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1
Maccabees 1:1
After
Alexander son of Philip, the
Macedonian, (This
is Alexander the Great.) who came from the
land
of
Kittim
, had defeated King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, (331
B. C.) he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of
Greece
.) 2 He fought many battles,
conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. 3
He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the
earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted
up. 4 He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries,
nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him. 5 After
this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying. 6 So he
summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from
youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. 7
And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died. 8 Then
his officers began to rule, each in his own place. (Alexander
the Great’s Empire was eventually divided up between four of his
generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.) 9
They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their descendants after
them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth. 10
From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus
Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in
Rome
. He began to reign in the one hundred
thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. (175 B.C.) 11 In those days certain renegades came out
from
Israel
and misled many, saying, “Let us go
and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated
from them many disasters have come upon us.” 12 This proposal
pleased them, 13 and some of the people eagerly went to the
king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14
So they built a gymnasium (From
the Greek word, gumnasion, from gumnazein, to exercise naked, from gumnos,
naked; the Greek gymnasium was a place where men competed in the nude;
therefore it was easy to see who bore the marks of divine ownership on his
body in the form of circumcision.) in
Jerusalem
, according to Gentile custom, 15
and removed the marks of
circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the
Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil. 16 When Antiochus saw
that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the
land
of
Egypt
, in order that he might reign over both kingdoms. 17 So he
invaded
Egypt
with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a
large fleet. 18 He engaged King Ptolemy of
Egypt
in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled
before him, and many were wounded and fell. 19 They captured
the fortified cities in the
land
of
Egypt
, and he plundered the
land
of
Egypt
. 20 After subduing
Egypt
, Antiochus returned in the one hundred
forty-third year. (169 B.C.) He
went up against
Israel
and came to
Jerusalem
with a strong force. 21 He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and
took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. 22
He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink
offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the
gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off. 23
He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the
hidden treasures that he found. 24 Taking them all, he went
into his own land. He shed much blood, and spoke with great arrogance. 25
Israel mourned deeply in every community, 26 rulers and elders
groaned, young women and young men became faint, the beauty of the women
faded. 27 Every bridegroom took up the lament; she who sat in
the bridal chamber was mourning. 28 Even the land trembled for
its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. 29
Two years later the king sent to the cities of
Judah
a chief collector of tribute, and he
came to
Jerusalem
with a large force. 30
Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but
he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many
people of
Israel
. 31 He plundered the city,
burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls. 32
They took captive the women and children, and seized the livestock. 33
Then they fortified the city of
David
with a great strong wall and strong
towers, and it became their citadel. 34 They stationed there a
sinful people, men who were renegades. These strengthened their position; 35
they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of
Jerusalem
they stored them there, and became a
great menace, 36 for the citadel became an ambush against the
sanctuary, an evil adversary of
Israel
at all times. 37 On every
side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the
sanctuary. 38 Because of them the residents of
Jerusalem
fled; she became a dwelling of
strangers; she became strange to her offspring, and her children forsook
her. 39 Her sanctuary became desolate like a desert; her feasts
were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into
contempt. 40 Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory; her
exaltation was turned into mourning. 41 Then the king wrote to
his whole kingdom that all should be one people, 42 and that
all should give up their particular customs. 43 All the
Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many
even from
Israel
gladly
adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the
towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45
to forbid burnt offerings and
sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and
festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests, 47 to
build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice
swine and other unclean animals, 48 and to
leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves
abominable by everything unclean and profane, 49 so
that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50
He added, “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die.”
51 In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed
inspectors over all the people and commanded the towns of
Judah
to offer sacrifice, town by town. 52 Many of the people, everyone
who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land; 53
they drove
Israel
into hiding in every place of refuge they had. 54 Now on
the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, (167
B.C.) they erected a desolating
sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in
the surrounding towns of
Judah
, 55 and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the
streets. 56 The books of
the law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. 57
Anyone found possessing the book of
the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to death by
decree of the king. 58 They kept using violence against
Israel
, against those who were found month
after month in the towns. 59 On
the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar that
was on top of the altar of burnt offering. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their
children circumcised, 61 and
their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants
from their mothers’ necks. 62 But many in
Israel
stood
firm and were resolved in
their hearts not to eat unclean food. 63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy
covenant; and they did die. 64 Very great wrath came upon
Israel
.
