access to Judea. It would be easy to stop those advancing, as the approach was only wide enough for two at a time.^{[cd] 8} The Israelites carried out the orders given them by Joakim, the high priest, and the senate of the whole people of Israel, in session in Jerusalem.^(CP)

Israel at Prayer. ⁹ All the men of Israel cried to God with great fervor and humbled themselves. ¹⁰ They, along with their wives, and children, and domestic animals, every resident alien, hired worker, and purchased slave, girded themselves with sackcloth.^{[ce](CQ) 11} And all the Israelite men, women, and children who lived in Jerusalem fell prostrate in front of the temple^[cf](CR) and sprinkled ashes on their heads, spreading out their sackcloth before the Lord.^{(CS) 12} The altar, too, they draped in sackcloth;^[cg] and with one accord they cried out fervently to the God of Israel not to allow their children to be seized, their wives to be taken captive, the cities of their inheritance to be ruined, or the sanctuary to be profaned and mocked for the nations to gloat over.

¹³ The Lord heard their cry^[ch] and saw their distress. The people continued fasting for many days throughout Judea and before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem.^{(CT) 14} Also girded with sackcloth, Joakim, the high priest, and all the priests in attendance before the Lord, and those who ministered to the Lord offered the daily burnt offering, the votive offerings, and the voluntary offerings of the people.^{(CU) 15} With ashes upon their turbans, they cried to the Lord with all their strength to look with favor on the whole house of Israel.^(CV)

Chapter 5

Achior in the Assyrian War Council.^{[ci] 1} It was reported to Holofernes, the ranking general of the Assyrian forces, that the Israelites were ready for battle, had blocked the mountain passes, fortified the high hilltops, and placed roadblocks in the plains. ² In great anger he summoned all the rulers of Moab, the governors of Ammon, and all the satraps of the coastland^{(CW) 3} and said to them: “Now tell me, you Canaanites, what sort of people is this that lives in the hill country? Which cities do they inhabit? How large is their force? In what does their power and strength consist? Who has set himself up as their king and the leader of their army? ⁴ Why have they alone of all the inhabitants of the west refused to come out to meet me?”

^5 [cj]Then Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites, said to him: “My lord, please listen to a report from your servant. I will tell you the truth about this people that lives in the hill country near here. No lie shall escape your servant’s lips.

⁶ “These people are descendants of the Chaldeans. ⁷ They formerly lived in Mesopotamia, for they did not wish to follow the gods of their ancestors who were in the land of the Chaldeans.^{(CX) 8} Since they abandoned the way of their ancestors, and worshiped the God of heaven,^[ck] the God whom they had come to know, their ancestors expelled them from the presence of their gods. So they fled to Mesopotamia and lived there a long time. ⁹ Their God told them to leave the place where they were living and go to the land of Canaan. Here they settled, and grew very rich in gold, silver, and a great abundance of livestock.^{(CY) 10} Later, when famine had gripped the land of Canaan, they went down into Egypt. They stayed there as long as they found sustenance and there they grew into such a great multitude that the number of their people could not be counted.^{(CZ) 11 (DA)}The king of Egypt, however, rose up against them, and shrewdly forced them to labor at brickmaking; they were oppressed and made into slaves. ¹² But they cried to their God, and he struck the whole land of Egypt with plagues for which there was no remedy. So the Egyptians drove them out. ¹³ Then God dried up the Red Sea before them^{(DB) 14} and led them along the route to Sinai and Kadesh-barnea. They drove out all the inhabitants of the wilderness ¹⁵ and settled in the land of the Amorites. By their strength they destroyed all the Heshbonites,^(DC) crossed the Jordan, and took possession of all the hill country.^{(DD) 16} They drove out before them the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Shechemites,^[cl] and all the Gergesites,^(DE) and they lived there a long time.

^17 (DF)“As long as the Israelites did not sin in the sight of their God, they prospered, for their God, who hates wickedness, was with them. ^18 [cm]But when they abandoned the way he had prescribed for them, they were utterly destroyed by frequent wars, and finally taken as captives into foreign lands. The temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were occupied by their enemies.^{(DG) 19} But now they have returned to their God, and they have come back from the Diaspora where they were scattered. They have reclaimed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and have settled again in the hill country, because it was unoccupied.

^20 (DH)“So now, my master^[cn] and lord, if these people are inadvertently at fault, or if they are sinning against their God, and if we verify this offense of theirs, then we will be able to go up and conquer them. ²¹ But if they are not a guilty nation, then let my lord keep his distance; otherwise their Lord and God will shield them, and we will be mocked in the eyes of all the earth.”

²² Now when Achior had finished saying these things, all the people standing round about the tent murmured; and the officers of Holofernes and all the inhabitants of the seacoast and of Moab alike said he should be cut to pieces. ^23 (DI)“We are not afraid of the Israelites,” they said, “for they are a powerless people, incapable of a strong defense. ²⁴ Therefore let us attack, master Holofernes. They will become fodder for your great army.”

Chapter 6

¹ When the noise of the crowd surrounding the council had subsided, Holofernes, the ranking general of the Assyrian forces, said to Achior, in the presence of the whole throng of foreigners, of the Moabites, and of the Ammonite mercenaries: ² “Who are you,^[co] Achior and the mercenaries of Ephraim, to prophesy among us as you have done today, and to tell us not to fight against the people of Israel because their God shields them? Who is God beside Nebuchadnezzar? He will send his force and destroy them from the face of the earth. Their God will not save them;^{(DJ) 3} but we, the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, will strike them down with one blow, for they will be unable to withstand the force of our cavalry. ⁴ We will overwhelm them with it, and their mountains shall be drunk with their blood, and their plains filled with their corpses. Not a trace of them shall survive our attack; they will utterly perish. So says King Nebuchadnezzar, lord of all the earth. For he has spoken, and his words will not be in vain. ⁵ As for you, Achior, you Ammonite mercenary, for saying these things in a moment of perversity, you will not see my face after today, until I have taken revenge on this people that came out of Egypt. ⁶ Then at my return, the sword of my army or the spear of my attendants will pierce your sides, and you will fall among their wounded. ⁷ My servants will now conduct you to the hill country, and leave you at one of the cities beside the passes. ⁸ You will not die until you are destroyed together with them. ⁹ If you still harbor the hope that they will not be taken, then there is no need for you to be downcast.^(DK) I have spoken, and not one of my words will fail to be fulfilled.”

¹⁰ Then Holofernes ordered the servants who were standing by in his tent to seize Achior, conduct him to Bethulia, and hand him over to the Israelites. ¹¹ So the servants seized him and took him out of the camp into the plain. From the plain they led him up into the hill country until they reached the springs below Bethulia.

¹² When the men of the city saw them, they seized their weapons and ran out of the city to the top of the hill, and all the slingers kept them from coming up by hurling stones at them. ¹³ So, taking cover below the hill, they bound Achior and left him lying at the foot of the hill; then they returned to their lord.

Achior in Bethulia.^{[cp] 14} The Israelites came down from their city and found him, untied him, and brought him into Bethulia. They placed him before the rulers of the city, ¹⁵ who in those days were Uzziah,^[cq] son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris, son of Gothoniel, and Charmis, son of Melchiel.^{(DL) 16} They then convened all the elders of the city, and all their young men, as well as the women, gathered in haste at the place of assembly. They placed Achior in the center of the people, and Uzziah questioned him about what had happened. ¹⁷ He replied by giving them an account of what was said in the council of Holofernes, and of all his own words among the Assyrian rulers, and of all the boasting threats of Holofernes against the house of Israel.

¹⁸ At this the people fell prostrate and worshiped God,^[cr] and they cried out: ¹⁹ “Lord, God of heaven, look at their arrogance! Have mercy on our people in their abject state, and look with favor this day on the faces of those who are consecrated to you.” ²⁰ Then they reassured Achior and praised him highly. ²¹ Uzziah brought him from the place of assembly to his home, where he gave a banquet for the elders. That whole night they called upon the God of Israel for help.

Chapter 7

The Campaign Against Israel.^{[cs] 1} The following day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the troops who had come to join him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, seize the passes into the hills, and make war on the Israelites. ² That same day all their fighting men went into action. Their forces numbered a hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, not counting the baggage train or the men who accompanied it on foot, a very great army. ³ They encamped at the spring in the valley near Bethulia, and spread crosswise toward Dothan as far as Balbaim, and lengthwise from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.

⁴ When the Israelites saw how many there were, they were greatly distressed and said to one another, “Soon they will strip the whole land bare. Neither the high mountains nor the valleys nor the hills will bear their weight.” ⁵ Yet they all seized their weapons, lighted fires on their towers, and kept watch throughout the night.^(DM)

The Siege of Bethulia.^{[ct] 6} On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the Israelites who were in Bethulia. ⁷ He reconnoitered the ascents to their city and located their springs of water; these he seized, stationing armed detachments around them, while he himself returned to his troops.

⁸ All the rulers of the Edomites, all the leaders of the Moabites, together with the generals of the coastal region, came to Holofernes and said:^{(DN) 9} “Master, please listen to what we have to say, that there may be no losses among your forces. ¹⁰ These Israelite troops do not rely on their spears, but on the height of the mountains where they dwell, for it is not easy to reach the summit of their mountains.^{(DO) 11} Therefore, master, do not attack them in regular formation, and not a single one of your troops will fall. ¹² Stay in your camp, and spare every man of your force. Have some of your servants keep control of the spring of water that flows out at the base of the mountain, ¹³ for that is where the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water. Then thirst will destroy them, and they will surrender their city. Meanwhile, we and our troops will go up to the nearby hilltops and encamp there to guard against anyone’s leaving the city. ¹⁴ They and their wives and children will languish with hunger, and even before the sword strikes them they will be laid low in the streets where they live. ¹⁵ Thus you will render them dire punishment for their rebellion and their refusal to meet you peacefully.”

¹⁶ Their words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants, and he ordered their proposal to be carried out. ¹⁷ So the Ammonites moved camp, together with five thousand Assyrians. They encamped in the valley and held the water supply and the springs of the Israelites. ¹⁸ The Edomites and the Ammonites went up and encamped in the hill country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men to the southeast opposite Egrebel, near Chusi, which is on Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army was encamped in the plain, covering all the land. Their tents and equipment were spread out in profusion everywhere, and they formed a vast multitude.

The Distress of the Israelites. ¹⁹ The Israelites cried to the Lord, their God, for they were disheartened, since all their enemies had them surrounded, and there was no way of escaping from them.^{[cu] 20} The whole Assyrian army, infantry, chariots, and cavalry, kept them thus surrounded for thirty-four days.^[cv] All the reservoirs of water failed the inhabitants of Bethulia, ²¹ and the cisterns ran dry, so that on no day did they have enough water to drink, for their drinking water was rationed. ²² Their children were listless, and the women and youths were fainting from thirst and were collapsing in the streets and gateways of the city, with no strength left in them.

²³ So all the people, including youths, women, and children, went in a crowd to Uzziah and the rulers of the city. They cried out loudly and said before all the elders: ²⁴ “May God judge between you and us! You have done us grave injustice in not making peace with the Assyrians.^{(DP) 25} There is no one to help us now! God has sold us into their hands by laying us prostrate before them in thirst and utter exhaustion.^{(DQ) 26} So now, summon them and deliver the whole city as plunder to the troops of Holofernes and to all his forces; ²⁷ we would be better off to become their prey. Although we would be made slaves, at least we would live, and not have to see our little ones dying before our eyes, and our wives and children breathing their last.^{(DR) 28} We adjure you by heaven and earth and by our God, the Lord of our ancestors, who is punishing us for our sins and the sins of our ancestors,^[cw] that this very day you do as we have proposed.”^(DS)

²⁹ All in the assembly with one accord broke into shrill wailing and cried loudly to the Lord their God. ³⁰ But Uzziah said to them, “Courage, my brothers and sisters! Let us endure patiently five days more for the Lord our God to show mercy toward us; for God will not utterly forsake us. ³¹ But if these days pass and help does not come to us, I will do as you say.” ³² Then he dismissed the people. The men returned to their posts on the walls and towers of the city, the women and children went back to their homes. Throughout the city they were in great misery.

III. Judith, Instrument of the Lord^[cx]

Chapter 8

Description of Judith. ^1 [cy](DT)Now in those days Judith, daughter of Merari,^(DU) son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Oziel, son of Elkiah, son of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphain, son of Ahitub, son of Elijah, son of Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son of Salamiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Simeon, son of Israel, heard of this. ² Her husband, Manasseh,^[cz] of her own tribe and clan, had died at the time of the barley harvest. ³ While he was supervising those who bound the sheaves in the field, he was overcome by the heat; and he collapsed on his bed and died in Bethulia, his native city. He was buried with his ancestors in the field between Dothan and Balamon. ^4 (DV)Judith was living as a widow^[da] in her home for three years and four months. ⁵ She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, put sackcloth about her waist, and wore widow’s clothing.^{(DW) 6} She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except sabbath eves and sabbaths, new moon eves and new moons, feastdays and holidays of the house of Israel.^{(DX) 7} She was beautiful in appearance and very lovely to behold.^(DY) Her husband, Manasseh, had left her gold and silver, male and female servants, livestock and fields, which she was maintaining. ⁸ No one had a bad word to say about her, for she feared God greatly.

Judith and the Elders.^{[db] 9} So when Judith heard of the harsh words that the people, discouraged by their lack of water, had spoken against their ruler, and of all that Uzziah had said to them in reply, swearing that he would hand over the city to the Assyrians at the end of five days, ¹⁰ she sent her maid who was in charge of all her things^[dc] to summon Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city. ¹¹ When they came, she said to them: “Listen to me, you rulers of the people of Bethulia. What you said to the people today is not right. You pronounced this oath, made between God and yourselves, and promised to hand over the city to our enemies unless within a certain time the Lord comes to our aid. ¹² Who are you to put God to the test today, setting yourselves in the place of God in human affairs?^{[dd](DZ) 13} And now it is the Lord Almighty you are putting to the test, but you will never understand anything! ¹⁴ You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart or grasp the workings of the human mind; how then can you fathom God, who has made all these things, or discern his mind, or understand his plan?^(EA)

“No, my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God. ^15 [de]For if he does not plan to come to our aid within the five days, he has it equally within his power to protect us at such time as he pleases, or to destroy us in the sight of our enemies. ¹⁶ Do not impose conditions on the plans of the Lord our God. God is not like a human being to be moved by threats, nor like a mortal to be cajoled.

¹⁷ “So while we wait for the salvation that comes from him, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our cry if it pleases him. ¹⁸ For there has not risen among us in recent generations, nor does there exist today, any tribe, or clan, or district, or city of ours that worships gods made by hands, as happened in former days.^{(EB) 19} It was for such conduct that our ancestors were handed over to the sword and to pillage, and fell with great destruction before our enemies.^{(EC) 20} But since we acknowledge no other god but the Lord, we hope that he will not disdain us or any of our people. ²¹ If we are taken, then all Judea will fall, our sanctuary will be plundered, and God will demand an account from us for their profanation. ²² For the slaughter of our kindred, for the taking of exiles from the land, and for the devastation of our inheritance, he will hold us responsible among the nations. Wherever we are enslaved, we will be a scandal and a reproach in the eyes of our masters. ²³ Our servitude will not work to our advantage, but the Lord our God will turn it to disgrace.

²⁴ “Therefore, my brothers, let us set an example^[df] for our kindred. Their lives depend on us, and the defense of the sanctuary, the temple, and the altar rests with us. ^25 (ED)Besides all this, let us give thanks to the Lord our God for putting us to the test as he did our ancestors.^{(EE) 26} Recall how he dealt with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and all that happened to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he was tending the flocks of Laban, his mother’s brother. ²⁷ He has not tested us with fire, as he did them, to try their hearts, nor is he taking vengeance on us. But the Lord chastises those who are close to him in order to admonish them.”

²⁸ Then Uzziah said to her: “All that you have said you have spoken truthfully, and no one can deny your words. ²⁹ For today is not the first time your wisdom has been evident, but from your earliest days all the people have recognized your understanding, for your heart’s disposition is right. ³⁰ The people, however, were so thirsty that they forced us to do for them as we have promised, and to bind ourselves by an oath that we cannot break.^{[dg](EF) 31} But now, since you are a devout woman, pray for us that the Lord may send rain to fill up our cisterns. Then we will no longer be fainting from thirst.”

³² Then Judith said to them: “Listen to me! I will perform a deed that will go down from generation to generation among our descendants. ³³ Stand at the city gate tonight to let me pass through with my maid; and within the days you have specified before you will surrender the city to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. ³⁴ You must not inquire into the affair, for I will not tell you what I am doing until it has been accomplished.” ³⁵ Uzziah and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you to take vengeance upon our enemies!” ³⁶ Then they withdrew from the tent and returned to their posts.

Chapter 9

The Prayer of Judith.^{[dh] 1} Judith fell prostrate, put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing. Just as the evening incense was being offered in the temple of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried loudly to the Lord:^{(EG) 2} “Lord, God of my father Simeon, into whose hand you put a sword to take revenge upon the foreigners^[di] who had defiled a virgin by violating her, shaming her by uncovering her thighs, and dishonoring her by polluting her womb. You said, ‘This shall not be done!’ Yet they did it. ³ Therefore you handed over their rulers to slaughter; and you handed over to bloodshed the bed in which they lay deceived, the same bed that had felt the shame of their own deceiving. You struck down the slaves together with their masters, and the masters upon their thrones.^{[dj] 4} Their wives you handed over to plunder, and their daughters to captivity, and all the spoils you divided among your favored children, who burned with zeal for you and in their abhorrence of the defilement of their blood called on you for help. O God, my God, hear me also, a widow.

⁵ “It is you who were the author of those events and of what preceded and followed them. The present and the future you have also planned.^(EH) Whatever you devise comes into being. ⁶ The things you decide come forward and say, ‘Here we are!’ All your ways are in readiness, and your judgment is made with foreknowledge.^(EI)

⁷ “Here are the Assyrians, a vast force, priding themselves on horse and chariot, boasting of the power of their infantry, trusting in shield and spear, bow and sling.^(EJ) They do not know that you are the Lord who crushes wars;^{[dk] 8} Lord is your name. Shatter their strength in your might, and crush their force in your wrath.^(EK) For they have resolved to profane your sanctuary, to defile the tent where your glorious name resides, and to break off the horns of your altar with the sword. ^9 [dl]See their pride, and send forth your fury upon their heads.^(EL) Give me, a widow, a strong hand to execute my plan.^{(EM) 10} By the deceit of my lips, strike down slave together with ruler, and ruler together with attendant. Crush their arrogance by the hand of a female.^(EN)

^11 [dm](EO)“Your strength is not in numbers, nor does your might depend upon the powerful.^(EP) You are God of the lowly, helper of those of little account, supporter of the weak, protector of those in despair, savior of those without hope.

¹² “Please, please, God of my father, God of the heritage of Israel, Master of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all you have created, hear my prayer! ¹³ Let my deceitful words^[dn](EQ) wound and bruise those who have planned dire things against your covenant, your holy temple, Mount Zion, and the house your children possess.^{(ER) 14} Make every nation and every tribe know clearly that you are God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who shields the people of Israel but you alone.”

Chapter 10

Judith Prepares to Depart. ¹ As soon as Judith had ceased her prayer to the God of Israel and finished all these words, ² she rose from the ground. She called her maid and they went down into the house, which she used only on sabbaths and feast days. ³ She took off the sackcloth she had on, laid aside the garments of her widowhood, washed her body with water, and anointed herself with rich ointment. She arranged her hair, put on a diadem, and dressed in the festive attire she had worn while her husband, Manasseh, was living.^{(ES) 4} She chose sandals for her feet, and put on her anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and all her other jewelry.^(ET) Thus she made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all the men who should see her.^[do]

⁵ She gave her maid a skin of wine and a jug of oil. She filled a bag with roasted grain, dried fig cakes, and pure bread.^[dp](EU) She wrapped all her dishes and gave them to the maid to carry.^(EV)

⁶ Then they went out to the gate of the city of Bethulia and found Uzziah and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis, standing there. ⁷ When they saw Judith transformed in looks and differently dressed, they were very much astounded at her beauty and said to her, ⁸ “May the God of our ancestors grant you favor and make your design successful, for the glory of the Israelites and the exaltation of Jerusalem.” ⁹ Judith bowed down to God.

Judith and Her Maid Leave Bethulia. Then she said to them, “Order the gate of the city opened for me, that I may go to accomplish the matters we discussed.” So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her, as she had requested, ¹⁰ and they did so. Then Judith and her maidservant went out. The men of the city kept her in view as she went down the mountain and crossed the valley; then they lost sight of her.

IV. Judith Goes out to War^[dq]

¹¹ As Judith and her maid walked directly across the valley, they encountered the Assyrian patrol. ¹² The men took her in custody and asked her, “To what people do you belong? Where do you come from, and where are you going?”^(EW) She replied: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fleeing from them, because they are about to be delivered up to you as prey. ¹³ I have come to see Holofernes, the ranking general of your forces, to give him a trustworthy report; in his presence I will show him the way by which he can ascend and take possession of the whole hill country without a single one of his men suffering injury or loss of life.”^(EX)

¹⁴ When the men heard her words and gazed upon her face, which appeared marvelously beautiful to them, they said to her, ¹⁵ “By hastening down to see our master, you have saved your life. Now go to his tent; some of us will accompany you to hand you over to him. ¹⁶ When you stand before him, have no fear in your heart; give him the report you have given us, and he will treat you well.” ¹⁷ So they selected a hundred of their men as an escort for her and her maid, and these conducted them to the tent of Holofernes.

¹⁸ As the news of her arrival spread among the tents, a crowd gathered in the camp. They came and stood around her as she waited outside the tent of Holofernes, while he was being informed about her. ¹⁹ They marveled at her beauty, regarding the Israelites with wonder because of her, and they said to one another, “Who can despise this people who have such women among them? It is not good to leave one of their men alive, for if any were to be spared they could beguile the whole earth.”

Judith Meets Holofernes. ²⁰ Then the guards of Holofernes and all his attendants came out and ushered her into the tent. ²¹ Holofernes was reclining on his bed under a canopy^[dr] woven of purple, gold, emeralds, and other precious stones. ²² When they announced her to him, he came out to the front part of the tent, preceded by silver lamps. ²³ When Judith came before Holofernes and his attendants, they all marveled at the beauty of her face. She fell prostrate and paid homage to him, but his servants raised her up.^(EY)

Chapter 11

¹ Then Holofernes said to her: “Take courage, woman! Have no fear in your heart! I have never harmed anyone who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of all the earth. ² As for your people who live in the hill country, I would never have raised my spear against them, had they not insulted me. They have brought this upon themselves. ³ But now tell me why you have fled from them and come to us? In any case, you have come to safety. Take courage! Your life is spared tonight and for the future.^{(EZ) 4} No one at all will harm you. Rather, you will be well treated, as are the servants of my lord, King Nebuchadnezzar.”

⁵ Judith answered him: “Listen to the words of your servant, and let your maidservant speak in your presence! I will say nothing false to my lord^[ds] this night. ⁶ If you follow the words of your maidservant, God will successfully perform a deed through you, and my lord will not fail to achieve his designs.^{[dt] 7} I swear by the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of all the earth, and by the power of him who has sent you to guide all living things, that not only do human beings serve him through you; but even the wild animals, and the cattle, and the birds of the air, because of your strength, will live for Nebuchadnezzar and his whole house.^{(FA) 8} Indeed, we have heard of your wisdom and cleverness.^(FB) The whole earth is aware that you above all others in the kingdom are able, rich in experience, and distinguished in military strategy.

^9 (FC)“As for Achior’s speech in your council, we have heard it. When the men of Bethulia rescued him, he told them all he had said to you. ¹⁰ So then, my lord and master, do not disregard his word, but bear it in mind, for it is true. Indeed our people are not punished, nor does the sword prevail against them, except when they sin against their God.^{(FD) 11} But now their sin^[du] has caught up with them, by which they will bring the wrath of their God upon them when they do wrong; so that my lord will not be repulsed and fail, but death will overtake them. ¹² Because their food has given out and all their water is running low, they have decided to kill their animals, and are determined to consume all the things which God in his laws has forbidden them to eat. ¹³ They have decided that they would use the first fruits of grain and the tithes of wine and oil, which they had consecrated and reserved for the priests who minister in the presence of our God in Jerusalem—things which the people should not so much as touch with their hands.^{(FE) 14} They have sent messengers to Jerusalem to bring back permission from the senate, for even there people have done these things.^{(FF) 15} On the very day when the response reaches them and they act upon it, they will be handed over to you for destruction.

¹⁶ “As soon as I, your servant, learned all this, I fled from them. God has sent me to perform with you such deeds as will astonish people throughout the whole earth who hear of them. ¹⁷ Your servant is, indeed, a God-fearing woman, serving the God of heaven night and day. Now I will remain with you, my lord; but each night your servant will go out into the valley and pray to God. He will tell me when they have committed their offenses. ¹⁸ Then I will come and let you know, so that you may march out with all your forces, and not one of them will be able to withstand you. ¹⁹ I will lead you through the heart of Judea until you come to Jerusalem, and there in its center I will set up your throne. You will drive them like sheep that have no shepherd, and not even a dog will growl at you.^(FG) This was told to me in advance and announced to me, and I have been sent to tell you.”

²⁰ Her words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants. They marveled at her wisdom and exclaimed, ²¹ “No other woman from one end of the earth to the other looks so beautiful and speaks so wisely!” ²² Then Holofernes said to her: “God has done well in sending you ahead of your people, to bring victory to our hands, and destruction to those who have despised my lord. ²³ You are not only beautiful in appearance, but you are also eloquent. If you do as you have said, your God will be my God;^[dv] you will live in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar and be renowned throughout the whole earth.”

Chapter 12

¹ Then he ordered them to lead her into the room where his silver dinnerware was kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with his own delicacies to eat and his own wine to drink. ² But Judith said, “I cannot eat any^[dw] of them, because it would be a scandal.^(FH) Besides, I will have enough with the things I brought with me.” ³ Holofernes asked her, “But if your provisions give out, where can we get more of the same to provide for you? None of your people are with us.” ⁴ Judith answered him, “As surely as you live, my lord, your servant will not use up her supplies before the Lord accomplishes by my hand what he has determined.”

⁵ Then the attendants of Holofernes led her to her tent, where she slept until the middle of the night. Toward the early morning watch, she rose^{(FI) 6} and sent this message to Holofernes, “Give orders, my lord, to let your servant go out for prayer.” ⁷ So Holofernes ordered his guards not to hinder her. Thus she stayed in the camp three days. Each night she went out to the valley of Bethulia, where she bathed herself^[dx] at the spring of the camp.^{(FJ) 8} After bathing, she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, to direct her way for the triumph of her people. ⁹ Then she returned purified to the tent and remained there until her food was brought to her toward evening.^(FK)

Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes. ¹⁰ On the fourth day Holofernes gave a banquet for his servants alone, to which he did not invite any of the officers. ¹¹ And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch in charge of his personal affairs, “Go and persuade the Hebrew woman in your care to come and to eat and drink with us. ¹² It would bring shame on us to be with such a woman without enjoying her. If we do not seduce her, she will laugh at us.”^(FL)

¹³ So Bagoas left the presence of Holofernes, and came to Judith and said, “So lovely a maidservant should not be reluctant to come to my lord to be honored by him, to enjoy drinking wine with us, and to act today like one of the Assyrian women who serve in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.” ¹⁴ Judith replied, “Who am I to refuse my lord? Whatever is pleasing to him I will promptly do. This will be a joy^[dy] for me until the day of my death.”

¹⁵ So she proceeded to put on her festive garments and all her finery. Meanwhile her servant went ahead and spread out on the ground opposite Holofernes the fleece Bagoas had furnished for her daily use in reclining while eating.^{(FM) 16} Then Judith came in and reclined. The heart of Holofernes was in rapture over her and his passion was aroused. He was burning with the desire to possess her, for he had been biding his time to seduce her from the day he saw her.^{(FN) 17} Holofernes said to her, “Drink and be happy with us!” ¹⁸ Judith replied, “I will gladly drink, my lord, for today is the greatest day of my whole life.” ¹⁹ She then took the things her servant had prepared and ate and drank in his presence. ²⁰ Holofernes, charmed by her, drank a great quantity of wine, more than he had ever drunk on any day since he was born.

Chapter 13

Judith Beheads Holofernes. ¹ When it grew late, his servants quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside and dismissed the attendants from their master’s presence. They went off to their beds, for they were all tired because the banquet had lasted so long. ² Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes, who lay sprawled on his bed, for he was drunk with wine. ³ Judith had ordered her maidservant to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait, as on the other days, for her to come out; she had said she would be going out for her prayer. She had also said this same thing to Bagoas.

