
FIRST LETTER TO THE JEWS 
IN EGYPT{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Greetings to our 
brothers, the Jews in 
Egypt, from their 
brothers, the Jews in 
Jerusalem and in the 
region of Judea - may you 
have peace and happiness. 
{I}2_{/}May God fill you 
with every good and 
remember his covenant 
with Abraham, Isaac and 
Jacob, his faithful 
servants. {I}3_{/}May he 
give you all a heart to 
worship him and to 
fulfill his will with 
generosity and a well-
disposed spirit. 
{I}4_{/}May he incline 
your hearts to listen to 
his law and precepts, and 
give you peace. 
{I}5_{/}May he hear your 
prayers and be reconciled 
with you, and not abandon 
you in time of 
misfortune. {I}6_{/}This 
is what we now pray for 
you.
{I}7_{/}In the year one 
hundred and seventy-nine, 
when Demetrius was king, 
we Jews wrote to you 
during the most critical 
moment of trials that we 
had to endure during 
those years. And we said 
to you: "Jason and his 
associates have betrayed 
the cause of the Holy 
Land and of the Kingdom. 
{I}8_{/}They have burned 
the Temple gateway and 
shed innocent blood.
But we prayed to the Lord 
and were heard. And now 
we have just offered a 
sacrifice with wheat 
flour, lighted the lamps 
again and set out the 
loaves of bread. 
{I}9_{/}So we write to 
you again that you may 
celebrate the Feast of 
Tents in the month of 
Chislev in this year one 
hundred and eighty-eight.
SECOND LETTER TO THE JEWS 
IN EGYPT{/}

{I}10_{/}The inhabitants 
of Jerusalem and Judea, 
their senators and Judas, 
to Aristobulus, teacher 
of King Ptolemy, 
belonging to the family 
of the anointed priests, 
and to the Jews in Egypt: 
greetings and prosperity.
{I}11_{/}Having been 
saved by God from great 
dangers, we give him 
thanks because he came to 
our help against the king 
himself. {I}12_{/}God 
drove out those who 
fought against the Holy 
City; {I}13_{/}their 
leader left for Persia 
with a seemingly 
invincible army, but the 
priests of the goddess 
Nanea laid a trap for 
them and killed them in 
her temple.
{I}14_{/}Antiochus and 
his friends came to that 
place under the pretext 
of marrying the goddess, 
but in reality they 
wanted to seize its great 
treasures as a dowry. 
{I}15_{/}The priests of 
Nanea had set out the 
treasures and Antiochus 
entered the sacred 
enclosure with a few men. 
But as soon as Antiochus 
had entered, they closed 
the temple {I}16_{/}and 
opened a secret door in 
the ceiling. Then they 
threw stones down and 
crushed the leader and 
his men. They then 
dismembered the bodies, 
cut off their heads and 
threw them to those 
outside. {I}17_{/}In all 
these things, may our God 
be blessed for he has 
handed over the impious 
to death. 
{I}18_{/}As we are about 
to celebrate the 
purification of the 
Temple on the twenty-
fifth day of Chislev, it 
seems good to us to 
inform you, so that you, 
too, may celebrate the 
Feast of Tents and 
remember the fire that 
appeared when Nehemiah, 
who built the Temple and 
the altar, offered 
sacrifices. {I}19_{/}For 
when our fathers were 
deported to Persia, the 
devout priests of the 
time took some of the 
fire from the altar and 
hid it secretly in the 
hollow of a dry well, 
with such caution that 
the place remained 
unknown to everyone.
{I}20_{/}Many years had 
passed, when in God's own 
time Nehemiah, who was 
commissioned by the king 
of Persia, sent the 
descendants of the 
priests who had hidden 
the fire to look for it. 
{I}21_{/}But they 
reported to us that they 
did not find the fire but 
instead a thick liquid. 
So Nehemiah ordered them 
to draw it out and bring 
it to him.
When the sacrifice had 
been prepared on the 
altar, Nehemiah ordered 
the priests to sprinkle 
the liquid on the wood 
and the victims placed on 
it. {I}22_{/}They did so 
and after some time the 
sun which had previously 
been clouded over, shone. 
At once such a great fire 
blazed up that all were 
astonished. 
{I}23_{/}While the 
sacrifice was being 
consumed, the priests 
together with all those 
present prayed. Jonathan 
led while Nehemiah and 
the rest responded. 
{I}24_{/}This was their 
prayer:
"Lord, Lord God, Creator 
of all things, dreadful 
and strong, just and 
merciful, you alone are 
good and are King, 
{I}25_{/}you alone are 
generous, just, all-
powerful and eternal. You 
who save Israel from many 
evils, who chose our 
fathers and sanctified 
them, {I}26_{/}accept 
this sacrifice on behalf 
of all your people 
Israel. Protect your 
heritage and sanctify it.
{I}27_{/}Gather our 
scattered people 
together, set free those 
held in slavery among the 
nations, turn your eyes 
on those who are despised 
and crushed; so the 
pagans may know that you 
are our God. 
{I}28_{/}Afflict those 
who oppress us, who 
insult and treat us with 
contempt. {I}29_{/}Plant 
your people in your holy 
place, as Moses said."
{I}30_{/}The priests sang 
the hymns, {I}31_{/}and 
when the sacrifice was 
all consumed, Nehemiah 
ordered that the 
remaining liquid be 
poured over some large 
stones. {I}32_{/}This was 
done, and a flame flared 
up but it was outshone by 
the fire from the altar. 
{I}33_{/}This matter 
became known, and it was 
reported to the king of 
the Persians that the 
liquid with which 
Nehemiah and his 
companions had burned the 
sacrifice was found in 
the place where the 
exiled priests had hidden 
the fire. {I}34_{/}So, 
after verifying the 
facts, the king ordered 
that a fence be built to 
enclose the place and 
decreed that it be a 
sacred place.
{I}35_{/}The king gave 
some of that liquid to 
those who enjoyed his 
favor, and they gave him 
gifts in return. 
{I}36_{/}Nehemiah and his 
companions called the 
place "Nephtar" which 
means "purification" but 
afterwards, many called 
it "Naphtha."
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}It is found in 
the archives that the 
prophet Jeremiah ordered 
the exiles to take the 
fire, as we have already 
said. {I}2_{/}After 
giving them the Law, he 
exhorted them not to 
forget the precepts of 
God and not to let 
themselves be dazzled by 
the idols of silver and 
gold with all their 
adornment. {I}3_{/}He 
spoke to them of many 
similar things, 
admonishing them never to 
lose their love for the 
Law.
POPULAR BELIEFS{/}

{I}4_{/}It is also said 
in these writings of the 
past that the prophet 
Jeremiah, fulfilling 
orders from Heaven, 
commanded that the ark of 
the Covenant with its 
tent be brought with him. 
And he went to the 
mountain which Moses had 
climbed before and from 
where he had seen the 
promised land. 
{I}5_{/}There Jeremiah 
found a cave; and he 
brought in the ark, the 
tent that covered it and 
the altar of incense. 
Then he closed up the 
entrance with stones.
{I}6_{/}Some of those who 
followed him returned to 
mark out the way, but 
they could not find it 
anymore.
{I}7_{/}When Jeremiah 
learned this, he 
reproached them and said, 
"This place is to remain 
hidden until God has 
compassion on his 
scattered people and 
gathers them together. 
{I}8_{/}Then the Lord 
will reveal these things 
again and his Glory shall 
appear in the cloud as it 
appeared in the time of 
Moses and when Solomon 
asked God to come and 
consecrate his house."
{I}9_{/}It was also 
reported in these 
archives how Solomon, 
inspired by his wisdom, 
offered the sacrifice of 
the dedication and 
completion of the Temple. 
{I}10_{/}And as fire had 
come down from heaven 
through the prayer of 
Moses to consume the 
offerings and the 
sacrificial victim, so 
through the prayer of 
Solomon, fire also came 
down from heaven and 
burned up the holocausts. 
{I}11_{/}And what Moses 
had said was fulfilled: 
Inasmuch as the sin-
offering was not eaten, 
the fire consumed it. 
{I}12_{/}Solomon 
celebrated the feast, 
too, for eight days.
{I}13_{/}This also can be 
read in the archives and 
in the Memories of 
Nehemiah's time. It is 
recounted there that 
Nehemiah founded a 
library and collected the 
books dealing with the 
kings and the prophets, 
the writings of David and 
the letters of the kings 
about offerings.
{I}14_{/}In the same way, 
Judas has just gathered 
all the books dispersed 
on account of the war we 
suffered, and they are 
now in our possession. 
{I}15_{/}So, if you need 
any of them, send someone 
to get them for you.
{I}16_{/}We said we are 
now about to celebrate 
the feast of the 
purification of the 
Temple; you will do well 
to celebrate these feast 
days also, {I}17_{/}for 
God has saved all his 
people and returned to 
everyone his own land. He 
let us recover the 
kingdom, the Temple, and 
the worship rendered to 
him in that Temple, 
{I}18_{/}as is commanded 
in his Law. God himself, 
as we do hope, will soon 
have mercy on us and 
gather us together from 
everywhere to the Holy 
Place, since he has 
rescued us from great 
evils and has purified 
this Place.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE{/}

