2 Maccabees 11
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1VErie shortely after this, Lysias the Kings stewarde, and a kinsman of his, which had the gouernance of the affaires, toke sore displeasure for the things that were done. 2And when he had gathered about fourescore thousand, with all the horsmen he came against the Iewes, thinking to make the citie an habitacion of the Gentiles. 3And the Temple wolde he haue to get money by, like the other temples of the heathen: for he wolde sel the Priests office euerie yere. 4And thus being puffed vp in his minde, because of the great nomber of fotemen, & thousands of horsmen, & in his foure score elephants, 5He came into Iudea, and drewe nere to Beth-sura, which was a castel of defence, fiue furlongs from Ierusalem, and laid sore siege vnto it. 6But when Maccabeus, and his companie knewe that he besieged the holdes, they, & all the people made prayers with weping, and teares before the Lord, that he wolde send a good Angel to deliuer Israel. 7And Maccabeus him self first of all toke weapons, exhorting the other that they wolde ieoparde them selues together with him to helpe their brethren: so they went forthe together with a courageous minde. 8And as thei were there besides Ierusalem, there appeared before them vpon horsebacke a man in white clothing, shaking his harnes of golde. 9Then they praised the merciful God all together, and toke heart, in so muche that they were ready, not onely to fight with men, but with the moste cruel beasts, & to breake downe walles of yron. 10Thus they marched forwarde in array, hauing an helper from heauen: for the Lord was merciful vnto them. 11And running vpon their enemies like lions, they slewe eleuen thousand fotemen, and sixten hundreth horsemen, & put all the other to flight. 12Manie of them also being wounded, escaped naked, and Lysias him self fled away shamefully, and so escaped, 13Who as he was a man of vnderstanding considering what losse he had had, & knowing, that the Hebrewes colde not be ouercome because the almightie God helped them, sent vnto them, 14And promised, that he wolde consent to all things which were reasonable, and persuade the King to be their friend. 15Maccabeus agreed to Lysias requestes, hauing respect in all things to the commune welth, and whatsoeuer Maccabeus wrote vnto Lysias concerning the Iewes, the King granted it. 16For there were letters writen vnto the Iewes from Lysias conteining these wordes, LYSIAS vnto the people of the Iewes sendeth greting. 17Iohn & Abessalom, which were sent from you, deliuered me the things that you demande by writing, and required me to fulfil the things that they had declared. 18Therefore what things soeuer were mete to be reported to the King him self, I haue declared them, and he granted that that was possible. 19Therefore if ye behaue your selues as friends toward his affaires, hereafter also I wil indeuour my self to do you good. 20As concerning these things, I haue giuen commandement to these men, and to those whome I sent vnto you, to commune with you of the same particularly. 21Fare ye wel, the hundreth and eight and fortie yere, the foure and twentieth day of the moneth Dioscorinthius. 22¶ Now the Kings letter conteined these wordes, KING ANTIOCHVS vnto his brother Lysias sendeth greting. 23Since our father is translated vnto the gods, our wil is, that they which are in our realme, liue quietly, that euerie man may applie his owne affaires. 24We vnderstand also that the Iewes wolde not consent to our father, for to be broght vnto the custome of the Gentiles, but wolde kepe their owne maner of liuing: for the which cause they require of vs, that we wolde suffer them to liue after their owne Lawes. 25Wherefore our minde is that this nacion shalbe in rest, and haue determined to restore them their Temple, that thei may be gouerned according to the custome of their fathers. 26Thou shalt do wel therefore to send vnto them, and grante them peace, that when they are certified of our minde, they maie be of good comfort, and cherefully go about their owne affaires. 27And this was the Kings letter vnto the nacion, KING ANTIOCHVS vnto the Elders of the Iewes, and to the rest of the Iewes sendeth greting. 28If ye fare wel, we haue our desire: we are also in good helth. 29Menelaus declared vnto vs that your desire was to returne home, & to applie your owne busines. 30Wherefore, those that wil departe, we giue them fre libertie, vnto the thirtie daye of the moneth of "Panthicus, 31That the Iewes may vse their owne maner of liuing and Lawes, like as afore, and none of them by anie maner of waies to haue harme for things done by ignorance. 32I haue sent also Menelaus to comfort you. 33Fare ye wel: the hundreth and eight & fortie yere, the fiftenth day of the moneth of Panthicus. 34¶The Romains also sent a letter conteining these wordes, QVINTVS MEMMIVS and Titus"Manilius embassadours of the Romains, vnto the people of the Iewes send greting. 35The things that Lysias the Kings kinsman hathe granted you, we grant the same also. 36But concerning that which he shal report vnto the King, send hether some with spede, when ye haue considered the matter diligently, that we may consult thereupon as shalbe best for you: for we must go vnto Antiochia. 37And therefore make haste and send some men, that we may knowe your minde. 38Fare wel: this hundreth and eight, and fortie yere, the fiftenth day of the moneth of Panthicus.