OET-RV 2 MAC Chapter 10

10 Then Makabi (Maccabaeus) and those who were with him, the master leading them on, recovered the temple and the city. 2 They pulled down the altars that’d been built in the marketplace by the foreigners, and also the sacred enclosures. 3 Having cleansed the sanctuary, they made another altar of sacrifice. Striking[fn] flint and starting a fire, they offered sacrifices after they’d ceased for two years, burnt incense, lit lamps, and set out the show bread. 4 When they’d done those things, they fell prostrate and implored the master that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if they ever did sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen. 5 Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, on that very day it happened that the sanctuary was cleansed, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Kislev. 6 They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how not[fn] long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals. 7 Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who’d successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place. 8 They ordained also with a public statute and decree, for all the nation of the Yehudim (Jews), that they should observe these days every year.

9 Such were the events of the end of Antiokos (Antiochus), who was called Epifanes (Epiphanes).

10 Now we’ll declare what happened under Antiokos Eupator,[fn] who proved himself a son of that ungodly man, and will summarise the main evils of the wars. 11 Because this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lusias to be chancellor and supreme governor of Coele-Syria and Foinikai. 12 Because Ptolemaios (Ptolemy) who was called Makron, setting an example of observing justice towards the Yehudim because of the wrong that’d been done to them, endeavoured to deal with them on peaceful terms. 13 Whereupon being accused by the king’s friends[fn] before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn because he’d abandoned Kupros (Cyprus) which Filometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiokos Epifanes, and failing to uphold the honour of his office,[fn] he took poison and did away with himself.

14 But when Gorgias was made governor of the district, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Yehudim. 15 Together with him the Edomim also, being masters of important fortresses, harassed the Yehudim; and received those who’d taken refuge from Yerushalem (Jerusalem), they endeavoured to keep up the war. 16 But Makabi (Maccabaeus) and his men, having made solemn supplication and having implored God to fight on their side, rushed on the fortresses of the Edomim. 17 Assaulting them vigorously, they took control of the positions, and kept off all who fought on the wall, and killed those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.

18 Because no fewer than nine thousand had fled into two very strong towers having everything needed for a siege, 19 Makabi, having left Shim’on (Simon) and Yosef (Joseph), and also Zakay and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed. 20 But Shim’on and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas, let some of them slip away. 21 But when word was brought to Makabi of what was done, he gathered the people’s leaders together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22 So he killed those men for having turned traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers. 23 Prospering with his weapons in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.

24 Now Timotheos, who’d been defeated by the Yehudim (Jews) before, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the cavalry which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he’d take Yehudah (Judea) by force of weapons. 25 But as he drew near, Makabi and his men sprinkled dirt on their heads and girded their loins with coarse, abrasive sackcloth, in supplication to God, 26 and falling down on the step in front of the altar, implored him to become gracious[fn] to them, and be[fn] an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares. 27 Rising from their prayer they took up their weapons, and advanced some distance from the city. When they’d come near to their enemies, they[fn] halted. 28 When the dawn was now breaking, the two armies joined in battle, the one part having this, beside virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they’d fled to the master for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the fight.

29 When the battle became strong, there appeared out of heaven to their adversaries five splendid men on horses with bridles of gold, and[fn] two of them, leading on the Yehudim, 30 and taking Makabi in the middle of them, and covering him with their own armour, guarded him from wounds, while they shot arrows and thunderbolts at the enemies. Because this reason, they were blinded and thrown into confusion, and were cut to pieces, filled with bewilderment. 31 Twenty thousand and five hundred were slain, beside six hundred cavalry.

32 Timotheos himself fled into a fortress called Gezer, a fortress of great strength, where[fn] Kaireas was in command. 33 Then Makabi and his men were glad and laid siege to the fortress for four days. 34 Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the place, blasphemed greatly, and hurled out impious words. 35 But at dawn of the fifth day, certain young men of Makabi’ company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall with masculine force and with furious[fn] anger, and cut down whoever came in their way. 36 Others climbing up in the same way, while the enemies were distracted with those who’d made their way within, set fire to the towers, and kindled fires that burnt the blasphemers alive, while others broke open the gates, and, having given entrance to the rest of the band, occupied the city. 37 They killed Timotheos, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Kaireas, and Apolofanes. 38 When they’d accomplished those things, they blessed the master with hymns and thanksgiving, blessing him who provides great benefits to Yisrael (Israel) and gives them the victory.