ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 7

LXX	NEW JERUSALEM
1 ετους ενος και πεντηκοστου και εκατοστου εξηλθεν δημητριος ο του σελευκου εκ ρωμης και ανεβη συν ανδρασιν ολιγοις εις πολιν παραθαλασσιαν και εβασιλευσεν εκει	1 In the year 151, Demetrius son of Seleucus left Rome and arrived with a few men at a town on thecoast, where he inaugurated his reign.
2 και εγενετο ως εισεπορευετο εις οικον βασιλειας πατερων αυτου και συνελαβον αι δυναμεις τον αντιοχον και τον λυσιαν αγαγειν αυτους αυτω	2 It so happened that, as he was entering the royal residence of his ancestors, the army capturedAntiochus and Lysias, and intended to bring them to him.
3 και εγνωσθη αυτω το πραγμα και ειπεν μη μοι δειξητε τα προσωπα αυτων	3 On hearing this, he said, 'Keep them out of my sight.'
4 και απεκτειναν αυτους αι δυναμεις και εκαθισεν δημητριος επι θρονου βασιλειας αυτου	4 The army put them to death, and Demetrius ascended his throne.
5 και ηλθον προς αυτον παντες ανδρες ανομοι και ασεβεις εξ ισραηλ και αλκιμος ηγειτο αυτων βουλομενος ιερατευειν	5 Next, al those Israelites without law or piety, led by Alcimus, whose ambition was to become highpriest,
6 και κατηγορησαν του λαου προς τον βασιλεα λεγοντες απωλεσεν ιουδας και οι αδελφοι αυτου παντας τους φιλους σου και ημας εσκορπισεν απο της γης ημων	6 approached the king and denounced our people to him. 'Judas and his brothers', they said, 'have kil edal your friends, and he has driven us out of our country.
7 νυν ουν αποστειλον ανδρα ω πιστευεις και πορευθεις ιδετω την εξολεθρευσιν πασαν ην εποιησεν ημιν και τη χωρα του βασιλεως και κολασατω αυτους και παντας τους επιβοηθουντας αυτοις	7 Send someone now whom you can trust; let him go and see the wholesale ruin Judas has brought onus and on the king's dominions, and let him punish the wretches and al who assist them.'
8 και επελεξεν ο βασιλευς τον βακχιδην των φιλων του βασιλεως κυριευοντα εν τω περαν του ποταμου και μεγαν εν τη βασιλεια και πιστον τω βασιλει	8 The king chose Bacchides, one of the Friends of the King, governor of Transeuphrates, an importantpersonage in the kingdom and loyal to the king.
9 και απεστειλεν αυτον και αλκιμον τον ασεβη και εστησεν αυτω την ιερωσυνην και ενετειλατο αυτω ποιησαι την εκδικησιν εν τοις υιοις ισραηλ	9 He sent him with the godless Alcimus, whom he confirmed in the high priesthood, with orders to exactretribution from the Israelites.
10 και απηρον και ηλθον μετα δυναμεως πολλης εις γην ιουδα και απεστειλεν αγγελους προς ιουδαν και τους αδελφους αυτου λογοις ειρηνικοις μετα δολου	10 So they set out with a large force and, on reaching Judaea, sent emissaries to Judas and his brotherswith proposals peaceable yet treacherous.
11 και ου προσεσχον τοις λογοις αυτων ειδον γαρ οτι ηλθαν μετα δυναμεως πολλης	11 The latter, however, did not put any faith in their words, aware that they had come with a large force.
12 και επισυνηχθησαν προς αλκιμον και βακχιδην συναγωγη γραμματεων εκζητησαι δικαια	12 Nevertheless, a commission of scribes presented themselves before Alcimus and Bacchides, to suefor just terms.