{I}19_{/}The story of 
Judas Maccabeus and his 
brothers has been written 
by Jason of Cyrene. He 
narrated the purification 
of the Temple of the Most 
High, the dedication of 
the altar, {I}20_{/}the 
wars against Antiochus 
Epiphanes and his son 
Eupator, {I}21_{/}and the 
heavenly manifestations 
in favor of those who 
fought bravely and 
gloriously for Judaism. 
Although they were few in 
number, they liberated 
the whole land and put to 
flight hordes of 
foreigners. {I}22_{/}They 
regained the Temple 
renowned throughout the 
world, liberated the city 
and reestablished the 
laws which were nearly 
abolished, for the Lord 
was gracious to them in 
his great kindness. 
{I}23_{/}All this, which 
has been set forth in 
five volumes by Jason of 
Cyrene, we shall now 
attempt to sum up in a 
single book. {I}24_{/}We 
recognize that these 
books contain many 
figures, and that it is 
difficult for those who 
wish to understand this 
history because of so 
many facts. {I}25_{/}So 
we have concerned 
ourselves to offer 
something engaging for 
those who simply want to 
read, something easily 
committed to memory, and 
profitable for anyone who 
reads it.
{I}26_{/}For us who have 
undertaken the arduous 
task of summarizing, it 
has not been easy but has 
cost as much effort 
{I}27_{/}as it would to 
prepare a banquet which 
would please everyone. 
But like those who 
prepare a banquet, we 
have endured this toil 
willingly in order to 
please others. 
{I}28_{/}So we leave to 
the historian the task of 
relating accurately all 
the details, and we have 
condensed this enormous 
work into a simple 
summary.
{I}29_{/}For just as the 
architect of a new house 
has to be concerned about 
the whole construction, 
while the painters and 
decorators are concerned 
only about what relates 
to their task, so it is 
with us. {I}30_{/}The 
analysis of details and 
discussion on disputable 
points belongs to the 
historian. {I}31_{/}But 
for one who tries to 
condense a report, his 
task is to summarize and 
not present a complete 
narration of facts and 
events.
{I}32_{/}So let us begin 
our narrative without 
going on at length about 
what has been said 
before, for it would be 
senseless to expand the 
preface while cutting 
short the narration of 
the history itself.
HELIODORUS ATTEMPTS TO 
SEIZE THE TEMPLE 
TREASURES{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}While the Holy 
City enjoyed complete 
peace and the laws were 
observed as perfectly as 
possible through the 
piety of Onias the High 
Priest and his hatred for 
all wickedness, 
{I}2_{/}it came about 
that kings honored the 
Holy Place and made the 
High Priest richer by 
their magnificent gifts. 
{I}3_{/}Even Seleucus, 
king of Asia, paid from 
his own account for the 
expenses of the 
sacrificial services. 
{I}4_{/}But a certain 
Simon, a priest of the 
tribe of Bilgah and the 
Temple administrator, 
came into conflict with 
the High Priest regarding 
the inspection of the 
city markets. {I}5_{/}But 
he could not prevail over 
Onias. So he went to 
Apollonius of Tarsus, the 
governor of Coele-Syria 
and Phoenicia, 
{I}6_{/}and reported to 
him that the treasury in 
Jerusalem was full of 
untold wealth, that there 
was a great amount of 
money which had nothing 
to do with the expenses 
required by the 
sacrifices, and that all 
this could easily be 
brought under the control 
of the king.
{I}7_{/}Apollonius met 
with the king and told 
him about the wealth that 
had been disclosed to 
him. The king then sent 
Heliodorus, who was in 
charge of his affairs, 
with a letter that 
authorized him to 
transfer the treasures. 
{I}8_{/}Heliodorus at 
once set out on his 
journey, pretending that 
he was going to visit 
Coele-Syria and 
Phoenicia, but with the 
intention of carrying out 
the king's order.
{I}9_{/}On his arrival in 
Jerusalem, he was 
hospitably received by 
the city and the High 
Priest to whom he related 
the report that had been 
made. He revealed the 
reason for his coming and 
asked the High Priest if 
the report was really 
true. {I}10_{/}The High 
Priest explained that 
there were some deposits 
belonging to widows and 
orphans. {I}11_{/}Some 
belonged to Hyrcanus, son 
of Tobias, a person of 
very prominent position, 
who had also been 
affected by these 
slanders. All in all, the 
treasury had four hundred 
talents of silver and two 
hundred of gold. 
{I}12_{/}Finally, Onias 
pointed out that it was 
utterly impossible to 
cheat those who had put 
their confidence in this 
Holy Place and in the 
inviolable majesty of 
that Temple venerated 
throughout the world.
{I}13_{/}But, following 
the orders of the king, 
Heliodorus insisted that 
all those treasures 
should be turned over to 
the king. {I}14_{/}So, on 
the day set for 
Heliodorus to draw up the 
inventory, there was 
great disturbance in the 
city. {I}15_{/}The 
priests in their sacred 
vestments stood before 
the altar and called upon 
Heaven: he who had given 
the law governing 
deposits should now 
preserve them for those 
who had deposited them.
{I}16_{/}None could look 
at the face of the High 
Priest without being 
deeply touched, for his 
appearance and his 
paleness revealed the 
anguish of his soul. 
{I}17_{/}A kind of fear 
overwhelmed him that made 
him tremble from head to 
foot, showing to those 
who saw him the sorrow of 
his heart. 
{I}18_{/}People rushed 
out of their houses in 
great confusion to pray 
together because the Holy 
Place was about to be 
profaned. {I}19_{/}The 
women, girded with 
sackcloth below their 
breasts, thronged into 
the streets. The younger 
girls who were not yet 
allowed to go out into 
the streets ran to the 
doorways, and some 
climbed the walls and 
others looked out from 
the windows. {I}20_{/}All 
raised their hands to 
heaven and joined in 
prayer. {I}21_{/}It was 
touching to see such a 
crowd prostrate in 
disarray on the ground 
and the High Priest in 
great anguish.
{I}22_{/}While they were 
praying to the All-
powerful Lord to protect 
the deposits of the 
Temple and keep them safe 
for those who entrusted 
them to the High Priest, 
{I}23_{/}Heliodorus began 
to carry out what had 
been decided upon.
{I}24_{/}He had already 
come near the Treasury 
with his bodyguard, when 
the Lord of the spirits 
and of every power caused 
so great a manifestation 
that all who had dared 
accompany Heliodorus were 
astonished before the 
power of God, and they 
lost their strength and 
courage. {I}25_{/}There 
appeared to them a horse 
with magnificent gear and 
on it was a fearsome 
rider. It rushed 
furiously at Heliodorus 
and struck at him with 
its forefeet. The rider 
appeared to have armor of 
gold. {I}26_{/}And two 
young men, strong and 
very beautiful and 
magnificently clothed, 
also appeared. They stood 
on each side of 
Heliodorus, and flogged 
him continuously, 
inflicting stroke after 
stroke.
{I}27_{/}Heliodorus fell 
to the ground, enveloped 
in great darkness; then 
his men took him up and 
put him on a stretcher. 
{I}28_{/}So he was 
carried away, powerless 
even to help himself, he 
who but a moment before 
had proudly entered the 
treasury with a great 
retinue and all his 
bodyguard. Everyone 
clearly recognized the 
power of God. 
{I}29_{/}Because of the 
divine intervention, 
Heliodorus became mute 
and lost all hope of 
saving his life. 
{I}30_{/}Meanwhile the 
Jews blessed the Lord who 
had glorified his Holy 
Place. The Temple, which 
a little while before had 
been filled with terror 
and fear, now overflowed 
with joy and gladness 
because of the 
extraordinary 
manifestation of God.
{I}31_{/}Then some of 
Heliodorus' companions 
begged Onias to call upon 
the Most High to grant 
the grace of life to him 
who was at the point of 
death. {I}32_{/}The High 
Priest, on his part, 
feared that the king 
might suspect the Jews of 
some foul play against 
Heliodorus, so he offered 
a sacrifice for the man's 
recovery. 
{I}33_{/}While the High 
Priest was offering the 
sacrifice of atonement, 
the same young men, 
clothed in the same way, 
again appeared to 
Heliodorus, and standing 
before him, said, "Thank 
Onias the High Priest, 
for through him the Lord 
grants you the grace of 
life. {I}34_{/}And as for 
you, who have been 
scourged by heaven's 
command, make known to 
all how great is the 
power of God." Having 
said this, they vanished.
{I}35_{/}Heliodorus then 
offered a sacrifice to 
the Lord and prayed at 
great length to him who 
had spared his life. He 
took leave of Onias and 
went back with his guards 
to the king. 
{I}36_{/}There he began 
to bear witness to the 
works of the Most High 
God, which he had seen 
with his own eyes.
{I}37_{/}The king asked 
Heliodorus who could be 
sent again to Jerusalem 
to carry out what he 
failed to do. Heliodorus 
answered him, 
{I}38_{/}"If you have 
some enemy whom you wish 
to eliminate, send him 
there and you will see 
him return well flogged; 
that is, if he ever 
returns at all, for 
surely, divine power is 
in that place. 
{I}39_{/}He himself who 
dwells in heaven watches 
over the place and 
defends it, striking to 
death those who come to 
profane it."
{I}40_{/}This was what 
happened to Heliodorus 
and how the Treasury was 
saved.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}The Simon 
mentioned before as the 
informer about the 
treasures of the Temple, 
who was traitor to his 
country, spoke evil of 
Onias, accusing him of a 
plot against Heliodorus 
and saying that he was 
responsible for all the 
troubles. {I}2_{/}He even 
dared to lay the blame 
for everything on Onias 
who was the great 
benefactor of the city, 
the defender of his 
compatriots and a zealous 
observer of the laws. 
{I}3_{/}The hostility 
between them reached such 
proportions that crimes 
were even committed by 
some of the supporters of 
Simon.
CULTURAL CRISIS{/}

{I}4_{/}Onias recognized 
the dangers involved in 
such an unbearable 
rivalry. Even Apollonius, 
son of Menestheus, 
governor of Coele-Syria 
and Phoenicia, was 
instigating Simon to 
evil. {I}5_{/}So Onias 
went to the king, not to 
accuse his fellow 
citizens, but for the 
good of the whole nation. 
{I}6_{/}For he saw that 
it was impossible to 
maintain peace and stop 
the foolishness of Simon 
without the king's 
intervention.
{I}7_{/}When King 
Seleucus died, his son 
Antiochus who was called 
Epiphanes, succeeded to 
the throne. Then, Jason, 
the brother of Onias the 
High Priest, usurped the 
office of high priest. 
{I}8_{/}In a conversation 
with the king, Jason 
promised three hundred 
and sixty talents of 
silver and eighty talents 
from other revenues. 
{I}9_{/}He further 
committed himself to pay 
one hundred fifty more 
talents if he would be 
allowed to establish on 
his own account a 
gymnasium with a Center 
for the cultural 
advancement of the youth 
and if the statute of 
Antioquian citizenship 
could apply to the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
as well.
{I}10_{/}With the consent 
of the king and using the 
power at his disposal, he 
at once set about 
encouraging his fellow 
citizens to adopt the 
customs of the Greeks. 
{I}11_{/}He suppressed 
the privileges that kings 
had granted to the Jews 
through John, the father 
of Eupolemus, who had 
established friendship 
and an alliance between 
the Romans and the Jews. 
He overthrew lawful 
institutions and 
introduced new customs 
contrary to the Law.
{I}12_{/}So, he very 
readily founded a 
gymnasium right under the 
Citadel, and persuaded 
the noblest among the 
young to be educated in 
the Greek way. 
{I}13_{/}Paganism was 
propagated through 
Jason's influence, who 
proved to be more of a 
godless wretch than a 
high priest.
Greek customs were so 
much in vogue, 
{I}14_{/}that priests no 
longer showed any 
interest in serving at 
the altar. They despised 
the sanctuary and 
neglected the sacrifices 
and as soon as the discus 
throw began they would 
run to the stadium to 
take part in athletic 
competitions prohibited 
by the Law. {I}15_{/}They 
did not value anymore the 
customs of their fathers, 
but held in highest 
esteem the values of the 
Greeks.
{I}16_{/}With this, they 
themselves were put in a 
difficult situation, for 
those whom they took as 
models and whose customs 
they wanted to imitate in 
everything proved to be 
their enemies and 
tyrants. {I}17_{/}For it 
is not easy to break the 
divine laws with impunity 
as the following episodes 
will show.
{I}18_{/}When the 
quinquennial games held 
every five years were 
going on in Tyre before 
the king, {I}19_{/}the 
wicked Jason sent as 
envoys some "citizens of 
Antioch" from the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
and he entrusted to them 
three hundred drachmas of 
silver allotted for the 
sacrifice to Hercules. 
When these envoys came, 
they decided that it was 
not fitting to spend the 
money on the sacrifice, 
but preferred to spend it 
on other things. 
{I}20_{/}So through the 
sole initiative of those 
sent to spend the money 
for the sacrifice to 
Hercules, the amount was 
used instead for the 
construction of trireme 
ships.
{I}21_{/}Antiochus had 
sent Apollonius, son of 
Menestheus, to Egypt to 
represent him in the 
enthronement of King 
Philometor. But when 
Antiochus learned that 
Philometor had become his 
political adversary, 
Antiochus was worried 
about his own safety. 
{I}22_{/}So, he left 
Joppa, and went to 
Jerusalem where he was 
well received by Jason 
and the whole city, 
entering the city in the 
midst of acclamations and 
torches. Then, he went 
with his troops to 
Phoenicia.
{I}23_{/}After three 
years, Jason sent 
Menelaus, brother of the 
Simon mentioned above, to 
bring the money to the 
king and initiate steps 
to negotiate urgent 
matters with him. 
{I}24_{/}Menelaus 
presented himself to the 
king whom he impressed by 
his personal bearing as a 
man of authority, and so 
obtained the office of 
high priest for himself, 
offering three hundred 
talents more than Jason. 
{I}25_{/}After receiving 
the royal mandate, he 
returned with nothing 
worthy of a high priest, 
but only with the rage of 
a cruel tyrant or a wild 
beast. {I}26_{/}Jason, 
who had usurped the 
office of his brother, 
was now supplanted by 
another, and had to flee 
to the  land of Ammon.
{I}27_{/}Menelaus held 
the office but did not 
pay the amount he 
promised to the king, 
{I}28_{/}although 
Sostratus, the commander 
of the Citadel, demanded 
the payment, since the 
king had entrusted to him 
the collection of 
revenue. The two of them 
were then summoned by the 
king because of this. 
{I}29_{/}Menelaus left 
his brother Lysimachus as 
his substitute, and 
Sostratus left Crates, 
the commander of the 
Cypriots.
MURDER OF ONIAS{/}

