Commentaria in II Machabaeorum
34. AND THE ROMANS ALSO SENT THEM A LETTER,—namely the envoys who were sent by the Romans to Antiochus, to command him to burn the ships which he had beyond the number prescribed by the Roman Senate, and to kill the elephants, to take from the Romans the fear or suspicion of a new war, as I have said. These envoys of the Romans therefore likewise sent a letter to the Jews, in which they signified that if they desired any other just conditions of peace with Antiochus, they should write them to them: for they would see to it that Antiochus subscribed to them. For the Romans, as Salian rightly observes, readily came to the aid of all suppliants unjustly harassed, which was the first origin of their power and growth in Sicily, in Spain, in Greece, in Asia, in Africa and among all nations everywhere, as the course of Roman history thus far shows. When therefore the Jews had betaken themselves to the envoys of the Romans, who at that time were in Syria, and perhaps had already then shown that they sought their friendship and alliance, they asked that they would confirm what was granted by Lysias, and negotiate with the king some other matters for the favour of their nation.
CHAPTER TWELVE. SYNOPSIS. The generals of Antiochus Eupator, notwithstanding the peace, harass the Jews; the people of Joppe plunge two hundred into the sea; the people of Jamnia plan similar things, but Judas slays and burns both, overcomes the Arabs, routs Timothy, storms the cities Casphin and Ephron, puts Gorgias to flight, and at last, verse 39, has sacrifice offered for his men who had fallen in the line, by offering twelve thousand drachmas.
1. When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the Jews were employed in husbandry. 2. But they that were left in the country, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides these Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in quiet and peace. 3. And the men of Joppe did an act of great wickedness: they desired the Jews, that dwelt among them, to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had no ill-will to them. 4. Who accepted it according to the common decree of the city, as desiring to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them. 5. As soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded his men to be ready. 6. And calling upon God the just judge, he came against the murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew. 7. And when the town was shut up, he went back, intending to return again, and root out all the city of the Joppites. 8. But understanding that the men of Jamnia were minded to do in the like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them, 9. He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire to the haven and the fleet, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off. 10. Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs, in their march towards Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand Arabians with five hundred horsemen attacked them. 11. And after a hard fight, in which, by the help of God, they were victorious, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas to grant them peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in all other things. 12. And Judas thinking that they might indeed be profitable in many things, promised them peace: and having given their right hands, they departed to their tents. 13. He set upon a certain city also, strongly fortified with bridges and walls, and inhabited by a multitude of different nations, and the name thereof was Casphin. 14. But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and in the store of provisions, behaved themselves more remissly, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken. 15. But Maccabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war overthrew Jericho in the time of Josue, assaulted the walls fiercely: 16. And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made unspeakable slaughters, so that a adjoining pool, two furlongs broad, seemed to run over with the blood of the slain. 17. And departing from thence they went seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa, to the Jews who are called Tubianites. 18. And they did not find Timotheus in those places: for before he had despatched any thing, he returned, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold. 19. But Dositheus and Sosipater, who were captains with Maccabeus, went out and slew those that were left by Timotheus in the hold, above ten thousand men. 20. And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five hundred horsemen. 21. And when Timotheus had understood the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children and the rest of the baggage into a fortress called Carnion: for it was hard to besiege, and difficult to come at, by reason of the straitness of all the places. 22. But when the band of Judas appeared in sight, the enemies were struck with fear by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one upon another, so that they were often thrown down by their own men, and pierced with the points of their own swords. 23. And Judas pressed hard to punish the wicked, and slew thirty thousand men. 24. And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with much craft he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brothers of many of them, who otherwise might be put to death. 25. And when he had assured them by many words of his promise to restore them without hurt, they let him go for the saving of their brethren. 26. And Judas marched forward to Carnion, and slew twenty-five thousand men. 27. And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he moved his army to Ephron, a strong city, in which was a multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men stood upon the walls and made a vigorous defence: and there were great engines and a provision of darts in the place. 28. But when they had invoked the Almighty, who with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city, and slew twenty-five thousand of them that were within. 29. And departing from thence they went to Scythopolis, which is seven hundred and fifty furlongs from Jerusalem. 30. But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that they were treated kindly by them, even in the time of their adversity, 31. They gave them thanks, and exhorted them to be still friendly to their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks being at hand. 32. And after Pentecost they went against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea. 33. And he came out with three thousand footmen, and four hundred horsemen. 34. And when they were engaged in battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were slain. 35. And a certain man named Dositheus, a horseman, of Bacenor’s company, a valiant man, took hold of Gorgias, and when he would have taken him alive, a horseman of the Thracians ran in upon him, and cut off his shoulder, and so Gorgias escaped to Maresa. 36. And when they that were with Esdrin fought long, and were wearied, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper and leader in the battle: 37. And beginning in his own language, he sang hymns with a loud voice, and rushing upon Gorgias’ men when they were not aware, he put them to flight. 38. And Judas gathering his army came into the city of Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the same place. 39. And the day following Judas came with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers.
40. And they found under the coats of the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: so that all plainly saw that for this cause they were slain. 41. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden. 42. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be wholly forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened because of the sins of those that were slain. 43. And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, 44. (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) 45. And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. 46. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
1. AND THE JEWS WERE EMPLOYED IN HUSBANDRY.—Gorionides adds, Book III, chapter xvii, that the peace and quiet of the Jews lasted for eight months: meanwhile Judas Maccabeus punished certain rebel Jews; Jews and Macedonians dwelt together in several cities of Judea, especially on the sea coast, and carried on business; but “the Joppites and Jamnites” treacherously used this occasion for the destruction and ruin of the Jews.