ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 6

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 και ο βασιλευς αντιοχος διεπορευετο τας επανω χωρας και ηκουσεν οτι εστιν ελυμαις εν τη περσιδι πολις ενδοξος πλουτω αργυριω και χρυσιω	1 King Antiochus, meanwhile, was making his way through the Upper Provinces; he had heard that inPersia there was a city called Elymais, renowned for its riches, its silver and gold,
2 και το ιερον το εν αυτη πλουσιον σφοδρα και εκει καλυμματα χρυσα και θωρακες και οπλα α κατελιπεν εκει αλεξανδρος ο του φιλιππου ο βασιλευς ο μακεδων ος εβασιλευσεν πρωτος εν τοις ελλησι	2 and its very wealthy temple containing golden armour, breastplates and weapons, left there byAlexander son of Philip, the king of Macedon, the first to reign over the Greeks.
3 και ηλθεν και εζητει καταλαβεσθαι την πολιν και προνομευσαι αυτην και ουκ ηδυνασθη οτι εγνωσθη ο λογος τοις εκ της πολεως	3 He therefore went and attempted to take the city and pil age it, but without success, the citizens havingbeen forewarned.
4 και αντεστησαν αυτω εις πολεμον και εφυγεν και απηρεν εκειθεν μετα λυπης μεγαλης αποστρεψαι εις βαβυλωνα	4 They resisted him by force of arms. He was routed, and began retreating, very gloomily, towardsBabylon.
5 και ηλθεν τις απαγγελλων αυτω εις την περσιδα οτι τετροπωνται αι παρεμβολαι αι πορευθεισαι εις γην ιουδα	5 But, while he was stil in Persia, news reached him that the armies which had invaded Judaea hadbeen routed,
6 και επορευθη λυσιας δυναμει ισχυρα εν πρωτοις και ενετραπη απο προσωπου αυτων και επισχυσαν οπλοις και δυναμει και σκυλοις πολλοις οις ελαβον απο των παρεμβολων ων εξεκοψαν	6 and that Lysias in particular had advanced in massive strength, only to be forced to turn and flee beforethe Jews; that the latter were now stronger than ever, thanks to the arms, supplies and abundant spoils acquiredfrom the armies they had cut to pieces,
7 και καθειλον το βδελυγμα ο ωκοδομησεν επι το θυσιαστηριον το εν ιερουσαλημ και το αγιασμα καθως το προτερον εκυκλωσαν τειχεσιν υψηλοις και την βαιθσουραν πολιν αυτου	7 and that they had pul ed down the abomination which he had erected on the altar in Jerusalem, hadencircled the sanctuary with high wal s as in the past, and had fortified Beth-Zur, one of his cities.
8 και εγενετο ως ηκουσεν ο βασιλευς τους λογους τουτους εθαμβηθη και εσαλευθη σφοδρα και επεσεν επι την κοιτην και ενεπεσεν εις αρρωστιαν απο της λυπης οτι ουκ εγενετο αυτω καθως ενεθυμειτο	8 When the king heard this news he was amazed and profoundly shaken; he threw himself on his bedand fel sick with grief, since things had not turned out for him as he had planned.
9 και ην εκει ημερας πλειους οτι ανεκαινισθη επ' αυτον λυπη μεγαλη και ελογισατο οτι αποθνησκει	9 And there he remained for many days, subject to deep and recurrent fits of melancholy, until herealised that he was dying.
10 και εκαλεσεν παντας τους φιλους αυτου και ειπεν προς αυτους αφισταται ο υπνος απο των οφθαλμων μου και συμπεπτωκα τη καρδια απο της μεριμνης	10 Then, summoning al his Friends, he said to them, 'Sleep evades my eyes, and my heart is cowed byanxiety.
11 και ειπα τη καρδια εως τινος θλιψεως ηλθα και κλυδωνος μεγαλου εν ω νυν ειμι οτι χρηστος και αγαπωμενος ημην εν τη εξουσια μου	11 I have been wondering how I could have come to such a pitch of distress, so great a flood as thatwhich now engulfs me -- I who was so generous and wel -loved in my heyday.