1
Maccabees 2:1 In
those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the family of
Joarib, moved from
Jerusalem
and settled in Modein. 2 He
had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, 3 Simon called Thassi, 4
Judas called Maccabeus, 5
Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 6 He saw the
blasphemies being committed in
Judah
and
Jerusalem
, 7 and said, “Alas! Why
was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city,
and to live there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given
over to aliens? 8 Her temple has become like a person without
honor; 9 her glorious vessels have been carried into exile. Her
infants have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the
foe. 10 What nation has not inherited her palaces and has not
seized her spoils? 11 All her adornment has been taken away; no
longer free, she has become a slave. 12 And see, our holy
place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have
profaned them. 13 Why should we live any longer?” 14
Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, put on sackcloth, and
mourned greatly. 15 The king’s officers who were enforcing
the apostasy came to the town of
Modein
to make them offer sacrifice. 16
Many from
Israel
came to them; and Mattathias and his
sons were assembled. 17 Then the king’s officers spoke to
Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this
town, and supported by sons and brothers. 18 Now be the first
to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the people
of
Judah
and those that are left in
Jerusalem
have done. Then you and your sons will
be numbered among the Friends of the king, and you and your sons will be
honored with silver and gold and many gifts.” 19 But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the
nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to
obey his commandments, everyone of them abandoning the religion of their
ancestors, 20 I and
my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our
ancestors. 21 Far be
it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. 22 We
will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the
right hand or to the left.” 23 When he had finished
speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer
sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command. 24
When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred.
He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the altar. 25
At the same time he killed the king’s
officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
26 Thus he burned with zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did
against Zimri son of Salu. 27 Then Mattathias cried out in the
town with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the
law and supports the covenant come out with me!” 28 Then he
and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town. 29
At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to
the wilderness to live there, 30 they, their sons, their wives,
and their livestock, because troubles pressed heavily upon them. 31
And it was reported to the king’s officers, and to the troops in
Jerusalem
the city of
David
, that those who had rejected the king’s
command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness. 32
Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and
prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day. 33 They
said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands,
and you will live.” 34 But they said, “We will not come
out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day.”
35 Then the enemy quickly attacked them. 36 But they
did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding
places, 37 for they said, “Let us all die in our innocence;
heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly.” 38
So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and
children and livestock, to the number of a thousand persons. 39
When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them
deeply. 40 And all said to their neighbors: “If we all do as
our kindred have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives
and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth.” 41
So they made this decision that day: “Let us fight against anyone who
comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our kindred
died in their hiding places.” 42 Then there united with them
a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of
Israel
, all who offered themselves willingly
for the law. 43 And all who became fugitives to escape their
troubles joined them and reinforced them. 44 They organized an
army, and struck down sinners in their anger and renegades in their wrath;
the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety. 45 And
Mattathias and his friends went around and tore down the altars; 46
they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found
within the borders of
Israel
. 47 They hunted down the
arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands. 48 They
rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never
let the sinner gain the upper hand. 49 Now the days drew near
for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: “Arrogance and scorn
have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. 50
Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the
covenant of our ancestors. 51 “Remember the deeds of the
ancestors, which they did in their generations; and you will receive great
honor and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found
faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 53
Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord
of
Egypt
. 54 Phinehas our ancestor,
because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting
priesthood. 55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became
a judge in
Israel
. 56 Caleb, because he
testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land. 57
David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom
forever. 58 Elijah, because of great zeal for the law, was
taken up into heaven. 59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
believed and were saved from the flame. 60 Daniel, because of
his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions. 61
“And so observe, from generation to generation, that none of those who
put their trust in him will lack strength. 62 Do not fear the
words of sinners, for their splendor will turn into dung and worms. 63
Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because
they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished. 64
My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will
gain honor. 65 “Here is your brother Simeon who, I know, is
wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. 66
Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command
the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples. 67
You shall rally around you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong
done to your people. 68 Pay back the Gentiles in full, and obey
the commands of the law.” 69 Then he blessed them, and was
gathered to his ancestors. 70 He died in the one hundred
forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Modein.
And all
Israel
mourned for him with great lamentation.
1
Maccabees 3:1 Then
his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place. 2
All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly
fought for
Israel
. 3 He extended the glory of his people. Like a giant he put on
his breastplate; he bound on his armor of war and waged battles,
protecting the camp by his sword. 4 He was like a lion in his
deeds, like a lion’s cub roaring for prey. 5 He searched out
and pursued those who broke the law; he burned those who troubled his
people. 6 Lawbreakers shrank back for fear of him; all the
evildoers were confounded; and deliverance prospered by his hand. 7
He embittered many kings, but he made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his
memory is blessed forever. 8 He went through the cities of
Judah
; he destroyed the ungodly out of the
land; thus he turned away wrath from
Israel
. 9 He was renowned to the
ends of the earth; he gathered in those who were perishing. 10
Apollonius now gathered together Gentiles and a large force from
Samaria
to fight against
Israel
. 11 When Judas learned of
it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him. Many were
wounded and fell, and the rest fled. 12 Then they seized their
spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and used it in battle the
rest of his life. 13 When Seron, the commander of the Syrian
army, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of
faithful soldiers who stayed with him and went out to battle, 14
he said, “I will make a name for myself and win honor in the kingdom. I
will make war on Judas and his companions, who scorn the king’s command.”
