Liber I Maccabaeorum, 9
1. interea ubi audivit Demetrius quia cecidit Nicanor et exercitus ejus in prœlio adposuit Bacchidem et Alchimum rursum mittere in Judæam et dextrum cornu cum illis
1. In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army with them.
2. et abierunt viam quæ ducit in Galgala et castra posuerunt in Mesaloth quæ est in Arbellis et occupaverunt eam et peremerunt animas hominum multas
2. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, and slew many people.
3. et mense primo anni centesimi quinquagesimi et secundi adplicuerunt exercitum ad Hierusalem
3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem:
4. et surrexerunt et abierunt in Berea viginti milia virorum et duo milia equitum
4. And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.
5. et Judas castra posuerat in Laisa et tria milia viri cum eo electi
5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him:
6. et viderunt multitudinem exercitus quia multi sunt et timuerunt valde et multi subtraxerunt se de castris et non remanserunt ex eis nisi octingenti viri
6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men.
7. et vidit Judas quod defluxit exercitus suus et bellum perurguebat eum confractus est corde quia non habebat tempus congregandi eos et dissolutus est
7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged.
8. et dixit his qui residui erant surgamus et eamus ad adversarios nostros si poterimus pugnare adversus eos
8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.
9. et avertebant eum dicentes non poterimus sed liberemus animas nostras modo et revertemur ad fratres nostros et pugnabimus adversus eos nos autem pauci sumus
9. But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.
10. et ait Judas absit istam rem facere ut fugiamus ab eis et si adpropiavit tempus nostrum moriamur in virtute propter fratres nostros et non inferamus crimen gloriæ nostræ
10. Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory.
11. et movit exercitus de castris et steterunt illis obviam et divisi sunt equites in duas partes et fundibalarii et sagittarii præibant exercitum et primi certaminis omnes potentes
11. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers, and the archers went before the army, and they that were in the front were all men of valour.
12. Bacchides autem erat in dextro cornu et proximavit legio ex duabus partibus et clamabant tubis
12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:
13. exclamaverunt autem et hii qui erant ex parte Judæ etiam ipsi et commota est terra a voce exercituum et commissum est prœlium a mane usque ad vesperam
13. And they also were on Judas' side, even they also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was fought from morning even unto the evening.
14. et vidit Judas quia firmior est pars exercitus Bacchidis in dextris et convenerunt cum ipso omnes constantes corde
14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came together with him:
15. et contrita est dextra pars ab eis et persecutus est eos usque ad montem Azoti
15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.
16. et qui in sinistro cornu erant viderunt quod contritum est dextrum cornu et secuti sunt post Judam et qui cum ipso erant a tergo
16. And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him, at their back:
17. et ingravatum est prœlium et ceciderunt vulnerati multi ex his et illis
17. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other.
18. et Judas cecidit et ceteri fugerunt
18. And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
19. et Jonathas et Simon tulerunt Judam fratrem suum in Modin
19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin.
20. et fleverunt eum omnis populus Israël planctu magno et lugebant dies multos
20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.
21. et dixerunt quomodo cecidit potens qui salvum faciebat Israël
21. And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!
22. et cetera verba Judæ bellorum et virtutum quas fecit non sunt descripta multa enim erant valde
22. But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written: for they were very many.
23. et factum est post obitum Judæ emerserunt iniqui in omnibus finibus Israël et exorti sunt omnes qui operabantur iniquitatem
23. And it came to pass after the death of Judas, that the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose up.
24. in diebus illis facta est fames magna valde et tradidit se Bacchidi omnis regio eorum cum ipsis
24. In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to Bacchides.
25. et elegit Bacchides impios viros et constituit eos dominos regionis
25. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country:
26. et exquirebant et perscrutabantur amicos Judæ et adducebant eos ad Bacchidem et vindicabat in illos et inludebat
26. And they sought out, and made diligent search after the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance of them, and abused them.
27. et facta est tribulatio magna in Israël qualis non fuit ex qua die non est visus propheta in Israël
27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel.
28. et congregati sunt omnes amici Judæ et dixerunt Jonathæ
28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan:
29. ex quo frater tuus Judas defunctus est vir similis ei non est qui exeat contra inimicos Bacchidem et eos qui inimici sunt genti nostræ
29. Since thy brother Judas died, there is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the enemies of our nation.
30. nunc itaque te elegimus hodie esse nobis principem et ducem ad bellandum bellum nostrum
30. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles.
31. et suscepit Jonathas tempore illo principatum et surrexit loco Judæ fratris sui
31. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.
32. et cognovit Bacchides et quærebat eum occidere
32. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him.
33. et cognovit Jonathas et Simon frater ejus et omnes qui cum eo erant et fugerunt in desertum Thecuæ et consederunt ad aquam lacus Asphar
33. And Jonathan and Simon his brother, knew it, and all that were with them: and they fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake of Asphar,
34. et cognovit Bacchides et die sabbatorum venit ipse et omnis exercitus ejus trans Jordanem
34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.
35. et misit fratrem suum ducem populi et rogavit Nabatheos amicos suos ut commendaret illis adparatum suum qui erat copiosus
35. And Jonathan sent his brother a captain of the people, to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, which was copious.
36. et exierunt filii Jambri ex Madabas et conprehenderunt Johannem et omnia quæ habebat et abierunt habentes ea
36. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with them.
37. post hæc verba renuntiatum est Jonathæ et Simoni fratri ejus quia filii Jambri faciunt nuptias magnas et ducunt sponsam ex Nadaba filiam unius de magnis principibus Chanaan cum ambitione magna
37. After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride out of Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, with great pomp.
