2Maccabees:9

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia * For he had entered the city called Persepolis , and went about to rob the temple , and to hold the city ; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight ; and so it happened , that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame . * Now when he came to Ecbatane , news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus . * Then swelling with anger . he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee . Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing , and to dispatch the journey , the judgment of GOd now following him . For he had spoken proudly in this sort , That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jew s . * But the Lord Almighty , the God of Isreal , smote him with an incurable and invisible plague : or as soon as he had spoken these words , a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him , and sore torments of the inner parts ; * And that most justly : for he had tormented other men 's bowels with many and strange torments . * Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging , but still was filled with pride , breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews , and commanding to haste the journey : but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot , carried violently ; so that having a sore fall , all the members of his body were much pained . * And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea , (so proud was he beyond the condition of man ) and weigh the high mountains in a balance , was now cast on the ground , and carried in an horselitter , shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God . * So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man , and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain , his flesh fell away , and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army . * And the man , that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven , no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink . * Here therefore , being plagued , he began to leave off his great pride , and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God , his pain increasing every moment . * And when he himself could not abide his own smell , he said these words , It is meet to be subject unto God , and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God . * This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord , who now no more would have mercy upon him , saying thus , * That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground , and to make it a common buryingplace ,) he would set at liberty : * And as touching the Jews , whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried , but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts , he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens : * And the holy temple , which before he had spoiled , he would garnish with goodly gifts , and restore all the holy vessels with many more , and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices : * Yea , and that also he would become a Jew himself , and go through all the world that was inhabited , and declare the power of God . * But for all this his pains would not cease : for the just judgment of God was come upon him : therefore despairing of his health , he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten , containing the form of a supplication , after this manner : * Antiochus , king and governor , to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy , health , and prosperity : * If ye and your children fare well , and your affairs be to your contentment , I give very great thanks to God , having my hope in heaven . * As for me , I was weak , or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia , and being taken with a grievous disease , I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all : * Not distrusting mine health , but having great hope to escape this sickness . * But considering that even my father , at what time he led an army into the high countries . appointed a successor , * To the end that , if any thing fell out contrary to expectation , or if any tidings were brought that were grievous , they of the land , knowing to whom the state was left , might not be troubled : * Again , considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities , and expect what shall be the event . I have appointed my son Antiochus king , whom I often committed and commended unto many of you , when I went up into the high provinces ; to whom I have written as followeth : * Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally , and in special , and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son . * For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably and graciously yield to your desires . * Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously , as he entreated other men , so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains . * And Philip , that was brought up with him , carried away his body , who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus Philometor .

---