1 Maccabees 3

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 His son, Judas, known as Maccabaeus, then took his place.	1 Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took his place.
2 Al his brothers, and al who had attached themselves to his father, supported him, and they fought forIsrael with a wil .	2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father supported him, and they carried on Israel's war joyfully.
3 He extended the fame of his people. Like a giant, he put on the breastplate and buckled on his warharness; he engaged in battle after battle, protecting the ranks with his sword.	3 He spread abroad the glory of his people, and put on his breastplate like a giant. He armed himself with weapons of war; he planned battles and protected the camp with his sword.
4 He was like a lion in his exploits, like a young lion roaring over its prey.	4 In his actions he was like a lion, like a young lion roaring for prey.
5 He pursued and tracked down the renegades, he consigned those who troubled his people to theflames.	5 He pursued the wicked, hunting them out, and those who troubled his people he destroyed by fire.
6 The renegades quailed with the terror he inspired, all evil-doers were utterly confounded, anddeliverance went forward under his leadership.	6 The lawbreakers were cowed by fear of him, and all evildoers were dismayed. By his hand redemption was happily achieved,
7 He brought bitterness to many a king and rejoicing to Jacob by his deeds, his memory is blessed forever and ever.	7 and he afflicted many kings; He made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his memory is blessed forever.
8 He went through the towns of Judah eliminating the irreligious from them, and diverted the Retributionfrom Israel.	8 He went about the cities of Judah destroying the impious there. He turned away wrath from Israel
9 His name resounded to the ends of the earth, he rallied those who were on the point of perishing.	9 and was renowned to the ends of the earth; he gathered together those who were perishing.
10 Next, Apollonius mustered the gentiles and a large force from Samaria to make war on Israel.	10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles, together with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel.
11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and routed and kil ed him. Many fell wounded, andthe survivors took to flight.	11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and defeated and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled.
12 Their spoils were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who used it to fight withthroughout his life.	12 Their possessions were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who fought with it the rest of his life.
13 On hearing that Judas had raised a mixed force of believers and seasoned fighters,	13 But Seron, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered many about him, an assembly of faithful men ready for war.
14 Seron, commander of the Syrian troops, said, 'I shall make a name for myself and gain honour in thekingdom if I fight Judas and those supporters of his who are so contemptuous of the king's orders.'	14 So he said, "I will make a name for myself and win glory in the kingdom by defeating Judas and his followers, who have despised the king's command."
15 He therefore launched another expedition, with a strong army of unbelievers to support him in takingrevenge on the Israelites.	15 And again a large company of renegades advanced with him to help him take revenge on the Israelites.
16 He had nearly reached the descent of Beth-Horon when Judas went out to confront him with a handfulof men.	16 When he reached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a few men.
17 But as soon as these saw the force advancing to meet them, they said to Judas, 'How can we, few aswe are, engage such overwhelming numbers? We are exhausted as it is, not having had anything to eat today.'	17 But when they saw the army coming against them, they said to Judas: "How can we, few as we are, fight such a mighty host as this? Besides, we are weak today from fasting."
18 'It is easy', Judas answered, 'for a great number to be defeated by a few; indeed, in the sight ofHeaven, deliverance, whether by many or by few, is al one;	18 But Judas said: "It is easy for many to be overcome by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few;
19 for victory in war does not depend on the size of the fighting force: Heaven accords the strength.	19 for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven.
20 They are coming against us in ful -blown insolence and lawlessness to destroy us, our wives and ourchildren, and to plunder us;	20 With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us;
21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws,	21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws.
22 and he will crush them before our eyes; do not be afraid of them.'	22 He himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them."
23 When he had finished speaking, he made a sudden sal y against Seron and his force andoverwhelmed them.	23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly upon Seron and his army, who were crushed before him.
24 Judas pursued them down from Beth-Horon as far as the plain. About eight hundred of their men fel ,and the rest took refuge in the country of the Philistines.	24 He pursued Seron down the descent of Beth-horon into the plain. About eight hundred of their men fell, and the rest fled to the country of the Philistines.
25 Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and alarm seized the surrounding peoples.	25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and dread fell upon the Gentiles about them.
26 His name even reached the king's ears, and among the nations there was talk of Judas and hisbattles.	26 His fame reached the king, and all the Gentiles talked about the battles of Judas.
27 The news of these events infuriated Antiochus, and he ordered mobilisation of al the forces in hiskingdom, a very powerful army.	27 When Antiochus heard about these events, he was angry; so he ordered a muster of all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army.
28 Opening his treasury, he distributed a year's pay to his troops, telling them to be prepared for anyeventuality.	28 He opened his treasure chests, gave his soldiers a year's pay, and commanded them to be prepared for anything.
29 He then found that the money in his coffers had run short and that the tribute of the province haddecreased, as a result of the dissension and disaster brought on the country by his own abrogation of laws thathad been in force from antiquity.	29 He then found that this exhausted the money in his treasury; moreover the income from the province was small, because of the dissension and distress he had brought upon the land by abolishing the laws which had been in effect from of old.
30 He began to fear that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough to cover theexpenses and the lavish bounties he had previously been accustomed to make on a larger scale than hispredecessors on the throne.	30 He feared that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough for his expenses and for the gifts that he had previously given with a more liberal hand than the preceding kings.
31 In this grave quandary he resolved to invade Persia, there to levy tribute on the provinces and soaccumulate substantial funds.	31 Greatly perplexed, he decided to go to Persia and levy tribute on those provinces, and so raise a large sum of money.
