Third Maccabees
Bible, Revised Standard Version
3 Maccabees 1 1 - When
Philopator learned from those who returned that the regions which he
had controlled had been seized by Antiochus, he gave orders to all
his forces, both infantry and cavalry, took with him his sister
Arsinoe, and marched out to the region near Raphia, where Antiochus's
supporters were encamped. 2 - But a
certain Theodotus, determined to carry out the plot he had devised, took
with him the best of the Ptolemaic arms that had been previously
issued to him, and crossed over by night to the tent of Ptolemy,
intending single-handed to kill him and thereby end the war.
3 - But
Dositheus, known as the son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth who later
changed his religion and apostatized from the ancestral traditions,
had led the king away and arranged that a certain insignificant man
should sleep in the tent; and so it turned out that this man incurred
the vengeance meant for the king. 4 - When a
bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in favor
of Antiochus, Arsinoe went to the troops with wailing and tears, her
locks all disheveled, and exhorted them to defend themselves and
their children and wives bravely, promising to give them each two
minas of gold if they won the battle. 5 - And so
it came about that the enemy was routed in the action, and many
captives also were taken. 6 - Now that
he had foiled the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit the neighboring
cities and encourage them. 7 - By doing
this, and by endowing their sacred enclosures with gifts, he
strengthened the morale of his subjects. 8 - Since
the Jews had sent some of their council and elders to greet him, to
bring him gifts of welcome, and to congratulate him on what had
happened, he was all the more eager to visit them as soon as
possible. 9 - After he
had arrived in Jerusalem, he offered sacrifice to the supreme God and
made thank-offerings and did what was fitting for the holy place.
Then, upon entering the place and being impressed by its excellence
and its beauty, 10 - he
marveled at the good order of the temple, and conceived a desire to
enter the holy of holies. 11 - When
they said that this was not permitted, because not even members of
their own nation were allowed to enter, nor even all of the priests,
but only the high priest who was pre-eminent over all, and he only
once a year, the king was by no means persuaded. 12 - Even
after the law had been read to him, he did not cease to maintain that
he ought to enter, saying, "Even if those men are deprived of this
honor, I ought not to be." 13 - And he
inquired why, when he entered every other temple, no one there had
stopped him. 14 - And
someone heedlessly said that it was wrong to take this as a sign in
itself. 15 - "But
since this has happened," the king said, "why should not I at least
enter, whether they wish it or not?" 16 - Then
the priests in all their vestments prostrated themselves and
entreated the supreme God to aid in the present situation and to
avert the violence of this evil design, and they filled the temple
with cries and tears; 17 - and
those who remained behind in the city were agitated and hurried out,
supposing that something mysterious was occurring. 18 - The
virgins who had been enclosed in their chambers rushed out with their
mothers, sprinkled their hair with dust, and filled the streets with
groans and lamentations. 19 - Those
women who had recently been arrayed for marriage abandoned the bridal
chambers prepared for wedded union, and, neglecting proper modesty,
in a disorderly rush flocked together in the city. 20 - Mothers
and nurses abandoned even newborn children here and there, some in
houses and some in the streets, and without a backward look they
crowded together at the most high temple. 21 - Various
were the supplications of those gathered there because of what the
king was profanely plotting. 22 - In
addition, the bolder of the citizens would not tolerate the
completion of his plans or the fulfillment of his intended
purpose. 23 - They
shouted to their fellows to take arms and die courageously for the
ancestral law, and created a considerable disturbance in the holy
place; and being barely restrained by the old men and the elders,
they resorted to the same posture of supplication as the
others. 24 -
Meanwhile the crowd, as before, was engaged in prayer, 25 - while
the elders near the king tried in various ways to change his arrogant
mind from the plan that he had conceived. 26 - But he,
in his arrogance, took heed of nothing, and began now to approach,
determined to bring the aforesaid plan to a conclusion. 27 - When
those who were around him observed this, they turned, together with
our people, to call upon him who has all power to defend them in the
present trouble and not to overlook this unlawful and haughty
deed. 28 - The
continuous, vehement, and concerted cry of the crowds resulted in an
immense uproar; 29 - for it
seemed that not only the men but also the walls and the whole earth
around echoed, because indeed all at that time preferred death to the
profanation of the place. 3 Maccabees 2 1 - Then the
