1 Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased them very much.
2 Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.
3 Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.
4 Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.
5 He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all that were therein.
6 Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.
7 So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.
8 And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.
9 Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.
10 And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:
11 And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.
12 Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:
13 Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.
14 While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,
15 And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.
16 Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.
17 Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.
18 So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.
19 Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.
20 Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.
21 Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited by him.
22 And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.
23 And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.
24 Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days’ journey in the wilderness,
25 Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:
26 And how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:
27 And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against to morrow they had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.
28 Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,
29 From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.
30 And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.
31 When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,
32 He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.
33 So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.
34 Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.
35 This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and and burnt it with fire.
36 From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.
37 After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.
38 So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.
39 He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.
40 Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:
41 But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.
42 Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.
43 So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.
44 But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.
45 Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.
46 Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.
47 Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.
48 Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.
49 Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.
50 So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:
51 Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.
52 After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.
53 And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.
54 So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.
55 Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,
56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.
57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.
58 So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.
59 Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.
60 And so it was, that Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.
61 Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.
62 Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
63 Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;
64 Insomuch as the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.
65 Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.
66 From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.
67 At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.
68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.
Visu vadītāju apvienotie spēki
1 Un notika, kad cittautieši dzirdēja, ka ir uzcelts altāris un svētnīca atjaunota tāda, kāda tā bija iepriekš, tie ļoti sadusmojās 2 un nolēma iznīdēt tos no Jēkaba dzimuma, kas dzīvoja viņu vidū; un tie sāka galināt un slepkavot. 3 Tad Jūda karoja pret Ēsava dēliem, kas Idūmejā pie Akrabatas, jo tie bija aplenkuši Israēlu, un guva pār tiem lielu uzvaru, pazemoja un aplaupīja tos. 4 Tā viņš pieminēja ļaundarības Baiana dēliem, kas bija Israēla tautai par slazdu un valgu, tiem uzglūnēdami uz ceļiem. 5 Viņš tos iesprostoja torņos, ielauzās pie tiem un, tos nolādēdams, nodedzināja torņus ar visu, kas tajos bija. 6 Tad viņš vērsās pret Amona dēliem un sastapa tur lielu un varen stipru tautu un Timoteju, tās vadoni. 7 Viņš izcīnīja pret tiem daudzas kaujas, satrieca un sakāva tos, 8 ieņēma Jazeru un tās apkārtnes pilsētas un atgriezās Jūdejā.
9 Tad pret Israēlu, kas bija palicis savā zemē, sapulcējās cittautieši, kas dzīvoja Gileādā, lai tos iznīcinātu, bet israēlieši bēga uz Dotānas cietoksni 10 un sūtīja vēstuli Jūdam un viņa brāļiem, sacīdami: “Visapkārt pret mums ir sapulcējušies cittautieši, lai mūs iznīcinātu. 11 Tie ir sagatavojušies uzbrukumam pret cietoksni, kurā mēs esam patvērušies, un Timotejs vada viņu karaspēku. 12 Bet tagad nāc, izrauj mūs no viņu rokām, jo liels daudzums mums ir uzkritis. 13 Turklāt visi mūsu brāļi, kas bija Tovā, ir nogalināti, viņu sievas aizvestas gūstā, tāpat arī viņu bērni un manta; apmēram tūkstoš vīru ir gājis bojā.” 14 Kamēr tie vēl lasīja vēstuli, citi vēstneši nāca no Galilejas. Viņu drēbes bija saplēstas, un viņi paziņoja tādu pašu vēsti, 15 ka viņiem ir uzbrukuši sveštautieši no Ptolemaīdas, Tīras, Sidonas un visas Galilejas, lai viņus nonāvētu. 16 Kad Jūda un visa tauta dzirdēja šos vārdus, tie sasauca lielo sapulci, lai nolemtu, kā palīdzēt saviem brāļiem, kas nonākuši spaidos un kara draudos. 17 Tad Jūda sacīja savam brālim Simonam: “Izvēlies un ņem sev līdzi vīrus un dodies glābt savus brāļus, kas ir Galilejā, bet mēs kopā ar Jonatānu, mūsu brāli, dosimies uz Gileādu.” 18 Viņš atstāja Jāzepu, Zaharija dēlu, un Azarju, ka tie vadītu tautu un Jūdejas aizsardzībai palikušo karaspēku, 19 un pavēlēja viņiem, sacīdams: “Uzņemieties tautas vadību, bet nesāciet karu ar cittautiešiem, kamēr mēs atgriezīsimies.” 20 Tad Simonam tika uzticēti trīs tūkstoš vīru, lai viņš ar tiem dotos uz Galileju, bet Jūdam astoņi tūkstoši, lai dotos uz Gileādu. 21 Un Simons devās uz Galileju un izcīnīja pret cittautiešiem daudzas kaujas, līdz satrieca tos sava vaiga priekšā 22 un vajāja tos līdz Ptolemaīdai. Cittautiešu karaspēkā krita līdz trīs tūkstoši vīru, un viņš saņēma kara laupījumu. 23 Viņš ņēma no Galilejas un Arbatas sev līdzi tos, kas tur bija, līdz ar sievām un bērniem, un visu, kas tiem bija, un tie pārnāca Jūdejā ar lielām gavilēm. 24 Bet Jūda Makabejs un viņa brālis Jonatāns šķērsoja Jardānu un nogāja trīs dienu ceļu tuksnesī, 25 kur tie satika nabatiešus. Tie uzņēma viņus miermīlīgi un izstāstīja tiem, kas bija noticis ar viņu brāļiem Gileādā, 26 ka daudzi no tiem ir sagūstīti un tiek turēti Bocrā un Bosorā, Alemā un Haspā, Makēdā un Karnaimā – tās visas ir labi nocietinātas un lielas pilsētas – 27 un ka arī citās Gileādas pilsētās ir gūstekņi. Bet ienaidnieki ir nolēmuši tiem uzbrukt un nogalināt tos visus vienā dienā. 28 Tad Jūda ar savu karaspēku spēji pagriezās pa tuksneša ceļu uz Bocru; viņš ieņēma pilsētu un nokāva ar zobena asmeni visus, kas bija vīriešu kārtas, saņēma kara laupījumu un nodedzināja to ar uguni. 29 Pēc tam tie naktī cēlās un devās uz Dotānas cietoksni. 30 Un notika, kad tie rītausmā pacēla savas acis, tad, redzi, liels ļaužu pulks, ko nevarēja saskaitīt, nesa kāpnes un dažādas kara ierīces, lai ieņemtu cietoksni un cīnītos ar jūdiem, kas bija tajā. 31 Kad Jūda redzēja, ka kauja jau sākusies un saucieni no pilsētas cēlās uz debesīm – tauru skaņas un kliegšana –, 32 viņš sacīja sava karaspēka vīriem: “Cīnieties šodien par mūsu brāļiem!” 33 Viņš ar trim karavīru nodaļām aplenca tos no aizmugures, pūta taures un lūdza Dievu pēc palīdzības. 34 Tad Timoteja karaspēks saprata, ka tas ir Makabejs, un bēga viņa vaiga priekšā, un viņš guva pār tiem lielu uzvaru, un tajā dienā tiem krita līdz astoņiem tūkstošiem vīru. 35 Pēc tam viņš nogriezās uz Alemu, cīnījās pret šo pilsētu un ieņēma to, un nokāva visus, kas bija vīriešu kārtas, saņēma kara laupījumu un nodedzināja to ar uguni. 