1 Almost immediately afterwards, Lysias, the king's tutor and cousin, chief minister of the realm, much disturbed at the turn of events,
2 mustered about eighty thousand foot soldiers and his entire cavalry and advanced against the Jews, intending to make the city a place for Greeks to live in,
3 to levy a tax on the Temple as on other national shrines, and to put the office of high priest up for sale every year;
4 he took no account at all of the power of God, being sublimely confident in his tens of thousands of infantrymen, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.
5 Invading Judaea, he approached Beth-Zur, a fortified position about twenty miles from Jerusalem, and began to subject it to strong pressure.
6 When Maccabaeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the fortresses, they and the populace with them begged the Lord with lamentation and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.
7 Maccabaeus himself was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the rest to risk their lives with him in support of their brothers; so they sallied out resolutely, as one man.
8 They were still near Jerusalem when a rider attired in white appeared at their head, brandishing golden weapons.
9 With one accord they all blessed the God of mercy, and found themselves filled with such courage that they were ready to lay low not men only but the fiercest beasts and walls of iron.
10 They advanced in battle order with the aid of their celestial ally, the Lord having had mercy on them.
11 Charging like lions on the enemy, they laid low eleven thousand of the infantry and sixteen hundred horsemen, and routed all the rest.
12 Of those, the majority got away, wounded and weaponless. Lysias himself escaped only by ignominious flight.
13 Now Lysias was not lacking in intelligence and, as he reflected on the reverse he had just suffered, he realised that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought for them. He therefore sent them a delegation
14 to persuade them to accept reasonable terms all round, and promised to compel the king to become their friend.
15 Maccabaeus, thinking only of the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed, and whatever Maccabaeus submitted to Lysias in writing concerning the Jews was granted by the king.
16 Here is the text of the letter Lysias wrote to the Jews: 'Lysias to the Jewish people, greetings.
17 'John and Absalom, your envoys, have delivered to me the communication transcribed below, requesting me to approve its provisions.
18 Anything requiring the king's attention I have put before him; whatever was possible, I have granted.
19 Provided you maintain your goodwill towards the interests of the State, I shall do my best in the future to promote your well-being.
20 As regards the details, I have given orders for your envoys and my own officials to discuss these with you.
21 May you prosper. 'The twenty-fourth day of Dioscorus, in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'
22 The king's letter ran as follows: 'King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings.
23 'Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, our will is that the subjects of the realm be left undisturbed to attend to their own affairs.
24 We understand that the Jews do not approve our father's policy, the adoption of Greek customs, but prefer their own way of life and ask to be allowed to observe their own laws.
25 Accordingly, since we intend this people to be free from vexation like any other, our ruling is that the Temple be restored to them and that they conduct their affairs according to the customs of their ancestors.
26 'It will therefore be your concern to send them a mission of friendship, so that on learning our policy they may have confidence and happily go about their business.'
27 The king's letter to the Jewish nation was in these terms: 'King Antiochus to the Jewish Senate and the rest of the Jews, greetings.
28 'If you are well, that is as we would wish; we ourselves are in good health.
29 'Menelaus informs us that you wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.
30 Accordingly, all those who return before the thirtieth day of Xanthicus may rest assured that they have nothing to fear.
31 The Jews may make use of their own kind of food and their own laws as formerly, and none of them is to be molested in any way for any unwitting offences.
32 I am in fact sending Menelaus to set your minds at rest.
33 Farewell. 'The fifteenth day of Xanthicus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'
34 The Romans also sent the Jews a letter, which read as follows: 'Quintus Memmius, Titus Manilius, Manius Sergius, legates of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greetings.
35 'Whatever Lysias, the king's Cousin, has granted you we also approve.
36 As for the matters he decided to refer to the king, consider them carefully and send someone without delay, if we are to interpret them to your advantage, because we are leaving for Antioch.
37 Lose no time, therefore, in sending us those who can tell us what your intentions are.
38 Farewell. 'The fifteenth day of Dioscorus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'
Versículos relacionados com 2 Maccabees, 11:
Chapter 11 of 2 Maccabees reports the victory of the army led by Judas Macabeu against the forces of Babylonian General Nicanor, who had invaded Judea with the intention of destroying the temple of Jerusalem. The verses below were chosen for dealing with topics related to this episode of struggle and victory:
1 Samuel 17:47: "And all this congregation shall know that the Lord does not save with the sword and with the spear; for the Lord is war, and He shall surrender to you into our hand." This passage is a declaration of faith of David, who trusts the power of God to defeat the giant Goliath. This faith in God and his protection is shared by Judas Macabeu and his army, who know that his victory depends not only on his military ability, but on divine aid.
Psalm 20:7: "Some trust cars, some in horses, but we will mention the name of the Lord our God." This passage highlights the importance of trust in God in the midst of battles. While other peoples trusted his military power, Judas Macabeu and his soldiers put his confidence in God and his protection.
Psalm 144:1: "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who teaches my hands to the battle and my fingers to war." This passage highlights the importance of preparation and training for war. Just as the psalmist attributes his skill in the battle to God's teaching, Judas Macabeu and his soldiers prepare for the fight and have divine help to achieve victory.
Isaiah 31:5: "As birds fly, so will the Lord protect from hosts to Jerusalem; protecting, he will also rid and save, passing over, freeing." This passage is a promise of divine protection on Jerusalem. Judas Macabeu and his army struggle to defend the temple of Jerusalem and protect his people from foreign invaders.
Joshua 10:25: "Joshua said unto them, Do not fear, nor be afraid; strive, and have good courage, for the Lord shall make all your enemies against whom fighting." This passage is a message of encouragement and courage for the soldiers of Judas Macabeu. Just as Joshua encouraged his men to be strong and brave in the fight against the enemies of Israel, Judas Macabeu inspires his soldiers to fight with determination and faith in victory.
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