The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 05
1 Then he called Hermon, who had
charge of the elephants. Full of
rage, altogether fixed in his furious design,
2 he commanded him, with a quantity
of unmixed wine with handfuls of incense
infused, to drug the elephants early on
the following day. These five hundred
elephants were, when infuriated by the
copious drinks of frankincense, to be led
up to the execution of death upon the Jews.
3 The king, after issuing these orders,
wentto his feasting, and gathered together
allthose of his friends and ofthe army who
hated the Jews the most.
4 The master of the elephants, Hermon,
ful filled his commission punctually.
5 The servants appointed for the purpose
went out about evening and bound
the hands of the miserable victims, and
took other precautions for their security at
night, thinking that the whole race would
perish together.
6 The heathen believed the Jews to
be destitute of all protection, for chains
bound them.
7 They invoked the Almighty Lord, and
ceaselessly implored with tears their
merciful God and Father, Ruler of all, Lord of
every power,
8 to overthrow the evil purpose which
had gone out against them, and to deliver
them by extraordinary manifestation
from that death which was in store for them.
9 Their earnest entreaty went up to heaven.
10 Then Hermon, who had filled his merciless
elephants with copious drinks of
mixed wine and frankincense, came early
to the palace to report on these preparations.
11 He, however, who has sent his good
creature sleep from all time by night or
by day thus gratifying whom he wills,
diffused a portion of it now upon the king.
12 By this sweet and profound influence
of the Lord, he was held fast, and thus his
unjust purpose was quite frustrated, and
his unflinching resolve greatly falsified.
13 But the Jews, having escaped the hour
which had been fixed, praised their holy
God, and again prayed him who is easily
reconciled to display the power of his
powerful hand to the arrogant Gentiles.
14 The middle of the tenth hour had
nearly arrived, when the person who sent
invitations, seeing the guests who were
invited present, came and shook the king.
15 He gained his attention with difficulty,
and hinting that the mealtime was getting
past, talked the matter over with him.
16 The king listened to this, and then
turning aside to his drinking, commanded
the guests to sit down before him.
17 This done, he asked them to enjoy
themselves, and to indulge in mirth at this
somewhat late hour of the banquet.
18 Conversation grew on, and the king
sent for Hermon, and inquired of him,
with fierce denunciations, why the Jews
had been allowed to outlive that day.
19 Hermon explained that he had done
his bidding over night; and in this he was
confirmed by his friends.
20 The king, then, with a barbarity exceeding
that of Phalaris, said, “They might
thank his sleep of that day. Lose no time,
and get ready the elephants againsttomorrow,
as you did before, for the destruction
of these accursed Jews.”
21 When the king said this, the company
present were glad, and approved. Then
each man went to his own home.
22 They didn’t employ the night in sleep,
but in contriving cruel mockeries for those
deemed miserable.
23 The morning cock had just crowed,
and Hermon, having harnessed the brutes,
was stimulating them in the great colonnade.
24 The city crowds were collected
together to see the hideous spectacle, and
waited impatiently for the dawn.
25 The Jews, breathless with momentary
suspense, stretched out their hands
and prayed the Greatest God, in mournful
strains, again to help them speedily.
26 The sun’s rays were not yet shining
and the king was waiting for his friends
when Hermon came to him, calling him
out, and saying that his desires could now
be realized.
27 The king, receiving him, was astonished
at his unusual invitation. Overwhelmed
with a spirit of oblivion about
everything, inquired about the object of
this earnest preparation.
28 But this was the working of that
Almighty God who had made him forget all
his purpose.
29 He rmonandall his friends pointedout
the preparation of the animals. They are
ready, O king, according to your own strict
injunction.
30 The king was filled with fierce anger
at these words, for, by the Providence of
God regarding these things, his mind had
become entirely confused. He looked hard
at Hermon, and threatened him as follows:
31 “Your parents, or your children, were
they here, would have given a large meal
to these wild animals, not these innocent
Jews, who have loyally served me and my
forefathers.
32 Had it not been for familiar friendship,
and the claims of your office, your life
should have gone for theirs.”
33 Hermon, being threatened in this
unexpected and alarming manner, was
troubled in his eyes, and his face fell.
34 The friends, too, stole out one by one,
and dismissed the assembled multitudes
to their respective occupations.
35 The Jews, having heard of these
events, praised the glorious God and King
of kings, because they had obtained this
help, too, from him.
36 Now the king arranged another banquet
in the same way, and proclaimed an
invitation to mirth.
37 He summoned Hermon to his presence,
and said, with threats, “How often,
O wretch, must I repeat my orders to you
about these same persons?
38 Once more, arm the elephants for the
extermination of the Jews tomorrow!”
39 His kinsmen, who were reclining with
him, wondered at his instability, and thus
expressed themselves:
40 “O king, how long do you test us, as of
menbereft of reason? This is the third time
that you have ordered their destruction.
When the thing is to be done, you change
your mind, and recall your instructions.
41 Because of this, the feeling of expectation
causes tumult in the city. It swarms
with factions, and is continually on the
point of being plundered.”
42 The king, just like another Phalaris, a
prey to thoughtlessness, made no account
of the changes which his own mind had
undergone, issuing in the deliverance of
the Jews. He swore a fruitless oath, and
determined immediately to send them to
hades, crushed by the knees and feet ofthe
elephants.
43 He would also invade Judea, level its
towns withfire and the sword, destroy that
temple which the heathen might not enter,
and prevent sacrifices ever after
being offered up there.
44 Joyfully his friends broke up, together
with his kinsmen; and, trusting in his
determination, arranged their forces in
guard at the most convenient places of the
city.
45 The master of the elephants urged
the animals into an almost maniacal state,
drenched them with incense and wine,
and decked them with frightful devices.
46 About early morning, when the city
was filled with an immense number of
people at the hippodrome, he entered the
palace and called the king to the business
in hand.
47 The king’s heart teemed with impious
rage; and he rushed forth with the mass,
along with the elephants. With unsoftened
feelings and pitiless eyes, he longed to gaze
at the hard and wretched doom of the
previously mentioned Jews.
48 But the Jews, when the elephants went
out at the gate, followed by the armed
force. When they saw the dust raised by
the throng, and heard the loud cries of the
crowd,
49 thought that they had come to the
last moment of their lives, to the end of
what they had tremblingly expected. They
gave way, therefore, to lamentations and
moans. They kissed each other. Those
nearest of kin to each other hung around
one another’snecks—fathers hugging their
sons and mothers their daughters. Other
women held their infants to their breasts,
which drew what seemed their last milk.
50 Nevertheless, when they reflected
upon the help previously granted them
from heaven, they prostrated themselves
with one accord, removed even the
sucking children from the breasts, and
51 sent up an exceedingly great cry
asking the Lord of all power to reveal himself,
and have mercy upon those who now lay
at the gates of hades.