1   Nicanor received information that Judas and his men were in the region of Samaria, and he determined to attack them on their day of rest, when it could be done without any danger. 2   Those Jews who were forced to accompany his army said, ‘Do not carry out such a savage and barbarous massacre, but respect the day singled out and made holy by the all-seeing One.’ 3   The double-dyed villain retorted, ‘Is there a ruler in the sky who has ordered the sabbath day to be observed?’ 4   The Jews declared, ‘The living Lord himself is ruler in the sky, and he ordered the seventh day to be kept holy.’ 5   ‘But I’, replied Nicanor, ‘am a ruler on earth, and I order you to take your arms and do your duty to the king.’ However, he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.

6   Now Nicanor, in his pretentious and extravagant conceit, had resolved upon erecting a public trophy from the spoils of Judas's forces. 7   But Maccabaeus's confidence never wavered, and he had not the least doubt that he would obtain help from the Lord. 8   He urged his men not to be afraid of the gentile attack, but to bear in mind the aid they had received from heaven in the past and so look to the Almighty for the victory which he would send this time also. 9   He drew encouragement for them from the law and the prophets and, by reminding them of the struggles they had already come through, filled them with a fresh enthusiasm. 10   When he had roused their

The victory of Maccabaeus over Nicanor courage, he gave them their orders, reminding them at the same time of the Gentiles' broken faith and perjury. 11   He armed each one of them, not so much with the security of shield and spear, as with the encouragement that brave words bring; and he also told them of a trustworthy dream he had had, a sort of waking vision, which put them all in good heart.

12   What he had seen was this: the former high priest Onias appeared to him, that great gentleman of modest bearing and mild disposition, apt speaker, and exponent from childhood of the good life. With out-stretched hands he was praying earnestly for the whole Jewish community. 13   Next there appeared in the same attitude a figure of great age and dignity, whose wonderful air of authority marked him as a man of the utmost distinction. 14   Then Onias said, ‘This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his fellow-Jews and offers many prayers for our people and for the holy city.’ 15   Jeremiah extended his right hand and delivered to Judas a golden sword, saying as he did so, ‘Take this holy sword, 16   the gift of God, and with it crush your enemies.’

17   The eloquent words of Judas had the power of stimulating everyone to bravery and making men out of boys. Encouraged by them, the Jews made up their minds not to remain in camp, but to take the offensive manfully and fight hand to hand with all their strength until the issue was decided. This they did because Jerusalem, their religion, and their temple were in danger. 18   Their fear was not chiefly for their wives and children, not to mention brothers and relatives, but first and foremost for the sacred shrine. 19   The distress of those shut up in Jerusalem was no less, for they were anxious at the prospect of a battle on open ground.

20   All were waiting for the decisive struggle which lay ahead. The enemy had already concentrated his forces; his army was drawn up in order of battle, the elephants stationed in a favourable position and the cavalry ranged on the flank. 21   When Maccabaeus observed the deployment of the troops, the variety of their equipment, and the ferocity of the elephants, with hands upraised he invoked the Lord, the worker of miracles; for he knew that God grants victory to those who deserve it, not because of their military strength but as he himself decides. 22   This was his prayer: ‘Master, thou didst send thy angel in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and he killed as many as a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in Sennacherib's camp.

The victory of Maccabaeus over Nicanor Now, 23   Ruler of heaven, send once again a good angel to go in front of us spreading fear and panic. 24   May they be struck down by thy strong arm, these blasphemers who are coming to attack thy holy people!’ Thus he ended.

25   Nicanor and his forces advanced with trumpets and war-songs, 26   but Judas and his men joined battle with invocations and prayers. 27   Fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they killed no fewer than thirty-five thousand men, and were greatly cheered by the divine intervention.

28   The action was over, and they were joyfully disbanding, when they recognized Nicanor lying dead in his armour. 29   Then with tumultuous shouts they praised their Master in their native language. 30   Judas their leader, who had always fought body and soul on behalf of his fellow-Jews, never losing his youthful patriotism, now ordered Nicanor's head to be cut off, also his hand and arm, and taken to Jerusalem. 31   On arrival there he summoned all the people and stationed the priests before the altar. Then he sent for the men in the citadel, 32   and showed them the head of the blackguardly Nicanor and the hand which this bragging blasphemer had extended against the Almighty's holy temple. 33   He cut out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, and said he would give it to the birds bit by bit; and he gave orders that the evidence of what Nicanor's folly had brought upon him should be hung up opposite the shrine. 34   They all made the sky ring with the praises of the Lord who had shown his power: ‘Praise to him who has preserved his own sanctuary from defilement!’ 35   Judas hung Nicanor's head from the citadel, a clear proof of the Lord's help, for all to see. 36   It was unanimously decreed that this day should never pass unnoticed but be regularly celebrated. It is the thirteenth of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic, the day before Mordecai's Day. 37   Such, then, was the fate of Nicanor, and from that time Jerusalem has remained in the possession of the Hebrews.

38   At this point I will bring my work to an end. If it is found well written and aptly composed, that is what I myself hoped for; if cheap and mediocre, I could only do my best. 39   For, just as it is disagreeable to drink wine alone or water alone, whereas the mixing of the two gives a pleasant and delightful taste, so too variety of style in a literary work charms the ear of the reader. Let this then be my final word.

Previous section