King James Version · Under the Greeks
2 Maccabees 11
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1Not long after the, the king’s protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done. 2And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the , thinking to make the city an habitation of the , 3And to make a gain of , as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: 4Not at all considering the of but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants. 5So he came to , and drew near to , which was a strong town, but distant from about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it. 6Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with and tears besought that he would send a good to Israel. 7Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing . 8And as they were at , there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold. 9Then they praised the merciful all together, and took , insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel , and to pierce through walls of iron. 10Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from : for was merciful unto them 11And giving a charge upon their like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight. 12Many of them also being wounded escaped ; and himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped. 13Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the could not be overcome, because helped them, he sent unto them, 14And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them. 15Then Maccabeus consented to all that , being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto concerning the , the king granted it. 16For there were letters written unto the from to this effect: unto the people of the sendeth greeting: 17 and Absolom, who were sent from you, me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof. 18Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be. 19And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good. 20But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you. 21Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius. 22Now the king’s letter contained these words: King unto his brother sendeth greeting: 23Since is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs. 24We understand also that the would not consent to , for to be brought unto the custom of the , but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws. 25Wherefore our is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers. 26Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our , they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs. 27And the letter of the king unto the nation of the was after this manner: King sendeth greeting unto , and the rest of the : 28If ye fare well, we have our ; we are also in good health. 29 declared unto us, that your was to return home, and to follow your own business: 30Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security. 31And the shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done. 32I have sent also , that he may comfort you. 33Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus. 34The also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and Manlius, ambassadors of the , send greeting unto the people of the . 35Whatsoever the king’s cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased. 36But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to . 37Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is . 38Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under the Greeks, 332 BC to 63 BC ›
Alexander's conquest and the kingdoms of his successors. Greek language and custom press in everywhere, and the crisis under Antiochus IV provokes the Maccabean revolt.
- The successors
- Alexander dies at thirty-two and his generals carve up the empire. Judea sits on the border between the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria, and is fought over by both for a century and a half, which is the ordinary condition of the corridor.
- Hellenism
- Not just conquest but a culture: the gymnasium, the theatre, Greek names, Greek dress, Greek as the language of anyone with ambitions. Some Jews embraced it, some resisted it, and the argument between them is the real subject of the Maccabean books. In Alexandria the Hebrew scriptures are translated into Greek, producing the Septuagint, which is the Bible most New Testament writers quote.
- The crisis
- Antiochus IV bans the practice of Judaism, plunders the temple, and sets up a pagan altar in it in 167 BC. The revolt under the Maccabees wins, the temple is rededicated in 164 BC, which is the origin of Hanukkah, and Judea has about eighty years of independence under the Hasmoneans before Rome arrives.
- Further afield
- Rome fights Carthage three times and ends up master of the Mediterranean. Euclid writes the Elements and Archimedes does his work at Syracuse. In China the Qin unify the country in 221 BC and the Han follow, opening what becomes the Silk Road.