high priest Simon, facing the sanctuary, bending his knees and
extending his hands with calm dignity, prayed as follows: 2 - "Lord,
Lord, king of the heavens, and sovereign of all creation, holy among
the holy ones, the only ruler, almighty, give attention to us who are
suffering grievously from an impious and profane man, puffed up in
his audacity and power. 3 - For you,
the creator of all things and the governor of all, are a just Ruler,
and you judge those who have done anything in insolence and
arrogance. 4 - You
destroyed those who in the past committed injustice, among whom were
even giants who trusted in their strength and boldness, whom you
destroyed by bringing upon them a boundless flood. 5 - You
consumed with fire and sulphur the men of Sodom who acted arrogantly,
who were notorious for their vices; and you made them an example to
those who should come afterward. 6 - You made
known your mighty power by inflicting many and varied punishments on
the audacious Pharaoh who had enslaved your holy people
Israel. 7 - And when
he pursued them with chariots and a mass of troops, you overwhelmed
him in the depths of the sea, but carried through safely those who
had put their confidence in you, the Ruler over the whole
creation. 8 - And when
they had seen works of your hands, they praised you, the
Almighty. 9 - You, O
King, when you had created the boundless and immeasurable earth,
chose this city and sanctified this place for your name, though you
have no need of anything; and when you had glorified it by your
magnificent manifestation, you made it a firm foundation for the
glory of your great and honored name. 10 - And
because you love the house of Israel, you promised that if we should
have reverses, and tribulation should overtake us, you would listen
to our petition when we come to this place and pray. 11 - And
indeed you are faithful and true. 12 - And
because oftentimes when our fathers were oppressed you helped them in
their humiliation, and rescued them from great evils, 13 - see
now, O holy King, that because of our many and great sins we are
crushed with suffering, subjected to our enemies, and overtaken by
helplessness. 14 - In our
downfall this audacious and profane man undertakes to violate the
holy place on earth dedicated to your glorious name. 15 - For
your dwelling, the heaven of heavens, is unapproachable by
man. 16 - But
because you graciously bestowed your glory upon your people Israel,
you sanctified this place. 17 - Do not
punish us for the defilement committed by these men, or call us to
account for this profanation, lest the transgressors boast in their
wrath or exult in the arrogance of their tongue, saying, 18 - `We
have trampled down the house of the sanctuary as offensive houses are
trampled down.' 19 - Wipe
away our sins and disperse our errors, and reveal your mercy at this
hour. 20 -
Speedily let your mercies overtake us, and put praises in the mouth
of those who are downcast and broken in spirit, and give us
peace." 21 -
Thereupon God, who oversees all things, the first Father of all, holy
among the holy ones, having heard the lawful supplication, scourged
him who had exalted himself in insolence and audacity. 22 - He
shook him on this side and that as a reed is shaken by the wind, so
that he lay helpless on the ground and, besides being paralyzed in
his limbs, was unable even to speak, since he was smitten by a
righteous judgment. 23 - Then
both friends and bodyguards, seeing the severe punishment that had
overtaken him, and fearing lest he should lose his life, quickly
dragged him out, panic-stricken in their exceedingly great
fear. 24 - After a
while he recovered, and though he had been punished, he by no means
repented, but went away uttering bitter threats. 25 - When he
arrived in Egypt, he increased in his deeds of malice, abetted by the
previously mentioned drinking companions and comrades, who were
strangers to everything just. 26 - He was
not content with his uncounted licentious deeds, but he also
continued with such audacity that he framed evil reports in the
various localities; and many of his friends, intently observing the
king's purpose, themselves also followed his will. 27 - He
proposed to inflict public disgrace upon the Jewish community, and he
set up a stone on the tower in the courtyard with this
inscription: 28 - "None of those who do not sacrifice shall enter
their sanctuaries, and all Jews shall be subjected to a registration
involving poll tax and to the status of
slaves. Those who object to this are to be
taken by force and put to death; 29 - those
who are registered are also to be branded on their
bodies by fire with the
ivy-leaf
symbol of Dionysus, and they shall also be reduced to their former
limited status." 30 - In
order that he might not appear to be an enemy to all, he inscribed
below: "But if any of them prefer to join
those who have been initiated into the mysteries, they shall have
equal citizenship with the Alexandrians." 31 - Now
some, however, with an obvious abhorrence of the price to be exacted
for maintaining the religion of their city, readily gave themselves
up, since they expected to enhance
their reputation by their future association with the king.