36 Tad viņš cēlās no turienes un ieņēma Haspu, Makēdu, Bocru un pārējās Gileādas pilsētas. 37 Pēc visiem šiem notikumiem Timotejs sapulcināja citu karaspēku un nostājās viņpus upes iepretim Rafonai. 38 Jūda sūtīja izlūkus izlūkot pretinieka nometni, un tie paziņoja viņam, sacīdami: “Pie viņa sanākušas visas apkārtējās tautas, ļoti liels karaspēks, 39 arī arābi ir nolīgti viņiem palīgā un nostājušies viņpus upes gatavībā, lai ietu karot pret tevi.” Un Jūda izgāja tiem pretī. 40 Kad Jūda ar savu karaspēku tuvojās strautam, Timotejs sacīja saviem karapulku vadītājiem: “Ja viņš pirmais pārnāks pāri pie mums, tad mēs nevarēsim viņam stāvēt pretī un viņš mūs pārvarēs, 41 bet, ja tie baidīsies un nostāsies viņpus upes, tad mēs iesim pāri pie viņa un viņu uzvarēsim.” 42 Kad Jūda tuvojās upei, viņš sasauca pie upes rakstu mācītājus un tiem pavēlēja: “Neļaujiet nevienam cilvēkam palikt nometnē, bet lai visi dodas kaujā.” 43 Un viņš pārgāja pirmais pie tiem, un visa tauta sekoja viņam un sakāva viņa vaiga priekšā visus cittautiešus; tie pameta savus ieročus un aizbēga uz Karnajinas templi. 44 Tad israēlieši ieņēma gan pilsētu, gan templi un nodedzināja ugunī kopā ar visiem, kas bija tur iekšā; tā Karnajina nespēja pastāvēt Jūdas priekšā. 45 Un Jūda sapulcināja pie sevis visus israēliešus, kas dzīvoja Gileādā, lielus un mazus, arī viņu sievas, bērnus un viņu mantu; viņu bija liels pulks, kas gatavojās atgriezties Jūdejā. 46 Tie nonāca pie Efronas. Tā bija liela un ļoti labi nocietināta pilsēta viņu ceļā, un tai nevarēja paiet garām ne pa labo pusi, ne kreiso, bija jāiet tai tieši pa vidu; 47 bet pilsētas iedzīvotāji ieslēdzās pilsētā un aizvēla vārtiem priekšā akmeņus. 48 Kad Jūda sūtīja pie tiem vēstnešus ar miera vārdiem: “Mēs iziesim cauri jūsu zemei uz savu zemi un neko ļaunu jums nedarīsim; mēs vienkārši izsoļosim cauri,” – tie tomēr negribēja viņam atvērt. 49 Tad Jūda pavēlēja izsludināt pa visu karaspēku, ka katram jāapmetas tur, kur viņš tobrīd bija. 50 Un karavīri sakārtojās kaujai un karoja pret pilsētu visu dienu un visu nakti, līdz pilsēta padevās viņu rokās. 51 Tad viņš nokāva ar zobenu visus, kas bija vīriešu kārtas, nopostīja pilsētu līdz pamatiem, saņēma kara laupījumu un izgāja tai cauri, iedams pāri nokautajiem. 52 Pēc tam tie pārgāja pāri Jardānai uz lielo līdzenumu, kas iepretim Bēt-Šānai. 53 Bet Jūda visu ceļu pulcināja atpalikušos un uzmundrināja tautu, līdz tie nonāca Jūdejas zemē. 54 Viņi uzkāpa Ciānas kalnā ar prieku un līksmību un pienesa dedzināmos upurus pateicībā par to, ka tie bija atgriezušies drošībā un neviens no tiem nebija kritis.
55 Bet, kad Jūda un Jonatāns bija Gileādas zemē un viņa brālis Simeons Galilejā pie Ptolemaīdas, 56 karaspēka virspavēlnieki Jāzeps, Zaharija dēls, un Azarja dzirdēja par varonību un cīņām, ko tie bija izcīnījuši, 57 un sacīja: “Darīsim slavenu arī paši savu vārdu un dosimies karot pret citām tautām, kas mums visapkārt.” 58 Viņi to paziņoja karaspēkam, kas bija pie tiem, un devās uz Jamniju. 59 Viņiem pretī no pilsētas iznāca Gorgijs ar saviem vīriem, lai cīnītos ar viņiem. 60 Tad Jāzeps un Azarja tika sakauti un pretinieks viņus vajāja līdz pat Jūdejas robežām; tajā dienā krita no Israēla tautas līdz pat diviem tūkstošiem vīru. 61 Bet tik liela sakāve tautā notika tādēļ, ka tie nepaklausīja Jūdu un viņa brāļus, iedomādamies veikt kādus varoņdarbus; 62 taču viņi nebija no to vīru dzimtas, ar kuru rokām Dievs bija lēmis Israēlam dot pestīšanu.
63 Tā Jūda un viņa brāļi kļuva slaveni visā Israēlā un pie visām tautām, kur vien dzirdēja viņu vārdu; 64 un sanāca pie viņiem sveicēji. 65 Tad Jūda un viņa brāļi devās karot ar Ēsava dēliem uz zemi, kas bija pret dienvidiem, tie sakāva Hebronu un tās apkārtnes pilsētas, nopostīja visapkārt tās nocietinājumus un nodedzināja tās torņus. 66 Pēc tam tie devās uz filistiešu zemi un gāja cauri Marisanas zemei. 67 Tajā dienā kaujā krita daži priesteri, kas bija nodomājuši veikt varoņdarbus un neapdomīgi devušies kaujā. 68 Tad Jūda pagriezās uz Azotu filistiešu zemē un nopostīja viņu ziedokļus, sadedzināja ugunī viņu dievu tēlus, saņēma kara laupījumu un atgriezās Jūdejā.
