Open English Translation 1 MAC Chapter 3

3 His son Yehudah, who was called Makabi, 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 Yisrael. 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 actions, and like a lion’s cub roaring for prey. 5 He hunted and pursued the lawless, and he burnt 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 Ya’akov (Jacob) glad with his acts. His memory is blessed forever. 8 He went through the cities of Yehudah, destroyed the ungodly[fn] out of the land, and turned away anger from Yisrael. 9 He was renowned to the utmost part of the earth. He gathered together those who were ready to perish.

10 Apolonios gathered the Gentiles together with a great army from Shomron (Samaria) to fight against Yisrael. 11 Yehudah learnt 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 Yehudah took Apolonios’ sword, and he fought with it all his days.

13 Seron, the commander of Aram’s (Syria’s) army, heard that Yehudah had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him, went out to war. 14 He said, “I’ll make myself a name and get myself glory in the kingdom. I’ll fight against Yehudah 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 Israeli people.

16 He came near to the ascent of Beyt-Horon, and Yehudah went out to meet him with a small company. 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Yehudah, “How can our small group fight against such a large, strong army? We’re exhausted, and we haven’t eaten anything today.”

18 Yehudah said, “It’s an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With[fn] heaven it’s 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’d finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were defeated before him. 24 They pursued them down the descent of Beyt-Horon to the plain, and about eight hundred men of them fell; but the rest fled into the land of the Pelishtim.

25 The fear of Yehudah 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 Yehudah.

27 But when King Antiokos (Antiochus) heard those words, he was full of indignation; and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, an extremely 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’d brought on 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 extremely perplexed in his mind, and he determined to go into Paras (Persia), and to take the tributes of those countries, and to gather much money. 32 He left Lusias, an honourable man, and one of royal lineage, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Perat (Euphrates) to the borders of Mitsrayim (Egypt), 33 and to bring up his son Antiokos, until he came again. 34 He delivered to Lusias half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him charge of all the things that he’d have done, and about those who lived in Yehudah and in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), 35 that he should send an army against them to root out and destroy the strength of Yisrael (Israel) and the remnant of Yerushalem, 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 Antiokeia, his royal city, in the one hundred and forty seventh year;[fn] and he passed over the river Perat, and went through the upper countries.

38 Lusias chose Ptolemaios (Ptolemy) the son of Dorumenes, Nikanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends;[fn] 39 and with them, he sent forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into Yehudah and to destroy it, according to the king’s word. 40 They set out with all their army, and came and encamped near Emmaous in the plain country. 41 The merchants of the country heard of their fame, and took silver and gold in large quantities, and fetters,[fn] and came into the camp to take the Israeli people for slaves. Forces of Aram (Syria) and of the land of the Pelishtim[fn] joined with them.

42 Yehudah and his kindred saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces were encamping in their borders. They learnt about the king’s words which he’d commanded, to destroy the people and make an end of them. 43 Then they each said to his neighbour, “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 Yerushalem (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 Ya’akov (Jacob), and the pipe and the harp ceased. 46 They gathered themselves together, and came to Mitspah, near Yerushalem; for in Mitspah there used to be a place of prayer for Yisrael. 47 They fasted that day, put on coarse, abrasive 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’ clothes, the first fruits, and the one-tenth contributions. They stirred up the Nazarites, who’d accomplished their days. 50 They cried aloud towards 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 Listen, 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 Yehudah (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 on the south side of Emmaous. 58 Yehudah 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 Because it’s 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 will he do.