32 - But the
majority acted firmly with a courageous
spirit and did not depart from their
religion; and by paying money in exchange for life they confidently
attempted to save themselves from the registration. 33 - They
remained resolutely hopeful of obtaining help, and they abhorred
those who separated themselves from them, considering them to be
enemies of the Jewish
nation, and depriving them of common
fellowship and mutual help. 3 Maccabees 3 1 - When the
impious king comprehended this situation, he became so infuriated
that not only was he enraged against those Jews who lived in
Alexandria, but was still more bitterly hostile toward those in the
countryside; and he ordered that all should promptly be gathered into
one place, and put to death by the most cruel means. 2 - While
these matters were being arranged, a hostile rumor was circulated
against the Jewish nation by men who conspired to do them ill, a
pretext being given by a report that they hindered others from the
observance of their customs. 3 - The
Jews, however, continued to maintain good will and unswerving loyalty
toward the dynasty; 4 - but
because they worshiped God and
conducted themselves by his law,
they kept their separateness with
respect to foods. For this reason they appeared hateful to
some; 5 - but
since they adorned their style of life with the good deeds of upright
people, they were established in good repute among all men.
6 -
Nevertheless those of other races paid no heed to their good service
to their nation, which was common talk among all; 7 - instead
they gossiped about the differences in
worship and foods, alleging that these
people were loyal neither to the king nor to his authorities,
but were hostile and greatly
opposed to his government. So they attached no ordinary reproach to
them. 8 - The
Greeks
in the city, though wronged in no way, when they saw an unexpected
tumult around these people and the crowds that suddenly were forming,
were not strong enough to help them, for they lived under tyranny.
They did try to console them, being grieved at the situation, and
expected that matters would change; 9 - for such
a great community ought not be left to its fate when it had committed
no offense. 10 - And
already some of their neighbors and friends and business associates
had taken some of them aside privately and were pledging to protect
them and to exert more earnest efforts for their assistance.
11 - Then
the king, boastful of his present good fortune, and not considering
the might of the supreme God, but assuming that he would persevere
constantly in his same purpose, wrote this letter against
them: 12 - "King
Ptolemy Philopator to his generals and soldiers in Egypt and all its
districts, greetings and good health. 13 - I
myself and our government are faring well. 14 - When
our expedition took place in Asia, as you yourselves know, it was
brought to conclusion, according to plan, by the gods' deliberate
alliance with us in battle, 15 - and we
considered that we should not rule the nations inhabiting Coele-Syria
and Phoenicia by the power of the spear but should cherish them with
clemency and great benevolence, gladly treating them well.
16 - And
when we had granted very great revenues to the temples in the cities,
we came on to Jerusalem also, and went up to honor the temple of
those wicked people, who never cease from their folly. 17 - They
accepted our presence by word, but insincerely by deed, because when
we proposed to enter their inner temple and honor it with magnificent
and most beautiful offerings, 18 - they
were carried away by their traditional conceit, and excluded us from
entering; but they were spared the exercise of our power because of
the benevolence which we have toward all. 19 - By
maintaining their manifest ill-will toward us, they become the only
people among all nations who hold their heads high in defiance of
kings and their own benefactors, and are unwilling to regard any
action as sincere. 20 - "But
we, when we arrived in Egypt victorious, accommodated ourselves to
their folly and did as was proper, since we treat all nations with
benevolence. 21 - Among
other things, we made known to all our amnesty toward their
compatriots here, both because of their alliance with us and the
myriad affairs liberally entrusted to them from the beginning; and we
ventured to make a change, by deciding both to deem them worthy of
Alexandrian citizenship and to make them participants in our regular
religious rites. 22 - But in
their innate malice they took this in a contrary spirit, and
disdained what is good. Since they incline constantly to evil,
23 - they
not only spurn the priceless citizenship, but also both by speech and
by silence they abominate those few among them who are sincerely
disposed toward us; in every situation, in accordance with their
infamous way of life, they secretly suspect that we may soon alter
our policy. 24 -
Therefore, fully convinced by these indications that they are
ill-disposed toward us in every way, we have taken precautions lest,
if a sudden disorder should later arise against us, we should have
these impious people behind our backs as traitors and barbarous
enemies. 25 -
Therefore we have given orders that, as soon as this letter shall
arrive, you are to send to us those who live among you, together with
their wives and children, with insulting and harsh treatment, and
bound securely with iron fetters, to suffer the sure and shameful
death that befits enemies. 26 - For
when these all have been punished, we are sure that for the remaining
