1 Maccabees 4

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2 para surpreender o acampamento dos judeus e atacá-lo de improviso. A gente da fortaleza servia-lhe de guia.

3 Mas Judas o soube e com seus destemidos companheiros saiu para esmagar aquelas forças do rei que tinham ficado perto de Emaús,

4 enquanto as tropas estavam espalhadas na planície.

5 Chegou Górgias à noite ao acampamento de Judas, mas não encontrou ninguém. Pôs-se então à sua procura nas montanhas, dizendo: "Fugiram diante de nós".

6 Todavia, Judas apareceu na planície ao despertar do dia com três mil homens que, excetuando espadas e escudos, não estavam armados como o teriam querido.

7 Entrementes viram eles o campo dos gentios, poderoso, fortificado de cavalaria e os próprios inimigos prontos para o combate.

8 "Não temais seu grande número – disse Judas a seus companheiros – e não temais seu choque.

9 Lembrai-vos como nossos pais foram salvos no mar Vermelho, quando o faraó os perseguia com seu exército.

10 Gritemos agora para o céu para que ele se apiede de nós, que se lembre da Aliança com nossos antepassados e queira hoje esmagar esse exército aos nossos olhos.

11 Todas as nações saberão que Israel possui um libertador e um salvador."

12 Erguendo os olhos, os gentios viram-nos avançar contra eles,

13 e saíram do acampamento para a luta, enquanto os homens de Judas soavam as trombetas.

14 Travou-se a batalha, mas os inimigos, derrotados, puseram-se em fuga através da planície.

15 Os últimos tombaram todos sob a espada, enquanto eram perseguidos até Gazara e as planícies de Idumeia, de Azoto e de Jâmnia. E sucumbiram cerca de três mil homens.

16 Então, Judas parou de persegui-los, voltou atrás com suas tropas pelo mesmo caminho,

17 e disse: "Não penseis nos despojos, porque outro combate nos aguarda.

18 Górgias está perto de nós nas montanhas, com suas forças. No momento, enfrentai os inimigos e combatei. Depois, podereis apoderar-vos de seus despojos, com toda tranquilidade".

19 Ainda Judas falava, quando alguns homens apareceram e olharam do alto da montanha.

20 Viram que o exército tinha sido posto em fuga e que o acampamento se queimava porque a fumaça que se percebia indicava o que tinha acontecido.

21 À vista disso, todos foram tomados de grande espanto e, certificando-se de que o exército de Judas se achava na planície, pronto para o combate,

22 fugiram todos para a terra estrangeira.

23 Judas voltou para saquear o acampamento, e seus homens apoderaram-se de muito ouro, prata, jacinto, púrpura marinha e grandes riquezas.

24 Ao voltarem, cantavam hinos e elevavam ao céu os louvores ao Senhor, exclamando: "Ele é bom e sua misericórdia é eterna".

25 Naquele dia foi grande a vitória que se alcançou em Israel.

26 Os gentios que escaparam vieram contar a Lísias o acontecido.

27 Ele ficou consternado e abatido ouvindo-os, porque Israel não tinha sido tratado como ele quis, e porque as ordens do rei não tinham sido cumpridas.

28 Por isso, no ano seguinte, reuniu Lísias sessenta mil infantes escolhidos e cinco mil cavaleiros para lutar contra os judeus.

29 Esse exército veio da Idumeia acampar em Betsur. Judas foi-lhe ao encontro com dez mil homens.

30 Tendo ante os olhos esse poderoso exército, rezou nestes termos: "Sede bendito, Salvador de Israel, vós que quebras­tes a força do gigante pela mão do vosso servo Davi e entregastes os exércitos estrangeiros às mãos de Jônatas e do seu escudeiro.

31 Entregai esse exército ao poder do povo de Israel e confundi nossos inimigos com suas tropas e sua cavalaria.

32 Inspirai-lhes o terror, fazei derreter seu orgulho audaz. Que eles sejam sacudidos e pisados.

33 Derrubai-os pela espada dos que vos amam e que todos aqueles que conhecem vosso nome cantem vossos louvores".

34 Travou-se então o combate, e do exér­cito de Lísias tombaram cinco mil homens, que sucumbiram diante deles.

35 Vendo seu exército posto em fuga e os judeus cheios de bravura, prontos a viver ou a morrer valentemente, voltou Lísias a Antioquia para arregimentar tropas de mercenários, com o intuito de reaparecer na Judeia com um exército mais forte.

