2 Maccabees
The Jewish people in Jerusalem and Judea sent greetings to their brothers in Egypt, expressing gratitude to God for his covenant and asking for his continued protection and guidance. The letter recounted the story of Nehemiah and the rekindling of the sacred fire, as well as the collection of sacred books and objects by Judas Maccabeus. The story then shifted to the false report of Simon, a temple official, which led to the attempted seizure of the temple treasury by Heliodorus, but God intervened, sending a horse and two youths to scourge Heliodorus. The high priest Onias was later accused of treason by Simon, and Jason, Onias' brother, became the high priest, but he was eventually forced to flee and was killed. Menelaus, the brother of Simon, usurped the high priesthood and had Onias killed, leading to widespread outrage and grief. Antiochus then invaded Jerusalem, desecrating the temple and taking its holy vessels and treasures, and the Jews were forced to abandon their laws and contaminate the temple. The Jews were also forced to sacrifice on the king's birthday, and those who refused were executed. An elderly scribe named Eleazar was forced to eat swine's flesh but chose to endure torments and death rather than disobey the sacred law. Seven brothers and their mother were also compelled to eat swine's flesh, but they refused, choosing to die instead. Judas Maccabeus then gathered 6,000 men and led a successful campaign against the Gentiles, overwhelming towns and cities, and his virtuous strength became renowned. The Jews, led by Maccabeus, recovered the temple and city, purified the temple, and offered sacrifices again after two years. They celebrated for eight days, decreeing that the purification be commemorated annually. The Jews then defeated various enemies, including Lysias, Gorgias, and Timothy, and the king eventually granted them permission to follow their own laws and customs. The Jews also avenged the cruel acts committed against them by the people of Joppa and Jamnia, and Judas and his men purified themselves and kept the Sabbath. They later defeated Timothy's forces and purified the city of Casphin, and Judas instructed the people to pray and prepare for battle against Antiochus Eupator. The Jews led a successful nighttime attack on the king's camp, killing 4,000 men, and Antiochus later attempted to take the fortified garrison of Bethzur but was repelled. After learning of a rebellion in Antioch, Antiochus begged the Jews for peace and made concessions, including appointing Judas as commander and leader. Alcimus, a former high priest, later defiled himself and went to King Demetrius, offering gifts and speaking against Judas Maccabeus, leading to Nicanor's attempt to capture Judas. However, Judas discovered Nicanor's plan and hid, and Nicanor was later defeated by the Jews, with God's help, and his head and hand were displayed in Jerusalem as a sign of God's assistance.
Chapter 1
The Jewish people in Jerusalem and Judea send greetings to their brothers in Egypt, expressing gratitude to God for his covenant and asking for his continued protection and guidance. The letter recounts the story of Nehemiah, who, after the temple was rebuilt, sought to rekindle the sacred fire that had been hidden away by priests during the Babylonian exile. When the fire was not found, Nehemiah ordered the priests to draw up water from a well and sprinkle it on the sacrifices, and miraculously, a great fire was kindled. The priests then offered sacrifices and prayers, asking God to preserve and sanctify his people, and to free those in servitude to the Gentiles.
Chapter 2
Jeremiah ordered those who were transmigrating to take the fire and the law with them, so they would not forget the Lord's commandments. He also had the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar of incense made to accompany him, and later hid them in a cave, where they would remain until God gathered the people together. The prophet Nehemiah gathered the books of the Prophets, David, and the kings, and Judas Maccabeus collected the things that were destroyed in the war. The writer of the letter is sending a message to celebrate the purification and to ask the recipients to send people to carry the books and other things to them.
Chapter 3
Simon, a temple official, falsely reported to the king's governor, Apollonius, that the Jerusalem temple treasury was overflowing with money, in an attempt to bring about the downfall of the high priest, Onias. Apollonius informed the king, who sent Heliodorus to seize the money, but when Heliodorus arrived at the temple, he was met with resistance from the priests and the people, who prayed to God for protection. God intervened, sending a horse and two youths to scourge Heliodorus, who was then carried away, mute and near death. After the high priest, Onias, prayed for Heliodorus' recovery, he was healed and returned to the king, testifying to the power of God and warning the king not to send anyone to Jerusalem with evil intentions.
