Open English Translation 2 MAC Chapter 12

12 So when that agreement had been made, Lusias departed to the king, and the Yehudim went about their farming.

2 But some of the governors of districts, Timotheos and Apolonios the son of Gennaios, and also Hieronumos and Demofon, and beside them Nikanor Kupros’ (Cyprus’) governor, wouldn’t allow them to enjoy tranquillity and live in peace. 3 Men of Yafo (Joppa) perpetrated this great impiety: they invited the Yehudim who lived among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they’d provided, as though they had no ill will towards them. 4 When[fn] the Yehudim,[fn] relying on the public vote of the city, accepted the invitation, as men desiring to live in peace and suspecting nothing, they took them out to sea and drowned not less than two hundred of them. 5 When Yehudah (Judas) heard of the cruelty done to his fellow-countrymen, giving command to the men that were with him 6 and calling on God the righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his kindred, and set the harbour on fire at night, burnt the boats, and put to the sword those who’d fled there. 7 But when the town gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men of Yafo. 8 But learning that the men of Yavneh intended to do the same thing to the Yehudim who lived among them, 9 he attacked the Jamnites at night, and set fire to the harbour together with the fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen at Yerushalem (Jerusalem), almost fifty kilometres distant.

10 Now when they’d drawn off almost two kilometres from there, as they marched against Timotheos, an army of Aravim attacked him, no fewer than five thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry. 11 And when a hard battle had been fought, and Yehudah and his company, by the help of God, had good success, the nomads being overcome implored Yehudah to grant them friendship, promising to give him livestock, and to help his[fn] people in all other ways. 12 So Yehudah, thinking that they’d indeed be profitable in many things, agreed to live in peace with them; and receiving pledges of friendship they departed to their tents.

13 He also attacked a certain city, strong and fenced with earthworks and walls, and inhabited by a mixed multitude of various nations. It was named Kaspin. 14 Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the walls and their store of provisions, behaved themselves rudely towards Yehudah and those who were with him, railing, and furthermore blaspheming and speaking impious words. 15 But Yehudah and his company, calling on the great Sovereign of the world, who without rams and cunning engines of war hurled down Yeriho (Jericho) in the times of Yeshua (Jesus), rushed wildly against the wall. 16 Having taken the city by God’s will, they made unspeakable slaughter, so much that the adjoining lake, which was almost half a kilometre wide, appeared to be filled with the deluge of blood.

17 When they’d gone around 150 kilometres from there, they made their way to Karax, to the Yehudim (Jews) that are called Tubieni.[fn] 18 They didn’t find Timotheos in that district, for he had by then departed from the district without accomplishing anything, but had left behind a very strong garrison in one place. 19 But Dositheos and Sosipatros, who were captains under Makabi (Maccabaeus), went out and destroyed those who’d been left by Timotheos in the fortress, more than ten thousand men. 20 Makabi, arranging his own army in divisions, set those[fn] two over the bands, and marched in haste against Timotheos, who had with him one hundred and twenty thousand infantry and two thousand and five hundred cavalry. 21 When Timotheos heard of the approach of Yehudah, he at once sent away the women and the children with the baggage into the fortress called Karnayim;[fn] for the place was hard to besiege and difficult of access because of the narrowness of the approaches on all sides. 22 When the band of Yehudah, who led the first division, appeared in sight, and when terror and fear came on the enemy, because the manifestation of him who sees all things came on them, they fled in every direction, carried this way and that, so that they were often injured by their own men, and pierced with the points of their own swords. 23 Yehudah continued the pursuit more vigorously, putting the wicked wretches to the sword, and he destroyed as many as thirty thousand men.

24 Timotheos himself, falling in with the company of Dositheos and Sosipatros, implored them with much crafty guile to let him go with his life, because he had in his power the parents of many of them and the kindred of some. “Otherwise, he said, little regard will be shown[fn] to these.”[fn] 25 So when he had with many words confirmed the agreement to restore them without harm, they let him go that they might save their kindred.

26 Then Yehudah, marching against Karnayim[fn] and Atergatis’ temple, killed twenty-five thousand people. 27 After he’d put those to flight and destroyed them, he marched against Efron also, a strong city, wherein[fn] were multitudes of people of all nations. Stalwart young men placed on[fn] the walls made a vigorous defence. There were great stores of war engines and darts there. 28 But calling on the Sovereign who with might shatters the strength[fn] of the[fn] enemy, they took the city into their hands, and killed as many as twenty-five thousand of those who were in it.

29 Setting out from there, they marched in haste against Beyt-Shean, which is 120 kilometres away from Yerushalem (Jerusalem). 30 But when the Yehudim (Jews) who were settled there testified of the good will that the Scythopolitans had shown towards them, and of their kind treatment of them in the times of their misfortune, 31 they gave thanks, and further exhorted them to remain well disposed towards the race for the future. Then they went up to Yerushalem, the feast of weeks being close at hand.

32 But after the celebration called Pentecost, they marched in haste against Gorgias Edom’s governor. 33 He came out with three thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry. 34 When they’d set themselves in array, it happened that a few of the Yehudim fell. 35 A certain Dositheos, one of Bacenor’s company,[fn] who was on horseback and was a strong man, pressed hard on Gorgias, and taking hold of his cloak dragged him along by main force. While he planned to take the accursed man alive, one of the Thracian cavalry bore down on him and disabled his shoulder, and so Gorgias escaped to Mareshah.[fn]

36 When those who were with Ezra had been fighting long and were weary, Yehudah (Judas) called on the master to show himself, fighting on their side and leading in the battle. 37 Then in the language of his ancestors he raised the battle cry joined with hymns. Then he rushed against Gorgias’ troops when they weren’t expecting it, and put them to flight.

38 Yehudah gathered his army and came to Adulam city.[fn] As the seventh day was coming on, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the Sabbath there.

39 On the following day, when[fn] it’d become necessary, Yehudah and his company came to take up the bodies of those who’d fallen, and[fn] in company with their kinsmen to bring them back to the sepulchres of their ancestors. 40 But under the clothes of each one of the dead they found consecrated[fn] tokens of the idols of Yavneh, which the law forbids the Yehudim to have anything to do with. It became clear to all that it was for this cause that they’d fallen. 41 All therefore, blessing the ways of the master, the righteous Judge, who makes manifest the things that are hidden, 42 turned themselves to supplication, praying that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Yehudah exhorted the multitude to keep themselves from sin, for they’d seen with their own eyes what happened because of the sin of those who’d fallen. 43 When he’d made a collection man by man to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to offer a sacrifice for sin, doing very well and honourably in this, in that he took thought for the resurrection. 44 Because if he wasn’t expecting that those who’d fallen would rise again, it’d be superfluous and idle to pray for the dead. 45 But if he was looking forward to an honourable memorial of gratitude laid up for those who die[fn] in[fn] godliness, then the thought was holy and godly. Therefore he made the atoning sacrifice for those who’d died, that they might be released from their sin.