2 Maccabees 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.
1But a short time afterwards, Lysias, the procurator of the king and a near relative, who also was in charge of the government, was heavily weighed upon by what had happened2Gathering together eight thousand, along with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking that the city would certainly be captured, making it a dwelling place for the Gentiles3in truth, also thinking to make a profit in money from the temple, just as from the other shrines of the Gentiles, and to put the priesthood up for sale every year4Never recognizing the power of God, but inflated in mind, he trusted in the multitude of the foot soldiers, and in the thousands of horsemen, and in the eighty elephants5And so, he entered Judea, and, approaching Bethzur, which was in a narrow place, at an interval of five stadia from Jerusalem, he laid siege to that stronghold6But when Maccabeus and those who were with him realized that the strongholds were besieged, they and all the crowd together petitioned the Lord with weeping and tears, that he would send a good Angel to save Israel7And so the leader Maccabeus, taking up arms, exhorted the others, to undergo the peril together with him, and to bring assistance to their brothers8And when they together were going forth with a ready spirit, there appeared at Jerusalem a horseman, preceding them in radiant clothing and with weapons of gold, waving a spear9Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and strengthened their souls, being prepared to break through not only men, but also the most ferocious beasts and walls of iron10Thus, they went forth readily, having a helper from heaven, and with the Lord taking pity on them11Then, rushing violently against the enemy, in the manner of lions, they struck down from among them: eleven thousand foot soldiers and one thousand six hundred horsemen12And they turned all the rest to flight. But many of them, being wounded, escaped with nothing. And Lysias himself also escaped, fleeing in disgrace13And because he was not irrational, thinking to himself about the loss that had happened against him, and understanding the Hebrews to be invincible because they depend upon the help of Almighty God, he sent to them14and he promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend15Then Maccabeus assented to the request of Lysias, considering it useful in every way. And whatever Maccabeus wrote to Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king consented to it16For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, which, indeed, were composed in this way: "Lysias, to the people of the Jews: greetings17John and Absalom, who had been sent from you to deliver your writings, requested that I would implement these things that were signified by them18Therefore, whatever things could be brought before the king, I have presented them. And he has conceded to those things that are permitted19If, therefore, you will keep yourselves faithful in these matters, then, from now on, I will endeavor to be a cause of your good20But as for other particulars, I have given orders by word, both to these, and to those who have been sent by me, to confer with you21Farewell. In the one hundred forty-eighth year, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of Dioscorus.22But the letter of the king contained this: "King Antiochus to Lysias, his brother: greetings23Since our father has been transferred among the gods, we are willing that those who are in our kingdom should act without tumult, and should attend diligently to their own concerns24We have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to convert to the rites of the Greeks, but that they chose to keep to their own institutions, and, because of this, that they ask of us to leave them to their own laws25Therefore, wanting this nation, likewise, to be at rest, we have reached a judgment that the temple should be restored to them, so that they may act according to the custom of their ancestors26You will do well, therefore, if you send to them and grant them a pledge, so that our will becomes known, and they may be of good courage, and may look after their own needs.27Truly, the letter of the king to the Jews was such as this: "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews: greetings28If you are well, such is what we desire. But we ourselves are also well29Menelaus came to us, saying that you wished to come down to your own, who are among us30Therefore, we grant a pledge of security to those who come and go, even until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus31so that the Jews may make use of their own foods and laws, just as also before, and so that none of them should endure any kind of trouble for things which have been done by ignorance32And so, we have also sent Menelaus, who will talk with you33Farewell. In the one hundred forty-eighth year, on the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.34But the Romans also now sent a letter, having this in it: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews: greetings35Concerning these things that Lysias, the relative of the king, has conceded to you, we also have conceded36But about such things as he judged should be referred to the king, send someone, as soon as you have diligently conferred among yourselves, so that we may make a decree, just as it is agreeable to you. For we are going to Antioch37And, therefore, make haste to write back, so that we may know whatever your will may be38Farewell. In the one hundred forty-eighth year, on the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
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