2 Maccabees, 13

1. In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,

1. In the year one hundred and fortynine, the men of Judas learned that Antiochus Eupator had come against Judea with countless troops,

2. And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.

2. together with Lysias, his tutor who was head of the government. Each of them was in command of a Greek army of one hundred and ten thousand infantrymen, five thousand and three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants and about three hundred chariots of war with scythes.

3. Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor.

3. Menelaus joined them, and incited Antiochus with every evil intent since he was not seeking the freedom of his country but only hoping that he would be restored to the office of High Priest.

4. But the King of kings moved Antiochus' mind against this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.

4. But the King of kings roused the anger of Antiochus against that wicked man, when Lysias made the king realize that Menelaus was the cause of all the evils. So the king ordered that Menelaus be taken to Berea and executed according to the custom of the place.

5. Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes.

5. There is a tower in that place, twenty-five meters high, full of burning ashes, provided with a revolving device on top, which sloped on all sides into ashes.

6. And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.

6. Whoever robbed any sacred thing or committed any other notorious crime was brought up to the tower, and then, pushed into the ashes.

7. Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:

7. In this way, Menelaus died without even a burial.

8. For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.

8. This was indeed a just punishment for him who had committed so many offenses against the Altar whose fire and ashes were sacred; and so, he met his death in ashes.

9. Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father's time.

9. The king came with a heart full of evil designs, prepared to be more cruel to the Jews, than his father had been.

10. Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:

10. When Judas learned of this, he ordered his army to call on God day and night, so that as God had done in other circumstances, he would now also help those

11. And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.

11. who were in danger of be-ing deprived of their Law, their country and their temple. God could not let his people, who had hardly begun to breathe freely, fall once again into the hands of blasphemous pagans.

12. So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.

12. Once all the people had carried out the order to pray to the merciful Lord with lamentations, fasting and prayer for three consecutive days, Judas encouraged them and commanded them to stand ready.

13. And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king's host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.

13. After summoning the Elders in private, he determined to leave with his men for a decisive attempt with the help of God, before the king's army could invade Judea and take control of Jerusalem.

14. So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:

14. Judas entrusted the decision to the Creator of the world, and encouraged his men to fight heroically to the death for the Law, the Temple, the city, the country and the institutions. So he left with his army and encamped near Modein.

15. And having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king's tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.

15. He gave his men this watchword: "God's victory." With the most capable young men of his army he attacked by night the tent of the king, putting to the sword about two thousand men, the strongest elephant and its rider.

16. And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.

16. They caused fear and confusion in the camp and then withdrew in complete success.

17. This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the Lord did help him.

17. All this happened just as day was dawning, for God's help protected them.

18. Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews, he went about to take the holds by policy,

18. When the king saw the daring of the Jews, he tried to take control of their fortresses by using tricks.

19. And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:

19. He advanced against Beth-zur, a city strongly defended by the Jews; he attacked it but was repelled and defeated.

20. For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary.

20. Judas supplied the defenders of the city with everything they needed.

21. But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews' host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.

21. Rhodocus, one of Judas' men, gave secret information to the enemies. He was hunted, captured and executed.

22. The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave his hand, took their's, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;

22. The king again kept in contact with the defenders of Beth-zur, made peace with them and withdrew.

23. Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly with the place,

23. He attacked the troops of Judas but was defeated. When he was informed that Philip, whom he had left in Antioch as head of the government, had revolted, he was dismayed. He sought peace with the Jews and had to accept and swear to observe their just petitions; he became reconciled with them, offered sacrifices, honored the Temple and showed generosity to the Holy Place.

24. And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;

24. The king took leave of Maccabeus and named Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to the land of the Gerarrites.

25. Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void:

25. When he came to Ptolemais, he found the inhabitants were indignant over that treaty; they were so angry they wanted to annul its terms.

26. Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king's coming and departing.

26. But Lysias came up to the tribunal to defend what had been decided; he convinced and appeased them, winning their goodwill before he set out for Antioch. This was what happened with the king's expedition and retreat.