按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Demetrius's intentions were； and what opinion he had of their
nation。 When Nicanor had delivered this message； Judas and his
brethren complied with him； and suspecting no deceit； they gave
him assurances of friendship； and received Nicanor and his army；
but while he was saluting Judas； and they were talking together；
he gave a certain signal to his own soldiers； upon which they
were to seize upon Judas； but he perceived the treachery； and ran
back to his own soldiers； and fled away with them。 So upon this
discovery of his purpose； and of the snares laid for Judas；
Nicanor determined to make open war with him； and gathered his
army together； and prepared for fighting him； and upon joining
battle with him at a certain village called Capharsalama； he beat
Judas； （26） and forced him to fly to that citadel which was at
Jerusalem。
5。 And when Nicanor came down from the citadel unto the temple；
some of the priests and elders met him； and saluted him； and
showed him the sacrifices which they offered to God for the king：
upon which he blasphemed； and threatened them； that unless the
people would deliver up Judas to him； upon his return he would
pull clown their temple。 And when he had thus threatened them； he
departed from Jerusalem。 But the priests fell into tears out of
grief at what he had said； and besought God to deliver them from
their enemies But now for Nicanor； when he was gone out of
Jerusalem； and was at a certain village called Bethoron； he there
pitched his camp； another army out of Syria having joined him。
And Judas pitched his camp at Adasa； another village； which was
thirty furlongs distant from Bethoron； having no more than one
thousand soldiers。 And when he had encouraged them not to be
dismayed at the multitude of their enemies； nor to regard how
many they were against whom they were going to fight； but to
consider who they themselves were； and for what great rewards
they hazarded themselves； and to attack the enemy courageously；
he led them out to fight； and joining battle with Nicanor； which
proved to be a severe one； he overcame the enemy； and slew many
of them； and at last Nicanor himself； as he was fighting
gloriously； fell： … upon whose fall the army did not stay； but
when they had lost their general； they were put to flight； and
threw down their arms。 Judas also pursued them and slew them； and
gave notice by the sound of the trumpets to the neighboring
villages that he had conquered the enemy； which； when the
inhabitants heard； they put on their armor hastily； and met their
enemies in the face as they were running away； and slew them；
insomuch that not one of them escaped out of this battle； who
were in number nine thousand This victory happened to fall on the
thirteenth day of that month which by the Jews is called Adar and
by the Macedonians Dystrus； and the Jews thereon celebrate this
victory every year； and esteem it as a festival day。 After which
the Jewish nation were； for a while； free from wars； and enjoyed
peace； but afterward they returned into their former state of
wars and hazards。
6。 But now as the high priest Alcimus； was resolving to pull down
the wall of the sanctuary； which had been there of old time； and
had been built by the holy prophets； he was smitten suddenly by
God； and fell down。 （27） This stroke made him fall down
speechless upon the ground； and undergoing torments for many
days； he at length died； when he had been high priest four years。
And when he was dead； the people bestowed the high priesthood on
Judas； who hearing of the power of the Romans； and that they had
conquered in war Galatia； and Iberia； and Carthage； and Libya；
and that； besides these； they had subdued Greece； and their
kings； Perseus； and Philip； and Antiochus the Great also； he
resolved to enter into a league of friendship with them。 He
therefore sent to Rome some of his friends； Eupolemus the son of
John； and Jason the son of Eleazar； and by them desired the
Romans that they would assist them； and be their friends； and
would write to Demetrius that he would not fight against the
Jews。 So the senate received the ambassadors that came from Judas
to Rome； and discoursed with them about the errand on which they
came； and then granted them a league of assistance。 They also
made a decree concerning it； and sent a copy of it into Judea。 It
was also laid up in the capitol； and engraven in brass。 The
decree itself was this： 〃The decree of the senate concerning a
league of assistance and friendship with the nation of the Jews。
It shall not be lawful for any that are subject to the Romans to
make war with the nation of the Jews； nor to assist those that do
so； either by sending them corn； or ships； or money； and if any
attack be made upon the Jews； the Romans shall assist them； as
far as they are able； and again； if any attack be made upon the
Romans； the Jews shall assist them。 And if the Jews have a mind
to add to； or to take away any thing from； this league of
assistance； that shall be done with the common consent of the
Romans。 And whatsoever addition shall thus be made； it shall be
of force。〃 This decree was written by Eupolemus the son of John；
and by Jason the son of Eleazar； （28） when Judas was high priest
of the nation； and Simon his brother was general of the army。 And
this was the first league that the Romans made with the Jews； and
was managed after this manner。
CHAPTER 11。
That Bacchides Was Again Sent Out Against Judas； And How Judas
Fell As He Was Courageously Fighting。
1。 But when Demetrius was informed of the death of Nicanor； and
of the destruction of the army that was with him； he sent
Bacchides again with an army into Judea； who marched out of
Antioch； and came into Judea； and pitched his camp at Arbela； a
city of Galilee； and having besieged and taken those that were
there in caves； （for many of the people fled into such places；）
he removed； and made all the haste he could to Jerusalem。 And
when he had learned that Judas had pitched his camp at a certain
village whose name was Bethzetho； he led his army against him：
they were twenty thousand foot…men； and two thousand horsemen。
Now Judas had no more soldiers than one thousand。 （29） When these
saw the multitude of Bacchides's men； they were afraid； and left
their camp； and fled all away； excepting eight hundred。 Now when
Judas was deserted by his own soldiers； and the enemy pressed
upon him； and gave him no time to gather his army together； he
was disposed to fight with Bacchides's army； though he had but
eight hundred men with him； so he exhorted these men to undergo
the danger courageously； and encouraged them to attack the enemy。
And when they said they were not a body sufficient to fight so
great an army； and advised that they should retire now； and save
themselves and that when he had gathered his own men together；
then he should fall upon the enemy afterwards； his answer was
this： 〃Let not the sun ever see such a thing； that I should show
my back to the enemy and although this be the time that will
bring me to my end； and I must die in this battle； I will rather
stand to it courageously； and bear whatsoever comes upon me； than
by now running away bring reproach upon my former great actions；
or tarnish their glory。〃 This was the speech he made to those
that remained with him； whereby he encouraged them to attack the
enemy。
2。 But Bacchldes drew his army out of their camp； and put them in
array for the battle。 He set the horsemen on both the wings； and
the light soldiers and the archers he placed before the whole
army； but he was himself on the right wing。 And when he had thus
put his army in order of battle； and was going to join battle
with the enemy； he commanded the trumpeter to give a signal of
battle； and the army to make a shout； and to fall on the enemy。
And when Judas had done the same； he joined battle with them； and
as both sides fought valiantly； and the battle continued till
sun…set； Judas saw that Bacehides and the strongest part of the
army was in the right wing； and thereupon took the most
courageous men with him； and ran upon that part of the army； and
fell upon those that were there； and broke their ranks； and drove
them into the middle； and forced them to run away； and pursued
them as far as to a mountain called Aza： but when those of the
left wing saw that the right wing was put to flight； they
encompassed Judas； and pursued him； and came behind him； and took
him into the middle of their army； so being not able to fly； but
encompassed round about with enemies； he stood still； and he and
those that were with him fought； and when he had slain a great
many of those that came against him； he at last was himself
wounded； and fell and gave up the ghost； and died in a way like
to his former famous actions。 When Judas was dead； those that
were with him had no one whom they could regard ＇as their
commander＇； but when they saw themselves deprived of such a
general； they fled。 But Simon and Jonathan； Judas's brethren；
received his dead body by a treaty from the enemy； and carried it
to the village of Modin； where their father had been buried； and
there buried him； while the multitude lamented him m