12 νυν δε μιμνησκομαι των κακων ων εποιησα εν ιερουσαλημ και ελαβον παντα τα σκευη τα αργυρα και τα χρυσα τα εν αυτη και εξαπεστειλα εξαραι τους κατοικουντας ιουδα δια κενης	12 But now I recall how wrongly I acted in Jerusalem when I seized al the vessels of silver and goldthere and ordered the extermination of the inhabitants of Judah for no reason at al .
13 εγνων οτι χαριν τουτων ευρεν με τα κακα ταυτα και ιδου απολλυμαι λυπη μεγαλη εν γη αλλοτρια	13 This, I am convinced, is why these misfortunes have overtaken me, and why I am dying of melancholyin a foreign land.'
14 και εκαλεσεν φιλιππον ενα των φιλων αυτου και κατεστησεν αυτον επι πασης της βασιλειας αυτου	14 He summoned Philip, one of his Friends, and made him regent of the whole kingdom.
15 και εδωκεν αυτω το διαδημα και την στολην αυτου και τον δακτυλιον του αγαγειν αντιοχον τον υιον αυτου και εκθρεψαι αυτον του βασιλευειν	15 He entrusted him with his diadem, his robe and his signet, on the understanding that he was toeducate his son Antiochus and train him for the throne.
16 και απεθανεν εκει αντιοχος ο βασιλευς ετους ενατου και τεσσαρακοστου και εκατοστου	16 King Antiochus then died, in the year 149.
17 και επεγνω λυσιας οτι τεθνηκεν ο βασιλευς και κατεστησεν βασιλευειν αντιοχον τον υιον αυτου ον εξεθρεψεν νεωτερον και εκαλεσεν το ονομα αυτου ευπατωρ	17 Lysias, learning that the king was dead, established on the throne in succession to him his sonAntiochus, whom he had brought up from childhood -- and styled him Eupator.
18 και οι εκ της ακρας ησαν συγκλειοντες τον ισραηλ κυκλω των αγιων και ζητουντες κακα δι' ολου και στηριγμα τοις εθνεσιν	18 The people in the Citadel at the time were blockading Israel round the sanctuary and were takingevery opportunity to harm them and to support the gentiles.
19 και ελογισατο ιουδας εξαραι αυτους και εξεκκλησιασε παντα τον λαον του περικαθισαι επ' αυτους	19 Judas decided that they must be destroyed, and he mobilised the whole people to besiege them.
20 και συνηχθησαν αμα και περιεκαθισαν επ' αυτην ετους πεντηκοστου και εκατοστου και εποιησεν βελοστασεις και μηχανας	20 They assembled and laid siege to the Citadel in the year 150, building batteries and siege-engines.
21 και εξηλθον εξ αυτων εκ του συγκλεισμου και εκολληθησαν αυτοις τινες των ασεβων εξ ισραηλ	21 But some of the besieged broke through the blockade, and to these a number of renegades fromIsrael attached themselves.
22 και επορευθησαν προς τον βασιλεα και ειπον εως ποτε ου ποιηση κρισιν και εκδικησεις τους αδελφους ημων	22 They made their way to the king and said, 'How much longer are you going to wait before you seejustice done and avenge our fellows?
23 ημεις ευδοκουμεν δουλευειν τω πατρι σου και πορευεσθαι τοις υπ' αυτου λεγομενοις και κατακολουθειν τοις προσταγμασιν αυτου	23 We were content to serve your father, to comply with his orders, and to obey his edicts.
24 και περιεκαθηντο επ' αυτην οι υιοι του λαου ημων χαριν τουτου και ηλλοτριουντο αφ' ημων πλην οσοι ευρισκοντο εξ ημων εθανατουντο και αι κληρονομιαι ημων διηρπαζοντο	24 As a result our own people will have nothing to do with us; what is more, they have kil ed al those ofus they could catch, and looted our family property.
25 και ουκ εφ' ημας μονον εξετειναν χειρα αλλα και επι παντα τα ορια αυτων	25 Nor is it on us alone that their blows have fal en, but on al your territories.
