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The First Book of Maccabees

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- Kapitel 3 -

Judas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows Apollonius and Seron. A great army is sent against him out of Syria. He prepares his people for battle by fasting and prayer.

1
And his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, rose up in his place.
2
And all his brothers assisted him, along with all those who had joined themselves to his father. And they fought the battle of Israel with rejoicing.
3
And he expanded the glory of his people, and he clothed himself with a breastplate like a giant, and he surrounded himself his weapons of war in battles, and he protected the camp with his sword.
4
In his actions, he became like a lion, and like a young lion roaring in the hunt.
5
And he pursued the wicked and tracked them down. And those who disturbed his people, he burned with fire.
6
And his enemies were repelled by the fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled. And salvation was well-directed in his hand.
7
And he provoked many kings, and he gave joy to Jacob by his works, and his memory will be a blessing for all generations.
8
And he traveled through the cities of Judah, and he destroyed the impious out of them, and he turned wrath away from Israel.
9
And he was renowned, even to the utmost part of the earth, and he gathered together those who were perishing.
10
And so Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, with a numerous and great army from Samaria, to make war against Israel.
11
And Judas knew about it, and he went forth to meet him. And he struck him and killed him. And many fell down wounded, and the rest fled away.
12
And he took away their spoils. And Judas took possession of the sword of Apollonius, and he fought with it during all his days.
13
And Seron, the leader of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered together a company of the faithful and an assembly with him.
14
And he said, “I will make a name for myself, and I will be glorified in the kingdom, and I will defeat Judas in warfare, and those who are with him, who have spurned the word of the king.”
15
And he prepared himself. And the camp of the impious went up with him, with strong auxiliaries, so as to act with vengeance upon the sons of Israel.
16
And they approached even as far as Bethhoron. And Judas went forth to meet him, with a few men.
17
But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “How will we few be able to fight against so great and so strong a multitude, even though we are weakened by fasting today?”
18
And Judas said: “It is easy for many to be enclosed in the hands of a few, for there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to liberate by means of many, or by means of few.
19
For victory in warfare is not in the multitude of the army, but in the strength from heaven.
20
They come to us with a contemptuous multitude and with arrogance, in order to destroy us, with our wives and our sons, and to despoil us.
21
In truth, we will fight on behalf of our souls and our laws.
22
And the Lord himself will crush them before our face. But as for you, do not fear them.”
23
And as soon as he had ceased speaking, he attacked them suddenly. And Seron and his army were crushed in his sight.
24
And he pursued him from the descent of Bethhoron, even to the plains. And eight hundred of their men were cut down, but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
25
And the fear and dread of Judas, as well as his brothers, fell upon all the nations around them.
26
And his name reached even to the king, and all the nations told stories of the battles of Judas.
27
But when king Antiochus heard these accounts, he was angry to his very soul. And he sent and gathered together forces from his entire kingdom, a very strong army.
28
And he opened his treasury, and he gave out stipends to the army for a year. And he commanded them to make ready for all things.
29
And he saw that the money from his treasures had failed, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and the scourging that he had caused on earth in order to take away the legitimate laws, which had been since the first days.(a)
30
And he feared, lest he not have enough the second time as the first, for expenses and gifts, which he had given before with a liberal hand. For his excesses were more than the kings who had been before him.
31
