2 Macc 15

1But 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. 2Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruellyand barbarously, but give honor to that day, which he, that sees all things, has honored with holinessabove all other days. 3Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that hadcommanded the sabbath day to be kept. 4And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventhday to be kept: 5Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, andto do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done. 6So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monumentof his victory over Judas and them that were with him. 7But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him: 8Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, butto remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victoryand aid, which should come to them from the Almighty. 9And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mindof the battles that they won before, he made them more cheerful. 10And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, showing them therewithalthe falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths. 11Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as withcomfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it hadbeen so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them. 12And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a goodman, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in allpoints of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews. 13This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious,who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty. 14Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prays much for thepeople, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God. 15Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and ingiving it spoke thus, 16Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which you shall wound the adversaries. 17Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stirthem up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, butcourageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuaryand the temple were in danger. 18For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, andfolks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple. 19Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflictabroad. 20And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already comenear, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings, 21Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the various preparations of armor,and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord thatworks wonders, knowing that victory comes not by arms, but even as it seems good to him, he gives it tosuch as are worthy: 22Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, you did send your angel inthe time of Ezekias king of Judea, and did kill in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and fivethousand: 23Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dreadto them; 24And through the might of your arm let those be stricken with terror, that come againstyour holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus. 25Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs. 26But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer. 27So that fighting with their hands, and praying to God with their hearts, they killedno less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered. 28Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay deadin his harness. 29Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language. 30And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, andwho continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, andhis hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. 31So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and set the priests beforethe altar, he sent for them that were of the tower, 32And showed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proudbrags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty. 33And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they shouldgive it by pieces to the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple. 34So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he thathas kept his own place undefiled. 35He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign to all ofthe help of the Lord. 36And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity,but to celebrate the thirties day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, theday before Mardocheus' day. 37Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in theirpower. And here will I make an end. 38And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: butif slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain to. 39For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water ispleasant, and delights the taste: even so speech finely framed delights the ears of them that read thestory. And here shall be an end.