Open English Translation 2 MAC Chapter 13

13 In the one hundred and forty-ninth year, news was brought to Yehudah and his company that Antiokos (Antiochus) Eupator was coming with multitudes against Yehudah, 2 and with him Lusias his guardian and chancellor, each having a Greek force of one hundred and ten thousand infantry, five thousand and three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.

3 And Menelaos also joined himself with them, and with great hypocrisy encouraged Antiokos, not for the saving of his country, but because he thought that he’d be set over the government. 4 But the King of kings stirred up Antiokos’ anger against the wicked wretch. When Lusias informed him that this man was the cause of all the evils, the king commanded to bring him to Beroia, and to put him to death in the way customary in that place. 5 Now there’s in that place a tower that’s fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had all around it a circular[fn] rim sloping steeply on every side into the ashes. 6 Here one who’s guilty of sacrilege or notorious for other crimes is pushed down to destruction. 7 By such a fate it happened that the breaker of the law, Menelaos, died, without obtaining so much as a grave in the earth, and that justly; 8 for since he’d perpetrated many sins against[fn] the altar, whose fire and whose ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.

9 Now the king,[fn] infuriated in spirit, was coming with intent to inflict on the Yehudim (Jews) the very worst of the sufferings that’d been done in his father’s time. 10 But when Yehudah heard of those things, he commanded the multitude to call on the master day and night, if ever at any other time, so now to help those who were at the point of being deprived of the law, their country, and the holy temple, 11 and not to allow the people who’d just begun to be revived to fall into the hands of those profane heathen. 12 So when they had all done the same thing together, begging[fn] the merciful master with weeping and fastings and prostration for three days without ceasing, Yehudah exhorted them and commanded they should join him.

13 Having consulted privately with the elders, he resolved that before the king’s army entered into Yehudah (Judea) and made themselves masters of the city, they should go out and decide the matter by the help of God.[fn] 14 And committing the decision to the master[fn] of the world, and exhorting those who were with him to contend nobly even to death for laws, temple, city, country, and way of life, he pitched his camp by Modi’in. 15 He gave out to his men the watchword, “VICTORY IS GOD’S”, with a chosen force of the bravest young men he attacked by the king’s pavilion by night, and killed of his army as many as two thousand men, and brought[fn] down the leading elephant with him who was in the tower[fn] on him. 16 At last they filled the army[fn] with terror and alarm, and departed with good success. 17 That had been accomplished when the day was just dawning, because of the master’s protection that gave Yehudah[fn] help.

18 But the king, having had a taste of the exceeding boldness of the Yehudim (Jews), made strategic attacks on their positions, 19 and on a strong fortress of the Yehudim at Beyt-Tsur. He advanced, was turned back, failed, and was defeated. 20 Yehudah sent the things that were necessary to those who were within. 21 But Rodokos, from the Jewish ranks, made secrets known to the enemy. He was searched for, arrested, and shut up in prison. 22 The king negotiated with them in Beyt-Tsur the second time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, attacked the forces of Yehudah, was put to the worse, 23 heard that Filippos (Philip) who’d been left as chancellor in Antiokeia had become reckless, was confounded, made to the Yehudim an overture of peace, submitted himself and swore to acknowledge all their rights, came to terms with them and offered sacrifice, honoured the sanctuary and the place, 24 showed kindness and graciously received Makabi (Maccabaeus), left Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais even to the Gerrenians,[fn] 25 and came to Ptolemais. The men of Ptolemais were displeased at the treaty, for they had very great indignation against the Yehudim. They desired to annul the articles of the agreement. 26 Lusias came[fn] forward to speak, made the best defence that was possible, persuaded, pacified, gained their good will, and departed to Antiokeia. That was the issue of the attack and departure of the king.