time the government will be established for ourselves in good order
and in the best state. 27 - But
whoever shelters any of the Jews, old people or children or even
infants, will be tortured to death with the most hateful torments,
together with his family. 28 - Any one
willing to give information will receive the property of the one who
incurs the punishment, and also two thousand drachmas from the royal
treasury, and will be awarded his freedom. 29 - Every
place detected sheltering a Jew is to be made unapproachable and
burned with fire, and shall become useless for all time to any mortal
creature." 30 - The
letter was written in the above form. 3 Maccabees 4 1 - In every
place, then, where this decree arrived, a feast at public expense was
arranged for the Gentiles with shouts and gladness, for the
inveterate enmity which had long ago been in their minds was now made
evident and outspoken. 2 - But
among the Jews there was incessant mourning, lamentation, and tearful
cries; everywhere their hearts were burning, and they groaned because
of the unexpected destruction that had suddenly been decreed for
them. 3 - What
district or city, or what habitable place at all, or what streets
were not filled with mourning and wailing for them? 4 - For with
such a harsh and ruthless spirit were they being sent off, all
together, by the generals in the several cities, that at the sight of
their unusual punishments, even some of their enemies, perceiving the
common object of pity before their eyes, reflected upon the
uncertainty of life and shed tears at the most miserable expulsion of
these people. 5 - For a
multitude of gray-headed old men, sluggish and bent with age, was
being led away, forced to march at a swift pace by the violence with
which they were driven in such a shameful manner. 6 - And
young women who had just entered the bridal chamber to share married
life exchanged joy for wailing, their myrrh-perfumed hair sprinkled
with ashes, and were carried away unveiled, all together raising a
lament instead of a wedding song, as they were torn by the harsh
treatment of the heathen. 7 - In bonds
and in public view they were violently dragged along as far as the
place of embarkation. 8 - Their
husbands, in the prime of youth, their necks encircled with ropes
instead of garlands, spent the remaining days of their marriage
festival in lamentations instead of good cheer and youthful revelry,
seeing death immediately before them. 9 - They
were brought on board like wild animals, driven under the constraint
of iron bonds; some were fastened by the neck to the benches of the
boats, others had their feet secured by unbreakable fetters,
10 - and in
addition they were confined under a solid deck, so that with their
eyes in total darkness, they should undergo treatment befitting
traitors during the whole voyage. 11 - When
these men had been brought to the place called Schedia, and the
voyage was concluded as the king had decreed, he commanded that they
should be enclosed in the hippodrome which had been built with a
monstrous perimeter wall in front of the city, and which was well
suited to make them an obvious
spectacle to all coming back into the
city and to those from the city going out into the country, so that
they could neither communicate with the king's forces nor in any way
claim to be inside the circuit of the city. 12 - And
when this had happened, the king, hearing that the Jews' compatriots
from the city frequently went out in secret to lament bitterly the
ignoble misfortune of their brothers, 13 - ordered
in his rage that these men be dealt with in precisely the same
fashion as the others, not omitting any detail of their
punishment. 14 - The
entire race was to be registered individually, not for the hard labor
that has been briefly mentioned before, but to be tortured with the
outrages that he had ordered, and at the end to be destroyed in the
space of a single day. 15 - The
registration of these people was therefore conducted with bitter
haste and zealous intentness from the rising of the sun till its
setting, and though uncompleted it stopped after forty days.
16 - The
king was greatly and continually filled with joy, organizing feasts
in honor of all his idols, with a mind alienated from truth and with
a profane mouth, praising speechless things that are not able even to
communicate or to come to one's help, and uttering improper words
against the supreme God. 17 - But
after the previously mentioned interval of time the scribes declared
to the king that they were no longer able to take the census of the
Jews because of their innumerable multitude, 18 -
although most of them were still in the country, some still residing
in their homes, and some at the place; the task was impossible for
all the generals in Egypt. 19 - After
he had threatened them severely, charging that they had been bribed
to contrive a means of escape, he was clearly convinced about the
matter 20 - when
they said and proved that both the paper and the pens they used for
writing had already given out. 21 - But
this was an act of the invincible providence of him who was aiding
the Jews from heaven. 3 Maccabees 5 1 - Then the
king, completely inflexible, was filled with overpowering anger and
wrath; so he summoned Hermon, keeper of the elephants, 2 - and
ordered him on the following day to drug all the elephants -- five
hundred in number -- with large handfuls of frankincense and plenty
of unmixed wine, and to drive them in, maddened by the lavish
abundance of liquor, so that the Jews might meet their doom.
