King James Version · Under the Greeks
2 Maccabees 14
Touch any underlined name to see who or where it is.
1After three years was informed, that the son of , having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great and navy, 2Had taken the country, and killed , and his protector. 3Now one , who had been , and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the , seeing that by no means he could himself, nor have any more access to the , 4Came to king in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in : and so that day he held his peace. 5Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprize, and being called into by , and asked how the stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto: 6Those of the that he called , whose captain is , nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the rest be in peace. 7Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors’ , I mean the high priesthood, am now come hither: 8First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforesaid. 9Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all. 10For as long as liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet. 11This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king’s friends, being maliciously set against , did more . 12And forthwith calling , who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over , he sent him forth, 13Commanding him to , and to scatter them that were with him, and to make of the great temple. 14Then the heathen, that had fled out of from , came to by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the to be their welfare. 15Now when the heard of ’s coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his with manifestation of his . 16So at the of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau. 17Now , ’ brother, had joined battle with , but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his . 18Nevertheless , hearing of the manliness of them that were with , and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter . 19Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and , to make peace. 20So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain had made acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one , they consented to the , 21And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them, 22Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the : so they made a peaceable conference. 23Now abode in , and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him. 24And he would not willingly have out of his sight: for he love the man from 25He him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life. 26But , perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the that were made, came to , and told him that was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained , a traitor to his realm, to be the king’s successor. 27Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most man, wrote to , signifying that he was much displeased with the , and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto . 28When this came to ’s hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault. 29But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy. 30Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not of his men, and withdrew himself from . 31But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by ’ policy, came into the great and temple, and commanded the priests, that were their usual , to him the man. 32And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought, 33He stretched out his toward , and made an in this manner: If ye will not me as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of even with the ground, and I will break down the , and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus. 34After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward , and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner; 35Thou, O of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that of thine habitation should be among us: 36Therefore now, O of all , keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous . 37Now was there accused unto one Razis, one of the of , a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a of the . 38For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the , he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the . 39So , willing to declare the hate that he unto the , sent above five hundred men of war to take him: 40For he thought by taking him to do the much hurt. 41Now when would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his ; 42Choosing rather to manfully, than to come into the hands of , to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth: 43But missing his stroke through haste, also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them. 44But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place. 45Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with , he rose up; and though his gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep , 46When as his was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon of life and to restore him those again, he thus .
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.