⁴ When all had departed, and no one, small or great, was left in the bedchamber, Judith stood by Holofernes’ bed and prayed silently, “O Lord, God of all might, in this hour look graciously on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. ⁵ Now is the time for aiding your heritage and for carrying out my design to shatter the enemies who have risen against us.”^{(FO) 6} She went to the bedpost near the head of Holofernes, and taking his sword from it, ⁷ she drew close to the bed, grasped the hair of his head, and said, “Strengthen me this day, Lord, God of Israel!” ⁸ Then with all her might she struck his neck twice and cut off his head.^{(FP) 9} She rolled his body off the bed and took the canopy from its posts. Soon afterward, she came out and handed over the head of Holofernes to her maid, ¹⁰ who put it into her food bag. Then the two went out together for prayer as they were accustomed to do.

Judith and Her Maid Return to Bethulia. They passed through the camp, and skirting that valley, went up the mountain to Bethulia, and approached its gates. ¹¹ From a distance, Judith shouted to the guards at the gates: “Open! Open the gate! God, our God, is with us. Once more he has shown his strength in Israel and his power against the enemy, as he has today!”

Judith Displays the Head of Holofernes. ^12 [dz]When the citizens heard her voice, they hurried down to their city gate and summoned the elders of the city. ¹³ All the people, from the least to the greatest, hurriedly assembled, for her return seemed unbelievable. They opened the gate and welcomed the two women. They made a fire for light and gathered around the two. ¹⁴ Judith urged them with a loud voice: “Praise God, give praise! Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand this very night!” ¹⁵ Then she took the head out of the bag, showed it to them, and said: “Here is the head of Holofernes, the ranking general of the Assyrian forces, and here is the canopy under which he lay in his drunkenness. The Lord struck him down by the hand of a female!^{[ea] 16} Yet I swear by the Lord, who has protected me in the way I have walked, that it was my face that seduced Holofernes to his ruin, and that he did not defile me with sin or shame.”

¹⁷ All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped God, saying with one accord, “Blessed are you, our God, who today have humiliated the enemies of your people.” ¹⁸ Then Uzziah said to her, “Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the leader of our enemies.^{(FQ) 19} Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who recall the might of God.^{(FR) 20} May God make this redound to your everlasting honor, rewarding you with blessings, because you risked your life when our people were being oppressed, and you averted our disaster, walking in the straight path before our God.” And all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!”^(FS)

V. Victory and Thanksgiving^[eb]

Chapter 14

Judith’s Plan of Attack. ¹ Then Judith said to them: “Listen to me,^[ec] my brothers and sisters. Take this head and hang it on the parapet of your wall.^{(FT) 2} At daybreak, when the sun rises on the earth, each of you seize your weapons, and let all the able-bodied men rush out of the city under command of a captain, as if about to go down into the valley against the Assyrian patrol, but without going down. ³ The Assyrians will seize their weapons and hurry to their camp to awaken the generals of the army. When they run to the tent of Holofernes and do not find him, panic will seize them, and they will flee before you.^{(FU) 4} Then you and all the other inhabitants of the whole territory of Israel will pursue them and strike them down in their tracks. ⁵ But before doing this, summon for me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and recognize the one who despised the house of Israel and sent him here to meet his death.”

Achior’s Conversion.^{[ed] 6} So they called Achior from the house of Uzziah. When he came and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men in the assembly of the people, he collapsed in a faint. ⁷ Then, after they lifted him up, he threw himself at the feet of Judith in homage, saying: “Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation, all who hear your name will be struck with terror.^{(FV) 8} But now, tell me all that you did during these days.” So Judith told him, in the midst of the people, all that she had done, from the day she left until the time she began speaking to them. ⁹ When she had finished her account, the people cheered loudly, so that the city resounded with shouts of joy. ¹⁰ Now Achior, seeing all that the God of Israel had done, believed firmly in God. He circumcised the flesh of his foreskin and he has been united with the house of Israel to the present day.^(FW)

Panic in the Assyrian Camp. ¹¹ At daybreak they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall. Then all the Israelite men took up their weapons and went out by groups to the mountain passes.^{(FX) 12} When the Assyrians saw them, they notified their commanders, who, in turn, went to their generals, their division leaders, and all their other leaders. ¹³ They came to the tent of Holofernes and said to the one in charge of all his things, “Awaken our lord, for the slaves have dared come down against us in battle, to their utter destruction.” ¹⁴ So Bagoas went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, presuming that Holofernes was sleeping with Judith. ¹⁵ When no one answered, he parted the curtains, entered the bedchamber, and found him thrown on the floor dead, with his head gone! ¹⁶ He cried out loudly, weeping, groaning, and howling, and tore his garments. ¹⁷ Then he entered the tent where Judith had her quarters; and, not finding her, he rushed out to the troops and cried: ¹⁸ “The slaves have duped us! One Hebrew woman has brought shame on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look! Holofernes on the ground—without a head!”^(FY)

¹⁹ When the leaders of the Assyrian forces heard these words, they tore their tunics and were overcome with great distress. Their loud cries and shouts were heard throughout the camp.

Chapter 15

¹ On hearing what had happened, those still in their tents were horrified. ² Overcome with fear and dread, no one kept ranks any longer. They scattered in all directions, and fled along every path, both through the valley and in the hill country.^{(FZ) 3} Those who were stationed in the hill country around Bethulia also took to flight. Then the Israelites, every warrior among them, came charging down upon them.

⁴ Uzziah sent messengers to Betomasthaim, to Choba and Kona, and to the whole territory of Israel to report what had happened and to urge them all to attack the enemy and destroy them. ⁵ On hearing this, all the Israelites, with one accord, attacked them and cut them down as far as Choba. Even those from Jerusalem and the rest of the hill country took part in this, for they too had been notified of the happenings in the camp of their enemy. The Gileadites and the Galileans struck the enemy’s flanks with great slaughter, even beyond Damascus and its borders. ⁶ The remaining people of Bethulia swept down on the camp of the Assyrians, plundered it, and acquired great riches. ⁷ The Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter, took possession of what was left. Even the towns and villages in the hill country and on the plain got an enormous quantity of spoils, for there was a tremendous amount of it.

Israel Celebrates Judith’s Victory. ⁸ Then the high priest Joakim and the senate of the Israelites who lived in Jerusalem came to see for themselves the good things that the Lord had done for Israel, and to meet and congratulate Judith. ⁹ When they came to her, all with one accord blessed her, saying:

And all the people said, “Amen!”

¹¹ For thirty days^[ef] all the people plundered the camp, giving Judith the tent of Holofernes, with all his silver, his beds, his dishes, and all his furniture. She took them and loaded her mule, hitched her carts, and loaded these things on them.

¹² All the women of Israel gathered to see her, and they blessed her and performed a dance in her honor.^(GA) She took branches in her hands and distributed them to the women around her, ¹³ and she and the other women crowned themselves with olive leaves. Then, at the head of all the people, she led the women in the dance, while the men of Israel followed, bearing their weapons, wearing garlands and singing songs of praise. ^14 [eg]Judith led all Israel in this song of thanksgiving, and the people loudly sang this hymn of praise:

Chapter 16

Judith’s Hymn of Deliverance

¹ And Judith sang:

¹⁸ When they arrived at Jerusalem, they worshiped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, voluntary offerings, and donations.^{(GM) 19} Judith dedicated to God all the things of Holofernes that the people had given her, putting under the ban the canopy that she herself had taken from his bedchamber.^{(GN) 20} For three months the people continued their celebration in Jerusalem before the sanctuary, and Judith remained with them.

The Renown and Death of Judith. ²¹ When those days were over, all of them returned to their inheritance. Judith went back to Bethulia and remained on her estate. For the rest of her life she was renowned throughout the land. ²² Many wished to marry her, but she gave herself to no man all the days of her life from the time her husband, Manasseh, died and was gathered to his people. ²³ Her fame continued to increase, and she lived in the house of her husband, reaching the advanced age of one hundred and five.^[eh](GO) She set her maid free. And when she died in Bethulia, they buried her in the cave of her husband, Manasseh;^{(GP) 24} and the house of Israel mourned her for seven days.^[ei](GQ) Before she died, she distributed her property to the relatives of her husband, Manasseh, and to her own relatives.^(GR)

^25 (GS)During the lifetime of Judith and for a long time after her death, no one ever again spread terror^[ej] among the Israelites.

I. Prologue

Chapter A

Dream of Mordecai. ¹ In the second year of the reign of Ahasuerus the great, on the first day of Nisan, Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream.^{[ek](GT) 2 [el]}He was a Jew residing in the city of Susa, a prominent man who served at the king’s court, ³ and one of the captives whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken from Jerusalem with Jeconiah, king of Judah.^(GU)

^4 (GV)This was his dream.^[em] There was noise and tumult, thunder and earthquake—confusion upon the earth. ⁵ Two great dragons advanced, both poised for combat. They uttered a mighty cry, ⁶ and at their cry every nation prepared for war, to fight against the nation of the just. ⁷ It was a dark and gloomy day. Tribulation and distress, evil and great confusion, lay upon the earth. ⁸ The whole nation of the just was shaken with fear at the evils to come upon them, and they expected to perish. ^9 (GW)Then they cried out to God, and from their crying there arose, as though from a tiny spring, a mighty river, a flood of water. ¹⁰ The light of the sun broke forth; the lowly were exalted and they devoured the boastful.

¹¹ Having seen this dream and what God intended to do, Mordecai awoke. He kept it in mind, and tried in every way, until night, to understand its meaning.

Mordecai Thwarts an Assassination.^{[en] 12 (GX)}Mordecai lodged in the courtyard with Bigthan and Teresh, two eunuchs of the king who guarded the courtyard. ¹³ He overheard them plotting, investigated their plans, and discovered that they were preparing to assassinate King Ahasuerus. So he informed the king about them. ¹⁴ The king had the two eunuchs questioned and, upon their confession, put to death. ¹⁵ Then the king had these things recorded; Mordecai, too, put them into writing. ¹⁶ The king also appointed Mordecai to serve at the court, and rewarded him for his actions.^(GY)

¹⁷ Haman, however, son of Hammedatha, a Bougean,^[eo] who was held in high honor by the king, sought to harm Mordecai and his people because of the two eunuchs of the king.^(GZ)

II. Esther Becomes Queen

Chapter 1

The Banquet of Ahasuerus. ^1 [ep]During the reign of Ahasuerus—the same Ahasuerus who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia— ² while he was occupying the royal throne in the royal precinct of Susa,^{[eq] 3} in the third year of his reign, he gave a feast for all his officials and ministers: the Persian and Median army officers, the nobles, and the governors of the provinces.^{(HA) 4} For as many as a hundred and eighty days, he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the resplendent wealth of his royal estate.

⁵ At the end of this time the king gave a feast of seven days in the garden court of the royal palace for all the people, great and small, who were in the royal precinct of Susa. ⁶ There were white cotton draperies and violet hangings, held by cords of fine crimson linen from silver rings on marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were on a mosaic pavement, which was of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones. ⁷ Drinks were served in a variety of golden cups, and the royal wine flowed freely, as befitted the king’s liberality. ⁸ By ordinance of the king the drinking was unstinted, for he had instructed all the stewards of his household to comply with the good pleasure of everyone. ⁹ Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

Refusal of Vashti. ¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he instructed Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus,^{(HB) 11} to bring Queen Vashti into his presence wearing the royal crown, that he might display her beauty to the populace and the officials, for she was lovely to behold. ¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the royal order issued through the eunuchs. At this the king’s wrath flared up, and he burned with fury. ¹³ He conferred with the sages who understood the times, because the king’s business was conducted in general consultation with lawyers and jurists. ¹⁴ He summoned Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven Persian and Median officials who were in the king’s personal service and held first rank in the realm,^{(HC) 15} and asked them, “What is to be done by law with Queen Vashti for disobeying the order of King Ahasuerus issued through the eunuchs?”

¹⁶ In the presence of the king and of the officials, Memucan answered: “Queen Vashti has not wronged the king alone, but all the officials and the populace throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus. ¹⁷ For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and they will look with disdain upon their husbands when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti be ushered into his presence, but she would not come.’ ¹⁸ This very day the Persian and Median noblewomen who hear of the queen’s conduct will recount it to all the royal officials, and disdain and rancor will abound. ¹⁹ If it please the king, let an irrevocable royal decree^[er] be issued by him and inscribed among the laws of the Persians and Medes, forbidding Vashti to come into the presence of King Ahasuerus and authorizing the king to give her royal dignity to one more worthy than she.^{(HD) 20} Thus, when the decree that the king will issue is published throughout his realm, vast as it is, all wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”

²¹ This proposal pleased the king and the officials, and the king acted on the advice of Memucan. ²² He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, to the effect that every man should be lord in his own home.

Chapter 2

The Search for a New Queen. ¹ After this, when King Ahasuerus’ wrath had cooled, he thought over what Vashti had done and what had been decreed against her. ² Then the king’s personal attendants suggested: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. ³ Let the king appoint emissaries in all the provinces of his realm to gather all beautiful young virgins into the harem in the royal precinct of Susa. Under the care of the royal eunuch Hegai, guardian of the women, let cosmetics be given them. ⁴ Then the young woman who pleases the king shall reign in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.

⁵ There was in the royal precinct of Susa a certain Jew named Mordecai,^[es] son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, ⁶ who had been exiled from Jerusalem with the captives taken with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had deported.^{(HE) 7} He became foster father to his cousin Hadassah, that is, Esther,^[et] when she lost both father and mother. The young woman was beautifully formed and lovely to behold. On the death of her father and mother, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.^(HF)

⁸ When the king’s order and decree had been proclaimed and many young women brought together to the royal precinct of Susa under the care of Hegai, Esther also was brought in to the royal palace under the care of Hegai, guardian of the women. ⁹ The young woman pleased him and won his favor. So he promptly furnished her with cosmetics and provisions. Then choosing seven maids for her from the royal palace, he transferred both her and her maids to the best place in the harem. ¹⁰ Esther did not reveal her nationality or family, for Mordecai had commanded her not to do so.

¹¹ Day by day Mordecai would walk about in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was faring and what was to become of her.

¹² After the twelve months’ preparation decreed for the women, each one went in turn to visit King Ahasuerus. During this period of beautifying treatment, six months were spent with oil of myrrh, and the other six months with perfumes and cosmetics. ¹³ Then, when each one was to visit the king, she was allowed to take with her from the harem to the royal palace whatever she chose. ¹⁴ She would go in the evening and return in the morning to a second harem under the care of the royal eunuch Shaashgaz, guardian of the concubines. She could not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and had her summoned by name.^{(HG) 15} As for Esther, daughter of Abihail and adopted daughter of his nephew Mordecai, when her turn came to visit the king, she did not ask for anything but what the royal eunuch Hegai, guardian of the women, suggested. And she won the admiration of all who saw her.

Ahasuerus Chooses Esther. ¹⁶ Esther was led to King Ahasuerus in his palace in the tenth month, Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. ¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all other women, and of all the virgins she won his favor and good will. So he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great feast in honor of Esther to all his officials and servants, granting a holiday to the provinces and bestowing gifts with royal generosity.

Mordecai Thwarts an Assassination.^{[eu] 19 (HH)}As was said, from the time the virgins had been brought together, and while Mordecai was passing his time at the king’s gate, ²⁰ Esther had not revealed her family or nationality, because Mordecai had told her not to; and Esther continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions, just as she had when she was being brought up by him. ^21 (HI)During the time that Mordecai spent at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became angry and plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. ²² When the plot became known to Mordecai, he told Queen Esther, who in turn informed the king in Mordecai’s name. ²³ The matter was investigated and verified, and both of them were impaled on stakes.^[ev] This was written in the annals in the king’s presence.

III. Haman’s Plot Against the Jews

Chapter 3

Mordecai Refuses to Honor Haman. ¹ After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, to high rank, seating him above all his fellow officials.^{(HJ) 2} All the king’s servants who were at the royal gate would kneel and bow down to Haman, for that is what the king had ordered in his regard.^(HK) Mordecai, however, would not kneel and bow down.^{[ew] 3} The king’s servants who were at the royal gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s order?”^{(HL) 4} When they had reminded him day after day and he would not listen to them, they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s explanation would prevail, since he had told them that he was a Jew.

Haman’s Reprisal. ⁵ When Haman observed that Mordecai would not kneel and bow down to him, he was filled with anger. ⁶ But he thought it was beneath him to attack only Mordecai. Since they had told Haman of Mordecai’s nationality, he sought to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai’s people, throughout the realm of King Ahasuerus. ⁷ In the first month, Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, the pur, or lot,^[ex] was cast in Haman’s presence to determine the day and the month for the destruction of Mordecai’s people on a single day, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar.^(HM)

Decree Against the Jews. ⁸ Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus: “Dispersed among the nations throughout the provinces of your kingdom, there is a certain people living apart. Their laws differ from those of every other people and they do not obey the laws of the king; so it is not proper for the king to tolerate them.^{(HN) 9} If it please the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them; and I will deliver to the procurators ten thousand silver talents for deposit in the royal treasury.”^{(HO) 10} The king took the signet ring^[ey] from his hand and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.^{(HP) 11} The king said to Haman, “The silver is yours, as well as the people, to do with as you please.”^[ez]

¹² So the royal scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and they wrote, at the dictation of Haman, an order to the royal satraps, the governors of every province, and the officials of every people, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring. ¹³ Letters were sent by couriers to all the royal provinces, to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, including women and children in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, and to seize their goods as spoil.^(HQ)

Chapter B

¹ This is a copy of the letter:

“The great King Ahasuerus writes to the satraps of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia, and the governors subordinate to them, as follows: ² When I came to rule many peoples and to hold sway over the whole world, not being carried away by a sense of my own authority but always acting fairly and with mildness, I determined to provide for my subjects a life of lasting tranquility; and, by making my kingdom civilized and safe for travel to its farthest borders, to restore the peace desired by all people.^{(HR) 3} When I consulted my counselors as to how this might be accomplished, Haman, who excels among us in discretion, who is outstanding for constant good will and steadfast loyalty, and who has gained a place in the kingdom second only to me,^{(HS) 4} brought it to our attention that, mixed among all the nations throughout the world, there is one people of ill will, which by its laws is opposed to every other people and continually disregards the decrees of kings, so that the unity of empire blamelessly designed by us cannot be established.^(HT)

⁵ “Having noted, therefore, that this nation, and it alone, is continually at variance with all people, lives by divergent and alien laws, is inimical to our government, and does all the harm it can to undermine the stability of the kingdom, ⁶ we hereby decree that all those who are indicated to you in the letters of Haman, who is in charge of the administration and is a second father to us, shall, together with their wives and children, be utterly destroyed by the swords of their enemies, without any pity or mercy, on the fourteenth day^[fa] of the twelfth month, Adar, of the current year;^{(HU) 7} so that when these people, whose present ill will is of long standing, have gone down into Hades by a violent death on a single day, they may leave our government completely stable and undisturbed for the future.”

(Chapter 3)

¹⁴ A copy of the decree to be promulgated as law in every province was published to all the peoples, that they might be prepared for that day. ¹⁵ The couriers set out in haste at the king’s command; meanwhile, the decree was promulgated in the royal precinct of Susa. The king and Haman then sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

IV. Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help

Chapter 4

Mordecai Exhorts Esther. ¹ When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city crying out loudly and bitterly,^{(HV) 2} till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter. ³ Likewise in each of the provinces, wherever the king’s decree and law reached, the Jews went into deep mourning, with fasting, weeping, and lament; most of them lay on sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her. Overwhelmed with anguish, the queen sent garments for Mordecai to put on, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he refused. ⁵ Esther then summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had placed at her service, and commanded him to find out what this action of Mordecai meant and the reason for it. ⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the public square in front of the royal gate, ⁷ and Mordecai recounted all that had happened to him, as well as the exact amount of silver Haman had promised to pay to the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews. ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction that had been promulgated in Susa, to show and explain to Esther. Hathach was to instruct her to go to the king and to plead and intercede with him on behalf of her people.^[fb]

⁹ Hathach returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then Esther replied to Hathach and gave him this message for Mordecai: ¹¹ “All the servants of the king and the people of his provinces know that any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned is subject to the same law—death. Only if the king extends the golden scepter will such a person live. Now as for me, I have not been summoned to the king for thirty days.”^(HW)

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he had this reply brought to her: “Do not imagine that you are safe in the king’s palace, you alone of all the Jews. ¹⁴ Even if you now remain silent, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source;^[fc] but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows—perhaps it was for a time like this that you became queen?”

¹⁵ Esther sent back to Mordecai the response: ¹⁶ “Go and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa; fast on my behalf, all of you, not eating or drinking night or day for three days. I and my maids will also fast in the same way. Thus prepared, I will go to the king, contrary to the law. If I perish, I perish!”^{(HX) 17} Mordecai went away and did exactly as Esther had commanded.

Chapter C

Prayer of Mordecai. ¹ Recalling all that the Lord had done, Mordecai prayed to the Lord ² and said: “Lord, Lord, King and Ruler of all, everything is in your power, and there is no one to oppose you when it is your will to save Israel. ³ You made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven. ⁴ You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, the Lord. ^5 (HY)You know all things. You know, Lord, that it was not out of insolence or arrogance or desire for glory that I acted thus in not bowing down to the arrogant Haman. ⁶ I would have gladly kissed the soles of his feet for the salvation of Israel. ⁷ But I acted as I did so as not to place the honor of a mortal above that of God. I will not bow down to anyone but you, my Lord. It is not out of arrogance that I am acting thus. ⁸ And now, Lord God, King, God of Abraham, spare your people, for our enemies regard us with deadly envy and are bent upon destroying the inheritance that was yours from the beginning. ⁹ Do not spurn your portion, which you redeemed for yourself out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰ Hear my prayer; have pity on your inheritance and turn our mourning into feasting, that we may live to sing praise to your name, Lord. Do not silence the mouths of those who praise you.”

¹¹ All Israel, too, cried out with all their strength, for death was staring them in the face.

Prayer of Esther. ^12 (HZ)Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, fled to the Lord for refuge. ¹³ Taking off her splendid garments, she put on garments of distress and mourning. In place of her precious ointments she covered her head with dung and ashes. She afflicted her body severely and in place of her festive adornments, her tangled hair covered her.

¹⁴ Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: “My Lord, you alone are our King. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, ¹⁵ for I am taking my life in my hand.^{(IA) 16} From birth, I have heard among my people that you, Lord, chose Israel from among all nations, and our ancestors from among all their forebears, as a lasting inheritance, and that you fulfilled all your promises to them.^{(IB) 17} But now we have sinned in your sight, and you have delivered us into the hands of our enemies, ¹⁸ because we worshiped their gods. You are just, O Lord. ¹⁹ But now they are not satisfied with our bitter servitude, but have sworn an oath to their idols ²⁰ to do away with the decree you have pronounced, to destroy your inheritance, to close the mouths of those who praise you, to extinguish the glory of your house and your altar, ²¹ to open the mouths of the nations to acclaim their worthless gods, and to extol a mortal king forever.

²² “Lord, do not relinquish your scepter to those who are nothing. Do not let our foes gloat over our ruin, but turn their own counsel against them and make an example of the one who began this against us. ²³ Be mindful of us, Lord. Make yourself known in the time of our distress and give me courage, King of gods and Ruler of every power. ²⁴ Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and his co-conspirators may perish. ²⁵ Save us by your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but you, Lord.

²⁶ “You know all things. You know that I hate the pomp of the lawless, and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised or of any foreigner. ²⁷ You know that I am under constraint, that I abhor the sign of grandeur that rests on my head when I appear in public. I abhor it like a polluted rag, and do not wear it in private. ²⁸ I, your servant, have never eaten at the table of Haman, nor have I graced the banquet of the king or drunk the wine of libations.^{[fd] 29} From the day I was brought here till now, your servant has had no joy except in you, Lord, God of Abraham. ³⁰ O God, whose power is over all, hear the voice of those in despair. Save us from the power of the wicked, and deliver me from my fear.”

Chapter D

Esther Goes to Ahasuerus.^{[fe] 1} On the third day, ending her prayers, she took off her prayer garments and arrayed herself in her splendid attire. ² In making her appearance, after invoking the all-seeing God and savior, she took with her two maids; ³ on the one she leaned gently for support, ⁴ while the other followed her, bearing her train. ⁵ She glowed with perfect beauty and her face was as joyous as it was lovely, though her heart was pounding with fear. ⁶ She passed through all the portals till she stood before the king, who was seated on his royal throne, clothed in full robes of state, and covered with gold and precious stones, so that he inspired great awe. ⁷ As he looked up in extreme anger, his features fiery and majestic, the queen staggered, turned pale and fainted, collapsing against the maid in front of her. ⁸ But God changed the king’s anger to gentleness. In great anxiety he sprang from his throne, held her in his arms until she recovered, and comforted her with reassuring words. ⁹ “What is it, Esther?” he said to her. “I am your brother.^[ff] Take courage! ¹⁰ You shall not die; this order of ours applies only to our subjects. ¹¹ Come near!” ¹² Raising the golden scepter, he touched her neck with it, embraced her, and said, “Speak to me.”^(IC)

¹³ She replied: “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was shaken by fear of your majesty. ¹⁴ For you are awesome, my lord, though your countenance is full of mercy.” ¹⁵ As she said this, she fainted. ¹⁶ The king was shaken and all his attendants tried to revive her.

Chapter 5

^1 [fg][Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal garments and stood in the inner courtyard, looking toward the royal palace, while the king was seated on his royal throne in the audience chamber, facing the palace doorway. ² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his favor and he extended toward her the golden scepter he held. She came up to him, and touched the top of the scepter.]

³ Then the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it is half of my kingdom, it shall be granted you.”^{(ID) 4} Esther replied, “If it please your majesty, come today with Haman to a banquet I have prepared.” ⁵ The king ordered, “Have Haman make haste to fulfill the wish of Esther.”

V. Haman’s Downfall

First Banquet of Esther. So the king went with Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ During the drinking of the wine, the king said to Esther, “Whatever you ask for shall be granted, and whatever request you make shall be honored, even if it is for half my kingdom.”^{(IE) 7} Esther replied: “This is my petition and request: ⁸ if I have found favor with the king and if it pleases your majesty to grant my petition and honor my request, let the king come with Haman tomorrow to a banquet I will prepare; and tomorrow I will do as the king asks.”

Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai. ⁹ That day Haman left happy and in good spirits. But when he saw that Mordecai at the royal gate did not rise, and showed no fear of him, he was filled with anger toward him.^{(IF) 10} Haman restrained himself, however, and went home, where he summoned his friends and his wife Zeresh. ¹¹ He recounted the greatness of his riches, the large number of his sons, and how the king had promoted him and placed him above the officials and royal servants.^{(IG) 12} “Moreover,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to come with the king to the banquet she prepared; again tomorrow I am to be her guest with the king. ¹³ Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I continue to see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the royal gate.”^{(IH) 14} His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a stake set up, fifty cubits in height, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go to the banquet with the king in good spirits.” This suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the stake erected.^(II)

Chapter 6

Mordecai’s Reward from the King. ¹ That night the king, unable to sleep, asked that the chronicle of notable events be brought in. While this was being read to him, ² the passage occurred in which Mordecai reported Bigthan and Teresh, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, for seeking to assassinate King Ahasuerus.^{(IJ) 3} The king asked, “What was done to honor and exalt Mordecai for this?” The king’s attendants replied, “Nothing was done for him.”^(IK)

^4 [fh]“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest to the king that Mordecai should be impaled on the stake he had raised for him.^{(IL) 5} The king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is waiting in the court.” The king said, “Let him come in.” ⁶ When Haman entered, the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” ⁷ So he replied to the king: “For the man whom the king wishes to honor ⁸ there should be brought the royal robe the king wore and the horse the king rode with the royal crest placed on its head. ⁹ The robe and the horse should be given to one of the noblest of the king’s officials, who must clothe the man the king wishes to reward, have him ride on the horse in the public square of the city, and cry out before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”^{(IM) 10} Then the king said to Haman: “Hurry! Take the robe and horse as you have proposed, and do this for the Jew Mordecai, who is sitting at the royal gate. Do not omit anything you proposed.”^{(IN) 11} So Haman took the robe and horse, clothed Mordecai, had him ride in the public square of the city, and cried out before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!”

¹² Mordecai then returned to the royal gate, while Haman hurried home grieving, with his head covered.^{(IO) 13} When he told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you are beginning to fall, is of Jewish ancestry, you will not prevail against him, but will surely be defeated by him.”