36 Judas e seus irmãos disseram então: "Eis que nossos inimigos estão aniquilados. Subamos agora para purificar e consagrar de novo os lugares santos".

37 Reunido todo o exército, subiram ao monte Sião.

38 Contemplaram a desolação dos lugares santos, o altar profanado, as portas queimadas, os átrios cheios de arbustos que tinham nascido como num bosque ou sobre as colinas, os aposentos demolidos.

39 Rasgando suas vestes, eles se lamentaram muito e cobriram as cabeças com cinza.

40 Prostraram-se com o rosto por terra, tocaram as trombetas e ergueram clamores ao céu.

41 Então, Judas encarregou alguns homens para combater os soldados da fortaleza, enquanto purificavam o templo.

42 Escolheu sacerdotes sem mancha e zelosos da Lei,

43 os quais purificaram o templo, transportando para lugar impuro as pedras contaminadas.

44 Consultaram-se entre si, o que se deveria fazer com o altar dos holocaustos, que havia sido profanado.

45 Tomaram a excelente ideia de demoli-lo, para que não recaísse sobre eles o opróbrio vindo da mancha dos gentios. Destruíram-no, portanto,

46 e transportaram suas pedras a um lugar conveniente sobre a montanha do templo, aguardando a decisão de algum profeta a esse respeito.

47 Tomaram pedras não-talhadas, segundo a Lei, e construíram um novo altar, semelhante ao primeiro.

48 Restauraram o santuário, assim como o interior do templo, e purificaram os átrios.

49 Fizeram novos vasos sagrados e transportaram ao santuá­rio o candelabro, o altar dos perfumes e a mesa.

50 Queimaram incenso sobre o altar e acenderam as lâmpadas do candelabro, que voltaram a brilhar no interior do templo.

51 Colocaram pães sobre a mesa e suspenderam os véus, terminando completamente seu trabalho.

52 No dia vinte e cinco do nono mês, isto é, do mês de Casleu, do ano cento e quarenta e oito, eles se levantaram muito cedo

53 e ofereceram um sacrifício conforme a Lei, sobre o novo altar dos holocaustos, que haviam construído.

54 Foi no mesmo dia e na mesma data em que os gentios o haviam profanado, que o altar foi de novo consagrado ao som de cânticos, das harpas, das liras e dos címbalos.

55 Todo o povo se prostrou com o rosto em terra para adorar e bendizer ao céu aquele que os havia conduzido ao triunfo.

56 Prolongaram por oito dias a dedicação do altar, oferecendo com alegria holocaustos e sacrifícios de ação de graças e de louvor.

57 Adornaram a fachada do templo com coroas de ouro e pequenos escudos. Consagraram as entradas do templo e os quartos, nos quais colocaram portas.

58 Reinou uma alegria imensa entre o povo e o opróbrio das nações foi afastado.

59 Foi estabelecido por Judas e seus irmãos, e por toda a assembleia de Israel que os dias da dedicação do altar seriam celebrados cada ano em sua data própria, durante oito dias, a partir do dia vinte e cinco do mês de Casleu, e isto com alegria e regozijo.

60 Na mesma época, cercaram o monte Sião com uma alta muralha com fortes torres, para que não fosse mais possível às nações pisá-la aos pés, como outrora.

61 Judas pôs ali tropas para guardá-la e fortificou também Betsur para protegê-la, a fim de que o povo tivesse uma muralha na direção da Idumeia.

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*4:15 Gr. Gazera. 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 that their 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*4:22 Gr. foreigners. 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*4:30 Gr. foreigners. 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 of their 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, *4:40 Compare Numbers 31:6. blew with the solemn trumpets,*4:40 Gr. trumpets of signals. 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 carried the defiled stones out to an unclean 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 lit the 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*4:52 circa B.C. 165. 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.