Bible Text & Cross-references:
Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him
to be made high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his threats. The history of Razias.
1 But *after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with
him, understood that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis,
to places proper for his purpose,
2 And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and
his general, Lysias.
3 Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled
himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
4 Came to king Demetrius in the year *one hundred and fifty, presenting
unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed
he held his peace.
5 But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called
to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,
6 He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans,
of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.
7 For I also being deprived of my ancestor's glory (I mean of the high
priesthood) am now come hither:
8 Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but in
the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings
of those men.
9 Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take care,
I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,
10 For as long as Judas liveth it is not possible that the state should
be quiet.
11 Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the
king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.
12 And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor
into Judea:
13 Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them
that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.
14 Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea, from Judas, came to Nicanor
by flocks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.
15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the nations
were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him who chose his people to keep them
for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.
16 Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from
the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.
17 Now Simon, the brother of Judas, had joined battle with Nicanor, but
was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
18 Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas' companions, and
the greatness of courage, with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.
19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before
to present and receive the right hands.
20 And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain
had acquainted the multitude with it, they were all of one mind to consent to covenants.
21 So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by
themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.
22 But Judas ordered armed men to be ready in convenient places, lest
some mischief might be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.
23 And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the
flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.
24 And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected
to the man.
25 And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married:
he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
26 But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants,
came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a
traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
27 Then the king, being in a rage, and provoked with this man's wicked
accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded
him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.
28 When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously
that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.
29 But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity
to comply with the orders.
30 But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and
that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner; and was sensible that this rough behaviour came
not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.
31 But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great
and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
32 And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was
whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,
33 And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will
lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.
34 And when he had spoken thus, he departed. But the priests stretching
forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that
the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.
36 Therefore now, O Lord, the holy of all holies, keep this house for
ever undefiled, which was lately cleansed.
37 Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor,
a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his kindness was called the father of the Jews.
38 This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself
pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.
39 So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews,
sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
40 For he thought by ensnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.
41 Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open
the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:
42 Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked,
and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.
43 But whereas through haste he missed of giving a sure wound, and
the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:
44 But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst
of the neck.
45 And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind, he arose:
and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:
46 And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood,
grasping his bowels, with both hands he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these
to him again: and so he departed this life.
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*
1: Year of the World 3842, Year before Christ 162.
4: Year of the World 3843.