The Battle of Carnaim.

       When they had advanced from there about ninety-five miles, they came to Charax, which was inhabited by those Jews known as Toubiani. However, they did not find Timothy in that region, for by then he had departed from there without accomplishing anything, aside from leaving behind a very strong garrison in one place. But Dositheus and Sosipater, two of the generals of Maccabeus, marched out and destroyed the force that Timothy had left behind in the stronghold, a force that numbered more than ten thousand men. Meanwhile, Maccabeus divided his army into cohorts, with a commander in charge of each cohort, and hurried in pursuit of Timothy, whose troops numbered one hundred and twenty thousand infantry and twenty-five hundred cavalry. When Timothy learned of the approach of Judas, he sent off the women and the children and also the baggage to a place called Carnaim, which was hard to besiege and difficult to approach because of the narrowness of the passages of entry.

       However, after the first cohort of Judas appeared, the enemy was stricken with terror and fear at the manifestation of THE ALL-SEEING ONE. In headlong flight, they scattered in every direction, so that frequently they were injured by their own comrades and run through by the points of their swords. Judas pressed the pursuit vigorously, putting the sinners to the sword and slaying as many as thirty thousand men.

       Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater and their men, but with considerable cunning, he begged them to let him go unharmed, the reason being that he had the parents and relatives of many of them in his power and their fate was in his hands. When he made a solemn pledge to return those hostages unharmed, they set him free for the sake of saving their kindred. Judas then marched against Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, where he slaughtered twenty-five thousand people.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 12, verses 17 - 26

Judas Returns to Jerusalem.

       After the defeat and destruction of these, he led his army against Ephron, a fortified town where Lysias dwelt with people of various nationalities. Stalwart young men took up their posts in defense of the walls and made a spirited stand, while inside there were large supplies of engines of war and missiles. However, the Jews, having invoked THE SOVEREIGN whose power shatters the strength of HIS enemies, gained control of the town and killed about twenty-five thousand of the people inside. Then they set out from there and pushed on to Scythopolis, seventy-five miles from Jerusalem. But when the Jews who lived there testified to the goodwill that the people of Scythopolis had shown them, and to their kind treatment of them during times of misfortune, Judas and his men thanked them and exhorted them to be well disposed to their race in the future also. Finally, since the Feast of Weeks was close at hand, they proceeded to Jerusalem.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 12, verses 27 - 31

An Engagement That Ends Badly.

       After the Feast of Pentecost, they marched against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea, who confronted them with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horsemen. In the course of the ensuing battle, a small number of Jews lost their lives. However, a man named Dositheus, one of Bacenor's cavalry forces and an individual of great strength, caught hold of Gorgias by his cloak and forcibly dragged him along, intending to take the accursed man alive. But a Thracian horseman bore down on Dositheus and cut off his arm at the shoulder, enabling Gorgias to escape to Marisa.

       Meanwhile, inasmuch as Esdris and his men were exhausted after engaging in battle for a long time, Judas called upon THE LORD to show HIMSELF their ally and leader in the battle. Then, raising a battle cry in his ancestral tongue, along with hymns, he launched a surprise attack and put the forces of Gorgias to flight. Thereupon Judas rallied his forces and advanced to the town of Adullam. Inasmuch as the seventh day of the week was at hand, they purified themselves according to custom and kept the Sabbath there.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 12, verses 32 - 38

The Sacrifice for the Dead.

       On the following day, since the need had now become urgent, Judas and his men went to collect the bodies of those who had fallen and to bury them with their kindred in their ancestral tombs. However, under the tunic of each of the dead, they found amulets that were sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. Thus it was clear to everyone that this was the reason that these men had been slain. And so they all praised the acts of THE LORD, THE JUST JUDGE who reveals things that are hidden, and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed might be completely blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, since they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as a result of the sin of those who had fallen.

       Then he took up a collection from all of his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this, he acted in a suitable and honorable way, guided by his belief in the resurrection. For if he had not expected those who had fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. However, if he was focusing on the splendid reward reserved for those whose death was marked by godliness, his thought was holy and devout. Therefore, he had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead so that they might be delivered from their sin.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 12, verses 39 - 46

The End of Menelaus, the Renegade.

