1But when Nicanor learned that Judas and his men were in the regions of Samaria, he planned to attack them with complete confidence on the day of rest.
2But the Jews who were compelled to accompany him said, “By no means destroy them so savagely and barbarously, but give due honor to the day that has been specially honored with holiness by the one who watches over all things.”
3But the thrice-accursed man asked if there is a Sovereign in heaven who has commanded to keep the Sabbath day.
4And when they declared, “It is the living Lord himself, the Sovereign in heaven, who commanded to observe the seventh day,”
5the other one said, “And I am a sovereign on earth, who commands to take up arms and carry out the king’s business.” Nevertheless, he did not succeed in carrying out his wicked plan.
6And Nicanor, supremely arrogant, had resolved to set up a public trophy from Judas and his men.
7But Maccabeus was continually confident, with all hope, that he would receive help from the Lord.
8And he exhorted those with him not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to keep in mind the help that had previously come to them from heaven, and to expect now the victory that would come to them from the Almighty.
9And encouraging them from the Law and the Prophets, and also reminding them of the struggles they had endured, he made them more eager.
10And having roused their spirits, he gave them orders, at the same time pointing out the faithlessness of the Gentiles and their violation of oaths.
11And he armed each of them not so much with the security of shields and spears as with the encouragement of noble words. And by relating a trustworthy dream, he gladdened them all exceedingly.
12His vision was as follows: he saw Onias, who had been high priest, a noble and good man, reverent in his bearing, gentle in manner, fitting in his speech, and one who from childhood had practiced all that belongs to virtue. This man, with his hands outstretched, was praying for the whole community of the Jews.
13Then another man appeared, distinguished by gray hair and glory, and a certain wonderful and most majestic dignity was about him.
14And Onias answered and said, “This is the lover of his brothers, the one who prays much for the people and the holy city—Jeremiah, the prophet of God.”
15And Jeremiah, stretching out his right hand, gave to Judas a golden sword, and as he gave it, he addressed him with these words:
16“Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you will crush the adversaries.”
17Encouraged by the words of Judas, which were very noble and able to arouse to virtue and strengthen the souls of the young, they resolved not to march out in formation but to charge in nobly, and by engaging with all courage to decide the matter, because the city and the holy things and the temple were in danger.
18For their fear for their wives and children, and also for their brothers and relatives, was of lesser account to them; their greatest and primary fear was for the consecrated temple.
19And for those left behind in the city there was no small anxiety, as they were disturbed about the attack in the open country.
20And when all were now expecting the coming decision, and the enemy had already engaged and the army was drawn up in formation, with the beasts stationed in a strategic place and the cavalry positioned on the flank,
21Maccabeus, seeing the arrival of the multitudes, the varied array of their weapons, and the ferocity of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the wonder-working Lord, knowing that victory is not won by weapons, but that he grants it to the worthy, as he judges.
22He prayed, calling out in this manner: “You, Master, in the time of Hezekiah king of Judea, sent your angel, and he killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib.
23And now, Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring fear and trembling.
24By the greatness of your arm may those who come with blasphemy against your holy people be struck down.” And with these words he ended.
25But Nicanor and his men advanced with trumpets and battle hymns.
26while Judas and his men engaged the enemy with invocation and prayers.
27And fighting with their hands but praying to God with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, greatly gladdened by the providence of God.
28When the battle was over and they were returning with joy, they discovered that Nicanor had fallen in his full armor.
29And when a shout and commotion arose, they blessed the Sovereign in their native language.
30And the foremost champion for his fellow citizens in body and soul, who had maintained from his youth his goodwill toward his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor’s head and his hand with the shoulder be cut off and brought to Jerusalem.
31When he arrived there, he called together his countrymen and the priests, stationed them before the altar, and sent for those from the citadel.
32And he displayed the head of the profane Nicanor and the hand of the blasphemer, which he had arrogantly stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty.
33And cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he ordered it to be given piece by piece to the birds, and the penalty for his folly to be hung up opposite the temple.
34And they all blessed the manifest Lord, looking toward heaven and saying, “Blessed is he who has kept his own place undefiled.”
35And he hung Nicanor’s head from the citadel, plainly visible to all and as a clear sign of the Lord’s help.
36And they all decreed by a common vote to by no means let this day go unmarked, but to observe as a festival the thirteenth day of the twelfth month—which is called Adar in the common tongue—the day before Mordecai’s Day.
37So, since the events concerning Nicanor turned out this way, and since the city from that time on has been held by the Hebrews, I myself will end my account here.
38If it is well done and aptly composed, this is what I myself also wanted; but if it is of little worth and mediocre, this was the best I could do.
39For just as drinking wine alone is harmful, and likewise drinking water alone, while wine mixed with water is pleasant and creates a delightful effect, so also the crafting of the account delights the ears of those who read the composition. And here shall be the end.
Open in the interactive reader →