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2 Maccabees 11

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1 μετ' ὀλίγον δὲ παντελῶς χρονίσκον Λυσίας ἐπίτροπος τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ συγγενὴς καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων λίαν βαρέως φέρων ἐπὶ τοῖς γεγονόσι 2 συναθροίσας περὶ τὰς ὀκτὼ μυριάδας καὶ τὴν ἵππον ἅπασαν παρεγίνετο ἐπὶ τοὺς Ιουδαίους λογιζόμενος τὴν μὲν πόλιν Ἕλλησιν οἰκητήριον ποιήσειν 3 τὸ δὲ ἱερὸν ἀργυρολόγητον καθὼς τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν τεμένη πρατὴν δὲ κατὰ ἔτος τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην ποιήσειν 4 οὐδαμῶς ἐπιλογιζόμενος τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ κράτος πεφρενωμένος δὲ ταῖς μυριάσιν τῶν πεζῶν καὶ ταῖς χιλιάσιν τῶν ἱππέων καὶ τοῖς ἐλέφασιν τοῖς ὀγδοήκοντα 5 εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν Ιουδαίαν καὶ συνεγγίσας Βαιθσουρα ὄντι μὲν ἐρυμνῷ χωρίῳ Ιεροσολύμων δὲ ἀπέχοντι ὡσεὶ σταδίους πέντε τοῦτο ἔθλιβεν 6 ὡς δὲ μετέλαβον οἱ περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον πολιορκοῦντα αὐτὸν τὰ ὀχυρώματα μετὰ ὀδυρμῶν καὶ δακρύων ἱκέτευον σὺν τοῖς ὄχλοις τὸν κύριον ἀγαθὸν ἄγγελον ἀποστεῖλαι πρὸς σωτηρίαν τῷ Ισραηλ 7 αὐτὸς δὲ πρῶτος ὁ Μακκαβαῖος ἀναλαβὼν τὰ ὅπλα προετρέψατο τοὺς ἄλλους ἅμα αὐτῷ διακινδυνεύοντας ἐπιβοηθεῖν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ προθύμως ἐξώρμησαν 8 αὐτόθι δὲ πρὸς τοῖς Ιεροσολύμοις ὄντων ἐφάνη προηγούμενος αὐτῶν ἔφιππος ἐν λευκῇ ἐσθῆτι πανοπλίαν χρυσῆν κραδαίνων 9 ὁμοῦ δὲ πάντες εὐλόγησαν τὸν ἐλεήμονα θεὸν καὶ ἐπερρώσθησαν ταῖς ψυχαῖς οὐ μόνον ἀνθρώπους θῆρας δὲ τοὺς ἀγριωτάτους καὶ σιδηρᾶ τείχη τιτρώσκειν ὄντες ἕτοιμοι 10 προῆγον ἐν διασκευῇ τὸν ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ σύμμαχον ἔχοντες ἐλεήσαντος αὐτοὺς τοῦ κυρίου 11 λεοντηδὸν δὲ ἐντινάξαντες εἰς τοὺς πολεμίους κατέστρωσαν αὐτῶν χιλίους πρὸς τοῖς μυρίοις ἱππεῖς δὲ ἑξακοσίους πρὸς τοῖς χιλίοις τοὺς δὲ πάντας ἠνάγκασαν φεύγειν 12 οἱ πλείονες δὲ αὐτῶν τραυματίαι γυμνοὶ διεσώθησαν καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Λυσίας αἰσχρῶς φεύγων διεσώθη

1 A short time after this Lysias, the king's lieutenant, and cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with what had happened, 2 gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a habitation of the Gentiles: 3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: 4 Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants. 5 So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid siege to that fortress. 6 But when Machabeus, and they that were with him, understood that the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to save Israel. 7 Then Machabeus himself first taking his arms, exhorted the rest to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour their brethren. 8 And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, there appeared at Jerusalem a horseman going before them in white clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear. 9 Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and took great courage: being ready to break through not only men, but also the fiercest beasts, and walls of iron. 10 So they went on courageously, having a helper from heaven, and the Lord, who showed mercy to them. 11 And rushing violently upon the enemy, like lions, they slew of them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand six hundred horsemen: 12 And put all the rest to flight; and many of them being wounded, escaped naked: Yea, and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and escaped.