{I}30_{/}Meanwhile, the 
inhabitants of Tarsus and 
Mallus revolted because 
their cities were given 
as a gift to Antiochis, 
the king's concubine. 
{I}31_{/}The king set out 
at once to reestablish 
order, leaving 
Andronicus, one of his 
ministers, as his deputy. 
{I}32_{/}Menelaus thought 
of taking advantage of 
the opportunity, and 
stole some of the golden 
vessels from the Temple, 
which he then gave to 
Andronicus as gifts. He 
also managed to sell 
others in Tyre and in the 
neighboring cities.
{I}33_{/}When Onias had 
clear evidence of what 
Menelaus had done, he 
sought refuge in Daphne 
near Antioch, a place of 
asylum, and from there 
denounced him. 
{I}34_{/}For this reason, 
Menelaus met Andronicus 
in private and urged him 
to kill Onias. Andronicus 
went to Onias and 
deceitfully gained his 
confidence, offering 
Onias his right hand in 
oath. He was able to 
persuade Onias, in spite 
of the latter's 
suspicion, to come out of 
his place of refuge. Then 
Andronicus killed him at 
once without any regard 
for justice.
{I}35_{/}For this reason, 
not only Jews but people 
of other nationalities as 
well became indignant and 
grieved over the unjust 
killing of that man. 
{I}36_{/}When the king 
returned to the regions 
of Coele-Syria, the Jews 
of Jerusalem, together 
with the Greeks who were 
for justice, went to see 
him and complained about 
the murder of Onias.
{I}37_{/}The king was 
touched and became sad, 
and even wept as he 
remembered the 
personality and noble 
conduct of the departed. 
{I}38_{/}He became angry 
with Andronicus and 
immediately removed him 
from office. Then he 
ordered that Andronicus 
be divested of his purple 
robe, tore his garments 
off him, and led him all 
around the city up to the 
place where Andronicus 
had murdered Onias, and 
right there the king 
ordered that he be put to 
death - God dealing out 
to him the punishment he 
deserved.
{I}39_{/}Lysimachus 
committed much 
sacrilegious plunder in 
Jerusalem with the 
connivance of Menelaus. 
When this became known, 
the populace rebelled 
against Lysimachus, who 
had already taken many 
golden vessels from the 
city. {I}40_{/}When 
Lysimachus saw the people 
rising up in rebellion 
and becoming enraged, he 
armed about three 
thousand men and began a 
violent repression, 
designating as leader a 
certain Auranus, a man 
advanced in years but of 
very little intelligence. 
{I}41_{/}So, as the 
people were attacked by 
the men of Lysimachus, 
they reacted by picking 
up stones and clubs, and 
even gathered handfuls of 
ashes lying at hand, and 
threw everything against 
the men of Lysimachus. 
{I}42_{/}In this way, 
they wounded many of 
them, killed some, and 
put the rest to flight. 
As for the sacrilegious 
robber Lysimachus, they 
killed him near the 
treasury.
{I}43_{/}Because of all 
this a charge was brought 
against Menelaus and 
{I}44_{/}when the king 
arrived at Tyre, three 
men sent by the council 
of the elders of 
Jerusalem told him of 
Menelaus' cruelty. 
{I}45_{/}Seeing his ruin, 
Menelaus promised a great 
amount of money to 
Ptolemy, son of 
Dorymenes, in order to 
have the king in his 
favor.
{I}46_{/}Ptolemy then 
went with the king 
privately to a colonnade 
for some fresh air, and 
persuaded him to change 
his mind. {I}47_{/}The 
king actually dismissed 
all the accusations 
against Menelaus, the 
cause of all this evil, 
while he condemned to 
death Menelaus' 
unfortunate accusers who 
would have been acquitted 
had a tribunal of 
barbarians judged them. 
{I}48_{/}So those who had 
defended the cause of the 
city, the people and the 
sacred vessels were 
executed at once.
{I}49_{/}Some Tyrians 
were so enraged by that 
crime that they prepared 
a magnificent funeral for 
them. {I}50_{/}But 
through the corruption of 
the rulers, Menelaus 
remained in power, 
growing in wickedness and 
becoming a tyrant towards 
his own people.
ANTIOCHUS SACKS THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}By this time, 
Antiochus was preparing a 
second expedition against 
Egypt. {I}2_{/}And for 
nearly forty days, there 
appeared throughout the 
city, galloping through 
the air, horsemen dressed 
in gold, {I}3_{/}troops 
with swords drawn and 
formed in squadrons, 
cavalry squadrons in 
order of battle, attacks 
and charges from this 
side and that, movements 
of shields, many spears, 
arrows, missiles, the 
glitter of golden outfits 
and armor of all kinds. 
{I}4_{/}Everyone prayed 
that these apparitions 
would be an announcement 
of something good about 
to happen.
{I}5_{/}As a false rumor 
spread that Antiochus had 
died, Jason gathered 
together about ten 
thousand men and launched 
a surprise attack on the 
city. The troops upon the 
walls defended the city, 
but once these were 
taken, the whole city 
fell into the hands of 
Jason, while Menelaus 
took refuge in the 
Citadel. {I}6_{/}Jason 
cruelly massacred his 
fellow citizens, without 
realizing that his 
victory against his own 
nation was the greatest 
defeat. He seemed to 
believe that he was 
winning over enemies 
when, in reality, these 
were his own people. 
{I}7_{/}But he did not 
stay in power for long 
and after obtaining 
nothing but  shame for 
himself, he had to flee 
once again to the land of 
Ammon. {I}8_{/}Finally, 
he had a very unfortunate 
end. Accused before 
Aretas, the king of the 
Arabs, fleeing from city 
to city, pursued by all, 
scorned as a renegade 
from the law and hated as 
the executioner of his 
country and fellow 
citizens, he was banished 
to Egypt. {I}9_{/}And he, 
who had exiled so many 
from their own country, 
died in exile: for he 
went as far as 
Lacedemonia in the hope 
of finding protection 
there because of the 
kinship between that 
people and ours. 
{I}10_{/}He, who had 
deprived so many of 
burial places, died with 
no one to mourn him, no 
funeral rites nor place 
in the tomb of his 
fathers.
PERSECUTION OF 
ANTIOCHUS{/}

{I}11_{/}When news of 
these events reached the 
king, he thought that the 
whole of Judea had risen 
in rebellion. He became 
furious and, leaving 
Egypt, went to take 
Jerusalem by force. 
{I}12_{/}He ordered his 
soldiers to kill without 
mercy everyone they 
encountered and to behead 
as well all those who 
took refuge in their 
houses. {I}13_{/}Young 
and old perished; men, 
women and children were 
massacred, and infants 
and virgins were put to 
the sword. 
{I}14_{/}Within only 
three days, there were 
eighty thousand victims - 
forty thousand perished 
in the slaughter and as 
many were sold as slaves. 
{I}15_{/}Not content with 
this, Antiochus boldly 
entered the holiest 
Temple in the entire 
world, guided by 
Menelaus, the traitor to 
the law and country.
{I}16_{/}With his unclean 
hands, Antiochus seized 
the sacred vessels, and 
with impious hands took 
away what other kings had 
given as gifts for the 
glory and honor of the 
Temple. {I}17_{/}But in 
acting in such an 
insolent manner, 
Antiochus did not realize 
that the Lord had let him 
profane the Temple in 
order to punish the 
inhabitants of the city, 
because their sins had 
offended him.
{I}18_{/}For, had the 
city not been sinful, 
Antiochus would have been 
flogged the moment he 
entered, as Heliodorus 
who was sent by Seleucus 
to rob the treasury had 
been. And he would have 
also repented of his 
audacity. {I}19_{/}But 
God had not chosen the 
people for the Temple, 
but the Temple for the 
sake of the nation.
{I}20_{/}Therefore, the 
Temple also shared in the 
nation's misfortune, as 
it also shared afterward 
in its restoration. As it 
had been abandoned in the 
time of the wrath of God, 
it was again restored to 
its glory when the Most 
High Lord was appeased.
{I}21_{/}Antiochus took 
with him eighteen hundred 
talents which he had 
stolen from the Temple, 
and hurriedly went back 
to Antioch, so proud that 
he thought himself 
capable of sailing by 
land and walking on the 
sea. {I}22_{/}At his 
departure, he left 
ministers to oppress our 
race. In Jerusalem, he 
appointed Philip, of 
Phrygian ancestry and of 
more barbarous character 
than he who had appointed 
him; {I}23_{/}and he left 
Andronicus in Gerizim. 
Besides there was 
Menelaus, who surpassed 
them in his hatred for 
his fellow citizens. This 
man had indeed a deep 
hatred for his Jewish 
brothers.
{I}24_{/}Antiochus also 
sent Apollonius with an 
army of twenty-two 
thousand soldiers with 
orders to behead all the 
grown men and sell the 
women and children. 
{I}25_{/}Arriving in 
Jerusalem, under the 
pretext of peace, he 
waited until the holy day 
of the sabbath. Then he 
took the Jews by surprise 
as they rested. He 
ordered his men to 
conduct a military 
parade, {I}26_{/}and he 
killed all those who came 
out to see the show. 
Then, running through the 
streets, the soldiers 
killed many people.
{I}27_{/}Judas Maccabeus, 
however, withdrew into 
the desert with about 
nine others willing to 
live like the wild 
beasts. There they fed on 
clean vegetables, for 
they did not want to eat 
unclean meat.
FIRST VICTIMS OF 
PERSECUTION{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}After a while, 
the king sent an older 
Athenian to force the 
Jews to abandon their 
ancestral laws and no 
longer live according to 
the laws of God. 
{I}2_{/}And to have them 
also profane the temple 
in Jerusalem and dedicate 
it to the Olympian god. 
In the same way, he 
wanted them to dedicate 
the temple in Mount 
Gerizim to the hospitable 
god, according to the 
wishes of the inhabitants 
of the place. 
{I}3_{/}This worsened the 
evil and made it 
difficult and unbearable 
for all. {I}4_{/}The 
Temple was profaned by 
the orgies of the pagans 
who went there to have a 
good time with 
prostitutes, and had 
intercourse in the sacred 
enclosures. And besides, 
they brought into the 
Temple things not 
permitted by the Law; 
{I}5_{/}the altar was 
laden with unclean 
victims prohibited by the 
law. {I}6_{/}It was no 
longer allowed to 
celebrate the sabbath or 
observe the customs of 
our fathers, or even to 
declare oneself a Jew. 
{I}7_{/}But, on the 
contrary, they were led 
by bitter necessity to 
celebrate the king's 
birthday with a monthly 
sacrifice.
And when the feast of 
Dionysus came, they were 
also forced to follow the 
Dionysus procession and 
wear floral wreaths.
{I}8_{/}At the suggestion 
of the inhabit-ants of 
Ptolemy, a decree was 
sent to the neighboring 
Greek cities ordering 
them to treat the Jews 
who lived there in the 
same way and oblige them 
to participate in the 
sacrifices. {I}9_{/}Those 
who would not adopt the 
Greek customs were to be 
killed. So it was easy to 
foresee the fatal 
outcome.
{I}10_{/}Two women were 
charged of having 
performed the rite of 
circumcision on their 
sons. They publicly 
paraded the women 
throughout the city with 
their babies hung at 
their breasts. Then they 
hurled them down from the 
city wall. 
{I}11_{/}Others who had 
assembled in nearby caves 
to celebrate the sabbath 
were denounced to Philip 
and they allowed 
themselves to be burned. 
Because of the holiness 
of the sabbath day, they 
had scruples about 
defending themselves.
{I}12_{/}I now ask the 
readers of this book not 
to be shocked by these 
calamities. Bear in mind 
that this did not happen 
for the destruction of 
our race, but rather for 
our education.
{I}13_{/}God is showing 
his kindness when he does 
not let sinners continue 
on their way for a long 
time, but punishes them 
at once. {I}14_{/}As for 
the other nations, the 
patient Lord doesn't 
punish them until they 
reach the full measure of 
their sins. But he deals 
with us in a different 
manner: {I}15_{/}he does 
not wait until we have 
reached the full measure 
in order to punish us. 
{I}16_{/}Therefore he 
never withdraws his mercy 
from us, and does not 
abandon his people, even 
when he punishes us with 
some adversity.
{I}17_{/}After reminding 
our readers of these 
truths, let us continue 
the story.
THE MARTYRDOM OF 
ELEAZAR{/}

