2 Maccabees 12

1 Γενομένων τῶν συνθηκῶν τούτων, ὁ μὲν Λυσίας ἀπῄει πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι περὶ τὴν γεωργίαν ἐγίνοντο.

1 When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.

2 Τῶν δὲ κατὰ τόπον στρατηγῶν Τιμόθεος καὶ Ἀπολλώνιος ὁ τοῦ Γενναίου, ἔτι δὲ Ἱερώνυμος καὶ Δημοφὼν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις Νικάνωρ ὁ Κυπριάρχης, οὐκ εἴων αὐτοὺς εὐσταθεῖς, καὶ τὰ τῆς ἡσυχίας ἄγειν.

2 But of the governors of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.

3 Ἰοππίται δὲ τηλικοῦτο συνετέλεσαν τὸ δυσσέβημα· παρακαλέσαντες τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς οἰκοῦντας Ἰουδαίους ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὰ παρασταθέντα ὑπʼ αὐτῶν σκάφη σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις, ὡς μηδεμιᾶς ἐνεστώσης πρὸς αὐτοὺς δυσμενείας,

3 The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that lived amongst them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.

4 κατὰ δὲ τὸ κοινὸν τῆς πόλεως ψήφισμα, καὶ τούτων ἐπιδεξαμένων ὡς ἂν εἰρηνεύειν θελόντων, καὶ μηδὲν ὕποπτον ἐχόντων, ἐπαναχθέντας αὐτοὺς ἐβύθισαν, ὄντας οὐκ ἔλαττον τῶν διακοσίων.

4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.

5 Μεταλαβὼν δὲ Ἰούδας τὴν γεγονυῖαν εἰς τοὺς ὁμοεθνεῖς ὠμότητα, παραγγείλας τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνδράσι,

5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.

6 καὶ ἐπικαλεσάμενος τὸν δίκαιον κριτὴν Θεὸν, παρεγένετο ἐπὶ τοὺς μιαιφόνους τῶν ἀδελφῶν· καὶ τὸν μὲν λιμένα νύκτωρ ἐνέπρησε, καὶ τὰ σκάφη κατέφλεξε, τοὺς δὲ ἐκεῖ συμφυγόντας ἐξεκέντησε.

6 And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled there he killed.

7 Τοῦ δὲ χωρίου συγκλεισθέντος, ἀνέλυσεν, ὡς πάλιν ἥξων καὶ τὸ σύμπαν τῶν Ἰοππιτῶν ἐκριζῶσαι πολίτευμα.

7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.

8 Μεταλαβὼν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐν Ἰαμνείᾳ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐπιτελεῖν βουλομένους τρόπον τοῖς παροικοῦσιν Ἰουδαίοις,

8 But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner to the Jews that lived amongst them,

9 καὶ τοῖς Ἰαμνίταις νυκτὸς ἐπιβαλὼν, ὑφῆψε τὸν λιμένα σὺν τῷ στόλῳ, ὥστε φαίνεσθαι τὰς αὐγὰς τοῦ φέγγους εἰς τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα, σταδίων ὄντων διακοσίων τεσσαράκοντα.

9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.

10 Ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπασθέντων σταδίους ἐννέα, ποιουμένων τὴν πορείαν ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον, προσέβαλον Ἄραβες αὐτῷ οὐκ ἐλάττους τῶν πεντακισχιλίων, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακόσιοι.

10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey towards Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.

11 Γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης, καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν διὰ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ βοήθειαν εὐημερησάντων, ἐλαττωθέντες οἱ Νομάδες Ἄραβες ἠξίουν δοῦναι τὸν Ἰούδαν δεξιὰν αὐτοῖς, ὑπισχνούμενοι καὶ βοσκήματα δώσειν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς ὠφελήσειν αὐτούς.

11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by the help of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, implored Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.

12 Ἰούδας δὲ ὑπολαβὼν ὡς ἀληθῶς ἐν πολλοῖς αὐτοὺς χρησίμους, ἐπεχώρησεν εἰρήνην ἄξειν πρὸς αὐτούς· καὶ λαβόντες δεξιὰς, εἰς τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν ἐχωρίσθησαν.

