Primus Machabaeorum 9

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Interea, ut audivit Demetrius quia cecidit Nicanor et exercitus ejus in prælio, apposuit Bacchidem et Alcimum rursum mittere in Judæam, et dextrum cornu cum illis.	1 When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he again sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah, along with the right wing of his army.
2 Et abierunt viam quæ ducit in Galgala, et castra posuerunt in Masaloth, quæ est in Arbellis : et occupaverunt eam, et peremerunt animas hominum multas.	2 They took the road to Galilee, and camping opposite the ascent at Arbela, they captured it and killed many people.
3 In mense primo anni centesimi et quinquagesimi secundi, applicuerunt exercitum ad Jerusalem :	3 In the first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two, they encamped against Jerusalem.
4 et surrexerunt, et abierunt in Beream viginti millia virorum, et duo millia equitum.	4 Then they set out for Berea with twenty thousand men and two thousand cavalry.
5 Et Judas posuerat castra in Laisa, et tria millia viri electi cum eo :	5 Judas, with three thousand picked men, had camped at Elasa.
6 et viderunt multitudinem exercitus, quia multi sunt, et timuerunt valde : et multi subtraxerunt se de castris, et non remanserunt ex eis nisi octingenti viri.	6 When his men saw the great number of the troops, they were very much afraid, and many slipped away from the camp, until only eight hundred men remained.
7 Et vidit Judas quod defluxit exercitus suus, et bellum perurgebat eum, et confractus est corde, quia non habebat tempus congregandi eos, et dissolutus est.	7 As Judas saw that his army was melting away just when the battle was imminent, he was panic-stricken, because he had no time to gather them together.
8 Et dixit his qui residui erant : Surgamus, et eamus ad adversarios nostros, si poterimus pugnare adversus eos.	8 But in spite of his discouragement, he said to those who remained: "Let us go forward to meet our enemies; perhaps we can put up a good fight against them."
9 Et avertebant eum, dicentes : Non poterimus, sed liberemus animas nostras modo, et revertamur ad fratres nostros, et tunc pugnabimus adversus eos : nos autem pauci sumus.	9 They tried to dissuade him, saying: "We certainly cannot. Let us save our lives now, and come back with our kinsmen, and then fight against them. Now we are too few."
10 Et ait Judas : Absit istam rem facere ut fugiamus ab eis : et si appropiavit tempus nostrum, moriamur in virtute propter fratres nostros, et non inferamus crimen gloriæ nostræ.	10 But Judas said: "Far be it from me to do such a thing as to flee from them! If our time has come, let us die bravely for our kinsmen and not leave a stain upon our glory!"
11 Et movit exercitus de castris, et steterunt illis obviam : et divisi sunt equites in duas partes, et fundibularii et sagittarii præibant exercitum, et primi certaminis omnes potentes.	11 Then the army of Bacchides moved out of camp and took its position for combat. The cavalry were divided into two squadrons, and the slingers and the archers came on ahead of the army, and all the valiant men were in the front line.
12 Bacchides autem erat in dextro cornu, et proximavit legio ex duabus partibus, et clamabant tubis :	12 Bacchides was on the right wing. Flanked by the two squadrons, the phalanx attacked as they blew their trumpets. Those who were on Judas' side also blew their trumpets.
13 exclamaverunt autem et hi qui erant ex parte Judæ etiam ipsi, et commota est terra a voce exercituum : et commissum est prælium a mane usque ad vesperam.	13 The earth shook with the noise of the armies, and the battle raged from morning until evening.
14 Et vidit Judas quod firmior est pars exercitus Bacchidis in dextris, et convenerunt cum ipso omnes constantes corde :	14 Seeing that Bacchides was on the right, with the main force of his army, Judas, with all the most stouthearted rallying to him,
15 et contrita est dextera pars ab eis, et persecutus est eos usque ad montem Azoti.	15 drove back the right wing and pursued them as far as the mountain slopes.
16 Et qui in sinistro cornu erant, viderunt quod contritum est dextrum cornu, et secuti sunt post Judam, et eos qui cum ipso erant, a tergo :	16 But when the men on the left wing saw that the right wing was driven back, they turned and followed Judas and his men, taking them in the rear.
17 et ingravatum est prælium, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi ex his et ex illis.	17 The battle was fought desperately, and many on both sides fell wounded.