{I}18_{/}Eleazar, one of 
the prominent teachers of 
the Law, already old and 
of noble appearance, was 
forced to open his mouth 
to eat the flesh of a 
pig. {I}19_{/}But he 
preferred to die 
honorably than to live in 
disgrace, and voluntarily 
came to the place where 
they beat him to death. 
He spit out bravely the 
piece of meat, 
{I}20_{/}as should be 
done by those who do not 
want to do things 
prohibited by the Law, 
even to save their life.
{I}21_{/}Those in charge 
of this impious banquet 
took him aside, since 
they had known him for a 
long time, and tried to 
convince him to pretend 
to be eating the meat, 
but in reality, to eat 
something allowed by the 
Law and prepared by 
himself. {I}22_{/}In this 
way, he could escape 
death, and be treated 
with humanity for the 
sake of their long-time 
friendship.
{I}23_{/}But he preferred 
to make a noble decision 
worthy of his age, of his 
noble years, of his 
shining white hair, and 
of the irreproachable 
life he had led from 
childhood. Above all, 
showing respect for the 
holy laws established by 
God, he answered that he 
would rather be sent to 
the place of the dead. 
And he added, 
{I}24_{/}"It would be 
unworthy to pretend at 
our age, and to lead many 
young people to suppose 
that I, at ninety years, 
have gone over to the 
pagan customs. 
{I}25_{/}If I led them 
astray for the sake of 
this short life I would 
bring disgrace to my old 
age. {I}26_{/}Even if I 
could now be saved from 
men, I cannot - whether 
living or dead - escape 
from the hands of the 
Almighty. {I}27_{/}I 
prefer to bravely 
sacrifice my life now, as 
befits my old age. 
{I}28_{/}So I shall leave 
an excellent example to 
the young,  dying 
voluntarily and valiantly 
for the sacred and holy 
laws."
Having said this, he gave 
himself over to death.
{I}29_{/}Those who 
escorted him considered 
his words foolishness, so 
their previous gentleness 
turned into harshness.
{I}30_{/}When he was 
almost at the point of 
death, he said groaning, 
"The Holy Lord, who sees 
all, knows that though I 
could have saved myself 
from death, I now endure 
terrible sufferings in my 
body. But in my soul, I 
suffer gladly because of 
the respect I have for 
him." {I}31_{/}In his 
death, he left a noble 
example and a memorial of 
virtue and strength, not 
only to the young but to 
the whole nation.
MARTYRDOM OF THE SEVEN 
BROTHERS{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}It happened also 
that seven brothers were 
arrested with their 
mother. The king had them 
scourged and flogged to 
force them to eat the 
flesh of a pig which was 
prohibited by the Law.
{I}2_{/}One of them, 
speaking in behalf of 
all, said, "What do you 
want to find out from us? 
We are prepared to die 
right now rather than 
break the law of our 
ancestors."
{I}3_{/}The king became 
furious and ordered that 
pans and caldrons be 
heated over a fire. 
{I}4_{/}When these were 
red-hot, he commanded 
that the tongue of their 
spokesman be cut out, his 
head scalped, and his 
hands and feet cut off 
while his brothers and 
mother looked on.
{I}5_{/}When he had been 
thoroughly mutilated, the 
king ordered that while 
still breathing, he be 
brought to the fire and 
roasted alive. While the 
smoke from the pan spread 
widely, the other 
brothers and their mother 
encouraged one another to 
die bravely. And they 
said, {I}6_{/}"The Lord 
God sees all, and in 
reality, has compassion 
on us, as Moses declared 
in his song, and clearly 
said: The Lord will have 
pity on his servants." 
{I}7_{/}When the first 
had left the world in 
this way, they brought 
the second for execution. 
After stripping the skin 
with the hair from his 
head, they asked him: 
"Which do you prefer: to 
eat the flesh of a pig or 
to be tortured limb by 
limb?" {I}8_{/}He 
answered them in the 
language of his 
ancestors, "I will not 
eat." And so he, too, was 
tortured.
{I}9_{/}At the moment of 
his last breath, he said, 
"Murderer, you now 
dismiss us from life, but 
the King of the world 
will raise us up. He will 
give us eternal life 
since we die for his 
laws."
{I}10_{/}After this, they 
punished the third. He 
stuck his tongue out when 
asked to, bravely 
stretched forth his 
hands, {I}11_{/}and even 
had the courage to say: 
"I have received these 
limbs from God, but for 
love of his laws I now 
consider them as nothing. 
For I hope to recover 
them from God." 
{I}12_{/}The king and his 
court were touched by the 
courage of this young 
man, so unconcerned about 
his own sufferings.
{I}13_{/}When this one 
was dead, they subjected 
the fourth to the same 
torture. {I}14_{/}At the 
point of death, he cried 
out, "I would rather die 
at the hands of men, and 
wait for the promises of 
God who will raise us up; 
you, however, shall have 
no part in the 
resurrection of life."
{I}15_{/}They took the 
fifth at once and 
tortured him. But with 
his eyes fixed on the 
king, {I}16_{/}he said to 
him, "Though you are 
mortal, you have 
authority over people and 
are able to do what you 
will. But do not think 
that our race has been 
abandoned by God. 
{I}17_{/}Wait, and you 
shall see his great power 
when he torments you and 
your descendants."
{I}18_{/}After this, they 
took the sixth who, at 
the point of death, said, 
"Don't be mistaken. We 
suffer all this because 
of ourselves for we have 
sinned against our own 
God; so these astonishing 
things have come upon us. 
{I}19_{/}But do not think 
that you are going to 
remain unpunished, after 
having made war with 
God."
{I}20_{/}More than all of 
them, their mother ought 
to be admired and 
remembered. She saw her 
seven sons die in a 
single day. But she 
endured it even with joy 
for she had put her hope 
in the Lord. 
{I}21_{/}Full of a noble 
sense of honor, she 
encouraged each one of 
them in the language of 
their fathers. Her 
woman's heart was moved 
by manly courage, so she 
told them:
{I}22_{/}"I wonder how 
you were born of me; it 
was not I who gave you 
breath and life, nor I 
who ordered the matter of 
your body. {I}23_{/}The 
Creator of the world who 
formed man in the 
beginning and ordered the 
unfolding of all creation 
shall in his mercy, give 
you back breath and life, 
since you now despise 
them for love of his 
laws."
{I}24_{/}Antiochus 
thought that she was 
making fun of him and 
suspected that she had 
insulted him. As the 
youngest was still alive, 
the king tried to win him 
over not only with his 
words, but even promised 
to make him rich and 
happy, if he would 
abandon the traditions of 
his fathers. He would 
make him his Friend and 
appoint him to a high 
position in the kingdom. 
{I}25_{/}But as the young 
man did not pay him any 
attention, the king 
ordered the mother to be 
brought in. He urged her 
to advise her son in 
order to save his life. 
{I}26_{/}After being 
asked twice by the king, 
she agreed to persuade 
her son. {I}27_{/}She 
bent over him and fooled 
the cruel tyrant by 
saying in her ancestral 
language:
"My son, have pity on me. 
For nine months, I 
carried you in my womb 
and suckled you for three 
years; I raised you up 
and educated you until 
this day. {I}28_{/}I ask 
you now, my son, that 
when you see the heavens, 
the earth and all that is 
in it, you know that God 
made all this from 
nothing, and the human 
race as well. {I}29_{/}Do 
not fear these 
executioners, but make 
yourself worthy of your 
brothers - accept death 
that you may again meet 
your brothers in the time 
of mercy."