15 Once again a strong army of godless men went up with him to
help him, to take vengeance on the Israelites. 16 When he
approached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a
small company. 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet
them, they said to Judas, “How can we, few as we are, fight against so
great and so strong a multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten
nothing today.” 18 Judas replied, “It is easy for many to
be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference
between saving by many or by few. 19 It is not on the size of
the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. 20
They come against us in great insolence and lawlessness to destroy us and
our wives and our children, and to despoil us; 21 but we fight
for our lives and our laws. 22 He himself will crush them
before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them.” 23 When he
finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they
were crushed before him. 24 They pursued them down the descent
of Beth-horon to the plain; eight hundred of them fell, and the rest fled
into the land of the Philistines. 25 Then Judas and his
brothers began to be feared, and terror fell on the Gentiles all around
them. 26 His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of
the battles of Judas. 27 When King Antiochus heard these
reports, he was greatly angered; and he sent and gathered all the forces
of his kingdom, a very strong army. 28 He opened his coffers
and gave a year’s pay to his forces, and ordered them to be ready for
any need. 29 Then he saw that the money in the treasury was
exhausted, and that the revenues from the country were small because of
the dissension and disaster that he had caused in the land by abolishing
the laws that had existed from the earliest days. 30 He feared
that he might not have such funds as he had before for his expenses and
for the gifts that he used to give more lavishly than preceding kings. 31
He was greatly perplexed in mind; then he determined to go to
Persia
and collect the revenues from those
regions and raise a large fund. 32 He left Lysias, a
distinguished man of royal lineage, in charge of the king’s affairs from
the river
Euphrates
to the borders of
Egypt
. 33 Lysias was also to take
care of his son Antiochus until he returned. 34 And he turned
over to Lysias half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him orders
about all that he wanted done. As for the residents of
Judea
and
Jerusalem
, 35 Lysias was to send a
force against them to wipe out and destroy the strength of
Israel
and the remnant of
Jerusalem
; he was to banish the memory of them
from the place, 36 settle aliens in all their territory, and
distribute their land by lot. 37 Then the king took the
remaining half of his forces and left
Antioch
his capital in the one hundred and
forty-seventh year. He crossed the
Euphrates
river and went through the upper
provinces. 38 Lysias chose Ptolemy son of Dorymenes, and
Nicanor and Gorgias, able men among the Friends of the king, 39
and sent with them forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to
go into the
land
of
Judah
and destroy it, as the king had commanded. 40 So they set out
with their entire force, and when they arrived they encamped near Emmaus
in the plain. 41 When the traders of the region heard what was
said to them, they took silver and gold in immense amounts, and fetters,
and went to the camp to get the Israelites for slaves. And forces from
Syria
and the land of the Philistines joined
with them. 42 Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes
had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They
also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause
their final destruction. 43 But they said to one another, “Let
us restore the ruins of our people, and fight for our people and the
sanctuary.” 44 So the congregation assembled to be ready for
battle, and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion. 45
Jerusalem
was uninhabited like a wilderness; not
one of her children went in or out. The sanctuary was trampled down, and
aliens held the citadel; it was a lodging place for the Gentiles. Joy was
taken from Jacob; the flute and the harp ceased to play. 46
Then they gathered together and went to Mizpah, opposite
Jerusalem
, because
Israel
formerly had a place of prayer in
Mizpah. 47 They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled
ashes on their heads, and tore their clothes. 48 And they
opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about which the
Gentiles consulted the likenesses of their gods. 49 They also
brought the vestments of the priesthood and the first fruits and the
tithes, and they stirred up the nazirites who had completed their days; 50
and they cried aloud to Heaven, saying, “What shall we do with these?
Where shall we take them? 51 Your sanctuary is trampled down
and profaned, and your priests mourn in humiliation. 52 Here
the Gentiles are assembled against us to destroy us; you know what they
plot against us. 53 How will we be able to withstand them, if
you do not help us?” 54 Then they sounded the trumpets and
gave a loud shout. 55 After this Judas appointed leaders of the
people, in charge of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens. 56
Those who were building houses, or were about to be married, or were
planting a vineyard, or were fainthearted, he told to go home again,
according to the law. 57 Then the army marched out and encamped
to the south of Emmaus. 58 And Judas said, “Arm yourselves
and be courageous. Be ready early in the morning to fight with these
Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. 59
It is better for us to die in battle than to see the misfortunes of our
nation and of the sanctuary. 60 But as his will in heaven may
be, so shall he do.”
