2Mac 14:1 After three years was Judas informed,
that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis
with a great power and navy,
2Mac 14:2 Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his
protector.
2Mac 14:3 Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself
wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no
means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,
2Mac 14:4 Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year,
presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs
which were used solemnly in the temple: and so that day he held his peace.
2Mac 14:5 Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish
enterprise, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and asked how the
Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:
2Mac 14:6 Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is Judas
Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the rest be in
peace.
2Mac 14:7 Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honour, I mean the
high priesthood, am now come hither:
2Mac 14:8 First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining
to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own
countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised
dealing of them aforesaid.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state
should be quiet.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:12 And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the
elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:14 Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to
Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities to the Jews to be their
welfare.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:16 So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways
from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.
2Mac 14:17 Now Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but
was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to
make peace.
2Mac 14:20 So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain
had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were
all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,
2Mac 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,
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:23 Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away
the people that came flocking unto him.
2Mac 14:24 And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he
love the man from his heart
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:29 But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his
time to accomplish this thing by policy.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 14:32 And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was
whom he sought,
2Mac 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 God even with the ground, and I will break down the
altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.
2Mac 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;
2Mac 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:
2Mac 14:36 Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever
undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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.
2Mac 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:
2Mac 14:40 For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.
2Mac 14:41 Now when the multitude 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;
2Mac 14:42 Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of
the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:
2Mac 14:43 But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing
within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down
manfully among the thickest of them.
2Mac 14:44 But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell
down into the midst of the void place.
2Mac 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,
2Mac 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.