Esther’s Second Banquet. ¹⁴ While they were speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman off to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Chapter 7

¹ So the king and Haman went to the banquet with Queen Esther. ² Again, on this second day, as they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Whatever you ask, Queen Esther, shall be granted you. Whatever request you make, even for half the kingdom, shall be honored.”^{(IP) 3} Queen Esther replied: “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, I ask that my life be spared, and I beg that you spare the lives of my people. ⁴ For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we were only to be sold into slavery I would remain silent, for then our distress would not have been worth troubling the king.”^{(IQ) 5} King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who and where is the man who has dared to do this?”^{(IR) 6} Esther replied, “The enemy oppressing us is this wicked Haman.” At this, Haman was seized with dread of the king and queen.

⁷ The king left the banquet in anger and went into the garden of the palace, but Haman stayed to beg Queen Esther for his life, since he saw that the king had decided on his doom. ⁸ When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch on which Esther was reclining; and the king exclaimed, “Will he also violate the queen while she is with me in my own house!” Scarcely had the king spoken when the face of Haman was covered over.

Punishment of Haman. ^9 (IS)Harbona, one of the eunuchs who attended the king, said, “At the house of Haman stands a stake fifty cubits high. Haman made it for Mordecai, who gave the report that benefited the king.” The king answered, “Impale him on it.” ¹⁰ So they impaled Haman on the stake he had set up for Mordecai, and the anger of the king abated.

Chapter 8

¹ That day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai was admitted to the king’s presence, for Esther had revealed his relationship to her.^{(IT) 2} The king removed his signet ring that he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.^(IU)

VI. The Jewish Victory and the Feast of Purim

The Second Royal Decree. ³ Esther again spoke to the king. She fell at his feet and tearfully implored him to revoke the harm done by Haman the Agagite and the plan he had devised against the Jews. ⁴ The king stretched forth the golden scepter to Esther. So she rose and, standing before him, ⁵ said: “If it seems good to the king and if I have found favor with him, if the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let a document be issued to revoke the letters that the schemer Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, wrote for the destruction of the Jews in all the royal provinces.^{(IV) 6} For how can I witness the evil that is to befall my people, and how can I behold the destruction of my kindred?”

⁷ King Ahasuerus then said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai: “Now that I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have impaled him on the stake because he was going to attack the Jews, ^8 (IW)you in turn may write in the king’s name what you see fit concerning the Jews and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.” For a decree written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.^[fi]

⁹ At that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, Sivan, the royal scribes were summoned. Exactly as Mordecai dictated, they wrote to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and officials of the hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia: to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. ¹⁰ These letters, which he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring, he sent by mounted couriers riding thoroughbred royal steeds. ^11 (IX)In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every armed group of any nation or province that might attack them, along with their wives and children, and to seize their goods as spoil ¹² on a single day throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar.

Chapter E

¹ The following is a copy of the letter:

“The great King Ahasuerus to the governors of the provinces in the hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia, and to those who are loyal to our government: Greetings!

² “Many have become more ambitious the more they were showered with honors through the bountiful generosity of their patrons. ³ Not only do they seek to do harm to our subjects but, incapable of dealing with such greatness, they even begin plotting against their own benefactors. ⁴ Not only do they drive out gratitude from among humankind but, with the arrogant boastfulness of those to whom goodness has no meaning, they suppose they will escape the stern judgment of the all-seeing God.

⁵ “Often, too, the fair speech of friends entrusted with the administration of affairs has induced many placed in authority to become accomplices in the shedding of innocent blood, and has involved them in irreparable calamities ⁶ by deceiving with malicious slander the sincere good will of rulers. ⁷ This can be verified in the ancient stories that have been handed down to us, but more fully when you consider the wicked deeds perpetrated in your midst by the pestilential influence of those undeserving of authority. ^8 (IY)We must provide for the future, so as to render the kingdom undisturbed and peaceful for all people, ⁹ taking advantage of changing conditions and always deciding matters coming to our attention with equitable treatment.

¹⁰ “For instance, Haman, son of Hammedatha, a Macedonian,^[fj] certainly not of Persian blood, and very different from us in generosity, was hospitably received by us. ¹¹ He benefited so much from the good will we have toward all peoples that he was proclaimed ‘our father,’ before whom everyone was to bow down; and he attained a position second only to the royal throne.^{(IZ) 12} But, unable to control his arrogance, he strove to deprive us of kingdom and of life, ¹³ and by weaving intricate webs of deceit he demanded the destruction of Mordecai, our savior and constant benefactor, and of Esther, our blameless royal consort, together with their whole nation.^{(JA) 14} For by such measures he hoped to catch us defenseless and to transfer the rule of the Persians to the Macedonians. ¹⁵ But we find that the Jews, who were doomed to extinction by this archcriminal, are not evildoers, but rather are governed by very just laws ¹⁶ and are the children of the Most High, the living God of majesty, who has maintained the kingdom in a flourishing condition for us and for our forebears.

¹⁷ “You will do well, then, to ignore the letter sent by Haman, son of Hammedatha, ¹⁸ for he who composed it has been impaled, together with his entire household, before the gates of Susa. Thus swiftly has God, who governs all, brought just punishment upon him.^(JB)

¹⁹ “You shall exhibit a copy of this letter publicly in every place to certify that the Jews may follow their own laws ²⁰ and that you may help them on the day set for their ruin, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, to defend themselves against those who attack them. ²¹ For God, the ruler of all, has turned that day from one of destruction of the chosen people into one of joy for them. ²² Therefore, you too must celebrate this memorable day among your designated feasts with all rejoicing, ²³ so that both now and in the future it may be a celebration of deliverance for us and for Persians of good will, but for those who plot against us a reminder of destruction.

²⁴ “Every city and province without exception that does not observe this decree shall be ruthlessly destroyed with fire and sword, so that it will be left not merely untrodden by people, but even shunned by wild beasts and birds forever.”^(JC)

(Chapter 8)

¹³ A copy of the letter to be promulgated as law in each and every province was published among all the peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ¹⁴ Couriers mounted on royal steeds sped forth in haste at the king’s order, and the decree was promulgated in the royal precinct of Susa.

¹⁵ Mordecai left the king’s presence clothed in a royal robe of violet and of white cotton, with a large crown of gold and a mantle of fine crimson linen. The city of Susa shouted with joy,^{(JD) 16} and for the Jews there was splendor and gladness, joy and triumph. ¹⁷ In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s order arrived, there was merriment and joy, banqueting and feasting for the Jews. And many of the peoples of the land identified themselves as Jews, for fear of the Jews fell upon them.^(JE)

Chapter 9

The Massacre Reversed. ^1 (JF)When the day arrived on which the order decreed by the king was to be carried out, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, on which the enemies of the Jews had expected to overpower them, the situation was reversed: the Jews overpowered those who hated them. ² The Jews mustered in their cities throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus to attack those who sought to do them harm, and no one could withstand them, for fear of them fell upon all the peoples. ³ Moreover, all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, governors, and royal procurators supported the Jews out of fear of Mordecai; ⁴ for Mordecai was powerful in the royal palace, and the report was spreading through all the provinces that he was continually growing in power.

⁵ The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; they did to those who hated them as they pleased.^{(JG) 6 (JH)}In the royal precinct of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred people. ⁷ They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸ Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹ Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, ^10 (JI)the ten sons of Haman, son of Hammedatha, the foe of the Jews. However, they did not engage in plundering.

¹¹ On the same day, when the number of those killed in the royal precinct of Susa was reported to the king, ¹² he said to Queen Esther: “In the royal precinct of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred people, as well as the ten sons of Haman. What must they have done in the other royal provinces! You shall again be granted whatever you ask, and whatever you request shall be honored.” ¹³ So Esther said, “If it pleases your majesty, let the Jews in Susa be permitted again tomorrow to act according to today’s decree, and let the ten sons of Haman be impaled on stakes.” ¹⁴ The king then gave an order that this be done, and the decree was published in Susa. So the ten sons of Haman were impaled,^{(JJ) 15} and the Jews in Susa mustered again on the fourteenth of the month of Adar and killed three hundred people in Susa. However, they did not engage in plundering.^(JK)

¹⁶ The other Jews, who dwelt in the royal provinces, also mustered and defended themselves, and obtained rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they did not engage in plunder.^{(JL) 17} This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar.

The Feast of Purim.^[fk] On the fourteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.

¹⁸ The Jews in Susa, however, mustered on the thirteenth and fourteenth of the month. But on the fifteenth they rested, and made it a day of joyful banqueting. ¹⁹ That is why the rural Jews, who dwell in villages, celebrate the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joyful banqueting, a holiday on which they send food to one another.

²⁰ Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews, both near and far, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. ^21 [fl]He ordered them to celebrate every year both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of the month of Adar ²² as the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and as the month which was turned for them from sorrow into joy, from mourning into celebration. They were to observe these days with joyful banqueting, sending food to one another and gifts to the poor. ^23 [fm]The Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun doing and what Mordecai had written to them.^(JM)

VII. Epilogue: The Rise of Mordecai

Summary of the Story. ^24 (JN)Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the foe of all the Jews, had planned to destroy them and had cast the pur, or lot, for the time of their defeat and destruction. ²⁵ Yet, when the plot became known to the king, the king ordered in writing that the wicked plan Haman had devised against the Jews should instead be turned against Haman and that he and his sons should be impaled on stakes.^{(JO) 26} And so these days have been named Purim after the word pur.

Thus, because of all that was contained in this letter, and because of what they had witnessed and experienced in this event, ²⁷ the Jews established and adopted as a custom for themselves, their descendants, and all who should join them, the perpetual obligation of celebrating these two days every year in the manner prescribed by this letter, and at the time appointed.^{(JP) 28} These days were to be commemorated and kept in every generation, by every clan, in every province, and in every city. These days of Purim were never to be neglected among the Jews, nor forgotten by their descendants.

Esther and Mordecai Act in Concert.^{[fn] 29} Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote to confirm with full authority this second letter about Purim, ³⁰ and Mordecai sent documents concerning peace and security to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of Ahasuerus’ kingdom.^{(JQ) 31} Thus were established, for their appointed time, these days of Purim which Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had designated for the Jews, just as they had previously enjoined upon themselves and upon their descendants the duty of fasting and supplication. ³² The command of Esther confirmed these prescriptions for Purim and was recorded in the book.

Chapter 10

The Rise of Mordecai Completed. ¹ King Ahasuerus levied a tax on the land and on the islands of the sea. ² All the acts of his power and valor, as well as a detailed account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia. ³ The Jew Mordecai was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, in high standing among the Jews, popular with many of his kindred, seeking the good of his people and speaking out on behalf of the welfare of all its descendants.^(JR)

Chapter F

Mordecai’s Dream Fulfilled. ^1 (JS)Then Mordecai said: “This is the work of God. ² I recall the dream I had about these very things, and not a single detail has been left unfulfilled— ³ the tiny spring that grew into a river, and there was light, and sun, and many waters. The river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. ⁴ The two dragons are myself and Haman. ⁵ The nations are those who assembled to destroy the name of the Jews, ⁶ but my people is Israel, who cried to God and was saved.

“The Lord saved his people and delivered us from all these evils. God worked signs and great wonders, such as have not occurred among the nations. ⁷ For this purpose he arranged two lots:^[fo] one for the people of God, the second for all the other nations. ⁸ These two lots were fulfilled in the hour, the time, and the day of judgment before God and among all the nations. ⁹ God remembered his people and rendered justice to his inheritance.

^10 (JT)“Gathering together with joy and happiness before God, they shall celebrate these days on the fourteenth and fifteenth of the month Adar throughout all future generations of his people Israel.”

Colophon.^{[fp] 11} In the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and his son Ptolemy brought the present letter of Purim, saying that it was genuine and that Lysimachus, son of Ptolemy, of the community of Jerusalem, had translated it.

I. Crisis and Response

Chapter 1

From Alexander to Antiochus. ^1 (JU)After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip’s son, who came from the land of Kittim,^[fq] had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece. ² He fought many battles, captured fortresses, and put the kings of the earth to death. ³ He advanced to the ends of the earth, gathering plunder from many nations; the earth fell silent before him, and his heart became proud and arrogant. ⁴ He collected a very strong army and won dominion over provinces, nations, and rulers, and they paid him tribute.

⁵ But after all this he took to his bed, realizing that he was going to die. ⁶ So he summoned his noblest officers, who had been brought up with him from his youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. ⁷ Alexander had reigned twelve years^[fr] when he died.

⁸ So his officers took over his kingdom, each in his own territory, ⁹ and after his death they all put on diadems,^[fs] and so did their sons after them for many years, multiplying evils on the earth.

¹⁰ There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year^[ft] of the kingdom of the Greeks.

Lawless Jews. ^11 (JV)In those days there appeared in Israel transgressors of the law who seduced many, saying: “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” ¹² The proposal was agreeable; ¹³ some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the ordinances of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ Thereupon they built a gymnasium^[fu] in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. ¹⁵ They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.

Antiochus in Egypt. ^16 (JW)When his kingdom seemed secure, Antiochus undertook to become king of the land of Egypt and to rule over both kingdoms. ¹⁷ He invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots, elephants^[fv] and cavalry, and with a large fleet, ¹⁸ to make war on Ptolemy,^[fw] king of Egypt. Ptolemy was frightened at his presence and fled, and many were wounded and fell dead. ¹⁹ The fortified cities in the land of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the land of Egypt.

Robbery of the Temple. ^20 (JX)After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the one hundred and forty-third year,^[fx] he returned and went up against Israel and against Jerusalem with a strong force. ²¹ He insolently entered the sanctuary^[fy] and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its utensils, ²² the offering table, the cups and bowls, the golden censers, and the curtain. The cornices and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple—he stripped it all off. ²³ And he took away the silver and gold and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. ²⁴ Taking all this, he went back to his own country. He shed much blood and spoke with great arrogance.

Attack and Occupation. ^29 (JY)Two years later, the king sent the Mysian commander^[fz] to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a strong force. ³⁰ He spoke to them deceitfully in peaceful terms, and they believed him. Then he attacked the city suddenly, in a great onslaught, and destroyed many of the people in Israel. ³¹ He plundered the city and set fire to it, demolished its houses and its surrounding walls. ³² And they took captive the women and children, and seized the animals. ³³ Then they built up the City of David with a high, strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.^{[ga] 34} There they installed a sinful race, transgressors of the law, who fortified themselves inside it. ³⁵ They stored up weapons and provisions, depositing there the plunder they had collected from Jerusalem, and they became a great snare.

Religious Persecution. ^41 (KA)Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, ⁴² and abandon their particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, ⁴³ and many Israelites delighted in his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.

⁴⁴ The king sent letters by messenger to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; ⁴⁵ to prohibit burnt offerings, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days, ⁴⁶ to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers, ⁴⁷ to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, ⁴⁸ to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to defile themselves with every kind of impurity and abomination; ⁴⁹ so that they might forget the law and change all its ordinances. ⁵⁰ Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was to be put to death.^(KB)

⁵¹ In words such as these he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people, and he ordered the cities of Judah to offer sacrifices, each city in turn. ⁵² Many of the people, those who abandoned the law, joined them and committed evil in the land. ⁵³ They drove Israel into hiding, wherever places of refuge could be found.

⁵⁴ On the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five,^[gb] the king erected the desolating abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.^{(KC) 55} They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. ⁵⁶ Any scrolls of the law^[gc] that they found they tore up and burned. ⁵⁷ Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree. ⁵⁸ So they used their power against Israel, against those who were caught, each month, in the cities. ⁵⁹ On the twenty-fifth day of each month they sacrificed on the pagan altar that was over the altar of burnt offerings. ⁶⁰ In keeping with the decree, they put to death women who had their children circumcised, ⁶¹ and they hung their babies from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.

⁶² But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; ⁶³ they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. ⁶⁴ And very great wrath came upon Israel.

Chapter 2

Mattathias and His Sons. ¹ In those days Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib,^(KD) left Jerusalem and settled in Modein.^{[gd] 2} He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; ³ Simon, who was called Thassi; ⁴ Judas, who was called Maccabeus; ⁵ Eleazar, who was called Avaran; and Jonathan, who was called Apphus. ⁶ When he saw the sacrileges that were being committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, ⁷ he said:

¹⁴ Then Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and mourned bitterly.

Pagan Worship Refused and Resisted. ¹⁵ The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them sacrifice. ¹⁶ Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons drew together. ¹⁷ Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. ¹⁸ Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and Judeans and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends,^[ge] and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

¹⁹ But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders, ²⁰ yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors. ²¹ Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. ²² We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.”

²³ As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. ²⁴ When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. ²⁵ At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. ²⁶ Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.^(KF)

²⁷ Then Mattathias cried out in the city, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” ²⁸ Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind in the city all their possessions.^(KG)

²⁹ At that time many who sought righteousness and justice went out into the wilderness^[gf] to settle there, ³⁰ they and their children, their wives and their animals, because misfortunes pressed so hard on them. ³¹ It was reported to the officers and soldiers of the king who were in the City of David, in Jerusalem, that those who had flouted the king’s order had gone out to secret refuges in the wilderness. ^32 (KH)Many hurried out after them, and having caught up with them, camped opposite and prepared to attack them on the sabbath. ³³ The pursuers said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and obey the king’s command, and you will live.” ³⁴ But they replied, “We will not come out, nor will we obey the king’s command to profane the sabbath.” ³⁵ Then the enemy attacked them at once. ³⁶ But they did not retaliate; they neither threw stones, nor blocked up their secret refuges. ³⁷ They said, “Let us all die in innocence; heaven and earth are our witnesses that you destroy us unjustly.” ³⁸ So the officers and soldiers attacked them on the sabbath, and they died with their wives, their children and their animals, to the number of a thousand persons.

³⁹ When Mattathias and his friends heard of it, they mourned deeply for them. ⁴⁰ They said to one another, “If we all do as our kindred have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our laws, they will soon destroy us from the earth.” ⁴¹ So on that day they came to this decision: “Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kindred died in their secret refuges.”

⁴² Then they were joined by a group of Hasideans,^[gg] mighty warriors of Israel, all of them devoted to the law. ⁴³ And all those who were fleeing from the persecutions joined them and supported them. ⁴⁴ They gathered an army and struck down sinners in their wrath and the lawless in their anger, and the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety. ⁴⁵ Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the pagan altars; ⁴⁶ they also forcibly circumcised any uncircumcised boys whom they found in the territory of Israel. ⁴⁷ They put to flight the arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands. ⁴⁸ They saved the law from the hands of the Gentiles and of the kings and did not let the sinner triumph.

Farewell of Mattathias. ⁴⁹ When the time came for Mattathias to die, he said to his sons: “Arrogance and scorn have now grown strong; it is a time of disaster and violent wrath. ⁵⁰ Therefore, my children, be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors.

⁶⁵ “Here is your brother Simeon who I know is a wise counselor; listen to him always, and he will be a father to you. ⁶⁶ And Judas Maccabeus, a mighty warrior from his youth, shall be the leader of your army and wage the war against the nations. ⁶⁷ Gather about you all who observe the law, and avenge your people. ⁶⁸ Pay back the Gentiles what they deserve, and observe the precepts of the law.”

⁶⁹ Then he blessed them, and he was gathered to his ancestors. ⁷⁰ He died in the year one hundred and forty-six,^[gh] and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors in Modein, and all Israel mourned him greatly.

II. Leadership of Judas Maccabeus

Chapter 3

Judas and His Early Victories. ¹ Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took his place. ² All his brothers and all who had joined his father supported him, and they gladly carried on Israel’s war.

¹⁰ Then Apollonius^[gi] gathered together the Gentiles, along with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel. ¹¹ When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and struck and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled. ¹² They took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius and fought with it the rest of his life.

¹³ But Seron, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had mustered an assembly of faithful men ready for war. ¹⁴ So he said, “I will make a name for myself and win honor in the kingdom. I will wage war against Judas and his followers, who have despised the king’s command.” ¹⁵ And again a large company of renegades advanced with him to help him take revenge on the Israelites.

¹⁶ When he reached the ascent of Beth-horon,^[gj] Judas went out to meet him with a few men. ¹⁷ But when they saw the army coming against them, they said to Judas: “How can we, few as we are, fight such a strong host as this? Besides, we are weak since we have not eaten today.” ¹⁸ But Judas said: “Many are easily hemmed in by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few; ¹⁹ for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven.^{(KS) 20} With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us; ²¹ but we are fighting for our lives and our laws. ²² He^[gk] will crush them before us; so do not fear them.” ²³ When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly upon Seron and his army, who were crushed before him. ²⁴ He pursued Seron down the descent of Beth-horon into the plain. About eight hundred^[gl] of their men fell, and the rest fled to the land of the Philistines. ²⁵ Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and dread fell upon the Gentiles about them. ²⁶ His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked about the battles of Judas.

The King’s Strategy. ²⁷ When King Antiochus heard these reports, he was filled with rage; so he ordered that all the forces of his kingdom be gathered, a very strong army. ²⁸ He opened his treasury, gave his soldiers a year’s pay, and commanded them to be prepared for anything. ²⁹ But then he saw that this exhausted the money in his treasury; moreover the tribute from the province was small because of the dissension and distress he had brought upon the land by abolishing the laws which had been in effect from of old. ³⁰ He feared that, as had happened once or twice, he would not have enough for his expenses and for the gifts that he was accustomed to give with a lavish hand—more so than all previous kings. ³¹ Greatly perplexed, he decided to go to Persia and levy tribute on those provinces, and so raise a large sum of money.

³² He left Lysias, a noble of royal descent, in charge of the king’s affairs from the Euphrates River to the frontier of Egypt, ³³ and commissioned him to take care of his son Antiochus until his return. ³⁴ He entrusted to him half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him instructions concerning everything he wanted done. As for the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem, ³⁵ Lysias was to send an army against them to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem and efface their memory from the place. ³⁶ He was to settle foreigners in all their territory and distribute their land by lot. ^37 [gm]The king took the remaining half of the army and set out from Antioch, his capital, in the year one hundred and forty-seven; he crossed the Euphrates River and went through the provinces beyond.

Preparations for Battle. ^38 (KT)Lysias chose Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor^[gn] and Gorgias, powerful men among the King’s Friends, ³⁹ and with them he sent forty thousand foot soldiers and seven thousand cavalry to invade and ravage the land of Judah according to the king’s orders. ⁴⁰ Setting out with their whole force, they came and pitched their camp near Emmaus^[go] in the plain. ⁴¹ When the merchants of the region heard of their prowess, they came to the camp, bringing a huge sum of silver and gold, along with fetters, to buy the Israelites as slaves. A force from Edom and from Philistia joined with them.

⁴² Judas and his brothers saw that evils had multiplied and that armies were encamped within their territory. They learned of the orders which the king had given to destroy and utterly wipe out the people. ⁴³ So they said to one another, “Let us raise our people from their ruin and fight for them and for our sanctuary!”

⁴⁴ The assembly gathered together to prepare for battle and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion.

^46 [gp]Thus they assembled and went to Mizpah near Jerusalem, because formerly at Mizpah there was a place of prayer for Israel.^{(KU) 47} That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their garments. ⁴⁸ They unrolled the scroll of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.^{[gq] 49} They brought with them the priestly garments, the first fruits, and the tithes; and they brought forward the nazirites^[gr](KV) who had completed the time of their vows. ⁵⁰ And they cried aloud to Heaven: “What shall we do with these, and where shall we take them? ⁵¹ For your sanctuary has been trampled on and profaned, and your priests are in mourning and humbled. ⁵² Now the Gentiles are gathered together against us to destroy us. You know what they plot against us. ⁵³ How shall we be able to resist them unless you help us?” ⁵⁴ Then they blew the trumpets and cried out loudly.

⁵⁵ After this Judas appointed officers for the people, over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens. ⁵⁶ He proclaimed that those who were building houses, or were just married, or were planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, could each return home, according to the law.^{(KW) 57} Then the army moved off, and they camped to the south of Emmaus. ⁵⁸ Judas said: “Arm yourselves and be brave; in the morning be ready to fight these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. ⁵⁹ It is better for us to die in battle than to witness the evils befalling our nation and our sanctuary. ⁶⁰ Whatever is willed in heaven will be done.”

Chapter 4

Victory over Gorgias. ¹ Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this detachment set out at night ² in order to fall upon the camp of the Jews in a surprise attack. Some from the citadel were his guides. ³ Judas heard of it and himself set out with his soldiers to attack the king’s army at Emmaus ⁴ while these forces were still scattered away from the camp. ⁵ During the night Gorgias came into the camp of Judas, and found no one there; so he sought them in the mountains, saying, “They are fleeing from us.”

⁶ But at daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men; furthermore they lacked the helmets and swords they wanted. ⁷ They saw the army of the Gentiles,^[gs] strong, breastplated, and flanked with cavalry, and made up of experienced soldiers. ^8 (KX)Judas said to the men with him: “Do not fear their numbers or dread their attack. ⁹ Remember how our ancestors were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.^{(KY) 10} So now let us cry to Heaven in the hope that he will favor us, remember the covenant with our ancestors, and destroy this army before us today. ¹¹ All the Gentiles shall know that there is One who redeems and delivers Israel.”

¹² When the foreigners looked up and saw them marching toward them, ¹³ they came out of their camp for battle. The men with Judas blew the trumpet, and ¹⁴ joined the battle. They crushed the Gentiles, who fled toward the plain. ¹⁵ Their whole rear guard fell by the sword, and they were pursued as far as Gazara^[gt] and the plains of Idumaea, to Azotus and Jamnia. About three thousand of their men fell.

¹⁶ When Judas and the army returned from the pursuit, ¹⁷ he said to the people: “Do not be greedy for plunder; for there is a fight ahead of us, ¹⁸ and Gorgias and his army are near us on the mountain. But now stand firm against our enemies and fight them. Afterward you can freely take the plunder.”

¹⁹ As Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment^[gu] appeared, looking down from the mountain. ²⁰ They saw that their army had been put to flight and their camp was burning. The smoke they saw revealed what had happened. ²¹ When they realized this, they completely lost heart; and when they also saw the army of Judas in the plain ready to attack, ²² they all fled to the land of the foreigners.^[gv]

²³ Then Judas went back to plunder the camp, and they took much gold and silver, cloth dyed blue and marine purple, and great treasure. ²⁴ As they returned, they were singing hymns and glorifying Heaven, “who is good, whose mercy endures forever.”^{(KZ) 25} Thus Israel experienced a great deliverance that day.

Victory over Lysias. ^26 (LA)But those of the foreigners who had escaped went and told Lysias all that had occurred. ²⁷ When he heard it he was disturbed and discouraged, because things had not turned out in Israel as he intended and as the king had ordered.

²⁸ So the following year he gathered together sixty thousand picked men and five thousand cavalry, to fight them. ²⁹ They came into Idumea and camped at Beth-zur,^[gw] and Judas met them with ten thousand men. ³⁰ Seeing that the army was strong, he prayed thus:

“Blessed are you, Savior of Israel, who crushed the attack of the mighty one by the hand of your servant David and delivered the foreign camp into the hand of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and his armor-bearer.^{(LB) 31} Give this army into the hands of your people Israel; make them ashamed of their troops and their cavalry. ³² Strike them with cowardice, weaken the boldness of their strength, and let them tremble at their own destruction. ³³ Strike them down by the sword of those who love you, that all who know your name may sing your praise.”

³⁴ Then they engaged in battle, and about five thousand of Lysias’ army fell in hand-to-hand fighting. ^35 [gx]When Lysias saw the tide of the battle turning, and the increased boldness of Judas, whose men were ready either to live or to die nobly, he withdrew to Antioch and began to recruit mercenaries so as to return to Judea with greater numbers.^(LC)

Purification and Rededication of the Temple. ^36 (LD)Then Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary^[gy] and rededicate it.” ³⁷ So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. ³⁸ They found the sanctuary desolate, the altar desecrated, the gates burnt, weeds growing in the courts as in a thicket or on some mountain, and the priests’ chambers demolished.^{(LE) 39} Then they tore their garments and made great lamentation; they sprinkled their heads with ashes ⁴⁰ and prostrated themselves. And when the signal was given with trumpets, they cried out to Heaven.

⁴¹ Judas appointed men to attack those in the citadel, while he purified the sanctuary. ⁴² He chose blameless priests, devoted to the law; ⁴³ these purified the sanctuary and carried away the stones of the defilement to an unclean place. ⁴⁴ They deliberated what ought to be done with the altar for burnt offerings that had been desecrated.^{(LF) 45} They decided it best to tear it down, lest it be a lasting shame to them that the Gentiles had defiled it; so they tore down the altar. ⁴⁶ They stored the stones in a suitable place on the temple mount, until the coming of a prophet who could determine what to do with them.^{(LG) 47} Then they took uncut stones, according to the law, and built a new altar like the former one.^{(LH) 48} They also repaired the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and consecrated the courts. ⁴⁹ They made new sacred vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.^{(LI) 50} Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these illuminated the temple. ⁵¹ They also put loaves on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.

⁵² They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight,^{[gz] 53} and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar for burnt offerings that they had made.^{(LJ) 54} On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals. ⁵⁵ All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.