In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas and his men were informed that Antiochus Eupator was advancing on Judea with a large army, and that accompanying him was Lysias, his guardian, who was in charge of the government. Additionally, they had a Greek force consisting of one hundred and ten thousand foot soldiers, five thousand three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots armed with scythes.

       Menelaus also joined them, and with considerable hypocrisy, he kept urging Antiochus on, not for the sake of his country's welfare, but in the belief that he would thereby become established in office. However, the King of kings stirred up the fury of Antiochus against this scoundrel, and when Lysias offered convincing evidence to the king that Menelaus was to blame for all the trouble, Antiochus ordered him to be taken to Beroea and executed there in the customary local manner. In that place there is a tower seventy-five feet high, full of ashes, with a rim encircling it that slopes down precipitously on all sides into the ashes. Anyone found guilty of sacrilege, or any other heinous crime, is taken to the top and then hurled down to destruction. Such was the fate suffered by Menelaus, the transgressor of the law, as he died without even being given the privilege of burial in the ground. His manner of death was eminently just, for he had committed innumerable sins against the altar whose fire and ashes were holy, and it was in ashes that he met his death.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 13, verses 1 - 8

Judas Triumphs against the Syrians at Modein.

The king then advanced with savage arrogance, aiming to inflict on the Jews far worse sufferings than they had experienced under his father. When Judas learned of this, he urged the people to call upon THE LORD night and day and to implore HIM to come to their aid now more than ever before, since they were in danger of being deprived of their law, their country, and the holy temple, and not to allow them, just when they had begun to revive, to once again fall into the hands of the blasphemous Gentiles. When they had all joined in this petition and had implored THE MERCIFUL LORD unceasingly for three days with weeping and fasting as they prostrated themselves, Judas encouraged them and ordered them to stand ready.

       After consulting privately with the elders, he decided not to wait for the king's army to invade Judea and take possession of the city, but to march forth and resolve matters with the help of GOD. Thus, committing the outcome to THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD and exhorting his soldiers to fight bravely to the death for the law, the temple, the city, the country, and their way of life, he pitched camp near Modein. After giving his troops the battle cry, "GOD'S victory," he made a nighttime attack on the king's pavilion with a picked force of his bravest young warriors and killed about two thousand of the enemy in the camp, also slaying the lead elephant and its driver. Eventually, they filled the camp with terror and confusion and then withdrew in triumph, just as dawn was breaking. All this was achieved through the help and protection that Judas had received from THE LORD.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 13, verses 9 - 17

Antiochus V Makes a Treaty with the Jews.

The king, having had a taste of the daring of the Jews, resorted to strategy to capture their positions. He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews, but he was checked, driven back, and defeated. Judas then sent whatever supplies were needed to the garrison, but Rhodocus, a soldier in the Jewish army, passed on secret information to the enemy. He was found out, arrested, and imprisoned. The king negotiated with the inhabitants of Beth-zur for a second time, offering and accepting pledges of friendship. After withdrawing, he then attacked Judas and his men but was defeated.

       Soon afterward, he received a report that Philip, who had been left in charge of the government in Antioch, had rebelled. Stunned by this news, he opened negotiations with the Jews, agreed to their terms, and swore to respect all their rights. Having reached this agreement, he offered a sacrifice, honored the sanctuary, and made a generous donation to the holy place. He received Maccabeus in a gracious manner and left Hegemonides to serve as governor of the region from Ptolemais to the territory of the Gerrhenes.

       When he thereupon went to Ptolemais, the people of that city expressed their disapproval of the treaty in no uncertain terms, and were so angered that they wanted to annul its provisions. However, Lysias mounted the rostrum and made a reasoned defense of the treaty that won them over, calmed them down, and obtained their goodwill. Then he departed for Antioch. Such are the basic facts of the king's attack and his subsequent retreat.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 13, verses 18 - 26

Alcimus Plots Intrigues against the New King.

       Three years later, Judas and his followers were informed that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, had sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet, and that he had taken control of the country after having done away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.