13 και πρωτοι οι ασιδαιοι ησαν εν υιοις ισραηλ και επεζητουν παρ' αυτων ειρηνην	13 The first among the Israelites to ask them for peace terms were the Hasidaeans,
14 ειπον γαρ ανθρωπος ιερευς εκ σπερματος ααρων ηλθεν εν ταις δυναμεσιν και ουκ αδικησει ημας	14 who reasoned thus, 'This is a priest of Aaron's line who has come with the armed forces; he wil notwrong us.'
15 και ελαλησεν μετ' αυτων λογους ειρηνικους και ωμοσεν αυτοις λεγων ουκ εκζητησομεν υμιν κακον και τοις φιλοις υμων	15 He did in fact discuss peace terms with them and gave them his oath, 'We shal not attempt to injureyou or your friends.'
16 και ενεπιστευσαν αυτω και συνελαβεν εξ αυτων εξηκοντα ανδρας και απεκτεινεν αυτους εν ημερα μια κατα τον λογον ον εγραψεν αυτον	16 They believed him, but he arrested sixty of them and put them to death on one day, fulfil ing the wordsof scripture:
17 σαρκας οσιων σου και αιμα αυτων εξεχεαν κυκλω ιερουσαλημ και ουκ ην αυτοις ο θαπτων	17 They have scattered the bodies of your faithful, and shed their blood all round Jerusalem, leaving noone to bury them!
18 και επεπεσεν αυτων ο φοβος και ο τρομος εις παντα τον λαον οτι ειπον ουκ εστιν εν αυτοις αληθεια και κρισις παρεβησαν γαρ την στασιν και τον ορκον ον ωμοσαν	18 At this, fear and dread gripped the whole people. 'There is no truth or virtue in them,' they said, 'theyhave broken their agreement and their sworn oath.'
19 και απηρεν βακχιδης απο ιερουσαλημ και παρενεβαλεν εν βηθζαιθ και απεστειλεν και συνελαβεν πολλους απο των μετ' αυτου αυτομολησαντων ανδρων και τινας του λαου και εθυσεν αυτους εις το φρεαρ το μεγα	19 Bacchides then left Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-Zeth, and from there sent and arrested many ofthe men who had deserted him and a few of our people too; he had them kil ed and thrown down the great wel .
20 και κατεστησεν την χωραν τω αλκιμω και αφηκεν μετ' αυτου δυναμιν του βοηθειν αυτω και απηλθεν βακχιδης προς τον βασιλεα	20 He then put Alcimus in charge of the province, leaving an army with him to support him; Bacchideshimself returned to the king.
21 και ηγωνισατο αλκιμος περι της αρχιερωσυνης	21 Alcimus continued his struggle to become high priest,
22 και συνηχθησαν προς αυτον παντες οι ταρασσοντες τον λαον αυτων και κατεκρατησαν γην ιουδα και εποιησαν πληγην μεγαλην εν ισραηλ	22 and al who were disturbing the peace of their own people ral ied to him, and, having won control ofJudaea, did much harm in Israel.
23 και ειδεν ιουδας πασαν την κακιαν ην εποιησεν αλκιμος και οι μετ' αυτου εν υιοις ισραηλ υπερ τα εθνη	23 Seeing that al the wrongs done to the Israelites by Alcimus and his supporters exceeded what thegentiles had done,
24 και εξηλθεν εις παντα τα ορια της ιουδαιας κυκλοθεν και εποιησεν εκδικησιν εν τοις ανδρασιν τοις αυτομολησασιν και ανεσταλησαν του εκπορευεσθαι εις την χωραν	24 Judas went right round the whole territory of Judaea to take vengeance on those who had desertedhim and to prevent their free movement about the country.
25 ως δε ειδεν αλκιμος οτι ενισχυσεν ιουδας και οι μετ' αυτου και εγνω οτι ου δυναται υποστηναι αυτους και επεστρεψεν προς τον βασιλεα και κατηγορησεν αυτων πονηρα	25 When Alcimus saw how strong Judas and his supporters had grown and realised that he waspowerless to resist them, he went back to the king, to whom he made malicious accusations against them.
