Open English Translation 1 MAC Chapter 6

6 King Antiokos (Antiochus) was travelling through the upper countries; and he heard that in Elymais in Paras (Persia) there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold, 2 and that the temple which was in it was extremely rich, and that in it were golden shields, breastplates, and weapons which Alexandros (Alexander), son of Filippos (Philip), the Makedonian king, who reigned first among the Hellains (Greeks), left behind there. 3 So he came and tried to take the city and to pillage it; and he wasn’t able, because his plan was known to them of the city, 4 and they rose up against him in battle. He fled and returned to Bavel (Babylon) with great disappointment.

5 Then someone came into Paras bringing him news that the armies which went against Yehudah had been put to flight, 6 and that Lusias went first with a strong army and was put to shame before them, and that they’d grown strong because of weapons, power, and a supply of plunder which they took from the armies that they’d cut off, 7 and that they’d pulled down the abomination which he’d built on the altar that was in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and that they’d surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and also Beyt-Tsur, his city.

8 When the king heard those words, he was astonished and moved greatly. He laid himself down on his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it hadn’t turned out for him as he’d planned. 9 He was there many days, because great grief continually gripped him, and he realised that he’d die. 10 He called for all his[fn] friends, and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes, and my heart fails because of worry. 11 I said in my heart, ‘To what suffering I’ve come! How great a flood it’s that I’m in, now! Because I was gracious and loved in my power.’ 12 But now I remember the evils which I did at Yerushalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and sent out to destroy the inhabitants of Yehudah without a cause. 13 I perceive that it’s because of this that these evils have come on me. Listen, I’m perishing through great grief in a strange land.”

14 Then he called for Filippos (Philip), one of his[fn] friends, and set him over all his kingdom. 15 He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he could guide Antiokos (Antiochus) his son, and nourish him up that he might be king. 16 Then King Antiokos died there in the one hundred and forty-ninth year.[fn] 17 When Lusias learnt that the king was dead, he set up Antiokos his son to reign, whom he’d nourished up being young, and he called his name Eupator.

18 Those who were in the citadel kept hemming Yisrael (Israel) in around the sanctuary, and always tried to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles. 19 Yehudah planned to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them. 20 They were gathered together, and besieged them in[fn] the one hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war. 21 Some of those who were hemmed in came out, and some of the ungodly men of Yisrael were joined to them. 22 They went to the king, and said, “How much longer will you wait to bring justice, and avenge our kindred? 23 We were willing to serve your father and to live by his words, and to follow his commandments. 24 Because of that, the children of our people besieged the citadel[fn] and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could catch, they killed, and plundered our inheritances. 25 Not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders. 26 Listen, they’re encamped this day against the citadel at Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to take it. They’ve fortified the sanctuary and Beyt-Tsur. 27 If you don’t quickly prevent them, they’ll do greater things than these, and you won’t be able to control them.

28 When the king heard that, he was angry, and gathered together all his[fn] friends, the rulers of his army, and those who were over the cavalry. 29 Bands of hired soldiers came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the sea. 30 The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. 31 They went through Edom, and encamped against Beyt-Tsur, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. The Yehudim (Jews) came out and burnt them with fire, and fought valiantly.

32 Yehudah (Judas) marched away from the citadel and encamped at Beyt-Zekaryah, near the king’s camp. 33 The king rose early in the morning, and marched his army[fn] at full speed along the road to Beyt-Zekaryah. His forces made themselves ready to battle and sounded their trumpets. 34 They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle. 35 They distributed the animals among the phalanxes. They set by each elephant a thousand men armed with coats of mail and helmets of brass on their heads. Five hundred chosen cavalry were appointed for each elephant. 36 Those were ready beforehand, wherever the elephant was. Wherever the elephant went, they went with it. They didn’t leave it. 37 Strong, covered wooden towers were on them, one on each elephant, fastened on it with secure harnesses. On each were four valiant men who fought on them, beside his Indian driver. 38 The rest of the cavalry he set on this side and that side on the two flanks of the army, striking terror into the enemy, and protected by the phalanxes. 39 Now when the sun shone on the shields of gold and brass, the mountains lit up, and blazed like flaming torches.

40 A part of the king’s army was spread on the high hills and some on the low ground, and they went on firmly and in order. 41 All who heard the noise of their multitude, the marching of the multitude, and the rattling of the weapons trembled; for the army was very great and strong. 42 Yehudah and his army drew near for battle, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell. 43 Eleazar, who was called Avaran, saw one of the animals armed with royal breastplates, and it was taller than all the animals, and the king seemed to be on it. 44 He gave his life to deliver his people, and to get himself an eternal name. 45 He ran on him courageously into the middle of the phalanx, and killed on the right hand and on the left, and they parted away from him on this side and on that. 46 He crept under the elephant, and stabbed it from beneath, and killed it. The elephant fell to the earth on him, and he died there. 47 They saw the strength of the kingdom and the fierce attack of the army, and turned away from them.

48 But the soldiers of the king’s army went up to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to meet them, and the king encamped towards Yehudah (Judea) and towards Mt. Tsiyon (Zion). 49 He made peace with the people of Beyt-Tsur. He came out of the city because they had no food there to endure the siege, because it was a Sabbath to the land. 50 The king took Beyt-Tsur, and appointed a garrison there to keep it. 51 He encamped against the sanctuary many days; and set there mounds to shoot from, and engines of war, and machines for throwing fire and stones, and weapons to throw darts, and slings. 52 The Yehudim (Jews) also made engines of war against their engines, and fought for many days. 53 But there was no food in the sanctuary, because it was the seventh year, and those who fled for safety into Yehudah from among the Gentiles had eaten up the rest of the stores. 54 There were only a few people left in the sanctuary, because the famine prevailed against them, and they were scattered, each man to his own place.

55 Lusias heard that Filippos (Philip), whom Antiokos (Antiochus) the king, while he was yet alive, appointed to raise his son Antiokos to be king, 56 had returned from Paras (Persia) and Maday (Media), and with him the forces that went with the king, and that he was seeking to take control of the government. 57 He hurried, and gave orders to depart. He said to the king and the leaders of the army and to the men, “We get weaker daily, our food is scant, the place where we encamp is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie on us. 58 Now therefore let’s negotiate with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation, 59 and covenant with them, that they may walk after their own laws, as before; for because of their laws which we abolished they were angered, and did all these things.”

60 The speech pleased the king and the princes, and he sent to them to make peace; and they accepted it. 61 The king and the princes swore to them. On those conditions, they came out from the fortress. 62 Then the king entered into Mt. Tsiyon (Zion). He saw the strength of the place, and broke the oath which he’d sworn, and gave orders to pull down the wall all around. 63 Then he left in haste and returned to Antiokeia, and found Filippos master of the city. He fought against him, and took the city by force.