Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 38

1 Mac 8:22 And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables of bra.s.s, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:

1 Mac 8:23 Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,

1 Mac 8:24 If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion,

1 Mac 8:25 The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart:

1 Mac 8:26 Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants without taking any thing therefore.

1 Mac 8:27 In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall be appointed them:

1 Mac 8:28 Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit.

1 Mac 8:29 According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.

1 Mac 8:30 Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.

1 Mac 8:31 And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews?

1 Mac 8:32 If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.

1 Mac 9:1 Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:

1 Mac 9:2 Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.

1 Mac 9:3 Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:

1 Mac 9:4 From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand hors.e.m.e.n.

1 Mac 9:5 Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

1 Mac 9:6 Who seeing the mult.i.tude of the other army to be so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.

1 Mac 9:7 When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.

1 Mac 9:8 Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with them.

1 Mac 9:9 But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now rather save our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren, and fight against them: for we are but few.

1 Mac 9:10 Then Judas said, G.o.d forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.

1 Mac 9:11 With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and stood over against them, their hors.e.m.e.n being divided into two troops, and their slingers and archers going before the host and they that marched in the foreward were all mighty men.

1 Mac 9:12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.

1 Mac 9:13 They also of Judas' side, even they sounded their trumpets also, so that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.

1 Mac 9:14 Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,

1 Mac 9:15 Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.

1 Mac 9:16 But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing were discomfited, they followed upon Judas and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:

1 Mac 9:17 Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.

1 Mac 9:18 Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

1 Mac 9:19 THen Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

1 Mac 9:20 Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,

1 Mac 9:21 How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!

1 Mac 9:22 As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the n.o.ble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.

1 Mac 9:23 Now after the death of Judas the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose up all such as wrought iniquity.

1 Mac 9:24 In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.

1 Mac 9:25 Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.

1 Mac 9:26 And they made enquiry and search for Judas' friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.

1 Mac 9:27 So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.

1 Mac 9:28 For this cause all Judas' friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,

1 Mac 9:29 Since thy brother Judas died, we have no man like him to go forth against our enemies, and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are adversaries to us.

1 Mac 9:30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.

1 Mac 9:31 Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.

1 Mac 9:32 But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him

1 Mac 9:33 Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.

1 Mac 9:34 Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.

1 Mac 9:35 Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much.

1 Mac 9:36 But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.

1 Mac 9:37 After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.

1 Mac 9:38 Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:

1 Mac 9:39 Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was much ado and great carriage: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of musick, and many weapons.