1 Maccabees 4

Everything Apocrypha - 1 Maccabees
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1Mac 4:1 
Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of 
the best horsemen, and removed out of the camp by night; 
 
1Mac 4:2 
To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and 
smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his 
guides. 
 
1Mac 4:3 
Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the 
valiant men with him, that he might smite the king's army which 
was at Emmaus, 
 
1Mac 4:4 
While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp. 
 
1Mac 4:5 
In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of 
Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the 
mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us 
 
1Mac 4:6 
But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain 
with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor 
swords to their minds. 
 
1Mac 4:7 
And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and 
well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and 
these were expert of war. 
 
1Mac 4:8 
Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not 
their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. 
 
1Mac 4:9 
Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when 
Pharaoh pursued them with an army. 
 
1Mac 4:10 
Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the 
Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our 
fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day: 
 
1Mac 4:11 
That so all the heathen may know that there is one who 
delivereth and saveth Israel. 
 
1Mac 4:12 
Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming 
over against them. 
 
1Mac 4:13 
Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that 
were with Judas sounded their trumpets. 
 
1Mac 4:14 
So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled 
into the plain. 
 
1Mac 4:15 
Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: 
for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of 
Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them 
upon a three thousand men. 
 
1Mac 4:16 
This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing 
them, 
 
1Mac 4:17 
And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch 
as there is a battle before us, 
 
1Mac 4:18 
And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but 
stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after 
this ye may boldly take the spoils. 
 
1Mac 4:19 
As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part 
of them looking out of the mountain: 
 
1Mac 4:20 
Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to 
flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen 
declared what was done: 
 
1Mac 4:21 
When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore 
afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to 
fight, 
 
1Mac 4:22 
They fled every one into the land of strangers. 
 
1Mac 4:23 
Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much 
gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and 
great riches. 
 
1Mac 4:24 
After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, 
and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his 
mercy endureth forever. 
 
1Mac 4:25 
Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day. 
 
1Mac 4:26 
Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias 
what had happened: 
 
1Mac 4:27 
Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, 
because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, 
nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass. 
 
1Mac 4:28 
The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together 
threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand 
horsemen, that he might subdue them. 
 
1Mac 4:29 
So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at 
Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 
 
1Mac 4:30 
And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed 
art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of 
the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the 
host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, 
and his armourbearer; 
 
1Mac 4:31 
Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let 
them be confounded in their power and horsemen: 
 
1Mac 4:32 
Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of 
their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their 
destruction: 
 
1Mac 4:33 
Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let 
all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving. 
 
1Mac 4:34 
So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of 
Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they 
slain. 
 
1Mac 4:35 
Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness 
of Judas' soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or 
die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a 
company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it 
was, he purposed to come again into Judea. 
 
1Mac 4:36 
Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are 
discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary. 
 
1Mac 4:37 
Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and 
went up into mount Sion. 
 
1Mac 4:38 
And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar 
profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the 
courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the 
priests' chambers pulled down; 
 
1Mac 4:39 
They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast 
ashes upon their heads, 
 
1Mac 4:40 
And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew 
an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven. 
 
1Mac 4:41 
Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that 
were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary. 
 
1Mac 4:42 
So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had 
pleasure in the law: 
 
1Mac 4:43 
Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones 
into an unclean place. 
 
1Mac 4:44 
And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt 
offerings, which was profaned; 
 
1Mac 4:45 
They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a 
reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore 
they pulled it down, 
 
1Mac 4:46 
And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a 
convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what 
should be done with them. 
 
1Mac 4:47 
Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a 
new altar according to the former; 
 
1Mac 4:48 
And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within 
the temple, and hallowed the courts. 
 
1Mac 4:49 
They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they 
brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and 
of incense, and the table. 
 
1Mac 4:50 
And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that 
were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give 
light in the temple. 
 
1Mac 4:51 
Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread 
out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun 
to make. 
 
1Mac 4:52 
Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which 
is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth 
year, they rose up betimes in the morning, 
 
1Mac 4:53 
And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar 
of burnt offerings, which they had made. 
 
