1 Maccabees 5

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 When the surrounding nations heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary restored to whatit had been before, they became very angry	1 Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.
2 and decided to destroy the descendants of Jacob living among them; they began to murder and evictour people.	2 Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.
3 Judas made war on the sons of Esau in Idumaea, in the region of Acrabattene where they werebesieging the Israelites. He dealt them a serious blow, drove them off and despoiled them.	3 Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.
4 He also remembered the wickedness of the sons of Baean, who were a menace and a trap for thepeople with their ambushes on the roads.	4 Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.
5 Having blockaded them in their town and besieged them, he put them under the curse of destruction;he then set fire to their towers and burned them down with everyone inside.	5 He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.
6 Next, he crossed over to the Ammonites where he found a strong fighting force and a numerouspeople, commanded by Timotheus.	6 Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.
7 He fought many battles with them, defeated them and cut them to pieces.	7 So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.
8 Having captured Jazer and its dependent vil ages, he retired to Judaea.	8 And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.
9 Next, the gentiles of Gilead banded together to destroy the Israelites living in their territory. The latter,however, took refuge in the fortress of Dathema,	9 Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.
10 and sent the fol owing letter to Judas and his brothers: 'The gentiles round us have bandedthemselves together against us to destroy us,	10 And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:
11 and they are preparing to storm the fortress in which we have taken refuge; Timotheus is in commandof their forces.	11 And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.
12 Come at once and rescue us from their clutches, for we have already suffered great losses.	12 Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:
13 Al our countrymen living in Tobias' country have been killed, their women and children have beentaken into captivity, their property has been seized, and about a thousand men have been destroyed there.'	13 Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.
14 While the letter was being read, other messengers arrived from Galilee with their garments torn,bearing similar news,	14 While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,
15 'The people of Ptolemais, Tyre and Sidon have joined forces with the whole of gentile Galilee todestroy us!'	15 And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.
16 When Judas and the people heard this, they held a great assembly to decide what should be done fortheir oppressed countrymen who were under attack from their enemies.	16 Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.
17 Judas said to his brother Simon, 'Pick your men and go and relieve your countrymen in Galilee, whilemy brother Jonathan and I make our way into Gilead.'	17 Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.
18 He left Joseph son of Zechariah and the people's leader Azariah with the remainder of the army inJudaea to keep guard, and gave them these orders,	18 So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.
19 'You are to be responsible for our people. Do not engage the gentiles until we return.'	19 Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.
20 Simon was al otted three thousand men for the expedition into Galilee, Judas eight thousand forGilead.	20 Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.
21 Simon advanced into Galilee, engaged the gentiles in several battles and swept all before him;	21 Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him.
22 he pursued them to the gate of Ptolemais, and they lost about three thousand men, whose spoils hecol ected.	22 And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.
23 With him, he took away the Jews of Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives and children and all theirpossessions, and brought them into Judaea with great rejoicing.	23 And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.
24 Meanwhile Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and made a three-days'march through the desert,	24 Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days' journey in the wilderness,
25 where they encountered the Nabataeans, who gave them a friendly reception and told themeverything that had been happening to their brothers in Gilead,	25 Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:
26 many of whom, they said, were shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked and Carnaim,al large fortified towns.	26 And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:
27 Others were blockaded in the other towns of Gilead, and the enemy planned to attack and capturethese strongholds the very next day, and destroy all the people inside them on one day.	27 And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against to morrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.
28 Judas and his army at once turned off by the desert road to Bozrah. He took the town and, having putal the males to the sword and col ected the booty, burned it down.	28 Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,
29 When night came, he left the place, and they continued their march until they reached the fortress.	29 From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.
30 In the light of dawn they looked, and there was an innumerable horde, setting up ladders and enginesto capture the fortress; the assault was just beginning.	30 And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.
31 When Judas saw that the attack had begun and that the war cry was rising to heaven from the city,mingled with trumpet cal s and a great clamour,	31 When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,
32 he said to the men of his army, 'Into battle today for your brothers!'	32 He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.
33 Dividing them into three commands, he advanced on the enemy's rear, with trumpets sounding andprayers shouted aloud.	33 So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.
34 The troops of Timotheus, recognising that this was Maccabaeus, fled before his advance;Maccabaeus dealt them a crushing defeat; about eight thousand of their men fel that day.	34 Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.
