The First Book of Maccabees

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against their enemies, are defeated.

It came to pass, when the Gentiles all around heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary dedicated as before, they were exceedingly angry.

They took counsel to destroy the race of Jacob that was in the midst of them, and they began to kill and destroy among the people.

Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumaea at Akrabattine, because they besieged Israel. He struck them with a great slaughter, humbled them, and took their spoils.

He remembered the wickedness of the children of(a) Baean, who were a snare and a stumbling block to the people, lying in wait for them on the highways.

They were shut up by him in the towers. He encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned with fire the towers of the place with all who were in them.

He passed over to the children of Ammon, and found a mighty band and many people, with Timotheus for their leader.

He fought many battles with them, and they were defeated before his face. He struck them,

and took possession of Jazer and its villages,(b) and returned again into Judea.

The Gentiles who were in Gilead gathered themselves together against the Israelites who were on their borders, to destroy them. They fled to the stronghold of Dathema,

and sent letters to Judas and his kindred, saying, “The Gentiles who are around us are gathered together against us to destroy us.

They are preparing to come and get possession of the stronghold where we fled for refuge, and Timotheus is the leader of their army.

Now therefore come and deliver us from their hand, for many of us have fallen.

All our kindred who were in the land of (c)Tubias have been put to death. They have carried their wives, their children, and their stuff into captivity. They destroyed about a thousand men there.”

While the letters were still being read, behold, other messengers came from Galilee with their clothes torn, bringing a similar report,

saying, “People of Ptolemais, of Tyre, of Sidon, and all Galilee of the(d) Gentiles have gathered together to destroy us.”

Now when Judas and the people heard these words, a great congregation assembled together to determine what they should do for their kindred who were in distress and under attack.

Judas said to Simon his brother, “Choose men and go deliver your kindred who are in Galilee, but Jonathan my brother and I will go into the land of Gilead.”

He left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, as leaders of the people, with the remnant of the army, in Judea, to guard it.

He commanded them, saying, “Take charge of this people, and fight no battle with the Gentiles until we return.”

Then three thousand men were assigned to go into Galilee with Simon, but eight thousand men were assigned to Judas to go into the land of Gilead.

Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were defeated before him.

He pursued them to the gate of Ptolemais. About three thousand men of the Gentiles fell, and he took their spoils.

They took to them those who were in Galilee and in Arbatta, with their wives, their children, and all that they had, and brought them into Judea with great gladness.

Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan passed over the Jordan, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness.

They met with the Nabathaeans, and these met them in a peaceful manner and told them all things that had happened to their kindred in the land of Gilead,

and how many of them were shut up in Bosora, Bosor, Alema,(e) Casphor, Maked, and(f) Carnaim—all these cities are strong and large—

and how they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the land of Gilead, and that tomorrow they planned to encamp against the strongholds, and to take them, and to destroy all these men in one day.

Judas and his army turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness to Bosora; and he took the city, and killed all the males with the edge of the sword, took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire.

He left there at night, and went until he came to the stronghold.

When the morning came, they lifted up their eyes and saw many people who couldn’t be counted, bearing ladders and engines of war, to take the stronghold; and they were fighting against them.

Judas saw that the battle had begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets and a great sound,

and he said to the men of his army, “Fight today for your kindred!”

Then he went out behind them in three companies. They sounded with their trumpets and cried out in prayer.

And the army of Timotheus perceived that it was Maccabaeus, and they fled from before him. He struck them with a great slaughter. About eight thousand men of them fell on that day.

He turned away to Mizpeh and fought against it, took it, killed all its males, took its spoils, and burned it with fire.

From there he marched and took(g) Casphor, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of the land of Gilead.

Now after these things, Timotheus gathered another army and encamped near Raphon beyond the brook.

Judas sent men to spy on the army; and they brought him word, saying, “All the Gentiles who are around us are gathered together to them, an exceedingly great army.

They have hired Arabians to help them, and are encamped beyond the brook, ready to come against you to battle.” So Judas went to meet them.

