Bible in a Year.

On Day 301, we explored the story of the Maccabeans' resistance in 2 Maccabees 4, learning about courage and faithfulness in the face of oppression. Sirach 47-49 presents us with the wisdom of Israel's patriarchs and leaders, while Proverbs 24:13-16 reinforces the importance of diligence, perseverance, and constant learning.

1. But Simon, of whom we spoke before, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils:

2. And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided for the city, and defended his nation, and wed zealous for the law of God.

3. But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon's friends:

4. Onias considering the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king,

5. Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with a view to the common good of all the people.

6. For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly.

7. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the high priesthood:

8. And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues four- score talents.

9. Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle them, that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.

10. Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens.

11. And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John the father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and brought in fashions that were perverse.

12. For he had the boldness to set up, U under the very castle, a place of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses.

13. Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch and no priest.

14. Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus.

15. And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories for the best:

16. For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like them, who were their enemies and murderers.

17. For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare.

18. Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king being present,

19. The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the bearers thereof de- sired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges.

20. So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the making of galleys.

21. Now when Apollonius the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem:

22. Where he was received in a, magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, end from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia.

23. Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from him concerning certain necessary affairs.

24. But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.

25. So having received the king's man- date, he returned bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.

26. Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites

27. So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had promised to the king he took no care, when Sostratus the governor of the castle called for

28. For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king.

29. And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.

30. When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of Tharsus and Mallos raised a sedition, because they were given for a gift to Antiochis, the king's concubine.

31. The king therefore went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy.

32. Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring cities.

33. Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, keeping him- self in a safe place at Antioch beside Daphne.

34. Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to justice.

35. For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man.

36. And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Creaks went to him: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.

37. Antiochus therefore was grieved in his mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.

38. And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord repaying him his deserved punishment.

39. Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, a great quantity of gold being already carried away.

40. Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both in age, and in madness.

41. But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, some strong clubs: and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus,

42. And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow himself, they slew him beside the treasury.

43. Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against Menelaus.

44. And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the ancients to plead the cause before him.

45. But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much money to persuade the king to favour him.

46. So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind:

47. So Menelaus who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were condemned to death.

48. Thus they that prosecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.

49. Wherefore even the Tyrians being moved with indignation, were liberal towards their burial.

50. And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.

Chapter 47

1. Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David.

1. the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn of his nation.

2. And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen from among the children of Israel.

3. He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth.

4. Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his people?

5. In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down the boasting of Goliath:

6. For he called upoI

7. So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory:

8. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for ever.

9. In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most High, with words of glory.

10. With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that made him: and he gave him power against his enemies:

11. And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made sweet melody.

12. And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning.

13. The Lord took away his sine, and exalted his horn for ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel.

14. After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all the power of the enemies.

15. Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth!

16. And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul covered the earth.

17. And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.

18. The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,

19. And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of Israel.

20. Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as lead,

21. And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast brought under subjection.

22. Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled,

23. That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.

24. But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he out up by the roots the offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of him that loveth the Lord.

25. Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same stock.

26. And Solomon had an end with his fathers.

27. And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation,

28. Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people through his counsel:

29. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied exceedingly.

30. They removed them far away from their land.

31. And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon them, and put an end to all their sine.

Chapter 48

1. And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch.

2. He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord.

3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice.

4. Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee?

5. Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God.

6. Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed.

7. Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance.

8. Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee.

9. Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.

10. Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.

12. For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.

13. Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he.

14. No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied.

15. In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought miracles.

16. For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth.

17. And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David.

18. Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sine.

19. Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water.

20. In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power.

21. Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail.

22. And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice.

23. He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet.

24. He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them.

25. For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him.

26. In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.

27. With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.

28. He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.

Chapter 49

1. The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell made by the art of a perfumer:

2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as music at a banquet of wine.

3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness.

4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness.

5. Except David, and Ezechias, and Josias, all committed sin.

6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and despised the fear of God.

7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a strange nation.

8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias.

9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build again, and renew.

10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims.

11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and of doing good to them that shewed right ways.

12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their place: for they strengthened Jacob, and re- deemed themselves by strong faith.

13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the right hand;

14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec? who in their days built the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory.

15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who rebuilt our houses.

16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up from the earth.

17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the people:

18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied.

19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam in the beginning.

13. Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:

14. So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.

15. Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

16. For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.