1 Sed parvo post tempore, Lysias procurator regis et propinquus, ac negotiorum præpositus, graviter ferens de his quæ acciderant, 2 congregatis octoginta millibus, et equitatu universo, veniebat adversus Judæos, existimans se civitatem quidem captam gentibus habitaculum facturum, 3 templum vero in pecuniæ quæstum, sicut cetera delubra gentium, habiturum, et per singulos annos venale sacerdotium: 4 nusquam recogitans Dei potestatem, sed mente effrenatus in multitudine peditum, et in millibus equitum, et in octoginta elephantis confidebat. 5 Ingressus autem Judæam, et appropians Bethsuræ, quæ erat in angusto loco, ab Jerosolyma intervallo quinque stadiorum, illud præsidium expugnabat. 6 Ut autem Machabæus et qui cum eo erant cognoverunt expugnari præsidia, cum fletu et lacrimis rogabant Dominum, et omnis turba simul, ut bonum angelum mitteret ad salutem Israël. 7 Et ipse primus Machabæus, sumptis armis, ceteros adhortatus est simul secum periculum subire, et ferre auxilium fratribus suis. 8 Cumque pariter prompto animo procederent, Jerosolymis apparuit præcedens eos eques in veste candida, armis aureis hastam vibrans. 9 Tunc omnes simul benedixerunt misericordem Dominum, et convaluerunt animis : non solum homines, sed et bestias ferocissimas, et muros ferreos parati penetrare. 10 Ibant igitur prompti, de cælo habentes adjutorem et miserantem super eos Dominum. 11 Leonum autem more impetu irruentes in hostes, prostraverunt ex eis undecim millia peditum, et equitum mille sexcentos: 12 universos autem in fugam verterunt, plures autem ex eis vulnerati nudi evaserunt. Sed et ipse Lysias turpiter fugiens evasit.

13 οὐκ ἄνους δὲ ὑπάρχων πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἀντιβάλλων τὸ γεγονὸς περὶ αὐτὸν ἐλάττωμα καὶ συννοήσας ἀνικήτους εἶναι τοὺς Εβραίους τοῦ δυναμένου θεοῦ συμμαχοῦντος αὐτοῖς 14 προσαποστείλας ἔπεισεν συλλύεσθαι ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς δικαίοις καὶ διότι καὶ τὸν βασιλέα πείσει φίλον αὐτοῖς ἀναγκάζων γενέσθαι 15 ἐπένευσεν δὲ ὁ Μακκαβαῖος ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ὁ Λυσίας παρεκάλει τοῦ συμφέροντος φροντίζων ὅσα γὰρ ὁ Μακκαβαῖος ἐπέδωκεν τῷ Λυσίᾳ διὰ γραπτῶν περὶ τῶν Ιουδαίων συνεχώρησεν ὁ βασιλεύς 16 ἦσαν γὰρ αἱ γεγραμμέναι τοῖς Ιουδαίοις ἐπιστολαὶ παρὰ μὲν Λυσίου περιέχουσαι τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον Λυσίας τῷ πλήθει τῶν Ιουδαίων χαίρειν 17 Ιωαννης καὶ Αβεσσαλωμ οἱ πεμφθέντες παρ' ὑμῶν ἐπιδόντες τὸν ὑπογεγραμμένον χρηματισμὸν ἠξίουν περὶ τῶν δι' αὐτοῦ σημαινομένων 18 ὅσα μὲν οὖν ἔδει καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ προσενεχθῆναι διεσάφησα ἃ δὲ ἦν ἐνδεχόμενα συνεχώρησεν 19 ἐὰν μὲν οὖν συντηρήσητε τὴν εἰς τὰ πράγματα εὔνοιαν καὶ εἰς τὸ λοιπὸν πειράσομαι παραίτιος ἀγαθῶν γενέσθαι 20 ὑπὲρ δὲ τούτων καὶ τῶν κατὰ μέρος ἐντέταλμαι τούτοις τε καὶ τοῖς παρ' ἐμοῦ διαλεχθῆναι ὑμῖν 21 ἔρρωσθε ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ τεσσαρακοστοῦ ὀγδόου Διὸς Κορινθίου τετράδι καὶ εἰκάδι

13 And as he was a man of understanding, considering with himself the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he sent to them: 14 And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend. 15 Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for the common good in all things; and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king allowed of. 16 For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this effect: Lysias, to the people of the Jews, greeting. 17 John, and Abesalom, who were sent from you, delivering your writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were signified by them. 18 Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king, I have represented to him: and he has granted as much as the matter permitted. 19 If, therefore, you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good. 20 But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you. 21 Farewell. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus.