12 Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.

13 Ἐπέβαλε δὲ καὶ ἐπί τινα πόλιν γεφυροῦν ὀχυρὰν καὶ τείχεσι περιπεφραγμένην, καὶ παμμιγέσιν ἔθνεσι κατοικουμένην, ὄνομα δὲ Κάσπιν.

13 He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of various countries; and the name of it was Caspis.

14 Οἱ δʼ ἔνδον πεποιθότες τῇ τῶν τειχέων ἐρυμνότητι, τῇ τε τῶν βρωμάτων παραθέσει, ἀναγωγότερον ἐχρῶντο, τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν λοιδοροῦντες, καὶ προσέτι βλασφημοῦντες, καὶ λαλοῦντες ἃ μὴ θέμις.

14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of food, that they behaved themselves rudely towards them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.

15 Οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν ἐπικαλεσάμενοι τὸν μέγαν τοῦ κόσμου δυνάστην, τὸν ἄτερ κριῶν καὶ μηχανῶν ὀργανικῶν κατακρημνίσαντα τὴν Ἱεριχὼ κατὰ τοὺς Ἰησοῦ χρόνους, ἐνέσεισαν θηριωδῶς τῷ τείχει.

15 Therefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,

16 Καταλαβόμενοί τε τὴν πόλιν τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ θελήσει, ἀμυθήτους ἐποιήσαντο σφαγὰς, ὥστε τὴν παρακειμένην λίμνην τὸ πλάτος ἔχουσαν σταδίων δύο, κατάῤῥυτον αἵματι πεπληρωμένην φαίνεσθαι.

16 And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.

17 Ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀποσπάσαντες σταδίους ἑπτακοσίους πεντήκοντα διήνυσαν εἰς τὸν Χάρακα, πρὸς τοὺς λεγομένους Τουβιήνους Ἰουδαίους.

17 Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa to the Jews that are called Tubieni.

18 Καὶ Τιμόθεον μὲν ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων οὐ κατέλαβον, ἄπρακτόν τε ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ἐκλελυκότα, καταλελοιπότα δὲ φρουρὰν ἔν τινι τόπῳ, καὶ μάλα ὀχυράν.

18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.

19 Δωσίθεος δὲ καὶ Σωσίπατρος τῶν περὶ τὸν Μακκαβαῖον ἡγεμόνων, ἐξοδεύσαντες ἀπώλεσαν τοὺς ὑπὸ Τιμοθέου καταλειφθέντας ἐν τῷ ὀχυρώματι πλείους τῶν μυρίων ἀνδρῶν.

19 Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus' captains, went forth, and killed those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.

20 Ὁ δὲ Μακκαβαῖος διατάξας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στρατιὰν σπειρηδὸν, κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν σπείρων, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Τιμόθεον ὥρμησεν ἔχοντα περὶ αὐτὸν μυριάδας δώδεκα πεζῶν, ἱππεῖς δὲ χιλίους πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις.

20 And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him one hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.

21 Τὴν δὲ ἔφοδον μεταλαβὼν Ἰούδα, ὁ Τιμόθεος προεξαπέστειλε τὰς γυναῖκας, καὶ τὰ τέκνα, καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἀποσκευὴν εἰς τὸ λεγόμενον Καρνίον· ἦν γὰρ δυσπολιόρκητον καὶ δυσπρόσιτον τὸ χωρίον διὰ τὴν τῶν πάντων τῶν τόπων στενότητα.

21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas' coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage to a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come to, by reason of the straitness of all the places.

22 Ἐπιφανείσης δὲ τῆς Ἰούδα σπείρας πρώτης, καὶ γενομένου δέους ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, φόβου τε ἐκ τῆς τοῦ πάντα ἐφορῶντος ἐπιφανείας γενομένου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, εἰς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν ἄλλος ἀλλαχῃ φερόμενος, ὥστε πολλάκις ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδίων βλάπτεσθαι, καὶ ταῖς τῶν ξιφῶν ἀκμαῖς ἀναπείρεσθαι.