3 - When he
had given these orders he returned to his feasting, together with
those of his friends and of the army who were especially hostile
toward the Jews. 4 - And
Hermon, keeper of the elephants, proceeded faithfully to carry out
the orders. 5 - The
servants in charge of the Jews went out in the evening and bound the
hands of the wretched people and arranged for their continued custody
through the night, convinced that the whole nation would experience
its final destruction. 6 - For to
the Gentiles it appeared that the Jews were left without any
aid, 7 - because
in their bonds they were forcibly confined on every side. But with
tears and a voice hard to silence they all called upon the Almighty
Lord and Ruler of all power, their merciful God and Father,
praying 8 - that he
avert with vengeance the evil plot against them and in a glorious
manifestation rescue them from the fate now prepared for them.
9 - So their
entreaty ascended fervently to heaven. 10 - Hermon,
however, when he had drugged the pitiless elephants until they had
been filled with a great abundance of wine and satiated with
frankincense, presented himself at the courtyard early in the morning
to report to the king about these preparations. 11 - But the
Lord sent upon the king a portion of sleep, that beneficence which
from the beginning, night and day, is bestowed by him who grants it
to whomever he wishes. 12 - And by
the action of the Lord he was overcome by so pleasant and deep a
sleep that he quite failed in his lawless purpose and was completely
frustrated in his inflexible plan. 13 - Then
the Jews, since they had escaped the appointed hour, praised their
holy God and again begged him who is easily reconciled to show the
might of his all-powerful hand to the arrogant Gentiles. 14 - But
now, since it was nearly the middle of the tenth hour, the person who
was in charge of the invitations, seeing that the guests were
assembled, approached the king and nudged him. 15 - And
when he had with difficulty roused him, he pointed out that the hour
of the banquet was already slipping by, and he gave him an account of
the situation. 16 - The
king, after considering this, returned to his drinking, and ordered
those present for the banquet to recline opposite him. 17 - When
this was done he urged them to give themselves over to revelry and to
make the present portion of the banquet joyful by celebrating all the
more. 18 - After
the party had been going on for some time, the king summoned Hermon
and with sharp threats demanded to know why the Jews had been allowed
to remain alive through the present day. 19 - But
when he, with the corroboration of his friends, pointed out that
while it was still night he had carried out completely the order
given him, 20 - the
king, possessed by a savagery worse than that of Phalaris, said that
the Jews were benefited by today's sleep, "but," he added, "tomorrow
without delay prepare the elephants in the same way for the
destruction of the lawless Jews!" 21 - When
the king had spoken, all those present readily and joyfully with one
accord gave their approval, and each departed to his own home.
22 - But
they did not so much employ the duration of the night in sleep as in
devising all sorts of insults for those they thought to be
doomed. 23 - Then,
as soon as the cock had crowed in the early morning, Hermon, having
equipped the beasts, began to move them along in the great
colonnade. 24 - The
crowds of the city had been assembled for this most pitiful
spectacle and they were eagerly waiting for daybreak.
25 - But the
Jews, at their last gasp, since the time had run out, stretched their
hands toward heaven and with most tearful supplication and mournful
dirges implored the supreme God to help them again at once.
26 - The
rays of the sun were not yet shed abroad, and while the king was
receiving his friends, Hermon arrived and invited him to come out,
indicating that what the king desired was ready for action.