13 Et quia non insensatus erat, secum ipse reputans factam erga se diminutionem, et intelligens invictos esse Hebræos, omnipotentis Dei auxilio innitentes, misit ad eos: 14 promisitque se consensurum omnibus quæ justa sunt, et regem compulsurum amicum fieri. 15 Annuit autem Machabæus precibus Lysiæ, in omnibus utilitati consulens : et quæcumque Machabæus scripsit Lysiæ de Judæis, ea rex concessit. 16 Nam erant scriptæ Judæis epistolæ a Lysia quidem hunc modum continentes: Lysias populo Judæorum salutem. 17 Joannes et Abesalom, qui missi fuerant a vobis, tradentes scripta, postulabant ut ea quæ per illos significabantur, implerem. 18 Quæcumque igitur regi potuerunt perferri, exposui : et quæ res permittebat, concessit. 19 Si igitur in negotiis fidem conservaveritis, et deinceps bonorum vobis causa esset, tentabo. 20 De ceteris autem per singula verbo mandavi et istis, et his, qui a me missi sunt, colloqui vobiscum. 21 Bene valete. Anno centesimo, quadragesimo octavo mensis Dioscori, die vigesima et quarta.

In the year 148... Viz., according to the computation followed by the Greeks; which was different from that of the Hebrews, followed by the writer of the first book of Machabees. However, by this date, as well as by other circumstances, it appears that the expedition of Lysias, mentioned in this chapter, is different from that which is recorded, 1 Maccabees 6. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)

22 ἡ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιστολὴ περιεῖχεν οὕτως βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος τῷ ἀδελφῷ Λυσίᾳ χαίρειν 23 τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν εἰς θεοὺς μεταστάντος βουλόμενοι τοὺς ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας ἀταράχους ὄντας γενέσθαι πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἰδίων ἐπιμέλειαν 24 ἀκηκοότες τοὺς Ιουδαίους μὴ συνευδοκοῦντας τῇ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπὶ τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ μεταθέσει ἀλλὰ τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀγωγὴν αἱρετίζοντας ἀξιοῦντας συγχωρηθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὰ νόμιμα 25 αἱρούμενοι οὖν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἔθνος ἐκτὸς ταραχῆς εἶναι κρίνομεν τό τε ἱερὸν ἀποκατασταθῆναι αὐτοῖς καὶ πολιτεύεσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν προγόνων αὐτῶν ἔθη 26 εὖ οὖν ποιήσεις διαπεμψάμενος πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ δοὺς δεξιάς ὅπως εἰδότες τὴν ἡμετέραν προαίρεσιν εὔθυμοί τε ὦσιν καὶ ἡδέως διαγίνωνται πρὸς τῇ τῶν ἰδίων ἀντιλήμψει

22 But the king's letter contained these words King Antiochus to Lysias, his brother, greeting. 23 Our father being translated amongst the gods we are desirous that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their own concerns. 24 And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of the Greeks but that they would keep to their own manner of living and therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws. 25 Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their ancestors. 26 You shall do well, therefore, to send to them, and grant them peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look to their own affairs.

22 Regis autem epistola ista continebat: Rex Antiochus Lysiæ fratri salutem. 23 Patre nostro inter deos translato, nos volentes eos qui sunt in regno nostro sine tumultu agere, et rebus suis adhibere diligentiam, 24 audivimus Judæos non consensisse patri meo ut transferrentur ad ritum Græcorum, sed tenere velle suum institutum, ac propterea postulare a nobis concedi sibi legitima sua. 25 Volentes igitur hanc quoque gentem quietam esse, statuentes judicavimus templum restitui illis, ut agerent secundum suorum majorum consuetudinem. 26 Bene igitur feceris, si miseris ad eos et dexteram dederis : ut cognita nostra voluntate, bono animo sint, et utilitatibus propriis deserviant.

