The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 07
1 “King Ptolemy Philopator to the commanders
through out Egypt, and to all who
are set over affairs, joy and strength.
2 We, too, and our children are well. God
has directed our affairs as we wish.
3 Certain of our friends out of malice
vehemently urged us to punish the Jews of
our realm in a body, with the infliction of a
monstrous punishment.
4 They pretended that our affairs would
never be in a good state till this took place.
Such, they said, was the hatred borne by
the Jews to all other people.
5 They broughtthem fettered in grievous
chains as slaves, no, as traitors. Without
enquiry or examination they endeavored
to annihilate them. They buckled themselves
with a savage cruelty, worse than
Scythian custom.
6 For this cause we severely threatened
them; yet, with the clemency which we
usually extend to all men, we at length
permitted them to live. Finding that the
God of heaven cast a shield of protection
over the Jews so as to preserve them, and
that he fought for them as a father always
fights for his sons,
7 and taking into consideration their
constancy and fidelity toward us and
toward our ancestors, we have, as we ought,
acquitted them of every sort of charge.
8 We have dismissed them to their several
homes, telling all men everywhere to
do them no wrong, or unrighteously revile
them about the past.
9 For know this, that should we conceive
any evil design, or in any way aggrieve
them, we shall ever have as our adversary,
not man, but the highest God, the
ruler of all might. From Him there will be
no escape, as the avenger of such deeds.
Farewell.”
10 When they had received this letter,
they didn’t hurry to depart immediately.
They petitioned the king to be allowed to
inflict fitting punishment upon those of
their race who had willingly transgressed
the holy god, and the law of God.
11 They alleged that men who had for
their bellies’ sake transgressed the
ordinances of God, would never be faithful to
the interests of the king.
12 The king admitted the truth of this
reasoning, and commended them. Full
power was giventhem, without warrant or
special commission, to destroy those who
had transgressed the law of God boldly in
every part of the king’s dominions.
13 Their priests, then, as it was
appropriate, saluted him with
good wishes, and all the people echoed with the
“Hallelujah! Then they joyfully departed.
14 Then they punished and shamefully
destroyed every polluted Jew that fell in
their way,
15 slaying this way, in that day, more
than three hundred men, and esteeming
this destruction of the wicked
a season of joy.
16 They themselves having held closely
to their God to death, and having enjoyed
a full deliverance, departed from the city
garlanded with sweet-flowered wreaths
of every kind. Uttering exclamations of
joy, with songs of praise, and melodious
hymns, they thanked the God of their
fathers, the eternal Savior of Israel.
17 Having arrived at Ptolemais, called
from the specialty of that district
“Rosebearing”, where the fleet, in accordance
with the general wish, waited for them
seven days,
18 they partook of a banquet of
deliverance,for the king generously grantedthem
all the means of securing a return home.
19 They were accordingly brought back
in peace, while they gave utterance to
appropriate thanks; and they determined to
observe these days during their sojourn as
days of joyfulness.
20 These they registered as sacred upon
a pillar, when they had dedicated the place
of their festivity to be one of prayer. They
departed unharmed, free, abundant in joy,
preserved by the king’s command, by land,
by sea, and by river, each to his own home.
21 They had more weight than before
among their enemies, and were honored
and feared. No one in any way robbed
them of their goods.
22 Every man received back his own,
according to inventory, those who had
obtained their goods, giving them up with the
greatest terror. For the greatest God made
perfect wonders for their salvation.
23 Blessed be the Redeemer of Israel forever! Amen.