26 και απεστειλεν ο βασιλευς νικανορα ενα των αρχοντων αυτου των ενδοξων και μισουντα και εχθραινοντα τω ισραηλ και ενετειλατο αυτω εξαραι τον λαον	26 The king sent Nicanor, one of his generals ranking as Il ustrious and a bitter enemy of Israel, withorders to exterminate the people.
27 και ηλθεν νικανωρ εις ιερουσαλημ δυναμει πολλη και απεστειλεν προς ιουδαν και τους αδελφους αυτου μετα δολου λογοις ειρηνικοις λεγων	27 Reaching Jerusalem with a large force, Nicanor sent a friendly, yet treacherous, message to Judasand his brothers, as follows:
28 μη εστω μαχη ανα μεσον εμου και υμων ηξω εν ανδρασιν ολιγοις ινα ιδω υμων τα προσωπα μετ' ειρηνης	28 'Let us have no fighting between you and me; I shall come with a smal escort for a peaceful meetingwith you.'
29 και ηλθεν προς ιουδαν και ησπασαντο αλληλους ειρηνικως και οι πολεμιοι ετοιμοι ησαν εξαρπασαι τον ιουδαν	29 He met Judas and they exchanged friendly greetings; the enemy, however, had made preparations toabduct Judas.
30 και εγνωσθη ο λογος τω ιουδα οτι μετα δολου ηλθεν επ' αυτον και επτοηθη απ' αυτου και ουκ εβουληθη ετι ιδειν το προσωπον αυτου	30 When Judas became aware of Nicanor's treacherous purpose in coming to see him, he took fright andrefused any further meeting.
31 και εγνω νικανωρ οτι απεκαλυφθη η βουλη αυτου και εξηλθεν εις συναντησιν τω ιουδα εν πολεμω κατα χαφαρσαλαμα	31 Nicanor then realised that his plan had been discovered, and took the field against Judas, to givebattle near Caphar-Salama.
32 και επεσον των παρα νικανορος ωσει πεντακοσιοι ανδρες και εφυγον εις την πολιν δαυιδ	32 About five hundred of Nicanor's men fell; the rest took refuge in the City of David.
33 και μετα τους λογους τουτους ανεβη νικανωρ εις ορος σιων και εξηλθον απο των ιερεων εκ των αγιων και απο των πρεσβυτερων του λαου ασπασασθαι αυτον ειρηνικως και δειξαι αυτω την ολοκαυτωσιν την προσφερομενην υπερ του βασιλεως	33 After these events Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests came out of the Holy Placewith some elders, to give him a friendly welcome and show him the burnt offering being presented for the king.
34 και εμυκτηρισεν αυτους και κατεγελασεν αυτων και εμιανεν αυτους και ελαλησεν υπερηφανως	34 But he ridiculed them, laughed at them, defiled them and used insolent language, swearing in hisrage,
35 και ωμοσεν μετα θυμου λεγων εαν μη παραδοθη ιουδας και η παρεμβολη αυτου εις χειρας μου το νυν και εσται εαν επιστρεψω εν ειρηνη εμπυριω τον οικον τουτον και εξηλθεν μετα θυμου μεγαλου	35 'Unless Judas is handed over to me this time with his army, as soon as I am safely back, I promiseyou, I shal burn this building down!'
36 και εισηλθον οι ιερεις και εστησαν κατα προσωπον του θυσιαστηριου και του ναου και εκλαυσαν και ειπον	36 Then he went off in a fury. At this, the priests went in again, and stood weeping in front of the altarand the Temple, saying,
37 συ εξελεξω τον οικον τουτον επικληθηναι το ονομα σου επ' αυτου ειναι οικον προσευχης και δεησεως τω λαω σου	37 'You have chosen this house to be cal ed by your name, to be a house of prayer and petition for yourpeople.