1Mac 4:54 
Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, 
even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and 
harps, and cymbals. 
 
1Mac 4:55 
Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and 
praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success. 
 
1Mac 4:56 
And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and 
offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the 
sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 
 
1Mac 4:57 
They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of 
gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they 
renewed, and hanged doors upon them. 
 
1Mac 4:58 
Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that 
the reproach of the heathen was put away. 
 
1Mac 4:59 
Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation 
of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar 
should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of 
eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, 
with mirth and gladness. 
 
1Mac 4:60 
At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high 
walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should 
come and tread it down as they had done before. 
 
1Mac 4:61 
And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified 
Bethsura to preserve it; that the people might have a defence 
against Idumea. 
 

4:1 Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of the best horsemen: and they removed out of the camp by night.

4:2 That they might come upon the camp of the Jews, and strike them suddenly: and the men that were of the castle were their guides.

4:3 And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus.

4:4 For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp.

4:5 And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and found no man, and he sought them in the mountains: for he said: These men flee from us.

4:6 And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men only, who neither had armour nor swords.

4:7 And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was strong, and the men in breastplates, and the horsemen round about them, and these were trained up to war.

4:8 And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.

4:9 Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharao pursued them with a great army.

4:10 And now let us cry to heaven: and the Lord will have mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this army before our face this day:

4:11 And all nations shall know that there is one that redeemeth and delivereth Israel.

4:12 And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming against them.

4:13 And they went out of the camp to battle, and they that were with Judas sounded the trumpet.

4:14 And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed, and fled into the plain.

4:15 But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword, and they pursued them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains of Idumea, and of Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of them to the number of three thousand men.

4:16 And Judas returned again with his army that followed him,

4:17 And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the spoils: for there is war before us:

4:18 And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them, and you shall take the spoils afterwards with safety.

4:19 And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part of them appeared looking forth from the mountain.

4:20 And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, ad that they had set fire to the camp: for the smoke that was seen declared what was done.

4:21 And when they had seen this, they were seized with great fear, seeing at the same time Judas and his army in the plain ready to fight.

4:22 So they all fled away into the land of the strangers.

4:23 And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp, and they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.

4:24 And returning home they sung a hymn, and blessed God in heaven, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.

4:25 So Israel had a great deliverance that day.

4:26 And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told Lysias all that had happened.

4:27 And when he heard these things, he was amazed and discouraged: because things had not succeeded in Israel according to his mind, and as the king had commanded.

4:28 So the year following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand chosen men, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.

4:29 And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in Bethoron, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.

4:30 And they saw that the army was strong, and he prayed, and said: Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst break the violence of the mighty by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver up the camp of the strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul and of his armourbearer.

4:31 Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their host and their horsemen.

4:32 Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness of their strength to languish, and let them quake at their own destruction.

4:33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee: and let all that know thy name, praise thee with hymns.

4:34 And they joined battle: and there fell of the army of Lysias five thousand men.

4:35 And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight, and how bold the Jews were, and that they were ready either to live, or to die manfully, he went to Antioch, and chose soldiers, that they might come again into Judea with greater numbers.

4:36 Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them.

4:37 And all the army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion.

4:38 And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down.

4:39 And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads:

4:40 And they fell face down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven.

4:41 Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy places.

4:42 And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the law of God:

4:43 And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that had been defiled into an unclean place.

4:44 And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been profaned, what he should do with it.

4:45 And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.

4:46 And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer concerning them.

4:47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former:

4:48 And they built up the holy places, and the things that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple, and the courts.

4:49 And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.

4:50 And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple.

4:51 And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun to make.

4:52 And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.

4:53 And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.

4:54 According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals.

4:55 And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them.

4:56 And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.

4:57 And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.

4:58 And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.

4:59 And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.

4:60 They built up also at that time mount Sion, with high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down as they did before.

4:61 And he placed a garrison there to keep it, and he fortified it to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defence against Idumea.