2 Maccabees 13
A Traitor Put to Death in Ashes
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Antiochus Eupator Comes with Lysias
13:1In the one hundred forty-ninth year, word reached Judas and his men that Antiochus Eupator had come against Judea with multitudes,
13:2and with him Lysias, his guardian and chief minister, each having a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand infantry, fifty-three hundred horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred scythe-bearing chariots.
The Death of Menelaus
13:3Menelaus also joined them and urged Antiochus on with much deceit, not for his homeland’s deliverance, but thinking that he would be restored to office.
13:4But the King of kings stirred Antiochus’s anger against the accursed man. When Lysias pointed out that he was the cause of all the evils, Antiochus ordered that he be taken to Beroea and destroyed according to the custom of that place.
13:5In that place there is a tower fifty cubits high, full of ashes. It had a revolving device with a sheer drop on every side into the ashes.
13:6There they all push to destruction anyone guilty of temple robbery or notorious for certain other evils.
13:7By such a fate the lawless Menelaus happened to die, receiving not even a place in the earth.
13:8And most justly: since he had committed many sins against the altar, whose fire and ashes were pure, he received his death in ashes.
Judas Orders the People to Pray
13:9The king, made barbarous in his intentions, was coming to show the Jews evils worse than those that had occurred in his father’s time.
13:10When Judas learned these things, he ordered the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, that if ever He had helped them before, He would help them now as they were about to be deprived of the law, homeland and holy temple,
13:11and would not permit the people, who had only just gained a little respite, to fall under the power of blasphemous nations.
13:12All did the same together and entreated the merciful Lord with weeping, fasts and prostration for three days without ceasing. Judas encouraged them and ordered them to assemble.
13:13Meeting privately with the elders, he resolved that before the king’s army entered Judea and gained control of the city, they should go out and decide matters with God’s help.
13:14Entrusting the outcome to the Creator of the world, he urged those with him to fight nobly to the death for laws, temple, city, homeland and civic life. He made his encampment near Modein.
13:15Giving his men “God’s victory” as the watchword, he attacked the royal quarters in the camp by night with selected young men of the finest quality. He killed about two thousand men and stabbed the leading elephant together with the man in its tower.
13:16Finally they filled the camp with dread and confusion and departed successfully.
13:17This had taken place just as day was dawning, because of the Lord’s protection that helped him.
The King Turns to Beth-zur
13:18The king, having tasted the Jews’ boldness, tried to take the places by stratagem.
13:19He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews; he was routed, repulsed and defeated.
13:20Judas sent necessary supplies to those inside.
13:21Rhodocus, one of the Jewish ranks, disclosed the secrets to the enemy. He was sought out, caught and imprisoned.
13:22The king negotiated a second time with those in Beth-zur, gave a pledge, received one, and went away. He attacked Judas’s men and was defeated.
The Peace Made at Ptolemais
13:23He learned that Philip, whom he had left in charge of affairs in Antioch, had lost his senses. Disturbed, he appealed to the Jews, submitted and swore to all just conditions. He made a settlement, offered sacrifice, honored the temple, and treated the place kindly.
13:24He warmly received Maccabeus and left Hegemonides as governor from Ptolemais to the territory of the Gerrhenes.
13:25He came to Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais were distressed about the agreements, for they were so indignant that they wished to annul the provisions.
13:26Lysias went up to the platform, offered such a defense as was possible, persuaded them, calmed them, won their goodwill, and departed for Antioch. Thus unfolded the events of the king’s expedition and withdrawal.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.