22 But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being struck with fear and terror through the appearing of him who sees all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.

23 Ἐποιεῖτο δὲ τὸν διωγμὸν εὐτονώτερον Ἰούδας, συγκεντῶν τοὺς ἀλιτηρίους, διέφθειρέ τε εἰς μυριάδας τρεῖς ἀνδρῶν.

23 Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he killed about thirty thousand men.

24 Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐμπεσὼν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Δωσίθεον καὶ Σωσίπατρον, ἠξίου μετὰ πολλῆς γοητείας ἐξαφεῖναι σῶον αὐτόν· διὰ τὸ πλειόνων μὲν γονεῖς, ὧν δὲ ἀδελφοὺς ἔχειν, καὶ τούτους ἀλογηθῆναι συμβήσεται, εἰ ἀποθάνοι.

24 Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he implored with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews' parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.

25 Πιστώσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ διὰ πλειόνων τὸν ὁρισμὸν ἀποκαταστήσειν τούτους ἀπημάντους, ἀπέλυσαν αὐτὸν ἕνεκα τῆς τῶν ἀδελφῶν σωτηρίας.

25 So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.

26 Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ Καρνίον καὶ τὸ Ἀταργατεῖον, κατέσφαξε μυριάδας σωμάτων δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.

26 Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he killed five and twenty thousand persons.

27 Καὶ μετὰ τὴν τούτων τροπὴν καὶ ἀπώλειαν ἐπεστράτευσεν Ἰούδας καὶ ἐπὶ Ἐφρὼν, πόλιν ὀχυρὰν, ἐν ᾗ κατῴκει Λυσίας, καὶ πάμφυλα πλήθη· νεανίαι δὲ πρὸ τῶν τειχῶν καθεστῶτες ῥωμαλέοι ἀπεμάχοντο εὐρώστως, ἐνθάδε ὀργάνων καὶ βελῶν πολλαὶ παραθέσεις ὑπῆρχον.

27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host towards Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of various nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.

28 Ἐπικαλεσάμενοι δὲ τὸν Δυνάστην τὸν μετὰ κράτους συντρίβοντα τὰς τῶν πολεμίων ἀλκὰς, ἔλαβον τὴν πόλιν ὑποχείριον, καὶ κατέστρωσαν τῶν ἔνδον εἰς μυριάδας δύο καὶ πεντακισχιλίους.

28 But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with his power breaks the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and killed twenty and five thousand of them that were within,

29 Ἀναζεύξαντες δὲ ἐκεῖθεν, ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Σκυθῶν πόλιν, ἀπέχουσαν ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων σταδίους ἑξακοσίους.

29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lies six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,

30 Ἀπομαρτυρησάντων δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ κατοικούντων Ἰουδαίων, ἣν οἱ Σκυθοπολίται ἔσχον πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὔνοιαν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς τῆς ἀτυχίας καιροῖς ἥμερον ἀπάντησιν ἐποιοῦντο,

30 But when the Jews that lived there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;

31 εὐχαριστήσαντες αὐτοῖς, καὶ προσπαρακαλέσαντες καὶ εἰς τὰ λοιπὰ πρὸς τὸ γένος εὐμενεῖς εἶναι, παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, τῆς τῶν ἑβδομάδων ἑορτῆς οὕσης ὑπογύου.

31 They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still to them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.

32 Μετὰ δὲ τὴν λεγομένην Πεντηκοστὴν, ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ Γοργίαν τὸν τῆς Ἰδουμαίας στρατηγόν.

32 And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,

33 Ἐξῆλθε δὲ μετὰ πεζῶν τρισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ τετρακοσίων.

33 Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.

34 Καὶ παραταξαμένων συνέβη πεσεῖν ὀλίγους τῶν Ἰουδαίων.

34 And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.

35 Δωσίθεος δέ τις τῶν τοῦ Βακήνορος, ἔφιππος ἀνὴρ καὶ καρτερὸς, εἴχετο τοῦ Γοργίου, καὶ λαβόμενος τῆς χλαμύδος, ἦγεν αὐτὸν εὐρώστως, καὶ βουλόμενος τὸν κατάρατον λαβεῖν ζωγρίαν, τῶν ἱππέων Θρακῶν τινὸς ἐπενεχθέντος αὐτῷ καὶ τὸν ὦμον καθελόντος, διέφυγεν ὁ Γοργίας εἰς Μαρισά.

