2 Maccabees 11

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Almost immediately afterwards, Lysias, the king's tutor and cousin, chief minister of the realm, muchdisturbed at the turn of events,	1 Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.
2 mustered about eighty thousand foot soldiers and his entire cavalry and advanced against the Jews,intending to make the city a place for Greeks to live in,	2 And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles,
3 to levy a tax on the Temple as on other national shrines, and to put the office of high priest up for saleevery year;	3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:
4 he took no account at al of the power of God, being sublimely confident in his tens of thousands ofinfantrymen, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.	4 Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
5 Invading Judaea, he approached Beth-Zur, a fortified position about twenty miles from Jerusalem, andbegan to subject it to strong pressure.	5 So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.
6 When Maccabaeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the fortresses, they and thepopulace with them begged the Lord with lamentation and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.	6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.
7 Maccabaeus himself was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the rest to risk their lives withhim in support of their brothers; so they sal ied out resolutely, as one man.	7 Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.
8 They were stil near Jerusalem when a rider attired in white appeared at their head, brandishinggolden weapons.	8 And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.
9 With one accord they al blessed the God of mercy, and found themselves filled with such couragethat they were ready to lay low not men only but the fiercest beasts and wal s of iron.	9 Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.
10 They advanced in battle order with the aid of their celestial al y, the Lord having had mercy on them.	10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them
11 Charging like lions on the enemy, they laid low eleven thousand of the infantry and sixteen hundredhorsemen, and routed al the rest.	11 And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.
12 Of those, the majority got away, wounded and weaponless. Lysias himself escaped only byignominious flight.	12 Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.
13 Now Lysias was not lacking in intel igence and, as he reflected on the reverse he had just suffered,he realised that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought for them. He therefore sent them adelegation	13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,
14 to persuade them to accept reasonable terms al round, and promised to compel the king to becometheir friend.	14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.
15 Maccabaeus, thinking only of the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed, and whateverMaccabaeus submitted to Lysias in writing concerning the Jews was granted by the king.	15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
16 Here is the text of the letter Lysias wrote to the Jews: 'Lysias to the Jewish people, greetings.	16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
17 'John and Absalom, your envoys, have delivered to me the communication transcribed below,requesting me to approve its provisions.	17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.
18 Anything requiring the king's attention I have put before him; whatever was possible, I have granted.	18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.
19 Provided you maintain your goodwil towards the interests of the State, I shal do my best in thefuture to promote your well-being.	19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.
20 As regards the details, I have given orders for your envoys and my own officials to discuss thesewith you.	20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you.
21 May you prosper. 'The twenty-fourth day of Dioscorus, in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.
22 The king's letter ran as follows: 'King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings.	22 Now the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:
23 'Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, our wil is that the subjects of the realm beleft undisturbed to attend to their own affairs.	23 Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.
24 We understand that the Jews do not approve our father's policy, the adoption of Greek customs, butprefer their own way of life and ask to be allowed to observe their own laws.	24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.
25 Accordingly, since we intend this people to be free from vexation like any other, our ruling is that theTemple be restored to them and that they conduct their affairs according to the customs of their ancestors.	25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers.
26 'It wil therefore be your concern to send them a mission of friendship, so that on learning our policythey may have confidence and happily go about their business.'	26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.
27 The king's letter to the Jewish nation was in these terms: 'King Antiochus to the Jewish Senate andthe rest of the Jews, greetings.	27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:
28 'If you are well, that is as we would wish; we ourselves are in good health.	28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.
29 'Menelaus informs us that you wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.	29 Menelans declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:
30 Accordingly, al those who return before the thirtieth day of Xanthicus may rest assured that theyhave nothing to fear.	30 Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.
31 The Jews may make use of their own kind of food and their own laws as formerly, and none of themis to be molested in any way for any unwitting offences.	31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.
32 I am in fact sending Menelaus to set your minds at rest.	32 I have sent also Menelans, that he may comfort you.
33 Farewel . 'The fifteenth day of Xanthicus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
34 The Romans also sent the Jews a letter, which read as follows: 'Quintus Memmius, Titus Manilius,Manius Sergius, legates of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greetings.	34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.
35 'Whatever Lysias, the king's Cousin, has granted you we also approve.	35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.
36 As for the matters he decided to refer to the king, consider them careful y and send someone withoutdelay, if we are to interpret them to your advantage, because we are leaving for Antioch.	36 But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.
37 Lose no time, therefore, in sending us those who can tel us what your intentions are.	37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.
38 Farewel . 'The fifteenth day of Dioscorus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.