⁵⁶ For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. ⁵⁷ They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. ⁵⁸ There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed. ⁵⁹ Then Judas and his brothers and the entire assembly of Israel decreed that every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev,^(LK) the days of the dedication^[ha] of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary.

⁶⁰ At that time they built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion, to prevent the Gentiles from coming and trampling it as they had done before. ⁶¹ Judas also placed a garrison there to protect it, and likewise fortified Beth-zur, that the people might have a stronghold facing Idumea.

Chapter 5

Victories over Hostile Neighbors.^{[hb] 1 (LL)}When the nations round about heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary restored as before, they were enraged. ² So they decided to destroy the descendants of Jacob who were among them, and they began to kill and eradicate the people. ^3 (LM)Then Judas attacked the Edomites^[hc] at Akrabattene in Idumea, because they were blockading Israel; he dealt them a heavy blow, humbled and despoiled them. ⁴ He also remembered the malice of the Baeanites,^[hd] who had become a snare and a stumbling block to the people by ambushing them along the roads. ⁵ He forced them to take refuge in towers, which he besieged; he put them under the ban and burned down their towers along with all who were in them. ^6 [he](LN)Then he crossed over to the Ammonites, where he found a strong army and a large body of people with Timothy as their leader. ⁷ He fought many battles with them, routed them, and struck them down. ⁸ After seizing Jazer and its villages, he returned to Judea.

Liberation of Jews in Galilee and Gilead. ⁹ The Gentiles in Gilead assembled to destroy the Israelites who were in their territory; these then fled to the stronghold of Dathema.^{[hf] 10} They sent a letter to Judas and his brothers saying: “The Gentiles around us have assembled against us to destroy us, ¹¹ and they are preparing to come and seize this stronghold to which we have fled. Timothy is the leader of their army. ¹² Come at once to rescue us from them, for many of us have fallen. ¹³ All our kindred who were in the territory of the Tobiads^[hg] have been killed; the Gentiles have captured their wives, their children and their goods, and they have slain there about a thousand men.”^(LO)

¹⁴ While they were reading this letter, suddenly other messengers, with garments torn, arrived from Galilee to deliver a similar message: ¹⁵ that “the inhabitants of Ptolemais,^[hh] Tyre, and Sidon, and the whole of Gentile Galilee have joined forces to destroy us.” ¹⁶ When Judas and the people heard this, a great assembly convened to consider what they should do for their kindred who were in distress and being attacked by enemies.

¹⁷ Judas said to his brother Simon: “Choose men for yourself, and go, rescue your kindred in Galilee; my brother Jonathan and I will go to Gilead.”

¹⁸ He left Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, leader of the people, with the rest of the army in Judea to guard it. ¹⁹ He commanded them, “Take charge of these people, but do not join battle against the Gentiles until we return.” ²⁰ Three thousand men were allotted to Simon to go into Galilee, and eight thousand men to Judas, for Gilead.

²¹ Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles. They were crushed before him, ²² and he pursued them to the very gate of Ptolemais. About three thousand of the Gentiles fell, and he gathered their spoils. ²³ He took with him the Jews who were in Galilee and in Arbatta,^[hi] with their wives and children and all that they had, and brought them to Judea with great rejoicing.

^24 (LP)Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and marched for three days through the wilderness. ²⁵ There they met some Nabateans,^[hj] who received them peaceably and told them all that had happened to their kindred in Gilead: ²⁶ “Many of them are shut up in Bozrah, in Bosor near Alema, in Chaspho, Maked, and Carnaim”—all of these are large, fortified cities— ²⁷ “and some are shut up in other cities of Gilead. Tomorrow their enemies plan to attack the strongholds and to seize and destroy all these people in one day.”

²⁸ Thereupon Judas suddenly changed direction with his army, marched across the wilderness to Bozrah, and captured the city. He put every male to the sword, took all their spoils, and set fire to the city. ^29 [hk]He led his army from that place by night, and they marched toward the stronghold. ³⁰ When morning came, they looked ahead and saw a countless multitude, with ladders and machines for capturing the stronghold, beginning to attack. ³¹ When Judas perceived that the struggle had begun and that the noise of the battle was resounding to heaven with trumpet blasts and loud shouting, ³² he said to the men of his army, “Fight for our kindred today.” ³³ He came up behind them with three columns blowing their trumpets and crying out in prayer. ³⁴ When the army of Timothy realized that it was Maccabeus, they fled before him, and he inflicted on them a great defeat. About eight thousand of their men fell that day.

³⁵ Then he turned toward Alema^[hl] and attacked and captured it; he killed every male, took spoils, and burned it down. ³⁶ From there he moved on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of Gilead.

^37 (LQ)After these events Timothy assembled another army and camped opposite Raphon, on the other side of the wadi. ³⁸ Judas sent men to spy on the camp, and they reported to him: “All the Gentiles around us have rallied to him, making a very large force; ³⁹ they have also hired Arabians to help them, and have camped beyond the wadi, ready to attack you.” So Judas went forward to meet them.

⁴⁰ As Judas and his army were approaching the flowing wadi, Timothy said to the officers of his army: “If he crosses over to us first, we shall not be able to resist him; he will certainly defeat us.^{(LR) 41} But if he is hesitant and camps on the other side of the river, we will cross over to him and defeat him.” ⁴² But when Judas reached the flowing wadi, he stationed the officers of the people beside it and gave them this order: “Do not allow anyone to encamp; all must go into battle.” ⁴³ He was the first to cross to the attack, with all the people behind him, and all the Gentiles were crushed before them. They threw away their arms and fled to the temple enclosure at Carnaim. ⁴⁴ But Judas’ troops captured the city and burnt the temple enclosure with all who were in it. So Carnaim was subdued, and Judas met with no more resistance.

Return to Jerusalem. ^45 (LS)Then Judas assembled all the Israelites, great and small, who were in Gilead, with their wives and children and their goods, a very large company, to go into the land of Judah. ⁴⁶ When they reached Ephron,^[hm] a large and strongly fortified city along the way, they found it impossible to go around it on either the right or the left; they would have to march right through it.^{(LT) 47} But the people in the city shut them out and blocked up the gates with stones. ⁴⁸ Then Judas sent them this peaceful message: “Let us cross your territory in order to reach our own; no one will harm you; we will only march through.” But they would not open to him. ⁴⁹ So Judas ordered a proclamation to be made in the camp that everyone should take up positions where they were. ⁵⁰ When the men of the army took up their positions, he assaulted the city all that day and night, and it was delivered into his hand. ⁵¹ He put every male to the sword, leveled the city, took spoils and passed through it over the slain.

⁵² Then they crossed the Jordan to the great plain in front of Beth-shan; ⁵³ and Judas kept gathering the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way, until he reached the land of Judah. ⁵⁴ They ascended Mount Zion in joy and gladness and sacrificed burnt offerings, because not one of them had fallen; they had returned in safety.

Joseph and Azariah Defeated. ⁵⁵ In those days when Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and Simon his brother was in Galilee opposite Ptolemais, ⁵⁶ Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, the leaders of the army, heard about the brave deeds and the fighting that they were doing. ⁵⁷ They said, “Let us also make a name for ourselves by going out and fighting against the Gentiles around us.” ⁵⁸ They gave orders to those of their army who were with them, and marched against Jamnia.^{[hn] 59} But Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle. ⁶⁰ Joseph and Azariah were routed and were pursued to the frontiers of Judea, and about two thousand Israelites fell that day. ⁶¹ It was a great setback for the people, because they had not obeyed Judas and his brothers, thinking that they would do brave deeds. ⁶² But they were not of the family through whom Israel’s deliverance was given.

Victories at Hebron and Azotus. ⁶³ The valiant Judas and his brothers were greatly honored in all Israel and among all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard; ⁶⁴ and people gathered about them and praised them.

^65 (LU)Then Judas and his brothers went out and attacked the Edomites in the land toward the south; he took Hebron and its villages, and he destroyed its strongholds and burned the towers around it. ⁶⁶ He then set out for the land of the foreigners and passed through Marisa. ⁶⁷ On that day some priests fell in battle who had gone out rashly to fight in their desire to do brave deeds. ⁶⁸ Judas then turned toward Azotus in the land of the foreigners. He destroyed their altars and burned the carved images of their gods; and after plundering their cities he returned to the land of Judah.

Chapter 6

^1 (LV)As King Antiochus passed through the eastern provinces, he heard that in Persia there was a city, Elam,^[ho] famous for its wealth in silver and gold, ² and that its temple was very rich, containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons left there by the first king of the Greeks, Alexander, son of Philip, king of Macedon. ³ He went therefore and tried to capture and loot the city. But he could not do so, because his plan became known to the people of the city ⁴ who rose up in battle against him. So he fled and in great dismay withdrew from there to return to Babylon.

⁵ While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news that the armies that had gone into the land of Judah had been routed; ⁶ that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army and been driven back; that the people of Judah had grown strong by reason of the arms, wealth, and abundant spoils taken from the armies they had cut down; ⁷ that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded with high walls both the sanctuary, as it had been before, and his city of Beth-zur.^(LW)

⁸ When the king heard this news, he was astonished and very much shaken. Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed. ⁹ There he remained many days, assailed by waves of grief, for he thought he was going to die. ¹⁰ So he called in all his Friends and said to them: “Sleep has departed from my eyes, and my heart sinks from anxiety. ¹¹ I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’ ¹² But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. ¹³ I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.”

¹⁴ Then he summoned Philip, one of his Friends, and put him in charge of his whole kingdom. ¹⁵ He gave him his diadem, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he might guide the king’s son Antiochus and bring him up to be king. ¹⁶ So King Antiochus died there in the one hundred and forty-ninth year.^{[hp] 17} When Lysias learned that the king was dead, he set up the king’s son Antiochus,^[hq] whom he had reared as a child, to be king in his place; and he gave him the title Eupator.^(LX)

Siege of the Citadel. ¹⁸ Those in the citadel were hemming Israel in around the sanctuary, continually trying to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles.^{(LY) 19} And so Judas planned to destroy them, and assembled the people to besiege them. ²⁰ So in the one hundred and fiftieth year^[hr] they assembled and besieged the citadel, for which purpose he constructed platforms and siege engines. ²¹ But some of the besieged escaped, and some renegade Israelites joined them. ²² They went to the king and said: “How long will you fail to do justice and to avenge our kindred? ²³ We agreed to serve your father and to follow his orders and obey his edicts. ²⁴ And for this our own people have become our enemies; they have put to death as many of us as they could find and have seized our inheritances. ²⁵ They have acted aggressively not only against us, but throughout their whole territory. ²⁶ Look! Today they have besieged the citadel in Jerusalem in order to capture it, and they have fortified the sanctuary and Beth-zur. ²⁷ Unless you act quickly to prevent them, they will do even worse things than these, and you will not be able to stop them.”

^28 (LZ)When the king heard this he was enraged, and he called together all his Friends, the officers of his army, and the commanders of the cavalry. ²⁹ Mercenary forces also came to him from other kingdoms and from the islands of the seas. ³⁰ His army numbered a hundred thousand footsoldiers, twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. ³¹ They passed through Idumea and camped before Beth-zur. For many days they attacked it; they constructed siege engines, but the besieged made a sortie and burned these, and they fought bravely.

Battle of Beth-zechariah. ³² Then Judas marched away from the citadel and moved his camp to Beth-zechariah,^[hs] opposite the king’s camp. ³³ The king, rising before dawn, moved his force hastily along the road to Beth-zechariah; and the troops prepared for battle and sounded the trumpet. ³⁴ They made the elephants drunk on the juice of grapes and mulberries to get them ready to fight. ³⁵ The beasts were distributed along the phalanxes, each elephant having assigned to it a thousand men in coats of mail, with bronze helmets on their heads, and five hundred picked cavalry. ³⁶ These accompanied the beast wherever it was; wherever it moved, they moved too and never left it. ³⁷ Each elephant was outfitted with a strong wooden tower, fastened to it by a harness; each tower held three soldiers who fought from it, besides the Indian driver. ³⁸ The remaining cavalry were stationed on one or the other of the two flanks of the army, to harass the enemy and to be protected by the phalanxes. ³⁹ When the sun shone on the gold and bronze shields, the mountains gleamed with their brightness and blazed like flaming torches. ⁴⁰ Part of the king’s army spread out along the heights, while some were on low ground, and they marched forward steadily in good order. ⁴¹ All who heard the noise of their numbers, the tramp of their marching, and the clanging of the arms, trembled; for the army was very great and strong.

⁴² Judas with his army advanced to fight, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell. ⁴³ Eleazar, called Avaran, saw one of the beasts covered with royal armor and bigger than any of the others, and so he thought the king was on it.^{(MA) 44} He gave up his life to save his people and win an everlasting name for himself. ⁴⁵ He dashed courageously up to it in the middle of the phalanx, killing men right and left, so that they parted before him. ⁴⁶ He ran under the elephant, stabbed it and killed it. The beast fell to the ground on top of him, and he died there. ⁴⁷ But when Judas’ troops saw the strength of the royal army and the ardor of its forces, they retreated from them.

The Siege of Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ Some of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to attack them, and the king established camps in Judea and at Mount Zion. ⁴⁹ He made peace with the people of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the city, because they had no food there to enable them to withstand a siege, for that was a sabbath year in the land.^{[ht](MB) 50} The king took Beth-zur and stationed a garrison there to hold it. ⁵¹ For many days he besieged the sanctuary, setting up platforms and siege engines, fire-throwers, catapults and mechanical bows for shooting arrows and projectiles. ⁵² The defenders countered by setting up siege engines of their own, and kept up the fight a long time. ⁵³ But there were no provisions in the storerooms, because it was the seventh year, and the reserves had been eaten up by those who had been rescued from the Gentiles and brought to Judea. ⁵⁴ Few men remained in the sanctuary because the famine was too much for them; the rest scattered, each to his own home.

Peace Treaty. ^55 (MC)Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus, before his death, had appointed to train his son Antiochus to be king, ⁵⁶ had returned from Persia and Media with the army that accompanied the king, and that he was seeking to take over the government. ⁵⁷ So he hastily decided to withdraw. He said to the king, the leaders of the army, and the soldiers: “We are growing weaker every day, our provisions are scanty, the place we are besieging is strong, and it is our duty to take care of the affairs of the kingdom.^{(MD) 58} Therefore let us now come to terms with these people and make peace with them and all their nation. ⁵⁹ Let us grant them freedom to live according to their own laws as formerly; it was on account of their laws, which we abolished, that they became enraged and did all these things.”

⁶⁰ The proposal pleased the king and the leaders; he sent peace terms to the Jews, and they accepted. ⁶¹ So the king and the leaders swore an oath to them, and on these terms the Jews evacuated the fortification. ⁶² But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw how the place was fortified, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down the encircling wall. ⁶³ Then he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip in control of the city. He fought against him and took the city by force.

Chapter 7

Expedition of Bacchides and Alcimus. ^1 (ME)In the one hundred and fifty-first year,^[hu] Demetrius, son of Seleucus, set out from Rome, arrived with a few men at a coastal city, and began to rule there. ² As he was entering the royal palace of his ancestors, the soldiers seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him. ³ When he was informed of this, he said, “Do not show me their faces.” ⁴ So the soldiers killed them, and Demetrius assumed the royal throne.

⁵ Then all the lawless men and renegades of Israel came to him. They were led by Alcimus,^[hv] who desired to be high priest. ⁶ They made this accusation to the king against the people: “Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends and have driven us out of our land. ⁷ So now, send a man whom you trust to go and see all the destruction Judas has wrought on us and on the king’s territory, and let him punish them and all their supporters.”

⁸ So the king chose Bacchides, one of the King’s Friends, who ruled the province of West-of-Euphrates, a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king. ⁹ He sent him and the renegade Alcimus, to whom he granted the high priesthood, with orders to take revenge on the Israelites. ¹⁰ They set out and, on arriving in the land of Judah with a great army, sent messengers who spoke deceitfully to Judas and his brothers in peaceful terms. ¹¹ But these paid no attention to their words, seeing that they had come with a great army.

¹² A group of scribes, however, gathered about Alcimus and Bacchides to ask for a just agreement. ^13 (MF)The Hasideans were the first among the Israelites to seek peace with them, ¹⁴ for they said, “A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, and he will not do us any wrong.” ¹⁵ He spoke with them peacefully and swore to them, “We will not seek to injure you or your friends.” ¹⁶ So they trusted him. But he arrested sixty of them and killed them in one day, according to the words that he wrote:^[hw]

¹⁸ Then fear and dread of them came upon all the people, who said: “There is no truth or justice among them; they violated the agreement and the oath that they swore.”

¹⁹ Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and camped in Beth-zaith.^[hx] He had many of the men who deserted to him arrested and some of the people. He killed them and threw them into a great cistern. ²⁰ He handed the province over to Alcimus, leaving troops to help him, while he himself returned to the king.

²¹ Alcimus struggled to maintain his high priesthood, ²² and all those who were troubling the people gathered about him. They took possession of the land of Judah and caused great distress in Israel. ²³ When Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus and those with him were bringing upon the Israelites, even more than the Gentiles had, ²⁴ he went about all the borders of Judea and took revenge on the men who had deserted, preventing them from going out into the country. ²⁵ But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his followers were gaining strength and realized that he could not resist them, he returned to the king and accused them of grave crimes.

Defeat of Nicanor. ^26 (MH)Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored officers, who was a bitter enemy of Israel, with orders to destroy the people. ²⁷ Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force and deceitfully sent to Judas^[hy] and his brothers this peaceable message: ²⁸ “Let there be no fight between me and you. I will come with a few men to meet you face to face in peace.”

²⁹ So he came to Judas, and they greeted one another peaceably. But Judas’ enemies were prepared to seize him. ³⁰ When he became aware that Nicanor had come to him with deceit in mind, Judas was afraid of him and would not meet him again.^{(MI) 31} When Nicanor saw that his plan had been discovered, he went out to fight Judas near Capharsalama.^{[hz] 32} About five hundred men of Nicanor’s army fell; the rest fled to the City of David.^[ia]

^33 (MJ)After this, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the people came out to greet him peaceably and to show him the burnt offering that was being sacrificed for the king. ³⁴ But he mocked and ridiculed them, defiled them,^[ib] and spoke arrogantly. ³⁵ In a rage he swore: “If Judas and his army are not delivered to me at once, when I return victorious I will burn this temple down.” He went away in great anger. ^36 (MK)The priests, however, went in and stood before the altar and the sanctuary. They wept and said: ³⁷ “You have chosen this house to bear your name, to be a house of prayer and supplication for your people. ³⁸ Take revenge on this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword. Remember their blasphemies, and do not let them continue.”

³⁹ Nicanor left Jerusalem and camped at Beth-horon, where the Syrian army joined him. ⁴⁰ But Judas camped in Adasa^[ic] with three thousand men. Here Judas uttered this prayer: ^41 (ML)“When they who were sent by the king^[id] blasphemed, your angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of them.^{(MM) 42} In the same way, crush this army before us today, and let the rest know that Nicanor spoke wickedly against your sanctuary; judge him according to his wickedness.”

⁴³ The armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. Nicanor’s army was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle.^{(MN) 44} When his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw down their weapons and fled. ⁴⁵ The Jews pursued them a day’s journey from Adasa to near Gazara, blowing the trumpets behind them as signals. ⁴⁶ From all the surrounding villages of Judea people came out and outflanked them. They turned them back, and all the enemies fell by the sword; not a single one escaped.

⁴⁷ Then the Jews collected the spoils and the plunder; they cut off Nicanor’s head and his right arm, which he had lifted up so arrogantly. These they brought and displayed in the sight of Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ The people rejoiced greatly, and observed that day as a day of much joy. ⁴⁹ They decreed that it should be observed every year on the thirteenth of Adar.^{[ie] 50} And so for a few days^[if] the land of Judah was at rest.

Chapter 8

Eulogy of the Romans. ^1 [ig]Judas had heard of the reputation of the Romans. They were valiant fighters and acted amiably to all who took their side. They established a friendly alliance with all who applied to them. ² He was also told of their battles and the brave deeds that they performed against the Gauls,^[ih] conquering them and forcing them to pay tribute; ³ and what they did in Spain to get possession of the silver and gold mines there. ⁴ By planning and persistence they subjugated the whole region, although it was very remote from their own. They also subjugated the kings who had come against them from the far corners of the earth until they crushed them and inflicted on them severe defeat. The rest paid tribute to them every year. ⁵ Philip^[ii] and Perseus, king of the Macedonians, and the others who opposed them in battle they overwhelmed and subjugated. ⁶ Antiochus^[ij] the Great, king of Asia, who fought against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very great army, was defeated by them. ⁷ They took him alive and obliged him and the kings who succeeded him to pay a heavy tribute, to give hostages and to cede ⁸ Lycia, Mysia, and Lydia^[ik] from among their best provinces. The Romans took these from him and gave them to King Eumenes. ^9 [il]When the Greeks planned to come and destroy them, ¹⁰ the Romans discovered it, and sent against the Greeks a single general who made war on them. Many were wounded and fell, and the Romans took their wives and children captive. They plundered them, took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds and reduced them to slavery even to this day. ¹¹ All the other kingdoms and islands that had ever opposed them they destroyed and enslaved; with their friends, however, and those who relied on them, they maintained friendship. ¹² They subjugated kings both near and far, and all who heard of their fame were afraid of them. ¹³ Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings; and those whom they wish, they depose; and they were greatly exalted. ¹⁴ Yet with all this, none of them put on a diadem or wore purple as a display of grandeur. ¹⁵ But they made for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty men took counsel, deliberating on all that concerned the people and their well-being. ¹⁶ They entrust their government to one man^[im] every year, to rule over their entire land, and they all obey that one, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.

Treaty with the Romans. ¹⁷ So Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance with them.^{(MO) 18} He did this to lift the yoke from Israel, for it was obvious that the kingdom of the Greeks was subjecting them to slavery. ¹⁹ After making a very long journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows: ²⁰ “Judas, called Maccabeus, and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, and to be enrolled among your allies and friends.” ²¹ The proposal pleased the Romans, ²² and this is a copy of the reply they inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem,^[in] to remain there with the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:^(MP)

²³ “May it be well with the Romans and the Jewish nation at sea and on land forever; may sword and enemy be far from them. ²⁴ But if war is first made on Rome, or any of its allies in any of their dominions, ²⁵ the Jewish nation will fight along with them wholeheartedly, as the occasion shall demand; ²⁶ and to those who wage war they shall not give or provide grain, weapons, money, or ships, as seems best to Rome. They shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense. ²⁷ In the same way, if war is made first on the Jewish nation, the Romans will fight along with them willingly, as the occasion shall demand, ²⁸ and to those who attack them there shall not be given grain, weapons, money, or ships, as seems best to Rome. They shall fulfill their obligations without deception. ²⁹ On these terms the Romans have made an agreement with the Jewish people. ³⁰ But if both parties hereafter agree to add or take away anything, they shall do as they choose, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be valid.

³¹ “Moreover, concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius is doing to them, we have written to him thus: ‘Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews? ³² If they petition against you again, we will enforce justice and make war on you by sea and land.’”

Chapter 9

Death of Judas. ¹ When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he again sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah, along with the right wing of his army. ² They took the road to Galilee, and camping opposite the ascent at Arbela, they captured it^[io] and killed many people. ³ In the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year,^[ip] they encamped against Jerusalem. ⁴ Then they set out for Berea with twenty thousand men and two thousand cavalry. ⁵ Judas, with three thousand picked men, had camped at Elasa. ⁶ When they saw the great number of the troops, they were very much afraid, and many slipped away from the camp, until only eight hundred of them remained.

⁷ When Judas saw that his army was melting away just as the battle was imminent, he was brokenhearted, because he had no time to gather them together. ⁸ In spite of his discouragement he said to those who remained: “Let us go forward to meet our enemies; perhaps we can put up a good fight against them.” ⁹ They tried to dissuade him, saying: “We certainly cannot. Let us save our own lives now, and come back with our kindred, and then fight against them. Now we are too few.” ¹⁰ But Judas said: “Far be it from me to do such a thing as to flee from them! If our time has come, let us die bravely for our kindred and not leave a stain upon our honor!”

¹¹ Then the army of Bacchides moved out of camp and took its position for combat. The cavalry were divided into two squadrons, and the slingers and the archers came on ahead of the army, and in the front line were all the best warriors. Bacchides was on the right wing. ¹² Flanked by the two squadrons, the phalanx attacked as they blew their trumpets. Those who were on Judas’ side also blew their trumpets. ¹³ The earth shook with the noise of the armies, and the battle raged from morning until evening.

¹⁴ When Judas saw that Bacchides was on the right, with the main force of his army, all the most stouthearted rallied to him, ¹⁵ and the right wing was crushed; Judas pursued them as far as the mountain slopes.^{[iq] 16} But when those on the left wing saw that the right wing was crushed, they closed in behind Judas and those with him. ¹⁷ The battle became intense, and many on both sides fell wounded. ¹⁸ Then Judas fell, and the rest fled.

¹⁹ Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the tomb of their ancestors at Modein. ²⁰ All Israel wept for him with great lamentation. They mourned for him many days, and they said, ²¹ “How the mighty one has fallen, the savior of Israel!”^{(MQ) 22} The other acts of Judas, his battles, the brave deeds he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded; but they were very many.

III. Leadership of Jonathan

Jonathan Succeeds Judas. ²³ After the death of Judas, the lawless raised their heads in every part of Israel, and all kinds of evildoers appeared. ²⁴ In those days there was a very great famine, and the country deserted to them. ²⁵ Bacchides chose renegades and made them masters of the country. ²⁶ These sought out and hunted down the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, who punished and derided them. ²⁷ There was great tribulation in Israel, the like of which had not been since the time prophets ceased to appear among them.

²⁸ Then all the friends of Judas came together and said to Jonathan: ²⁹ “Ever since your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to lead us against our enemies, both Bacchides and those of our nation who are hostile to us. ³⁰ Now therefore we have chosen you today to be our ruler and leader in his place, to fight our battle.” ³¹ From that moment Jonathan accepted the leadership, and took the place of Judas his brother.

Bacchides Pursues Jonathan. ³² When Bacchides learned of it, he sought to kill him. ³³ But Jonathan and his brother Simon and all who were with him discovered this, and they fled to the wilderness of Tekoa^[ir] and camped by the waters of the pool of Asphar. [³⁴ ]^[is]

³⁵ Jonathan sent his brother^[it] as leader of the convoy to implore his friends, the Nabateans, to let them deposit with them their great quantity of baggage.^{(MR) 36} But the tribe of Jambri from Medaba^[iu] made a raid and seized and carried off John and everything he had.

³⁷ After this, word was brought to Jonathan and his brother Simon: “The tribe of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and with a large escort they are bringing the bride, the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan, from Nadabath.” ³⁸ Remembering the blood of John their brother, they went up and hid themselves under cover of the mountain. ³⁹ As they watched there appeared a noisy throng with much baggage; then the bridegroom and his friends and kinsmen had come out to meet them with tambourines and musicians with their instruments. ⁴⁰ Jonathan and his party rose up against them from their ambush and killed them. Many fell wounded; the rest fled toward the mountain; all their spoils were taken. ⁴¹ Thus the wedding was turned into mourning, and the sound of their music into lamentation. ⁴² Having taken their revenge for the blood of their brother, they returned to the marshes of the Jordan.

⁴³ When Bacchides heard of it, he came on the sabbath to the banks of the Jordan with a large force. ⁴⁴ Then Jonathan said to his companions, “Let us rise up now and fight for our lives, for today is not like yesterday and the day before. ⁴⁵ The battle is before us, behind us are the waters of the Jordan, on either side of us, marsh and thickets; there is no way of escape.^{[iv] 46} Cry out now to Heaven so that you may be delivered from the hand of our enemies.” ⁴⁷ When they joined battle, Jonathan raised his hand to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides backed away from him. ⁴⁸ Jonathan and those with him jumped into the Jordan and swam across to the other side, but the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan. ⁴⁹ About a thousand men on Bacchides’ side fell that day.

⁵⁰ On returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea: the Jericho fortress, as well as Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.^{[iw] 51} In each he put a garrison to harass Israel. ⁵² He fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara and the citadel, and put troops in them and stores of provisions. ⁵³ He took as hostages the sons of the leading people of the country and put them in custody in the citadel at Jerusalem.^(MS)

⁵⁴ In the one hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month,^[ix] Alcimus ordered the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary to be torn down, thus destroying the work of the prophets. But he only began to tear it down. ⁵⁵ Just at that time Alcimus was stricken, and his work was interrupted; his mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, so that he could no longer utter a word or give orders concerning his household. ⁵⁶ Alcimus died in great agony at that time. ⁵⁷ Seeing that Alcimus was dead, Bacchides returned to the king, and the land of Judah was at rest for two years.

