ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β´ - 2 Maccabei- Maccabees II 12

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 γενομενων δε των συνθηκων τουτων ο μεν λυσιας απηει προς τον βασιλεα οι δε ιουδαιοι περι την γεωργιαν εγινοντο	1 After these agreements were made, Lysias returned to the king, and the Jews went about their farming.
2 των δε κατα τοπον στρατηγων τιμοθεος και απολλωνιος ο του γενναιου ετι δε ιερωνυμος και δημοφων προς δε τουτοις νικανωρ ο κυπριαρχης ουκ ειων αυτους ευσταθειν και τα της ησυχιας αγειν	2 But some of the local governors, Timothy and Apollonius, son of Gennaeus, as also Hieronymus and Demophon, to say nothing of Nicanor, the commander of the Cyprians, would not allow them to live in peace.
3 ιοππιται δε τηλικουτο συνετελεσαν το δυσσεβημα παρακαλεσαντες τους συν αυτοις οικουντας ιουδαιους εμβηναι εις τα παρακατασταθεντα υπ' αυτων σκαφη συν γυναιξιν και τεκνοις ως μηδεμιας ενεστωσης προς αυτους δυσμενειας	3 Some people of Joppa also committed this outrage: they invited the Jews who lived among them, together with their wives and children, to embark on boats which they had provided. There was no hint of enmity toward them;
4 κατα δε το κοινον της πολεως ψηφισμα και τουτων επιδεξαμενων ως αν ειρηνευειν θελοντων και μηδεν υποπτον εχοντων επαναχθεντας αυτους εβυθισαν οντας ουκ ελαττον των διακοσιων	4 this was done by public vote of the city. When the Jews, not suspecting treachery and wishing to live on friendly terms, accepted the invitation, the people of Joppa took them out to sea and drowned at least two hundred of them.
5 μεταλαβων δε ιουδας την γεγονυιαν εις τους ομοεθνεις ωμοτητα παραγγειλας τοις περι αυτον ανδρασιν	5 As soon as Judas heard of the barbarous deed perpetrated against his countrymen, he summoned his men;
6 και επικαλεσαμενος τον δικαιον κριτην θεον παρεγενετο επι τους μιαιφονους των αδελφων και τον μεν λιμενα νυκτωρ ενεπρησεν και τα σκαφη κατεφλεξεν τους δε εκει συμφυγοντας εξεκεντησεν	6 and after calling upon God, the just judge, he marched against the murderers of his kinsmen. In a night attack he set the harbor on fire, burnt the boats, and put to the sword those who had taken refuge there.
7 του δε χωριου συγκλεισθεντος ανελυσεν ως παλιν ηξων και το συμπαν των ιοππιτων εκριζωσαι πολιτευμα	7 When the gates of the town were shut, he withdrew, intending to come back later and wipe out the entire population of Joppa.
8 μεταλαβων δε και τους εν ιαμνεια τον αυτον επιτελειν βουλομενους τροπον τοις παροικουσιν ιουδαιοις	8 On hearing that the men of Jamnia planned to give like treatment to the Jews who lived among them,
9 και τοις ιαμνιταις νυκτος επιβαλων υφηψεν τον λιμενα συν τω στολω ωστε φαινεσθαι τας αυγας του φεγγους εις τα ιεροσολυμα σταδιων οντων διακοσιων τεσσαρακοντα	9 he attacked the Jamnian populace by night, setting fire to the harbor and the fleet, so that the glow of the flames was visible as far as Jerusalem, thirty miles away.
10 εκειθεν δε αποσπασαντες σταδιους εννεα ποιουμενων την πορειαν επι τον τιμοθεον προσεβαλον αραβες αυτω ουκ ελαττους των πεντακισχιλιων ιππεις δε πεντακοσιοι	10 When the Jews had gone about a mile from there in the campaign against Timothy, they were attacked by Arabs numbering at least five thousand foot soldiers, and five hundred horsemen.
11 γενομενης δε καρτερας μαχης και των περι τον ιουδαν δια την παρα του θεου βοηθειαν ευημερησαντων ελαττονωθεντες οι νομαδες ηξιουν δουναι τον ιουδαν δεξιας αυτοις υπισχνουμενοι και βοσκηματα δωσειν και εν τοις λοιποις ωφελησειν αυτους	11 After a hard fight, Judas and his companions, with God's help, were victorious. The defeated nomads begged Judas to make friends with them and promised to supply the Jews with cattle and to help them in every other way.
