1 Maccabees 5

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN 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 When the Gentiles round about heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary consecrated as before, they were very angry.
2 and decided to destroy the descendants of Jacob living among them; they began to murder and evictour people.	2 So they decided to destroy the descendants of Jacob who were among them, and they began to massacre and persecute 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 attacked the sons of Esau at Akrabattene in Idumea, because they were blockading Israel; he defeated them heavily, overcame and despoiled them.
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 He also remembered the malice of the sons of Baean, who had become a snare and a stumbling block to the people by ambushing them along the roads.
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 forced them to take refuge in towers, which he besieged; he vowed their annihilation and burned down the towers along with all the persons in them.
6 Next, he crossed over to the Ammonites where he found a strong fighting force and a numerouspeople, commanded by Timotheus.	6 Then he crossed over to the Ammonites, where he found a strong army and a large body of people with Timothy as their leader.
7 He fought many battles with them, defeated them and cut them to pieces.	7 He fought many battles with them, routed them, and struck them down.
8 Having captured Jazer and its dependent vil ages, he retired to Judaea.	8 After seizing Jazer and its villages, he returned to 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 The Gentiles in Gilead assembled to attack and destroy the Israelites who were in their territory; these then fled to the stronghold 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 They sent a letter to Judas and his brothers saying: "The Gentiles around us have combined 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 seize this stronghold to which we have fled. Timothy is the leader of their army.
12 Come at once and rescue us from their clutches, for we have already suffered great losses.	12 Come at once and rescue us from them, for many of us have fallen.
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 All our kinsmen who were among the Tobiads have been killed; the Gentiles have carried away their wives and children and their goods, and they have slain 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 they were reading this letter, suddenly other messengers, in torn clothes, arrived from Galilee to deliver a similar message:
15 'The people of Ptolemais, Tyre and Sidon have joined forces with the whole of gentile Galilee todestroy us!'	15 that the inhabitants of Ptolemais, Tyre, and Sidon, and the whole of Gentile Galilee had joined forces to destroy them.
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 When Judas and the people heard this, a great assembly convened to consider what they should do for their unfortunate kinsmen who were being attacked by enemies.
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 Judas said to his brother Simon: "Choose men for yourself, and go, rescue your kinsmen in Galilee; I and my brother Jonathan will go to Gilead."
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 In Judea he left Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, leader of the people, with the rest of the army to guard it.
19 'You are to be responsible for our people. Do not engage the gentiles until we return.'	19 "Take charge of these people," he commanded them, "but do not fight against the Gentiles until we return."
20 Simon was al otted three thousand men for the expedition into Galilee, Judas eight thousand forGilead.	20 Three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go into Galilee, and eight thousand men to Judas, for Gilead.
21 Simon advanced into Galilee, engaged the gentiles in several battles and swept all before him;	21 Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles. They were crushed before 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 to the very gate of Ptolemais. About three thousand men of the Gentiles fell, and he gathered their spoils.
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 He took with him the Jews who were in Galilee and in Arbatta, with their wives and children and all that they had, and brought them to Judea with great rejoicing.
24 Meanwhile Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and made a three-days'march through the desert,	24 Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and marched for three days through the desert.
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 There they met some Nabateans, who received them peacefully and told them all that had happened to the Jews in Gilead:
26 many of whom, they said, were shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked and Carnaim,al large fortified towns.	26 "Many of them have been imprisoned in Bozrah, in Bosor near Alema, in Chaspho, Maked, and Carnaim"--all of these are large, fortified cities--
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 some have been imprisoned in other cities of Gilead. Tomorrow their enemies plan to attack the strongholds and to seize and destroy all these people 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 Thereupon Judas suddenly changed direction with his army, marched across the desert to Bozrah, and captured the city. He slaughtered all the male population, took all their possessions, and set fire to the city.
29 When night came, he left the place, and they continued their march until they reached the fortress.	29 He led his army from that place by night, and they marched toward the stronghold of Dathema.
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 When morning came, they looked ahead and saw a countless multitude of people, with ladders and devices for capturing the stronghold, and beginning to attack the people within.
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 perceived that the struggle had begun and that the noise of the battle was resounding to heaven with trumpet blasts and loud shouting,
32 he said to the men of his army, 'Into battle today for your brothers!'	32 he said to the men of his army, "Fight for our kinsmen today."