38 ποιησον εκδικησιν εν τω ανθρωπω τουτω και εν τη παρεμβολη αυτου και πεσετωσαν εν ρομφαια μνησθητι των δυσφημιων αυτων και μη δως αυτοις μονην	38 Take vengeance on this man and on his army, and let them fal by the sword; remember theirblasphemies and give them no respite.'
39 και εξηλθεν νικανωρ εξ ιερουσαλημ και παρενεβαλεν εν βαιθωρων και συνηντησεν αυτω δυναμις συριας	39 Nicanor left Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-Horon, where he was joined by an army from Syria.
40 και ιουδας παρενεβαλεν εν αδασα εν τρισχιλιοις ανδρασιν και προσηυξατο ιουδας και ειπεν	40 Judas, meanwhile, camped at Adasa with three thousand men, and offered this prayer,
41 οι παρα του βασιλεως οτε εδυσφημησαν εξηλθεν ο αγγελος σου και επαταξεν εν αυτοις εκατον ογδοηκοντα πεντε χιλιαδας	41 'When the king's envoys blasphemed, your angel went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand of his men.
42 ουτως συντριψον την παρεμβολην ταυτην ενωπιον ημων σημερον και γνωτωσαν οι επιλοιποι οτι κακως ελαλησεν επι τα αγια σου και κρινον αυτον κατα την κακιαν αυτου	42 In the same way let us see you crush this army today, so that everyone else may know that this manhas spoken blasphemously against your sanctuary: pass judgement on him as his wickedness deserves!'
43 και συνηψαν αι παρεμβολαι εις πολεμον τη τρισκαιδεκατη του μηνος αδαρ και συνετριβη η παρεμβολη νικανορος και επεσεν αυτος πρωτος εν τω πολεμω	43 The armies met in battle on the thirteenth of the month Adar, and Nicanor's army was crushed, hehimself being the first to fal in the battle.
44 ως δε ειδεν η παρεμβολη αυτου οτι επεσεν νικανωρ ριψαντες τα οπλα εφυγον	44 When Nicanor's soldiers saw him fal , they threw down their arms and fled.
45 και κατεδιωκον αυτους οδον ημερας μιας απο αδασα εως του ελθειν εις γαζηρα και εσαλπιζον οπισω αυτων ταις σαλπιγξιν των σημασιων	45 The Jews pursued them a day's journey, from Adasa to the approaches of Gezer; they sounded theirtrumpets in warning as they fol owed them,
46 και εξηλθον εκ πασων των κωμων της ιουδαιας κυκλοθεν και υπερεκερων αυτους και απεστρεφον ουτοι προς τουτους και επεσον παντες ρομφαια και ου κατελειφθη εξ αυτων ουδε εις	46 and people came out of al the surrounding Judaean vil ages to encircle the fugitives, who then turnedback on their own men. Al fel by the sword, not one being left alive.
47 και ελαβον τα σκυλα και την προνομην και την κεφαλην νικανορος αφειλον και την δεξιαν αυτου ην εξετεινεν υπερηφανως και ηνεγκαν και εξετειναν παρα τη ιερουσαλημ	47 Having col ected the spoils and booty, they cut off Nicanor's head and the right hand he had stretchedout in a display of insolence; these were taken and displayed within sight of Jerusalem.
48 και ηυφρανθη ο λαος σφοδρα και ηγαγον την ημεραν εκεινην ημεραν ευφροσυνης μεγαλην	48 The people were overjoyed and kept that day as a great holiday:
49 και εστησαν του αγειν κατ' ενιαυτον την ημεραν ταυτην τη τρισκαιδεκατη του αδαρ	49 indeed they decided to celebrate it annual y on the thirteenth of Adar.
50 και ησυχασεν η γη ιουδα ημερας ολιγας	50 For a short while Judaea enjoyed peace.