Liber I Maccabaeorum, 7

1. Anno centesimo quinquagesimo primo exiit Demetrius Seleuci filius a Roma; et ascendit cum paucis viris in civitatem maritimam et regnavit illic.

1. In the one hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus set forth from Rome, sailed with a few men to a city by the sea, and there began to reign.

2. Et factum est, ut ingressus est domum regni patrum suorum, comprehendit exercitus Antiochum et Lysiam, ut adduceret eos ad eum.

2. As he was entering the royal palace of his fathers, the army seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him.

3. Et res ei innotuit, et ait: “Nolite mihi ostendere facies eorum”.

3. But when this act became known to him, he said, "Do not let me see their faces!"

4. Et occidit eos exercitus, et sedit Demetrius super sedem regni sui.

4. So the army killed them, and Demetrius took his seat upon the throne of his kingdom.

5. Et venerunt ad eum viri iniqui et impii ex Israel, et Alcimus dux erat eorum, qui volebat fieri sacerdos;

5. Then there came to him all the lawless and ungodly men of Israel; they were led by Alcimus, who wanted to be high priest.

6. et accusaverunt populum apud regem dicentes: “Perdidit Iudas et fratres eius omnes amicos tuos et nos dispersit de terra nostra;

6. And they brought to the king this accusation against the people: "Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends, and have driven us out of our land.

7. nunc ergo mitte virum, cui credis, ut eat et videat exterminium omne, quod fecit nobis et regioni regis, et puniat eos et omnes adiutores eorum”.

7. Now then send a man whom you trust; let him go and see all the ruin which Judas has brought upon us and upon the land of the king, and let him punish them and all who help them."

8. Et elegit rex ex amicis suis Bacchidem, qui dominabatur trans flumen, magnum in regno et fidelem regi. Et misit eum

8. So the king chose Bacchides, one of the king's friends, governor of the province Beyond the River; he was a great man in the kingdom and was faithful to the king.

9. et Alcimum impium et constituit ei sacerdotium et mandavit ei facere ultionem in filios Israel.

9. And he sent him, and with him the ungodly Alcimus, whom he made high priest; and he commanded him to take vengeance on the sons of Israel.

10. Et surrexerunt et venerunt cum exercitu magno in terram Iudae; et misit nuntios ad Iudam et ad fratres eius verbis pacificis in dolo.

10. So they marched away and came with a large force into the land of Judah; and he sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with peaceable but treacherous words.

11. Et non intenderunt sermonibus eorum; viderunt enim quia venerunt cum exercitu magno.

11. But they paid no attention to their words, for they saw that they had come with a large force.

12. Et convenerunt ad Alcimum et Bacchidem congregatio scribarum requirere iusta;

12. Then a group of scribes appeared in a body before Alcimus and Bacchides to ask for just terms.

13. et primi Asidaei erant in filiis Israel et exquirebant ab eis pacem.

13. The Hasideans were first among the sons of Israel to seek peace from them,

14. Dixerunt enim: “Homo sacerdos de semine Aaron venit et non decipiet nos”.

14. for they said, "A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, and he will not harm us."

15. Et locutus est cum eis verba pacifica et iuravit illis dicens: “Non inferemus vobis malum neque amicis vestris”.

15. And he spoke peaceable words to them and swore this oath to them, "We will not seek to injure you or your friends."

16. Et crediderunt ei. Et comprehendit ex eis sexaginta viros et occidit eos in una die, secundum verbum quod scripsit:

16. So they trusted him; but he seized sixty of them and killed them in one day, in accordance with the word which was written,

17. “Carnes sanctorum tuorum et sanguinem ipsorum effuderunt in circuitu Ierusalem, et non erat qui sepeliret”.

17. "The flesh of thy saints and their blood they poured out round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them."

18. Et incubuit timor eorum et tremor in omnem populum, quia dixerunt: “Non est in eis veritas et iudicium; transgressi sunt enim constitutum et iusiurandum, quod iuraverunt”.

18. Then the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, "There is no truth or justice in them, for they have violated the agreement and the oath which they swore."

19. Et movit Bacchides ab Ierusalem et applicuit in Bethzaith; et misit et comprehendit multos ex eis, qui ad se refugerant, et quosdam de populo mactavit in puteum magnum.

19. Then Bacchides departed from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-zaith. And he sent and seized many of the men who had deserted to him, and some of the people, and killed them and threw them into a great pit.

20. Et commisit regionem Alcimo et reliquit cum eo auxilium in adiutorium ipsi; et abiit Bacchides ad regem.

20. He placed Alcimus in charge of the country and left with him a force to help him; then Bacchides went back to the king.

21. Et contendebat Alcimus pro principatu sacerdotii sui;

21. Alcimus strove for the high priesthood,

22. et convenerunt ad eum omnes, qui perturbabant populum suum, et obtinuerunt terram Iudae et fecerunt plagam magnam in Israel.

22. and all who were troubling their people joined him. They gained control of the land of Judah and did great damage in Israel.

23. Et vidit Iudas omnem malitiam, quam fecit Alcimus et, qui cum eo erant, filiis Israel multo plus quam gentes;

23. And Judas saw all the evil that Alcimus and those with him had done among the sons of Israel; it was more than the Gentiles had done.

24. et exiit in omnes fines Iudaeae in circuitu et fecit vindictam in viros desertores, et cessaverunt ultra exire in regionem.

24. So Judas went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea, and took vengeance on the men who had deserted, and he prevented those in the city from going out into the country.

25. Ut vidit autem Alcimus quod praevaluit Iudas et, qui cum eo erant, et cognovit quia non potest sustinere eos; et regressus est ad regem et accusavit eos criminibus.

