King James Version · Under the Greeks
2 Maccabees 3
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1Now when the city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws were kept very well, because of the godliness of the , and his hatred of wickedness, 2It came to pass that even the kings themselves did the place, and magnify with their best gifts; 3Insomuch that of of his own revenues all the costs belonging to the of the . 4But one of the tribe of , who was made governor of , fell out with the about disorder in the city. 5And when he could not overcome , he gat him to the son of Thraseas, who then was governor of and , 6And told him that the in was full of infinite sums of money, so that of their riches, which did not pertain to the account of the , was innumerable, and that it was possible to bring all into the king’s hand. 7Now when came to the king, and had shewed him of the money whereof he was told, the king chose out his treasurer, and sent him with a to bring him the foresaid money. 8So forthwith took his journey; under a colour of visiting the cities of and , but indeed to fulfil the king’s purpose. 9And when he was come to , and had been courteously received of the of the city, he told him what intelligence was given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if these things were so indeed. 10Then the told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of and children: 11And that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of , a man of great dignity, and not as that had misinformed: the sum whereof in all was four hundred of silver, and two hundred of gold: 12And that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be done unto them, that had committed it to the of the place, and to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of , honoured over all the world. 13But , because of the king’s given him, said, That in any it must be brought into the king’s . 14So at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this matter: wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city. 15But the priests, prostrating themselves before the in their priests’ vestments, called unto upon him that made a law concerning things given to he kept, that they should safely be preserved for such as had committed them to be kept. 16Then whoso had looked the in the , it would have wounded : for his countenance and the changing of his colour declared the inward agony of his . 17For the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body, that it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what sorrow he had now in . 18Others ran flocking out of their houses to the general , because the place was like to come into contempt. 19And the women, girt with under their breasts, abounded in the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran, some to the , and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows. 20And all, holding their hands toward , made . 21Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of of all sorts, and the fear of the being in such an agony. 22They then called upon to keep the things committed of safe and sure for those that had committed them. 23Nevertheless executed that which was decreed. 24Now as he was there present himself with his guard about the , of spirits, and the Prince of all , caused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the of , and fainted, and were sore afraid. 25For there appeared unto them an horse with a terrible rider upon him, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran fiercely, and smote at with his forefeet, and it seemed that he that sat upon the horse had complete harness of gold. 26Moreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in strength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood by him on either side; and scourged him continually, and gave him many sore stripes. 27And fell suddenly unto the ground, and was compassed with great : but they that were with him took him up, and put him into a litter. 28Thus him, that lately came with a great train and with all his guard into the said , they carried out, being unable to help himself with his weapons: and manifestly they acknowledged the of . 29For he by the hand of was cast down, and lay speechless without all of life. 30But they praised , that had miraculously honoured his own place: for ; which a little afore was full of fear and trouble, when appeared, was filled with joy and gladness. 31Then straightways certain of ’ friends , that he would call upon to grant him his life, who lay ready to give up the ghost. 32So the , suspecting lest the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to by the , offered a for the health of the man. 33Now as the was making an atonement, the same young men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside , saying, Give the great thanks, insomuch as for his sake hath granted thee life: 34And seeing that thou hast been scourged from , declare unto all men the mighty of . And when they had spoken these words, they appeared no more. 35So , after he had offered unto , and made great unto him that had his life, and saluted , returned with his host to the king. 36Then testified he to all men the works of the great , which he had seen with his eyes. 37And when the king , who might be a fit man to be sent yet once again to , he said, 38If thou hast any enemy or traitor, send him thither, and thou shalt receive him well scourged, if he escape with his life: for in that place, no doubt; there is an especial of . 39For he that dwelleth in hath his eye on that place, and defendeth it; and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it. 40And the things concerning , and the keeping of the , fell out on this sort.
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.