18 Et Judas cecidit, et ceteri fugerunt.	18 Then Judas fell, and the rest fled.
19 Et Jonathas et Simon tulerunt Judam fratrem suum, et sepelierunt eum in sepulchro patrum suorum in civitate Modin.	19 Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the tomb of their fathers at Modein.
20 Et fleverunt eum omnis populus Israël planctu magno, et lugebant dies multos,	20 All Israel bewailed him in great grief. They mourned for him many days, and they said,
21 et dixerunt : Quomodo cecidit potens, qui salvum faciebat populum Israël !	21 "How the mighty one has fallen, the savior of Israel!"
22 Et cetera verba bellorum Judæ, et virtutum, quas fecit, et magnitudinis ejus, non sunt descripta : multa enim erant valde.	22 The other acts of Judas, his battles, the brave deeds he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded; but they were very many.
23 Et factum est : post obitum Judæ emerserunt iniqui in omnibus finibus Israël, et exorti sunt omnes qui operabantur iniquitatem.	23 After the death of Judas, the transgressors of the law raised their heads in every part of Israel, and all kinds of evildoers appeared.
24 In diebus illis facta est fames magna valde, et tradidit se Bacchidi omnis regio eorum cum ipsis.	24 In those days there was a very great famine, and the country deserted to them.
25 Et elegit Bacchides viros impios, et constituit eos dominos regionis :	25 Bacchides chose impious men and made them masters of the country.
26 et exquirebant, et perscrutabantur amicos Judæ, et adducebant eos ad Bacchidem, et vindicabat in illos, et illudebat.	26 These sought out and hunted down the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, who punished and derided them.
27 Et facta est tribulatio magna in Israël, qualis non fuit ex die qua non est visus propheta in Israël.	27 There had not been such great distress in Israel since the time prophets ceased to appear among the people.
28 Et congregati sunt omnes amici Judæ, et dixerunt Jonathæ :	28 Then all the friends of Judas came together and said to Jonathan:
29 Ex quo frater tuus Judas defunctus est, vir similis ei non est, qui exeat contra inimicos nostros, Bacchidem et eos qui inimici sunt gentis nostræ.	29 "Since your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to oppose our enemies, Bacchides and those who are hostile to our nation.
30 Nunc itaque, te hodie elegimus esse pro eo nobis in principem, et ducem ad bellandum bellum nostrum.	30 Now therefore we have chosen you today to be our ruler and leader in his place, and to fight our battle."
31 Et suscepit Jonathas tempore illo principatum, et surrexit loco Judæ fratris sui.	31 From that moment Jonathan accepted the leadership, and took the place of Judas his brother.
32 Et cognovit Bacchides, et quærebat eum occidere.	32 When Bacchides learned of it, he sought to kill him.
33 Et cognovit Jonathas, et Simon frater ejus, et omnes qui cum eo erant : et fugerunt in desertum Thecuæ et consederunt ad aquam lacus Asphar.	33 But Jonathan and his brother Simon and all the men with him discovered this, and they fled to the desert of Tekoa and camped by the waters of the pool of Asphar.
34 Et cognovit Bacchides, et die sabbatorum venit ipse et omnis exercitus ejus trans Jordanem.	34
35 Et Jonathas misit fratrem suum ducem populi, et rogavit Nabuthæos amicos suos, ut commodarent illis apparatum suum, qui erat copiosus.	35 Jonathan sent his brother as leader of the convoy to ask permission of his friends, the Nabateans, to deposit with them their great quantity of baggage.
36 Et exierunt filii Jambri ex Madaba, et comprehenderunt Joannem et omnia quæ habebat, et abierunt habentes ea.	36 But the sons of Jambri from Medaba made a raid and seized and carried off John and everything he had.
37 Post hæc verba, renuntiatum est Jonathæ et Simoni fratri ejus, quia filii Jambri faciunt nuptias magnas, et ducunt sponsam ex Madaba filiam unius de magnis principibus Chanaan cum ambitione magna.	37 After this, word was brought to Jonathan and his brother Simon: "The sons of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and with a large escort they are bringing the bride, the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan, from Nadabath."
