The Second Book of Maccabees

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- Chapter 15 -

Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The conclusion.

But when Nicanor discovered Judas to be in the places of Samaria, he decided to meet him in warfare with all violence, on the Sabbath day.

In truth, the Jews who followed him out of necessity were saying: “Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honor to the day of sanctification and reverence to him who beholds all things.”

That unhappy man asked, “Is there a powerful One in heaven, who commanded the day of the Sabbath to be kept.”(a)

And they responded to him, “There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the powerful One, who ordered the seventh day to be kept.”

And so he said: “I also am powerful upon the earth, so I command arms to be taken up and the king’s plans to be fulfilled.” Nevertheless, he did not succeed in accomplishing his plan.

And Nicanor, being certainly lifted up with the greatest arrogance, had decided to establish a public monument of his victory over Judas.

But Maccabeus, as always, trusted with all hope that God would be present to help them.

And he exhorted his own not to fear the arrival of the nations, but to keep in mind the assistance they had received before from heaven, and now to hope for a future victory from the Almighty.

And speaking to them from the law and the prophets, reminding them even of the conflicts they had fought before, he made them more willing.

And so, having raised up their courage, at the same time he revealed the deceitful plan of the Gentiles and their betrayal of the oaths.

Then he armed every one of them, not with the weapons of shield and spear, but with the best speeches and exhortations; and he explained to them a dream, worthy to be believed, in which he rejoiced with them all.

Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and kind man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, and noble in speech, and who from boyhood was trained in the virtues, extending his hands, prayed on behalf of all the people of the Jews.

After this, there appeared also another man, admirable in age and glory, and with a bearing of great dignity about him.

In truth, Onias responded by saying: “This one loves his brothers and the people of Israel. This is he who prays greatly for the people and for all the holy city: Jeremiah, the prophet of God.”

Then Jeremiah extended his right hand, and he gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:

“Receive this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you shall cast down the adversaries of my people Israel.”

And so, having been exhorted by the very good words of Judas, by which the readiness and courage of the young men were able to be raised and strengthened, they resolved to strive and to contend with fortitude, so that virtue would judge the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in peril.

For their concern was less for their wives and sons, and likewise less for their brothers and relatives; in truth, their greatest and first fear was for the sanctity of the temple.(b)

But those also who were in the city had no small concern for those who had gathered together.

And, when all now hoped that judgment would soon occur, and when the enemies were near, and the army was set in order, with the beasts and the horsemen positioned in strategic places,

Maccabeus, considering the arrival of the multitude, and the various preparations of weapons, and the fierceness of the beasts, extending his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, who works miracles, who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of the weapons, but just as it pleases him.

Then, calling out in this way, he said: “You, O Lord, who sent your Angel under Hezekiah, king of Judah, and who killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib,

now also, O Ruler of the heavens, send your good Angel before us, who are in fear and trembling at the greatness of your arm,

so that those who approach against your holy people with blasphemy may be afraid.” And in this way, indeed, he concluded his prayer.

But Nicanor, and those who were with him, advanced with trumpets and songs.

In truth, Judas, and those who were with him, calling upon God through prayers, came together against them.

Indeed, fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, being delighted by the presence of God.

And when they had ceased and were returning with gladness, they realized, by his armor, that Nicanor had been slain.

And so, making a loud noise and inciting a disturbance, they blessed the Almighty Lord in the language of the fathers.

But Judas, who was prepared throughout all his body and soul to die for his citizens, instructed that Nicanor’s head, and his hand with the arm, should be cut off and carried through to Jerusalem.

When it arrived, having called together his fellow tribesmen, and the priests to the altar, he summoned those also who were in the stronghold.

And he displayed the head of Nicanor, and his nefarious hand, which he had extended against the holy house of Almighty God with magnificent boasting.

He even ordered now that the tongue of the impious Nicanor should be cut up and given in pieces to the birds, but that the hand of this demented man should be suspended opposite the temple.

Therefore, they all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying, “Blessed is he who has kept his own place uncontaminated.”

Then he suspended Nicanor’s head at the top of the stronghold, so that it would be an evident and manifest sign of the assistance of God.

And so, they all decreed by common counsel in no way to let this day pass without celebration,

but to hold a celebration on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, which was called in the Syrian language: the day before Mardochias’ day.

Therefore, these things were accomplished concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city was possessed by the Hebrews. And so, I will bring an end to my narration here.