25. When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown strong, and realized that he could not withstand them, he returned to the king and brought wicked charges against them.

26. Et misit rex Nicanorem unum ex principibus suis nobilioribus, qui oderat et inimicitias exercebat contra Israel; et mandavit ei evertere populum.

26. Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored princes, who hated and detested Israel, and he commanded him to destroy the people.

27. Et venit Nicanor in Ierusalem cum exercitu magno et misit ad Iudam et ad fratres eius verbis pacificis cum dolo

27. So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force, and treacherously sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message,

28. dicens: “Non sit pugna inter me et vos; veniam cum viris paucis, ut videam facies vestras cum pace”.

28. "Let there be no fighting between me and you; I shall come with a few men to see you face to face in peace."

29. Et venit ad Iudam, et salutaverunt se invicem pacifice, et hostes parati erant rapere Iudam.

29. So he came to Judas, and they greeted one another peaceably. But the enemy were ready to seize Judas.

30. Et innotuit sermo Iudae quoniam cum dolo venerat ad eum, et conterritus est ab eo et amplius noluit videre faciem eius.

30. It became known to Judas that Nicanor had come to him with treacherous intent, and he was afraid of him and would not meet him again.

31. Et cognovit Nicanor quoniam denudatum est consilium eius et exivit obviam Iudae in pugnam iuxta Chapharsalama;

31. When Nicanor learned that his plan had been disclosed, he went out to meet Judas in battle near Caphar-salama.

32. et ceciderunt de Nicanoris exercitu fere quingenti viri, et fugerunt in civitatem David.

32. About five hundred men of the army of Nicanor fell, and the rest fled into the city of David.

33. Et post haec verba ascendit Nicanor in montem Sion; et exierunt quidam ex sacerdotibus de sanctis et quidam ex senioribus populi salutare eum pacifice et demonstrare ei holocaustum, quod offerebatur pro rege.

33. After these events Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests came out of the sanctuary, and some of the elders of the people, to greet him peaceably and to show him the burnt offering that was being offered for the king.

34. Et irridens sprevit eos et polluit eos et locutus est superbe

34. But he mocked them and derided them and defiled them and spoke arrogantly,

35. et iuravit cum ira dicens: “Nisi traditus fuerit Iudas et exercitus eius in manus meas continuo, et erit, si regressus fuero in pace, succendam domum istam”. Et exiit cum ira magna.

35. and in anger he swore this oath, "Unless Judas and his army are delivered into my hands this time, then if I return safely I will burn up this house." And he went out in great anger.

36. Et intraverunt sacerdotes et steterunt ante faciem altaris et templi et flentes dixerunt:

36. Then the priests went in and stood before the altar and the temple, and they wept and said,

37. “Tu elegisti domum istam ad invocandum nomen tuum super eam, ut esset domus orationis et obsecrationis populo tuo;

37. "Thou didst choose this house to be called by thy name, and to be for thy people a house of prayer and supplication.

38. fac vindictam in homine isto et exercitu eius, et cadant in gladio. Memento blasphemias eorum et ne dederis eis mansionem”.

38. Take vengeance on this man and on his army, and let them fall by the sword; remember their blasphemies, and let them live no longer."

39. Et exiit Nicanor ab Ierusalem et applicuit ad Bethoron; et occurrit illi exercitus Syriae.

39. Now Nicanor went out from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-horon, and the Syrian army joined him.

40. Et Iudas applicuit in Hadasa cum tribus milibus viris. Et oravit Iudas et dixit:

40. And Judas encamped in Adasa with three thousand men. Then Judas prayed and said,

41. “Qui missi erant a rege, cum male locuti sunt; exiit angelus et percussit in eis centum octoginta quinque milia.

41. "When the messengers from the king spoke blasphemy, thy angel went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrians.

42. Sic contere exercitum istum in conspectu nostro hodie, et sciant ceteri quia male locutus est super sancta tua, et iudica illum secundum malitiam illius”.

42. So also crush this army before us today; let the rest learn that Nicanor has spoken wickedly against the sanctuary, and judge him according to this wickedness."

43. Et commiserunt exercitus proelium tertia decima die mensis Adar; et contrita sunt castra Nicanoris, et cecidit ipse primus in proelio.

43. So the armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. The army of Nicanor was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle.

44. Ut autem vidit exercitus eius quia cecidit Nicanor, proiecerunt arma et fugerunt.

44. When his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw down their arms and fled.

45. Et persecuti sunt eos viam unius diei ab Hadasa usquequo veniatur in Gazara et tubis cecinerunt post eos cum significationibus.

45. The Jews pursued them a day's journey, from Adasa as far as Gazara, and as they followed kept sounding the battle call on the trumpets.

46. Et exierunt de omnibus castellis Iudaeae in circuitu et ventilabant eos et conversi sunt ad eos; et ceciderunt omnes gladio, et non est relictus ex eis nec unus.

46. And men came out of all the villages of Judea round about, and they out-flanked the enemy and drove them back to their pursuers, so that they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left.

47. Et acceperunt spolia eorum et praedam et caput Nicanoris amputaverunt et dexteram eius, quam extenderat superbe, et attulerunt et suspenderunt contra Ierusalem.

47. Then the Jews seized the spoils and the plunder, and they cut off Nicanor's head and the right hand which he so arrogantly stretched out, and brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem.

48. Et laetatus est populus valde; et egerunt diem illam in laetitia magna

48. The people rejoiced greatly and celebrated that day as a day of great gladness.

49. et constituerunt agere omnibus annis diem istam tertia decima die Adar.

49. And they decreed that this day should be celebrated each year on the thirteenth day of Adar.

50. Et siluit terra Iudae dies paucos.

50. So the land of Judah had rest for a few days.