And he was alarmed to his very soul, and he intended to go into Persia, and to take tributes from the regions, and to gather together much money.
32
And he left behind Lysias, a nobleman of royal family, to preside over the kingdom from the river Euphrates, even to the river of Egypt,
33
and to raise his son, Antiochus, until he would return.
34
And he handed over to him half of the army, and the elephants. And he commanded him concerning all that he wanted, and concerning the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem:
35
so that he would send an army against them to crush and to root out the virtue of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away the memory of them from that place,
36
and so that he would establish dwelling places for the sons of foreigners in all their parts, and would distribute their land by lot.
37
And so, the king took the remaining part of the army, and he went forth from Antioch, the city of his kingdom, in the one hundred and forty-seventh year. And he crossed over the river Euphrates, and he traveled through the upper regions.
38
Then Lysias chose Ptolemy, the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, powerful men from among the king’s friends.
39
And he sent them with forty thousand men, and seven thousand horsemen, to enter into the land of Judah, and to destroy it, according to the word of the king.
40
And so, they proceeded with all their power, and they arrived and took a position near Emmaus, in the land of the plains.
41
And the merchants of the regions heard of their name. And they took very much silver, and gold, and servants, and they came into the camp to take the sons of Israel into servitude. And armies from Syria and from the lands of foreigners were added to them.
42
And Judas and his brothers saw that evils were being multiplied, and that armies had been positioned near their borders. And they knew the words of the king, which ordered the people to be put to death and to be utterly consumed.
43
And they said, each one to his neighbor, “Let us relieve the dejection of our people, and let us fight on behalf of our people and our sacred places.”
44
And an assembly was gathered together, so that they would be prepared for battle, and so that they could pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45
Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a desert. There was no one who entered or exited from among her children. And the sanctuary was trampled upon, and the sons of foreigners were in the stronghold. This place was the habitation of the Gentiles. And delight was taken away from Jacob, and the music of flute and harp ceased in that place.
46
And they gathered together and came to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem. For a place of prayer was in Mizpah, in the former Israel.
47
And they fasted on that day, and they clothed themselves with haircloth, and they placed ashes on their heads, and they tore their garments.
48
And they laid open the books of the law, in which the Gentiles searched for the likeness of their idols.
49
And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the first fruits and tithes, and they roused the Nazirites, who had fulfilled their days.
50
And they cried out with a loud voice toward heaven, saying: “What shall we do with these, and where shall we take them?
51
For your holy things have been trampled and defiled, and your priests have been in mourning and in humiliation.
52
And behold, the Nations gather together against us, to destroy us. You know what they intend against us.
53
How shall we be able to stand before their face, unless you, O God, assist us?”
54
Then they sounded the trumpets with a loud call.
55
And after this, Judas appointed commanders over the people: over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
56
And he said to those who were building houses, or who had betrothed wives, who were planting vineyards, or who were terribly afraid, that they should return, each one to his own house, according to the law.
57
So they moved the camp, and relocated to the south of Emmaus.
58
And Judas said: “Gird yourselves, and be sons of power, and be ready in the morning, so that you may fight against these nations that have assembled against us, so as to destroy us and our sacred things.
59
For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see evils come to our nation and to the sacred places.(b)
60
Nevertheless, as it shall be willed in heaven, so let it be.”