1
Maccabees 4:1
Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and one thousand picked cavalry,
and this division moved out by night 2 to fall upon the camp of
the Jews and attack them suddenly. Men from the citadel were his guides. 3
But Judas heard of it, and he and his warriors moved out to attack the
king’s force in Emmaus 4 while the division was still absent
from the camp. 5 When Gorgias entered the camp of Judas by
night, he found no one there, so he looked for them in the hills, because
he said, “These men are running away from us.” 6 At
daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, but they did
not have armor and swords such as they desired. 7 And they saw
the camp of the Gentiles, strong and fortified, with cavalry all around
it; and these men were trained in war. 8 But Judas said to
those who were with him, “Do not fear their numbers or be afraid when
they charge. 9 Remember how our ancestors were saved at the
Red Sea
, when Pharaoh with his forces pursued them. 10 And now, let us
cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and remember his covenant
with our ancestors and crush this army before us today. 11 Then
all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves
Israel
.” 12 When the foreigners
looked up and saw them coming against them, 13 they went out
from their camp to battle. Then the men with Judas blew their trumpets 14
and engaged in battle. The Gentiles were crushed, and fled into the plain,
15 and all those in the rear fell by the sword. They pursued
them to Gazara, and to the plains of Idumea, and to Azotus and Jamnia; and
three thousand of them fell. 16 Then Judas and his force turned
back from pursuing them, 17 and he said to the people, “Do
not be greedy for plunder, for there is a battle before us; 18
Gorgias and his force are near us in the hills. But stand now against our
enemies and fight them, and afterward seize the plunder boldly.” 19
Just as Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, coming out
of the hills. 20 They saw that their army had been put to
flight, and that the Jews were burning the camp, for the smoke that was
seen showed what had happened. 21 When they perceived this,
they were greatly frightened, and when they also saw the army of Judas
drawn up in the plain for battle, 22 they all fled into the
land of the Philistines. 23 Then Judas returned to plunder the
camp, and they seized a great amount of gold and silver, and cloth dyed
blue and sea purple, and great riches. 24 On their return they
sang hymns and praises to Heaven—“For he is good, for his mercy
endures forever.” 25 Thus
Israel
had a great deliverance that day. 26
Those of the foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lysias all that
had happened. 27 When he heard it, he was perplexed and
discouraged, for things had not happened to
Israel
as he had intended, nor had they turned
out as the king had ordered. 28 But the next year he mustered
sixty thousand picked infantry and five thousand cavalry to subdue them. 29
They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur, and Judas met them with
ten thousand men. 30 When he saw that their army was strong, he
prayed, saying, “Blessed are you, O Savior of Israel, who crushed the
attack of the mighty warrior by the hand of your servant David, and gave
the camp of the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan son of Saul, and of
the man who carried his armor. 31 Hem in this army by the hand
of your people
Israel
, and let them be ashamed of their
troops and their cavalry. 32 Fill them with cowardice; melt the
boldness of their strength; let them tremble in their destruction. 33
Strike them down with the sword of those who love you, and let all who
know your name praise you with hymns.” 34 Then both sides
attacked, and there fell of the army of Lysias five thousand men; they
fell in action. 35 When Lysias saw the rout of his troops and
observed the boldness that inspired those of Judas, and how ready they
were either to live or to die nobly, he withdrew to
Antioch
and enlisted mercenaries in order to
invade
Judea
again with an even larger army.
The
Cleansing of the Temple and
The Institution of Hanukkah
1
Maccabees 4:36 Then Judas and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let
us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” 37 So
all the army assembled and went up to
Mount
Zion
. 38 There they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned,
and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a
thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the
priests in ruins. 39 Then they tore their clothes and mourned
with great lamentation; they sprinkled themselves with ashes 40
and fell face down on the ground. And when the signal was given with the
trumpets, they cried out to Heaven. 41 Then Judas detailed men
to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary.
42 He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, 43
and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an
unclean place. 44 They deliberated what to do about the altar
of burnt offering, which had been profaned. 45 And they thought
it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them
that the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, 46
and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until a
prophet should come to tell what to do with them. 47 Then they
took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the
former one. 48 They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior
of the temple, and consecrated the courts. 49 They made new
holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the
table into the temple. 50 Then they offered incense on the
altar and lit the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the
temple. 51 They placed the bread on the table and hung up the
curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken. 52
Early in the morning on the
twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the
one hundred forty-eighth year, (164 B.C.) 53 they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law
directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. 54
At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it,
it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. 55
All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who
had prospered them. 56 So they celebrated the dedication of the
altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt offerings; they offered a
sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. 57 They
decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields;
they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and fitted them
with doors. 58 There was
very great joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the Gentiles
was removed. 59 Then
Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of
Israel
determined
that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should
be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the
twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev. 60 At that time they fortified
Mount
Zion
with high walls and strong towers all around, to keep the Gentiles from
coming and trampling them down as they had done before. 61
Judas stationed a garrison there to guard it; he also fortified Beth-zur
to guard it, so that the people might have a stronghold that faced Idumea.
Bob Vincent |
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