38 Et recordati sunt sanguinis Joannis fratris sui : et ascenderunt, et absconderunt se sub tegumento montis.	38 Remembering the blood of John their brother, they went up and hid themselves under cover of the mountain.
39 Et elevaverunt oculos suos, et viderunt : et ecce tumultus, et apparatus multus : et sponsus processit, et amici ejus, et fratres ejus obviam illis cum tympanis, et musicis, et armis multis.	39 They watched, and suddenly saw a noisy crowd with baggage; the bridegroom and his friends and kinsmen had come out to meet the bride's party with tambourines and musicians and much equipment.
40 Et surrexerunt ad eos ex insidiis, et occiderunt eos, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi, et residui fugerunt in montes : et acceperunt omnia spolia eorum :	40 The Jews rose up against them from their ambush and killed them. Many fell wounded, and after the survivors fled toward the mountain, all their spoils were taken.
41 et conversæ sunt nuptiæ in luctum, et vox musicorum ipsorum in lamentum.	41 Thus the wedding was turned into mourning, and the sound of music into lamentation.
42 Et vindicaverunt vindictam sanguinis fratris sui : et reversi sunt ad ripam Jordanis.	42 Having taken their revenge for the blood of their brother, the Jews returned to the marshes of the Jordan.
43 Et audivit Bacchides, et venit die sabbatorum usque ad oram Jordanis in virtute magna.	43 When Bacchides heard of it, he came on the sabbath to the banks of the Jordan with a large force.
44 Et dixit ad suos Jonathas : Surgamus, et pugnemus contra inimicos nostros : non est enim hodie sicut heri et nudiustertius :	44 Then Jonathan said to his companions, "Let us get up now and fight for our lives, for today is not like yesterday and the day before.
45 ecce enim bellum ex adverso, aqua vero Jordanis hinc et inde, et ripæ, et paludes, et saltus : et non est locus divertendi.	45 The battle is before us, and behind us are the waters of the Jordan on one side, marsh and thickets on the other, and there is no way of escape.
46 Nunc ergo, clamate in cælum, ut liberemini de manu inimicorum vestrorum. Et commissum est bellum.	46 Cry out now to Heaven for deliverance from our enemies."
47 Et extendit Jonathas manum suam percutere Bacchidem, et divertit ab eo retro :	47 When they joined battle, Jonathan raised his arm to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides backed away from him.
48 et desiliit Jonathas, et qui cum eo erant, in Jordanem, et transnataverunt ad eos Jordanem.	48 Jonathan and his men jumped into the Jordan and swam across to the other side, but the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan.
49 Et ceciderunt de parte Bacchidis die illa mille viri. Et reversi sunt in Jerusalem,	49 A thousand men on Bacchides' side fell that day.
50 et ædificaverunt civitates munitas in Judæa, munitionem quæ erat in Jericho, et in Ammaum, et in Bethoron, et in Bethel, et Thamnata, et Phara, et Thopo muris excelsis, et portis, et seris.	50 On returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea: the Jericho fortress, as well as Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.
51 Et posuit custodiam in eis, ut inimicitias exercerent in Israël :	51 In each he put a garrison to oppose Israel.
52 et munivit civitatem Bethsuram, et Gazaram, et arcem, et posuit in eis auxilia, et apparatum escarum :	52 He fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara and the citadel, and put soldiers in them and stores of provisions.
53 et accepit filios principum regionis obsides, et posuit eos in arce in Jerusalem in custodiam.	53 He took as hostages the sons of the leaders of the country and put them in custody in the citadel at Jerusalem.
54 Et anno centesimo quinquagesimo tertio, mense secundo, præcepit Alcimus destrui muros domus sanctæ interioris, et destrui opera prophetarum : et cœpit destruere.	54 In the year one hundred and fifty-three, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary to be torn down, thus destroying the work of the prophets. But he only began to tear it down.
55 In tempore illo percussus est Alcimus : et impedita sunt opera illius, et occlusum est os ejus, et dissolutus est paralysi, nec ultra potuit loqui verbum, et mandare de domo sua.	55 Just at that time he had a stroke, and his work was interrupted; his mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, so that he could no longer utter a word to give orders concerning his house.
