Page 1253 - bible

Second Book of Machabees 1247

by force of arms. pushing forward with fierce courage, got up upon
26 But Machabeus, and they that were with it:
him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, 36 Moreover, others also getting up after
sprinkling earth upon their heads, and girding them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates,
their loins with haircloth, and to burn the blasphemers alive.
26 And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, 37 And having for two days together pillaged
besought him to be merciful to them, and to be and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus,
an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to who was found hid in a certain place: they slew
their adversaries, as the law saith. also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.
27 And so after prayer taking their arms, they 38 And when this was done, they blessed the
went forth further from the city, and when they Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had
were come very near the enemies they rested. done great things in Israel, and given them the
28 But as soon as the sun was risen both sides victory.
joined battle: the one part having, with their val-
our, the Lord for a surety of victory, and success:
but the other side making their rage their leader Chapter 11

in battle.
29 But when they were in the heat of the en- A short time after this Lysias, the king’s lieu-
gagement, there appeared to the enemies from tenant, and cousin, and who had chief charge
heaven five men upon horses, comely, with over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with
golden bridles, conducting the Jews: what had happened,
30 Two of them took Machabeus between 2 Gathered together fourscore thousand men,
them, and covered him on every side with their and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews,
arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and fire- thinking to take the city, and make it a habita-
balls against the enemy, so that they fell down, tion of the Gentiles:
being both confounded with blindness, and filled 3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the
with trouble. other temples of the Gentiles and to set the high
31 And there were slain twenty thousand five priesthood to sale every year:
hundred, and six hundred horsemen. 4 Never considering the power of God, but
32 But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong puffed up in mind, and trusting in the multi-
hold where Chereas was governor. tude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of
33 Then Machabeus, and they that were with his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
him cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days. 5 So he came into Judea, and approaching to
34 But they that were within, trusting to the Bethsura, which was in a narrow place, the space
strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid siege to
and cast forth abominable words. that fortress.
35 But when the fifth day appeared, twenty 6 But when Machabeus, and they that were
young men of them that were with Machabeus, with him, understood that the strong holds were
inflamed in their minds, because of the blas- besieged, they and all the people besought the
phemy, approached manfully to the wall, and Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would