1 Machabees Chapter 5
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against their enemies, are defeated.
5:1. Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up, as before, that they were exceeding angry.
5:2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute them.
5:3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites round about, and he made a great slaughter of them.
5:4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by lying in wait for them in the way.
5:5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were in them.
5:6. Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain:
5:7. And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in their sight, and he smote them:
5:8. And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into Judea.
5:9. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman.
5:10. And they sent letters to Judas, and his brethren, saying: The heathens that are round about are gathered together against us to destroy us:
5:11. And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host.
5:12. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many of us are slain.
5:13. And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a thousand men.
5:14. And while they were yet reading these letters, behold there came other messengers out of Galilee with their garments rent, who related according to these words:
5:15. Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, were assembled against them, and all Galilee is filled with strangers, in order to consume us.
5:16. Now when Judas and the people heard these words, a great assembly met together to consider what they should do for their brethren that were in trouble, and were assaulted by them.
5:17. And Judas said to Simon, his brother: Choose thee men, and go, and deliver thy brethren in Galilee: and I, and my brother Jonathan, will go into the country of Galaad:
5:18. And he left Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the army in Judea, to keep it:
5:19. And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of this people; but make no war against the heathens, till we return.
5:20. Now three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go into Galilee: and eight thousand to Judas, to go into the land of Galaad.
5:21. And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before his face, and he pursued them even to the gate of Ptolemais.
5:22. And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand men, and he took the spoils of them.
5:23. And he took with him those that were in Galilee and in Arbatis, with their wives, and children, and all that they had, and he brought them into Judea with great joy.
5:24. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan, his brother, passed over the Jordan, and went three days’ journey through the desert.
5:25. And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a peaceable manner, and told them all that happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad,
5:26. And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in Bosor, and in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in Carnaim; all these strong and great cities.
5:27. Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of the cities of Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring their army on the morrow near to these cities, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.
5:28. Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march into the desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew every male by the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire.
5:29. And they removed from thence by night, and went till they came to the fortress.
5:30. And it came to pass that early in the morning, when they lifted up their eyes, behold there were people without number, carrying ladders and engines to take the fortress, and assault them.
5:31. And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry of the battle went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great cry out of the city:
5:32. And he said to his host: Fight ye today for your brethren.
5:33. And he came with three companies behind them, and they sounded their trumpets, and cried out in prayer.
5:34. And the host of Timotheus understood that it was Machabeus, and they fled away before his face and they made a great slaughter of them, and there fell of them in that day almost eight thousand men.
5:35. And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and took it, and he slew every male thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.
5:36. From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth, and Bosor, and the rest of the cities of Galaad.
5:37. But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and camped over against Raphon, beyond the torrent.
5:38. And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought him word, saying: All the nations, that are round about us, are assembled unto him an army exceeding great:
5:39. And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against thee. And Judas went to meet them.