26 και ιδου παρεμβεβληκασι σημερον επι την ακραν εν ιερουσαλημ του καταλαβεσθαι αυτην και το αγιασμα και την βαιθσουραν ωχυρωσαν	26 At this moment, they are laying siege to the Citadel of Jerusalem, to capture it, and they have fortifiedthe sanctuary and Beth-Zur.
27 και εαν μη προκαταλαβη αυτους δια ταχους μειζονα τουτων ποιησουσιν και ου δυνηση του κατασχειν αυτων	27 Unless you forestall them at once, they wil go on to even bigger things, and then you wil never beable to control them.'
28 και ωργισθη ο βασιλευς οτε ηκουσεν και συνηγαγεν παντας τους φιλους αυτου αρχοντας δυναμεως αυτου και τους επι των ηνιων	28 The king was furious when he heard this and summoned al his Friends, the generals of his forcesand the marshals of horse.
29 και απο βασιλειων ετερων και απο νησων θαλασσων ηλθον προς αυτον δυναμεις μισθωται	29 He recruited mercenaries from other kingdoms and the Mediterranean islands.
30 και ην ο αριθμος των δυναμεων αυτου εκατον χιλιαδες πεζων και εικοσι χιλιαδες ιππεων και ελεφαντες δυο και τριακοντα ειδοτες πολεμον	30 His forces numbered a hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand cavalry and thirty-twoelephants with experience of battle conditions.
31 και ηλθον δια της ιδουμαιας και παρενεβαλον επι βαιθσουραν και επολεμησαν ημερας πολλας και εποιησαν μηχανας και εξηλθον και ενεπυρισαν αυτας πυρι και επολεμησαν ανδρωδως	31 They advanced through Idumaea and besieged Beth-Zur, pressing the attack for days on end; theyalso constructed siege-engines, but the defenders made a sortie and set these on fire, putting up a braveresistance.
32 και απηρεν ιουδας απο της ακρας και παρενεβαλεν εις βαιθζαχαρια απεναντι της παρεμβολης του βασιλεως	32 At this, Judas left the Citadel and pitched camp at Beth-Zechariah opposite the royal encampment.
33 και ωρθρισεν ο βασιλευς το πρωι και απηρεν την παρεμβολην εν ορμηματι αυτης κατα την οδον βαιθζαχαρια και διεσκευασθησαν αι δυναμεις εις τον πολεμον και εσαλπισαν ταις σαλπιγξιν	33 The king rose at daybreak and marched his army at top speed down the road to Beth-Zechariah,where his forces took up their battle formations and sounded the trumpets.
34 και τοις ελεφασιν εδειξαν αιμα σταφυλης και μορων του παραστησαι αυτους εις τον πολεμον	34 The elephants were given a syrup of grapes and mulberries to prepare them for the battle.
35 και διειλον τα θηρια εις τας φαλαγγας και παρεστησαν εκαστω ελεφαντι χιλιους ανδρας τεθωρακισμενους εν αλυσιδωτοις και περικεφαλαιαι χαλκαι επι των κεφαλων αυτων και πεντακοσια ιππος διατεταγμενη εκαστω θηριω εκλελεγμενη	35 These animals were distributed among the phalanxes, to each elephant being al ocated a thousandmen dressed in coats of mail with bronze helmets on their heads; five hundred picked horsemen were alsoassigned to each beast.
36 ουτοι προ καιρου ου αν η το θηριον ησαν και ου εαν επορευετο επορευοντο αμα ουκ αφισταντο απ' αυτου	36 The horsemen anticipated every move their elephant made; wherever it went they went with it, neverquitting it.
37 και πυργοι ξυλινοι επ' αυτους οχυροι σκεπαζομενοι εφ' εκαστου θηριου εζωσμενοι επ' αυτου μηχαναις και εφ' εκαστου ανδρες δυναμεως τεσσαρες οι πολεμουντες επ' αυτοις και ο ινδος αυτου	37 On each elephant, to protect it, was a stout wooden tower, kept in position by girths, each with itsthree combatants, as well as its mahout.
38 και την επιλοιπον ιππον ενθεν και ενθεν εστησεν επι τα δυο μερη της παρεμβολης κατασειοντες και καταφρασσομενοι εν ταις φαλαγξιν	38 The remainder of the cavalry was stationed on one or other of the two flanks of the army, to harassthe enemy and cover the phalanxes.