Fußnoten

(a)3:29 As he prepares his army, the Antichrist will run low on money, having spent so much on his military in trying to subdue uprisings around the world, enforcing his unjust changes to laws. And he will suffer a lack of tributes (taxes) because his wars and vicious attacks will have devastated the world economy. Also, he will have given out much wealth in gifts and bribes to his supporters.(Conte)
(b)3:59 The sacred things are the Sacraments, which the Antichrist will try to destroy by supporting apostates and severe heretics.(Conte)

Judas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows Apollonius and Seron. A great army is sent against him out of Syria. He prepares his people for battle by fasting and prayer.

1
His son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his place.
2
All his kindred helped him, and so did all those who joined with his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
3
He got his people great glory, and put on a breastplate like a giant, and bound his warlike harness around him, and set battles in array, protecting the army with his sword.
4
He was like a lion in his deeds, and like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.
5
He hunted and pursued the lawless, and he burned up those who troubled his people.
6
The lawless shrunk back for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were very troubled, and deliverance prospered in his hand.
7
He angered many kings and made Jacob glad with his acts. His memory is blessed forever.
8
He went through the cities of Judah, destroyed the ungodly(a) out of the land, and turned away wrath from Israel.
9
He was renowned to the utmost part of the earth. He gathered together those who were ready to perish.
10
Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together with a great army from Samaria to fight against Israel.
11
Judas learned of it, and he went out to meet him, struck him, and killed him. Many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled.
12
They took their spoils, and Judas took Apollonius’ sword, and he fought with it all his days.
13
Seron, the commander of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him, went out to war.
14
He said, “I will make myself a name and get myself glory in the kingdom. I will fight against Judas and those who are with him, who despise the king’s command.
15
A mighty army of the ungodly went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the children of Israel.
16
He came near to the ascent of Bethhoron, and Judas went out to meet him with a small company.
17
But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “What? Shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? We for our part are faint, having tasted no food this day.”
18
Judas said, “It is an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With(b) heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few;
19
for victory in battle stands not in the multitude of an army, but strength is from heaven.
20
They come to us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to plunder us,
21
but we fight for our lives and our laws.
22
He himself will crush them before our face; but as for you, don’t be afraid of them.
23
Now when he had finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were defeated before him.
24
They pursued them down the descent of Bethhoron to the plain, and about eight hundred men of them fell; but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
25
The fear of Judas and his kindred, and the dread of them, began to fall on the nations around them.
26
His fame reached the king, and every nation told of the battles of Judas.
27
But when King Antiochus heard these words, he was full of indignation; and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, an exceedingly strong army.
28
He opened his treasury and gave his forces pay for a year, and commanded them to be ready for every need.
29
He saw that the money was gone from his treasures, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and disaster which he had brought upon the land, to the end that he might take away the laws which had been from the first days.
30
He was afraid that he wouldn’t have enough as at other times for the charges and the gifts which he used to give with a liberal hand, more abundantly than the kings who were before him.
31
And he was exceedingly perplexed in his mind, and he determined to go into Persia, and to take the tributes of those countries, and to gather much money.
32
He left Lysias, an honorable man, and one of royal lineage, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt,
33
and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.
34
He delivered to Lysias half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him charge of all the things that he would have done, and concerning those who lived in Judea and in Jerusalem,
35
that he should send an army against them to root out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memory from the place,
36
and that he should make foreigners live in all their territory, and should divide their land to them by lot.
37
The king took the half that remained of the forces, and left Antioch, his royal city, in the one hundred forty seventh year;(c) and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through the upper countries.
38
Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends;(d)
39
and with them, he sent forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into the land of Judah and to destroy it, according to the word of the king.
40
They set out with all their army, and came and encamped near Emmaus in the plain country.
41
The merchants of the country heard of their fame, and took silver and gold in large quantities, and fetters,(e) and came into the camp to take the children of Israel for slaves. Forces of Syria and of the land of the Philistines(f) joined with them.
42
Judas and his kindred saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces were encamping in their borders. They learned about the king’s words which he had commanded, to destroy the people and make an end of them.
43
Then they each said to his neighbor, “Let’s repair the ruins of our people. Let’s fight for our people and the holy place.”
44
The congregation was gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45
Jerusalem was without inhabitant like a wilderness. There was none of her offspring who went in or went out. The sanctuary was trampled down. Children of foreigners were in the citadel. The Gentiles lived there. Joy was taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and the harp ceased.
46
They gathered themselves together, and came to Mizpeh, near Jerusalem; for in Mizpeh there used to be a place of prayer for Israel.
47
They fasted that day, put on sackcloth, put ashes on their heads, tore their clothes,
48
and opened the book of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.
49
They brought the priests’ garments, the first fruits, and the tithes. They stirred up the Nazarites, who had accomplished their days.
50
They cried aloud toward heaven, saying, “What should we do with these men? Where should we carry them away?
51
Your holy place is trampled down and profaned. Your priests mourn in humiliation.
52
Behold, the Gentiles are assembled together against us to destroy us. You know what things they imagine against us.
53
How will we be able to stand against them, unless you help us?”
54
They sounded with the trumpets, and gave a loud shout.
55
And after this Judas appointed leaders of the people: captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens.
56
He said to those who were building houses, were betrothing wives, were planting vineyards, and were fearful, that they should return, each man to his own house, according to the law.
57
The army marched out and encamped upon the south side of Emmaus.
58
Judas said, “Arm yourselves and be valiant men! Be ready in the morning to fight with these Gentiles who are assembled together against us to destroy us and our holy place.
59
For it is better for us to die in battle than to see the calamities of our nation and the holy place.
60
Nevertheless, as may be the will in heaven, so shall he do.

Fußnoten

(a)3:8 Gr. out of it.
(b)3:18 Some ancient authorities read the God of heaven.
(c)3:37 circa B.C. 166.
(d)3:38 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .
(e)3:41 Most of the authorities read servants.
(f)3:41 Gr. foreigners.