2 Maccabees 10

1 Sob a proteção do Senhor, Macabeu e seus com­pa­nheiros retomaram o templo e a cidade.

2 Destruíram os alta­res que os estrangeiros haviam edificado na praça pública, como também os troncos sagrados.

3 Após terem purificado o templo, erigiram outro altar para os holocaustos. Utilizaram uma pedra para tirar faíscas das quais eles se serviram para oferecer os sacrifícios, após dois anos de interrupção. Queimaram o incenso, reacenderam as lâmpadas e recoloca­ram os pães da proposição.

4 Feitas essas coisas, prostraram-se por terra e suplicaram ao Senhor que não mais os entregasse a semelhantes calamidades; mas, se recaíssem nas ofensas, que corrigisse com brandura, sem entregá-los às mãos das nações ímpias e bárbaras.

5 Foi no dia do aniversário da profanação do templo pelos estrangeiros, isto é, no dia vinte e cinco do mês de Casleu, que eles o purificaram.

6 Prolongaram as cerimônias e os festejos por oito dias, como na ocasião da festa dos Taberná­culos, recordando-se de que, pouco antes, na ocasião dessa festa, habitavam nas montanhas e nas cavernas como animais selvagens.

7 Foi assim que, levando ramalhetes, ramos verdejan­tes e palmas, cantavam hinos àquele que lhes havia concedido a dita de purificar o seu templo.

8 Decretaram por um edito pú­blico a toda a nação judia, que esses mesmos dias fossem solenizados em cada ano.

9 Acabamos de narrar as circunstâncias da morte de Antíoco, cognominado Epí­fanes.

10 Vamos agora proceder à narrativa dos acontecimentos sucedidos sob Antíoco Eupátor, filho desse sacrílego, resumindo o que se refere aos males da guerra.

11 Assim que subiu ao trono, esse príncipe pôs à frente dos negócios do reino um certo Lísias, ao qual nomeou também governador militar e chefe da Celessíria e da Fenícia,

12 porque Ptolo­meu, apelidado Macron, tomando a iniciativa de se mostrar justo para com os judeus, em vista da perseguição movida contra eles, procurou governá-los na paz;

13 mas, pelos favoritos do rei, ele havia sido denuncia­do a Eupátor. Por outro lado, tachado muitas vezes de traidor, por ter deixado Chipre, que lhe fora confiada por Filométor e se ter posto a serviço de Antíoco Epífa­nes. Assim, não podendo exercer com honra seu alto posto, envenenou-se e morreu.

14 Mas Górgias, tornado comandante do exército nessas paragens, tomava consigo tropas estrangeiras e aproveitava-se de todas as ocasiões para guerrear os judeus.

15 Os idumeus, senhores de várias for­talezas importantes, em combinação com ele, molestavam os judeus, acolhiam os exilados de Jerusalém e mantinham um estado de guerra contínuo.

16 Então, Maca­beu com seus companheiros atacaram as fortalezas da Idumeia, após haver rezado e invocado o auxílio de Deus.

17 Atacaram-nas vigorosamente, apoderaram-se de todas, repeliram os que combatiam sobre as muralhas e massacraram os que caíam em suas mãos. Mataram não menos de vinte mil homens.

18 Nove mil fugitivos pelo menos haviam procurado abrigo em duas fortalezas, equipadas com o necessário para resistir ao cerco.

19 Maca­beu deixou Simão, José, e também Zaqueu e seus companheiros, para expugná-los e dirigiu-se para onde se exigia mais a sua presença.

20 Todavia, os companheiros de Simão, seduzidos pelo dinheiro, deixaram-se corromper por alguns dos que se achavam nas torres da fortaleza, e, mediante a soma de setenta mil dracmas, deixaram escapar muitos deles.

21 Ouvindo essas notícias, Macabeu acusou-os dian­te da assembleia dos chefes de terem vendido seus irmãos a troco de dinheiro, entregando os inimigos à liberdade.

22 Comprovada a sua traição, mandou executá-los e, em seguida, tomou conta das duas cidadelas.

23 Coroadas de êxito as lutas de ambos os lados, ele matou mais de vinte mil homens nas duas fortalezas.

24 Anteriormente vencido pelos judeus, Timóteo coligou copiosas tropas estrangeiras e reuniu na Ásia uma numerosa cavalaria, indo em direção à Judeia com a intenção de conquistá-la pelas armas.

25 Com a sua chegada, Macabeu e seus companheiros cobriram a cabeça com terra e cingiram os rins com sacos, em sinal de prece.

26 Em seguida, prostrados aos pés do altar, rogaram a Deus piedade para com eles, pedindo que se declarasse inimigo de seus inimigos e adversário de seus adversários, conforme a promessa formal da Lei.

27 Terminada a oração, empunharam as armas, retiraram-se para bem longe da cidade e detiveram-se ao chegar perto do inimigo.

28 Ao despontar a aurora, travaram combate os dois lados, contando uns com o êxito e a vitória, por causa de sua valentia e do socorro do Senhor, e os outros entregando-se ao combate, apoiados no próprio furor.

29 No auge do combate, viram os inimigos aparecer no céu cinco magníficos guerreiros, montados em cavalos ajaezados com freios de ouro, que se colocaram à frente dos judeus.

30 Postando Macabeu no meio deles e, protegendo-o com suas armas, tornavam-no invulne­rável. Ao mesmo tempo, lançavam dardos e raios sobre os inimigos, cegando-os, gerando entre eles a confusão, pondo-os em desordem.

31 Foram, pois, mortos vinte mil e quinhentos soldados e seiscentos cavaleiros.

32 O próprio Timóteo fugiu para uma praça muito forte, chamada Gazara, cujo comandante era Quéreas.

33 Macabeu e os que se achavam com ele cercaram a fortaleza durante quatro dias,

34 enquanto os que se encontravam nela não cessavam de blasfemar e injuriar, confiados em seus muros.

35 Amanhecendo, porém, o quinto dia, um grupo de vinte jovens do exército de Maca­beu, inflamado de cólera por causa dessas blasfêmias, atirou-se corajosamente contra a muralha e massacrou todos os que apareciam à sua frente.

36 Outros subiram do mesmo modo o muro, atearam fogo às torres, acenderam fogueiras, nas quais queimaram vivos os blasfe­ma­dores. Outros, ainda, arrombaram as portas, fizeram entrar o restante do exército e ocuparam a cidade.

37 Mataram Timóteo, que se escondera em uma cisterna, e também seu irmão Quéreas e Apolófanes.

38 Após essa façanha, cantaram hinos e cânticos ao Senhor, que havia operado grandes prodígios em favor de Israel, concedendo-lhe a vitória.

1 Then Maccabaeus and those who were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city. 2 They pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the foreigners, and also the sacred enclosures. 3 Having cleansed the sanctuary, they made another altar of sacrifice. *10:3 Gr. firing. Striking flint and starting a fire, they offered sacrifices after they had ceased for two years, burned incense, lit lamps, and set out the show bread. 4 When they had done these things, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if they ever did sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen. 5 Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by foreigners, upon that very day it came to pass that the sanctuary was cleansed, even on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which is Chislev. 6 They observed eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how *10:6 Or, not long before they kept the feast of tabernacles by wandering not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves like wild animals. 7 Therefore carrying wands wreathed with leaves, and beautiful branches, and palm fronds also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him who had successfully brought to pass the cleansing of his own place. 8 They ordained also with a public statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should observe these days every year.

9 Such were the events of the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.

10 Now we will declare what came to pass under Antiochus *10:10 That is, son of a good father. Eupator, who proved himself a son of that ungodly man, and will summarize the main evils of the wars. 11 For this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to be chancellor and supreme governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia. 12 For Ptolemy who was called Macron, setting an example of observing justice toward the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, endeavored to deal with them on peaceful terms. 13 Whereupon being accused by the king’s *10:13 See 2 Maccabees 8:9 friends before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn because he had abandoned Cyprus which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiochus Epiphanes, and *10:13 The Greek text here is corrupt.failing to uphold the honor of his office, he took poison and did away with himself.

14 But when Gorgias was made governor of the district, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Jews. 15 Together with him the Idumaeans also, being masters of important strongholds, harassed the Jews; and received those who had taken refuge from Jerusalem, they endeavored to keep up the war. 16 But Maccabaeus and his men, having made solemn supplication and having implored God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Idumaeans. 17 Assaulting them vigorously, they took control of the positions, and kept off all who fought upon the wall, and killed those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.

18 Because no fewer than nine thousand had fled into two very strong towers having everything needed for a siege, 19 Maccabaeus, having left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed. 20 But Simon and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas, let some of them slip away. 21 But when word was brought to Maccabaeus of what was done, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22 So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers. 23 Prospering with his weapons in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.

24 Now Timotheus, who had been defeated by the Jews before, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the cavalry which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he would take Judea by force of weapons. 25 But as he drew near, Maccabaeus and his men sprinkled dirt on their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God, 26 and falling down upon the step in front of the altar, implored him to become *10:26 Gr. propitious. gracious to them, and *10:26 See Exodus 23:22. be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares. 27 Rising from their prayer they took up their weapons, and advanced some distance from the city. When they had come near to their enemies, they*10:27 Gr. were by themselves. halted. 28 When the dawn was now breaking, the two armies joined in battle, the one part having this, beside virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they had fled to the Lord for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the fight.

29 When the battle became strong, there appeared out of heaven to their adversaries five splendid men on horses with bridles of gold, *10:29 Some authorities read and leading on the Jews; who also, taking. and two of them, leading on the Jews, 30 and taking Maccabaeus in the midst of them, and covering him with their own armor, guarded him from wounds, while they shot arrows and thunderbolts at the enemies. For this reason, they were blinded and thrown into confusion, and were cut to pieces, filled with bewilderment. 31 Twenty thousand five hundred were slain, beside six hundred cavalry.

32 Timotheus himself fled into a stronghold called Gazara, a fortress of great strength, *10:32 See ver. 37. where Chaereas was in command. 33 Then Maccabaeus and his men were glad and laid siege to the fortress for four days. 34 Those who were within, trusting in the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and hurled out impious words. 35 But at dawn of the fifth day, certain young men of Maccabaeus’ company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall with masculine force and with *10:35 Gr. passion as of wild animals. furious anger, and cut down whoever came in their way. 36 Others climbing up in the same way, while the enemies were distracted with those who had made their way within, set fire to the towers, and kindled fires that burned the blasphemers alive, while others broke open the gates, and, having given entrance to the rest of the band, occupied the city. 37 They killed Timotheus, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes. 38 When they had accomplished these things, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, blessing him who provides great benefits to Israel and gives them the victory.