2Maccabees:13

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas , that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea , * And with him Lysias his protector , and ruler of his affairs , having either of them a Grecian power of footmen , an hundred and ten thousand , and horsemen five thousand and three hundred , and elephants two and twenty , and three hundred chariots armed with hooks . * Menelaus also joined himself with them , and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus , not for the safeguard of the country , but because he thought to have been made governor . * But the King of kings moved Antiochus ' mind against this wicked wretch , and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief , so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea , and to put him to death , as the manner is in that place . * Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high , full of ashes , and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes . * And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege , or had committed any other grievous crime , there did all men thrust him unto death . * Such a death it happened that wicked man to die , not having so much as burial in the earth ; and that most justly : * For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar , whose fire and ashes were holy , he received his death in ashes . * Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews , than had been done in his father 's time . * Which things when Judas perceived , he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day , that if ever at any other time , he would now also help them , being at the point to be put from their law , from their country , and from the holy temple : * And that he would not suffer the people , that had even now been but a little refreshed , to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations . * So when they had all done this together , and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting , and lying flat upon the ground three days long , Judas , having exhorted them , commanded they should be in a readiness . * And Judas , being apart with the elders , determined , before the king 's host should enter into Judea , and get the city , to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord . * So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world , and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully , even unto death , for the laws , the temple , the city , the country , and the commonwealth , he camped by Modin : * And having given the watchword to them that were about him , Victory is of God ; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king 's tent by night , and slew in the camp about four thousand men , and the chiefest of the elephants , with all that were upon him . * And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult , and departed with good success . * This was done in the break of the day , because the protection of the Lord did help him . * Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews , he went about to take the holds by policy , * And marched toward Bethsura , which was a strong hold of the Jews : but he was put to flight , failed , and lost of his men : * For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary . * But Rhodocus , who was in the Jews ' host , disclosed the secrets to the enemies ; therefore he was sought out , and when they had gotten him , they put him in prison . * The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time , gave his hand , took their 's , departed , fought with Judas , was overcome ; * Heard that Philip , who was left over the affairs in Antioch , was desperately bent , confounded , intreated the Jews , submitted himself , and sware to all equal conditions , agreed with them , and offered sacrifice , honoured the temple , and dealt kindly with the place , * And accepted well of Maccabeus , made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians ; * Came to Ptolemais : the people there were grieved for the covenants ; for they stormed , because they would make their covenants void : * Lysias went up to the judgment seat , said as much as could be in defence of the cause , persuaded , pacified , made them well affected , returned to Antioch . Thus it went touching the king 's coming and departing .

---