38. et recordati sunt sanguinis Johannis fratris sui et ascenderunt et absconderunt se sub tegumento montis
38. And the remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain.
39. et levaverunt oculos suos et viderunt et ecce tumultus et adparatus multus et sponsus processit et amici ejus et fratres ejus obviam illis cum tympanis et musicis et armis multis
39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a tumult, and great preparation: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends, and his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons.
40. et surrexerunt ad eos cum insidiis et occiderunt eos et ceciderunt multi vulnerati et residui fugerunt in montem et acceperunt omnia spolia eorum
40. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains, and they took all their spoils:
41. et conversæ sunt nuptiæ in luctum et vox musicorum ipsorum in lamentum
41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.
42. et vindicaverunt vindicta sanguinem fratris sui et reversi sunt ad ripam Jordanis
42. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.
43. et audivit Bacchides et venit die sabbatorum usque ad oram Jordanis in virtute multa
43. And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great power.
44. et dixit ad suos Jonathas surgamus et pugnemus contra inimicos nostros non est enim hodie sicut heri et nudius tertius
44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and fight against our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday, and the day before.
45. ecce enim bellum ex adverso aqua vero Jordanis hinc et inde et ripæ et paludes et saltus et non est locus devertendi
45. And behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and there is no place for us to turn aside.
46. nunc ergo clamate in cælum ut liberemini de manu inimicorum vestrorum et commissum est bellum
46. Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.
47. et extendit Jonatha manum suam percutere Bacchidem et devertit ab eo retro
47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.
48. et desiluit Jonathan et transnataverunt ad eos Jordanem
48. And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:
49. et ceciderunt de parte Bacchidis die illa mille viri et reversi sunt Hierusalem
49. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand man: and they returned to Jerusalem,
50. et ædificaverunt civitates munitas in Judæa munitionem quæ erat in Hiericho et in Ammaum et in Bethoron et Bethel et Tamnatan et Phara et Thopo muris excelsis et portis et seris
50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars.
51. et posuit custodiam in eis ut inimicitias exercerent in Israël
51. And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:
52. et munivit civitatem Bethsuram et Gazara et arcem et posuit in eis auxilia et adparatum escarum
52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:
53. et accepit filios principum regionis obsides et posuit eos in arce in Hierusalem in custodia
53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.
54. et anno centesimo quinquagesimo tertio mense secundo præcepit Alchimus destrui muros domus sanctæ interioris et destrui opera prophetarum et cœpit destruere
54. Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.
55. in tempore illo percussus est Alchimus et inpedita sunt opera illius et obclusum est os ejus et dissolutus est paralysin nec ultra loqui potuit verbum et mandare de domo sua
55. At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house.
56. et mortuus est Alchimus in tempore illo cum tormento magno
56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
57. et vidit Bacchides quoniam mortuus est Alchimus et reversus est ad regem et siluit terra annis duobus
57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.
58. et cogitaverunt omnes iniqui dicentes ecce Jonathas et qui cum eo sunt in silentio habitant confidentes nunc ergo adducamus Bacchidem et conprehendet eos omnes in una nocte
58. And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan, and they that are with him, dwell at ease, and without fear: now therefore let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night.
59. et abierunt et consilium ei dederunt
59. So they went, and gave him counsel.
60. et surrexit ut veniret cum exercitu multo et misit occulte epistulas sociis suis qui erant in Judæa ut conprehenderent Jonathan et eos qui cum eo erant sed non potuerunt quia innotuit eis consilium eorum
60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea, to seize upon Jonathan, and them that were with him: but they could not, for their design was known to them.
61. et adprehendit de viris regionis qui principes erant malitiæ quinquaginta viros et occidit eos
61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and slew them.
62. et secessit Jonathas et Simon et qui cum eo erant in Bethbessi quæ est in deserto et struxit diruta ejus et firmaverunt eam
62. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified it.
63. et agnovit Bacchides et congregavit universam multitudinem suam et his qui de Juda erant denuntiavit
63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.
64. et venit et castra posuit desuper a Bethbesse et obpugnavit eam dies multos et fecit machinas
64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it many days, and made engines.
65. et reliquit Jonathas Simonem fratrem suum in civitate et exiit in regionem et venit cum numero
65. But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country: and came with a number of men.
66. et percussit Odaren et fratres ejus et filios Phaseron in tabernaculo ipsorum et cœpit cædere et crescere in virtutibus
66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in forces.
67. Simon vero et qui cum ipso erant exierunt de civitate et succenderunt machinas
67. But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, and burnt the engines.
68. et pugnaverunt contra Bacchidem et contritus est ab eis et adflixerunt eum valde quoniam consilium ejus et congressus ejus erat inanis
68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his counsel, and his enterprise was in vain.
69. et iratus contra viros iniquos qui ei consilium dederant ut veniret in regionem ipsorum multos ex eis occidit ipse autem cogitavit cum reliquis abire in regionem suam
69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel to come into their country, and he slew many of them: and he purposed to return with the rest into their country.
70. et cognovit Jonathas et misit ad eum legatos conponere cum ipso pacem et reddere ei captivitatem
70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners.
71. et libenter accepit et fecit secundum verba ejus et juravit nihil se ei facturum mali omnibus diebus vitæ ejus
71. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and swore that the would do him no harm all the days of his life.
72. et reddidit ei captivitatem quam prius erat prædatus de terra Juda et conversus abiit in terram suam et non adposuit amplius venire in fines ejus
72. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned and went away into his own country, and he came no more into their borders.
73. et cessavit gladius ex Israël et habitavit Jonathas in Machemas et cœpit Jonathas ibi judicare populum et exterminavit impios ex Israël
73. So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.
