2 Maccabees 15
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1NOw when Nicanor knewe that Iudas and his companie were in the countrey of Samaria, he thoght with all assurance to come vpon them, vpon the Sabbath day. 2Neuertheles the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, said, O kill not so cruelly and barbarously, but honour and sanctifie the day, that is appointed by him that seeth all things. 3But this moste wicked persone demanded, Is there a Lord in heauen, that commanded the Sabbath day to be kept? 4And when thei said, There is a liuing Lord, which ruleth in the heauen, who commanded the seuenth day to be kept, 5Then he said, And I am mightie vpon earth to commande them for to arme them selues, and to performe the Kings busines. Notwithstanding, he colde not accomplish his wicked enterprise. 6For Nicanor lifted vp with great pride, purposed to set vp a memorial of the victorie obteined of all them that were with Iudas. 7But Maccabeus had euer sure confidence and a perfite hope that the Lord wolde helpe him, 8And exhorted his people not to be afraid at the coming of the heathen, but alway to remember the helpe that had bene shewed vnto them from heauen, and to trust now also, that they shulde haue the victorie by the Almightie. 9Thus he incouraged them by the Law & Prophetes, putting them in remembrance of the battels that they had wonne afore, & so made them more willing, 10And stirred vp their hearts, and shewed them also the disceitfulnes of the heathen, and how they had broken their othes . 11Thus he armed euerie one of them, not with the assurance of shields and speares, but with wholsome wordes and exhortacions, and shewed them a dreame worthie to be beleued, and reioyced them greatly. 12And this was his vision, He thoght that he sawe Onias (which had bene the high Priest, a vertuous & a good man, reuerent in behauiour, and of sober conuersation, wel spoken, and one that had bene exercised in all pointes of godlines from a childe)holding vp his hands towarde heauen, and praying for the whole people of the Iewes. 13¶After this there appeared vnto him another man which was aged, honorable, and of a wonderful dignitie, and excellencie aboue him. 14And Onias spake,& said, This is a louer of the brethren, who prayeth muche for the people, and for the holie citie, to wit, Ieremias the Prophet of God. 15He thoght also that Ieremias helde out his right hand, and gaue vnto Iudas a sworde of golde:& as he gaue it, he spake thus, 16Take this holie sworde a gifte from God, wherewith thou shalt wounde the aduersaries. 17And so being comforted by the wordes of Iudas, which were very swete and able to stirre them vp to valiantnes and to incourage the heartes of the yong men, they determined to pitch no campe, but courageously to set vpon them, and manfully to assaile them, and to trye the matter hand to hand, because the citie and the Sanctuarie, and the Temple were in danger. 18As for their wiues, and children, and brethren and kinsfolkes, they set lesse by their danger: but their greatest and principal feare was for the holie Temple. 19Againe they that were in the citie, were careful for the armie that was abroad. 20Now whiles thei all waited for the tryal of the matter, and the enemies now met with them, and the hoste was set in araye, and the "beastes were separated into conuenient places, and the horsemen were placed in the wings, 21Maccabeus considering the coming of the multitude and the diuers preparations of weapons, and the fiercenes of the beastes, helde vp his hands towarde heauen, calling vpon the Lord that doeth wonders, and that loked vpon them, knowing that the victorie cometh not by the weapons, but that he giueth the victorie to them that are worthie, as semeth good vnto him. 22Therefore in his prayer he said after this maner, O Lord,* thou that didest send thine Angel in the time of Ezecias King of Iudea, who in the hoste of Sennacherib slewe an hundreth, forescore & fiue thousand, 23Send now also thy good Angel before vs, ô Lord of heauens, for a, feare and dreade vnto them, 24And let them be discomfited by the strength of thine arme, which come against thine holie people to blaspheme. Thus with these wordes he made an end. 25Then Nicanor and they that were with him, drewe nere with trumpets and shoutings for ioye. 26But Iudas and his companie praying and calling vpon God, incountered with the enemies, 27So that with their hands they foght, but with their hearts they prayed vnto God, and slewe no lesse then fiue & thirtie thousand men: for thorowe the presence of God they were wonderously comforted. 28Now when they left of, & were turning againe with ioye, they vnderstode that Nicanor him self was slaine for all his armour. 29Then they made a great shoute and a crye, praising the Almightie in their owne langage. 30Therefore Iudas, which was euer the chief defender of his citizens bothe in bodie & minde, and which bare euer good affection towardes them of his nacion, commanded to smite of Nicanors head, with his hand and shulder, and to bring it to Ierusalem. 31And when he came there, he called all them of his nacion, and set the Priests by the altar, and sent for them of the castel, 32And shewed them wicked Nicanors head, & the hand of that blasphemour which he had holden vp against the holie Temple of the Almightie with proude bragges. 33He caused the tongue also of wicked Nicanor to be cut in litle pieces,& to be cast vnto the foules, and that the rewardes of his madnes shulde be hanged vp before the Temple. 34So euerie man praised towarde the heauen the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he, that hathe kept his place vndefiled. 35He hanged also Nicanors head vpon the hie castel, for an euident and plaine token vnto all of the helpe of God. 36And so they established all together by a commune decre that they wolde in no case suffer this day without keping it holie: 37And that the feast shulde be the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar in the Syrians langage, the day before Mardocheus day. 38Thus farre as concerning Nicanors matters, and from that time the Hebrewes had the citie in possession. And here wil I also make an end. 39If I haue done wel, and as the storie required, it is the thing that I desired: but if I haue spoken slenderly & barely, it is that I colde. 40For as it is hurtful to drinke wine alone, and then againe water: and as wine tempered with water is pleasant and deliteth the taste, so the setting out of the matter deliteth the eares of them that read the storie. And here shalbe the end.