And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.(c)

For, just as it is adverse to drink always wine, or always water, so also it is pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. So, if the words were always exact, it would not be pleasing to the readers. Therefore, here it shall be completed.(d)

Footnotes

(a)15:3 Some Jews were in the army of Nicanor, out of necessity (by forced conscription), but they were not willing to do battle on the Sabbath. They were willing to attack Judas, but not willing to offend against the holy day. That unhappy man (‘ille infelix’) is Nicanor.(Conte)

(b)15:18 The word ‘cognatis’ refers to close friends as well as to relatives.(Conte)

(c)15:39 If not so perfectly, etc:This is not said with regard to the truth of the narration; but with regard to the style and manner of writing: which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. Paul, 2 Cor. 11:6.(Challoner)

(d)15:40 The use of excessive precision, or excessive detail, is not fitting for an historical or Scriptural text.(Conte)

Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The conclusion.

But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria, resolved to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest.

When the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, “Don’t destroy so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days.”

Then the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a Sovereign in heaven who had commanded to keep the Sabbath day.

When they declared, “There is the Lord, living himself as Sovereign in heaven, who told us observe the seventh day.”

He replied, “I also am a sovereign on the earth, who commands you to take up weapons and execute the king’s business.” Nevertheless he didn’t prevail to execute his cruel plan.

And Nicanor, (a) in his utter boastfulness and arrogance, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all those who were with him.

But Maccabaeus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord.

He exhorted his company not to be fearful at the assault of the heathen, but keeping in mind the help which in former times they had often received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come to them from the Almighty,

and encouraging them out of the law and the prophets, and reminding them of the conflicts that they had won, he made them more eager.

And when he had aroused their courage, he gave them orders, at the same time pointing out the faithlessness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths.

Arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defense of shields and spears as with the encouragement of good words, and moreover relating to them a dream worthy to be believed, he made them all exceedingly glad.

The vision of that dream was this: Onias, he who had been high priest, a noble and good man, modest in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and trained from a child in all points of virtue, with outstretched hands invoking blessings on the whole body of the Jews.

Then he saw a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and the dignity around him was wonderful and most majestic.

Onias answered and said, “This is the lover of the kindred, he who prays much for the people and the holy city: Jeremiah the prophet of God.

Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and delivered to Judas a gold sword, and in giving it addressed him thus:

“Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you shall strike down the adversaries.”

Being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were noble and effective, and able to incite to virtue and to stir the souls of the young to manly courage, they determined not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon the enemy, and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to a conclusion, because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were in danger.

For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for family and relatives, was less important to them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.

Also those who were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open country.

When all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the elephants(b) brought back to a convenient post,(c) and the cavalry deployed on the flanks,

Maccabaeus, perceiving the presence of the (d)troops, and the various weapons with which they were equipped, and the savageness of the (e)elephants, holding up his hands to heaven called upon the Lord who works wonders, knowing that success comes not by weapons, but that, according to how the Lord judges, he gains the victory for those who are worthy.

And calling upon God, he said this: “You, O Sovereign Lord, sent your angel in the time of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he killed of the (f)army of Sennacherib as many as one hundred eighty-five thousand.

So now also, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling.

Through the greatness of your arm let them be stricken with dismay who with blasphemy have come here against your holy people.” As he finished these words,

Nicanor and his company advanced with trumpets and victory songs;

but Judas and his company joined battle with the enemy with invocation and prayers.

Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they killed no less than thirty-five thousand men, being made exceedingly glad by the manifestation of God.

When the engagement was over and they were returning again with joy, they recognized Nicanor lying dead in full armor.

Then there was shouting and noise, and they blessed the Sovereign Lord in the language of their ancestors.

He who in all things was in body and soul the foremost champion of his fellow-citizens, he who kept through life the good will of his youth toward his countrymen, ordered that Nicanor’s head be cut off with his hand and arm, and that they be brought to Jerusalem.

When he had arrived there and had called his countrymen together and set the priests before the altar, he sent for those who were in the citadel.

Showing the head of the vile Nicanor and the hand of that profane man, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty,

and cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he said that he would give it in pieces to the birds, and hang up these rewards of his folly near the sanctuary.

They all, looking up to heaven, blessed the Lord who had manifested himself, saying, “Blessed is he who has preserved his own place undefiled!”

He hung Nicanor’s head and shoulder from the citadel, a clear sign evident to all of the help of the Lord.

They all ordained with a common decree to in no way let this day pass undistinguished, but to mark with honor the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (it is called Adar in the Syrian language), the day before the day of Mordecai.

This then having been the account of the attempt of Nicanor, and the city having from those times been held by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my book.

If I have written well and to the point in my story, this is what I myself desired; but if its poorly done and mediocre, this is the best I could do.

For as it is (g)distasteful to drink wine alone and likewise to drink water alone, (h)while the mingling of wine with water at once gives full pleasantness to the flavor; so also the fashioning of the language delights the ears of those who read the story. Here is the end.

Footnotes

(a)15:6 Gr. carrying his neck high.

(b)15:20 Gr. animals.

(d)15:21 Gr. multitudes.

(e)15:21 Gr. animals.

(f)15:22 Gr. camp.

(g)15:39 Or, hurtful

(h)15:39 Gr. but even as.