33 Dividing them into three commands, he advanced on the enemy's rear, with trumpets sounding andprayers shouted aloud.	33 He came up behind them with three columns blowing their trumpets and shouting in 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 When the army of Timothy realized that it was Maccabeus, they fell back before him, and he inflicted on them a crushing defeat. About eight thousand of their men fell that day.
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 Then he turned toward Alema and attacked and captured it; he killed all the male population, plundered the place, and burned it down.
36 From there he moved on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor and the remaining towns of Gilead.	36 From there he moved on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of Gilead.
37 After these events, Timotheus mustered another force and pitched camp opposite Raphon, on the farside of the stream-bed.	37 After these events Timothy assembled another army and camped opposite Raphon, on the other side of the stream.
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 Judas sent men to spy on the camp, and they reported to him: "All the Gentiles around us have rallied to him, making a very large force;
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 they have also hired Arabs to help them, and have camped beyond the stream, ready to attack you." So Judas went forward to attack 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 As Judas and his army were approaching the running stream, Timothy said to the officers of his army: "If he crosses over to us first, we shall not be able to resist him; he will certainly defeat 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 is afraid and camps on the other side of the river, we will cross over to him and defeat 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 But when Judas reached the running stream, he stationed the officers of the people beside the stream and gave them this order: "Do not allow any man to pitch a tent; all must go into 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 He was the first to cross to the attack, with all the people behind him, and the Gentiles were crushed before them; they threw away their arms and fled to the temple enclosure 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 The Jews captured that city and burnt the enclosure with all who were in it. So Carnaim was subdued, and Judas met with no more resistance.
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 he assembled all the Israelites, great and small, who were in Gilead, with their wives and children and their goods, a great crowd of people, to go into the land of Judah.
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 When they reached Ephron, a large and strongly fortified city along the way, they found it impossible to encircle it on either the right or the left; they would have to march right through it.
47 But the people of the town denied them passage and barricaded the gates with stones.	47 But the men in the city shut them out and blocked 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 Then Judas sent them this peaceful message: "We wish to cross your territory in order to reach our own; no one will harm you; we will only march through." But they would not open to him.
49 So Judas sent an order down the column for everyone to halt where he stood.	49 So Judas ordered a proclamation to be made in the camp that everyone make an attack from 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 When the men of the army took up their positions, he assaulted the city all that day and night, and it was delivered to him.
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 He slaughtered every male, razed and plundered the city, and passed through it over the slain.
52 They then crossed the Jordan into the Great Plain, opposite Beth-Shean,	52 Then they crossed the Jordan to the great plain in front of Beth-shan;
53 Judas al the time ral ying the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way until they reachedJudaea.	53 and Judas kept rounding up the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way, until he reached the land of Judah.
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 They ascended Mount Zion in joy and gladness and offered holocausts, because not one of them had fallen; they had returned in safety.
55 While Judas and Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon his brother in Galilee outside Ptolemais,	55 During the time that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and Simon his brother was in Galilee opposite 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, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, the leaders of the army, heard about the brave deeds and the fighting that they were doing.
57 and said, 'Let us make a name for ourselves too and go and fight the nations around us.'	57 They said, "Let us also make a name for ourselves by going out and fighting against the Gentiles around us."
58 So they issued orders to the men under their command and marched on Jamnia.	58 They gave orders to the men of their army who were with them, and marched toward Jamnia.
59 Gorgias and his men came out of the town and gave battle.	59 But Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle.
60 Joseph and Azariah were routed and pursued as far as the frontiers of Judaea. That day about twothousand Israelites lost their lives.	60 Joseph and Azariah were beaten, and were pursued to the frontiers of Judea, and about two thousand Israelites fell that day.
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 It was a bad defeat for the people, because they had not obeyed Judas and his brothers, thinking that they would do brave deeds.
62 They were not, however, of the same breed of men as those to whom the deliverance of Israel wasentrusted.	62 But they did not belong to the family of those men to whom it was granted to achieve Israel's salvation.
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 The valiant Judas and his brothers were greatly renowned in all Israel and among all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard;
64 and people thronged round to acclaim them.	64 and men gathered about them and praised them.
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 Then Judas and his brothers went out and attacked the sons of Esau in the country toward the south; he took Hebron and its villages, and he destroyed its strongholds and burned the towers around it.
66 Leaving there, he made for the country of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.	66 He then set out for the land of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.
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 some priests fell in battle who had gone out rashly to fight in their desire to distinguish themselves.
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 Judas then turned toward Azotus in the land of the Philistines. He destroyed their altars and burned the statues of their gods; and after plundering their cities he returned to the land of Judah.