⁵⁸ Then all the lawless took counsel and said: “Jonathan and those with him are living in peace and security. Now then, let us have Bacchides return, and he will capture all of them in a single night.” ⁵⁹ So they went and took counsel with him. ⁶⁰ When Bacchides was setting out with a large force, he sent letters secretly to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his companions. They were not able to do this, however, because their plan became known. ⁶¹ In fact, Jonathan’s men seized about fifty of the men of the country who were leaders in the conspiracy and put them to death.

⁶² Then Jonathan and those with him, along with Simon, withdrew to Bethbasi^[iy] in the wilderness; he rebuilt its ruins and fortified it. ⁶³ When Bacchides learned of this, he gathered together his whole force and sent word to those who were in Judea. ⁶⁴ He came and camped before Bethbasi, and constructing siege engines, he fought against it for many days.

⁶⁵ Leaving his brother Simon in the city, Jonathan, accompanied by a small group of men, went out into the countryside. ⁶⁶ He struck down Odomera and his kindred and the tribe of Phasiron in their encampment; these men had begun to attack and they were going up with their forces. ⁶⁷ Simon and those with him then sallied forth from the city and set fire to the siege engines. ⁶⁸ They fought against Bacchides, and he was crushed. They caused him great distress, because the enterprise he had planned was in vain. ⁶⁹ He was enraged with the lawless men who had advised him to invade the province. He killed many of them and resolved to return to his own country.

⁷⁰ Jonathan learned of this and sent ambassadors to agree on peace with him and to obtain the release of the prisoners. ⁷¹ He agreed to do as Jonathan asked. He swore an oath to him that he would never try to do him any harm for the rest of his life; ⁷² and he released to him the prisoners he had previously taken from the land of Judah. Thereupon he returned to his own land and never came into their territory again. ⁷³ Then the sword ceased from Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash;^[iz] he began to judge the people and he eliminated the renegades from Israel.

Chapter 10

Jonathan Becomes High Priest. ¹ In the one hundred and sixtieth year,^[ja] Alexander Epiphanes, son of Antiochus, came up and took Ptolemais. They accepted him as king and he began to reign there. ² When King Demetrius heard of it, he mustered a very large army and marched out to engage him in battle. ³ Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan written in peaceful terms, to exalt him; ⁴ for he said: “Let us be the first to make peace with him, before he makes peace with Alexander against us, ⁵ since he will remember all the wrongs we have done to him, his brothers, and his nation.”

⁶ So Demetrius authorized him to gather an army and procure arms as his ally; and he ordered that the hostages in the citadel be released to him. ⁷ Accordingly Jonathan went to Jerusalem and read the letter to all the people and to those who were in the citadel. ⁸ They were struck with fear when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather an army. ⁹ Those in the citadel released the hostages to Jonathan, and he gave them back to their parents.^{(MT) 10} Thereafter Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build and restore the city. ¹¹ He ordered those doing the work to build the walls and to encircle Mount Zion with square stones for its fortification, and they did so. ¹² The foreigners in the strongholds that Bacchides had built took flight; ¹³ all of them left their places and returned to their own lands. ¹⁴ Only in Beth-zur did some remain of those who had abandoned the law and the commandments, for it was a place of refuge.

¹⁵ King Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made to Jonathan; he was also told of the battles and brave deeds of Jonathan and his brothers and of the troubles that they had endured. ¹⁶ He said, “Shall we ever find another man like him? Let us now make him our friend and ally.” ¹⁷ So he sent Jonathan a letter written in these terms: ¹⁸ “King Alexander sends greetings to his brother Jonathan. ¹⁹ We have heard of you, that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be our friend. ²⁰ We have therefore appointed you today to be high priest of your nation; you are to be called the King’s Friend, and you are to look after our interests and preserve friendship with us.” He also sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold.^{(MU) 21} Jonathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the one hundred and sixtieth year at the feast of Booths,^[jb] and he gathered an army and procured many weapons.

A Letter from Demetrius to Jonathan. ²² When Demetrius heard of these things, he was distressed and said: ²³ “Why have we allowed Alexander to get ahead of us by gaining the friendship of the Jews and thus strengthening himself? ²⁴ I too will write them encouraging words and offer honors and gifts, so that they may support me.” ²⁵ So he sent them this message: “King Demetrius sends greetings to the Jewish nation. ²⁶ We have heard how you have kept the treaty with us and continued in our friendship and not gone over to our enemies, and we are glad. ²⁷ Continue, therefore, to keep faith with us, and we will reward you with favors in return for what you do in our behalf. ²⁸ We will grant you many exemptions and will bestow gifts on you.

^29 (MV)“I now free you and exempt all the Jews from the tribute, the salt tax, and the crown levies. ³⁰ Instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the fruit of the trees that should be my share, I renounce the right from this day forward. Neither now nor in the future will I collect them from the land of Judah or from the three districts annexed from Samaria.^{[jc] 31} Let Jerusalem and her territory, her tithes and her tolls, be sacred and free from tax. ³² I also yield my authority over the citadel in Jerusalem, and I transfer it to the high priest, that he may put in it such men as he shall choose to guard it. ³³ Every Jew who has been carried into captivity from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom I set at liberty without ransom; and let all their taxes, even those on their cattle, be canceled.

³⁴ Let all feast days, sabbaths, new moon festivals, appointed days, and the three days that precede each feast day, and the three days that follow, be days of immunity and exemption for all Jews in my kingdom. ³⁵ No one will have authority to exact payment from them or to harass any of them in any matter.

³⁶ “Let thirty thousand Jews be enrolled in the king’s army and allowances be given them, as is due to all the king’s soldiers. ³⁷ Let some of them be stationed in the king’s principal strongholds, and of these let some be given positions of trust in the affairs of the kingdom. Let their superiors and their rulers be chosen from among them, and let them follow their own laws, as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.

³⁸ “Let the three districts that have been added to Judea from the province of Samaria be annexed to Judea so that they may be under one rule and obey no other authority than the high priest. ³⁹ Ptolemais and its confines I give as a present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary. ⁴⁰ I make a yearly personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels out of the royal revenues, taken from appropriate places. ⁴¹ All the additional funds that the officials did not hand over as they had done in the first years shall henceforth be handed over for the services of the temple. ⁴² Moreover, the dues of five thousand silver shekels that used to be taken from the revenue of the sanctuary every year shall be canceled, since these funds belong to the priests who perform the services. ⁴³ All who take refuge in the temple of Jerusalem or in any of its precincts, because of money they owe the king, or because of any other debt, shall be released, together with all the goods they possess in my kingdom. ⁴⁴ The cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary shall be covered out of the royal revenue. ⁴⁵ Likewise the cost of building the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it all around, and of building walls in Judea, shall be donated from the royal revenue.”

⁴⁶ When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they neither believed nor accepted them, for they remembered the great evil that Demetrius had done in Israel, and the great tribulation he had brought upon them. ⁴⁷ They therefore decided in favor of Alexander, for he had been the first to address them peaceably, and they remained his allies for the rest of his life.

⁴⁸ Then King Alexander gathered together a large army and encamped opposite Demetrius. ⁴⁹ The two kings joined battle, and when the army of Demetrius fled, Alexander pursued him, and overpowered his soldiers. ⁵⁰ He pressed the battle hard until sunset, and Demetrius fell that day.

Treaty of Ptolemy and Alexander. ⁵¹ Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, with this message: ⁵² “Now that I have returned to my realm, taken my seat on the throne of my ancestors, and established my rule by crushing Demetrius and gaining control of my country— ⁵³ for I engaged him in battle, he and his army were crushed by us, and we assumed his royal throne— ⁵⁴ let us now establish friendship with each other. Give me now your daughter for my wife; and as your son-in-law, I will give to you and to her gifts worthy of you.”

⁵⁵ King Ptolemy answered in these words: “Happy the day on which you returned to the land of your ancestors and took your seat on their royal throne! ⁵⁶ I will do for you what you have written; but meet me in Ptolemais, so that we may see each other, and I will become your father-in-law as you have proposed.”

⁵⁷ So Ptolemy with his daughter Cleopatra^[jd] set out from Egypt and came to Ptolemais in the one hundred and sixty-second year. ⁵⁸ There King Alexander met him, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. Their wedding was celebrated at Ptolemais with great splendor according to the custom of kings.

⁵⁹ King Alexander also wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him. ⁶⁰ So he went with pomp to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings and gave them and their friends silver and gold and many gifts and thus won their favor.^{(MW) 61} Some villainous men of Israel, transgressors of the law, united against him to accuse him, but the king paid no heed to them. ⁶² The king ordered Jonathan to be divested of his garments and to be clothed in royal purple; and so it was done. ⁶³ The king also had him seated at his side. He said to his magistrates: “Go with him to the center of the city and make a proclamation that no one is to bring charges against him on any grounds or be troublesome to him for any reason.” ^64 (MX)When his accusers saw the honor paid to him according to the king’s proclamation, and him clothed in purple, they all fled. ⁶⁵ And so the king honored him, enrolling him among his Chief Friends, and he made him governor and chief of the province. ⁶⁶ So Jonathan returned in peace and happiness to Jerusalem.

Jonathan Defeats Apollonius. ⁶⁷ In the one hundred and sixty-fifth year,^[je] Demetrius, son of Demetrius, came from Crete to the land of his ancestors. ⁶⁸ When King Alexander heard of it he was greatly troubled, and returned to Antioch. ⁶⁹ Demetrius set Apollonius over Coelesyria.^[jf] Having gathered a large army, Apollonius encamped at Jamnia. From there he sent this message to Jonathan the high priest:

⁷⁰ “You are the only one who resists us. I am laughed at and put to shame on your account. Why are you exercising authority against us in the mountains? ⁷¹ If you have confidence in your forces, come down now to us in the plain, and let us test each other’s strength there; for the forces of the cities are on my side. ⁷² Inquire and find out who I am and who the others are who are helping me. People are saying that you cannot make a stand against us because your ancestors were twice put to flight^[jg] in their own land. ⁷³ Now you too will be unable to withstand our cavalry and such a force as this in the plain, where there is not a stone or a pebble or a place to flee.”

⁷⁴ When Jonathan heard the message of Apollonius, he was provoked. Choosing ten thousand men, he set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother joined him to help him. ⁷⁵ He encamped near Joppa, but the people of the city shut him out because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa. When they attacked it, ⁷⁶ the people of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and so Jonathan took possession of Joppa.^[jh]

⁷⁷ When Apollonius heard of it, he drew up three thousand cavalry and a large force of infantry. He marched toward Azotus as though he were going on through, but at the same time he was advancing into the plain, because he had such a large number of cavalry to rely on. ⁷⁸ Jonathan pursued him toward Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle. ⁷⁹ Apollonius, however, had left a thousand cavalry in hiding behind them. ⁸⁰ Jonathan discovered that there was an ambush behind him; his army was surrounded. From morning until evening they showered his troops with arrows. ⁸¹ But his troops held their ground, as Jonathan had commanded, while the enemy’s horses became tired out.

⁸² Then Simon brought forward his force, and engaged the phalanx in battle. Since the cavalry were exhausted, the phalanx was crushed by him and fled, ⁸³ while the cavalry too were scattered over the plain. They fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, to save themselves. ⁸⁴ But Jonathan burned and plundered Azotus with its neighboring towns, and destroyed by fire both the temple of Dagon and those who had taken refuge in it.^{(MY) 85} Those who fell by the sword, together with those who were burned alive, came to about eight thousand.

⁸⁶ Then Jonathan left there and encamped at Askalon, and the people of that city came out to meet him with great pomp. ⁸⁷ Jonathan and those with him then returned to Jerusalem, with much spoil. ⁸⁸ When King Alexander heard of these events, he accorded new honors to Jonathan. ⁸⁹ He sent him a gold buckle, such as is usually given to King’s Kinsmen;^[ji] he also gave him Ekron and all its territory as a possession.

Chapter 11

Alliance of Ptolemy and Demetrius II. ¹ Then the king of Egypt gathered forces as numerous as the sands of the seashore, and many ships; and he sought by deceit to take Alexander’s kingdom and add it to his own. ² He set out for Syria with peaceful words, and the people in the cities opened their gates to welcome him, as King Alexander had ordered them to do, since Ptolemy was his father-in-law. ³ But when Ptolemy entered the cities, he stationed a garrison of troops in each one.

⁴ As they neared Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon destroyed by fire, Azotus and its suburbs demolished, corpses lying about, and the charred bodies of those burned in the war, for they had heaped them up along his route.^{(MZ) 5} They told the king what Jonathan had done in order to denigrate him; but the king said nothing. ⁶ Jonathan met the king with pomp at Joppa, and they greeted each other and spent the night there. ⁷ Jonathan accompanied the king as far as the river called Eleutherus^[jj] and then returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ And so King Ptolemy took possession of the cities along the seacoast as far as Seleucia by the sea,^[jk] plotting evil schemes against Alexander all the while. ⁹ He sent ambassadors to King Demetrius, saying: “Come, let us make a covenant with each other; I will give you my daughter whom Alexander has married, and you shall reign over your father’s kingdom. ¹⁰ I regret that I gave him my daughter, for he has sought to kill me.”^{[jl] 11} He was criticizing Alexander, however, because he coveted his kingdom. ¹² After taking his daughter away, Ptolemy gave her to Demetrius and broke with Alexander; the enmity between them was now evident. ¹³ Then Ptolemy entered Antioch and assumed the crown^[jm] of Asia; thus he set upon his head two crowns, that of Egypt and that of Asia.

¹⁴ Now King Alexander was in Cilicia at that time, because the people of that region had revolted. ¹⁵ When Alexander heard the news, he came against Ptolemy in battle. Ptolemy marched out and met him with a strong force and routed him. ¹⁶ When Alexander fled to Arabia to seek protection, King Ptolemy was triumphant. ¹⁷ Zabdiel the Arabian cut off Alexander’s head and sent it to Ptolemy. ¹⁸ But three days later King Ptolemy himself died, and his troops in the strongholds were killed by the inhabitants of the strongholds. ¹⁹ Thus Demetrius became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year.^[jn]

Alliance of Jonathan and Demetrius II. ²⁰ In those days Jonathan gathered together the people of Judea to attack the citadel in Jerusalem, and they set up many siege engines against it. ²¹ But some transgressors of the law, enemies of their own nation, went to the king and informed him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. ²² When Demetrius heard this, he was enraged; and as soon as he heard it, he set out and came to Ptolemais. He wrote to Jonathan to discontinue the siege and to meet him for a conference at Ptolemais as soon as possible.

²³ On hearing this, Jonathan ordered the siege to continue. He selected some elders and priests of Israel and put himself at risk. ²⁴ Taking with him silver, gold and apparel, and many other presents, he went to the king at Ptolemais, and found favor with him. ²⁵ Although certain renegades of his own nation kept on bringing charges against him, ²⁶ the king treated him just as his predecessors had done and exalted him in the presence of all his Friends. ²⁷ He confirmed him in the high priesthood and in the other honors he had previously held, and had him enrolled among his Chief Friends.

²⁸ Jonathan asked the king to exempt Judea and the three districts of Samaria from tribute, promising him in return three hundred talents.^{(NA) 29} The king agreed and wrote a letter to Jonathan about all these matters as follows:

^30 (NB)“King Demetrius sends greetings to his brother^[jo] Jonathan and to the Jewish nation. ³¹ We are sending you, for your information, a copy of the letter that we wrote to Lasthenes^[jp] our Kinsman concerning you. ³² ‘King Demetrius sends greetings to his father Lasthenes. ³³ Upon the Jewish nation, who are our friends and observe their obligations to us, we have decided to bestow benefits because of the good will they show us. ^34 (NC)Therefore we confirm their possession, not only of the territory of Judea, but also of the three districts of Aphairema,^[jq] Lydda, and Ramathaim. These districts, together with all their dependencies, are hereby transferred from Samaria to Judea for those who offer sacrifices in Jerusalem in lieu of the royal taxes the king used to receive yearly from the produce of earth and trees. ³⁵ From payment of the other things that would henceforth be due to us, namely, the tithes and taxes, as well as the salt tax, and the crown tax—from all these we grant them release. ³⁶ Henceforth and forever not one of these provisions shall ever be revoked. ³⁷ See to it, therefore, that a copy of these instructions be made and given to Jonathan. Let it be displayed on the holy mountain in a conspicuous place.’”

The Intrigue of Trypho. ³⁸ When King Demetrius saw that the land was peaceful under his rule and that he had no opposition, he dismissed his entire army, each to his own home, except the foreign troops which he had hired from the islands of the nations. So all the soldiers who had served under his predecessors became hostile to him. ³⁹ When a certain Trypho, who had previously supported Alexander, saw that all the troops were grumbling against Demetrius, he went to Imalkue the Arabian, who was raising Alexander’s young son Antiochus.^{(ND) 40} Trypho kept urging Imalkue to hand over the boy to him, so that he might succeed his father as king. He told him of all that Demetrius had done and of the hostility his soldiers had for him; and he remained there for many days.

Jonathan Aids Demetrius II. ⁴¹ Meanwhile Jonathan sent the request to King Demetrius to withdraw the troops in the citadel from Jerusalem and from the other strongholds, for they were constantly waging war on Israel. ⁴² Demetrius, in turn, sent this word to Jonathan: “I will do not only this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honor you and your nation when I find the opportunity. ⁴³ Now, therefore, you will do well to send men to fight for me, because all my troops have revolted.”

⁴⁴ So Jonathan sent three thousand good fighting men to him at Antioch. When they came to the king, he was delighted over their arrival. ⁴⁵ The populace, one hundred and twenty thousand strong, massed in the center of the city in an attempt to kill the king. ⁴⁶ So the king took refuge in the palace, while the populace gained control of the main streets of the city and prepared for battle. ⁴⁷ Then the king called the Jewish force to his aid. They all rallied around him and spread out through the city. On that day they killed about a hundred thousand in the city. ⁴⁸ At the same time, they set the city on fire and took much spoil. Thus they saved the king. ⁴⁹ When the populace saw that the Jewish force controlled the city, they lost courage and cried out to the king in supplication, ⁵⁰ “Extend the hand of friendship to us, and make the Jews stop attacking us and the city.” ⁵¹ So they threw down their weapons and made peace. The Jews thus gained honor in the eyes of the king and all his subjects, and they became renowned throughout his kingdom. Finally they returned to Jerusalem with much plunder.

⁵² But when King Demetrius was sure of his royal throne, and the land was peaceful under his rule, ⁵³ he broke all his promises and became estranged from Jonathan. Instead of repaying Jonathan for all the favors he had received from him, he caused him much distress.

Alliance of Jonathan and Antiochus VI. ⁵⁴ After this, Trypho returned and brought with him the young boy Antiochus, who became king and put on the diadem.^{(NE) 55} All the soldiers whom Demetrius had discharged rallied around Antiochus and fought against Demetrius, who was routed and fled. ⁵⁶ Trypho captured the elephants and occupied Antioch. ⁵⁷ Then young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan: “I confirm you in the high priesthood and appoint you ruler over the four districts, and to be one of the King’s Friends.” ⁵⁸ He also sent him gold dishes and a table service, gave him the right to drink from gold cups, to dress in royal purple, and to wear a gold buckle.^{(NF) 59} Likewise, he made Jonathan’s brother Simon governor of the region from the Ladder of Tyre^[jr] to the borders of Egypt.

Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon. ⁶⁰ Jonathan set out and traveled through the province of West-of-Euphrates^[js] and its cities, and all the forces of Syria espoused his cause as allies. When he arrived at Askalon, the citizens welcomed him with pomp. ⁶¹ But when he set out for Gaza, the people of Gaza shut him out. So he besieged it, and burned and plundered its suburbs. ⁶² Then the people of Gaza appealed to Jonathan, and he granted them terms of peace. He took the sons of their leaders as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem. He then traveled on through the province as far as Damascus.

⁶³ Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had come with a strong force to Kadesh in Galilee, intending to remove him from office. ⁶⁴ So he went to meet them, leaving his brother Simon in the province. ^65 (NG)Simon encamped against Beth-zur, attacked it for many days, and shut in the inhabitants. ⁶⁶ They appealed to him, and he granted them terms of peace. He expelled them from the city, took possession of it, and put a garrison there.

⁶⁷ Meanwhile, Jonathan and his army pitched their camp near the waters of Gennesaret, and at daybreak they went to the plain of Hazor.^{[jt] 68} There the army of the foreigners met him on the plain. Having first detached an ambush in the mountains, this army mounted a frontal attack. ⁶⁹ Then those in ambush rose out of their places and joined in the battle. ⁷⁰ All of Jonathan’s men fled; no one stayed except the army commanders Mattathias, son of Absalom, and Judas, son of Chalphi. ⁷¹ Jonathan tore his clothes, threw dust on his head, and prayed. ⁷² Then he went back to the battle and routed them, and they fled. ⁷³ Those of his men who were running away saw it and returned to him; and with him they pursued the enemy as far as their camp in Kadesh, and there they encamped. ⁷⁴ About three thousand of the foreign troops fell on that day. Then Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 12

Alliances with Rome and Sparta. ¹ When Jonathan saw that the time was right, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with the Romans.^{(NH) 2} He also sent letters to the Spartans and other places to the same effect.

³ After reaching Rome, the men entered the senate chamber and said, “The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew the friendship and alliance of earlier times with them.” ⁴ The Romans gave them letters addressed to authorities in various places, with the request to provide them with safe conduct to the land of Judah.

⁵ This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: ⁶ “Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans. ⁷ Long ago a letter was sent^[ju] to the high priest Onias from Arius, who then reigned over you, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy shows.^{(NI) 8} Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which spoke clearly of alliance and friendship. ⁹ Though we have no need of these things, since we have for our encouragement the holy books that are in our possession,^{[jv](NJ) 10} we have ventured to send word to you for the renewal of brotherhood and friendship, lest we become strangers to you; a long time has passed since you sent your message to us. ¹¹ We, on our part, have unceasingly remembered you in the sacrifices and prayers that we offer on our feasts and other appropriate days, as it is right and proper to remember brothers. ¹² We likewise rejoice in your renown. ¹³ But many tribulations and many wars have beset us, and the kings around us have attacked us. ¹⁴ We did not wish to be troublesome to you and to the rest of our allies and friends in these wars. ¹⁵ For we have the help of Heaven for our support, and we have been saved from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled. ¹⁶ So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the friendship and alliance of earlier times.^{(NK) 17} We have also ordered them to come to you and greet you, and to deliver to you our letter concerning the renewal of our brotherhood. ¹⁸ Therefore kindly send us an answer on this matter.”

¹⁹ This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias: ^20 (NL)“Arius, king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest. ²¹ A document has been found stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers and that they are of the family of Abraham. ²² Now that we have learned this, kindly write to us about your welfare. ²³ We, for our part, declare to you that your animals and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours. We have, therefore, given orders that you should be told of this.”

More Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon. ²⁴ Then Jonathan heard that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with a stronger army than before. ²⁵ So he set out from Jerusalem and met them in the territory of Hamath,^[jw] giving them no opportunity to enter his province. ²⁶ The spies he had sent into their camp came back and reported to him that the enemy were preparing to attack them that night. ²⁷ Therefore, when the sun set, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch, with their weapons at the ready for battle, throughout the night; and he set outposts around the camp. ²⁸ When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, their hearts sank with fear and dread. They lighted fires in their camp and then withdrew. ²⁹ But because Jonathan and his men were watching the campfires burning, they did not know until the morning what had happened. ³⁰ Then Jonathan pursued them, but he could not overtake them, for they had crossed the river Eleutherus. ³¹ So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabians who are called Zabadeans, and he struck them down and plundered them. ³² Then he broke camp, marched on toward Damascus and traveled through the whole region.

³³ Simon also set out and traveled as far as Askalon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned to Joppa and took it by surprise, ³⁴ for he heard that its people intended to hand over the stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius. He left a garrison there to guard it.

³⁵ When Jonathan returned, he assembled the elders of the people, and with them he made plans for building strongholds in Judea, ³⁶ for making the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and for erecting a high barrier between the citadel and the city, to separate it from the city and isolate it, so that its garrison could neither buy nor sell. ³⁷ The people therefore gathered together to build up the city, for part of the wall of the eastern valley had collapsed. And Jonathan repaired the quarter called Chaphenatha. ³⁸ Simon likewise built up Adida in the Shephelah, and fortified it by installing gates and bars.

Capture of Jonathan. ³⁹ Then Trypho sought to become king of Asia, assume the diadem, and do violence to King Antiochus.^{(NM) 40} But he was afraid that Jonathan would not permit him, but would fight against him. Looking for a way to seize and kill him, he set out and came to Beth-shan. ⁴¹ Jonathan marched out to meet him with forty thousand picked fighting men and came to Beth-shan. ⁴² But when Trypho saw that Jonathan had arrived with a large army he was afraid to do him violence. ⁴³ Instead, he received him with honor, introduced him to all his friends, and gave him presents. He also ordered his friends and soldiers to obey him as they would himself. ⁴⁴ Then he said to Jonathan: “Why have you put all these people to so much trouble when we are not at war? ⁴⁵ Now pick out a few men to stay with you, send the rest to their homes, and then come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with other strongholds and the remaining troops, as well as all the officials; then I will turn back and go home. That is why I came here.”

⁴⁶ Jonathan trusted him and did as he said. He dismissed his troops, and they returned to the land of Judah. ⁴⁷ But he kept with him three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee while one thousand accompanied him. ⁴⁸ Then as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates and seized him; all who had entered with him, they killed with the sword.^(NN)

⁴⁹ Then Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry to Galilee and the Great Plain^[jx] to destroy all Jonathan’s men. ⁵⁰ These, upon learning that Jonathan had been captured and killed along with his companions, encouraged one another and went out in close formation, ready to fight. ⁵¹ As their pursuers saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back. ⁵² Thus all Jonathan’s men came safely into the land of Judah. They mourned Jonathan and those who were with him. They were in great fear, and all Israel fell into deep mourning. ⁵³ All the nations round about sought to crush them. They said, “Now that they have no leader or helper, let us make war on them and wipe out their memory from the earth.”^(NO)

IV. Leadership of Simon

Chapter 13

Simon as Leader. ¹ When Simon heard that Trypho was gathering a large army to invade and ravage the land of Judah, ² and saw that the people were trembling with terror, he went up to Jerusalem. There he assembled the people ³ and exhorted them in these words: “You know what I, my brothers, and my father’s house have done for the laws and the sanctuary; what battles and hardships we have seen. ⁴ For the sake of this, for the sake of Israel, all my brothers have perished, and I alone am left. ⁵ Far be it from me, then, to save my own life in any time of distress, for I am not better than my brothers. ⁶ But I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary, as well as your wives and children, for out of hatred all the Gentiles have united to crush us.”^(NP)

⁷ As the people heard these words, their spirit was rekindled. ⁸ They shouted in reply: “You are our leader in place of your brothers Judas and Jonathan. ⁹ Fight our battles, and we will do everything that you tell us.” ¹⁰ So Simon mustered all the men able to fight, and hastening to complete the walls of Jerusalem, fortified it on every side. ¹¹ He sent Jonathan, son of Absalom, to Joppa with a strong force; Jonathan drove out the occupants and remained there.

Trypho’s Deceit. ¹² Then Trypho moved from Ptolemais with a large army to invade the land of Judah, bringing Jonathan with him as a prisoner. ¹³ Simon encamped at Adida, facing the plain. ¹⁴ When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan, and that he intended to fight him, he sent ambassadors to him with this message: ¹⁵ “It was on account of the money your brother Jonathan owed the royal treasury in connection with the offices that he held, that we have detained him. ¹⁶ Now send a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that when he is set free he will not revolt against us, and we will release him.”

¹⁷ Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him. Nevertheless, for fear of provoking much hostility among the people, he sent for the money and the boys, ¹⁸ lest the people say “Jonathan perished because I would not send Trypho the money and the boys.” ¹⁹ So he sent the boys and the hundred talents; but Trypho broke his promise and would not release Jonathan.

^20 [jy]Next Trypho moved to invade and ravage the country. His troops went around by the road that leads to Adora, but Simon and his army moved along opposite him everywhere he went. ²¹ The people in the citadel kept sending emissaries to Trypho, pressing him to come to them by way of the wilderness, and to send them provisions. ²² Although Trypho got all his cavalry ready to go, there was a very heavy snowfall that night, and he could not go on account of the snow. So he left for Gilead. ²³ When he was approaching Baskama,^[jz] he had Jonathan killed and buried him there. ²⁴ Then Trypho returned to his own land.