{I}30_{/}When she 
finished speaking, the 
young man said, "What are 
you waiting for? I do not 
obey the king's order but 
the precepts of the Law 
given by Moses to our 
fathers. {I}31_{/}And you 
who have devised such 
tortures against the 
Hebrews, shall not escape 
the hands of God. 
{I}32_{/}Know that we 
perish because of our 
sins. {I}33_{/}Our living 
Lord punishes and 
corrects us for a short 
time because he is angry 
with us, but he shall 
again be reconciled with 
his servants.
{I}34_{/}And you, the 
most wretched and impious 
man, do not be proud or 
be carried away by your 
vain hopes. Do not raise 
your hand against the 
sons of Heaven, 
{I}35_{/}for you have not 
yet escaped the judgment 
of the almighty God, who 
sees everything. 
{I}36_{/}Our brothers 
suffered a short time for 
the sake of eternal life 
and have already entered 
into the friendship of 
God. But you, for your 
part, shall suffer the 
punishment you deserve 
for your arrogance.
{I}37_{/}With my 
brothers, I give up my 
body and my soul for the 
laws of my fathers, 
calling on God that he 
may at once have pity on 
our race, and that by 
trials and afflictions, 
you may come to confess 
that he is the only God. 
{I}38_{/}Through me and 
my brothers, may the 
wrath of the Almighty 
which has justly fallen 
on the whole of our race 
come to an end."
{I}39_{/}The king was 
even more infuriated at 
him than at the others 
because of his mockery 
and he dealt more cruelly 
with him. {I}40_{/}So the 
youngest also died 
undefiled, putting his 
whole trust in God. 
{I}41_{/}After all her 
sons, the mother also 
died.
{I}42_{/}This is enough 
to make known what 
happened regarding the 
pagan sacrifices and the 
tortures beyond all 
imagination.
FIRST EXPLOITS OF JUDAS 
MACCABEUS{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Meanwhile, Judas, 
also called Maccabeus, 
and his companions, would 
enter secretly into the 
villages, call their 
relatives, summon those 
who had remained faithful 
to Judaism, and finally 
they assembled about six 
thousand men. 
{I}2_{/}They prayed to 
the Lord to turn his 
countenance on his people 
oppressed on all sides, 
to take pity on the 
Sanctuary profaned by 
impious men, {I}3_{/}to 
have compassion on the 
city - destroyed and on 
the point of being 
leveled - to listen to 
the cry of the blood 
reaching out to him; 
{I}4_{/}and they asked 
that he not forget the 
unjust killing of 
innocent children and 
show his indignation 
against those who had 
insulted his Name. 
{I}5_{/}The Lord's anger 
turned into compassion, 
and as soon as Maccabeus 
had organized his troops, 
they became invincible 
against the pagans.
Judas generally took 
advantage of the night 
for his military 
campaigns. {I}6_{/}So he 
attacked them by 
surprise, set cities and 
villages on fire, 
captured strategic 
positions, and put to 
flight many of the 
enemies. {I}7_{/}And 
people everywhere talked 
about him and his 
bravery.
{I}8_{/}When Philip saw 
that Judas was making 
progress little by little 
and his victories 
increased from day to 
day, he wrote to Ptolemy, 
the military commissioner 
of Coele-Syria and 
Phoenicia, to come and 
help him under the king's 
service. {I}9_{/}Ptolemy 
at once appointed 
Nicanor, son of 
Patroclus, one of the 
king's first Friends, and 
sent him at the head of 
some twenty thousand men 
coming from all nations, 
with the order to wipe 
out all the Jews. At his 
side, he put Gorgias, a 
general of much 
experience in matters of 
war.
{I}10_{/}Nicanor intended 
to raise two thousand 
talents by the sale of 
Jewish slaves in order to 
pay for the tribute the 
king owed to the Romans. 
{I}11_{/}So he extended 
an invitation to all the 
coastal cities to come 
and buy slaves for a 
talent, without any 
regard for the punishment 
of the Almighty that 
might come upon him.
{I}12_{/}When Judas 
learned that Nicanor had 
come with a great army, 
he told his men about 
this. {I}13_{/}So the 
cowardly and those who 
had no confidence in 
divine justice took to 
flight. {I}14_{/}Still 
others sold everything 
they owned and asked God 
to deliver from the 
impious Nicanor those who 
had been sold even before 
any battle. {I}15_{/}They 
prayed that if the Lord 
would not save them 
because of their own 
merits, that at least out 
of consideration for the 
covenant he made with 
their fathers and for 
that great venerable Name 
with which he had blessed 
his people, he would do 
so.
{I}16_{/}Maccabeus 
gathered and reorganized 
his troops, numbering 
about six thousand, and 
exhorted them not to fear 
the enemy but to fight 
bravely against their 
unjust aggressors, 
despite their great 
number. {I}17_{/}He 
reminded them how those 
men had profaned the Holy 
Place, slaughtered the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
and removed their 
traditional institutions. 
{I}18_{/}He said to them, 
"They come with 
confidence in their 
weapons and their 
boldness, but we trust in 
the almighty God, who is 
able to wipe out in one 
stroke all who invade our 
land and even the whole 
world." {I}19_{/}He 
recounted to them all the 
occasions when God had 
come to help their 
fathers, especially when 
he wiped out one hundred 
and eighty-five thousand 
men under Sennacherib. 
{I}20_{/}He also reminded 
them of what had happened 
in Babylonia, in the 
battle against the 
Galatians. On that day, 
eight thousand Jews 
fought side by side with 
four thousand 
Macedonians, and as the 
Macedonians were hard 
pressed, their Jewish 
allies alone killed 
twenty thousand of the 
enemies' troops with 
heaven's help and seized 
a great booty.
{I}21_{/}Judas encouraged 
them with these words, 
and made them ready to 
die for their laws and 
country; then, he divided 
the army into four 
groups. {I}22_{/}He 
assigned his brothers 
Simon, Joseph and 
Jonathan to each lead one 
division with fifteen 
hundred men in each. 
{I}23_{/}He ordered that 
the Sacred Book be read, 
and he gave them their 
watchword "Help from 
God"; then, he himself 
led the first battalion, 
and fell on Nicanor. 
{I}24_{/}With the help of 
the Almighty they 
slaughtered nine thousand 
enemies, wounded and 
crippled many, and put 
the rest to flight.
{I}25_{/}They seized the 
money of those who had 
come to buy the Jews, and 
pursued them for a good 
while. But it was nearly 
evening, {I}26_{/}so they 
had to return because it 
was the vigil of the 
sabbath. That is why they 
stopped pursuing their 
enemies. {I}27_{/}They 
gathered the weapons and 
the plunder of their 
enemies, and celebrated 
the sabbath on that day 
with praise and 
thanksgiving to God who 
had just saved them and 
had begun to show them 
his mercy. {I}28_{/}After 
the sabbath, they divided 
part of the booty among 
those who had been 
tortured, the widows and 
the orphans; and they 
divided the rest among 
themselves and their men. 
{I}29_{/}Having done 
this, they asked the 
Merciful Lord during a 
public prayer to be fully 
reconciled with his 
servants.
{I}30_{/}Then, in an 
encounter with the army 
of Timotheus and 
Bacchides, they killed 
more than twenty thousand 
men, and took control of 
the fortified cities. 
They divided the abundant 
plunder into equal shares 
among themselves, those 
who had been tortured, 
the orphans, the widows 
and the aged.
{I}31_{/}They carefully 
stored in safe places the 
weapons they had taken 
from the enemies, and 
brought the rest of the 
booty to Jerusalem. 
{I}32_{/}They killed the 
chief guard of Timotheus, 
an extremely wretched man 
who had done so much evil 
against the Jews. 
{I}33_{/}Then, as they 
celebrated their victory 
in Jerusalem, they burned 
alive those who had 
burned the temple gates, 
including Callisthenes 
who had taken refuge in 
one small house. So these 
men paid the price 
deserved for their 
impiety.
{I}34_{/}The thrice-as-
wretched Nicanor, who had 
brought thousands of 
merchants to buy the 
Jews, {I}35_{/}found 
himself humbled with 
God's help by those same 
men he had despised 
before. Having discarded 
his splendid robe he fled 
across the country as a 
fugitive, and reached 
Antioch, very much 
relieved that he had not 
perished with his army.
{I}36_{/}He who had 
intended to pay the 
tribute owed to the 
Romans by selling the 
Jews, now affirmed that 
the Jews were invincible 
and invulnerable, and 
that Someone fought for 
them, provided they were 
obeying the laws 
prescribed by him.
DEATH OF THE 
PERSECUTOR{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}By that time, 
Antiochus had to return 
without glory from the 
regions of Persia. 
{I}2_{/}When he entered a 
city called Persepolis, 
and tried to plunder the 
temple and seize the 
city, its inhabitants 
rebelled and took up arms 
against him. This people 
threw Antiochus and his 
men out. They fled and 
returned very much 
humiliated. {I}3_{/}When 
Antiochus came to 
Ecbatana, he was informed 
of what had happened to 
the two generals - 
Nicanor and Timotheus - 
in Israel. {I}4_{/}He was 
infuriated and determined 
to take revenge on the 
Jews for the offense he 
had just received in 
Persepolis when they 
forced him to flee.
He ordered the chariot 
driver to hurry up and 
not to stop until the 
journey's end. But the 
judgment of God was 
coming upon him, for he 
said in his pride, "As 
soon as I arrive in 
Jerusalem, I shall turn 
it into a cemetery of the 
Jews." {I}5_{/}Then the 
Lord who sees all, the 
God of Israel, punished 
him with an incurable 
sickness of an internal 
nature. {I}6_{/}He had 
barely finished speaking 
when he felt an 
unbearable pain in his 
stomach and began to be 
afflicted all over his 
body.
This was indeed just for 
one who had tortured 
others in the same way 
with countless new 
punishments. {I}7_{/}But 
this did not diminish his 
arrogance. In his rage 
against the Jews, he gave 
orders to journey ahead 
with even more speed. 
Yet, because his chariot 
was running very fast, 
Antiochus fell and his 
physical condition 
worsened.
{I}8_{/}Not long before, 
in his conceit and sense 
of superiority he thought 
of giving orders to the 
sea and measuring the 
heights of the mountains. 
Now he lay down and had 
to be brought on a 
stretcher, giving to all 
a clear testimony of the 
power of God. 
{I}9_{/}Worms began to 
teem in the body of the 
impious and though he was 
still alive, his flesh 
tore off into pieces, 
leaving him in agonizing 
pain. The stench of his 
decay was so intolerable 
that his whole army 
shunned him. {I}10_{/}No 
one went near him who not 
long before thought he 
could touch the stars of 
heaven with his hand. 
{I}11_{/}Only when he was 
beaten by the divine 
scourge did he begin to 
shed his arrogance. His 
pains grew worse, and he 
realized this was the 
punishment of God. 
{I}12_{/}He himself could 
no longer endure his 
stench. He said, "It is 
right to submit to God. 
Mortal man should not try 
to be equal with him." 
{I}13_{/}And the wretch 
made a vow to the Lord 
who would no longer take 
pity on him.
{I}14_{/}He had marched 
to Jerusalem to level it 
and turn it into a 
cemetery. But now he even 
promised to declare it a 
free city. 
{I}15_{/}Moreover, he who 
before had refused burial 
to the Jews and wished to 
throw them with their 
children to the wild 
beasts, now offered to 
make them equal with the 
Athenians. He had 
plundered the temple and 
profaned the Sacred 
Place; {I}16_{/}but now 
he promised to decorate 
it lavishly, to return a 
great number of the 
sacred vessels, and to 
pay for all the expenses 
of the sacrifices. 
{I}17_{/}And he promised 
to become a Jew and to 
proclaim in all the 
inhabited countries the 
power of God.
{I}18_{/}His pains 
however did not diminish, 
for the just judgment of 
God had come upon him. He 
lost hope of recovery and 
wrote to the Jews this 
letter of supplication, 
{I}19_{/}"To the 
honorable Jews, our 
citizens, good health, 
prosperity and all good 
things from the king and 
general, Antiochus. 
{I}20_{/}If you and your 
children are well and 
your wishes are 
fulfilled, we give thanks 
to Heaven, for we 
remember your token of 
affection and kindness. 
{I}21_{/}On my return 
from Persia, I became 
gravely ill, and because 
of this, I thought it 
necessary to be concerned 
for the common security 
of all of you. {I}22_{/}I 
do not despair of my 
condition, and even have 
great hope of recovering 
from this illness. 
{I}23_{/}But I thought of 
how my father would 
designate his successor 
whenever he set out for 
any military expedition 
into the uplands, 
{I}24_{/}so that his 
subjects would not be 
upset if anything 
unexpected should happen 
or any misfortune should 
befall him. Everyone 
would know who is in 
power. {I}25_{/}I am 
aware that the kings of 
all the neighboring 
countries around are 
watching the turn of 
events and waiting for an 
opportune time. 
Therefore, I have 
designated my son, 
Antiochus, as king. I 
already presented and 
commended him to most of 
you, when I set out for 
the northern regions. And 
now I communicate to him 
this letter I am sending 
you. {I}26_{/}I ask you, 
then, to take into 
account the favors each 
and everyone of you has 
received from me and 
maintain the same 
kindness toward me and my 
son. {I}27_{/}I am sure 
that following my own 
policies of moderation 
and humanity, he shall 
live in good accord with 
you."
{I}28_{/}In this way that 
blasphemer and murderer 
ended, suffering the 
terrible torments he had 
inflicted on others. He 
died miserably in the 
mountains of a foreign 
land. {I}29_{/}His 
companion, Philip, 
brought his body and then 
withdrew to Egypt to the 
court of Ptolemy 
Philometor, because he 
feared the son of 
Antiochus.
JUDAS PURIFIES THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}With God's help 
Maccabeus and his men 
seized the Temple and the 
city. {I}2_{/}They 
destroyed the altars 
built by the foreigners 
in the public squares, as 
well as the sacred 
enclosures. {I}3_{/}After 
purifying the Temple, 
they built a new altar. 
They kindled fire from 
flint and for the first 
time in two years offered 
sacrifices. Once again, 
there were incense, 
lamps, and the bread of 
presence.
{I}4_{/}Having done all 
this they threw 
themselves flat on the 
ground and asked the Lord 
not to send them such 
calamities anymore. But 
if they should sin again, 
they asked that he would 
correct them with 
gentleness and not hand 
them over again into the 
hands of blasphemous and 
ferocious foreigners.
{I}5_{/}The purification 
of the Temple took place 
on the same date on which 
the foreigners had 
profaned it, that is, on 
the twenty-fifth of the 
month of Chislev. 
{I}6_{/}For eight days 
they celebrated the feast 
with rejoicing, in the 
same way that they 
celebrated the Feast of 
the Tabernacles 
remembering how, not long 
before on that same date, 
they were dwelling in the 
mountains and caves like 
wild animals.
{I}7_{/}Then, carrying 
leafy branches and palms, 
they chanted hymns to Him 
who had brought the 
cleansing of his own Holy 
Place to a happy end.
{I}8_{/}They also decided 
by public vote that this 
event would be 
commemorated annually by 
the whole Jewish nation.
VICTORIES OF JUDAS IN 
IDUMEA{/}

