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1 A short time after this Lysias the king's lieutenant, and cousin, and who had
chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with what had
happened,
2 Gathered together
fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews,
thinking to take the city, and make it a habitation of the Gentiles :
3 And to
make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles, and to
set the high priesthood to sale every year:
4 Never
considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and trusting in the
multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of his horsemen, and his
four- score elephants.
5 So he
came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which
was in a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid
siege to that fortress.
6 But when
Machabeus and they that were with him, understood
that the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the
Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to save
Israel.
7 Then Machabeus himself, first taking his arms, exhorted the
rest to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour their brethren.
8 And when
they were going forth together with a willing mind, there appeared at Jerusatem a horseman going before them in white clothing,
with golden armour, shaking a spear.
9 Then
they all together blessed merciful Lord, and took great courage, being ready
to break through not only men, but also the fiercest beasts, walls of iron.
10 So they
went on courageously, having a helper from Peaven,
and the who shewed mercy to them.
11 And
rushing violently upon the my, like lions, they slew of them eleven thousand
footmen, and one thousand hundred horsemen:
12 And put
all the rest to flight: many of them being wounded, escaped naked: yea and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and escaped.
13 And as
he was a man of understanding considering with himself, the loss he had
suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because they
relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he sent to them:
14 And
promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would
persuade the king to be their friend.
15 Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias,
providing for the common Food in all things, and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias
concerning the Jews, the king allowed of.
16 For
there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias,
to this effect: Lysias to the people of the Jews,
greeting.
17 John and
Abesalom who were sent from you, delivering your
writings, re- quested that I would accomplish those things which were
signified by them.
18 Therefore
whatsoever things could be reported to the king I have represented to him:
and he hath granted as much as the matter permitted.
19 If
therefore you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good.
20 But as
concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and
to them that are sent by me, to commune with you.
21 Fare ye
well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of
the month of Dioscorus.
22 But the
king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus to Lysias
his brother, greeting.
23 Our
father being translated amongst the gods, we are desirous that they that are
in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their
own concerns,
24 And we have
heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of
the Greeks, but that they would keep to their own manner of living, and
therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws.
25 Wherefore
being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and
decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live
according to the custom of their ancestors.
26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send to them, and grant them
peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look
to their own affairs.
27 But the
king's letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of
the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting.
28 If you
are well, you are as we desire, we ourselves also are well.
29 Menelaus
came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are
with us.
30 We grant
therefore a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of
the month of Xanthicus,
31 That the
Jews may use their own Bind of meats, and their own laws as be- fore, and
that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been
done by ignorance.
32 And we
have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
33 Fare ye
well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month
of Xanthicus.
34 The
Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect. Quintus Memmius,
and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to
the people of the Jews, greeting.
35 Whatsoever
Lysias the king's cousin hath granted you, we also
have granted.
36 But
touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you
have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some one
forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going
to Antioch.
37 And
therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are.
38 Fare ye
well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month
of Xanthicus.
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1- و بعد ذلك بزمان يسير اذ كانت
هذه الحوادث قد شقت جدا ليسياس وكيل الملك و ذي قرابته و المقلد تدبير الامور.
2- جمع نحو ثمانين الفا و الفرسان كلهم و زحف
على اليهود زاعما انه يجعل المدينة مسكنا لليونانيين.
3- و يجعل الهيكل موضعا للكسب كسائر معابد
الامم و يعرض الكهنوت الاعظم للبيع سنة فسنة.
4- غير متفكر في قدرة الله لكن
متوكلا برعونة قلبه على ربوات الرجالة و الوف الفرسان و فيلته الثمانين.
5- فدخل اليهودية و بلغ الى بيت صور و هي موضع
منيع على نحو خمس غلوات من اورشليم و ضايقها.
6- فلما علم اصحاب المكابي انه يحاصر الحصون
ابتهلوا الى الرب مع الجموع بالنحيب و الدموع ان يرسل ملاكه الصالح لخلاص
اسرائيل.
7- ثم اخذ المكابي سلاحه اولا و حرض الاخرين
على الاقتحام معه لنجدة اخوتهم.
8- فاندفعوا متحمسين بقلب واحد و فيما هم بعد
عند اورشليم تراءى فارس عليه لباس ابيض يتقدمهم و هو يخطر بسلاح من ذهب.
