1st Maccabees Chapter 6

The last days of Antiochus Epiphanes

6:1 About the same time king Antiochus traveling through the high countries heard that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;
6:2 And that there was in it a very rich temple, in it were coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who was the first to reign over the Greeks, had left there.
6:3 For that reason he came and to take the city, and to plunder it; but he was not able to because the city had been warned,
6:4 And rose up against him in battle: so he retreated, and departed there with great sadness, and returned to Babylon.
6:5 In addition to that there came news that brought him tidings to Persia, that the armies, which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight:
6:6 And that Lysias, who went out out with a strong force was driven away by the Jews; and that they were made strong by the armor, and power, and store of plunder, which they had taken from the armies, that they had destroyed:
6:7 Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, like in the past, and his city Bethsura.
6:8 Now when the king heard these words, he was amazed and extremely depressed: with that he laid on his bed, and fell sick from grief, because it hadn’t happened for him the way he wanted.
6:9 And there he continued that way for many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he realized that he would die.
6:10 For that reason he called for all his friends, and said to them, I can’t sleep, and my heart is failing from grief.
6:11 And I thought to myself, Into what distress have I gotten into, and what torrent of misery, I’m in now ! because I was generous and beloved in my power.
6:12 But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were in it, and went to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a reason.
6:13 I realize for that reason that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, see, I perish through great grief in a strange land.

The accession of Antiochus V

6:14 Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his kingdom,
6:15 And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, so that he would bring up his son Antiochus, and instruct him for the kingdom.
6:16 So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty ninth year.
6:17 Now when Lysias knew that the king had died, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had brought up from youth, to reign in his place, and his name he called Eupator.

The siege of the Citadel of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus

6:18 Meanwhile they that were in the tower blockaded the Israelites around the sanctuary, and looked to harm them, and the strengthening of the heathen.
6:19 For that reason 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, purposing to destroy them, called all the people together to overwhelm them.
6:20 So they joined together, and besieged them in the hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other siege-engines.
6:21 However some of them that were besieged got out, to whom some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves:
6:22 And they went to the king, and said, How long will it before you execute judgment, and avenge our brothers?
6:23 We have been willing to serve your father, and to do as he would have us, and to obey his orders;
6:24 For which cause those of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from us: then as many of us as they could light in to they killed, and plundered our inheritance.
6:25 They haven’t just stretched out their hand against us only, but also against their borders.
6:26 And, see, today are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura they have fortified.
6:27 For that reason if you don’t prevent them quickly, they will do the greater things than this, you won’t be able to rule them.

Campaign of Antiochus V and Lysias

6:28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse.
6:29 There also came to him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of mercenaries.
6:30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants experienced in battle.
6:31 They went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, they assaulted for many days, making siege-engines; but those of Bethsura attacked, and burned them with fire, and fought bravely.
6:32 On this 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 left the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, opposite the king’s camp.
6:33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his army toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made ready for battle, and sounded the trumpets.
6:34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they gave them grape juice and mulberries.
6:35 Then they divided the animals among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with chain mail, and with helmets of bronze on their heads; and beside this, for every animal were appointed five hundred horsemen from the best.
6:36 These were ready at every occasion: wherever the animals were, and wherever the animal went, they went too, never leaving it.
6:37 And on these animals were there strong towers of wood, which protected every one of them, and were girt fast to them with devices: there were also upon every one thirty two strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that controlled him.
6:38 As for the rest of the horsemen, they set them on each side at the two wings of the army giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.
6:39 Now when the sun had shone on the shields of gold and bronze, the mountains glistered with it, and shined like lamps on fire.
6:40 So one part of the king’s army being spread on the high mountains, and the other part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.
6:41 For that reason all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were terrified: for the army was very great and mighty.
6:42 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 army drew near, and entered into battle, and there were six hundred men of the king’s army killed.
6:43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the animals, was armed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was on him,
6:44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him never ending honor:
6:45 For that reason he ran upon him courageously through the middle of the battle, killing on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides.
6:46 Whrn done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and killed him: on which the elephant fell down on him, and he died there .
6:47 However the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, ran away from them.

Capture of Beth-Zur and siege of Mount Zion by the Syrians

6:48 Then the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judea, and against mount Zion.
6:49 But he made peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here with those that were in Bethsura : for they came out of the city, because they had no food there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.
6:50 So the king took Bethsura, and stationed a garrison there to guard it.
6:51 As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with siege-engines and instruments to throw fire and stones, and pieces to throw darts and slings.
6:52 On which they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a long season.
6:53 Yet at the last, their vessels being without food, (since it was the seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the last of the store;)
6:54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were willing to disperse themselves, each man to his own place.

The king grants the Jews religious freedom

6:55 At that time Lysias heard, that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king,
6:56 Returned from Persia and Media, and the king’s army also that went with him, and that he sought to take control of the ruling of the affairs.
6:57 For that reason he went all in a hurry, and said to the king and the captains of the army and the company, We are weaker daily, and our food store are small, and the place we lay siege to is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie on us:
6:58 Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here with them, and with all their nation;
6:59 And covenant with them, that they can live by their laws, as they did in the past: for they are for that reason displeased, and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.
6:60 So the king and the princes were content: for that reason he sent for them to make peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here; and they accepted of it.
6:61 Also the king and the princes made an oath to them: on which they went out of the strong hold.
6:62 Then the king entered into mount Zion; but when he saw the strength of the place, he broke his oath that he had made, and gave commandment to pull down the wall around.
6:63 Afterward departed he in all hurry, and returned to Antiochia, where he found Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by force.