{I}9_{/}This is all that 
refers to the death of 
Antiochus, called 
Epiphanes. {I}10_{/}We 
shall now proceed to 
narrate the events that 
happened under Antiochus 
Eupator, son of the 
impious, and to relate 
briefly the calamities 
brought about by the war.
{I}11_{/}In fact, once he 
inherited the kingdom, he 
appointed Lysias to be in 
charge of his affairs and 
to act as high 
commissioner for Coele-
Syria and Phoenicia. 
{I}12_{/}Now Ptolemy, 
called Macron, was the 
first governor to do 
justice to the Jews. He 
was upset by injustices 
done against them, so he 
tried to solve all their 
problems satisfactorily. 
{I}13_{/}But the Friends 
of King Eupator made use 
of this to accuse him 
before the king. They 
continually called him a 
traitor, reminding him 
that he had once 
abandoned the land of 
Cyprus, which had been 
entrusted to him by 
Philometor, in order to 
go over to Antiochus 
Epiphanes.
Since he could not 
discharge his high office 
with dignity, he was 
driven to despair and 
committed suicide by 
poisoning himself.
{I}14_{/}It was then that 
Gorgias was appointed 
military commissioner of 
those regions, and began 
to stir up war against 
the Jews by any means. 
{I}15_{/}On the other 
hand, the Idumeans had 
strong fortresses and 
harassed the Jews. 
Gathering the fugitives 
from Jerusalem, they 
managed to prolong the 
war.
{I}16_{/}The men of 
Maccabeus, after praying 
and asking the Lord to 
come and fight at their 
side, attacked the 
fortresses of the 
Idumeans. {I}17_{/}They 
carried on with their 
assaults and the place 
fell into their power. 
They repelled those who 
fought on the ramparts, 
slaughtered all who fell 
into their hands, and 
killed more than twenty 
thousand men.
{I}18_{/}At least nine 
thousand men took refuge 
in the two towers that 
were strongly fortified 
with everything they 
needed to withstand a 
prolonged siege. 
{I}19_{/}Maccabeus left 
Simon, Joseph, and also 
Zaccheus and his men in 
sufficient numbers to 
sustain the siege, and 
went off to where his 
presence was more needed. 
{I}20_{/}Yet the men of 
Simon were tempted by 
greed, and let themselves 
be bought with the silver 
of those in the towers. 
So in exchange for sixty 
thousand pieces of 
silver, they allowed a 
number of them to escape. 
{I}21_{/}As soon as 
Maccabeus learned this, 
he assembled the leaders 
of the people and accused 
those men of having sold 
their brothers for money 
by letting their enemies 
escape. {I}22_{/}He 
condemned them to death 
as traitors, and 
proceeded at once to 
capture the towers. 
{I}23_{/}He killed more 
than twenty thousand men 
in those two towers, 
successfully bringing to 
an end the undertaking 
they had begun.
{I}24_{/}Timothy, who had 
been defeated before by 
the Jews, gathered 
together an enormous 
number of foreign troops 
and a great number of 
horses from Asia. He 
appeared in Judea in 
order to conquer it by 
force of arms. 
{I}25_{/}Before his 
attack, the men of 
Maccabeus sprinkled dust 
on their heads and put on 
sackcloth as a means of 
entreating God. 
{I}26_{/}They bowed at 
the foot of the altar and 
asked God to treat them 
well and to be the enemy 
of their enemies, the 
adversary of their 
adversaries, as written 
in the Law.
{I}27_{/}After praying, 
they armed themselves and 
advanced from the city. 
They stopped when they 
came close to the enemy. 
{I}28_{/}Right at 
daybreak, they attacked 
from both sides. One side 
placed their confidence 
in their Lord as the 
pledge of success and 
victory besides their 
bravery, while the others 
were moved by hatred. 
{I}29_{/}When the battle 
was at its height, there 
appeared from heaven 
before the enemies, five 
radiant men riding on 
horses with golden 
bridles, who put 
themselves at the head of 
the Jews.
{I}30_{/}They surrounded 
Maccabeus and defended 
him with their weapons, 
making him invulnerable. 
At the same time, they 
rained arrows and 
thunderbolts on the 
enemy, who in turn fell 
and were dispersed in 
great disorder, blinded 
and confused. 
{I}31_{/}Twenty thousand 
five hundred infantrymen 
and six hundred horsemen 
died.
{I}32_{/}Timothy took 
refuge in a heavily 
guarded fortress called 
Gezer where Chereas was 
in command. {I}33_{/}The 
forces of Maccabeus 
gallantly besieged the 
fortress for four days. 
{I}34_{/}Those within 
were confident in the 
strength of the fortress, 
so they hurled insults 
and curses at the Jews.
{I}35_{/}At daybreak on 
the fifth day, twenty 
young men from the troops 
of Maccabeus, enraged by 
the blasphemies they had 
been hearing, bravely 
stormed the wall and with 
brutal fury killed 
everyone who stood before 
them. {I}36_{/}Others 
took advantage of this 
diversion to climb the 
walls and set fire to the 
towers. They made 
bonfires and burned the 
blasphemers alive. Others 
destroyed the gates while 
the rest of the army 
entered to occupy the 
city.
{I}37_{/}They killed 
Timothy who had hidden in 
a well, and his brother 
Chereas, and 
Apollophanes. 
{I}38_{/}When all this 
was over, they chanted 
hymns and praises to the 
Lord who had exalted 
Israel and had given them 
victory.
FIRST CAMPAIGN OF 
LYSIAS{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}After a while, 
Lysias, the king's tutor 
and kinsman, who was head 
of the government, was 
much displeased at the 
turn of events, 
{I}2_{/}and gathered 
together about eighty 
thousand men and his 
entire cavalry. They 
advanced against the Jews 
intending to make the 
city of Jerusalem a Greek 
colony and {I}3_{/}to 
convert the Temple into a 
source of revenue, as 
they had done with other 
sanctuaries of the 
pagans, and to put the 
office of high priest up 
for sale every year.
{I}4_{/}He took God's 
power for granted, and 
went up with his infantry 
regiments, his horsemen 
by the thousands, and his 
eighty elephants. 
{I}5_{/}He entered Judea, 
came near Beth-zur, a 
strong city some 
kilometers away from 
Jerusalem, and besieged 
it.
{I}6_{/}When the men of 
Maccabeus learned that 
Lysias had begun laying 
siege to their strong 
cities, they prayed to 
the Lord together with 
all the people, with 
tears and lamentations, 
that the Lord might send 
a good angel to save 
Israel. {I}7_{/}Maccabeus 
himself was the first to 
take arms and exhort the 
rest to go with him to 
face the danger and help 
their brothers and 
sisters. They set out 
together, full of 
enthusiasm. {I}8_{/}While 
they were still near 
Jerusalem, a horseman 
dressed in white with 
golden armor appeared and 
stood at the head of 
them. {I}9_{/}So with one 
voice, everyone blessed 
the merciful God. They 
were strengthened and 
prepared not only to face 
men in battle but even 
the most savage beasts 
and walls of iron.
{I}10_{/}They advanced 
with the aid of this ally 
sent from heaven, for the 
Lord had compassion on 
them. {I}11_{/}They 
charged like lions 
against the enemy, 
brought down eleven 
thousand infantrymen and 
one thousand six hundred 
horsemen, and forced the 
rest to flee. 
{I}12_{/}Most of them 
fled, wounded and 
disarmed, until Lysias 
himself fled in disgrace 
in order to save himself.
{I}13_{/}Lysias, being an 
intelligent man, 
reflected on the defeat 
he had suffered and 
understood that the 
Hebrews were invincible 
because the powerful God 
fought for them. 
{I}14_{/}So he sent a 
messenger to convince 
them to accept peace with 
every kind of just 
condition. And he even 
promised to persuade the 
king to make peace with 
them, too.
{I}15_{/}Maccabeus, 
thinking of the common 
good of all, accepted 
Lysias' offer of peace. 
And in fact, the king 
granted all the demands 
that Maccabeus had 
presented to Lysias in 
writing. {I}16_{/}Lysias 
wrote to them as follows:
"From Lysias to the 
Jewish people, greetings. 
{I}17_{/}John and 
Absalom, your envoys, 
have delivered to us your 
written petitions, asking 
us to respond. {I}18_{/}I 
have set forth before the 
king everything that 
needed his attention; and 
I have granted everything 
that was within my 
competence. 
{I}19_{/}Therefore, if 
you maintain your good 
will toward the State, I 
will also try in the 
future to work in your 
favor. {I}20_{/}As for 
the details, I have given 
orders for your envoys 
and my own 
representatives to 
discuss these with you. 
{I}21_{/}May everything 
go well with you. In the 
year one hundred and 
forty-eight, the twenty-
fourth day of the month 
of the Corinthian God."
{I}22_{/}The king's 
letter was as follows: 
"King Antiochus greets 
his brother Lysias. 
{I}23_{/}From the day we 
succeeded to the throne 
of our father, who has 
gone to the dwelling 
place of the gods, it has 
been our desire that all 
our subjects live 
undisturbed so that 
everyone may dedicate 
himself to his own work. 
{I}24_{/}Learning that 
the Jews do not wish to 
adopt Greek customs, as 
it was the will of my 
father, but prefer their 
own way of life and ask 
that they be allowed to 
live according to their 
laws, {I}25_{/}and since 
it is our desire that 
this nation live in 
peace, we have decreed 
that the Temple be 
restored to them and that 
they be allowed to live 
according to the laws and 
customs of their 
ancestors.
{I}26_{/}You will do 
well, therefore, to send 
envoys to conclude a 
treaty of peace with 
them. May they come to 
know our constant aim, so 
they may be reassured and 
dedicate themselves with 
joy to their own 
occupations."
{I}27_{/}This was the 
king's letter to the 
Jewish people: "King 
Antiochus to the Council 
of Elders and to the 
Jewish people: greetings! 
{I}28_{/}If you enjoy 
good health, we are happy 
for you; we ourselves are 
also well.
{I}29_{/}Menelaus has 
told us that you wish to 
return to your homes and 
occupations. 
{I}30_{/}Therefore, I 
have issued a decree of 
amnesty for all who would 
go home before the 
thirtieth of the month of 
Xanthicus. {I}31_{/}The 
Jews from now on may live 
according to their own 
customs concerning their 
food, and be governed by 
their own laws as before. 
None of them is to be 
molested in any way for 
anything done 
involuntarily. {I}32_{/}I 
have ordered Menelaus to 
reassure you of all this. 
{I}33_{/}I wish you good 
health. In the year one 
hundred and forty-eight, 
the fifteenth day of the 
month of Xanthicus."
{I}34_{/}The Romans also 
sent them a letter which 
read as follows: "Quintus 
Memmius and Titus Manius, 
ambassadors of the 
Romans, send their 
greetings to the Jewish 
people. 
{I}35_{/}Everything that 
Lysias, the king's 
kinsman, has granted you, 
we also approve. 
{I}36_{/}As for the 
matters about which 
Lysias considered it 
necessary to inform the 
king and take up with 
him, we ask that you 
study them carefully and 
send someone to us at 
once, so we can explain 
everything to the king to 
your advantage, for we 
are now leaving for 
Antioch.
{I}37_{/}Lose no time, 
therefore, in sending 
someone to us, that we 
may know your plans. 
{I}38_{/}We wish you good 
health. In the fifteenth 
of the month of Xanthicus 
in the year one hundred 
and forty-eight."
VICTORIES AGAINST THE 
NEIGHBORING PEOPLES{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}After these 
agreements had been 
concluded, Lysias 
returned to the king and 
the Jews began to return 
to their fields. 
{I}2_{/}But the 
commanders of the 
different regions, 
Timotheus and Apollonius, 
the son of Genneus, as 
well as Hieronymus and 
Domophenes, and Nicanor, 
the leader of the 
Cypriots, would not let 
them live in peace and 
quiet. {I}3_{/}Moreover, 
the inhabitants of Joppa 
committed this grave 
crime. They invited the 
Jews with their wives and 
children to a cruise on 
some boats they had 
prepared, as if they did 
not have any hostility. 
{I}4_{/}This was decided 
by the city authorities 
and the Jews accepted in 
order to show their 
desire to live with them 
in peace and without any 
suspicion at all. But 
once out in the open sea, 
the men of Joppa pushed 
them into the water and 
at least two hundred 
died.
{I}5_{/}When Judas 
Maccabeus was informed of 
this cruelty against his 
countrymen, he informed 
his men. {I}6_{/}After 
calling upon God, the 
just judge, he set out 
against the murderers of 
his brothers and sisters. 
He set fire to the harbor 
by night, burned the 
ships and put to the 
sword those who had taken 
refuge there. 
{I}7_{/}But, as the gates 
were closed, he could not 
enter the city, so he 
withdrew, intending to 
come back to wipe out all 
the inhabitants of Joppa.
{I}8_{/}Meanwhile, he 
learned that the 
inhabitants of Jamnia 
wanted to deal in the 
same way with the Jews 
who lived there. 
{I}9_{/}He also attacked 
the people of Jamnia by 
night, and set the harbor 
and ships on fire. The 
blaze was so great that 
the glow could be seen 
even from Jerusalem, some 
fifty kilometers away.
{I}10_{/}From there, they 
set out and marched 
against Timotheus, but 
when they had marched for 
about two kilometers, 
five thousand Arabs 
supported by five hundred 
horses, attacked them. 
{I}11_{/}A bloody battle 
took place, and the men 
of Judas emerged 
victorious with the help 
of God. The defeated 
Arabs sued for peace, and 
promised to give them 
livestock, and to help 
them in the future. 
{I}12_{/}Judas, convinced 
that they could indeed be 
useful to them, made 
peace with them. Then the 
Arabs withdrew to their 
camps.
{I}13_{/}Judas attacked a 
city strongly fortified 
with ditches and walls. 
The city was called 
Caspin. People of every 
race lived there. 
{I}14_{/}The besieged, 
confident in the strength 
of their walls and 
because they had their 
storehouses full of 
provisions, 
underestimated the men of 
Judas and behaved most 
insolently toward them. 
They also shouted 
insults, blasphemies and 
sacrilegious words at 
them. {I}15_{/}The men of 
Judas called on the great 
Sovereign of the world 
who had demolished the 
walls of Jericho without 
engines of war during the 
time of Joshua, and then 
rushed furiously upon the 
walls. {I}16_{/}God 
willed that they should 
take possession of the 
city, and they carried 
out an incredible 
slaughter: the nearby 
lake, five hundred meters 
wide, seemed filled with 
blood.
THE BATTLE OF CARNAIM{/}

