2 Maccabees, 11

1. Almost immediately afterwards, Lysias, the king's tutor and cousin, chief minister of the realm, much disturbed at the turn of events,

1. Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of the government, being vexed at what had happened,

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,

2. gathered about eighty thousand men and all his cavalry and came against the Jews. He intended to make the city a home for Greeks,

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;

3. and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the other nations, and to put up the high priesthood 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.

4. He took no account whatever of the power of God, but was elated with his ten thousands of infantry, and 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.

5. Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five leagues from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard.

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.

6. When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, besought the Lord 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.

7. Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they eagerly rushed off together.

8. They were still near Jerusalem when a rider attired in white appeared at their head, brandishing golden weapons.

8. And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold.

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.

9. And they all together praised the merciful God, and were strengthened in heart, ready to assail not only men but the wildest beasts or walls of iron.

10. They advanced in battle order with the aid of their celestial ally, the Lord having had mercy on them.

10. They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord 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.

11. They hurled themselves like lions against the enemy, and slew eleven thousand of them and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee.

12. Of those, the majority got away, wounded and weaponless. Lysias himself escaped only by ignominious flight.

12. Most of them got away stripped and wounded, and Lysias himself escaped by disgraceful 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

13. And as he was not without intelligence, he pondered over the defeat which had befallen him, and realized that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought on their side. So he sent to them

14. to persuade them to accept reasonable terms all round, and promised to compel the king to become their friend.

14. and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms, promising that he would persuade the king, constraining him to be 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.

15. Maccabeus, having regard for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias urged. For the king granted every request in behalf of the Jews which Maccabeus delivered to Lysias in writing.

16. Here is the text of the letter Lysias wrote to the Jews: 'Lysias to the Jewish people, greetings.

16. The letter written to the Jews by Lysias was to this effect: "Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting.

17. 'John and Absalom, your envoys, have delivered to me the communication transcribed below, requesting me to approve its provisions.

17. John and Absalom, who were sent by you, have delivered your signed communication and have asked about the matters indicated therein.

18. Anything requiring the king's attention I have put before him; whatever was possible, I have granted.

18. I have informed the king of everything that needed to be brought before him, and he has agreed to what was possible.

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.

19. If you will maintain your good will toward the government, I will endeavor for the future to help promote your welfare.

20. As regards the details, I have given orders for your envoys and my own officials to discuss these with you.

20. And concerning these matters and their details, I have ordered these men and my representatives to confer with you.

21. May you prosper. 'The twenty-fourth day of Dioscorus, in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'

21. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Dioscorinthius twenty-fourth."

22. The king's letter ran as follows: 'King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings.

22. The king's letter ran thus: "King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting.

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.

23. Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for 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.

24. We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to Greek customs but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own customs be allowed them.

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.

25. Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also be free from disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live 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.'

26. You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of good cheer and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs."

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.

27. To the nation the king's letter was as follows: "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting.

28. 'If you are well, that is as we would wish; we ourselves are in good health.

28. If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health.

29. 'Menelaus informs us that you wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.

29. Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after your own affairs.

30. Accordingly, all those who return before the thirtieth day of Xanthicus may rest assured that they have nothing to fear.

30. Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission

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.

31. for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and none of them shall be molested in any way for what he may have done in ignorance.

32. I am in fact sending Menelaus to set your minds at rest.

32. And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you.

33. Farewell. 'The fifteenth day of Xanthicus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'

33. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth."

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.

34. The Romans also sent them a letter, which read thus: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting.

35. 'Whatever Lysias, the king's Cousin, has granted you we also approve.

35. With regard to what Lysias the kinsman of the king has granted you, we also give consent.

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.

36. But as to the matters which he decided are to be referred to the king, as soon as you have considered them, send some one promptly, so that we may make proposals appropriate for you. For we are on our way to Antioch.

37. Lose no time, therefore, in sending us those who can tell us what your intentions are.

37. Therefore make haste and send some men, so that we may have your judgment.

38. Farewell. 'The fifteenth day of Dioscorus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'

38. Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth."