The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 04
1 Gorgias took five thousand infantry, a
thousand chosen cavalry, and the army
moved out at night,
2 that it might fall upon the army of the
Jews and strike them suddenly. The men
of the citadel were his guides.
3 Judas heard of this, and he and the
valiant men moved, that he might strike
the king’s army which was at Emmaus
4 while the forces were still dispersed
from the camp.
5 Gorgias came into the camp of Judas at
night and found no man. He sought them
in the mountains; for he said, “These men
are running away from us.”
6 As soon as it was day, Judas appeared
in the plain with three thousand men.
However they didn’t have the armor and
swords they desired.
7 They saw the camp of the Gentiles
strong and fortified, with cavalry all
around it; and these were expert in war.
8 Judas said to the men who were with
him, “Don’t be afraid of their numbers, or
when they charge.
9 Remember how our fathers
were saved in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued
them with an army.
10 Now let’s cry to heaven, if he will have
us, and will remember the covenant of our
fathers, and destroy this army before our
face today.
11 Then all the Gentiles will know that
there is one who redeems and saves Israel.
12 The foreigners lifted up their eyes, and
saw them coming near them.
13 They went out of the camp to battle.
Those who were with Judas sounded their
trumpets
14 and joined battle. The Gentiles were
defeated, and fled into the plain.
15 But all those in the rear fell by the
sword. They pursued them to† Gazara,
and to the plains of Idumaea, Azotus, and
Jamnia. About three thousand of those
men fell.
16 Then Judas and his army returned
from pursuing them;
17 and he said to the people, “Don’t be
greedy for the spoils, because there is a
battle before us.
18 Gorgias and his army are near us on
the mountain. But stand now against our
enemies and fight against them, and afterwards
take the spoils with boldness.”
19 While Judas was finishing this speech,
a part of them appeared looking out from
the mountain.
20 They saw thattheir army had been put
to flight, and that the Jews were burning
the camp; for the smoke that was seen
declared what was done.
21 But when they perceived these things,
they were very afraid. Perceiving also the
army of Judas in the plain ready for battle,
22 they all fled into the land of the‡
Philistines.
23 Judas returned to plunder the camp,
and they took much gold, silver, blue, sea
purple, and great riches.
24 Then they returned home, and sang a
song of thanksgiving, and gave praise to
heaven, because he is good, because his
mercy endures forever.
25 Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26 The foreigners who had escaped came
and told Lysias all the things that had happened.
27 When he heard of it, he was confounded and
discouraged, because the things he desired
had not been done to Israel, nor had such
things happened as the king commanded him.
28 In the next year, he gathered together
sixty thousand chosen infantry and five
thousand cavalry, that he might subdue them.
29 They came into Idumaea and encamped at Bethsura.
Judas met them with ten thousand men.
30 He saw that the army was strong, and
he prayed and said, “Blessed are you, O
Savior of Israel, who defeated the attack
of the mighty warrior by the hand of your
servant David, and delivered the army of
the§ Philistines into the hands of Jonathan
the son of Saul, and of his armor bearer.
31 Hem in this army in the hand of your
people Israel, and let them be ashamed for
their army and their cavalry.
32 Give them faintness of heart. Cause
the boldness oftheir strength to melt away,
and let them quake at their destruction.
33 Strike them down with the sword of
those who love you, and let all who know
your name praise you with thanksgiving.
34 They joined in battle; and about five
thousand men of Lysias’ army fell. They
fell down near them.
35 But when Lysias saw that his troops
were put to flight, and the boldness that
had come upon those who were with Judas,
and how they were ready either to live
or to die nobly, he withdrew to Antioch,
and gathered together hired soldiers, that
he might come again into Judea with an
even greater army.
36 But Judas and his kindred said, “Behold,
our enemies are defeated. Let’s go up
to cleanse the holy place and to rededicate it.
37 All the army was gathered together,
and they went up to mount Zion.
38 They saw the sanctuary laid desolate,
the altar profaned, the gates burned up, shrubs
growing in the courts as in a forest
or as on one of the mountains, and the
priests’ chambers pulled down;
39 and they tore their clothes, made great
lamentation, put ashes upon their heads,
40 fell on their faces to the ground, †
blew with the solemn trumpets,‡ and cried
toward heaven.
41 Then Judas appointed certain men to
fight against those who were in the citadel
until he had cleansed the holy place.
42 He chose blameless priests who were
devoted to the law;
43 and they cleansed the holy place and
carriedthedefiledstones outto anunclean
place.
44 They deliberated what to do with the
altar of burnt offerings, which had been
profaned.
45 A good plan came into their mind, that
they should pull it down, lest it would be
a reproach to them, because the Gentiles
had defiled it. So they pulled down the altar
46 and laid up the stones on the temple
hill in a convenient place, until a prophet
would come to give an answer concerning them.
47 They took whole stones according to
the law, and built a new altar like the
former.
48 They built the holy place and the inner
parts of the house; and they consecrated
the courts.
49 They made new holy vessels, and they
brought the lampstand, the altar of incense,
and the table into the temple.
50 They burned incense on the altar, and
they litthe lamps that were upon the lampstand,
and they gave light in the temple.
51 They set loaves upon the table, hung
up the curtains, and finished all the work
which they had done.
52 They rose up early in the morning, on
the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
which is the month Chislev, in§ the one
hundred forty eighth year,
53 and offered sacrifice according to the
law on the new altar of burnt offerings
which they had made.
54 At the time and day the Gentiles had
profaned it, even then it was dedicated
with songs, harps, lutes, and with cymbals.
55 All the people fell on their faces,
worshiped, and gave praise toward heaven,
which had given them good success.
56 They celebrated the dedication of the
altar eight days, and offered burnt offerings
with gladness, and sacrificed a sacrifice of
deliverance and praise.
57 They decorated the front of the temple with
crowns of gold and small shields.
They dedicated the gates and the priests’
chambers, and made doors for them.
58 There was exceedingly great gladness
among the people, and the reproach of the
Gentiles was turned away.
59 Judas and his kindred and the whole
congregation of Israel ordained that the
days of the dedication of the altar should
be kept in their seasons from year to year
for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of
the month Chislev, with gladness and joy.
60 At that time, they fortified mount Zion
with high walls and strong towers around
it, lest perhaps the Gentiles might come
and trample them down, as they had done
before.
61 Judas stationed a garrison to guard
it. They fortified Bethsura to keep it, that
the people might have a stronghold near
Idumaea.