Chapter 4
Simon, a betrayer of the nation, spoke evil about Onias, the high priest, and accused him of treason. Onias went to the king to resolve the issue, but before he could, Jason, Onias' brother, offered the king a large sum of money to become the high priest and was granted the position. Jason then began to transfer his subjects to heathen rituals and customs, and the priests became more interested in Greek practices than in their duties at the altar. Jason sent men to Tyre to participate in a competition, and the money they carried was used to build Greek warships instead of being used for the intended sacrifice. Meanwhile, Menelaus, the brother of Simon, usurped the high priesthood from Jason by offering the king more money, and Jason was forced to flee. Menelaus then stole gold vessels from the temple and had Onias killed, which led to widespread outrage and grief. The king eventually had Andronicus, who had carried out the killing, executed as punishment.
Chapter 5
Antiochus prepared for a second invasion of Egypt, but a false rumor of his death led Jason to attack Jerusalem with 1,000 men, taking the city and causing slaughter. Jason's victory was short-lived, as he was eventually forced to flee and was later killed. Antiochus, believing the Jews would desert him, invaded Jerusalem, ordering the slaughter of anyone who opposed him, resulting in the deaths of 80,000 people. He also desecrated the temple, taking its holy vessels and treasures, and left behind cruel rulers to afflict the people.
Chapter 6
The king sent an elder to compel Jews to abandon their laws and contaminate the temple in Jerusalem, renaming it 'Jupiter of Olympus.' The temple was filled with Gentile luxuries and the altar was desecrated with illicit things. Jews were forced to sacrifice on the king's birthday and those who refused were executed, including two women who had circumcised their sons and a group of people who secretly observed the Sabbath. An elderly scribe named Eleazar was forced to eat swine's flesh but chose to endure torments and death rather than disobey the sacred law, leaving an example of fortitude for the people.
Chapter 7
A king compelled seven brothers and their mother to eat swine's flesh against divine law, but they refused, choosing to die instead. Each brother was tortured and killed, with the mother encouraging them to remain faithful to God's laws. The brothers declared that God would raise them up in eternal life at the resurrection, and they died one by one, each affirming their faith and warning the king of his own punishment. The mother also died, having encouraged her sons to remain faithful, and the king was left to face God's judgment.
Chapter 8
Judas Maccabeus gathered 6,000 men and prayed for God's mercy on the Jewish people and the temple. He then led a successful campaign against the Gentiles, overwhelming towns and cities, and his virtuous strength became renowned. Meanwhile, Philip sent Nicanor with 20,000 men to destroy the Jews, but Judas learned of the plan and prepared for battle, trusting in God's justice. Despite some Jews fleeing in fear, Judas and his men fought bravely, killing over 9,000 of Nicanor's army and forcing them to flee. After the battle, they observed the Sabbath and divided the spoils among the disabled, orphans, and widows.
Chapter 9
Antiochus, after being defeated in Persia, learned of the deaths of Nicanor and Timothy and sought to take revenge on the Jews. However, God struck him with an incurable and invisible plague, causing him severe abdominal pain and torment. As his condition worsened, he became humbled and acknowledged the power of God, promising to make amends for his past wrongdoings and even convert to Judaism. Despite his pleas for mercy, Antiochus eventually died a miserable death on a journey through the mountains.
