The Koine Bible

But Maccabeus and those with him, the Lord leading them on, both took back the sanctuary and the city

And the altars in the marketplace, which had been built by the foreigners, and moreover the sacred enclosures they pulled down

And having cleansed the sanctuary, they made another altar, and after setting stones on fire and taking fire from these, they offered sacrifices after a space of two years, and incense and lamps and the presentation of the loaves they made.

And having done these things, they entreated the Lord, falling on their face, no longer to fall into such evils, but if ever they should also sin, to be disciplined by him with gentleness and not to be given over to blasphemous and barbarous nations.

And on the day on which the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, it happened on the same day that the purification of the temple took place, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chasleu.

And with gladness they led eight days in the manner of booths, remembering how a little while before they had kept the feast of booths in the mountains and in the caves, like wild beasts, living as they were.

Therefore, carrying thyrsi and beautiful branches, and even palms, they were offering hymns to him who had prospered the cleansing of his own place.

And they decreed by common ordinance and vote for all the nation of the Jews to observe these days year by year.

And the matters of the death of Antiochus, the one called Epiphanes, were thus.

But now we shall declare the things concerning Eupator Antiochus, the son of the ungodly man, by abbreviating the matters that hold together the evils of the wars.

For he, having taken over the kingdom, appointed over the affairs Lysias, a certain man, first strategos of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.

For Ptolemy, the one called Macron, was disposed to preserve justice toward the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, and he was trying to conduct matters toward them peacefully.

Thus, being accused by his friends before Eupator and hearing on every side that he was a traitor, because he had abandoned Cyprus, which had been entrusted by Philometor, and had gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes, and had not ennobled his rule by nobility but had poisoned himself, he ended his life

But Gorgias, having become governor of the regions, maintained foreign troops and, at every opportunity, made war against the Jews.

And together with this the Idumeans, being in control of advantageous strongholds, were harassing the Jews and, taking in those who had fled from Jerusalem, were attempting to wage war and to support it

But those around Maccabeus, having made supplication and having asked God to become their ally, rushed against the strongholds of the Idumaeans.

and having attacked them, they became strong masters of all the places, and they defended against all those fighting on the wall, and they slaughtered those who were falling in, and they killed no fewer than twenty thousand

But of those who had fled together, no fewer than nine thousand went into two very strong towers, having very well all things for a siege.

Maccabeus, leaving Simon and Joseph and also Zacchaeus and those with him, sufficient for the siege of these places, withdrew himself to other places

But those around Simon, having become fond of money, were persuaded by some of those in the towers with silver; and having received seventy thousand drachmas, they let some escape.

And when it was reported to Maccabeus concerning what had happened, having gathered the leaders of the people, he accused them that they had sold their brothers for silver, having let the enemy go against them.

So he killed these men, who had become traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers.

And prospering in all things with the weapons in his hands, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds

But Timothy, who had formerly been defeated by the Jews, having gathered many foreign forces in full number and having assembled a not few horses from Asia, was present, intending to seize Judea as plunder of spears

But those around Maccabaeus, as he was drawing near to supplication of God, having sprinkled ashes on their heads to the ground and having girded their loins with sackcloths

And falling upon the front of the altar’s platform, they were begging that, having become gracious to them, he would be hostile to their enemies and oppose those opposing them, as the law makes clear.

And having finished the prayer, taking up their weapons, they advanced from the city; and when they had drawn nearer to the enemies, they were upon themselves

But now, as day was just breaking, both sides attacked: the one side having as guarantee of prosperity and victory, together with courage, their refuge in the Lord; the other side appointing as leader of the contests anger.

But when there had been a hard battle, there appeared to the opponents from heaven on horses with golden bridles, five distinguished men, and leading the Jews.

and they, taking Maccabeus in the midst and covering him with their own armor, kept him unharmed; and against the enemies they were hurling missiles and thunderbolts; therefore, being thrown into confusion by blindness, they were being cut down, filled with turmoil

And about twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, and six hundred horsemen.

But Timothy himself fled into Gazara, a fortress called, very strongly fortified, with Chaireos commanding there.

But those around Maccabaeus joyfully besieged the fortress for four days

But those within, trusting in the strength of the place, exceedingly blasphemed and uttered unlawful words

But as the fifth day was dawning, twenty young men of those around Maccabaeus, inflamed in their passions because of the blasphemies, attacking the wall, in a manly and beastlike fury were cutting down the one who fell upon them.

But others likewise, having gone up in the confusion toward those inside, were setting fire to the towers, and, kindling fires, they burned the blasphemers alive; and others were cutting through the gates, and, having admitted the rest of the force, they seized the city beforehand.

And Timothy, having hidden himself in a certain pit, they slaughtered, and his brother Chaireas and Apollophanes.

And having accomplished these things with hymns and thanksgivings, they were blessing the Lord, who greatly does good to Israel and who gives the victory to them.