2 Maccabees 15
15
1 But when Nicanor discovered Judas to be in the places of Samaria, he decided to meet him in warfare with all violence, on the Sabbath day.
2 In truth, the Jews who followed him out of necessity were saying: "Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honor to the day of sanctification and reverence to him who beholds all things."
3 That unhappy man asked, "Is there a powerful One in heaven, who commanded the day of the Sabbath to be kept."
4 And they responded to him, "There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the powerful One, who ordered the seventh day to be kept."
5 And so he said: "I also am powerful upon the earth, so I command arms to be taken up and the king's plans to be fulfilled." Nevertheless, he did not succeed in accomplishing his plan.
6 And Nicanor, being certainly lifted up with the greatest arrogance, had decided to establish a public monument of his victory over Judas.
7 But Maccabeus, as always, trusted with all hope that God would be present to help them.
8 And he exhorted his own not to fear the arrival of the nations, but to keep in mind the assistance they had received before from heaven, and now to hope for a future victory from the Almighty.
9 And speaking to them from the law and the prophets, reminding them even of the conflicts they had fought before, he made them more willing.
10 And so, having raised up their courage, at the same time he revealed the deceitful plan of the Gentiles and their betrayal of the oaths.
11 Then he armed every one of them, not with the weapons of shield and spear, but with the best speeches and exhortations; and he explained to them a dream, worthy to be believed, in which he rejoiced with them all.
12 Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and kind man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, and noble in speech, and who from boyhood was trained in the virtues, extending his hands, prayed on behalf of all the people of the Jews.
13 After this, there appeared also another man, admirable in age and glory, and with a bearing of great dignity about him.
14 In truth, Onias responded by saying: "This one loves his brothers and the people of Israel. This is he who prays greatly for the people and for all the holy city: Jeremiah, the prophet of God."
15 Then Jeremiah extended his right hand, and he gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:
16 "Receive this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you shall cast down the adversaries of my people Israel."
17 And so, having been exhorted by the very good words of Judas, by which the readiness and courage of the young men were able to be raised and strengthened, they resolved to strive and to contend with fortitude, so that virtue would judge the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in peril.
18 For their concern was less for their wives and sons, and likewise less for their brothers and relatives; in truth, their greatest and first fear was for the sanctity of the temple.
19 But those also who were in the city had no small concern for those who had gathered together.
20 And, when all now hoped that judgment would soon occur, and when the enemies were near, and the army was set in order, with the beasts and the horsemen positioned in strategic places,
21 Maccabeus, considering the arrival of the multitude, and the various preparations of weapons, and the fierceness of the beasts, extending his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, who works miracles, who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of the weapons, but just as it pleases him.
22 Then, calling out in this way, he said: "You, O Lord, who sent your Angel under Hezekiah, king of Judah, and who killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib,
23 now also, O Ruler of the heavens, send your good Angel before us, who are in fear and trembling at the greatness of your arm,
24 so that those who approach against your holy people with blasphemy may be afraid." And in this way, indeed, he concluded his prayer.
25 But Nicanor, and those who were with him, advanced with trumpets and songs.
26 In truth, Judas, and those who were with him, calling upon God through prayers, came together against them.
27 Indeed, fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, being delighted by the presence of God.
28 And when they had ceased and were returning with gladness, they realized, by his armor, that Nicanor had been slain.
29 And so, making a loud noise and inciting a disturbance, they blessed the Almighty Lord in the language of the fathers.
30 But Judas, who was prepared throughout all his body and soul to die for his citizens, instructed that Nicanor's head, and his hand with the arm, should be cut off and carried through to Jerusalem.
31 When it arrived, having called together his fellow tribesmen, and the priests to the altar, he summoned those also who were in the stronghold.
32 And he displayed the head of Nicanor, and his nefarious hand, which he had extended against the holy house of Almighty God with magnificent boasting.
33 He even ordered now that the tongue of the impious Nicanor should be cut up and given in pieces to the birds, but that the hand of this demented man should be suspended opposite the temple.
34 Therefore, they all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying, "Blessed is he who has kept his own place uncontaminated."
35 Then he suspended Nicanor's head at the top of the stronghold, so that it would be an evident and manifest sign of the assistance of God.
36 And so, they all decreed by common counsel in no way to let this day pass without celebration,
37 but to hold a celebration on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, which was called in the Syrian language: the day before Mardochias' day.
38 Therefore, these things were accomplished concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city was possessed by the Hebrews. And so, I will bring an end to my narration here.
39 And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.
40 For, just as it is adverse to drink always wine, or always water, so also it is pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. So, if the words were always exact, it would not be pleasing to the readers. Therefore, here it shall be completed. The Holy Bible Catholic Public Domain Version New Testament
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2 Maccabees 15: CPDV
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2 Maccabees 15
15
Nicanor Demands Work on the Sabbath
1But Nica´nor, 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. 2Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honor to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honored with holiness above all other days. 3Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept. 4#Exod 20.8-11. And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept; 5then 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. 6So Nica´nor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.
Judas Encourages His Men
7But Maccabe´us had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him: 8wherefore 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. 9#Matt 5.17; 7.12; 22.40; Acts 13.15; 26.22. 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. 10#2 Macc 11.27-32; 14.20-28. And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, showing them therewithal the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths. 11Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defense of shields 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.
Judas' Vision
12 #
2 Macc 3.1-40. And this was his vision: That Oni´as, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, revered 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. 13This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty. 14Then Oni´as answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremiah the prophet of God. 15Whereupon Jeremiah holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus, 16Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.
The Jews Take Courage
17Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valor, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger. 18For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and kinsfolk, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple. 19Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.
Judas' Prayer Before Battle
(1 Maccabees 7.40-42)
20And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings, 21Maccabe´us seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armor, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy: 22#2 Kgs 19.35; 1 Macc 7.41; 2 Macc 8.19. therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Hezeki´ah king of Judah, and didst slay in the host of Sennach´erib an hundred fourscore and five thousand: 23#2 Macc 11.6. wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them; 24and through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.
Nicanor Is Defeated and Killed
(1 Maccabees 7.43-46)
25Then Nica´nor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs. 26But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer. 27So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered. 28Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nica´nor lay dead in his harness.
The Jews Celebrate
29Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language. 30And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nica´nor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. 31#1 Macc 1.33; 6.18. So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower, 32#2 Macc 14.33. and showed them vile Nica´nor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty. 33And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nica´nor, he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple. 34So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled. 35#1 Sam 31.9; Jdth 14.1; 1 Macc 7.47. He hanged also Nica´nor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord. 36#Esth 9.20-22; 1 Macc 7.49. And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mor´decai's day.
The Author's Conclusion
37Thus went it with Nica´nor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end. 38And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto. 39For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.