12 ιουδας δε υπολαβων ως αληθως εν πολλοις αυτους χρησιμους επεχωρησεν ειρηνην αξειν προς αυτους και λαβοντες δεξιας εις τας σκηνας εχωρισθησαν	12 Realizing that they could indeed be useful in many respects, Judas agreed to make peace with them. After the pledge of friendship had been exchanged, the Arabs withdrew to their tents.
13 επεβαλεν δε και επι τινα πολιν γεφυραις οχυραν και τειχεσιν περιπεφραγμενην και παμμειγεσιν εθνεσιν κατοικουμενην ονομα δε κασπιν	13 He also attacked a certain city called Caspin, fortified with earthworks and ramparts and inhabited by a mixed population of Gentiles.
14 οι δε ενδον πεποιθοτες τη των τειχεων ερυμνοτητι τη τε των βρωματων παραθεσει αναγωγοτερον εχρωντο τοις περι τον ιουδαν λοιδορουντες και προσετι βλασφημουντες και λαλουντες α μη θεμις	14 Relying on the strength of their walls and their supply of provisions, the besieged treated Judas and his men with contempt, insulting them and even uttering blasphemies and profanity.
15 οι δε περι τον ιουδαν επικαλεσαμενοι τον μεγαν του κοσμου δυναστην τον ατερ κριων και μηχανων οργανικων κατακρημνισαντα την ιεριχω κατα τους ιησου χρονους ενεσεισαν θηριωδως τω τειχει	15 But Judas and his men invoked the aid of the great Sovereign of the world, who, in the day of Joshua, overthrew Jericho without battering-ram or siege machine; then they furiously stormed the ramparts.
16 καταλαβομενοι τε την πολιν τη του θεου θελησει αμυθητους εποιησαντο σφαγας ωστε την παρακειμενην λιμνην το πλατος εχουσαν σταδιους δυο καταρρυτον αιματι πεπληρωμενην φαινεσθαι	16 Capturing the city by the will of God, they inflicted such indescribable slaughter on it that the adjacent pool, which was about a quarter of a mile wide, seemed to be filled with the blood that flowed into it.
17 εκειθεν δε αποσπασαντες σταδιους επτακοσιους πεντηκοντα διηνυσαν εις τον χαρακα προς τους λεγομενους τουβιανους ιουδαιους	17 When they had gone on some ninety miles, they reached Charax, where there were certain Jews known as Toubiani.
18 και τιμοθεον μεν επι των τοπων ου κατελαβον απρακτον τοτε απο των τοπων εκλελυκοτα καταλελοιποτα δε φρουραν εν τινι τοπω και μαλα οχυραν	18 But they did not find Timothy in that region, for he had already departed from there without having done anything except to leave behind in one place a very strong garrison.
19 δοσιθεος δε και σωσιπατρος των περι τον μακκαβαιον ηγεμονων εξοδευσαντες απωλεσαν τους υπο τιμοθεου καταλειφθεντας εν τω οχυρωματι πλειους των μυριων ανδρων	19 But Dositheus and Sosipater, two of Maccabeus' captains, marched out and destroyed the force of more than ten thousand men that Timothy had left in the stronghold.
20 ο δε μακκαβαιος διαταξας την περι αυτον στρατιαν σπειρηδον κατεστησεν αυτους επι των σπειρων και επι τον τιμοθεον ωρμησεν εχοντα περι αυτον μυριαδας δωδεκα πεζων ιππεις δε δισχιλιους προς τοις πεντακοσιοις	20 Meanwhile, Maccabeus divided his army into cohorts, with a commander over each cohort, and went in pursuit of Timothy, who had a force of a hundred and twenty thousand foot soldiers and twenty-five hundred horsemen.
21 την δε εφοδον μεταλαβων ιουδου προεξαπεστειλεν ο τιμοθεος τας γυναικας και τα τεκνα και την αλλην αποσκευην εις το λεγομενον καρνιον ην γαρ δυσπολιορκητον και δυσπροσιτον το χωριον δια την παντων των τοπων στενοτητα	21 When Timothy learned of the approach of Judas, he sent on ahead of him the women and children, as well as the baggage, to a place called Karnion, which was hard to besiege and even hard to reach because of the difficult terrain of that region.
