1 Maccabees 6

1 Enquanto percorria as províncias superiores, soube o rei Antíoco que na Pérsia, em Elimaida, havia uma cidade famosa por suas riquezas, sua prata e seu ouro.

2 Seu templo, extremamente rico, possuía véus de ouro, escudos, couraças e armas, abandonados ali por Alexandre, filho de Filipe, rei da Macedônia, que foi o primeiro a reinar sobre a Grécia.

3 Dirigiu-se ele para essa cidade, com a finalidade de tomá-la e pilhá-la, mas foi em vão, porque os habitantes haviam sido prevenidos.

4 Eles se aprontaram para lhe resistir e ele teve que voltar de lá, para alcançar Babilônia com grande humilhação.

5 E eis que, na Pérsia, um mensageiro veio dizer-lhe que as tropas enviadas à Judeia tinham sido derrotadas,

6 e que Lísias, tendo partido a princípio com um poderoso exército, havia fugido na presença dos judeus, os quais haviam aumentado ainda suas forças com armas e tropas e se tinham enriquecido com todo o material raptado de seus campos devastados.

7 Eles tinham também destruído a Abominação edificada por ele sobre o altar, em Jerusalém, e haviam cercado o templo com altas muralhas, como outrora, assim como a cidade de Betsur.

8 Ouvindo essas novas, o rei ficou irado e profundamente perturbado. Atirou-se à cama e caiu doente de tristeza, porque os acontecimentos não tinham cor­respondido à sua expectativa.

9 Passou assim muitos dias, porque sua mágoa se renovava sem cessar e pensava na morte.

10 Mandou chamar todos os seus amigos e lhes disse: "O sono fugiu de meus olhos e meu coração desfalece de tristeza.

11 Eu repito para mim mesmo: Em que aflição fui eu cair e a que desolação fui eu reduzido até o presente! Eu, que era bom e querido no tempo de meu poder!

12 Mas agora me lembro dos males que causei em Jerusalém, de todos os objetos de ouro e de prata que saqueei, e de todos os habitantes de Judá que exterminei sem motivo.

13 Reconheço que foi por causa disso que todos esses males me fulminaram, e agora morro de tristeza numa terra estrangeira".

14 Chamou Filipe, um de seus amigos, e constituiu-o regente de todo o reino.

15 Entregou-lhe seu diadema, seu manto e seu anel, com a responsabilidade de guiar seu filho Antíoco e de educá-lo para sua realeza.

16 O rei Antíoco morreu ali, no ano cento e quarenta e nove.

17 Por sua vez, apenas soube Lísias que o rei tinha morrido, elevou ao trono seu filho Antíoco, a quem havia educado desde a infância, e deu-lhe o nome de Eupátor.

18 Nesse ínterim, os ocupantes da fortaleza importunavam os judeus que se dirigiam ao templo, procuravam constantemente causar-lhes dano, para apoiar os gentios.

19 Judas resolveu arrancar-lhes das mãos a fortaleza e convocou todo o povo para sitiá-los.

20 Reuniram-se, portanto, para começar o cerco no ano cento e cinquenta, e construíram balistas e máquinas de guerra.

21 Mas alguns dos sitiados, aos quais se juntaram alguns israelitas perversos, fugiram

22 e correram ao rei para lhe dizer: "Até quando deixarás de fazer justiça e vingar nossos irmãos?

23 Julgamos bom servir a teu pai, obedecer suas ordens e seguir suas leis;

24 e os filhos de nosso povo se afastaram de nós como dos estrangeiros. Eles cercam a fortaleza; mal capturam um dos nossos, matam-no e pilham os nossos bens.

25 E não é somente sobre nós que eles estendem a mão, mas ainda contra os povos vizinhos.

26 Eis que hoje eles se empossaram da fortaleza, para serem senhores do templo e da cidade, e fortificaram Betsur.

27 Se tu não os prevenires, farão ainda piores males e tu não poderás mais detê-los".

28 A essas palavras, o rei se encolerizou. Convocou todos os seus amigos, os generais de seus exércitos e os chefes de sua cavalaria.

29 E ajuntaram-se a ele outros reinos e ilhas marítimas, tropas de mercenários.

30 Seu exército atingiu a cem mil infantes, vinte mil cavaleiros e trinta e dois elefantes, prontos para a guerra.

31 Atravessaram eles a Idumeia e acamparam diante de Betsur, onde combateram por muito tempo. Construíram máquinas de guerra, mas os sitiados saíram e lançaram fogo, lutando com coragem.

32 Abandonando a fortaleza, veio Judas estabelecer-se em Bet-Zacarias, defronte do campo de luta do rei.

33 Ao amanhecer, levantou-se o rei e dirigiu impetuosamente suas tropas em direção a Bet-Zacarias. As forças se prepararam para o combate e soaram as trombetas.

34 Mostraram aos elefantes sucos de uva e de amora para incitá-los ao combate.

35 Foram repartidos nas falanges, pondo-se em volta de cada elefante mil homens armados de cotas de malhas e de capacetes de bronze para a cabeça. Quinhentos cavaleiros escolhidos estavam igualmente ao redor de cada animal.