Chapter 10
The Jews, led by Maccabeus, recovered the temple and city, demolishing foreign altars and shrines, and purified the temple, offering sacrifices again after two years. They celebrated for eight days, decreeing that the purification be commemorated annually. Meanwhile, Antiochus' son Eupator appointed Lysias as leader, but Ptolemy, who had been just towards the Jews, was accused of treason and took his own life. Gorgias, the new leader, made war against the Jews, but Maccabeus and his men persevered, killing 20,000 Idumeans and capturing two well-fortified towers. Timothy, who had been defeated before, gathered foreign troops and horsemen, but Maccabeus and his men prayed for forgiveness and victory, and with divine help, they defeated Timothy's army, killing 20,500 men and 600 horsemen. Timothy fled, but Maccabeus besieged the stronghold of Gazara, where Timothy was hiding, and after four days, the youths with Maccabeus stormed the wall, set fire to the towers and gates, and killed Timothy and his brother.
Chapter 11
Lysias, the king's procurator, gathered an army of 8,000 infantry and horsemen, along with 80 elephants, to attack the Jews, intending to capture Jerusalem and sell the priesthood. However, the Jews, led by Maccabeus, prayed for divine intervention and were strengthened by the appearance of a radiant horseman. They then bravely attacked the enemy, killing 11,000 infantry and 1,600 horsemen, and forcing Lysias to flee. Lysias, realizing the Jews' invincibility, sent a letter promising to agree to just terms and persuade the king to be their friend. The king, Antiochus, subsequently wrote to the Jews, granting them permission to follow their own laws and customs, and the Romans also sent a letter confirming Lysias' concessions and offering to support the Jews' interests.
Chapter 12
The Jews, led by Judas, sought to avenge the cruel acts committed against them by the people of Joppa and Jamnia, who had drowned many Jews at sea. Judas and his men attacked the ports of Joppa and Jamnia by night, setting fire to the ships and killing many of their enemies. They then defeated the Arabians in battle and received a pledge of peace from them. Judas also captured the city of Casphin, where he made a great slaughter, and later defeated Timothy's forces, killing many of his men. After these victories, Judas and his men purified themselves and kept the Sabbath, and then collected the bodies of the fallen to bury them with their ancestors. They found that some of the slain had been wearing forbidden idolatrous tokens, and they prayed for forgiveness for the sins of the dead, sending money to Jerusalem to be offered as a sacrifice for their sins.
Chapter 13
Antiochus Eupator, accompanied by Lysias and Menelaus, marched against Judea with a large army, but Menelaus was thrown to his death in a pile of ashes for his treachery. Antiochus then intensified his persecution of the Jews, prompting Judas to instruct the people to pray and prepare for battle. Judas led a successful nighttime attack on the king's camp, killing 4,000 men and causing the king to retreat. Antiochus later attempted to take the fortified garrison of Bethzur but was repelled, and after learning of a rebellion in Antioch, he begged the Jews for peace and made concessions, including appointing Judas as commander and leader.
Chapter 14
Alcimus, a former high priest, defiled himself and went to King Demetrius, offering gifts and speaking against Judas Maccabeus, claiming he was causing unrest among the Jews. Demetrius, believing Alcimus, sent Nicanor to capture Judas and appoint Alcimus as high priest. Nicanor initially attempted to make peace with Judas, but after being ordered by Demetrius to capture him, he tried to deceive Judas. However, Judas discovered Nicanor's plan and hid. Nicanor then threatened to destroy the temple if Judas was not handed over, and the priests prayed for God's protection. Meanwhile, an elder named Razias was brought before Nicanor and, rather than submit, took his own life to avoid being mistreated by the soldiers.
Chapter 15
Nicanor, with great arrogance, decided to attack Judas and the Jews on the Sabbath day, but his plan was unsuccessful. Judas, trusting in God, exhorted his men to remember past victories and to hope for future assistance from the Almighty. He shared a vision of Onias, the high priest, and Jeremiah, the prophet, who gave Judas a golden sword to defeat the enemies of Israel. The Jews, with renewed courage, fought against Nicanor's army and, with God's help, killed 35,000 men, including Nicanor. Judas then cut off Nicanor's head and hand and displayed them in Jerusalem as a sign of God's assistance.
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