Jonathan’s Tomb. ²⁵ Simon sent for the remains of his brother Jonathan, and buried him in Modein, the city of his ancestors. ²⁶ All Israel bewailed him with solemn lamentation, mourning over him for many days. ²⁷ Then Simon erected over the tomb of his father and his brothers a monument of stones, polished front and back, and raised high enough to be seen at a distance. ²⁸ He set up seven pyramids facing one another for his father and his mother and his four brothers.^{(NQ) 29} For the pyramids he devised a setting of massive columns, which he adorned with suits of armor as a perpetual memorial, and next to the armor carved ships, which could be seen by all who sailed the sea. ³⁰ This tomb which he built at Modein is there to the present day.

Alliance of Simon and Demetrius II. ³¹ Trypho dealt treacherously with the young King Antiochus. He killed him ³² and became king in his place, putting on the crown of Asia. Thus he brought much evil on the land.^{(NR) 33} Simon, for his part, built up the strongholds of Judea, fortifying them all around with high towers, thick walls, and gates with bars, and he stored up provisions in the strongholds. ³⁴ Simon also chose men and sent them to King Demetrius to obtain for the land an exemption from taxation, since Trypho did nothing but plunder. ³⁵ King Demetrius replied favorably and sent him the following letter:

³⁶ “King Demetrius sends greetings to Simon, high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and the Jewish people. ³⁷ We have received the gold crown and the palm branch that you sent. We are ready to make a lasting peace with you and to write to our officials to grant you exemption. ³⁸ Whatever decrees we have made in your regard remain in force, and the strongholds that you have built you may keep. ³⁹ We pardon any oversights and offenses committed up to now, as well as the crown tax that you owe. Any other tax that used to be collected in Jerusalem shall no longer be collected there. ⁴⁰ Any of you qualified for enrollment in our service may be enrolled. Let there be peace between us.”

⁴¹ Thus in the one hundred and seventieth year,^[ka] the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel, ⁴² and the people began to write in their records and contracts, “In the first year of Simon, great high priest, governor, and leader of the Jews.”

Simon Captures Gazara. ^43 (NS)In those days Simon besieged Gazara^[kb] and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege machine, brought it up against the city, and attacked and captured one of the towers. ⁴⁴ Those in the siege machine leaped down into the city and a great tumult arose there. ⁴⁵ Those in the city, together with their wives and children, went up on the wall, with their garments rent, and cried out in loud voices, begging Simon to grant them terms of peace. ⁴⁶ They said, “Treat us not according to our evil deeds but according to your mercy.” ⁴⁷ So Simon came to terms with them and did not attack them. He expelled them from the city, however, and he purified the houses in which there were idols. Then he entered the city with hymns and songs of praise. ⁴⁸ After removing from it everything that was impure, he settled there people who observed the law. He improved its fortifications and built himself a residence.

Simon Captures the Citadel. ⁴⁹ The people in the citadel in Jerusalem were prevented from going out into the country and back to buy or sell; they suffered greatly from hunger, and many of them died of starvation. ⁵⁰ They finally cried out to Simon, and he gave them terms of peace. He expelled them from the citadel and cleansed it of impurities. ⁵¹ On the twenty-third day of the second month,^[kc] in the one hundred and seventy-first year, the Jews entered the citadel with shouts of praise, the waving of palm branches, the playing of harps and cymbals and lyres, and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been crushed.^{(NT) 52} Simon decreed that this day should be celebrated every year with rejoicing. He also strengthened the fortifications of the temple mount alongside the citadel, and he and his people dwelt there. ⁵³ Seeing that his son John^[kd] was now a grown man, Simon made him commander of all his soldiers, and he dwelt in Gazara.

Chapter 14

Capture of Demetrius II. ¹ In the one hundred and seventy-second year,^[ke] King Demetrius assembled his army and marched into Media to obtain help so that he could fight Trypho. ² When Arsaces,^[kf] king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius had entered his territory, he sent one of his generals to take him alive. ³ The general went forth and attacked the army of Demetrius; he captured him and brought him to Arsaces, who put him under guard.

Praise of Simon

Alliance with Rome and Sparta. ¹⁶ When people in Rome and even in Sparta heard that Jonathan had died, they were deeply grieved.^{[kg] 17} But when they heard that his brother Simon had become high priest in his place and was master of the territory and its cities, ¹⁸ they sent him inscribed tablets of bronze to renew with him the friendship and alliance that they had established with his brothers Judas and Jonathan.^{(OA) 19} These were read before the assembly in Jerusalem.

²⁰ This is a copy of the letter that the Spartans sent: “The rulers and the city of the Spartans send greetings to Simon the high priest, the elders, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people, our brothers. ²¹ The ambassadors sent to our people have informed us of your glory and renown, and we rejoiced at their coming. ²² In accordance with what they said we have recorded the following in the public decrees: Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, have come to us to renew their friendship with us.^{(OB) 23} The people have resolved to receive these men with honor, and to deposit a copy of their words in the public archives, so that the people of Sparta may have a record of them. A copy of this decree has been made for Simon the high priest.”

²⁴ After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a large gold shield weighing a thousand minas, to confirm the alliance with the Romans.

Official Honors for Simon. ²⁵ When the people heard of these things, they said, “How shall we thank Simon and his sons? ²⁶ He and his brothers and his father’s house have stood firm and repulsed Israel’s enemies, and so have established its freedom.” So they made an inscription on bronze tablets, which they affixed to pillars on Mount Zion.

²⁷ The following is a copy of the inscription: “On the eighteenth day of Elul,^[kh] in the one hundred and seventy-second year, that is, the third year under Simon the great high priest in Asaramel, ²⁸ in a great assembly of priests, people, rulers of the nation, and elders of the region, the following proclamation was made to us:

²⁹ “‘Since there have often been wars in our country, Simon, son of the priest Mattathias, descendant of Joarib, and his brothers have put themselves in danger and resisted the enemies of their nation, so that their sanctuary and law might be maintained, and they have thus brought great glory to their nation. ³⁰ Jonathan rallied the nation, became their high priest, and was gathered to his people. ³¹ When their enemies sought to invade and ravage their country and to violate their sanctuary, ³² Simon rose up and fought for his nation, spending large sums of his own money to equip his nation’s forces and give them their pay. ³³ He fortified the cities of Judea, especially the border city of Beth-zur, formerly the site of the enemy’s weaponry, and he stationed there a garrison of Jewish soldiers. ³⁴ He also fortified Joppa by the sea and Gazara on the border of Azotus, a place previously occupied by the enemy; these cities he settled with Jews and furnished them with all that was necessary for their restoration. ³⁵ When the people saw Simon’s fidelity and the glory he planned to bring to his nation, they made him their leader and high priest because of all he had accomplished and the justice and fidelity he had shown his nation. In every way he sought to exalt his people.

³⁶ “‘In his time and under his guidance they succeeded in driving the Gentiles out of their country and those in the City of David in Jerusalem, who had built for themselves a citadel from which they used to sally forth to defile the environs of the sanctuary and inflict grave injury on its purity. ³⁷ In this citadel he stationed Jewish soldiers, and he strengthened its fortifications for the security of the land and the city, while he also built up the wall of Jerusalem to a greater height. ³⁸ Consequently, King Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood, ³⁹ made him one of his Friends, and conferred great honor on him.^{(OC) 40} This was because he had heard that the Romans had addressed the Jews as friends, allies, and brothers, that they had received Simon’s envoys with honor, ⁴¹ and that the Jewish people and their priests had decided the following: Simon shall be their leader and high priest forever until a trustworthy prophet arises.^{(OD) 42} He shall act as governor over them, and shall have charge of the sanctuary, to make regulations concerning its functions and concerning the country, its weapons and strongholds. ⁴³ He shall be obeyed by all. All contracts in the country shall be written in his name, and he shall be clothed in purple and gold.^{(OE) 44} It shall not be lawful for any of the people or priests to nullify any of these decisions, or to contradict the orders given by him, or to convene an assembly in the country without his consent, to be clothed in purple or wear a gold buckle. ⁴⁵ Whoever acts otherwise or violates any of these prescriptions shall be liable to punishment.

⁴⁶ “‘Thus all the people approved of granting Simon the right to act in accord with these decisions, ⁴⁷ and Simon accepted and agreed to be high priest, governor, and ethnarch^[ki] of the Jewish people and priests, and to have authority over all.’”

⁴⁸ It was decreed that this inscription should be engraved on bronze tablets, to be set up in a conspicuous place in the precincts of the sanctuary, ⁴⁹ and that copies of it should be deposited in the treasury, where they would be available to Simon and his sons.

Chapter 15

Letter of Antiochus VII. ¹ Antiochus,^[kj] son of King Demetrius, sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and ethnarch of the Jews, and to all the nation, ² which read as follows:

“King Antiochus sends greetings to Simon, the high priest and ethnarch, and to the Jewish nation. ³ Whereas certain villains have gained control of the kingdom of our ancestors, I intend to reclaim it, that I may restore it to its former state. I have recruited a large number of mercenary troops and equipped warships. ⁴ I intend to make a landing in the country so that I may take revenge on those who have ruined our country and laid waste many cities in my kingdom.

⁵ “Now, therefore, I confirm to you all the tax exemptions that the kings before me granted you and whatever other privileges they conceded to you. ⁶ I authorize you to coin your own money, as legal tender in your country. ⁷ Jerusalem and its sanctuary shall be free. All the weapons you have prepared and all the strongholds you have built and now occupy shall remain in your possession. ⁸ All debts, present or future, due to the royal treasury shall be canceled for you, now and for all time. ⁹ When we establish our kingdom, we will greatly honor you and your nation and the temple, so that your glory will be manifest in all the earth.”

¹⁰ In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year^[kk] Antiochus invaded the land of his ancestors, and all the troops rallied to him, so that few were left with Trypho. ¹¹ Pursued by Antiochus, Trypho fled to Dor, by the sea,^{[kl] 12} realizing what troubles had come upon him now that his soldiers had deserted him. ¹³ Antiochus encamped before Dor with a hundred and twenty thousand infantry and eight thousand cavalry. ¹⁴ While he surrounded the city, his ships closed from the sea, so that he pressed it hard by land and sea and let no one go in or out.

Roman Alliance Renewed. ¹⁵ Meanwhile, Numenius and his companions came from Rome with letters containing this message to various kings and countries:^{(OF) 16} “Lucius,^[km] Consul of the Romans, sends greetings to King Ptolemy. ¹⁷ Ambassadors of the Jews, our friends and allies, have come to us to renew their earlier friendship and alliance. They had been sent by Simon the high priest and the Jewish people, ¹⁸ and they brought with them a gold shield of a thousand minas.^{(OG) 19} Therefore we have decided to write to various kings and countries, that they are not to venture to harm them, or wage war against them or their cities or their country, and are not to assist those who fight against them. ²⁰ We have also decided to accept the shield from them. ²¹ If, then, any troublemakers from their country take refuge with you, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law.”

²² The consul sent identical letters to Kings Demetrius, Attalus,^[kn] Ariarthes and Arsaces; ²³ to all the countries—Sampsames, the Spartans, Delos, Myndos, Sicyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, Halicarnassus, Rhodes, Phaselis, Cos, Side, Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene. ²⁴ A copy of the letter was also sent to Simon the high priest.

Hostility from Antiochus VII. ²⁵ When King Antiochus encamped before Dor, he assaulted it continuously both with troops and with the siege engines he had made. He blockaded Trypho by preventing anyone from going in or out. ²⁶ Simon sent to Antiochus’ support two thousand elite troops, together with silver and gold and much equipment. ²⁷ But he refused to accept the aid; in fact, he broke all the agreements he had previously made with Simon and became hostile toward him.^(OH)

²⁸ He sent Athenobius, one of his Friends, to confer with Simon and say: “You are occupying Joppa and Gazara and the citadel of Jerusalem; these are cities of my kingdom. ²⁹ You have laid waste their territories, done great harm to the land, and taken possession of many districts in my kingdom. ³⁰ Now, therefore, give up the cities you have seized and the tribute money of the districts you control outside the territory of Judea; ³¹ or instead, pay me five hundred talents of silver for the devastation you have caused and five hundred talents more for the tribute money of the cities. If you do not do this, we will come and make war on you.”

³² So Athenobius, the king’s Friend, came to Jerusalem and on seeing the splendor of Simon’s court, the gold and silver plate on the sideboard, and his rich display, he was amazed. When he gave him the king’s message, ³³ Simon said to him in reply: “It is not foreign land we have taken nor have we seized the property of others, but only our ancestral heritage which for a time had been unjustly held by our enemies. ³⁴ Now that we have the opportunity, we are holding on to the heritage of our ancestors. ³⁵ As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, those cities were doing great harm to our people and our country. For these we will give you a hundred talents.” Athenobius made no reply, ³⁶ but returned to the king in anger. When he told him of Simon’s words, of his splendor, and of all he had seen, the king fell into a violent rage.

Victory over Cendebeus. ³⁷ Trypho had boarded a ship and escaped to Orthosia.^{[ko] 38} Then the king appointed Cendebeus commander-in-chief of the seacoast, and gave him infantry and cavalry forces. ³⁹ He ordered him to encamp against Judea and to fortify Kedron^[kp] and strengthen its gates, so that he could wage war on the people. Meanwhile the king went in pursuit of Trypho. ⁴⁰ When Cendebeus came to Jamnia, he began to harass the people and to make incursions into Judea, where he took people captive and massacred them. ⁴¹ As the king ordered, he fortified Kedron and stationed cavalry and infantry there, so that they could go out and patrol the roads of Judea.

Chapter 16

¹ John then went up from Gazara and told his father Simon what Cendebeus was doing.^{(OI) 2} Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them: “I and my brothers and my father’s house have fought the wars of Israel from our youth until today, and many times we succeeded in saving Israel. ³ I have now grown old, but you, by the mercy of Heaven, have come to maturity. Take my place and my brother’s, and go out and fight for our nation; and may the help of Heaven be with you!”

⁴ John then mustered in the land twenty thousand warriors and cavalry. Setting out against Cendebeus, they spent the night at Modein, ⁵ rose early, and marched into the plain. There, facing them, was an immense army of foot soldiers and cavalry, and between the two armies was a wadi. ⁶ John and his people took their position against the enemy. Seeing that his people were afraid to cross the wadi, John crossed first. When his men saw this, they crossed over after him.^{(OJ) 7} Then he divided his infantry and put his cavalry in the center, for the enemy’s cavalry were very numerous. ⁸ They blew the trumpets, and Cendebeus and his army were routed; many of them fell wounded, and the rest fled toward the stronghold. ⁹ It was then that John’s brother Judas fell wounded; but John pursued them until Cendebeus reached Kedron, which he had fortified. ¹⁰ Some took refuge in the towers on the plain of Azotus, but John set fire to these, and about two thousand of the enemy perished. He then returned to Judea in peace.^(OK)

Murder of Simon and His Sons. ¹¹ Ptolemy, son of Abubus, had been appointed governor of the plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold, ¹² being the son-in-law of the high priest. ¹³ But his heart became proud and he was determined to get control of the country. So he made treacherous plans to do away with Simon and his sons. ¹⁴ As Simon was inspecting the cities of the country and providing for their needs, he and his sons Mattathias and Judas went down to Jericho in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month^[kq] (that is, the month Shebat). ¹⁵ The son of Abubus gave them a deceitful welcome in the little stronghold called Dok^[kr] which he had built. He served them a sumptuous banquet, but he had his men hidden there. ¹⁶ Then, when Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men sprang up, weapons in hand, rushed upon Simon in the banquet hall, and killed him, his two sons, and some of his servants. ¹⁷ By this vicious act of treachery he repaid good with evil.

¹⁸ Then Ptolemy wrote a report and sent it to the king, asking him to send troops to help him and to turn over to him their country and its cities. ¹⁹ He sent other men to Gazara to do away with John. To the army officers he sent letters inviting them to come to him so that he might present them with silver, gold, and gifts. ²⁰ He also sent others to seize Jerusalem and the temple mount. ²¹ But someone ran ahead and brought word to John at Gazara that his father and his brothers had perished, and “Ptolemy has sent men to kill you also.” ²² On hearing this, John was utterly astounded. When the men came to kill him, he seized them and put them to death, for he knew that they sought to kill him.

^23 [ks]Now the rest of the acts of John, his wars and the brave deeds he performed, his rebuilding of the walls, and all his achievements—^{(OL) 24} these are recorded in the chronicle of his high priesthood, from the time that he succeeded his father as high priest.

I. Letters to the Jews in Egypt

Chapter 1

Letter 1: 124 B.C. ¹ The Jews in Jerusalem and in the land of Judea send greetings to their kindred, the Jews in Egypt, and wish them true peace! ² May God do good to you and remember his covenant with his faithful servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, ³ give to all of you a heart to worship him and to do his will wholeheartedly and with a willing spirit, ⁴ open your heart to his law and commandments and grant you peace, ⁵ hear your prayers, and be reconciled to you, and never forsake you in time of adversity. ⁶ Even now we are praying for you here.

⁷ In the reign of Demetrius,^[kt] the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you during the height of the distress that overtook us in those years after Jason and his followers revolted against the holy land and the kingdom,^{(OM) 8} set fire to the gatehouse and shed innocent blood. But we prayed to the Lord, and our prayer was heard;^[ku] we offered sacrifices and fine flour; we lighted the lamps and set out the loaves of bread.^{(ON) 9} We are now reminding you to celebrate the feast of Booths in the month of Kislev.^{[kv] 10} Dated in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.^[kw]

Letter 2: 164 B.C. The people of Jerusalem and Judea, the senate, and Judas send greetings and good wishes to Aristobulus, teacher of King Ptolemy and member of the family of the anointed priests, and to the Jews in Egypt. ¹¹ Since we have been saved by God from grave dangers, we give him great thanks as befits those who fought against the king;^{[kx] 12 (OO)}for it was God who drove out those who fought against the holy city. ¹³ When their leader arrived in Persia with his seemingly irresistible army, they were cut to pieces in the temple of the goddess Nanea^[ky] through a deceitful stratagem employed by Nanea’s priests. ^14 [kz]On the pretext of marrying the goddess, Antiochus with his Friends had come to the place to get its great treasures as a dowry. ¹⁵ When the priests of Nanea’s temple had displayed the treasures and Antiochus with a few attendants had come inside the wall of the temple precincts, the priests locked the temple as soon as he entered. ¹⁶ Then they opened a hidden trapdoor in the ceiling, and hurling stones at the leader and his companions, struck them down. They dismembered the bodies, cut off their heads and tossed them to the people outside. ¹⁷ Forever blessed be our God, who has thus punished the impious!

^18 [la]Since we shall be celebrating the purification of the temple on the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev,^(OP) we thought it right to inform you, that you too may celebrate the feast of Booths and of the fire that appeared when Nehemiah, the rebuilder of the temple^[lb] and the altar, offered sacrifices. ¹⁹ For when our ancestors were being led into captivity in Persia,^[lc] devout priests at the time took some of the fire from the altar and hid it secretly in the hollow of a dry cistern, making sure that the place would be unknown to anyone. ²⁰ Many years later, when it so pleased God, Nehemiah, commissioned by the king of Persia, sent the descendants of the priests who had hidden the fire to look for it. ²¹ When they informed us that they could not find any fire, but only a thick liquid, he ordered them to scoop some out and bring it. After the material for the sacrifices had been prepared, Nehemiah ordered the priests to sprinkle the wood and what lay on it with the liquid. ²² This was done, and when at length the sun, which had been clouded over, began to shine, a great fire blazed up, so that everyone marveled. ²³ While the sacrifice was being burned, the priests recited a prayer, and all present joined in with them. Jonathan led and the rest responded with Nehemiah.

²⁴ The prayer was as follows: “Lord, Lord God, creator of all things, awesome and strong, just and merciful, the only king and benefactor, ²⁵ who alone are gracious, just, almighty, and eternal, Israel’s savior from all evil, who chose our ancestors and sanctified them: ²⁶ accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and guard and sanctify your portion. ²⁷ Gather together our scattered people, free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look kindly on those who are despised and detested, and let the Gentiles know that you are our God. ²⁸ Punish those who lord it over us and in their arrogance oppress us. ²⁹ Plant your people in your holy place, as Moses said.”^(OQ)

³⁰ Then the priests sang hymns. ³¹ After the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemiah ordered the rest of the liquid to be poured upon large stones. ³² As soon as this was done, a flame blazed up, but its light was lost in the brilliance coming from the altar. ³³ When the event became known and the king of the Persians was told that, in the very place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, a liquid was found with which Nehemiah and his people had burned the sacrifices, ³⁴ the king, after verifying the fact, fenced the place off and declared it sacred. ³⁵ To those whom the king favored, he distributed many benefits he received. ³⁶ Nehemiah and his companions called the liquid nephthar, meaning purification, but most people named it naphtha.^[ld](OR)

Chapter 2

¹ In the records it will be found that Jeremiah the prophet ordered the deportees to take some of the fire with them as indicated, ² and that the prophet, in giving them the law, directed the deportees not to forget the commandments of the Lord or be led astray in their thoughts, when seeing the gold and silver idols and their adornments.^{(OS) 3} With other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.

^4 [le]The same document also tells how the prophet, in virtue of an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should accompany him, and how he went to the very mountain that Moses climbed to behold God’s inheritance.^{(OT) 5} When Jeremiah arrived there, he found a chamber in a cave in which he put the tent, the ark, and the altar of incense; then he sealed the entrance. ⁶ Some of those who followed him came up intending to mark the path, but they could not find it. ⁷ When Jeremiah heard of this, he reproved them: “The place is to remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows them mercy. ⁸ Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will be seen, just as they appeared in the time of Moses and of Solomon when he prayed that the place^[lf] might be greatly sanctified.”^(OU)

⁹ It is also related how Solomon in his wisdom offered a sacrifice for the dedication and the completion of the temple. ¹⁰ Just as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire descended from the sky and consumed the sacrifices, so also Solomon prayed and fire came down and consumed the burnt offerings.^{(OV) 11 [lg]}Moses had said, “Because it had not been eaten, the purification offering was consumed.”^{(OW) 12} Solomon also celebrated the feast in the same way for eight days.

¹³ These same things are also told in the records and in Nehemiah’s memoirs,^[lh] as well as how he founded a library and collected the books about the kings and the prophets, the books of David, and the royal letters about votive offerings. ¹⁴ In like manner Judas also collected for us all the books that had been scattered because of the war, and we now have them in our possession.^{(OX) 15} If you need them, send messengers to get them for you.

¹⁶ As we are about to celebrate the purification, we are writing: you should celebrate the feast days. ¹⁷ It is God who has saved all his people and has restored to all of them their inheritance, the kingdom, the priesthood, and the sacred rites, ¹⁸ as he promised through the law. For we hope in God, that he will soon have mercy on us and gather us together from everywhere under the heavens to his holy place, for he has rescued us from great perils and has purified the place.^(OY)

II. Compiler’s Preface

¹⁹ This is the story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, of the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the altar, ²⁰ the campaigns against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,^{[li] 21} and of the heavenly manifestations accorded to the heroes who fought bravely for the Jewish people. Few as they were, they plundered the whole land, put to flight the barbarian hordes, ²² regained possession of the temple renowned throughout the world, and liberated the city. They re-established the laws that were in danger of being abolished, while the Lord favored them with every kindness. ²³ All this, detailed by Jason of Cyrene in five volumes, we will try to condense into a single book.

²⁴ For in view of the flood of data, and the difficulties encountered, given such abundant material, by those who wish to plunge into accounts of the history, ²⁵ we have aimed to please those who prefer simply to read, to make it easy for the studious who wish to commit things to memory, and to be helpful to all. ²⁶ For us who have undertaken the labor of making this digest, the task, far from being easy, is one of sweat and of sleepless nights. ²⁷ Just so, the preparation of a festive banquet is no light matter for one who seeks to give enjoyment to others. Similarly, to win the gratitude of many we will gladly endure this labor, ²⁸ leaving the responsibility for exact details to the historian, and confining our efforts to presenting only a summary outline. ²⁹ As the architect of a new house must pay attention to the whole structure, while the one who undertakes the decoration and the frescoes has to be concerned only with what is needed for ornamentation, so I think it is with us.^{(OZ) 30} To enter into questions and examine them from all sides and to be busy about details is the task of the historian; ³¹ but one who is making an adaptation should be allowed to aim at brevity of expression and to forgo complete treatment of the matter. ³² Here, then, let us begin our account without adding to what has already been said; it would be silly to lengthen the preface to the history and then cut short the history itself.

III. Heliodorus’ Attempt to Profane the Temple^[lj]

Chapter 3

Heliodorus’ Arrival in Jerusalem. ¹ While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias^[lk] and his hatred of evil,^{(PA) 2} the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the most magnificent gifts. ³ Thus Seleucus,^[ll] king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary for the liturgy of sacrifice.

⁴ But a certain Simon, of the priestly clan of Bilgah,^[lm] who had been appointed superintendent of the temple, had a quarrel with the high priest about the administration of the city market.^{(PB) 5} Since he could not prevail against Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, ⁶ and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of such untold riches that the sum total of the assets was past counting and that since they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, it would be possible for them to fall under the authority of the king.

⁷ When Apollonius had an audience with the king, he informed him about the riches that had been reported to him. The king chose his chief minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to seize those riches. ⁸ So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king’s purpose.

⁹ When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he inquired if these things were really true. ¹⁰ The high priest explained that there were deposits for widows and orphans,^{(PC) 11} and some was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias,^[ln] a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the misrepresentations of the impious Simon, the total amounted only to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. ¹² It was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world.

Heliodorus’ Plan to Rob the Temple. ¹³ But Heliodorus, because of the orders he had from the king, said that in any case this money must be confiscated for the royal treasury. ¹⁴ So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was no little anguish throughout the city. ¹⁵ Priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priestly robes, and called toward heaven for the one who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them.^{(PD) 16} Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed complexion of his face revealed his mental anguish. ¹⁷ The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart. ¹⁸ People rushed out of their houses and crowded together making common supplication, because the place was in danger of being profaned. ¹⁹ Women, girded with sackcloth below their breasts, filled the streets. Young women secluded indoors all ran, some to the gates, some to the walls, others peered through the windows— ²⁰ all of them with hands raised toward heaven, making supplication. ²¹ It was pitiful to see the populace prostrate everywhere and the high priest full of dread and anguish. ²² While they were imploring the almighty Lord to keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in trust, ²³ Heliodorus went on with his plan.

God Protects the Temple. ²⁴ But just as Heliodorus was arriving at the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits and all authority produced an apparition so great that those who had been bold enough to accompany Heliodorus were panic-stricken at God’s power and fainted away in terror. ²⁵ There appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a fearsome rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hooves. The rider was seen wearing golden armor. ²⁶ Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly handsome, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly, inflicting innumerable blows. ²⁷ Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness. His men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher. ²⁸ They carried away helpless the man who a moment before had entered that treasury under arms with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard. They clearly recognized the sovereign power of God.

The Restoration and Testimony of Heliodorus. ²⁹ As Heliodorus lay speechless because of God’s action and deprived of any hope of recovery, ³⁰ the people praised the Lord who had marvelously glorified his own place; and the temple, charged so shortly before with fear and commotion, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the almighty Lord had appeared. ³¹ Quickly some of the companions of Heliodorus begged Onias to call upon the Most High to spare the life of one who was about to breathe his last. ³² The high priest, suspecting that the king might think that Heliodorus had suffered some foul play at the hands of the Jews, offered a sacrifice for the man’s recovery. ³³ While the high priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men dressed in the same clothing again appeared and stood before Heliodorus. “Be very grateful to the high priest Onias,” they told him. “It is for his sake that the Lord has spared your life. ³⁴ Since you have been scourged by Heaven, proclaim to all God’s great power.” When they had said this, they disappeared.

³⁵ After Heliodorus had offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to the one who had spared his life, he bade Onias farewell, and returned with his soldiers to the king. ³⁶ Before all he gave witness to the deeds of the most high God that he had seen with his own eyes. ³⁷ When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to be sent to Jerusalem next, he answered: ³⁸ “If you have an enemy or one who is plotting against the government, send him there, and you will get him back with a flogging, if indeed he survives at all; for there is certainly some divine power about the place. ³⁹ The one whose dwelling is in heaven watches over that place and protects it, and strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it.” ⁴⁰ This was how the matter concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the treasury turned out.

IV. Profanation and Persecution

Chapter 4

Simon Accuses Onias. ¹ The Simon mentioned above as the informer about the funds against his own country slandered Onias as the one who incited Heliodorus and instigated the whole miserable affair. ² He dared to brand as a schemer against the government the man who was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his compatriots, and a zealous defender of the laws. ³ When Simon’s hostility reached such a pitch that murders were being committed by one of his henchmen, ⁴ Onias saw that the opposition was serious and that Apollonius, son of Menestheus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was abetting Simon’s wickedness. ⁵ So he had recourse to the king, not as an accuser of his compatriots, but as one looking to the general and particular good of all the people. ⁶ He saw that without royal attention it would be impossible to have a peaceful government, and that Simon would not desist from his folly.