{I}17_{/}After marching 
for one hundred and fifty 
kilometers, they arrived 
in Charax, where the Jews 
were known as Tubians. 
{I}18_{/}They did not 
find Timotheus there, for 
he had gone without 
having achieved anything; 
but he had left a strong 
garrison in one place. 
{I}19_{/}Dositheus and 
Sosipater, leaders of the 
troops of Maccabeus, 
marched against them and 
destroyed the garrison of 
more than ten thousand 
men left behind by 
Timotheus.
{I}20_{/}Maccabeus then 
organized his army, set 
these two as their 
commanders, and rushed 
out against Timotheus who 
had twenty thousand 
infantrymen and two 
thousand five hundred 
horsemen with him. 
{I}21_{/}When Timotheus 
learned that Judas was 
approaching, he sent the 
women and children away 
with a good deal of the 
baggage to a fortress 
called Carnaim which was 
in an impregnable place 
and difficult to reach 
because of the narrow 
approaches surrounding 
it.
{I}22_{/}At the sight of 
the first battalion of 
Judas, terror and panic 
seized their enemies 
because of an apparition 
of Him who sees all 
things. They fled in all 
directions, so that they 
were dragged on the 
ground by their own 
companions and wounded by 
their own swords. 
{I}23_{/}Judas pursued 
Timotheus in fury and 
ardor, putting to the 
sword those wicked men 
and killing about thirty 
thousand of them. 
{I}24_{/}Timotheus 
himself fell into the 
hands of Dositheus' and 
Sosipater's troops. He 
very cunningly pleaded 
with them to let him go, 
for, as he said, he had 
the parents and brothers 
of most of the Jews in 
his power and they would 
surely be put to death if 
he were to be killed. 
{I}25_{/}When he had 
convinced them by the 
strength of his words, 
they let him go in order 
to save their brothers.
{I}26_{/}Then Judas left 
for Carnaim and 
Atargateion, and killed 
twenty-five thousand men 
there. {I}27_{/}After 
defeating and destroying 
these enemies, he led an 
expedition against the 
walled city of Ephron, 
where Lysias had taken 
refuge with people of 
every race. Strong young 
men were stationed 
outside the walls and 
they fought bravely. And 
there were stores of war 
engines and missiles 
inside.
{I}28_{/}After calling on 
the Lord almighty to 
crush the forces of the 
enemy, the Jews seized 
the city and killed more 
than twenty-five thousand 
of the people inside. 
{I}29_{/}Moving off from 
there, they went to 
Scythopolis, a city one 
hundred and twenty 
kilometers from 
Jerusalem. {I}30_{/}But 
as the Jews who lived 
there assured Judas that 
the inhabitants of that 
city had always treated 
them well and had 
received them favorably 
in times of persecution, 
{I}31_{/}Judas and his 
men thanked these people 
and asked them to extend 
the same kindness to his 
race in the future. Then 
they returned to 
Jerusalem, since the 
feast of Weeks of 
Pentecost was 
approaching.
{I}32_{/}After the feast 
and Pentecost, they 
marched against Gorgias 
who was the governor of 
Idumea. {I}33_{/}Gorgias 
came out with three 
thousand infantrymen and 
four thousand horsemen to 
meet him. {I}34_{/}The 
battle began and some 
fell in the ranks of the 
Jews.
{I}35_{/}Dositheus, a 
horseman from Bachenor's 
troops, a very valiant 
man, grasped Gorgias by 
the cloak, and forcibly 
dragged him along, 
wanting to take that 
criminal alive. But a 
Thracian horseman rushed 
upon Dositheus and 
slashed his shoulder, so 
that Gorgias was able to 
flee to Marisa. 
{I}36_{/}Judas saw that 
the men of Esdrias were 
exhausted because they 
had been fighting for a 
long time. He, therefore, 
prayed to the Lord to 
show himself as their 
ally and lead them in 
battle. {I}37_{/}Then, he 
chanted a battle hymn in 
the language of their 
fathers, charged against 
the troops of Gorgias all 
of a sudden, and defeated 
them.
SACRIFICE FOR THE 
FALLEN{/}

{I}38_{/}Judas 
reorganized his army, and 
then went to the city of 
Adullam. Since it was the 
week's end, they purified 
themselves and celebrated 
the sabbath there. 
{I}39_{/}The next day the 
companions of Judas went 
to take away the bodies 
of the dead (it was 
urgent to do it) and 
buried them with their 
relatives in the tombs of 
their fathers. 
{I}40_{/}They found under 
the tunic of each of the 
dead men objects 
consecrated to the idols 
of Jamnia, which the Law 
forbade the Jews to wear. 
So it became clear to 
everyone why these men 
had died.
{I}41_{/}Everyone blessed 
the intervention of the 
Lord, the just Judge who 
brings to light the most 
secret deeds; 
{I}42_{/}and they prayed 
to the Lord to completely 
pardon the sin of their 
dead companions. The 
valiant Judas urged his 
men to shun such sin in 
the future, for they had 
just seen with their own 
eyes what had happened to 
those who sinned. 
{I}43_{/}He took up a 
collection among his 
soldiers which amounted 
to two thousand pieces of 
silver and sent it to 
Jerusalem to be offered 
there as a sacrifice for 
sin.
They did all this very 
well and rightly inspired 
by their belief in the 
resurrection of the dead. 
{I}44_{/}If they did not 
believe that their fallen 
companions would rise 
again, then it would have 
been a useless and 
foolish thing to pray for 
them. {I}45_{/}But they 
firmly believed in a 
splendid reward for those 
who died as believers; 
therefore, their concern 
was holy and in keeping 
with faith.
{I}46_{/}This was the 
reason why Judas had this 
sacrifice offered for the 
dead - so that the dead 
might be pardoned for 
their sin.
ANTIOCHUS INVADES 
JUDEA{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}In the year one 
hundred and fortynine, 
the men of Judas learned 
that Antiochus Eupator 
had come against Judea 
with countless troops, 
{I}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.
{I}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. {I}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. 
{I}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. 
{I}6_{/}Whoever robbed 
any sacred thing or 
committed any other 
notorious crime was 
brought up to the tower, 
and then, pushed into the 
ashes. {I}7_{/}In this 
way, Menelaus died 
without even a burial. 
{I}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.
PRAYER AND SUCCESS OF THE 
JEWS IN MODEIN{/}

{I}9_{/}The king came 
with a heart full of evil 
designs, prepared to be 
more cruel to the Jews, 
than his father had been. 
{I}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 
{I}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.
{I}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. {I}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.
{I}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. 
{I}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. 
{I}16_{/}They caused fear 
and confusion in the camp 
and then withdrew in 
complete success. 
{I}17_{/}All this 
happened just as day was 
dawning, for God's help 
protected them.
{I}18_{/}When the king 
saw the daring of the 
Jews, he tried to take 
control of their 
fortresses by using 
tricks. {I}19_{/}He 
advanced against Beth-
zur, a city strongly 
defended by the Jews; he 
attacked it but was 
repelled and defeated. 
{I}20_{/}Judas supplied 
the defenders of the city 
with everything they 
needed. 
{I}21_{/}Rhodocus, one of 
Judas' men, gave secret 
information to the 
enemies. He was hunted, 
captured and executed. 
{I}22_{/}The king again 
kept in contact with the 
defenders of Beth-zur, 
made peace with them and 
withdrew. {I}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.
{I}24_{/}The king took 
leave of Maccabeus and 
named Hegemonides as 
governor from Ptolemais 
to the land of the 
Gerarrites. {I}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. 
{I}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.
{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Three years 
later, Judas and his  men 
were informed that 
Demetrius, son of 
Seleucus, had landed in 
Tripoli with a fleet and 
a powerful army, 
{I}2_{/}and had taken 
control of the kingdom, 
killing Antiochus and his 
tutor Lysias.
{I}3_{/}A certain 
Alcimus, who had been 
High Priest before, but 
was disgraced during the 
time of the rebellion, 
realized that there was 
no way for him to be 
restored to the ministry 
at the sacred altar. 
{I}4_{/}So, he went to 
King Demetrius in about 
the year one hundred and 
fifty-one, and offered 
him a golden crown, a 
palm and even some olive 
branches from the Temple 
as usual. On that day, he 
did not ask for anything. 
{I}5_{/}But he found a 
proper occasion for his 
evil designs when he was 
called to a meeting of 
the king's council. When 
he was asked with what 
disposition and spirit 
the Jews were to be 
confronted, he answered, 
{I}6_{/}"There exists a 
party called Hasideans 
among the Jews, headed by 
Judas Maccabeus, that 
keeps up war and 
rebellion, and hinders 
the reestablishment of 
peace and order in the 
land. {I}7_{/}Because of 
them, I have been 
deprived of the dignity 
of my ancestors, that is, 
the office of High 
Priest. And I came here, 
{I}8_{/}concerned for the 
king's interests above 
everything else, but for 
my compatriots as well, 
since the fanaticism of 
those men has plunged our 
people into great misery.
{I}9_{/}O King, look upon 
our land and nation which 
is hard pressed on all 
sides, with that same 
kindness you have for 
all. {I}10_{/}For as long 
as Judas lives, it is 
impossible for the State 
to find peace."
{I}11_{/}When Alcimus had 
said this, the rest of 
the King's Friends who 
were hostile to Judas, 
quickly incited Demetrius 
against him. {I}12_{/}And 
the king immediately 
chose Nicanor, who 
commanded the squadron of 
elephants, and appointed 
him military commissioner 
of Judea {I}13_{/}with 
orders to kill Judas, 
disperse his men and 
restore Alcimus as priest 
of the great Temple.
{I}14_{/}The pagans who 
had earlier escaped from 
Judea for fear of Judas, 
flocked in great number 
to Nicanor, thinking that 
the misfortunes and 
defeat of the Jews would 
mean victory for them.
TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN 
NICANOR AND JUDAS{/}