9- فطفقوا باجمعهم يباركون الله الرحيم و
تشجعوا في قلوبهم حتى كانوا مستعدين ان يبطشوا باضرى الوحوش فضلا عن الناس و
يخترقوا الاسوار الحديدية.
10- و اخذوا يتقدمون بانتظام و قد اتتهم
السماء نصرة و الرب رحمة.
11- و حملوا على الاعداء حملة الاسود و صرعوا
منهم احد عشر الفا و من الفرسان الفا و ست مئة.
12- و الجاوا سائرهم الى الفرار
و كان اكثر الذين نجوا بانفسهم جرحى عراة و انهزم ليسياس اقبح هزيمة.
13- و اذ كان الرجل صاحب دهاء اخذ يفكر فيما
اصابه من الخسران و فطن ان العبرانيين قوم لا يقهرون لان الله القدير مناصر لهم
فراسلهم.
14- و وعد بانه يسلم بكل ما هو حق و يستميل
الملك الى موالاتهم.
15- فرضي المكابي بكل ما سال ليسياس ابتغاء
لما هو انفع و كل ما طلب المكابي من ليسياس بالكتابة ان يقضى لليهود قضاه الملك.
16- و هذا نص الرسائل التي كتب
بها ليسياس الى اليهود من ليسياس الى شعب اليهود سلام.
17- قد سلم الينا يوحنا و ابشالوم الموجهان من
قبلكم كتاب جوابكم و سالا قضاء فحواه.
18- فشرحت للملك ما ينبغي انهاؤه اليه فامضى
منه ما تحتمله الحال.
19- و ان بقيتم على الاخلاص فيما بيننا من
الامور فاني اتوخى ان اكون لكم فيما ياتي سببا للخير.
20- و اما تفصيل الامور فقد
اوصيناهما مع من نحن مرسلون من قبلنا ان يفاوضوكم فيه.
21- و السلام في السنة المئة و الثامنة و
الاربعين في الرابع و العشرين من شهر ديوس كورنتي.
22- و هذه صورة رسالة الملك من الملك انطيوكس الى اخينا ليسياس سلام.
23- انا منذ انتقل والدنا الى الالهة لم يزل
همنا ان يكون اهل مملكتنا بغير بلبال منقطعين الى شؤونهم.
24- و اذ قد بلغنا ان اليهود غير راضين بما
امرهم والدنا من التحول الى سنن اليونان لكنهم متمسكون بمذهبهم و لذلك يسالون ان
تباح لهم سننهم.
25- و نحن نريد لهذا الشعب ان يكون كغيره
خاليا عن البلبال فانا نحكم بان يرد لهم الهيكل و ان يساسوا بمقتضى عادات
ابائهم.
26- فاذا ارسلت اليهم و عاقدتهم ليطمئنوا اذا
علموا راينا فيهم و يقبلوا على مصالحهم بارتياح فنعما تفعل.
27- و هذه رسالة الملك الى الامة من الملك
انطيوكس الى مشيخة اليهود و سائر اليهود سلام.
28- ان كنتم في خير فهذا ما نحب و نحن ايضا في
عافية.
29- قد اطلعنا منلاوس انكم تودون
ان تنزلوا فتقيموا مع قومكم.
30- فالذين يرتحلون الى اليوم الثلاثين من شهر
كسنتكس يكونون في امان.
31- و قد ابحنا لليهود اطعمتهم و شرائعهم كما
كانوا عليه من قبل و كل من هفا منهم فيما سلف فلا اعنات عليه.
32- و انا مرسل اليكم منلاوس ليشافهكم.
33- و السلام في السنة المئة و
الثامنة و الاربعين في الخامس عشر من شهر كسنتكس.
34- و ارسل الرومانيون اليهم رسالة هذه صورتها
من كونتس مميوس و تيطس منليوس رسولي الرومانيين الى شعب اليهود سلام.
35- ما رخص لكم فيه ليسياس نسيب الملك نحن
موافقون عليه.
36- و ما استحسن ان يرفع الى الملك تشاوروا
فيه و بادروا بارسال واحد لنقضي ما يوافقكم فانا متوجهان الى انطاكية.
37- فعجلوا في ارسال من ترسلون لنكون على
بصيرة مما تبتغون.
38- و السلام في السنة المئة و الثامنة و
الاربعين في الخامس عشر من شهر كسنتكس
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