56 Et mortuus est Alcimus in tempore illo cum tormento magno.	56 Finally he died in great agony.
57 Et vidit Bacchides quoniam mortuus est Alcimus, et reversus est ad regem. Et siluit terra annis duobus.	57 Seeing that Alcimus was dead, Bacchides returned to the king, and the land of Judah was quiet for two years. Bacchides and Jonathan
58 Et cogitaverunt omnes iniqui, dicentes : Ecce Jonathas, et qui cum eo sunt, in silentio habitant confidenter : nunc ergo adducamus Bacchidem, et comprehendet eos omnes una nocte.	58 Then all the transgressors of the law held a council and said: "Jonathan and his companions are living in peace and security. Now then, let us have Bacchides return, and he will capture all of them in a single night."
59 Et abierunt, et consilium ei dederunt.	59 So they went and took counsel with him.
60 Et surrexit ut veniret cum exercitu multo : et misit occulte epistolas sociis suis qui erant in Judæa, ut comprehenderent Jonathan, et eos qui cum eo erant : sed non potuerunt, quia innotuit eis consilium eorum.	60 When Bacchides was setting out with a large force, he sent letters secretly to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his companions. They were not able to do this, however, because their plot became known.
61 Et apprehendit de viris regionis, qui principes erant malitiæ, quinquaginta viros, et occidit eos :	61 In fact, Jonathan's men seized about fifty of the men of the country who were ringleaders in the mischief and put them to death.
62 et secessit Jonathas, et Simon, et qui cum eo erant, in Bethbessen, quæ est in deserto : et exstruxit diruta ejus, et firmaverunt eam.	62 Then Jonathan and Simon and their companions withdrew to Bethbasi in the desert; they rebuilt and strengthened its fortifications that had been demolished.
63 Et cognovit Bacchides, et congregavit universam multitudinem suam : et his, qui de Judæa erant, denuntiavit.	63 When Bacchides learned of this, he gathered together his whole force and sent word to those who were in Judea.
64 Et venit, et castra posuit desuper Bethbessen : et oppugnavit eam dies multos, et fecit machinas.	64 He came and pitched his camp before Bethbasi, and constructing siege-machines, he fought against it for many days.
65 Et reliquit Jonathas Simonem fratrem suum in civitate, et exiit in regionem, et venit cum numero :	65 Leaving his brother Simon in the city, Jonathan, accompanied by a small group of men, went out into the field.
66 et percussit Odaren et fratres ejus, et filios Phaseron in tabernaculis ipsorum : et cœpit cædere, et crescere in virtutibus.	66 He struck down Odomera and his kinsmen and the sons of Phasiron in their encampment; these men had set out to go up to the siege with their forces.
67 Simon vero, et qui cum ipso erant, exierunt de civitate, et succenderunt machinas,	67 Simon and his men then sallied forth from the city and set fire to the machines.
68 et pugnaverunt contra Bacchidem, et contritus est ab eis : et afflixerunt eum valde, quoniam consilium ejus et congressus ejus erat inanis.	68 They fought against Bacchides, and he was beaten. This caused him great distress. Because the enterprise he had planned came to nought,
69 Et iratus contra viros iniquos, qui ei consilium dederant ut veniret in regionem ipsorum, multos ex eis occidit : ipse autem cogitavit cum reliquis abire in regionem suam.	69 he was angry with the lawless men who had advised him to invade the province. He killed many of them and resolved to return to his own country.
70 Et cognovit Jonathas : et misit ad eum legatos componere pacem cum ipso, et reddere ei captivitatem.	70 Jonathan learned of this and sent ambassadors to make peace with him and to obtain the release of the prisoners.
71 Et libenter accepit, et fecit secundum verba ejus, et juravit se nihil facturum ei mali omnibus diebus vitæ ejus.	71 He agreed to do as Jonathan had asked. He swore an oath to him that he would never try to injure him for the rest of his life;
72 Et reddidit ei captivitatem, quam prius erat prædatus de terra Juda : et conversus abiit in terram suam, et non apposuit amplius venire in fines ejus.	72 and he released the prisoners he had previously taken from the land of Judah. He returned to his own country and never came into their territory again.
73 Et cessavit gladius ex Israël : et habitavit Jonathas in Machmas, et cœpit Jonathas ibi judicare populum, et exterminavit impios ex Israël.	73 Then the sword ceased in Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash; he began to judge the people and he destroyed the impious in Israel.