36 Esses cavaleiros tinham o costume de estar com o animal onde quer que ele estivesse e de ir aonde ele ia sem jamais se afastarem dele.

37 Sobre cada um havia também fortes torres de madeira, muito firmes e defendidas pelas máquinas. Sobre cada um havia também valentes guerreiros, que combatiam lá em cima, além do condutor indiano.

38 O rei dispôs o restante da cavalaria de um lado e de outro, nas duas alas, para manobrar e proteger as falanges.

39 Quando o sol brilhou sobre os escudos de ouro e bronze, a montanha resplandeceu, como que iluminada por outras tantas lâmpadas.

40 Uma parte das tropas do rei se espalhou sobre as colinas e outra pela planície, caminhando com precaução e em boa ordem.

41 O ruído de seu nú­mero, de sua marcha, da colisão de suas armas era pavoroso, porque era um exército extremamente numeroso e possante.

42 Judas, no entanto, avançou com os seus para travar a batalha. Seiscentos ho­mens do exército do rei foram aniquilados.

43 Eleazar, cognominado Auarã, viu que um dos elefantes estava armado com a armadura real e ultrapassava todos os outros. Supondo que o rei estivesse em cima,

44 entregou-se a si mesmo para salvar todo o povo e conquistar um nome eterno.

45 Precipitou-se audaciosamente nessa direção, para o meio da falange, matando à direita e à esquerda e separando o inimigo de lado a lado.

46 Conseguiu chegar até o elefante e, tomando posição abaixo dele, matou-o. O animal rolou sobre Eleazar, que ali morreu.

47 No entanto, averiguando o poder do exército real e a impetuosidade de suas tropas, retiraram-se os judeus.

48 Mas os soldados do rei subiram-lhe ao encontro até Jerusalém, dirigindo-se então o rei à Judeia e ao monte Sião.

49 Fez um acordo de paz com os habitantes de Betsur, porquanto estes saíram da cidade, porque já não tinham víveres para continuar ali, pois era o ano sabático.

50 Assim, o rei apoderou-se da cidade e pôs nela uma guarnição.

51 Por muitos dias cercou a cidade santa, construiu máquinas de guerra, guindastes para lançar fogo e pedras, escorpiões para lançar flechas e fundas.

52 De seu lado, os sitiados construíram também máquinas, para se oporem aos seus inimigos, e combateram por muito tempo.

53 Todavia, faltavam víveres nos celeiros, por ser o sétimo ano, e todos os que se achavam refugiados na Judeia, para fugir dos gentios, tinham esgotado o resto da reserva.

54 Restavam afinal poucos homens para a defesa do templo, atingidos como estavam pela fome e por dispersarem-se cada um para sua casa.

55 Filipe, que antes de morrer o rei Antíoco fora designado para educar seu filho Antíoco para a realeza,

56 tinha chegado da Pérsia e da Média com o exército do rei e procurava apoderar-se do governo.

57 Soube-o Lísias e apressou a partida dizendo ao rei, aos oficiais e aos homens: "Estamos nos enfraquecendo aqui dia após dia. Temos poucos víveres e o lugar que sitiamos é forte, enquanto nos devemos ocupar com os negócios do reino.

58 Estendamos a mão a esses homens e façamos a paz com eles e com toda a sua raça.

59 Deixemo-los viver como outrora segundo as suas próprias leis, porque foi por causa dessas leis que abolimos, que eles se revoltaram e fizeram tudo isso".

60 Essa proposta agradou ao rei e aos generais. Enviou, pois, alguém para tratar da paz com os sitiados, que a aceitaram.

61 Sob a palavra de juramento feito pelo rei e os generais, abandonaram a fortaleza.

62 O rei subiu o monte Sião e visitou as fortificações, mas violou a palavra dada e ordenou a destruição da muralha.

63 Em seguida, partiu a toda pressa, e voltou para Antioquia, onde achou Filipe como senhor da cidade. Atacou-a e tomou a cidade à força.

1 King Antiochus was traveling through the upper countries; and he heard that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold, 2 and that the temple which was in it was exceedingly rich, and that in it were golden shields, breastplates, and weapons which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, left behind there. 3 So he came and tried to take the city and to pillage it; and he was not able, because his plan was known to them of the city, 4 and they rose up against him in battle. He fled and returned to Babylon with great disappointment.

5 Then someone came into Persia bringing him news that the armies which went against the land of Judah had been put to flight, 6 and that Lysias went first with a strong army and was put to shame before them, and that they had grown strong because of weapons, power, and a supply of plunder which they took from the armies that they had cut off, 7 and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and also Bethsura, his city.