27 - But he,
upon receiving the report and being struck by the unusual invitation
to come out -- since he had been completely overcome by
incomprehension -- inquired what the matter was for which this had
been so zealously completed for him. 28 - This
was the act of God who rules over all things, for he had implanted in
the king's mind a forgetfulness of the things he had previously
devised. 29 - Then
Hermon and all the king's friends pointed out that the beasts and the
armed forces were ready, "O king, according to your eager
purpose." 30 - But at
these words he was filled with an overpowering wrath, because by the
providence of God his whole mind had been deranged in regard to these
matters; and with a threatening look he said, 31 - "Were
your parents or children present, I would have prepared them to be a
rich feast for the savage beasts instead of the Jews, who give me no
ground for complaint and have exhibited to an extraordinary degree a
full and firm loyalty to my ancestors. 32 - In fact
you would have been deprived of life instead of these, were it not
for an affection arising from our nurture in common and your
usefulness." 33 - So
Hermon suffered an unexpected and dangerous threat, and his eyes
wavered and his face fell. 34 - The
king's friends one by one sullenly slipped away and dismissed the
assembled people, each to his own occupation. 35 - Then
the Jews, upon hearing what the king had said, praised the manifest
Lord God, King of kings, since this also was his aid which they had
received. 36 - The
king, however, reconvened the party in the same manner and urged the
guests to return to their celebrating. 37 - After
summoning Hermon he said in a threatening tone, "How many times, you
poor wretch, must I give you orders about these things? 38 - Equip
the elephants now once more for the destruction of the Jews
tomorrow!" 39 - But the
officials who were at table with him, wondering at his instability of
mind, remonstrated as follows: 40 - "O
king, how long will you try us, as though we are idiots, ordering now
for a third time that they be destroyed, and again revoking your
decree in the matter? 41 - As a
result the city is in a tumult because of its expectation; it is
crowded with masses of people, and also in constant danger of being
plundered." 42 - Upon
this the king, a Phalaris in everything and filled with madness, took
no account of the changes of mind which had come about within him for
the protection of the Jews, and he firmly swore an irrevocable oath
that he would send them to death without delay, mangled by the knees
and feet of the beasts, 43 - and
would also march against Judea and rapidly level it to the ground
with fire and spear, and by burning to the ground the temple
inaccessible to him would quickly render it forever empty of those
who offered sacrifices there. 44 - Then
the friends and officers departed with great joy, and they
confidently posted the armed forces at the places in the city most
favorable for keeping guard. 45 - Now
when the beasts had been brought virtually to a state of madness, so
to speak, by the very fragrant draughts of wine mixed with
frankincense and had been equipped with frightful devices, the
elephant keeper 46 - entered
at about dawn into the courtyard -- the city now being filled with
countless masses of people crowding their way into the hippodrome --
and urged the king on to the matter at hand. 47 - So he,
when he had filled his impious mind with a deep rage, rushed out in
full force along with the beasts, wishing to witness, with
invulnerable heart and with his own eyes, the grievous and pitiful
destruction of the aforementioned people. 48 - And
when the Jews saw the dust raised by the elephants going out at the
gate and by the following armed forces, as well as by the trampling
of the crowd, and heard the loud and tumultuous noise, 49 - they
thought that this was their last moment of life, the end of their
most miserable suspense, and giving way to lamentation and groans
they kissed each other, embracing relatives and falling into one
another's arms -- parents and children, mothers and daughters, and
others with babies at their breasts who were drawing their last
milk. 50 - Not
only this, but when they considered the help which they had received
before from heaven they prostrated themselves with one accord on the
ground, removing the babies from their breasts, 51 - and
cried out in a very loud voice, imploring the Ruler over every power
to manifest himself and be merciful to them, as they stood now at the
gates of death. 3 Maccabees 6 1 - Then a
certain Eleazar, famous among the priests of the country, who had
attained a ripe old age and throughout his life had been adorned with
every virtue, directed the elders around him to cease calling upon
the holy God and prayed as follows: 2 - "King of
great power, Almighty God Most High, governing all creation with
mercy, 3 - look
upon the descendants of Abraham, O Father, upon the children of the
sainted Jacob, a people of your consecrated portion who are perishing
as foreigners in a foreign land. 4 - Pharaoh
with his abundance of chariots, the former ruler of this Egypt,
exalted with lawless insolence and boastful tongue, you destroyed
together with his arrogant army by drowning them in the sea,
manifesting the light of your mercy upon the nation of Israel.
5 -
Sennacherib exulting in his countless forces, oppressive king of the
Assyrians, who had already gained control of the whole world by the
spear and was lifted up against your holy city, speaking grievous
words with boasting and insolence, you, O Lord, broke in pieces,
showing your power to many nations. 6 - The
three companions in Babylon who had voluntarily surrendered their
lives to the flames so as not to serve vain things, you rescued
unharmed, even to a hair, moistening the fiery furnace with dew and
turning the flame against all their enemies. 7 - Daniel,
who through envious slanders was cast down into the ground to lions
as food for wild beasts, you brought up to the light unharmed.
