Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 57

2 Mac 14:9 Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.

2 Mac 14:10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.

2 Mac 14:11 This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense Demetrius.

2 Mac 14:12 And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,

2 Mac 14:13 Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.

2 Mac 14:14 Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the Jews to be their welfare.

2 Mac 14:15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.

2 Mac 14:16 So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.

2 Mac 14:17 Now Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.

2 Mac 14:18 Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.

2 Mac 14:19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to make peace.

2 Mac 14:20 So when they had taken long advis.e.m.e.nt thereupon, and the captain had made the mult.i.tude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,

2 Mac 14:21 And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,

2 Mac 14:22 Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a peaceable conference.

2 Mac 14:23 Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.

2 Mac 14:24 And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he love the man from his heart

2 Mac 14:25 He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life.

2 Mac 14:26 But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king's successor.

2 Mac 14:27 Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.

2 Mac 14:28 When this came to Nicanor's hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.

2 Mac 14:29 But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy.

2 Mac 14:30 Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.

2 Mac 14:31 But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas' policy, came into the great and holy temple, and commanded the priests, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.

2 Mac 14:32 And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,

2 Mac 14:33 He stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of G.o.d even with the ground, and I will break down the altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.

2 Mac 14:34 After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;

2 Mac 14:35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:

2 Mac 14:36 Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.

2 Mac 14:37 Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.

2 Mac 14:38 For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.

2 Mac 14:39 So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:

2 Mac 14:40 For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.

2 Mac 14:41 Now when the mult.i.tude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;

2 Mac 14:42 Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his n.o.ble birth:

2 Mac 14:43 But missing his stroke through haste, the mult.i.tude also rus.h.i.+ng within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.

2 Mac 14:44 But they quickly giving back, and a s.p.a.ce being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.

2 Mac 14:45 Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,

2 Mac 14:46 When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.

2 Mac 15:1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.

2 Mac 15:2 Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all other days.

2 Mac 15:3 Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.

2 Mac 15:4 And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:

2 Mac 15:5 Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.

2 Mac 15:6 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.

2 Mac 15:7 But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:

2 Mac 15:8 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.

2 Mac 15:9 And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.

2 Mac 15:10 And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.

2 Mac 15:11 Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of s.h.i.+elds and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.

2 Mac 15:12 And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.