2Maccabees:15

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* But Nicanor , hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria , resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day . * Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said , O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously , but give honour to that day , which he , that seeth all things , hath honoured with holiness above all other days . * Then the most ungracious wretch demanded , if there were a Mighty one in heaven , that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept . * And when they said , There is in heaven a living Lord , and mighty , who commanded the seventh day to be kept : * Then said the other , And I also am mighty upon earth , and I command to take arms , and to do the king 's business . Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done . * So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him . * But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him : * Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them , but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven , and now to expect the victory and aid , which should come unto them from the Almighty . * And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets , and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore , he made them more cheerful . * And when he had stirred up their minds , he gave them their charge , shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen , and the breach of oaths . * Thus he armed every one of them , not so much with defence of shields and spears , as with comfortable and good words : and beside that , he told them a dream worthy to be believed , as if it had been so indeed , which did not a little rejoice them . * And this was his vision : That Onias , who had been high priest , a virtuous and a good man , reverend in conversation , gentle in condition , well spoken also , and exercised from a child in all points of virtue , holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews . * This done , in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs , and exceeding glorious , who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty . * Then Onias answered , saying , This is a lover of the brethren , who prayeth much for the people , and for the holy city , to wit , Jeremias the prophet of God . * Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold , and in giving it spake thus , * Take this holy sword , a gift from God , with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries . * Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas , which were very good , and able to stir them up to valour , and to encourage the hearts of the young men , they determined not to pitch camp , but courageously to set upon them , and manfully to try the matter by conflict , because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger . * For the care that they took for their wives , and their children , their brethren , and folks , was in least account with them : but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple . * Also they that were in the city took not the least care , being troubled for the conflict abroad . * And now , when as all looked what should be the trial , and the enemies were already come near , and the army was set in array , and the beasts conveniently placed , and the horsemen set in wings , * Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude , and the divers preparations of armour , and the fierceness of the beasts , stretched out his hands toward heaven , and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders , knowing that victory cometh not by arms , but even as it seemeth good to him , he giveth it to such as are worthy : * Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner ; O Lord , thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea , and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand : * Wherefore now also , O Lord of heaven , send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them ; * And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror , that come against thy holy people to blaspheme . And he ended thus . * Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs . * But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer . * So that fighting with their hands , and praying unto God with their hearts , they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men : for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered . * Now when the battle was done , returning again with joy , they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness . * Then they made a great shout and a noise , praising the Almighty in their own language . * And Judas , who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind , and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life , commanded to strike off Nicanor 's head , and his hand with his shoulder , and bring them to Jerusalem . * So when he was there , and called them of his nation together , and set the priests before the altar , he sent for them that were of the tower , * And shewed them vile Nicanor 's head , and the hand of that blasphemer , which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty . * And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor , he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls , and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple . * So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord , saying , Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled . * He hanged also Nicanor 's head upon the tower , an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord . * And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity , but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the twelfth month , which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar , the day before Mardocheus ' day . * Thus went it with Nicanor : and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power . And here will I make an end . * And if I have done well , and as is fitting the story , it is that which I desired : but if slenderly and meanly , it is that which I could attain unto . * For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone ; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant , and delighteth the taste : even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story . And here shall be an end .

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