8 - And
Jonah, wasting away in the belly of a huge, sea-born monster, you,
Father, watched over and restored unharmed to all his family.
9 - And now,
you who hate insolence, all-merciful and protector of all, reveal
yourself quickly to those of the nation of Israel -- who are being
outrageously treated by the abominable and lawless Gentiles.
10 - Even if
our lives have become entangled in impieties in our exile, rescue us
from the hand of the enemy, and destroy us, Lord, by whatever fate
you choose. 11 - Let not
the vain-minded praise their vanities at the destruction of your
beloved people, saying, `Not even their god has rescued them.'
12 - But
you, O Eternal One, who have all might and all power, watch over us
now and have mercy upon us who by the senseless insolence of the
lawless are being deprived of life in the manner of traitors.
13 - And let
the Gentiles cower today in fear of your invincible might, O honored
One, who have power to save the nation of Jacob. 14 - The
whole throng of infants and their parents entreat you with
tears. 15 - Let it
be shown to all the Gentiles that you are with us, O Lord, and have
not turned your face from us; but just as you have said, `Not even
when they were in the land of their enemies did I neglect them,' so
accomplish it, O Lord." 16 - Just as
Eleazar was ending his prayer, the king arrived at the hippodrome
with the beasts and all the arrogance of his forces. 17 - And
when the Jews observed this they raised great cries to heaven so that
even the nearby valleys resounded with them and brought an
uncontrollable terror upon the army. 18 - Then
the most glorious, almighty, and true God revealed his holy face and
opened the heavenly gates, from which two glorious angels of fearful
aspect descended, visible to all but the Jews. 19 - They
opposed the forces of the enemy and filled them with confusion and
terror, binding them with immovable shackles. 20 - Even
the king began to shudder bodily, and he forgot his sullen
insolence. 21 - The
beasts turned back upon the armed forces following them and began
trampling and destroying them. 22 - Then
the king's anger was turned to pity and tears because of the things
that he had devised beforehand. 23 - For
when he heard the shouting and saw them all fallen headlong to
destruction, he wept and angrily threatened his friends,
saying, 24 - "You
are committing treason and surpassing tyrants in cruelty; and even
me, your benefactor, you are now attempting to deprive of dominion
and life by secretly devising acts of no advantage to the
kingdom. 25 - Who is
it that has taken each man from his home and senselessly gathered
here those who faithfully have held the fortresses of our
country? 26 - Who is
it that has so lawlessly encompassed with outrageous treatment those
who from the beginning differed from all nations in their goodwill
toward us and often have accepted willingly the worst of human
dangers? 27 - Loose
and untie their unjust bonds! Send them back to their homes in peace,
begging pardon for your former actions! 28 - Release
the sons of the almighty and living God of heaven, who from the time
of our ancestors until now has granted an unimpeded and notable
stability to our government." 29 - These
then were the things he said; and the Jews, immediately released,
praised their holy God and Savior, since they now had escaped
death. 30 - Then
the king, when he had returned to the city, summoned the official in
charge of the revenues and ordered him to provide to the Jews both
wines and everything else needed for a festival of seven days,
deciding that they should celebrate their rescue with all joyfulness
in that same place in which they had expected to meet their
destruction. 31 -
Accordingly those disgracefully treated and near to death, or rather,
who stood at its gates, arranged for a banquet of deliverance instead
of a bitter and lamentable death, and full of joy they apportioned to
celebrants the place which had been prepared for their destruction
and burial. 32 - They
ceased their chanting of dirges and took up the song of their
fathers, praising God, their Savior and worker of wonders. Putting an
end to all mourning and wailing, they formed choruses as a sign of
peaceful joy. 33 -
Likewise also the king, after convening a great banquet to celebrate
these events, gave thanks to heaven unceasingly and lavishly for the
unexpected rescue which he had experienced. 34 - And
those who had previously believed that the Jews would be destroyed
and become food for birds, and had joyfully registered them, groaned
as they themselves were overcome by disgrace, and their
fire-breathing boldness was ignominiously quenched. 35 - But the
Jews, when they had arranged the aforementioned choral group, as we
have said before, passed the time in feasting to the accompaniment of
joyous thanksgiving and psalms. 36 - And
when they had ordained a public rite for these things in their whole
community and for their descendants, they instituted the observance
of the aforesaid days as a festival, not for drinking and gluttony,
but because of the deliverance that had come to them through
God. 37 - Then
they petitioned the king, asking for dismissal to their homes.