{I}15_{/}When the men of 
Judas learned about the 
coming of Nicanor and the 
invasion of Nicanor was 
coming and about the 
invasion of the pagans, 
they sprinkled dust upon 
their heads, and called 
on Him who had 
established his people 
forever, and had each 
time protected his people 
by wonderful 
manifestations. 
{I}16_{/}Then, at their 
leader's command they set 
out to march, and the 
battle began near Dessau. 
{I}17_{/}Simon, the 
brother of Judas, had 
attacked Nicanor, but his 
men were suddenly 
confounded by the 
enemies, suffering a 
slight setback.
{I}18_{/}However, as 
Nicanor had heard of the 
courage of Judas and his 
men and of how bravely 
they fought for their 
country, he feared 
resolving the situation 
by bloodshed. 
{I}19_{/}So, he sent 
Posidonius, Theodotus and 
Mattathias to arrange for 
peace. {I}20_{/}After a 
thorough consideration of 
the conditions, he 
communicated this to his 
troops and it seemed that 
they were unanimous about 
it. The treaty of peace 
was accepted.
{I}21_{/}So they set the 
date on which the leaders 
should meet. A chariot 
came forward from each 
side and they prepared 
seats of honor. 
{I}22_{/}Judas positioned 
armed men in strategic 
places, in case of sudden 
treachery on the part of 
the enemy. But their 
meeting went well.
{I}23_{/}Nicanor spent 
some time in Jerusalem 
without doing any harm, 
and even dismissed the 
people that had gathered 
around him. {I}24_{/}He 
always had Judas with 
him, for he had a high 
regard for him. 
{I}25_{/}He advised him 
to get married and have 
children, so Judas got 
married and enjoyed a 
peaceful life.
{I}26_{/}When Alcimus saw 
the good understanding 
between the two, he 
secured a copy of the 
signed accord and went to 
Demetrius, accusing 
Nicanor of acting against 
the interests of the 
State, inasmuch as he had 
appointed Judas, the 
enemy of the kingdom, as 
his minister.
{I}27_{/}The king was 
infuriated and stirred up 
by the slanders of that 
wicked man. He wrote 
Nicanor telling him how 
indignant he was over the 
treaty and ordering him 
to put Maccabeus in 
chains and to send him to 
Antioch at once.
{I}28_{/}Nicanor was 
dismayed to learn that he 
was asked to break the 
treaty with Judas who had 
done nothing wrong. 
{I}29_{/}But he could not 
go against the king's 
orders, so he sought an 
occasion to carry this 
out by deceit. 
{I}30_{/}Maccabeus 
noticed that Nicanor had 
become more reserved 
towards him and more 
unpleasant in their usual 
meetings, so he 
understood that this did 
not promise well. He 
began to gather some of 
his men, but did not make 
this known to Nicanor. 
{I}31_{/}When the latter 
became aware that Judas 
had escaped without being 
disloyal, he appeared in 
the holy Temple while the 
priests were offering the 
ritual sacrifices, and 
demanded that they hand 
Judas over to him. 
{I}32_{/}The priests 
declared on oath that 
they did not know where 
he was to be found. 
{I}33_{/}Then, he 
stretched out his hand to 
the sanctuary and made 
this oath: "If you do not 
hand Judas over to me in 
chains, I shall raze this 
place consecrated to God, 
destroy the altar, and 
right here build a 
splendid temple to 
Dionysus." {I}34_{/}And 
after saying this, he 
left.
The priests stretched 
forth their hands to 
heaven and called on him 
who had unceasingly 
defended our nation, 
saying {I}35_{/}"O Lord 
of the universe, though 
you do not need anything, 
it has pleased you to put 
among us this temple as 
your dwelling place. 
{I}36_{/}So now, keep 
undefiled forever this 
house that has just been 
purified."
{I}37_{/}Razis, one of 
the elders of Jerusalem, 
was denounced to Nicanor 
as being a very patriotic 
man, well known as 
"father of the Jews" 
because of his kindness. 
{I}38_{/}In the time 
before the rebellion, he 
had been accused of 
Judaism and with much 
enthusiasm he had totally 
given himself to the 
defense of Judaism.
{I}39_{/}Now then, 
Nicanor, wishing to show 
his hatred towards the 
Jews, ordered more than 
five hundred soldiers to 
take him prisoner. 
{I}40_{/}He thought that 
by putting him in prison, 
he would deal a great 
blow to the Jews.
{I}41_{/}When the 
soldiers were about to 
capture the tower and 
were breaking the door of 
the courtyard (they had 
already ordered that fire 
be brought to burn the 
door), Razis, surrounded 
on all sides, struck his 
belly with his own sword. 
{I}42_{/}He preferred to 
die bravely rather than 
fall into the hands of 
foreigners and suffer 
insults unworthy of his 
noble birth. {I}43_{/}But 
when he fell upon his 
sword, he did not hit 
exactly, so when he saw 
the troops were now 
rushing in through the 
gates, he gathered enough 
strength to climb to the 
top of the tower, and 
manfully threw himself 
down upon the soldiers. 
{I}44_{/}But they quickly 
withdrew, so he fell into 
an empty space.
{I}45_{/}Still alive, and 
aflame with valor, he 
stood up in spite of the 
blood that gushed forth 
and the wounds he had, 
and came running through 
the soldiers. {I}46_{/}He 
stood on a steep rock and 
there, with his blood 
almost completely drained 
from him, he took hold of 
his intestines with both 
hands and hurled them at 
the crowd. Then calling 
upon the name of the Lord 
of life and spirit to 
give them back to him 
again one day, he left 
this life.
VICTORY FOR JUDAS AND 
DEATH OF NICANOR{/}

{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Nicanor was 
informed that the men of 
Judas were in the 
neighboring villages of 
Samaria, so he prepared 
to safely attack them on 
the day of the sabbath. 
{I}2_{/}The Jews, who 
were forced to accompany 
him, said to him, "Do not 
destroy them so savagely 
and barbarously, but show 
respect for the day of 
the sabbath, for He who 
sees all has honored this 
day and sanctified it." 
{I}3_{/}But the wretch 
asked if there was indeed 
a sovereign in heaven who 
had commanded that the 
sabbath be holy. 
{I}4_{/}They answered, 
"It is the living God 
himself, the Sovereign in 
heaven, who has commanded 
us to celebrate the 
seventh day."
{I}5_{/}"So I, as 
sovereign on earth, 
command you to take up 
arms and carry out the 
decrees of the king." But 
he could not bring to 
completion his evil 
designs.
{I}6_{/}Nicanor was so 
sure of victory, that he 
planned to build a 
monument with the mortal 
remains of Judas and his 
men. {I}7_{/}But 
Maccabeus, for his part, 
felt confident and put 
his trust in God's help. 
{I}8_{/}He encouraged his 
men not to fear the 
attack of the pagans, and 
not to forget the times 
God had come to their 
help, confident that even 
now God would give them 
victory. {I}9_{/}He 
roused their spirit with 
the words of the Law and 
the Prophets, reminding 
them of previous 
triumphs. 
{I}10_{/}Encouraging his 
men more and more, he 
finished by showing them 
the evil of the pagans 
and how they had betrayed 
their oath.
{I}11_{/}So he armed them 
not with the sword or 
shield but with the 
certainty that comes from 
noble words. Then he made 
them all full of joy by 
telling them what he saw 
in a true dream.
{I}12_{/}He had seen 
Onias, the former High 
Priest, a courteous, good 
man, humble in his ways, 
distinguished in his 
words and exemplary in 
his irreproachable 
conduct since childhood. 
With arms outstretched, 
Onias prayed for the 
whole Jewish community. 
{I}13_{/}Then, a gray-
haired and honorable man 
appeared, praying in the 
same way, and 
characterized by dignity 
and majesty. 
{I}14_{/}Then Onias, the 
High Priest, said to 
Judas, "This is he who 
loves your brothers, he 
who prays without ceasing 
for the Jewish people and 
for the Holy City. He is 
Jeremiah, the prophet of 
God." {I}15_{/}And 
Jeremiah had stretched 
out his right hand giving 
a golden sword to Judas, 
as he said, 
{I}16_{/}"Receive this 
sword as a gift from God, 
with which you shall 
destroy your enemies."
{I}17_{/}Encouraged by 
these beautiful words of 
Judas, which were able to 
encourage righteous 
people and strengthen 
young souls, they 
determined not to set up 
camp with defenses. They 
decided instead to rush 
out bravely and take the 
offensive to settle the 
matter by fighting 
bravely, for the Holy 
City Jerusalem, their 
religion and the Temple 
were in danger. 
{I}18_{/}They considered 
of secondary importance 
any concern for their 
wives, children and 
friends; because they 
feared above all for the 
Temple consecrated to 
God. {I}19_{/}Regarding 
those who had stayed in 
the city, their anxiety 
was by no means little, 
since they were worried 
about the battle that was 
about to begin in the 
camp.
{I}20_{/}Everyone waited 
for the imminent outcome 
as the enemies attacked. 
They had set their troops 
in place, led the 
elephants to strategic 
positions and had the 
cavalry in the wings. 
{I}21_{/}Then Maccabeus 
could see this multitude 
with their weapons of 
every kind and the 
ferocious elephants. He 
stretched forth his hands 
to heaven and called on 
the Lord who works 
marvels, for he knew that 
God gives victory to 
those who deserve it, and 
this does not depend on 
weapons, but on the will 
of God.
{I}22_{/}So Judas said in 
prayer, "O Lord, you sent 
your angel in the days of 
Hezekiah, the king of 
Judah, and he wiped out 
one hundred and eighty-
five thousand men of the 
army of Sennacherib. 
{I}23_{/}So now, O Lord 
of Heaven, send your good 
angel, before us too, to 
fill our enemies with 
fear and terror. 
{I}24_{/}Show your power 
and let your arm strike 
those who insult you and 
who come to destroy your 
holy people." With this, 
he ended his prayer.
{I}25_{/}Meanwhile, 
Nicanor and his men 
advanced amid blasts of 
trumpets and shouts of 
war. {I}26_{/}Judas and 
his men, for their part, 
entered into battle with 
supplication and prayer. 
{I}27_{/}As they fought 
with their hands, their 
hearts prayed to God. And 
being so magnificently 
strengthened by the 
manifest presence of God, 
they killed no less than 
thirty-five thousand 
enemies.
{I}28_{/}When the battle 
ended, and they returned 
rejoicing, they found 
Nicanor dead, lying on 
the ground with all his 
armor.
{I}29_{/}Then they 
blessed God in their 
ancestral language amidst 
shouts and clamors. 
{I}30_{/}Judas, who had 
once fully consecrated 
himself to the welfare of 
his fellow residents and 
had never wavered in his 
affection for them, 
ordered that Nicanor's 
head and arms up to the 
shoulders be cut off and 
brought to Jerusalem.
{I}31_{/}There he 
summoned his compatriots 
and priests. He stood 
before the altar and 
ordered them to send for 
those in the Citadel. 
{I}32_{/}He showed them 
the head of that 
wretched, Nicanor, and 
the hand which that 
wicked man had raised in 
pride above the house of 
God. {I}33_{/}He ordered 
that Nicanor's tongue be 
cut into pieces and given 
to the birds, and the 
hand be hung in front of 
the sanctuary as 
punishment for his 
arrogance. {I}34_{/}Then 
they blessed Heaven 
saying, "Blessed be he 
who did not let his 
Sacred House be defiled!"
{I}35_{/}Finally, Judas 
ordered that Nicanor's 
head be hung in the 
Citadel as a sign of 
God's help. {I}36_{/}By 
popular agreement, they 
decided that on the 
thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month called Adar 
in Aramaic, the vespers 
of the day of Mordecai 
would be commemorated as 
a festival day.
AUTHOR'S CONCLUSION{/}

{I}37_{/}These were the 
events during the time of 
Nicanor. As from those 
days the city remained 
under the power of the 
Hebrews, I end my account 
here. {I}38_{/}If the 
narration has been good 
and well composed, that 
is indeed what I desired; 
but if it has been 
ordinary and indifferent, 
it is what I was able to 
do. {I}39_{/}The readers' 
pleasure depends on how 
the account was arranged, 
just as it is with one 
who drinks. It does not 
do any good when one 
drinks only pure wine or 
water but wine mixed with 
water is tasty and 
delightful. Let this, 
then, be my last word.