35 Then, wheeling on Alema, he attacked and captured it and, having killed all the males and col ectedthe booty, burned the place down.	35 This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and and burnt it with fire.
36 From there he moved on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor and the remaining towns of Gilead.	36 From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.
37 After these events, Timotheus mustered another force and pitched camp opposite Raphon, on the farside of the stream-bed.	37 After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.
38 Judas sent men to reconnoitre the camp, and these reported back as fol ows, 'With him are massedal the gentiles surrounding us, making a very numerous army,	38 So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.
39 with Arab mercenaries as auxiliaries; they are encamped on the far side of the stream-bed, and readyto launch an attack on you.' Judas then advanced to engage them,	39 He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.
40 and was approaching the watercourse with his troops when Timotheus told the commanders of hisarmy, 'If he crosses first we shal not be able to resist him, because he wil have a great advantage over us;	40 Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:
41 but if he is afraid and camps on the other side of the stream, we shall cross over to him and theadvantage will then be ours.'	41 But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.
42 As soon as Judas reached the watercourse, he posted people's scribes along it, giving them thisorder: 'Do not let anyone pitch his tent; al are to go into battle!'	42 Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.
43 He was himself the first across to the enemy side, with al the people fol owing. He defeated al theopposing gentiles, who threw down their arms and ran for refuge in the sanctuary of Carnaim.	43 So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.
44 The Jews first captured the town and then burned down the temple with everyone inside. And soCarnaim was overthrown, and the enemy could offer no further resistance to Judas.	44 But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.
45 Next, Judas assembled al the Israelites living in Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with theirwives, children and belongings, an enormous muster, to take them to Judaea.	45 Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.
46 They reached Ephron, a large town straddling the road and strongly fortified. As it was impossible toby-pass it either to right or to left, there was nothing for it but to march straight through.	46 Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.
47 But the people of the town denied them passage and barricaded the gates with stones.	47 Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.
48 Judas sent them a conciliatory message in these terms, 'We want to pass through your territory toreach our own; no one wil do you any harm, we only want to go through on foot.' But they would not open up forhim.	48 Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.
49 So Judas sent an order down the column for everyone to halt where he stood.	49 Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.
50 The fighting men took up their positions; Judas attacked the town al day and night, and the town fellto him.	50 So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:
51 He put all the males to the sword, rased the town to the ground, plundered it and marched through thetown square over the bodies of the dead.	51 Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.
52 They then crossed the Jordan into the Great Plain, opposite Beth-Shean,	52 After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.
53 Judas al the time ral ying the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way until they reachedJudaea.	53 And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.
54 They climbed Mount Zion in joy and gladness and presented burnt offerings because they hadreturned safe and sound without having lost a single man.	54 So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.
55 While Judas and Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon his brother in Galilee outside Ptolemais,	55 Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,
56 Joseph son of Zechariah, and Azariah, who were in command of the army, heard of their valiantdeeds and of the battles they had been fighting,	56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.
57 and said, 'Let us make a name for ourselves too and go and fight the nations around us.'	57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.
58 So they issued orders to the men under their command and marched on Jamnia.	58 So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.
59 Gorgias and his men came out of the town and gave battle.	59 Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.
60 Joseph and Azariah were routed and pursued as far as the frontiers of Judaea. That day about twothousand Israelites lost their lives.	60 And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.
61 Our people thus met with a great reverse, because they had not listened to Judas and his brothers,thinking that they would do something equal y valiant.	61 Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.
62 They were not, however, of the same breed of men as those to whom the deliverance of Israel wasentrusted.	62 Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
63 The noble Judas and his brothers, however, were held in high honour throughout Israel and among althe nations wherever their name was heard,	63 Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;
64 and people thronged round to acclaim them.	64 Insomuch as the the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.
65 Judas marched out with his brothers to fight the Edomites in the country towards the south; hestormed Hebron and its dependent vil ages, threw down its fortifications and burned down its encircling towers.	65 Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.
66 Leaving there, he made for the country of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.	66 From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.
67 Among the fal en in that day's fighting were some priests who sought to prove their courage there byjoining in the battle, a foolhardy venture.	67 At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.
68 Judas next turned on Azotus, which belonged to the Philistines; he overthrew their altars, burned thestatues of their gods and, having pil aged their towns, withdrew to Judaea.	68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.