1 Maccabees 12

1 And they recovered the law out of the hands of the nations, and out of the hands of the kings: and they yielded not the horn to the sinner. 2 Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: 3 Now, therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 4 And call to remembrance the works of the fathers, which they have done in their generations: and you shall receive great glory, and an everlasting name. 5 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed to him unto justice? 6 Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the commandment, and he was made lord of Egypt. 7 Phinees, our father, by being fervent in the zeal of God, received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 8 Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler in Israel. 9 Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation, received an inheritance. 10 David, by his mercy, obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdom. 11 Elias, while he is full of zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven. 12 Ananias and Azarias and Misael, by believing, were delivered out of the flame. 13 Daniel, in his innocency, was delivered out of the mouth of the lions. 14 And thus consider, through all generations: that none that trust in him, fail in strength. 15 And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung and worms: 16 Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his earth and his thought is come to nothing. 17 You, therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave manfully in the law: for by it you shall be glorious. 18 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: give ear to him always, and he shall be a father to you. 19 And Judas Machabeus, who is valiant and strong from his youth up, let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the people. 20 And you shall take to you all that observe the law: and revenge ye the wrong of your people. 21 Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to the precepts of the law. 22 And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers. 23 And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and he was buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers, in Modin, and all Israel mourned for him with great mourning. 25 Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his stead. 26 And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had joined themselves to his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel. 27 And he got his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armour about him in battles, and protected the camp with his sword. 28 In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion’s whelp roaring for his prey. 29 And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and them that troubled his people he burnt with fire: 30 And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation prospered in his hand. 31 And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with his works, and his memory is blessed for ever. 32 And he went through the cities of Juda, and destroyed the wicked out of them, and turned away wrath from Israel. 33 And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the earth, and he gathered them that were perishing. 34 And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a numerous and great army from Samaria, to make war against Israel. 35 And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him: and he overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell down slain, and the rest fled away. 36 And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and fought with it all his lifetime. 37 And Seron, captain of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had assembled a company of the faithful, and a congregation with him, 38 And he said I will get me a name, and will be glorified in the kingdom, and will overthrow Judas, and those that are with him, that have despised the edict of the king. 39 And he made himself ready; and the host of the wicked went up with him, strong succours, to be revenged of the children of Israel. 40 And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and Judas went forth to meet him, with a small company. 41 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to fight against so great a multitude, and so strong, and we are ready to faint with fasting today? 42 And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: 43 For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but strength cometh from heaven. 44 They come against us with an insolent multitude, and with pride, to destroy us, and our wives, and our children, and to take our spoils. 45 But we will fight for our lives, and our laws: 46 And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face, but as for you, fear them not 47 And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, he rushed suddenly upon them: and Seron, and his host were overthrown before him: 48 And he pursued him by the descent of Bethoron, even to the plain, and there fell of them eight hundred men, and the rest fled into the land of the Philistines. 49 And the fear of Judas, and of his brethren, and the dread of them, fell upon all the nations round about them. 50 And his fame came to the king, and all nations told of the battles of Judas. 51 Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was angry in his mind: and he sent, and gathered the forces of all his kingdom, an exceeding strong army. 52 And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the army for a year: and he commanded them, that they should be ready for all things. 53 And he perceived that the money of his treasures failed, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension, and the evil that he had brought upon the land, that he might take away the laws of old times: