2 Maccabees 15
15
1 # See 1 Mac. 3.38. But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of #1 Mac. 3.10.Samaria, resolved to set upon them with all security on the day of rest. 2And when the Jews that were compelled to follow him said, O destroy not so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he #ch. 7.35 & 9.5. Ecclus. 15.18.that beholdeth all things #Cp. Ex. 20.11.hath #15.2 Or honoured above other days as a hallowed dayhonoured and hallowed above other days; 3Then #ch. 8.34.the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were #See ch. 3.24.a Sovereign in heaven that had commanded to keep the sabbath day. 4And when they declared, There is the Lord, living himself #See ch. 3.24.a Sovereign in heaven, who bade us observe the seventh day; 5Then saith the other, I also am #Cp. Ezek. 28.2,9.a sovereign upon the earth, #15.5 Or that commandethwho now command to take up arms and execute the king's business. Nevertheless he prevailed not to execute his #15.5 Or miserablecruel purpose.
6And Nicanor, #15.6 Gr. carrying his neck high.bearing himself haughtily in all vaingloriousness, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all them that were with him: 7But Maccabæus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord. 8And #ch. 8.16.1 Mac. 4.8.he exhorted his company not to be fearful at the #15.8 Or assaultinroad of the heathen, but, keeping in mind #ch. 8.19.the help which of old they had oft-times received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come unto them from the Almighty; 9And comforting them out of #Mat. 5.17 & 7.12 & 22.40. Acts 13.15 & 26.22. Cp. ch. 8.23.the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the conflicts that they had maintained, he made them more eager for the battle. 10And when he had roused their #15.10 Or passionspirit, he gave them his commands, at the same time pointing out the perfidiousness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths. 11And arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defence of shields and spears as with the encouragement that lieth in good words, and moreover relating to them a dream #15.11 Or most worthy . . . all gladworthy to be believed, he made them all exceeding glad. 12And the vision of that dream was this: He saw #See ch. 3.1.Onias, him that was high priest, a noble and good man, reverend in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, #See ch. 14.34.with outstretched hands invoking blessings on the whole body of the Jews: 13Thereupon he saw a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and wonderful and most majestic was the dignity around him: 14And Onias answered and said, This is the lover of the brethren, he who prayeth much for the people and #See ch. 3.1.the holy city, #ch. 2.5,7.2 Esd. 2.18.Jeremiah the prophet of God: 15And Jeremiah stretching forth his right hand delivered to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it addressed him thus, 16Take the holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt smite down the adversaries.
17And being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were of a lofty strain, and able to incite unto virtue and to stir the souls of the young unto manly courage, they determined #15.17 Or not to go out to battle, but nobly to engage within their lines, & c. The Greek text of this passage is uncertain.not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon the enemy, and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to an issue, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger. 18For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for brethren and kinsfolk, was in less account with them; #Cp. ch. 8.2.but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary. 19And they also that were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open ground.
20And when all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the #15.20 Gr. beasts.elephants #15.20 Or stationed for convenient actionbrought back to a convenient post, and the horsemen drawn up #15.20 Or in lineon the flank, 21Maccabæus, perceiving the presence of the #15.21 Gr. multitudes.troops, and the various arms with which they were equipped, and the savageness of the #15.21 Gr. beasts.elephants, holding up his hands unto heaven called upon the Lord #Ps. 136.4. Dan. 4.3. See Ps. 72.18.that worketh wonders, #ch. 8.18.recognising that success cometh not by arms, but that, according as the Lord shall judge, he gaineth the victory for them that are worthy. 22And calling upon God he said after this manner: Thou, #See ch. 3.24.O Sovereign Lord, #Cp. ch. 8.19 & 1 Mac. 7.41. See 2 Kin. 19.35.didst send thine angel in the time of Hezekiah king of Judæa, and he slew of the #15.22 Gr. camp.host of Sennacherib as many as a hundred fourscore and five thousand; 23So now also, #See ch. 3.24.O Sovereign of the heavens, #ch. 11.6. See Ex. 23.20.send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling: 24Through the greatness of thine arm let them be stricken with dismay that with blasphemy are come hither against #See Deut. 7.6.thy holy people. And as he ended with these words, 25Nicanor and his company advanced with trumpets and pæans; 26But Judas and his company joined battle with the enemy with invocation and prayers. 27And #Cp. Ps. 149.6.contending with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men, being made exceeding glad #See ch. 2.21.by the manifestation of God.
28And when the engagement was over, and they were returning again with joy, they recognised Nicanor #Cp. 1 Mac. 7.43.lying dead in full armour; 29And there arose a shout and #15.29 Or bewildermenttumult, and then they blessed the #See ch. 3.24.Sovereign Lord #See ch. 7.8.in the language of their fathers. 30And he that in all things was in body and soul the foremost champion of his fellow-citizens, he that kept through life the good will of his youth toward his countrymen, commanded #1 Mac. 7.47.to cut off Nicanor's head, and his hand with the shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. 31And when he had arrived there, and had called his countrymen together and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were in #See ch. 4.12.the citadel; 32And shewing the head of the vile Nicanor, and the hand of that profane man, #ch. 14.33.1 Mac. 7.47.which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty, 33And cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he said that he would give #15.33 Or themit by pieces #Cp. 1 Sam. 17.44,46.to the birds, and hang up the #15.33 The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.rewards of his madness over against the sanctuary. 34And they all looking up unto heaven blessed #15.34 Or the glorious Lordthe Lord #See ch. 2.21.who had manifested himself, saying, Blessed be he that hath preserved his own place undefiled. 35And #1 Mac. 7.47. Cp. Judith 14.1.he hanged Nicanor's head and shoulder from #See ch. 4.12.the citadel, a sign, evident unto all and manifest, of #See ch. 13.13.the help of the Lord. 36#Cp. 1 Mac. 7.49.And they all ordained with a common decree in no wise to let this day pass undistinguished, but to mark with honour the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (it is called #Ezra 6.15. Esth. 3.7,13 & 8.12. Rest of Esth. 13.6.Adar in the Syrian tongue), the day before #Cp. Esth. 9.17,21.the day of Mordecai.
37THIS then having been the issue of the attempt of Nicanor, and the city having from those times been held by #ch. 7.31 & 11.13. Judith 10.12 & 14.18.the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my book. 38And if I have written well and to the point in my story, this is what I myself desired; but if meanly and indifferently, this is all I could attain unto. 39#Cp. ch. 2.29.For as it is #15.39 Or hurtfuldistasteful to drink wine alone and in like manner again to drink water alone, #15.39 Gr. but even as.while the mingling of wine with water at once #15.39 Or addeth delight to the benefitgiveth full pleasantness to the flavour; so also the fashioning of the language delighteth the ears of them that read the story.
And here shall be the end.
THE END OF APOCRYPHA.
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2 Maccabees 15: RV1895
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
2 Maccabees 15
15
Nicanor's Cruel Plan
1Nicanor learnt that Judas and his men were in the region of Samaria, so he decided to attack them on the Sabbath, when he could do so without any danger to himself. 2The Jews who were forced to accompany his army begged him not to do such a cruel and savage thing, but to respect the day that the all-seeing God had honoured and made the most holy of all days. 3Then Nicanor, the lowest creature on earth, asked if there was some sovereign ruler in heaven who had commanded them to honour the Sabbath. 4And the Jews replied, “Yes; the living Lord, who rules in heaven, commanded us to honour the Sabbath.”
5But Nicanor answered, “I am the ruler on earth, and I order you to take up your weapons and to do what the king commands.” However, he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.
Judas Prepares His Troops for Battle
6In his arrogance Nicanor had boasted that he would set up a monument in honour of his victory over Judas. 7But Judas was fully confident that the Lord would help him, 8so he urged his men not to be afraid of the enemy. He encouraged them to remember how the Almighty had helped them in times past and to rest assured that he would give them victory this time also. 9He renewed their hope by reading to them from the Law and the Prophets and by reminding them of the battles they had already won. 10When his men were ready for battle, he gave them their orders and at the same time pointed out how the Gentiles could not be trusted, because they never kept their treaties. 11He armed all his men, not by encouraging them to trust in shields and spears, but by inspiring them with courageous words. He also raised their morale by telling them about his dream, a kind of vision that they could trust in.
12He told them that he had seen a vision of Onias, the former High Priest, that great and wonderful man of humble and gentle disposition, who was an outstanding orator and who had been taught from childhood how to live a virtuous life. With outstretched arms Onias was praying for the entire Jewish nation. 13Judas then saw an impressive white-haired man of great dignity and authority. 14Onias said: “This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his fellow-Jews and offers many prayers for us and for Jerusalem, the holy city.”
15Then Jeremiah stretched out his right-hand and gave Judas a gold sword, saying as he did so, 16“This holy sword is a gift from God. Take it and destroy your enemies.”
17The eloquent words that Judas spoke encouraged everyone to be brave, and inspired boys to fight like men. Their city, their religion, and their Temple were in danger. So the Jews made up their minds not to waste any time, but to make a daring attack against the enemy and bravely decide their fate in hand-to-hand combat. 18They were not so concerned about their own families and relatives as they were about their sacred Temple. 19And the people who had to stay in Jerusalem were deeply concerned about how a battle on open ground would turn out.
The Defeat and Death of Nicanor
20Everyone was waiting to see who would win the battle. The enemy troops were already moving forward, with their cavalry on each side of them, and their elephants placed in strategic positions. 21Judas Maccabaeus looked at the huge enemy force, the variety of their weapons, and their fierce elephants. Then he raised his hands towards heaven and prayed to the Lord, who works miracles, because he knew that the Lord gives victory to those who deserve it, not to those who have a strong army. 22#2 Kgs 19.35Judas said: “Lord, when Hezekiah was king of Judah, you sent your angel, who killed 185,000 of Sennacherib's men. 23Now once again, Lord of heaven, send your good angel to make our enemies shake and tremble with fear. 24By your great power, destroy these people who have slandered you and have come out to attack your chosen people.” So Judas ended his prayer.
25 #
1 Macc 7.43–50
Nicanor and his army moved forward to the sound of trumpets and battle-songs, 26but Judas and his men went into battle calling on God for help. 27So by fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, the Jews killed more than 35,000 of the enemy. How grateful they were for the help they had received from God! 28When the battle was over and they were going home celebrating their victory, they noticed Nicanor in full armour lying dead on the battlefield. 29Then with loud shouts they praised the Lord in their native language.
30Judas Maccabaeus, who had always fought with all his body and soul for his own people, never losing the patriotism of his youth, ordered his men to cut off Nicanor's head and right arm and to take them to Jerusalem. 31When they arrived in the city, he called together all the people, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for the men in the fort. 32He showed them the head of the evil Nicanor and the arm which that wicked man had arrogantly stretched out against the sacred Temple of the Almighty God. 33Then he cut out the tongue of that godless man, promising to feed it bit by bit to the birds and to hang up his head opposite the Temple, as evidence of what his foolishness did for him. 34Everyone there looked up to heaven and praised the Lord, who had revealed his power and had kept his Temple from being defiled. 35Judas hung Nicanor's head from the wall of the fort, as a clear proof to everyone of the Lord's help. 36#1 Macc 7.49By unanimous vote it was decided that this day would never be forgotten, but would be celebrated each year on the eve of Mordecai's Day,#15.36 mordecai's day: The Festival of Purim (see Esth 9.17–22). which is the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic.
Concluding Words
37That is how things turned out for Nicanor. The city of Jerusalem remained in the possession of the Hebrew people from that time on, so I will end my story here. 38If it is well written and to the point, I am pleased; if it is poorly written and uninteresting, I have still done my best. 39We know it is unhealthy to drink wine or water alone, whereas wine mixed with water makes a delightfully tasty drink. So also a good story skilfully written gives pleasure to those who read it. With this I conclude.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.