The First Book of Maccabees

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

The fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son comes against Judas with a formidable army. He besieges Sion: but at last makes peace with the Jews.

About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;

And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left there.

Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,

Rose up against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, and returned to Babylon.

Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies, which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight:

And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power was driven away of the Jews; and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten of the armies, whom they had destroyed:

Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city Bethsura.

Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.

And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die.

Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care.

And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power.

But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause.

I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.

Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm,

And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom.

So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.

Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator.

About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites round about the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen.

Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people together to besiege them.

So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other engines.

Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto whom some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves:

And they went unto the king, and said, How long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren?

We have been willing to serve thy father, and to do as he would have us, and to obey his commandments;

For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritance.

Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against their borders.

And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified.

Wherefore if thou dost not prevent them quickly, they will do the greater things than these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.

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.

There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers.

So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle.

These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war; but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.

Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over against the king’s camp.

Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.

And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.

Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.

These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him.

And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.

As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.

Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered therewith, and shined like lamps of fire.

So part of the king’s army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.

Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.

Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were slain of the king’s army six hundred men.

Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him,

Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name:

Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides.

Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died.

Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from them.

Then the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judea, and against mount Sion.

But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.

So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it.

As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings.

Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a long season.

Yet at the last, their vessels being without victuals, (for that it was the seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;)

There were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were fain to disperse themselves, every man to his own place.

At that time Lysias heard say, that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king,

Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king’s host also that went with him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of the affairs.

Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the captains of the host and the company, We decay daily, and our victuals are but small, and the place we lay siege unto is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us:

Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with them, and with all their nation;

And covenant with them, that they shall live after their laws, as they did before: for they are therefore displeased, and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.

So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent unto them to make peace; and they accepted thereof.

Also the king and the princes made an oath unto them: whereupon they went out of the strong hold.

Then the king entered into mount Sion; 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 round about.

Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antiochia, where he found Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by force.

The fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son comes against Judas with a formidable army. He besieges Sion: but at last makes peace with the Jews.

King Antiochus was traveling through the upper countries; and he heard that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold,

and that the temple which was in it was exceedingly rich, and that in it were golden shields, breastplates, and weapons which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, left behind there.

So he came and tried to take the city and to pillage it; and he was not able, because his plan was known to them of the city,

and they rose up against him in battle. He fled and returned to Babylon with great disappointment.

Then someone came into Persia bringing him news that the armies which went against the land of Judah had been put to flight,

and that Lysias went first with a strong army and was put to shame before them, and that they had grown strong because of weapons, power, and a supply of plunder which they took from the armies that they had cut off,

and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and also Bethsura, his city.

It came to pass, when the king heard these words, he was astonished and moved exceedingly. He laid himself down on his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not turned out for him as he had planned.

He was there many days, because great grief continually gripped him, and he realized that he would die.

He called for all his(a) friends, and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes, and my heart fails because of worry.

I said in my heart, ‘To what suffering I have come! How great a flood it is that I’m in, now! For I was gracious and loved in my power.’

But now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and sent out to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without a cause.

I perceive that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me. Behold, I am perishing through great grief in a strange land.”

Then he called for Philip, one of his(b) friends, and set him over all his kingdom.

He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he could guide Antiochus his son, and nourish him up that he might be king.

Then King Antiochus died there in the one hundred forty-ninth year.(c)

When Lysias learned that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had nourished up being young, and he called his name Eupator.

Those who were in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the sanctuary, and always sought to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles.

Judas planned to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them.

They were gathered together, and besieged them in(d) the one hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war.

Some of those who were hemmed in came out, and some of the ungodly men of Israel were joined to them.

They went to the king, and said, “How long will you not execute judgment, and avenge our kindred?

We were willing to serve your father and to live by his words, and to follow his commandments.

Because of this, the children of our people besieged the citadel(e) and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could catch, they killed, and plundered our inheritances.

Not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders.

Behold, they are encamped this day against the citadel at Jerusalem to take it. They have fortified the sanctuary and Bethsura.

If you don’t quickly prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and you won’t be able to control them.

When the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his(f) friends, the rulers of his army, and those who were over the cavalry.

Bands of hired soldiers came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the sea.

The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war.

They went through Idumaea, and encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. The Jews came out and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.

Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Bethzacharias, near the king’s camp.

The king rose early in the morning, and marched his army(g) at full speed along the road to Bethzacharias. His forces made themselves ready to battle and sounded their trumpets.

They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle.

They distributed the animals among the phalanxes. They set by each elephant a thousand men armed with coats of mail and helmets of brass on their heads. Five hundred chosen cavalry were appointed for each elephant.

These were ready beforehand, wherever the elephant was. Wherever the elephant went, they went with it. They didn’t leave it.

Strong, covered wooden towers were upon them, one upon each elephant, fastened upon it with secure harnesses. Upon each were four valiant men who fought upon them, beside his Indian driver.

The rest of the cavalry he set on this side and that side on the two flanks of the army, striking terror into the enemy, and protected by the phalanxes.

Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains lit up, and blazed like flaming torches.

A part of the king’s army was spread upon the high hills and some on the low ground, and they went on firmly and in order.

All who heard the noise of their multitude, the marching of the multitude, and the rattling of the weapons trembled; for the army was exceedingly great and strong.

Judas and his army drew near for battle, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell.

Eleazar, who was called Avaran, saw one of the animals armed with royal breastplates, and it was taller than all the animals, and the king seemed to be on it.

He gave his life to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting name.

He ran upon him courageously into the midst of the phalanx, and killed on the right hand and on the left, and they parted away from him on this side and on that.

He crept under the elephant, and stabbed it from beneath, and killed it. The elephant fell to the earth upon him, and he died there.

They saw the strength of the kingdom and the fierce attack of the army, and turned away from them.

But the soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king encamped toward Judea and toward mount Zion.

He made peace with the people of Bethsura. He came out of the city because they had no food there to endure the siege, because it was a Sabbath to the land.

The king took Bethsura, and appointed a garrison there to keep it.

He encamped against the sanctuary many days; and set there mounds to shoot from, and engines of war, and machines for throwing fire and stones, and weapons to throw darts, and slings.

The Jews also made engines of war against their engines, and fought for many days.

But there was no food in the sanctuary, because it was the seventh year, and those who fled for safety into Judea from among the Gentiles had eaten up the rest of the stores.

There were only a few people left in the sanctuary, because the famine prevailed against them, and they were scattered, each man to his own place.

Lysias heard that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, while he was yet alive, appointed to raise his son Antiochus to be king,

had returned from Persia and Media, and with him the forces that went with the king, and that he was seeking to take control of the government.

He made haste, and gave orders to depart. He said to the king and the leaders of the army and to the men, “We get weaker daily, our food is scant, the place where we encamp is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us.

Now therefore let’s negotiate with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation,

and covenant with them, that they may walk after their own laws, as before; for because of their laws which we abolished they were angered, and did all these things.”

The speech pleased the king and the princes, and he sent to them to make peace; and they accepted it.

The king and the princes swore to them. On these conditions, they came out from the stronghold.

Then the king entered into mount Zion. He saw the strength of the place, and broke the oath which he had sworn, and gave orders to pull down the wall all around.

Then he left in haste and returned to Antioch, and found Philip master of the city. He fought against him, and took the city by force.

Footnotes

(a)6:10 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .

(b)6:14 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .

(d)6:20 circa B.C. 163.

(e)6:24 Gr. it.

(f)6:28 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .

(g)6:33 Or, itself eager for the fight