38 - So
their registration was carried out from the twenty-fifth of Pachon to
the fourth of Epeiph, for forty days; and their destruction was set
for the fifth to the seventh of Epeiph, the three days 39 - on
which the Lord of all most gloriously revealed his mercy and rescued
them all together and unharmed. 40 - Then
they feasted, provided with everything by the king, until the
fourteenth day, on which also they made the petition for their
dismissal. 41 - The
king granted their request at once and wrote the following letter for
them to the generals in the cities, magnanimously expressing his
concern: 3 Maccabees 7 1 - "King
Ptolemy Philopator to the generals in Egypt and all in authority in
his government, greetings and good health. 2 - We
ourselves and our children are faring well, the great God guiding our
affairs according to our desire. 3 - Certain
of our friends, frequently urging us with malicious intent, persuaded
us to gather together the Jews of the kingdom in a body and to punish
them with barbarous penalties as traitors; 4 - for they
declared that our government would never be firmly established until
this was accomplished, because of the ill-will which these people had
toward all nations. 5 - They
also led them out with harsh treatment as slaves, or rather as
traitors, and, girding themselves with a cruelty more savage than
that of Scythian custom, they tried without any inquiry or
examination to put them to death. 6 - But we
very severely threatened them for these acts, and in accordance with
the clemency which we have toward all men we barely spared their
lives. Since we have come to realize that the God of heaven surely
defends the Jews, always taking their part as a father does for his
children, 7 - and
since we have taken into account the friendly and firm goodwill which
they had toward us and our ancestors, we justly have acquitted them
of every charge of whatever kind. 8 - We also
have ordered each and every one to return to his own home, with no
one in any place doing them harm at all or reproaching them for the
irrational things that have happened. 9 - For you
should know that if we devise any evil against them or cause them any
grief at all, we always shall have not man but the Ruler over every
power, the Most High God, in everything and inescapably as an
antagonist to avenge such acts. Farewell." 10 - Upon
receiving this letter the Jews did not immediately hurry to make
their departure, but they requested of the king that at their own
hands those of the Jewish nation who had willfully transgressed
against the holy God and the law of God should receive the punishment
they deserved. 11 - For
they declared that those who for the belly's sake had transgressed
the divine commandments would never be favorably disposed toward the
king's government. 12 - The
king then, admitting and approving the truth of what they said,
granted them a general license so that freely and without royal
authority or supervision they might destroy those everywhere in his
kingdom who had transgressed the law of God. 13 - When
they had applauded him in fitting manner, their priests and the whole
multitude shouted the Hallelujah and joyfully departed. 14 - And so
on their way they punished and put to a public and shameful death any
whom they met of their fellow-countrymen who had become
defiled. 15 - In that
day they put to death more than three hundred men; and they kept the
day as a joyful festival, since they had destroyed the
profaners. 16 - But
those who had held fast to God even to death and had received the
full enjoyment of deliverance began their departure from the city,
crowned with all sorts of very fragrant flowers, joyfully and loudly
giving thanks to the one God of their fathers, the eternal Savior of
Israel, in words of praise and all kinds of melodious songs.
17 - When
they had arrived at Ptolemais, called "rose-bearing" because of a
characteristic of the place, the fleet waited for them, in accord
with the common desire, for seven days. 18 - There
they celebrated their deliverance, for the king had generously
provided all things to them for their journey, to each as far as his
own house. 19 - And
when they had landed in peace with appropriate thanksgiving, there
too in like manner they decided to observe these days as a joyous
festival during the time of their stay. 20 - Then,
after inscribing them as holy on a pillar and dedicating a place of
prayer at the site of the festival, they departed unharmed, free, and
overjoyed, since at the king's command they had been brought safely
by land and sea and river each to his own place. 21 - They
also possessed greater prestige among their enemies, being held in
honor and awe; and they were not subject at all to confiscation of
their belongings by any one. 22 - Besides
they all recovered all of their property, in accordance with the
registration, so that those who held any restored it to them with
extreme fear. So the supreme God perfectly performed great deeds for
their deliverance. 23 - Blessed
be the Deliverer of Israel through all times! Amen.