Jason as High Priest. ⁷ But Seleucus died,^[lo] and when Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes succeeded him on the throne, Onias’ brother Jason obtained the high priesthood by corrupt means:^{(PE) 8} in an interview, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, as well as eighty talents from another source of income. ⁹ Besides this he would undertake to pay a hundred and fifty more, if he was given authority to establish a gymnasium and a youth center^[lp] for it and to enroll Jerusalemites as citizens of Antioch.

¹⁰ When Jason received the king’s approval and came into office, he immediately initiated his compatriots into the Greek way of life. ¹¹ He set aside the royal concessions granted to the Jews through the mediation of John, father of Eupolemus^[lq] (that Eupolemus who would later go on an embassy to the Romans to establish friendship and alliance with them); he set aside the lawful practices and introduced customs contrary to the law.^{(PF) 12 (PG)}With perverse delight he established a gymnasium^[lr] at the very foot of the citadel, where he induced the noblest young men to wear the Greek hat. ¹³ The craze for Hellenism and the adoption of foreign customs reached such a pitch, through the outrageous wickedness of Jason, the renegade and would-be high priest, ¹⁴ that the priests no longer cared about the service of the altar. Disdaining the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened, at the signal for the games, to take part in the unlawful exercises at the arena. ¹⁵ What their ancestors had regarded as honors they despised; what the Greeks esteemed as glory they prized highly. ¹⁶ For this reason they found themselves in serious trouble: the very people whose manner of life they emulated, and whom they desired to imitate in everything, became their enemies and oppressors. ¹⁷ It is no light matter to flout the laws of God, as subsequent events will show.

¹⁸ When the quinquennial games were held at Tyre in the presence of the king, ¹⁹ the vile Jason sent representatives of the Antiochians of Jerusalem, to bring three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Hercules. But the bearers themselves decided that the money should not be spent on a sacrifice, as that was not right, but should be used for some other purpose. ²⁰ So the contribution meant for the sacrifice to Hercules by the sender, was in fact applied to the construction of triremes^[ls] by those who brought it.

²¹ When Apollonius, son of Menestheus, was sent to Egypt for the coronation of King Philometor,^[lt] Antiochus learned from him that the king was opposed to his policies. He took measures for his own security; so after going to Joppa, he proceeded to Jerusalem. ²² There he was received with great pomp by Jason and the people of the city, who escorted him with torchlights and acclamations; following this, he led his army into Phoenicia.

Menelaus as High Priest. ²³ Three years later Jason sent Menelaus,^[lu] brother of the aforementioned Simon, to deliver the money to the king, and to complete negotiations on urgent matters. ²⁴ But after his introduction to the king, he flattered him with such an air of authority that he secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. ²⁵ He returned with the royal commission, but with nothing that made him worthy of the high priesthood; he had the temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a wild beast. ²⁶ So Jason, who had cheated his own brother and now saw himself cheated by another man, was driven out as a fugitive to the country of the Ammonites. ²⁷ But Menelaus, who obtained the office, paid nothing of the money he had promised to the king, ²⁸ in spite of the demand of Sostratus, the commandant of the citadel, whose duty it was to collect the taxes. For this reason, both were summoned before the king. ²⁹ Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus as his deputy in the high priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates, commander of the Cypriots.^(PH)

Murder of Onias. ³⁰ While these things were taking place, the people of Tarsus and Mallus^[lv] rose in revolt, because their cities had been given as a gift to Antiochis, the king’s concubine. ³¹ So the king hastened off to settle the affair, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, as his deputy. ³² Menelaus, for his part, thinking this a good opportunity, stole some gold vessels from the temple and presented them to Andronicus; he had already sold other vessels in Tyre and in the neighboring cities. ³³ When Onias had clear evidence, he accused Menelaus publicly, after withdrawing to the inviolable sanctuary at Daphne, near Antioch. ³⁴ Thereupon Menelaus approached Andronicus privately and urged him to seize Onias. So Andronicus went to Onias, treacherously reassuring him by offering his right hand in oath, and persuaded him, in spite of his suspicions, to leave the sanctuary. Then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him to death.

³⁵ As a result, not only the Jews, but many people of other nations as well, were indignant and angry over the unjust murder of the man. ³⁶ When the king returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews of the city,^[lw] together with the Greeks who detested the crime, went to see him about the murder of Onias. ³⁷ Antiochus was deeply grieved and full of pity; he wept as he recalled the prudence and noble conduct of the deceased. ³⁸ Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped Andronicus of his purple robe, tore off his garments, and had him led through the whole city to the very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias; and there he put the murderer to death. Thus the Lord rendered him the punishment he deserved.

More Outrages. ³⁹ Many acts of sacrilege had been committed by Lysimachus in the city^[lx] with the connivance of Menelaus. When word spread, the people assembled in protest against Lysimachus, because a large number of gold vessels had been stolen. ⁴⁰ As the crowds, now thoroughly enraged, began to riot, Lysimachus launched an unjustified attack against them with about three thousand armed men under the leadership of a certain Auranus, a man as advanced in folly as he was in years. ⁴¹ Seeing Lysimachus’ attack, people picked up stones, pieces of wood or handfuls of the ashes lying there and threw them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and his men. ⁴² As a result, they wounded many of them and even killed a few, while they put all to flight. The temple robber himself they killed near the treasury.

⁴³ Charges about this affair were brought against Menelaus. ⁴⁴ When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate pleaded the case before him. ⁴⁵ But Menelaus, seeing himself on the losing side, promised Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, a substantial sum of money if he would win the king over.^{(PI) 46} So Ptolemy took the king aside into a colonnade, as if to get some fresh air, and persuaded him to change his mind. ⁴⁷ Menelaus, who was the cause of all the trouble, the king acquitted of the charges, while he condemned to death those poor men who would have been declared innocent even if they had pleaded their case before Scythians. ⁴⁸ Thus, those who had prosecuted the case on behalf of the city, the people, and the sacred vessels, quickly suffered unjust punishment. ⁴⁹ For this reason, even Tyrians, detesting the crime, provided sumptuously for their burial. ⁵⁰ But Menelaus, thanks to the greed of those in power, remained in office, where he grew in wickedness, scheming greatly against his fellow citizens.

Chapter 5

Jason’s Revolt. ¹ About this time Antiochus sent his second expedition^[ly] into Egypt.^{(PJ) 2 (PK)}It then happened that all over the city, for nearly forty days, there appeared horsemen, clothed in garments of a golden weave, charging in midair—companies fully armed with lances and drawn swords; ³ squadrons of cavalry in battle array, charges and countercharges on this side and that, with brandished shields and bristling spears, flights of arrows and flashes of gold ornaments, together with armor of every sort. ⁴ Therefore all prayed that this vision might be a good omen.

⁵ But when a false rumor circulated that Antiochus was dead, Jason^[lz] gathered at least a thousand men and suddenly attacked the city. As the defenders on the walls were forced back and the city was finally being taken, Menelaus took refuge in the citadel. ⁶ For his part, Jason continued the merciless slaughter of his fellow citizens, not realizing that triumph over one’s own kindred is the greatest calamity; he thought he was winning a victory over his enemies, not over his own people. ⁷ Even so, he did not gain control of the government, but in the end received only disgrace for his treachery, and once again took refuge in the country of the Ammonites. ⁸ At length he met a miserable end. Called to account before Aretas,^[ma] ruler of the Arabians, he fled from city to city, hunted by all, hated as an apostate from the laws, abhorred as the executioner of his country and his compatriots. Driven into Egypt, ⁹ he set out by sea for the Lacedaemonians, among whom he hoped to find protection because of his relations with them. He who had exiled so many from their country perished in exile; ¹⁰ and he who had cast out so many to lie unburied went unmourned and without a funeral of any kind, nor any place in the tomb of his ancestors.

Revenge by Antiochus. ^11 (PL)When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt. Raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. ¹² He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses. ¹³ There was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of young women and infants. ¹⁴ In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery.

¹⁵ Not satisfied with this, the king dared to enter the holiest temple in the world; Menelaus, that traitor both to the laws and to his country, served as guide. ¹⁶ He laid his impure hands on the sacred vessels and swept up with profane hands the votive offerings made by other kings for the advancement, the glory, and the honor of the place. ¹⁷ Antiochus became puffed up in spirit, not realizing that it was because of the sins of the city’s inhabitants that the Sovereign Lord was angry for a little while: hence the disregard of the place.^{(PM) 18} If they had not become entangled in so many sins, this man, like that Heliodorus sent by King Seleucus to inspect the treasury, would have been flogged and turned back from his presumptuous act as soon as he approached. ¹⁹ The Lord, however, had not chosen the nation for the sake of the place, but the place for the sake of the nation. ²⁰ Therefore, the place itself, having shared in the nation’s misfortunes, afterward participated in their good fortune; and what the Almighty had forsaken in wrath was restored in all its glory, once the great Sovereign Lord became reconciled.

^21 (PN)Antiochus carried off eighteen hundred talents from the temple and hurried back to Antioch, thinking in his arrogance that he could make the land navigable and the sea passable on foot, so carried away was he with pride. ²² He left governors to harass the nation: at Jerusalem, Philip, a Phrygian by birth,^[mb] and in character more barbarous than the man who appointed him;^{(PO) 23} at Mount Gerizim,^[mc] Andronicus; and besides these, Menelaus, who lorded it over his fellow citizens more than the others. Out of hatred for the Jewish citizens, ^24 (PP)the king sent Apollonius,^[md] commander of the Mysians, at the head of an army of twenty-two thousand, with orders to kill all the grown men and sell the women and children into slavery. ²⁵ When this man arrived in Jerusalem, he pretended to be peacefully disposed and waited until the holy day of the sabbath; then, finding the Jews refraining from work, he ordered his men to parade fully armed. ²⁶ All those who came out to watch, he massacred, and running through the city with armed men, he cut down a large number of people.

²⁷ But Judas Maccabeus and about nine others withdrew to the wilderness to avoid sharing in defilement; there he and his companions lived like the animals in the hills, eating what grew wild.^(PQ)

Chapter 6

Abolition of Judaism. ^1 (PR)Not long after this the king sent an Athenian senator^[me] to force the Jews to abandon the laws of their ancestors and live no longer by the laws of God, ² also to profane the temple in Jerusalem and dedicate it to Olympian Zeus,^[mf] and the one on Mount Gerizim to Zeus the Host to Strangers, as the local inhabitants were wont to be.^{(PS) 3} This was a harsh and utterly intolerable evil. ⁴ The Gentiles filled the temple with debauchery and revelry; they amused themselves with prostitutes and had intercourse with women even in the sacred courts. They also brought forbidden things into the temple,^{(PT) 5} so that the altar was covered with abominable offerings prohibited by the laws.

⁶ No one could keep the sabbath or celebrate the traditional feasts, nor even admit to being a Jew. ⁷ Moreover, at the monthly celebration of the king’s birthday the Jews, from bitter necessity, had to partake of the sacrifices, and when the festival of Dionysus^[mg] was celebrated, they were compelled to march in his procession, wearing wreaths of ivy.^(PU)

⁸ Following upon a vote of the citizens of Ptolemais, a decree was issued ordering the neighboring Greek cities to adopt the same measures, obliging the Jews to partake of the sacrifices ⁹ and putting to death those who would not consent to adopt the customs of the Greeks. It was obvious, therefore, that disaster had come upon them. ¹⁰ Thus, two women who were arrested for having circumcised their children were publicly paraded about the city with their babies hanging at their breasts and then thrown down from the top of the city wall.^{(PV) 11} Others, who had assembled in nearby caves to observe the seventh day in secret, were betrayed to Philip and all burned to death. In their respect for the holiness of that day, they refrained from defending themselves.^(PW)

God’s Purpose. ^12 (PX)Now I urge those who read this book not to be disheartened by these misfortunes, but to consider that these punishments were meant not for the ruin but for the correction of our nation. ¹³ It is, in fact, a sign of great kindness to punish the impious promptly instead of letting them go for long. ^14 (PY)Thus, in dealing with other nations, the Sovereign Lord patiently waits until they reach the full measure of their sins before punishing them; but with us he has decided to deal differently, ¹⁵ in order that he may not have to punish us later, when our sins have reached their fullness. ¹⁶ Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us. Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon his own people. ¹⁷ Let these words suffice for recalling this truth. Without further ado we must go on with our story.

Martyrdom of Eleazar. ^18 [mh]Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man advanced in age and of noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork.^{(PZ) 19} But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, ²⁰ spitting out the meat as they should do who have the courage to reject food unlawful to taste even for love of life.

²¹ Those in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside, because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring his own provisions that he could legitimately eat, and only to pretend to eat the sacrificial meat prescribed by the king. ²² Thus he would escape death, and be treated kindly because of his old friendship with them. ²³ But he made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood. Above all loyal to the holy laws given by God, he swiftly declared, “Send me to Hades!”

²⁴ “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many of the young would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. ²⁵ If I dissemble to gain a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring defilement and dishonor on my old age. ²⁶ Even if, for the time being, I avoid human punishment, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hand of the Almighty. ²⁷ Therefore, by bravely giving up life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, ²⁸ and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.”

He spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. ²⁹ Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness.^{(QA) 30} When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned, saying: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” ³¹ This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of nobility and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.

Chapter 7

Martyrdom of a Mother and Her Seven Sons. ¹ It also happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.^{(QB) 2} One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: “What do you expect to learn by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”

³ At that the king, in a fury, gave orders to have pans and caldrons heated. ⁴ These were quickly heated, and he gave the order to cut out the tongue of the one who had spoken for the others, to scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of his brothers and his mother looked on. ⁵ When he was completely maimed but still breathing, the king ordered them to carry him to the fire and fry him. As a cloud of smoke spread from the pan, the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die nobly, with these words: ⁶ “The Lord God is looking on and truly has compassion on us, as Moses declared in his song, when he openly bore witness, saying, ‘And God will have compassion on his servants.’”^(QC)

⁷ After the first brother had died in this manner, they brought the second to be made sport of. After tearing off the skin and hair of his head, they asked him, “Will you eat the pork rather than have your body tortured limb by limb?” ⁸ Answering in the language of his ancestors, he said, “Never!” So he in turn suffered the same tortures as the first. ⁹ With his last breath he said: “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up^[mi] to live again forever, because we are dying for his laws.”^(QD)

¹⁰ After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put forth his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely stretched out his hands, ¹¹ as he spoke these noble words: “It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disregard them; from him I hope to receive them again.” ¹² Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man’s spirit, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

¹³ After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. ¹⁴ When he was near death, he said, “It is my choice to die at the hands of mortals with the hope that God will restore me to life; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”

¹⁵ They next brought forward the fifth brother and maltreated him. ¹⁶ Looking at the king, he said:^(QE) “Mortal though you are, you have power over human beings, so you do what you please. But do not think that our nation is forsaken by God. ¹⁷ Only wait, and you will see how his great power will torment you and your descendants.”

¹⁸ After him they brought the sixth brother. When he was about to die, he said: “Have no vain illusions. We suffer these things on our own account, because we have sinned against our God; that is why such shocking things have happened. ¹⁹ Do not think, then, that you will go unpunished for having dared to fight against God.”

²⁰ Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother who, seeing her seven sons perish in a single day, bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. ²¹ Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly reason with manly emotion, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words: ^22 (QF)“I do not know how you came to be in my womb; it was not I who gave you breath and life, nor was it I who arranged the elements you are made of. ²³ Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shaped the beginning of humankind and brought about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.”

²⁴ Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words, thought he was being ridiculed. As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him, not with mere words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him his Friend and entrust him with high office. ²⁵ When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. ²⁶ After he had urged her for a long time, she agreed to persuade her son. ²⁷ She leaned over close to him and, in derision of the cruel tyrant, said in their native language: “Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. ²⁸ I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things.^[mj] In the same way humankind came into existence. ²⁹ Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with your brothers.”

³⁰ She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: “What is the delay? I will not obey the king’s command. I obey the command of the law given to our ancestors through Moses. ³¹ But you, who have contrived every kind of evil for the Hebrews, will not escape the hands of God. ³² We, indeed, are suffering because of our sins.^{(QG) 33} Though for a little while our living Lord has been angry, correcting and chastising us, he will again be reconciled with his servants. ³⁴ But you, wretch, most vile of mortals, do not, in your insolence, buoy yourself up with unfounded hopes, as you raise your hand against the children of heaven. ³⁵ You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty and all-seeing God. ³⁶ Our brothers, after enduring brief pain, have drunk of never-failing life, under God’s covenant. But you, by the judgment of God, shall receive just punishments for your arrogance. ³⁷ Like my brothers, I offer up my body and my life for our ancestral laws, imploring God to show mercy soon to our nation, and by afflictions and blows to make you confess that he alone is God. ³⁸ Through me and my brothers, may there be an end to the wrath of the Almighty that has justly fallen on our whole nation.”

³⁹ At that, the king became enraged and treated him even worse than the others, since he bitterly resented the boy’s contempt. ⁴⁰ Thus he too died undefiled, putting all his trust in the Lord. ⁴¹ Last of all, after her sons, the mother was put to death. ⁴² Enough has been said about the sacrificial meals and the excessive cruelties.

V. Victories of Judas and Purification of the Temple

Chapter 8

Resistance from Judas Maccabeus. ^1 (QH)Judas Maccabeus and his companions entered the villages secretly, summoned their kindred, and enlisted others who had remained faithful to Judaism. Thus they assembled about six thousand men. ² They implored the Lord to look kindly upon this people, who were being oppressed by all; to have pity on the sanctuary, which was profaned by renegades; ³ to have mercy on the city, which was being destroyed and was about to be leveled to the ground; to listen to the blood that cried out to him; ⁴ to remember the criminal slaughter of innocent children and the blasphemies uttered against his name; and to manifest his hatred of evil.

^5 (QI)Once Maccabeus got his men organized, the Gentiles could not withstand him, for the Lord’s wrath had now changed to mercy. ⁶ Coming by surprise upon towns and villages, he set them on fire. He captured strategic positions, and put to flight not a few of the enemy. ⁷ He preferred the nights as being especially favorable for such attacks. Soon talk of his valor spread everywhere.

First Victory over Nicanor.^{[mk] 8} When Philip saw that Judas was gaining ground little by little and that his successful advances were becoming more frequent, he wrote to Ptolemy, governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to come to the aid of the king’s interests.^{(QJ) 9 (QK)}Ptolemy promptly selected Nicanor, son of Patroclus, one of the Chief Friends, and sent him at the head of at least twenty thousand armed men of various nations to wipe out the entire Jewish nation. With him he associated Gorgias, a general, experienced in the art of war.^{(QL) 10} Nicanor planned to raise the two thousand talents of tribute owed by the king to the Romans^[ml] by selling captured Jews into slavery. ¹¹ So he immediately sent word to the coastal cities, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves and promising to deliver ninety slaves for a talent^[mm]—little anticipating the punishment that was to fall upon him from the Almighty.

¹² When Judas learned of Nicanor’s advance and informed his companions about the approach of the army, ¹³ those who were fearful and those who lacked faith in God’s justice deserted and got away. ¹⁴ But the others sold everything they had left, and at the same time entreated the Lord to deliver those whom the ungodly Nicanor had sold before even capturing them. ¹⁵ They entreated the Lord to do this, if not for their sake, at least for the sake of the covenants made with their ancestors, and because they themselves invoked his holy and glorious name. ¹⁶ Maccabeus assembled his forces, six thousand strong, and exhorted them not to be panic-stricken before the enemy, nor to fear the very large number of Gentiles unjustly attacking them, but to fight nobly. ¹⁷ They were to keep before their eyes the lawless outrage perpetrated by the Gentiles against the holy place and the affliction of the humiliated city, as well as the subversion of their ancestral way of life. ¹⁸ He said, “They trust in weapons and acts of daring, but we trust in almighty God, who can by a mere nod destroy not only those who attack us but even the whole world.” ¹⁹ He went on to tell them of the times when help had been given their ancestors: both the time of Sennacherib, when a hundred and eighty-five thousand of his men perished,^{(QM) 20} and the time of the battle in Babylonia against the Galatians,^[mn] when only eight thousand Jews fought along with four thousand Macedonians; yet when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the eight thousand, by the help they received from Heaven, destroyed one hundred and twenty thousand and took a great quantity of spoils. ^21 (QN)With these words he encouraged them and made them ready to die for their laws and their country.

Then Judas divided his army into four, ²² placing his brothers, Simon, Joseph,^[mo] and Jonathan, each over a division, assigning them fifteen hundred men apiece.^{(QO) 23} There was also Eleazar.^[mp] After reading to them from the holy book and giving them the watchword, “The help of God,” Judas himself took charge of the first division and joined in battle with Nicanor.^{(QP) 24} With the Almighty as their ally, they killed more than nine thousand of the enemy, wounded and disabled the greater part of Nicanor’s army, and put all of them to flight. ²⁵ They also seized the money of those who had come to buy them as slaves. When they had pursued the enemy for some time, they were obliged to return by reason of the late hour. ²⁶ It was the day before the sabbath, and for that reason they could not continue the pursuit. ²⁷ They collected the enemy’s weapons and stripped them of their spoils, and then observed the sabbath with fervent praise and thanks to the Lord who kept them safe for that day on which he allotted them the beginning of his mercy. ²⁸ After the sabbath, they gave a share of the spoils to those who were tortured and to widows and orphans; the rest they divided among themselves and their children.^{(QQ) 29} When this was done, they made supplication in common, imploring the merciful Lord to be completely reconciled with his servants.

Other Victories. ³⁰ They also challenged the forces of Timothy and Bacchides, killed more than twenty thousand of them, and captured some very high fortresses. They divided the considerable plunder, allotting half to themselves and the rest to victims of torture, orphans, widows, and the aged. ³¹ They collected the enemies’ weapons and carefully stored them in strategic places; the rest of the spoils they carried to Jerusalem. ³² They also killed the commander of Timothy’s forces, a most wicked man, who had done great harm to the Jews. ³³ While celebrating the victory in their ancestral city, they burned both those who had set fire to the sacred gates and Callisthenes, who had taken refuge in a little house; so he received the reward his wicked deeds deserved.

^34 (QR)The thrice-accursed Nicanor, who had brought the thousand slave dealers to buy the Jews, ³⁵ after being humbled through the Lord’s help by those whom he had thought of no account, laid aside his fine clothes and fled alone across country like a runaway slave, until he reached Antioch. He was eminently successful in destroying his own army. ³⁶ So he who had promised to provide tribute for the Romans by the capture of the people of Jerusalem proclaimed that the Jews had a champion, and that because they followed the laws laid down by him, they were unharmed.

Chapter 9

Punishment and Death of Antiochus IV.^{[mq] 1 (QS)}About that time Antiochus retreated in disgrace from the region of Persia. ² He had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temples and gain control of the city. Thereupon the people had swift recourse to arms, and Antiochus’ forces were routed, so that in the end Antiochus was put to flight by the people of that region and forced to beat a shameful retreat. ³ On his arrival in Ecbatana, he learned what had happened to Nicanor and to Timothy’s forces. ⁴ Overcome with anger, he planned to make the Jews suffer for the injury done by those who had put him to flight. Therefore he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he finished the journey. Yet the condemnation of Heaven rode with him, because he said in his arrogance, “I will make Jerusalem the common graveyard of Jews as soon as I arrive there.”

⁵ So the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him down with an incurable and invisible blow; for scarcely had he uttered those words when he was seized with excruciating pains in his bowels and sharp internal torment,^{(QT) 6} a fit punishment for him who had tortured the bowels of others with many barbarous torments. ⁷ Far from giving up his insolence, he was all the more filled with arrogance. Breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, he gave orders to drive even faster. As a result he hurtled from the speeding chariot, and every part of his body was racked by the violent fall. ⁸ Thus he who previously, in his superhuman presumption, thought he could command the waves of the sea, and imagined he could weigh the mountaintops in his scales, was now thrown to the ground and had to be carried on a litter, clearly manifesting to all the power of God.^{(QU) 9} The body of this impious man swarmed with worms, and while he was still alive in hideous torments, his flesh rotted off, so that the entire army was sickened by the stench of his corruption.^{(QV) 10} Shortly before, he had thought that he could reach the stars of heaven, and now, no one could endure to transport the man because of this intolerable stench.

¹¹ At last, broken in spirit, he began to give up his excessive arrogance, and to gain some understanding, under the scourge of God, for he was racked with pain unceasingly. ¹² When he could no longer bear his own stench, he said, “It is right to be subject to God, and not to think one’s mortal self equal to God.”^{(QW) 13} Then this vile man vowed to him who would never again show him mercy, the Sovereign Lord, ¹⁴ that the holy city, toward which he had been hurrying with the intention of leveling it to the ground and making it a common graveyard, he would now set free; ¹⁵ that the Jews, whom he had judged not even worthy of burial, but fit only to be thrown out with their children to be eaten by vultures and wild animals—all of them he would make equal to the Athenians; ¹⁶ that he would adorn with the finest offerings the holy temple which he had previously despoiled, restore all the sacred vessels many times over, and provide from his own revenues the expenses required for the sacrifices. ¹⁷ Besides all this, he would become a Jew himself and visit every inhabited place to proclaim there the power of God. ¹⁸ But since his sufferings were not lessened, for God’s just judgment had come upon him, he lost hope for himself and wrote the following letter to the Jews in the form of a supplication. It read thus:

^19 [mr]“To the worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus, king and general, sends hearty greetings and best wishes for their health and prosperity. ²⁰ If you and your children are well and your affairs are going as you wish, I thank God very much, for my hopes are in heaven. ²¹ Now that I am ill, I recall with affection your esteem and goodwill. On returning from the regions of Persia, I fell victim to a troublesome illness; so I thought it necessary to form plans for the general security of all. ²² I do not despair about my health, since I have much hope of recovering from my illness. ²³ Nevertheless, I know that my father, whenever he went on campaigns in the hinterland, would name his successor, ²⁴ so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm would know to whom the government had been entrusted, and so not be disturbed. ²⁵ I am also bearing in mind that the neighboring rulers, especially those on the borders of our kingdom, are on the watch for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. I have therefore appointed as king my son Antiochus, whom I have often before entrusted and commended to most of you, when I made hurried visits to the outlying provinces. I have written to him what is written here. ²⁶ Therefore I beg and entreat each of you to remember the general and individual benefits you have received, and to continue to show goodwill toward me and my son. ²⁷ I am confident that, following my policy, he will treat you with equity and kindness in his relations with you.”

²⁸ So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land. ²⁹ His foster brother^[ms] Philip brought the body home; but fearing Antiochus’ son, he later withdrew into Egypt, to Ptolemy Philometor.^(QX)

Chapter 10

Purification of the Temple. ^1 (QY)When Maccabeus and his companions, under the Lord’s leadership, had recovered the temple and the city, ² they destroyed the altars erected by the foreigners in the marketplace and the sacred shrines. ³ After purifying the temple, they made another altar. Then, with fire struck from flint, they offered sacrifice for the first time in two years,^[mt] burned incense, and lighted lamps. They also set out the showbread. ⁴ When they had done this, they prostrated themselves and begged the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, and that if they should sin at any time, he might chastise them with moderation and not hand them over to blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles. ⁵ On the anniversary of the day on which the temple had been profaned by the foreigners, that is, the twenty-fifth of the same month Kislev, the purification of the temple took place. ⁶ The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in the mountains and in caves. ⁷ Carrying rods entwined with leaves,^[mu] beautiful branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had successfully brought about the purification of his own place. ⁸ By public decree and vote they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year. ⁹ Such was the end of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes.

VI. Renewed Persecution

Accession of Antiochus V. ¹⁰ Now we shall relate what happened under Antiochus Eupator, the son of that godless man, and shall give a summary of the chief evils caused by the wars. ¹¹ When Eupator succeeded to the kingdom, he put a certain Lysias in charge of the government as commander-in-chief of Coelesyria and Phoenicia. ¹² Ptolemy, called Macron,^[mv] had taken the lead in treating the Jews fairly because of the previous injustice that had been done them, and he endeavored to have peaceful relations with them. ¹³ As a result, he was accused before Eupator by the King’s Friends. In fact, on all sides he heard himself called a traitor for having abandoned Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and for having gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Since he could not command the respect due to his high office, he ended his life by taking poison.

Victory over the Idumeans.^{[mw] 14 (QZ)}When Gorgias became governor of the region, he employed foreign troops and used every opportunity to attack the Jews. ¹⁵ At the same time the Idumeans, who held some strategic strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they welcomed fugitives from Jerusalem and endeavored to continue the war. ¹⁶ Maccabeus and his companions, after public prayers asking God to be their ally, moved quickly against the strongholds of the Idumeans. ¹⁷ Attacking vigorously, they gained control of the places, drove back all who were fighting on the walls, and cut down those who opposed them, killing no fewer than twenty thousand. ¹⁸ When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers, well equipped to sustain a siege, ¹⁹ Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, along with Zacchaeus and his forces, in sufficient numbers to besiege them, while he himself went off to places where he was more urgently needed. ²⁰ But some of those in Simon’s force who were lovers of money let themselves be bribed by some of those in the towers; on receiving seventy thousand drachmas, they allowed a number of them to escape. ²¹ When Maccabeus was told what had happened, he assembled the rulers of the people and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. ²² So he put them to death as traitors, and without delay captured the two towers. ²³ As he was successful at arms in all his undertakings, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.