8 It came to pass, when the king heard these words, he was astonished and moved exceedingly. He laid himself down on his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not turned out for him as he had planned. 9 He was there many days, because great grief continually gripped him, and he realized that he would die. 10 He called for all his*6:10 See 1 Maccabees 2:18. friends, and said to them, "Sleep departs from my eyes, and my heart fails because of worry. 11 I said in my heart, ‘To what suffering I have come! How great a flood it is that I’m in, now! For I was gracious and loved in my power.’ 12 But now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and sent out to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without a cause. 13 I perceive that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me. Behold, I am perishing through great grief in a strange land."

14 Then he called for Philip, one of his*6:14 See 1 Maccabees 2:18. friends, and set him over all his kingdom. 15 He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he could guide Antiochus his son, and nourish him up that he might be king. 16 Then King Antiochus died there in the one hundred forty-ninth year.*6:16 Circa B.C. 164. 17 When Lysias learned that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had nourished up being young, and he called his name Eupator.

18 Those who were in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the sanctuary, and always sought to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles. 19 Judas planned to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them. 20 They were gathered together, and besieged them in*6:20 circa B.C. 163. the one hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war. 21 Some of those who were hemmed in came out, and some of the ungodly men of Israel were joined to them. 22 They went to the king, and said, "How long will you not execute judgment, and avenge our kindred? 23 We were willing to serve your father and to live by his words, and to follow his commandments. 24 Because of this, the children of our people besieged the citadel*6:24 Gr. it. and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could catch, they killed, and plundered our inheritances. 25 Not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders. 26 Behold, they are encamped this day against the citadel at Jerusalem to take it. They have fortified the sanctuary and Bethsura. 27 If you don’t quickly prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and you won’t be able to control them.

28 When the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his*6:28 See 1 Maccabees 2:18. friends, the rulers of his army, and those who were over the cavalry. 29 Bands of hired soldiers came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the sea. 30 The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. 31 They went through Idumaea, and encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. The Jews came out and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.

32 Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Bethzacharias, near the king’s camp. 33 The king rose early in the morning, and marched his army*6:33 Or, itself eager for the fight at full speed along the road to Bethzacharias. His forces made themselves ready to battle and sounded their trumpets. 34 They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle. 35 They distributed the animals among the phalanxes. They set by each elephant a thousand men armed with coats of mail and helmets of brass on their heads. Five hundred chosen cavalry were appointed for each elephant. 36 These were ready beforehand, wherever the elephant was. Wherever the elephant went, they went with it. They didn’t leave it. 37 Strong, covered wooden towers were upon them, one upon each elephant, fastened upon it with secure harnesses. Upon each were four valiant men who fought upon them, beside his Indian driver. 38 The rest of the cavalry he set on this side and that side on the two flanks of the army, striking terror into the enemy, and protected by the phalanxes. 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains lit up, and blazed like flaming torches.

40 A part of the king’s army was spread upon the high hills and some on the low ground, and they went on firmly and in order. 41 All who heard the noise of their multitude, the marching of the multitude, and the rattling of the weapons trembled; for the army was exceedingly great and strong. 42 Judas and his army drew near for battle, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell. 43 Eleazar, who was called Avaran, saw one of the animals armed with royal breastplates, and it was taller than all the animals, and the king seemed to be on it. 44 He gave his life to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting name. 45 He ran upon him courageously into the midst of the phalanx, and killed on the right hand and on the left, and they parted away from him on this side and on that. 46 He crept under the elephant, and stabbed it from beneath, and killed it. The elephant fell to the earth upon him, and he died there. 47 They saw the strength of the kingdom and the fierce attack of the army, and turned away from them.

48 But the soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king encamped toward Judea and toward mount Zion. 49 He made peace with the people of Bethsura. He came out of the city because they had no food there to endure the siege, because it was a Sabbath to the land. 50 The king took Bethsura, and appointed a garrison there to keep it. 51 He encamped against the sanctuary many days; and set there mounds to shoot from, and engines of war, and machines for throwing fire and stones, and weapons to throw darts, and slings. 52 The Jews also made engines of war against their engines, and fought for many days. 53 But there was no food in the sanctuary, because it was the seventh year, and those who fled for safety into Judea from among the Gentiles had eaten up the rest of the stores. 54 There were only a few people left in the sanctuary, because the famine prevailed against them, and they were scattered, each man to his own place.

55 Lysias heard that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, while he was yet alive, appointed to raise his son Antiochus to be king, 56 had returned from Persia and Media, and with him the forces that went with the king, and that he was seeking to take control of the government. 57 He made haste, and gave orders to depart. He said to the king and the leaders of the army and to the men, "We get weaker daily, our food is scant, the place where we encamp is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us. 58 Now therefore let’s negotiate with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation, 59 and covenant with them, that they may walk after their own laws, as before; for because of their laws which we abolished they were angered, and did all these things."

60 The speech pleased the king and the princes, and he sent to them to make peace; and they accepted it. 61 The king and the princes swore to them. On these conditions, they came out from the stronghold. 62 Then the king entered into mount Zion. He saw the strength of the place, and broke the oath which he had sworn, and gave orders to pull down the wall all around. 63 Then he left in haste and returned to Antioch, and found Philip master of the city. He fought against him, and took the city by force.