39 ως δε εστιλβεν ο ηλιος επι τας χρυσας και χαλκας ασπιδας εστιλβεν τα ορη απ' αυτων και κατηυγαζεν ως λαμπαδες πυρος	39 When the sun glinted on the bronze and golden shields, the mountains caught the glint and gleamedlike fiery torches.
40 και εξεταθη μερος τι της παρεμβολης του βασιλεως επι τα υψηλα ορη και τινες επι τα ταπεινα και ηρχοντο ασφαλως και τεταγμενως	40 One part of the royal army was deployed on the upper slopes of the mountain and the other in theval ey below; they advanced in solid, wel -disciplined formation.
41 και εσαλευοντο παντες οι ακουοντες φωνης πληθους αυτων και οδοιποριας του πληθους και συγκρουσμου των οπλων ην γαρ η παρεμβολη μεγαλη σφοδρα και ισχυρα	41 Everyone trembled at the noise made by this vast multitude, the thunder of the troops on the marchand the clanking of their armour, for it was an immense and mighty army.
42 και ηγγισεν ιουδας και η παρεμβολη αυτου εις παραταξιν και επεσον απο της παρεμβολης του βασιλεως εξακοσιοι ανδρες	42 Judas and his army advanced to give battle, and six hundred of the king's army were killed.
43 και ειδεν ελεαζαρος ο αυαραν εν των θηριων τεθωρακισμενον θωραξιν βασιλικοις και ην υπεραγον παντα τα θηρια και ωηθη οτι εν αυτω εστιν ο βασιλευς	43 Eleazar, cal ed Avaran, noticing that one of the elephants was royal y caparisoned and was also tal erthan al the others, and supposing that the king was mounted on it,
44 και εδωκεν εαυτον του σωσαι τον λαον αυτου και περιποιησαι εαυτω ονομα αιωνιον	44 sacrificed himself to save his people and win an imperishable name.
45 και επεδραμεν αυτω θρασει εις μεσον της φαλαγγος και εθανατου δεξια και ευωνυμα και εσχιζοντο απ' αυτου ενθα και ενθα	45 Boldly charging towards the creature through the thick of the phalanx, dealing death to right and left,so that the enemy scattered on either side at his onslaught,
46 και εισεδυ υπο τον ελεφαντα και υπεθηκεν αυτω και ανειλεν αυτον και επεσεν επι την γην επανω αυτου και απεθανεν εκει	46 he darted in under the elephant, thrust at it from underneath, and kil ed it. The beast collapsed on topof him, and he died on the spot.
47 και ειδον την ισχυν της βασιλειας και το ορμημα των δυναμεων και εξεκλιναν απ' αυτων	47 The Jews however realising how strong the king was and how ferocious his army, retreated ahead ofthem.
48 οι δε εκ της παρεμβολης του βασιλεως ανεβαινον εις συναντησιν αυτων εις ιερουσαλημ και παρενεβαλεν ο βασιλευς εις την ιουδαιαν και εις το ορος σιων	48 The royal army moved up to encounter them outside Jerusalem, and the king began to blockadeJudaea and Mount Zion.
49 και εποιησεν ειρηνην μετα των εκ βαιθσουρων και εξηλθον εκ της πολεως οτι ουκ ην αυτοις εκει διατροφη του συγκεκλεισθαι εν αυτη οτι σαββατον ην τη γη	49 He granted peace terms to the people of Beth-Zur, who evacuated the town; it lacked store ofprovisions to withstand a siege, since the land was enjoying a sabbatical year.
50 και κατελαβετο ο βασιλευς την βαιθσουραν και απεταξεν εκει φρουραν τηρειν αυτην	50 Having occupied Beth-Zur, the king stationed a garrison there to hold it.
51 και παρενεβαλεν επι το αγιασμα ημερας πολλας και εστησεν εκει βελοστασεις και μηχανας και πυροβολα και λιθοβολα και σκορπιδια εις το βαλλεσθαι βελη και σφενδονας	51 He besieged the sanctuary for a long time, erecting batteries and siege-engines, flame-throwers andballistas, scorpions to discharge arrows, and catapults.
52 και εποιησαν και αυτοι μηχανας προς τας μηχανας αυτων και επολεμησαν ημερας πολλας	52 The defenders countered these by constructing their own engines and were thus able to prolong theirresistance.
53 βρωματα δε ουκ ην εν τοις αγγειοις δια το εβδομον ετος ειναι και οι ανασωζομενοι εις την ιουδαιαν απο των εθνων κατεφαγον το υπολειμμα της παραθεσεως	53 But they had no food in their stores since it was the seventh year, and because those who had takenrefuge in Judaea from the gentiles had eaten up the last of their reserves.
54 και υπελειφθησαν εν τοις αγιοις ανδρες ολιγοι οτι κατεκρατησεν αυτων ο λιμος και εσκορπισθησαν εκαστος εις τον τοπον αυτου	54 Only a few men were left in the Holy Place, owing to the severity of the famine; the rest had dispersed and gone home.
55 και ηκουσεν λυσιας οτι φιλιππος ον κατεστησεν ο βασιλευς αντιοχος ετι ζωντος αυτου εκθρεψαι αντιοχον τον υιον αυτου εις το βασιλευσαι αυτον	55 Meanwhile Philip, whom King Antiochus before his death had appointed to train his son Antiochus forthe throne,
56 απεστρεψεν απο της περσιδος και μηδιας και αι δυναμεις αι πορευθεισαι μετα του βασιλεως μετ' αυτου και οτι ζητει παραλαβειν τα των πραγματων	56 had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had accompanied the king, and was planningto seize control of affairs.
57 και κατεσπευδεν και επενευσεν του απελθειν και ειπεν προς τον βασιλεα και τους ηγεμονας της δυναμεως και τους ανδρας εκλειπομεν καθ' ημεραν και η τροφη ημιν ολιγη και ο τοπος ου παρεμβαλλομεν εστιν οχυρος και επικειται ημιν τα της βασιλειας	57 On hearing this, Lysias at once decided to leave, and said to the king, the generals of the army andthe men, 'We are growing weaker every day, we are short of food, and the place we are besieging is welfortified; moreover the affairs of the kingdom demand our attention.
58 νυν ουν δωμεν δεξιας τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις και ποιησωμεν μετ' αυτων ειρηνην και μετα παντος εθνους αυτων	58 Let us offer the hand of friendship to these men and make peace with them and with their wholenation.
59 και στησωμεν αυτοις του πορευεσθαι τοις νομιμοις αυτων ως το προτερον χαριν γαρ των νομιμων αυτων ων διεσκεδασαμεν ωργισθησαν και εποιησαν ταυτα παντα	59 Let us grant them permission to fol ow their own customs as before, since it is our abolition of thesecustoms that has provoked them into acting like this.'
60 και ηρεσεν ο λογος εναντιον του βασιλεως και των αρχοντων και απεστειλεν προς αυτους ειρηνευσαι και επεδεξαντο	60 The king and his commanders approved this argument, and he offered the Jews peace terms, whichthey accepted.
61 και ωμοσεν αυτοις ο βασιλευς και οι αρχοντες επι τουτοις εξηλθον εκ του οχυρωματος	61 The king and the generals ratified the treaty by oath, and the besieged accordingly left the fortress.
62 και εισηλθεν ο βασιλευς εις ορος σιων και ειδεν το οχυρωμα του τοπου και ηθετησεν τον ορκισμον ον ωμοσεν και ενετειλατο καθελειν το τειχος κυκλοθεν	62 The king then entered Mount Zion, but on seeing how impregnable the place was, he broke the oathhe had sworn and gave orders for the encircling wall to be demolished.
63 και απηρεν κατα σπουδην και απεστρεψεν εις αντιοχειαν και ευρεν φιλιππον κυριευοντα της πολεως και επολεμησεν προς αυτον και κατελαβετο την πολιν βια	63 He then hurriedly withdrew, making off for Antioch, where he found Philip already master of the city.Antiochus gave battle and captured the city by force of arms.