2Maccabees:14

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* After three years was Judas informed , that Demetrius the son of Seleucus , having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy , * Had taken the country , and killed Antiochus , and Lysias his protector . * Now one Alcimus , who had been high priest , and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles , seeing that by no means he could save himself , nor have any more access to the holy altar , * Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year , presenting unto him a crown of gold , and a palm , and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple : and so that day he held his peace . * Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprize , and being called into counsel by Demetrius , and asked how the Jews stood affected , and what they intended , he answered thereunto : * Those of the Jews that he called Assideans , whose captain is Judas Maccabeus , nourish war and are seditious , and will not let the rest be in peace . * Therefore I , being deprived of mine ancestors ' honour , I mean the high priesthood , am now come hither : * First , verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king ; and secondly , even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen : for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforersaid . * Wherefore , O king , seeing knowest all these things , be careful for the country , and our nation , which is pressed on every side , according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all . * For as long as Judas liveth , it is not possible that the state should be quiet . * This was no sooner spoken of him , but others of the king 's friends , being maliciously set against Judas , did more incense Demetrius . * And forthwith calling Nicanor , who had been master of the elephants , and making him governor over Judea , he sent him forth , * Commanding him to slay Judas , and to scatter them that were with him , and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple . * Then the heathen , that had fled out of Judea from Judas , came to Nicanor by flocks , thinking the harm and calamities ot the Jews to be their welfare . * Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor 's coming , and that the heathen were up against them , they cast earth upon their heads , and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever , and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence . * So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways from thence , and came near unto them at the town of Dessau . * Now Simon , Judas ' brother , had joined battle with Nicanor , but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies . * Nevertheless Nicanor , hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas , and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country , durst not try the matter by the sword . * Wherefore he sent Posidonius , and Theodotus , and Mattathias , to make peace . * So when they had taken long advisement thereupon , and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith , and it appeared that they were all of one mind , they consented to the covenants , * And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves : and when the day came , and stools were set for either of them , * Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places , lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies : so they made a peaceable conference . * Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem , and did no hurt , but sent away the people that came flocking unto him . * And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight : for he love the man from his heart * He prayed him also to take a wife , and to beget children : so he married , was quiet , and took part of this life . * But Alcimus , perceiving the love that was betwixt them , and considering the covenants that were made , came to Demetrius , and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state ; for that he had ordained Judas , a traitor to his realm , to be the king 's successor . * Then the king being in a rage , and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man , wrote to Nicanor , signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants , and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch . * When this came to Nicanor 's hearing , he was much confounded in himself , and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon , the man being in no fault . * But because there was no dealing against the king , he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy . * Notwithstanding , when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him , and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont , perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good , he gathered together not a few of his men , and withdrew himself from Nicanor . * But the other , knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas ' policy , came into the great and holy temple , and commanded the priests , that were offering their usual sacrifices , to deliver him the man . * And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought , * He stretched out his right hand toward the temple , and made an oath in this manner : If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner , I will lay this temple of God even with the ground , and I will break down the altar , and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus . * After these words he departed . Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven , and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation , saying in this manner ; * Thou , O Lord of all things , who hast need of nothing , wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us : * Therefore now , O holy Lord of all holiness , keep this house ever undefiled , which lately was cleansed , and stop every unrighteous mouth . * Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis , one of the elders of Jerusalem , a lover of his countrymen , and a man of very good report , who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews . * For in the former times , when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles , he had been accused of Judaism , and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews . * So Nicanor , willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews , sent above five hundred men of war to take him : * For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt . * Now when the multitude would have taken the tower , and violently broken into the outer door , and bade that fire should be brought to burn it , he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword ; * Choosing rather to die manfully , than to come into the hands of the wicked , to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth : * But missing his stroke through haste , the multitude also rushing within the doors , he ran boldly up to the wall , and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them . * But they quickly giving back , and a space being made , he fell down into the midst of the void place . * Nevertheless , while there was yet breath within him , being inflamed with anger , he rose up ; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water , and his wounds were grievous , yet he ran through the midst of the throng ; and standing upon a steep rock , * When as his blood was now quite gone , he plucked out his bowels , and taking them in both his hands , he cast them upon the throng , and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again , he thus died .

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