2nd Maccabees Chapter 11

The first campaign of Lysias

*‎ The events related 11:21 and 11:27 -12:9 belong to the year 164 BCE while Antiochus Epiphanes was still alive and the work of Jason of Cyrene must of followed 8:36 (consequently and correctly, the ‘almost immediately afterwards’ of verse 1) the summaries has transferred the action to the reign of Antiochus V,- From the New Jerusalem Bible11:1 Almost immediately afterwards, Lysias the king’s guardian and cousin, who was in charge of the government, perturbed at the turn of events.
11:2 Assembled about eighty thousand with all the cavalry, he advanced against the Jews, He intended to make the city a home for Greeks,
11:3 And to levy a tax on the Temple, like of the other national shrines, and to put the office of high-priesthood up for sale every year:
11:4 He took no account at all of the power of Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ‎ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here but was ecstatic with his ten thousands of infantry, and his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.
11:5 Invading Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified position, but was about twenty miles from Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַם ‎
Transliteration: yᵊrûšālam – Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here, and he began to attack it.
11:6 When Judas Maccabaeusיהודה 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 men heard that he attacked the fortresses, they and all the people with mourning and tears begged 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 that he would send a good Angelמַלְאָךְ‎
Transliteration: mal’āḵ Pronunciation: mal-awk’ angel, agent, messenger or representative. For more info click here to deliver Israel.
11:7 Then Judas Maccabaeusיהודה 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 himself was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the rest to risk their lives with him to support their brothers: so they went out together as one man.
11:8 And while they were still near Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַם‎
Transliteration: yᵊrûšālam – Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here, a rider appeared in front of them on horseback clothed in white and waving weapons of gold.
11:9 With one voice they praised the merciful Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ‎ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here, and took heart, ready to attack not only humans but the wildest animals or walls of iron.
11:10 So they marched forward in their armor, having an helper from Heaven: because 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 was so merciful to them
11:11 They charged their enemies like lions, they brought down eleven thousand infantry, and sixteen hundred cavalry, and forced all the rest to escape.
11:12 Most of them got away weaponless and wounded; and Lysias himself ran away shamefully, and so escaped.

Lysias makes peace with the Jews. Four letters concerning the treaty

11:13 Now Lysias wasn’t without intelligence, and thought over the defeat that he had suffered, he realized that the Hebrewsעברי
The biblical term Ivri Hebrew pronunciation: [ʕivˈri]), meaning “to traverse” or “to pass over”, is usually rendered as Hebrew in English from ever (עֵבֶר) ‘beyond, across’ (avar (עָבַר ‘he crossed, he traversed’), as a description of migrants ‘from across the river’ as the Bible describes the Hebrews. were invincible because El Shaddaiאֵל שַׁדַּי
romanized: ʾĒl Šaddāy; or just Shaddai is one of the names of the God of Israel. El Shaddai is conventionally translated into English as God Almighty (Deus Omnipotens in Latin, Arabic: الله عزوجل, romanized: ʾAllāh ʿazzawajal), but its original meaning is unclear.One of God’s names
— The Almighty God (EL= Almightyness, Shaddai = Exhaustless Bounty) For more info click here fought for them, so he sent to them,
11:14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king (Antiochus V) that he needs to be their friend.
11:15 Then Maccabaeusיהודה 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 agreed to all that Lysias wanted, thinking only of the common good; and whatever Maccabaeusיהודה 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 submitted to Lysias in writing concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
*‎ This explains why Judas had no further trouble during the year 164,- From the New Jerusalem Bible11:16 Here is one of the letters written to the Jews from Lysias to this effect:

             Lysias to the Jewish people greetings:
11:17 John and Absolom, your ambassadors, have delivered your signed communication and have asked about the matters indicated in it.
11:18 Anything requiring the king’s attention I have reported to him, whatever was possible, I granted.
11:19 If y’all will maintain your goodwill towards the government, I will do my best in the future to help promote your welfare.
11:20 As the respects the details I have given orders for your ambassadors and my representatives to discuss these with you.
11:21 May y’all prosper. The twenty fourth day of the month Dioscorinthius‎ Latin ‘of Corinthian Jupiter’ (dioscorinthios) GK. The name of a Cretan month, equivalent to ‘Xanthicus‘ see verse 30 i.e. spring 164)- From the New Jerusalem Bible in the year one hundred and forty-eight.
11:22 Now the king’s letter said this:

             King Antiochus to his brother Lysias greetings:
11:23 Since our father taken his place among the gods, our will is, that the subjects of the kingdom be left undisturbed to attend to their own affairs.
11:24 We understand also that the Jews do not approve our father’s policy, the adoption of Greek customs , but prefer their own way of life and ask to be allowed to observe their laws‎ The expression belongs to the Greek jurisprudence, but for the author “the laws” are fundamentally “the Law” or “the Torah” – From the New Jerusalem Bible.
11:25 Accordingly since we intend that this nation also should be free from disturbance like any other, and we have determined our decision is that their Temple be restored to them and that they shall live by the customs of their  forefathers.
11:26 It will therefore be in your interest to send them a mission of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of confidant enough to go on happily about their business.
11:27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was on these terms:

           King Antiochus to the Senate, and the rest of the Jews greetings:
11:28 If y’all are well, we have our wish; we are also in good health.
11:29 Menelaus informs us, that your wish is to return home, and to attend to your own business:
11:30 Accordingly those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus‎ is the name of the sixth month of the Macedonian calendar of the Seleucid Syrians.[1] It corresponds with Nisan in the Jewish calendar or April in the Gregorian calendar.   may rest assured that they have nothing to fear.
11:31 And the Jews may make use of their own kind of meats and laws‎ The expression belongs to the Greek jurisprudence, but for the author “the laws” are fundamentally “the Law” or “the Torah” – From the New Jerusalem Bible, like before; and none of them shall be mistreated in any way for what may have been done in ignorance.
11:32 I have in fact sent Menelaus to put your minds at ease.
11:33 Farewell. In the hundred forty-eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus‎ is the name of the sixth month of the Macedonian calendar of the Seleucid Syrians.[1] It corresponds with Nisan in the Jewish calendar or April in the Gregorian calendar.

11:34 The Romans also sent to them a letter reading as follows:

            Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans to the people of the Jews greetings
11:35 Whatever Lysias the king’s cousin has granted you we also approve.
11:36 As to the matters that he decided to refer to the king, considered them carefully and send someone quickly, if we are to we interpret them to your benefit. Because we are on our way to Antioch (Hatay Province, Turkey).
11:37 Lose no time, so that we may know what is on your mind.
11:38 Farewell. This one hundred and forty-eight year (164 BC), on the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus‎ is the name of the sixth month of the Macedonian calendar of the Seleucid Syrians.[1] It corresponds with Nisan in the Jewish calendar or April in the Gregorian calendar. .