22 επιφανεισης δε της ιουδου σπειρας πρωτης και γενομενου δεους επι τους πολεμιους φοβου τε εκ της του τα παντα εφορωντος επιφανειας γενομενης επ' αυτους εις φυγην ωρμησαν αλλος αλλαχη φερομενος ωστε πολλακις υπο των ιδιων βλαπτεσθαι και ταις των ξιφων ακμαις αναπειρεσθαι	22 But when Judas' first cohort appeared, the enemy was overwhelmed with fear and terror at the manifestation of the All-seeing. Scattering in every direction, they rushed away in such headlong flight that in many cases they wounded one another, pierced by the swords of their own men.
23 εποιειτο δε τον διωγμον ευτονωτερον ο ιουδας συγκεντων τους αλιτηριους διεφθειρεν τε εις μυριαδας τρεις ανδρων	23 Judas pressed the pursuit vigorously, putting the sinners to the sword and destroying as many as thirty thousand men.
24 αυτος δε ο τιμοθεος εμπεσων τοις περι τον δοσιθεον και σωσιπατρον ηξιου μετα πολλης γοητειας εξαφειναι σωον αυτον δια το πλειονων μεν γονεις ων δε αδελφους εχειν και τουτους αλογηθηναι συμβησεται	24 Timothy himself fell into the hands of the men under Dositheus and Sosipater; but with great cunning, he asked them to spare his life and let him go, because he had in his power the parents and relatives of many of them, and could make these suffer.
25 πιστωσαντος δε αυτου δια πλειονων τον ορισμον αποκαταστησαι τουτους απημαντους απελυσαν αυτον ενεκα της των αδελφων σωτηριας	25 When he had fully confirmed his solemn pledge to restore them unharmed, they let him go for the sake of saving their brethren.
26 εξελθων δε επι το καρνιον και το ατεργατειον κατεσφαξεν μυριαδας σωματων δυο και πεντακισχιλιους	26 Judas then marched to Karnion and the shrine of Atargatis, where he killed twenty-five thousand people.
27 μετα δε την τουτων τροπην και απωλειαν επεστρατευσεν και επι εφρων πολιν οχυραν εν η κατωκει λυσιας και παμφυλα πληθη νεανιαι δε ρωμαλεοι προ των τειχεων καθεστωτες ευρωστως απεμαχοντο ενθα δε οργανων και βελων πολλαι παραθεσεις υπηρχον	27 After the defeat and destruction of these, he moved his army to Ephron, a fortified city inhabited by people of many nationalities. Robust young men took up their posts in defense of the walls, from which they fought valiantly; inside were large supplies of machines and missiles.
28 επικαλεσαμενοι δε τον δυναστην τον μετα κρατους συντριβοντα τας των πολεμιων αλκας ελαβον την πολιν υποχειριον κατεστρωσαν δε των ενδον εις μυριαδας δυο πεντακισχιλιους	28 But the Jews, invoking the Sovereign who forcibly shatters the might of his enemies, got possession of the city and slaughtered twenty-five thousand of the people in it.
29 αναζευξαντες δε εκειθεν ωρμησαν επι σκυθων πολιν απεχουσαν απο ιεροσολυμων σταδιους εξακοσιους	29 Then they set out from there and hastened on to Scythopolis, seventy-five miles from Jerusalem.
30 απομαρτυρησαντων δε των εκει καθεστωτων ιουδαιων ην οι σκυθοπολιται εσχον προς αυτους ευνοιαν και εν τοις της ατυχιας καιροις ημερον απαντησιν	30 But when the Jews who lived there testified to the good will shown by the Scythopolitans and to their kind treatment even in times of adversity,
31 ευχαριστησαντες και προσπαρακαλεσαντες και εις τα λοιπα προς το γενος ευμενεις ειναι παρεγενηθησαν εις ιεροσολυμα της των εβδομαδων εορτης ουσης υπογυου	31 Judas and his men thanked them and exhorted them to be well disposed to their race in the future also. Finally they arrived in Jerusalem, shortly before the feast of Weeks.
