1st Maccabees Chapter 4

The Battle of Emmaus

4:1 Then Gorgias took five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best horsemen, and marched out of the camp by night;
4:2 With the objective so he might rush the Jewish camp, and strike them suddenly. And the men from the fortress were his guides.
4:3 Now when Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here heard of it he moved away, with his brave men, that he might strike the king’s army which was at Emmaus,
4:4 While its forces were dispersed outside the camp.
4:5 While Gorgias came  by night into the camp of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here: and when he found no one there, he looked for them in the mountains: for said he, They are on the run from us.
4:6 But as soon as it was day, Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here revealed himself in the plain with three thousand men, who however had neither armor or swords to their minds.
4:7 And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well defended, and surrounded it with horsemen; clearly they were experts of war.
4:8 Then said Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here to the men that were with him, Don’t fear y’all  their large numbers, or afraid of their attack.
4:9 Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.
4:10 Now for that reason let us cry to Heaven, if by chance YAHWEH יְהֹוָה‎
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this army here today:
4:11 That so all the nations may know for certain that there is one who delivers and saves Israel.
4:12 Then the aliens lifted up their eyes, and saw them advancing against them.
4:13 For that reason they went out of the camp to battle; and sounded their trumpets that were with Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here .
4:14 So they joined battle, and the heathen being unnerved fled to the plain.
4:15 However all the stragglers were killed by the sword: for they pursued them to Gazera, and to the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were killed of them three thousand men.
4:16 This done, Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here returned with his army from pursuing them,
4:17 And said to the people, Don’t be greedy of the plunder because as there is a another battle ahead of us,
4:18 And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountains: but y’all stand now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this y’all may gladly take the plunder.
4:19 As Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here was still speaking these words, there appeared a detachment of them looking out from the mountain:
4:20 Who when they realized that the Jews had put their army to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen announced what was done:
4:21 When they realized these things, they were panicked, and seeing also the army of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here in the plain ready to fight,
4:22 They all fled to the land of strangers.
4:23 Then Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here returned to plunder the tents, where they found a large amount of gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.
4:24 After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised YAHWEH יְהֹוָה‎
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here in Heaven: because it is good, for his mercy endures forever.
4:25 So Israel had a great deliverance that day.
4:26 Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened:
4:27 Who, when he heard of it, was confounded and discouraged, because nothing went as he would have wanted in Israel, or the things as the king had commanded him happened.

First Campaign of Lyias

4:28 The next year following Lysias gathered together sixty thousand choice foot soldiers, and five thousand horsemen, that he might conquer them.
4:29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here met them with ten thousand men.
4:30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed are you, O Savior of Israel, who did stopped the violence of the mighty man by the hand of your servant David, and gave the army of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armor bearer;
4:31 Crush this army in the hand of your people Israel, and let them be dumbfounded in their power and horsemen:
4:32 Make them to be cowards, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them tremble at their destruction:
4:33 Overthrow them with the sword of them that love you, and let all those that know your name praise you with thanksgiving.
4:34 So they merged in battle; and about five thousand men of he army of Lysias were killed, before any of them were they killed.
4:35 Now when Lysias saw his army retreat, and the manliness of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here‘ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die bravely, he withdrew to Antiochia, where he gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to invade again into Judea.

Purification and dedication of the Temple

4:36 Then Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his brothers said, See, our enemies are embarrassed: let us go to cleans up and dedicate the sanctuary.
4:37 Upon this all the army assembled themselves together, and went up to mount Zion.
4:38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned, and shrubs growing in the courts like a forest, or in one of the mountains, and the priests’ chambers pulled down;
4:39 They tore their clothes, and made great mourning, and threw ashes on their heads,
4:40 And fell down flat to the ground on their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward Heaven.
4:41 Then Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here appointed some men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.
4:42 So he chose priests of blameless and zealous, such as had pleasure in the Torahתּוֹרָה‎
Tōrā,/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; “Instruction”, “Teaching” or “Law”) The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” comes from an archery term meaning to shoot.:
4:43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and carried out the defiled stones to an unclean place.
4:44 And they discussed what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;
4:45 They thought it best to pull it down, for fear that it would be a disgrace to them, because the ungodly had defiled it: for that reason they pulled it down,
4:46 And laid the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to show what should be done with them.
4:47 Then they took unhewn stones according to the Torahתּוֹרָה‎
Tōrā,/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; “Instruction”, “Teaching” or “Law”) The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” comes from an archery term meaning to shoot., and built a new altar like the old one;
4:48 And restored the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and purified the courts.
4:49 They made new holy vessels, and in the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.
4:50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lit, that they might give light in the temple.
4:51 In addition to that they set the shewbreadלחם הפנים
Leḥem haPānīm, literally: “Bread of the Faces”, in the King James Version: shewbread, in a biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. An alternative, and more appropriate, translation would be presence bread, since the Bible requires that the bread be constantly in the presence of God upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun.
4:52 Now on the twenty fifth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty eighth year, they got up dawn,
4:53 And offered sacrifice according to the Torahתּוֹרָה‎
Tōrā,/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; “Instruction”, “Teaching” or “Law”) The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” comes from an archery term meaning to shoot. upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.
4:54 See, at same time and same day the heathen had profaned it, on that was it dedicated with songs, and lutes, and harps, and cymbals.
4:55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshiping and praising the God of Heaven, who had granted them great success.
4:56 And so eight days they kept the dedication of the altar and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.
4:57 They decorated the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the rooms they renovated, and hung doors on them.
4:58 So was there very great gladness among the people, for the disgrace of the heathen was put in the past.
4:59 In addition to that Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his brothers with the whole congregation of Israel appointed, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.
4:60 At that time also they built up the mount Zion with high walls and strong towers around them, otherwise the Gentiles could come and trample it down as they had done in the past.
4:61 And they stationed a garrison to guard it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve it; so that the people might have a defense against Idumea.