       Now a man named Alcimus, a former high priest who had willfully incurred defilement at the time of the revolt, realized that there was no possible way that his safety could be assured or that he could again have access to the holy altar. Therefore, he went to King Demetrius about the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with a crown of gold and a palm branch, in addition to some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that occasion, he kept silent. However, he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when Demetrius invited him to a meeting of the council and questioned him about the dispositions and the intentions of the Jews. He replied:

       "Those Jews who are called Hasideans and are led by Judas Maccabeus are warmongers who foment sedition and prevent the kingdom from achieving a state of tranquility. That is why, although I have been deprived of my ancestral dignity--I am referring to the high priesthood--I have now come here, first out of my genuine concern for the interests of the king, and second, because of my regard for my compatriots, since our entire nation has been afflicted severely because of the irresponsible conduct of these people I have mentioned. When you have ascertained the truth of these facts, O king, may it please you to make provision for the welfare of our country and our oppressed people, exhibiting the same gracious kindness that you extend to all. For as long as Judas remains alive, it will be impossible for the state to enjoy the condition of peace."

       When he had said this, the rest of the King's Friends, all of whom were hostile to Judas, added further fuel to the fire, inflaming the anger of Demetrius even more.

       The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him as governor of Judea. Then, he sent him forth with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to install Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.

       The Gentiles throughout Judea, who had fled from the attacks of Judas, now flocked to join Nicanor, confident that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 14, verses 1 - 14

Nicanor Makes Peace with Judas.

       When the Jews learned that Nicanor was approaching and that the Gentiles were rallying to his support, they sprinkled dust over themselves and prayed to HIM who had established HIS people forever and who always came to the aid of HIS heritage. At the command of their leader, they set out from there immediately and confronted the enemy at the village of Adasa. Simon, the brother of Judas, engaged in battle with Nicanor, but suffered a minor setback due to the sudden appearance of the enemy. However, when Nicanor heard of the bravery exhibited by Judas and his men and how courageously they always fought for their country, he became reluctant to allow the issue to be settled by bloodshed. Therefore, he sent Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to negotiate a treaty of peace.

       After a lengthy discussion of the terms, each leader explained them to his troops, and all were of one mind in favor of accepting them. On the day decided upon for the respective leaders to meet privately, a chariot came forward from each side, and thrones were set in place. Judas had posted armed men at strategic points to prevent any sudden act of treachery on the part of the enemy. In this way, the conference was held without any complications.

       Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem and did nothing there that could be construed as a hostile act. He sent away the crowds that had rallied to him, but he always kept Judas close to him, for he became deeply attached to him. He urged him to marry and have children, and Judas did marry and settle down to lead the quiet life of an ordinary citizen.

2 MACCABEES: chapter 14, verses 15 - 25

Nicanor Moves Anew against Judas.

       When Alcimus discovered the depth of the friendship that these two men had for each other, he went to Demetrius with a copy of the treaty they had signed. He claimed that Nicanor was engaged in treasonable activity against the state, since he had appointed Judas, a conspirator against the kingdom, to be his successor. Enraged by the slanderous charges of that villain, the king wrote to Nicanor, expressing his displeasure with the terms of the treaty and commanding him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch at once.

       When this message reached Nicanor, he was greatly upset, for he did not wish to break his agreement with a man who had done nothing wrong. However, since there was no possible way to flaunt the king's wishes, he waited for an opportunity to carry out the order by means of some stratagem. But Maccabeus began to notice that Nicanor was becoming much cooler in his dealings with him and displaying unaccustomed rudeness whenever they met, and he surmised that such an attitude did not bode well for him. Therefore, he gathered a large number of his followers and went into hiding from Nicanor.

       When Nicanor became aware that he had been cleverly outwitted by this man, he went to the great and holy temple at the time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices and ordered them to surrender Judas. When they declared under oath that they did not know the whereabouts of the wanted man, he stretched out his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: "If you do not hand over Judas to me as a prisoner, I shall level this shrine of GOD to the ground and destroy the altar, and on this very spot, I will erect a splendid temple to Dionysus."

       Having issued this threat, he then left, whereupon the priests stretched out their hands to heaven and prayed to THE CONSTANT DEFENDER of our nation in these words: "O LORD OF ALL, though YOU are in need of nothing, it has pleased YOU that there should be a temple for YOUR dwelling place among us. Therefore, O HOLY ONE, LORD OF ALL HOLINESS, preserve forever undefiled this house that has so recently been purified."

2 MACCABEES: chapter 14, verses 26 - 33