32 μετα δε την λεγομενην πεντηκοστην ωρμησαν επι γοργιαν τον της ιδουμαιας στρατηγον	32 After this feast called Pentecost, they lost no time in marching against Gorgias, governor of Idumea,
33 εξηλθεν δε μετα πεζων τρισχιλιων ιππεων δε τετρακοσιων	33 who opposed them with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horsemen.
34 παραταξαμενους δε συνεβη πεσειν ολιγους των ιουδαιων	34 In the ensuing battle, a few of the Jews were slain.
35 δοσιθεος δε τις των του βακηνορος εφιππος ανηρ και καρτερος ειχετο του γοργιου και λαβομενος της χλαμυδος ηγεν αυτον ευρωστως και βουλομενος τον καταρατον λαβειν ζωγριαν των ιππεων τινος θρακων επενεχθεντος αυτω και τον ωμον καθελοντος διεφυγεν ο γοργιας εις μαρισα	35 A man called Dositheus, a powerful horseman and one of Bacenor's men, caught hold of Gorgias, grasped his military cloak and dragged him along by main strength, intending to capture the vile wretch alive, when a Thracian horseman attacked Dositheus and cut off his arm at the shoulder. Then Gorgias fled to Marisa.
36 των δε περι τον εσδριν επι πλειον μαχομενων και κατακοπων οντων επικαλεσαμενος ιουδας τον κυριον συμμαχον φανηναι και προοδηγον του πολεμου	36 After Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long time and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself their ally and leader in the battle.
37 καταρξαμενος τη πατριω φωνη την μεθ' υμνων κραυγην ενσεισας απροσδοκητως τοις περι τον γοργιαν τροπην αυτων εποιησατο	37 Then, raising a battle cry in his ancestral language, and with songs, he charged Gorgias' men when they were not expecting it and put them to flight.
38 ιουδας δε αναλαβων το στρατευμα ηκεν εις οδολλαμ πολιν της δε εβδομαδος επιβαλλουσης κατα τον εθισμον αγνισθεντες αυτοθι το σαββατον διηγαγον	38 Judas rallied his army and went to the city of Adullam. As the week was ending, they purified themselves according to custom and kept the sabbath there.
39 τη δε εχομενη ηλθον οι περι τον ιουδαν καθ' ον χρονον το της χρειας εγεγονει τα σωματα των προπεπτωκοτων ανακομισασθαι και μετα των συγγενων αποκαταστησαι εις τους πατρωους ταφους	39 On the following day, since the task had now become urgent, Judas and his men went to gather up the bodies of the slain and bury them with their kinsmen in their ancestral tombs.
40 ευρον δε εκαστου των τεθνηκοτων υπο τους χιτωνας ιερωματα των απο ιαμνειας ειδωλων αφ' ων ο νομος απειργει τους ιουδαιους τοις δε πασι σαφες εγενετο δια τηνδε την αιτιαν τουσδε πεπτωκεναι	40 But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had been slain.
41 παντες ουν ευλογησαντες τα του δικαιοκριτου κυριου τα κεκρυμμενα φανερα ποιουντος	41 They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge who brings to light the things that are hidden.
42 εις ικετειαν ετραπησαν αξιωσαντες το γεγονος αμαρτημα τελειως εξαλειφθηναι ο δε γενναιος ιουδας παρεκαλεσε το πληθος συντηρειν αυτους αναμαρτητους ειναι υπ' οψιν εωρακοτας τα γεγονοτα δια την των προπεπτωκοτων αμαρτιαν	42 Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
43 ποιησαμενος τε κατ' ανδρολογιαν εις αργυριου δραχμας δισχιλιας απεστειλεν εις ιεροσολυμα προσαγαγειν περι αμαρτιας θυσιαν πανυ καλως και αστειως πραττων υπερ αναστασεως διαλογιζομενος	43 He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view;
44 ει μη γαρ τους προπεπτωκοτας αναστηναι προσεδοκα περισσον και ληρωδες υπερ νεκρων ευχεσθαι	44 for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death.
45 ειτε' εμβλεπων τοις μετ' ευσεβειας κοιμωμενοις καλλιστον αποκειμενον χαριστηριον οσια και ευσεβης η επινοια οθεν περι των τεθνηκοτων τον εξιλασμον εποιησατο της αμαρτιας απολυθηναι	45 But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.
	46 Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.