Victory over Timothy. ²⁴ Timothy, who had previously been defeated by the Jews,^[mx] gathered a tremendous force of foreign troops and collected a large number of cavalry from Asia; then he appeared in Judea, ready to conquer it by force. ²⁵ At his approach, Maccabeus and his companions made supplication to God, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins in sackcloth. ²⁶ Lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, they begged him to be gracious to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and a foe to their foes, as the law declares.^{(RA) 27} After the prayer, they took up their weapons and advanced a considerable distance from the city, halting when they were close to the enemy. ²⁸ As soon as dawn broke,^[my] the armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord, and the other taking fury as their leader in the fight.

^29 (RB)In the midst of the fierce battle, there appeared to the enemy five majestic men from the heavens riding on golden-bridled horses, leading the Jews. ³⁰ They surrounded Maccabeus, and shielding him with their own armor, kept him from being wounded. They shot arrows and hurled thunderbolts at the enemy, who were bewildered and blinded, routed in utter confusion. ³¹ Twenty thousand five hundred of their foot soldiers and six hundred cavalry were slain.

³² Timothy, however, fled to a well-fortified stronghold called Gazara, where Chaereas was in command.^{(RC) 33} For four days Maccabeus and his forces eagerly besieged the fortress. ³⁴ Those inside, relying on the strength of the place, kept repeating outrageous blasphemies and uttering abominable words. ³⁵ When the fifth day dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, angered over such blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they encountered. ³⁶ Similarly, others climbed up and swung around on the defenders; they put the towers to the torch, spread the fire and burned the blasphemers alive. Still others broke down the gates and let in the rest of the troops, who took possession of the city. ³⁷ Timothy had hidden in a cistern, but they killed^[mz] him, along with his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes. ³⁸ On completing these exploits, they blessed, with hymns of grateful praise, the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and grants them victory.

Chapter 11

Defeat of Lysias.^{[na] 1 (RD)}Very soon afterward, Lysias, guardian and kinsman of the king and head of the government, being greatly displeased at what had happened, ² mustered about eighty thousand infantry and all his cavalry and marched against the Jews. His plan was to make their city a Greek settlement; ³ to levy tribute on the temple, as he did on the shrines of the other nations; and to put the high priesthood up for sale every year.^{(RE) 4} He did not take God’s power into account at all, but felt exultant confidence in his myriads of foot soldiers, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.^{(RF) 5} So he invaded Judea, and when he reached Beth-zur, a fortified place about five stadia^[nb] from Jerusalem, launched a strong attack against it.

⁶ When Maccabeus and his companions learned that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people begged the Lord with lamentations and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.^{(RG) 7} Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he exhorted the others to join him in risking their lives to help their kindred. Then they resolutely set out together. ⁸ Suddenly, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white garments and brandishing gold weapons.^{(RH) 9} Then all of them together thanked the merciful God, and their hearts were filled with such courage that they were ready to assault not only human beings but even the most savage beasts, or even walls of iron. ¹⁰ Now that the Lord had shown mercy toward them, they advanced in battle order with the aid of their heavenly ally. ¹¹ Hurling themselves upon the enemy like lions, they laid low eleven thousand foot soldiers and sixteen hundred cavalry, and put all the rest to flight. ¹² Most of those who survived were wounded and disarmed, while Lysias himself escaped only by shameful flight.

Peace Negotiations. ^13 (RI)But Lysias was not a stupid man. He reflected on the defeat he had suffered, and came to realize that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God was their ally. He therefore sent a message ¹⁴ persuading them to settle everything on just terms, and promising to persuade the king also, and to induce him to become their friend. ¹⁵ Maccabeus, solicitous for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed; and the king granted on behalf of the Jews all the written requests of Maccabeus to Lysias.

¹⁶ These are the terms of the letter which Lysias wrote to the Jews: “Lysias sends greetings to the Jewish people. ¹⁷ John and Absalom, your envoys, have presented your signed communication and asked about the matters contained in it. ¹⁸ Whatever had to be referred to the king I called to his attention, and the things that were acceptable he has granted. ¹⁹ If you maintain your loyalty to the government, I will endeavor to further your interests in the future. ²⁰ On the details of these matters I have authorized my representatives, as well as your envoys, to confer with you. ²¹ Farewell.” The one hundred and forty-eighth year,^[nc] the twenty-fourth of Dioscorinthius.

²² The king’s letter read thus: “King Antiochus sends greetings to his brother Lysias. ²³ Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, we wish the subjects of our kingdom to be undisturbed in conducting their own affairs. ²⁴ We have heard that the Jews do not agree with our father’s change to Greek customs but prefer their own way of life. They are petitioning us to let them retain their own customs. ²⁵ Since we desire that this people too should be undisturbed, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live in keeping with the customs of their ancestors. ²⁶ Accordingly, please send them messengers to give them our assurances of friendship, so that, when they learn of our decision, they may have nothing to worry about but may contentedly go about their own business.”

²⁷ The king’s letter to the people was as follows: “King Antiochus sends greetings to the Jewish senate and to the rest of the Jews. ²⁸ If you are well, it is what we desire. We too are in good health. ²⁹ Menelaus has told us of your wish to return home and attend to your own affairs. ³⁰ Therefore, those who return by the thirtieth of Xanthicus will have our assurance of full permission ³¹ to observe their dietary and other laws, just as before, and none of the Jews shall be molested in any way for faults committed through ignorance. ³² I have also sent Menelaus to reassure you. ³³ Farewell.” In the one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.^[nd]

³⁴ The Romans also sent them a letter as follows: “Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, legates of the Romans, send greetings to the Jewish people. ³⁵ What Lysias, kinsman of the king, has granted you, we also approve. ³⁶ But for the matters that he decided should be submitted to the king, send someone to us immediately with your decisions so that we may present them to your advantage, for we are on our way to Antioch. ³⁷ Make haste, then, to send us those who can inform us of your preference. ³⁸ Farewell.” In the one hundred and forty-eighth year, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.^[ne]

Chapter 12

Incidents at Joppa and Jamnia. ¹ After these agreements were made, Lysias returned to the king, and the Jews went about their farming. ² But some of the local governors, Timothy and Apollonius, son of Gennaeus,^[nf] as also Hieronymus and Demophon, to say nothing of Nicanor, the commander of the Cyprians, would not allow them to live in peace and quiet.

³ Some people of Joppa also committed this outrage: they invited the Jews who lived among them, together with their wives and children, to embark on boats which they had provided. There was no hint of enmity toward them. ⁴ This was done by public vote of the city. When the Jews, wishing to live on friendly terms and not suspecting anything, accepted the invitation, the people of Joppa took them out to sea and drowned at least two hundred of them.

⁵ As soon as Judas heard of the barbarous deed perpetrated against his compatriots, he summoned his men; ⁶ and after calling upon God, the just judge, he marched against the murderers of his kindred. In a night attack he set the harbor on fire, burned the boats, and put to the sword those who had taken refuge there. ⁷ Because the gates of the town were shut, he withdrew, intending to come back later and wipe out the entire population of Joppa.

⁸ On hearing that the people of Jamnia planned in the same way to wipe out the Jews who lived among them, ⁹ he attacked the Jamnians by night, setting fire to the harbor and the fleet, so that the glow of the flames was visible as far as Jerusalem, thirty miles away.

More Victories by Judas. ^10 (RJ)When the Jews had gone about a mile from there^[ng] in the march against Timothy, they were attacked by Arabians numbering at least five thousand foot soldiers and five hundred cavalry. ¹¹ After a hard fight, Judas and his companions, with God’s help, were victorious. The defeated nomads begged Judas to give pledges of friendship, and they promised to supply the Jews with livestock and to be of service to them in any other way. ¹² Realizing that they could indeed be useful in many respects, Judas agreed to make peace with them. After the pledges of friendship had been exchanged, the Arabians withdrew to their tents.

¹³ He also attacked a certain city called Caspin, fortified with earthworks and walls and inhabited by a mixed population of Gentiles. ¹⁴ Relying on the strength of their walls and their supply of provisions, the besieged treated Judas and his men with contempt, insulting them and even uttering blasphemies and profanity. ¹⁵ But Judas and his men invoked the aid of the great Sovereign of the world, who, in the days of Joshua, overthrew Jericho without battering rams or siege engines; then they furiously stormed the walls.^{(RK) 16} Capturing the city by the will of God, they inflicted such indescribable slaughter on it that the adjacent pool, which was about a quarter of a mile wide, seemed to be filled with the blood that flowed into it.

^17 (RL)When they had gone on some ninety miles, they reached Charax, where there were certain Jews known as Toubians.^{[nh](RM) 18} But they did not find Timothy in that region, for he had already departed from there without having done anything except to leave behind in one place a very strong garrison. ¹⁹ But Dositheus and Sosipater, two of Maccabeus’ captains, marched out and destroyed the force of more than ten thousand men that Timothy had left in the stronghold. ²⁰ Meanwhile, Maccabeus divided his army into cohorts, with a commander over each cohort, and went in pursuit of Timothy, who had a force of a hundred and twenty thousand foot soldiers and twenty-five hundred cavalry. ²¹ When Timothy learned of the approach of Judas, he sent on ahead of him the women and children, as well as the baggage, to a place called Karnion, which was hard to besiege and even hard to reach because of the difficult terrain of that region. ²² But when Judas’ first cohort appeared, the enemy was overwhelmed with fear and terror at the manifestation of the all-seeing One. Scattering in every direction, they rushed away in such headlong flight that in many cases they wounded one another, pierced by the points of their own swords. ²³ Judas pressed the pursuit vigorously, putting the sinners to the sword and destroying as many as thirty thousand men.

²⁴ Timothy himself fell into the hands of those under Dositheus and Sosipater; but with great cunning, he begged them to spare his life and let him go, because he had in his power the parents and relatives of many of them, and would show them no consideration. ²⁵ When he had fully confirmed his solemn pledge to restore them unharmed, they let him go for the sake of saving their relatives.

^26 (RN)Judas then marched to Karnion and the shrine of Atargatis,^[ni] where he killed twenty-five thousand people. ²⁷ After the defeat and destruction of these, he moved his army to Ephron, a fortified city inhabited by Lysias and people of many nationalities. Robust young men took up their posts in defense of the walls, from which they fought valiantly; inside were large supplies of war machines and missiles. ²⁸ But the Jews, invoking the Sovereign who powerfully shatters the might of enemies, got possession of the city and slaughtered twenty-five thousand of the people in it.

²⁹ Then they set out from there and hastened on to Scythopolis,^[nj] seventy-five miles from Jerusalem. ³⁰ But when the Jews who lived there testified to the goodwill shown by the Scythopolitans and to their kind treatment even in times of adversity, ³¹ Judas and his men thanked them and exhorted them to be well disposed to their nation in the future also. Finally they arrived in Jerusalem, shortly before the feast of Weeks.

³² After this feast, also called Pentecost, they lost no time in marching against Gorgias, governor of Idumea, ³³ who opposed them with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred cavalry. ³⁴ In the ensuing battle, a few of the Jews were slain. ³⁵ A man called Dositheus, a powerful horseman and one of Bacenor’s men,^[nk] caught hold of Gorgias, grasped his military cloak and dragged him along by brute strength, intending to capture the vile wretch alive, when a Thracian horseman attacked Dositheus and cut off his arm at the shoulder. Then Gorgias fled to Marisa.

³⁶ After Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long time and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself their ally and leader in the battle. ³⁷ Then, raising a battle cry in his ancestral language, and with hymns, he charged Gorgias’ men when they were not expecting it and put them to flight.

Expiation for the Dead. ³⁸ Judas rallied his army and went to the city of Adullam. As the seventh day was approaching, they purified themselves according to custom and kept the sabbath there. ³⁹ On the following day, since the task had now become urgent, Judas and his companions went to gather up the bodies of the fallen and bury them with their kindred in their ancestral tombs. ⁴⁰ But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.^{(RO) 41} They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge who brings to light the things that are hidden. ^42 [nl]Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.^{(RP) 43} He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection in mind; ⁴⁴ for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. ⁴⁵ But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. ⁴⁶ Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.

Chapter 13

Death of Menelaus. ^1 (RQ)In the one hundred and forty-ninth year,^[nm] Judas and his men learned that Antiochus Eupator was invading Judea with a large force, ² and that with him was Lysias, his guardian, who was in charge of the government. They led^[nn] a Greek army of one hundred and ten thousand foot soldiers, fifty-three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.

³ Menelaus also joined them, and with great duplicity kept urging Antiochus on, not for the welfare of his country, but in the hope of being established in office. ⁴ But the King of kings^(RR) aroused the anger of Antiochus against the scoundrel. When the king was shown by Lysias that Menelaus was to blame for all the trouble, he ordered him to be taken to Beroea^[no] and executed there in the customary local method. ⁵ There is at that place a tower seventy-five feet high, full of ashes,^[np] with a circular rim sloping down steeply on all sides toward the ashes. ⁶ Anyone guilty of sacrilege or notorious for certain other crimes is brought up there and then hurled down to destruction. ⁷ In such a manner was Menelaus, that transgressor of the law, fated to die, deprived even of burial. ⁸ It was altogether just that he who had committed so many sins against the altar with its pure fire and ashes, in ashes should meet his death.

Battle near Modein. ⁹ The king was advancing, his mind full of savage plans for inflicting on the Jews things worse than those they suffered in his father’s time. ¹⁰ When Judas learned of this, he urged the people to call upon the Lord day and night, now more than ever, to help them when they were about to be deprived of their law, their country, and their holy temple; ¹¹ and not to allow this people, which had just begun to revive, to be subjected again to blasphemous Gentiles. ¹² When they had all joined in doing this, and had implored the merciful Lord continuously with weeping and fasting and prostrations for three days, Judas encouraged them and told them to stand ready.

¹³ After a private meeting with the elders, he decided that, before the king’s army could invade Judea and take possession of the city, the Jews should march out and settle the matter with God’s help. ¹⁴ Leaving the outcome to the Creator of the world, and exhorting his followers to fight nobly to death for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the government, he encamped near Modein. ¹⁵ Giving his troops the battle cry “God’s Victory,” he made a night attack on the king’s pavilion with a picked force of the bravest young men and killed about two thousand in the camp. He also stabbed the lead elephant and its rider.^{(RS) 16} Finally they withdrew in triumph,^[nq] having filled the camp with terror and confusion. ¹⁷ Day was just breaking when this was accomplished with the help and protection of the Lord.

Treaty with Antiochus V. ^18 (RT)The king, having had a taste of the Jews’ boldness, tried to take their positions by a stratagem. ¹⁹ So he marched against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews; but he was driven back, checked, and defeated. ²⁰ Judas sent supplies to the men inside, ²¹ but Rhodocus, of the Jewish army, betrayed military secrets^[nr] to the enemy. He was found out, arrested, and imprisoned. ²² The king made a second attempt by negotiating with the people of Beth-zur. After giving them his pledge and receiving theirs, he withdrew ²³ and attacked Judas’ men. But he was defeated. Next he heard that Philip, who was left in charge of the government in Antioch, had rebelled. Dismayed, he negotiated with the Jews, submitted to their terms, and swore to observe all their rights. Having come to this agreement, he offered a sacrifice, and honored the sanctuary and the place with a generous donation. ²⁴ He received Maccabeus, and left Hegemonides as governor of the territory from Ptolemais to the region of the Gerrhenes.^{[ns] 25} When he came to Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais were angered by the peace treaty; in fact they were so indignant that they wanted to annul its provisions. ²⁶ But Lysias took the platform, defended the treaty as well as he could and won them over by persuasion. After calming them and gaining their goodwill, he returned to Antioch. That is the story of the king’s attack and withdrawal.

Chapter 14

^1 (RU)Three years later,^[nt] Judas and his companions learned that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had sailed into the port of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet, ² and that he had occupied the country, after doing away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.

³ A certain Alcimus, a former high priest,^[nu] who had willfully incurred defilement before the time of the revolt, realized that there was no way for him to be safe and regain access to the holy altar. ⁴ So he went to King Demetrius around the one hundred and fifty-first year and presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that day he kept quiet.^{(RV) 5} But he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when he was invited to the council by Demetrius and questioned about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews. He replied: ⁶ “Those Jews called Hasideans, led by Judas Maccabeus,^[nv] are warmongers, who stir up sedition and keep the kingdom from enjoying peace.^{(RW) 7} For this reason, now that I am deprived of my ancestral dignity, that is to say, the high priesthood, I have come here, ⁸ first, out of my genuine concern for the king’s interests, and second, out of consideration for my own compatriots, since our entire nation is suffering no little affliction from the rash conduct of the people just mentioned. ⁹ When you have informed yourself in detail on these matters, O king, provide for our country and its hard-pressed people with the same gracious consideration that you show toward all. ¹⁰ As long as Judas is around, it is impossible for the government to enjoy peace.” ¹¹ When he had said this, the other Friends who were hostile to Judas quickly added fuel to Demetrius’ indignation.

Dealings with Nicanor. ^12 (RX)The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him governor of Judea. He sent him off ¹³ with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple. ¹⁴ The Gentiles from Judea, who had fled before Judas, flocked to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.

^15 (RY)When the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and that the Gentiles were rallying to him, they sprinkled themselves with earth and prayed to him who established his people forever, and who always comes to the aid of his heritage by manifesting himself. ¹⁶ At their leader’s command, they set out at once from there and came upon the enemy at the village of Adasa. ¹⁷ Judas’ brother Simon had engaged Nicanor, but he suffered a slight setback because of the sudden appearance of the enemy.

¹⁸ However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his companions, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed. ¹⁹ So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to exchange pledges of friendship. ²⁰ After a long discussion of the terms, each leader communicated them to his troops; and when general agreement was expressed, they assented to the treaty. ²¹ A day was set on which the leaders would meet by themselves. From each side a chariot came forward, and thrones were set in place. ²² Judas had posted armed men in readiness at strategic points for fear that the enemy might suddenly commit some treachery. But the conference was held in the proper way.

²³ Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem, where he did nothing out of place. He disbanded the throngs of people who gathered around him; ²⁴ and he always kept Judas in his company, for he felt affection^[nw] for the man. ²⁵ He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married and settled into an ordinary life.

Nicanor’s Threat Against Judas. ²⁶ When Alcimus saw their mutual goodwill, he took the treaty that had been made, went to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor was plotting against the government, for he had appointed Judas, that conspirator against the kingdom, as his successor. ²⁷ Stirred up by the villain’s slander, the king became enraged. He wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the treaty, and ordering him to send Maccabeus at once as a prisoner to Antioch. ²⁸ When this message reached Nicanor he was dismayed and troubled at the thought of annulling his agreement with a man who had done no wrong. ²⁹ However, there was no way of opposing the king, so he watched for an opportunity to carry out this order by a stratagem. ³⁰ But Maccabeus, noticing that Nicanor was more harsh in his dealings with him, and acting with unaccustomed rudeness when they met, concluded that this harshness was not a good sign. So he gathered together not a few of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor.

^31 (RZ)When Nicanor realized that he had been cleverly outwitted by the man, he went to the great and holy temple, at a time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrender Judas. ³² As they declared under oath that they did not know where the man they sought was, ³³ he stretched out his right arm toward the temple and swore this oath: “If you do not hand Judas over to me as prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground; I will tear down the altar, and erect here a splendid temple to Dionysus.”

³⁴ With these words he went away. The priests stretched out their hands toward heaven, calling upon the unfailing defender of our nation in these words: ³⁵ “Lord of all, though you are in need of nothing, you were pleased to have a temple for your dwelling place among us. ³⁶ Therefore, Holy One, Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house, which has been so recently purified.”^(SA)

Martyrdom of Razis.^{[nx] 37} A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a patriot. A man highly regarded, he was called a father of the Jews because of his goodwill toward them. ³⁸ In the days before the revolt, he had been convicted of being a Jew, and had risked body and soul in his ardent zeal for Judaism. ³⁹ Nicanor, to show his disdain for the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him. ⁴⁰ He thought that by arresting that man he would deal the Jews a hard blow.

⁴¹ But when the troops, on the point of capturing the tower, were forcing the outer gate and calling for fire to set the door ablaze, Razis, now caught on all sides, turned his sword against himself, ⁴² preferring to die nobly^[ny] rather than fall into the hands of vile men and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth. ⁴³ In the excitement of the struggle he failed to strike exactly. So while the troops rushed in through the doors, he gallantly ran up to the top of the wall and courageously threw himself down into the crowd. ⁴⁴ But as they quickly drew back and left an opening, he fell into the middle of the empty space. ⁴⁵ Still breathing, and inflamed with anger, he got up and ran through the crowd, with blood gushing from his frightful wounds. Then, standing on a steep rock, ⁴⁶ as he lost the last of his blood, he tore out his entrails and flung them with both hands into the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and of spirit to give these back to him again. Such was the manner of his death.^(SB)

Chapter 15

Nicanor’s Arrogance. ¹ When Nicanor learned that Judas and his companions were in the territory of Samaria, he decided he could attack them in complete safety on the day of rest. ² The Jews who were forced to accompany him pleaded, “Do not massacre them so savagely and barbarously, but show respect for the day which the All-seeing has exalted with holiness above all other days.” ³ At this the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there was a ruler in heaven who prescribed the keeping of the sabbath day.^{(SC) 4} They replied, “It is the living Lord, the ruler in heaven, who commands the observance of the sabbath day.” ⁵ Then he said, “I, the ruler on earth, command you to take up arms and carry out the king’s business.” Nevertheless he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.

⁶ In his utter boastfulness and arrogance Nicanor had determined to erect a public victory monument^[nz] over Judas and his companions. ⁷ But Maccabeus remained confident, fully convinced that he would receive help from the Lord. ⁸ He urged his men not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but mindful of the help they had received in the past from Heaven, to expect now the victory that would be given them by the Almighty. ⁹ By encouraging them with words from the law and the prophets,^[oa] and by reminding them of the battles they had already won, he filled them with fresh enthusiasm. ¹⁰ Having stirred up their courage, he gave his orders and pointed out at the same time the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation of oaths. ¹¹ When he had armed each of them, not so much with the security of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of waking vision, worthy of belief.

¹² What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest,^[ob] a noble and good man, modest in bearing, gentle in manner, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community.^{(SD) 13} Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air of wondrous and majestic authority. ¹⁴ Onias then said of him, “This is a man^[oc] who loves his fellow Jews and fervently prays for the people and the holy city—the prophet of God, Jeremiah.” ¹⁵ Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said, ¹⁶ “Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall shatter your adversaries.”

¹⁷ Encouraged by Judas’ words, so noble and capable of instilling valor and stirring young hearts to courage, they determined not merely to march, but to charge gallantly and decide the issue by hand-to-hand combat with the utmost courage, since city, sanctuary and temple were in danger. ¹⁸ They were not so much concerned about wives and children, or family and relations; their first and foremost fear was for the consecrated sanctuary.^{(SE) 19} Those who were left in the city suffered no less an agony, anxious as they were about the battle in the open country. ²⁰ Everyone now awaited the decisive moment. The enemy were already drawing near with their troops drawn up in battle line, their beasts placed in strategic positions, and their cavalry stationed on the flanks.

Defeat of Nicanor. ²¹ Maccabeus, surveying the hosts before him, the variety of weaponry, and the fierceness of their beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the Lord who works wonders; for he knew that it is not weapons but the Lord’s decision that brings victory to those who deserve it. ²² Calling upon God, he spoke in this manner: “You, master, sent your angel in the days of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand men of Sennacherib’s camp.^{(SF) 23} And now, Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel to spread fear and trembling ahead of us. ²⁴ By the might of your arm may those be struck down who have blasphemously come against your holy people!” With these words he ended his prayer.

^25 (SG)Nicanor and his troops advanced to the sound of trumpets and battle songs. ²⁶ But Judas and his troops met the enemy with supplication and prayers. ²⁷ Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced greatly over this manifestation of God’s power. ²⁸ When the battle was over and they were joyfully departing, they discovered Nicanor fallen there in all his armor; ²⁹ so they raised tumultuous shouts in their ancestral language in praise of the divine Sovereign.

³⁰ Then Judas, that man who was ever in body and soul the chief defender of his fellow citizens, and had maintained from youth his affection for his compatriots, ordered Nicanor’s head and right arm up to the shoulder to be cut off and taken to Jerusalem. ³¹ When he arrived there, he assembled his compatriots, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for those in the citadel.^{[od] 32} He showed them the vile Nicanor’s head and the wretched blasphemer’s arm that had been boastfully stretched out against the holy dwelling of the Almighty. ³³ He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor, saying he would feed it piecemeal to the birds and would hang up the other wages of his folly opposite the temple. ³⁴ At this, everyone looked toward heaven and praised the Lord who manifests himself: “Blessed be the one who has preserved undefiled his own place!” ³⁵ Judas hung Nicanor’s head and arm on the wall of the citadel, a clear and evident sign to all of the Lord’s help.^{(SH) 36} By public vote it was unanimously decreed never to let this day pass unobserved, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic, the eve of Mordecai’s Day.^[oe](SI)

VII. Epilogue

Compiler’s Apology. ³⁷ Since Nicanor’s doings ended in this way, with the city remaining in the possession of the Hebrews from that time on, I will bring my story to an end here too. ^38 (SJ)If it is well written and to the point, that is what I wanted; if it is poorly done and mediocre, that is the best I could do. ³⁹ Just as it is unpleasant to drink wine by itself or just water, whereas wine mixed with water makes a delightful and pleasing drink, so a skillfully composed story delights the ears of those who read the work. Let this, then, be the end.

I. Prologue

Chapter 1

Job’s Piety. ¹ In the land of Uz^[of] there was a blameless and upright man named Job,^(SK) who feared God and avoided evil. ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him; ³ and he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very large household, so that he was greater than anyone in the East.^{[og] 4} His sons used to take turns giving feasts, sending invitations to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ And when each feast had run its course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early and offering sacrifices for every one of them. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed^[oh] God in their hearts.” Job did this habitually.

The Interview Between the Lord and the Satan. ^6 (SL)One day, when the sons of God^[oi] came to present themselves before the Lord, the satan also came among them.^{(SM) 7} The Lord said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the Lord and said,^(SN) “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” ⁸ The Lord said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.” ⁹ The satan answered the Lord and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? ¹⁰ Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. ^11 (SO)But now put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will curse you to your face.” ¹² The Lord said to the satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” So the satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

The First Trial. ¹³ One day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing beside them, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans^[oj] carried them off in a raid. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁶ He was still speaking when another came and said, “God’s fire has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁷ He was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans^[ok] formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put the servants to the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸ He was still speaking when another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, ¹⁹ and suddenly a great wind came from across the desert and smashed the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job’s Reaction. ²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his cloak and cut off his hair. He fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said,

²² In all this Job did not sin,^(SQ) nor did he charge God with wrong.

Chapter 2

The Second Interview. ¹ One day, when the sons of God^(SR) came to present themselves before the Lord, the satan also came with them. ² The Lord said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the Lord and said, “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” ³ The Lord said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.^(SS) He still holds fast to his innocence although you incited me against him to ruin him for nothing.” ⁴ The satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin!^[om] All that a man has he will give for his life. ^5 (ST)But put forth your hand and touch his bone and his flesh. Then surely he will curse you to your face.” ⁶ And the Lord said to the satan, “He is in your power; only spare his life.”

The Second Trial. ⁷ So the satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with severe boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Job’s Reaction. ⁸ He took a potsherd to scrape himself, as he sat among the ashes. ⁹ Then his wife said to him,^(SU) “Are you still holding to your innocence? Curse God and die!”^{[on] 10} But he said to her, “You speak as foolish women do. We accept good things from God; should we not accept evil?” Through all this, Job did not sin in what he said.^(SV)

Job’s Three Friends. ¹¹ Now when three of Job’s friends heard of all the misfortune that had come upon him, they set out each one from his own place: Eliphaz from Teman,^[oo] Bildad from Shuh, and Zophar from Naamath. They met and journeyed together to give him sympathy and comfort. ¹² But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks and threw dust into the air over their heads. ¹³ Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; for they saw how great was his suffering.

II. First Cycle of Speeches

Chapter 3

Job’s Complaint. ¹ After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.^{[op] 2} Job spoke out and said:

Chapter 4

Eliphaz’s First Speech. ¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Job’s First Reply. ¹ Then Job answered and said:

Chapter 7