35 At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor's company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him struck off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled to Marisa.

36 Τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἔσδριν ἐπιπλεῖον μαχομένων, καὶ κατακόπων ὄντων, ἐπικαλεσάμενος ὁ Ἰούδας τὸν Κύριον σύμμαχον φανῆναι καὶ προοδηγὸν τοῦ πολέμου,

36 Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would show himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.

37 καταρξάμενος τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ τὴν μεθʼ ὕμνων κραυγὴν, ἀναβοήσας, καὶ ἐνσείσας ἀπροσδοκήτως τοῖς περὶ τὸν Γοργίαν, τροπὴν αὐτῶν ἐποιήσατο.

37 And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias' men, he put them to flight.

38 Ἰούδας δὲ ἀναλαβὼν τὸ στράτευμα, ἦγεν εἰς Ὀδολλὰμ πόλιν· τῆς δὲ ἑβδομάδος ἐπιβαλλούσης, κατὰ τὸν ἐθισμὸν ἁγνισθέντες αὐτόθι τὸ σάββατον διήγαγον.

38 So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.

39 Τῇ δὲ ἐχομένῃ ἦλθον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν καθʼ ὃν τρόπον τὸ τῆς χρείας ἐγεγόνει, τὰ τῶν προπεπτωκότων σώματα ἀνακομίσασθαι, καὶ μετὰ τῶν συγγενῶν ἀποκαταστῆσαι εἰς τοὺς πατρῴους τάφους.

39 And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers' graves.

40 Εὗρον δὲ ἑκάστου τῶν τεθνηκότων ὑπὸ τοὺς χιτῶνας ἱερώματα τῶν ἀπὸ Ἰαμνείας εἰδώλων, ἀφʼ ὧν ὁ νόμος ἀπείργει τοὺς Ἰουδαίους· τοῖς δὲ πᾶσι σαφὲς ἐγένετο διὰ τήνδε τὴν αἰτίαν τούσδε πεπτωκέναι.

40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause therefore they were slain.

41 Πάντες οὖν εὐλογήσαντες τοῦ δικαιοκρίτου Κυρίου τοῦ τὰ κεκρυμμένα φανερὰ ποιοῦντος,

41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,

42 εἰς ἱκετείαν ἐτράπησαν, ἀξιώσαντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἁμάρτημα τελείως ἐξαλειφθῆναι· ὁ δὲ γενναῖος Ἰούδας παρεκάλεσε τὸ πλῆθος συντηρεῖν ἑαυτοὺς ἀναμαρτήτους εἶναι, ὑπʼ ὄψιν ἑωρακότας τὰ γεγονότα, διὰ τὴν τῶν προπεπτωκότων ἁμαρτίαν.

42 Betook themselves to prayer, and implored him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.

43 Ποιησάμενός τε κατʼ ἀνδραλογίαν κατασκευάσματα εἰς ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς δισχιλίας, ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα προσαγαγεῖν περὶ ἁμαρτίας θυσίαν, πάνυ καλῶς καὶ ἀστείως πράττων, ὑπὲρ ἀναστάσεως διαλογιζόμενος·

43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachmas of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:

44 εἰ γὰρ μὴ τοὺς προπεπτωκότας ἀναστῆναι προσεδόκα, περισσὸν ἂν ἦν καὶ ληρῶδες ὑπὲρ νεκρῶν προσεύχεσθαι·

44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.

45 εἶτʼ ἐμβλέπων τοῖς μετʼ εὐσεβείας κοιμωμένοις κάλλιστον ἀποκείμενον χαριστήριον· ὁσία καὶ εὐσεβὴς ἡ ἐπίνοια· ὅθεν περὶ τῶν τεθνηκότων τὸν ἐξιλασμὸν ἐποιήσατο, τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολυθῆναι.

45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.