27 πρὸς δὲ τὸ ἔθνος ἡ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιστολὴ τοιάδε ἦν βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος τῇ γερουσίᾳ τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Ιουδαίοις χαίρειν 28 εἰ ἔρρωσθε εἴη ἂν ὡς βουλόμεθα καὶ αὐτοὶ δὲ ὑγιαίνομεν 29 ἐνεφάνισεν ἡμῖν Μενέλαος βούλεσθαι κατελθόντας ὑμᾶς γίνεσθαι πρὸς τοῖς ἰδίοις 30 τοῖς οὖν καταπορευομένοις μέχρι τριακάδος Ξανθικοῦ ὑπάρξει δεξιὰ μετὰ τῆς ἀδείας 31 χρῆσθαι τοὺς Ιουδαίους τοῖς ἑαυτῶν δαπανήμασιν καὶ νόμοις καθὰ καὶ τὸ πρότερον καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν κατ' οὐδένα τρόπον παρενοχληθήσεται περὶ τῶν ἠγνοημένων 32 πέπομφα δὲ καὶ τὸν Μενέλαον παρακαλέσοντα ὑμᾶς 33 ἔρρωσθε ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ τεσσαρακοστοῦ ὀγδόου Ξανθικοῦ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ

27 But the king's letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting. 28 If you are well, you are as we desire: we ourselves also are well. 29 Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are with us. 30 We grant, therefore, a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus, 31 that the Jews may use their own kind of meats, and their own laws, as before: and that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been done by ignorance. 32 And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you. 33 Farewell. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.

27 Ad Judæos vero regis epistola talis erat : Rex Antiochus senatui Judæorum, et ceteris Judæis salutem. 28 Si valetis, sic estis ut volumus : sed et ipsi bene valemus. 29 Adiit nos Menelaus, dicens velle vos descendere ad vestros, qui sunt apud nos. 30 His igitur qui commeant usque ad diem trigesimum mensis Xanthici, damus dextras securitatis, 31 ut Judæi utantur cibis et legibus suis, sicut et prius : et nemo eorum ullo modo molestiam patiatur de his quæ per ignorantiam gesta sunt. 32 Misimus autem et Menelaum, qui vos alloquatur. 33 Valete. Anno centesimo quadragesimo octavo, Xanthici mensis quintadecima die.

34 ἔπεμψαν δὲ καὶ οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐπιστολὴν ἔχουσαν οὕτως Κόιντος Μέμμιος Τίτος Μάνιος πρεσβῦται Ῥωμαίων τῷ δήμῳ τῶν Ιουδαίων χαίρειν 35 ὑπὲρ ὧν Λυσίας ὁ συγγενὴς τοῦ βασιλέως συνεχώρησεν ὑμῖν καὶ ἡμεῖς συνευδοκοῦμεν 36 ἃ δὲ ἔκρινεν προσανενεχθῆναι τῷ βασιλεῖ πέμψατέ τινα παραχρῆμα ἐπισκεψάμενοι περὶ τούτων ἵνα ἐκθῶμεν ὡς καθήκει ὑμῖν ἡμεῖς γὰρ προσάγομεν πρὸς Ἀντιόχειαν 37 διὸ σπεύσατε καὶ πέμψατέ τινας ὅπως καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπιγνῶμεν ὁποίας ἐστὲ γνώμης 38 ὑγιαίνετε ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ τεσσαρακοστοῦ ὀγδόου Ξανθικοῦ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ

34 The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect: Quintus Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting. 35 Whatsoever Lysias, the king's cousin, has granted to you, we also have granted. 36 But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch. 37 And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are. 38 Farewell. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.

34 Miserunt autem etiam Romani epistolam, ita se habentem : Quintus Memmius et Titus Manilius legati Romanorum, populo Judæorum salutem. 35 De his quæ Lysias cognatus regis concessit vobis, et nos concessimus. 36 De quibus autem ad regem judicavit referendum, confestim aliquem mittere, diligentius inter vos conferentes, ut decernamus, sicut congruit vobis : nos enim Antiochiam accedimus. 37 Ideoque festinate rescribere, ut nos quoque sciamus cujus estis voluntatis. 38 Bene valete. Anno centesimo quadragesimo octavo, quintadecima die mensis Xanthici.