32 He therefore left Lysias, a nobleman and member of the royal family, to manage the royal affairsbetween the River Euphrates and the Egyptian frontier,	32 He left Lysias, a nobleman of royal blood, in charge of the king's affairs from the Euphrates River to the frontier of Egypt,
33 making him responsible for the education of his son Antiochus, until he should come back.	33 and commissioned him to take care of his son Antiochus until his own return.
34 To him Antiochus made over half his forces, with the elephants, giving him instructions about what hewanted done, particularly with regard to the inhabitants of Judaea and Jerusalem,	34 He entrusted to him half of the army, and the elephants, and gave him instructions concerning everything he wanted done. As for the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem,
35 against whom he was to send a force, to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant ofJerusalem, to wipe out their very memory from the place,	35 Lysias was to send an army against them to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem and efface their memory from the land.
36 to settle foreigners in al parts of their territory and to distribute their land into lots.	36 He was to settle foreigners in all their territory and distribute their land by lot.
37 The king took the remaining half of his troops with him and set out from Antioch, the capital of hiskingdom, in the year 147; he crossed the River Euphrates and made his way through the Upper Provinces.	37 The king took the remaining half of the army and set out from Antioch, his capital, in the year one hundred and forty-seven; he crossed the Euphrates River and advanced inland.
38 Lysias chose Ptolemy son of Dorymenes, with Nicanor and Gorgias, influential men from among theFriends of the King,	38 Lysias chose Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, capable men among the King's Friends,
39 and, under their command, despatched forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse to invade theland of Judah and devastate it, as the king had ordered.	39 and with them he sent forty thousand men and seven thousand cavalry to invade the land of Judah and ravage it according to the king's orders.
40 The entire force set out and reached the neighbourhood of Emmaus in the lowlands, where theypitched camp.	40 Setting out with all their forces, they came and pitched their camp near Emmaus in the plain.
41 The local merchants, hearing the news of this, arrived at the camp, bringing with them a large amountof gold and silver, and fetters as wel , proposing to buy the Israelites as slaves; they were accompanied by acompany from Idumaea and the Philistine country.	41 When the merchants of the country heard of their fame, they came to the camp, bringing fetters and a large sum of silver and gold, to buy the Israelites as slaves. A force from Idumea and from Philistia joined with them.
42 Judas and his brothers saw that the situation was going from bad to worse and that armies werecamping in their territory; they were also well aware that the king had ordered the people's total destruction.	42 Judas and his brothers saw that the situation had become critical now that armies were encamped within their territory; they knew of the orders which the king had given to destroy and utterly wipe out the people.
43 So they said to each other, 'Let us restore the ruins of our people and fight for our people and oursanctuary.'	43 So they said to one another, "Let us restore our people from their ruined estate, and fight for our people and our sanctuary!"
44 The Assembly was summoned, to prepare for war, to offer prayer and to implore compassion andmercy.	44 The assembly gathered together to prepare for battle and to pray and implore mercy and compassion.
45 Jerusalem was as empty as a desert, none of her children to go in and out. The sanctuary wastrodden underfoot, men of an alien race held the Citadel, which had become a lodging for gentiles. There was nomore rejoicing for Jacob, the flute and lyre were mute.	45 Jerusalem was uninhabited, like a desert; not one of her children entered or came out. The sanctuary was trampled on, and foreigners were in the citadel; it was a habitation of Gentiles. Joy had disappeared from Jacob, and the flute and the harp were silent.
46 After mustering, they made their way to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, since Mizpah was traditional y aplace of prayer for Israel.	46 Thus they assembled and went to Mizpah near Jerusalem, because there was formerly at Mizpah a place of prayer for Israel.
47 That day they fasted and put on sackcloth, covering their heads with ashes and tearing theirgarments.	47 That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes.
48 For the guidance that the gentiles would have sought from the images of their false gods, they openedthe Book of the Law.	48 They unrolled the scroll of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.
49 They also brought out the priestly vestments, with first-fruits and tithes, and marshal ed the Naziriteswho had completed the period of their vow.	49 They brought with them the priestly vestments, the first fruits, and the tithes; and they brought forward the nazirites who had completed the time of their vows.
50 Then, raising their voices to Heaven, they cried, 'What shal we do with these people, and where arewe to take them?	50 And they cried aloud to Heaven: "What shall we do with these men, and where shall we take them?
51 Your holy place has been trampled underfoot and defiled, your priests mourn in their humiliation,	51 For your sanctuary has been trampled on and profaned, and your priests are in mourning and humiliation.
52 and now the gentiles are in al iance to destroy us: you know what they have in mind for us.	52 Now the Gentiles are gathered together against us to destroy us. You know what they plot against us.
53 How can we stand up and face them if you do not come to our aid?'	53 How shall we be able to resist them unless you help us?"
54 Then they sounded the trumpets and raised a great shout.	54 Then they blew the trumpets and cried out loudly.
55 Next, Judas appointed leaders for the people, to command a thousand, a hundred, fifty or ten men.	55 After this Judas appointed officers among the people, over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens.
56 Those who were in the middle of building a house, or were about to be married, or were planting avineyard, or were afraid, he told to go home again, as the Law al owed.	56 He proclaimed that those who were building houses, or were just married, or were planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, could each return to his home, according to the law.
57 The column then marched off and took up a position south of Emmaus.	57 Then the army moved off, and they camped to the south of Emmaus.
58 'Stand to your arms,' Judas told them, 'acquit yourselves bravely, in the morning be ready to fightthese gentiles massed against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.	58 Judas said: "Arm yourselves and be brave; in the morning be ready to fight these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.
59 Better for us to die in battle than to watch the ruin of our nation and our Holy Place.	59 It is better for us to die in battle than to witness the ruin of our nation and our sanctuary. Whatever Heaven wills, he will do."
60 Whatever be the wil of Heaven, he wil perform it.'