Timotheus said to the captains of his army when Judas and his army drew near to the brook of water, “If he crosses over to us first, we won’t be able to withstand him, for he will certainly defeat us;

but if he is afraid, and encamps beyond the river, we will cross over to him, and defeat him.”

Now when Judas came near to the water brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook, and commanded them, saying, “Allow no man to encamp, but let all come to the battle.”

Then he crossed over the first against them, and all the people after him; and all the Gentiles were defeated before his face, and threw away their weapons, and fled to the temple at (h)Carnaim.

They took the city and burned the temple with fire, together with all who were in it. Carnaim was subdued. They couldn’t stand any longer before the face of Judas.

Judas gathered together all Israel, those who were in the land of Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with their wives, their children, and their stuff, an exceedingly great army, that they might come into the land of Judah.

They came as far as Ephron, and this same city was large and very strong. It was on the road where they were going. They couldn’t turn away from it on the right hand or on the left, but needed to pass through the middle of it.

The people of the city shut them out and blocked the gates with stones.

Judas sent to them with words of peace, saying, “We will pass through your land to go into our own land, and no one will harm you. We will only pass by on our feet.” But they wouldn’t open to him.

Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the army, that each man should encamp in the place where he was.

So the men of the army encamped, and fought against the city all that day and all that night, and the city was delivered into his hands.

He destroyed all the males with the edge of the sword, razed the city, took its plunder, and passed through the city over those who were slain.

They went over the Jordan into the great plain near Bethshan.

And Judas gathered together those who lagged behind and encouraged the people all the way through, until he came into the land of Judah.

They went up to mount Zion with gladness and joy, and offered whole burnt offerings, because not so much as one of them was slain until they returned in peace.

In the days when Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, rulers of the army, heard of their exploits and of the war, and what things they had done.

They said, “Let’s also get us a name, and let’s go fight against the Gentiles who are around us.”

So they gave orders to the men of the army that was with them, and went toward Jamnia.

Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle.

Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued to the borders of Judea. About two thousand men of Israel fell on that day.

There was a great overthrow among the people, because they didn’t listen to Judas and his kindred, thinking to do some exploit.

But they were not of the family of those men by whose hand deliverance was given to Israel.

The man Judas and his kindred were glorified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard of.

Men gathered together to them, acclaiming them.

Judas and his kindred went out and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south. He struck Hebron and its villages,(i) pulled down its strongholds, and burned its towers all around.

He marched to go into the land of the(j) Philistines, and he went through(k) Samaria.

In that day certain priests, desiring to do exploits there, were slain in battle, when they went out to battle unadvisedly.

But Judas turned toward Azotus, to the land of the(l) Philistines, pulled down their altars, burned the carved images of their gods with fire, took the plunder of their cities, and returned into the land of Judah.

Footnotes

(a)5:4 Compare 2 Maccabees 10:18 .

(b)5:8 Gr. daughters.Compare Numbers 21:25 .

(d)5:15 Gr. foreigners.

(e)5:26 Compare 2 Maccabees 12:13 .

(f)5:26 compare 2 Maccabees 12:21 .

(g)5:36 See 1 Maccabees 5:26

(h)5:43 See 1 Maccabees 5:26 .

(i)5:65 Gr. daughters.Compare Numbers 21:25 .

(j)5:66 Gr. foreigners.

(k)5:66 Or, MarisaSee Josephus, Antiquities 12:8. 6, and 2 Maccabees 12:35 .

(l)5:68 Gr. foreigners.

Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against their enemies, are defeated.

Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.

Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.

Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.

Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.

He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.

Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.

So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.

And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.

Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.

And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:

And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.

Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:

Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.

While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,

And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.

Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.

Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.

So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.

Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.

Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.

Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him.

And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.

And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.

Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days’ journey in the wilderness,

Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:

And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:

And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against to morrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.

Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,

From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.

And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.

When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,

He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.

So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.

Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.

This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and and burnt it with fire.

From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.

After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.

So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.

He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.

Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:

But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.

Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.

So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.

But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.

Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.

Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.

Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.

Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.

Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.

So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:

Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.

After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.

And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.

So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.

Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,

Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.

Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.

So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.

Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.

And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.

Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.

Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.

Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;

Insomuch as the the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.

Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.

From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.

At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.

So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.