The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His
victory over Timotheus.
10:1. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of
the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.
10:2. But he threw down the altars which the heathens had set up in the
streets, as also the temples of the idols.
10:3. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and
taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two
years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition.
10:4. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying
prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils;
but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him
more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.
10:5. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the
strangers on the very same day it was cleansed again; to wit, on the
five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.
10:6. And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast
of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the
feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens
like wild beasts.
10:7. Therefore they now carried boughs and green branches and palms,
for him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.
10:8. And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the
nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.
10:9. And this was the end of Antiochus, that was called the
Illustrious.
10:10. But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator, the son of that
wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in
the wars.
10:11. For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs
of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.
10:12. For Ptolemee, that was called Macer, was determined to be
strictly just to the Jews and especially by reason of the wrong that had
been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.
10:13. But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being
oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus, which
Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the
Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by
poison.
10:14. But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the
strangers, often fought against the Jews.
10:15. And the Jews that occupied the most commodious holds, received
those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.
The Jews, etc... He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion,
and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or
Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed
their countrymen.
10:16. Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by
prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds
of the Idumeans:
10:17. And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them
that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.
10:18. And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all
manner of provision to sustain a siege,
10:19. Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were
with them, in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those
expeditions which urged more.
10:20. Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were
persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and
taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.
10:21. But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the
rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their
brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.
10:22. So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two
towers.
10:23. And having good success in arms, and all things he took in hand,
he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.
10:24. But Timotheus, who before had been overcome by the Jews, having
called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen
out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.
10:25. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, when he drew near,
prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads, and girding their
loins with haircloth,
10:26. And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be
merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary
to their adversaries, as the law saith.
10:27. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further
from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they
rested.
10:28. But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the
one part having, with their valour, the Lord for a surety of victory,
and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in
battle.
10:29. But when they were in the heat of the engagement, there appeared
to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely, with golden
bridles, conducting the Jews:
10:30. Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every
side with their arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and fireballs
against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with
blindness, and filled with trouble.
10:31. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six
hundred horsemen.
10:32. But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong hold where Chereas was
governor.
10:33. Then Machabeus, and they that were with him cheerfully laid siege
to the fortress four days.
10:34. But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place,
blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.
10:35. But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that
were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds, because of the blasphemy,
approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce
courage, got up upon it:
10:36. Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to
the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.
10:37. And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the
fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place:
they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.
Timotheus... This man, who was killed at the taking of Gazara, is
different from that Timotheus who is mentioned in the fifth chapter of
the first book of Machabees, and of whom there is mention in the
following chapter.
10:38. And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and
thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the
victory.