1   Bvt Machabeus, and they that were with him, our Lord protecting them, ^note recouered the temple & the citie againe:

2   but the altars, which the aliens had set vp through the streets, and also the temples he threw downe.

3   And hauing purged the temple, they made an other altar: and out of fyred stones taking fire they offered sacrifices after two yeares, and set incense, and lampes, and the breads of proposition.

4   Which thinges being done, they besought our Lord prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fal into such euils: but and if they had sometime sinned, that they might be chastened of him more mildly, & not be deliuered to barbarous, & blasphemous men.

5   And what day the temple had bene polluted of the aliens, it happened that on the same day was made the purification, the fiue and twentith of the moneth, which was Casleu.

6   And with ioy eight dayes they kept in maner of tabernacles, remembring that a litle before they had kept the solemne day of Tabernacles in the mountaynes, and in dennes after the maner of beasts.

7   For the which cause they bare before them stalkes of herbs, and greene boughes, and palmes to

him, that gaue successe to clense his place.

8   And09Q0325 they decreed by common precept, and decree to al the nation of the Iewes euerie yeare to keepe these dayes.

9   And Antiochus that was called the Noble, his departure out of life was after this sort. ^note

10   But now of Eupator the sonne of Antiochus the impious, we wil tel the thinges that haue bene done, abbridging the euils that were done in the warres.

11   For he hauing taken vpon him the kingdom, appointed ouer the affaires of the king one Lysias general of the host of Phænicia and Syria.

12   For Ptolomee who was called Macer, determined to be a keeper of iustice toward the Iewes, and especially for the iniquitie, that was done against them, and to deale peaceably with them.

13   But being accused for this of his freinds to Eupator, when he was called oftentimes traytour, because he had left Cypres commited vnto him by Philometor, and remouing to Antiochus the Noble, had reuolted also from him, he ^note made an end of his life with poyson.

14   But ^note Gorgias being captayne of the places, taking vnto him strangers often warred against the Iewes.

15   And the Idumeans that kept the commodious holdes, receiued them that were chased from Ierusalem, and attempted to make battel.

16   And they that were with Machabeus, beseeching our Lord by prayers that he would be their helper, made an assault vpon the holdes of the Idumeans:

17   and sticking to it with great force, they wanne the places, killed them that came in the way, & slewe altogether no lesse then twentie thousand.

18   And wheras certaine were fled into two towres very strong, hauing al prouision to make resistance,

19   Machabeus for the expugning of them, leauing Simon and Ioseph, and also Zachæus, and such as were with them very manie, himself turned to those battels which forced more.

20   But they that were with Simon, being led with couetousnes, were perswaded with money by certaine that were in the towres: and taking seuentie thousand didrachmaes, they let certayne escape.

21   But when it was told Machabæus what was done, assembling the princes of the people he accused them, that they had sold their bretheren for money, their aduersaries being let goe.

22   These therfore being become traytours he slewe, and forthwith he tooke the two towres.

23   And with weapons and handes doing al thinges prosperously, in the two holdes he slewe more then twentie thousand.

24   And ^note Timothee, who before had bene ouercome of the Iewes, hauing called together

an armie of foren multitude, and gathering horsemen of Asia, came as to take Iurie by armes.

25   But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he approched, besought our Lord, sprinkling their head with earth, and being girded about the loynes with heareclothes,

26   lying flatte at the brimme of the altar, that he would be propicious to them, and an enemie to their enemies, and an aduersarie to their aduersaries, as the law saith.

27   And so after prayer taking weapons, going forth somewhat far out of the citie, and being come very neere the enemies they pitched.

28   And at the very first rising of the sunne both ioyned battel: these in deede hauing our Lord the suretie of victorie, and prosperitie with vertue: but they had courege for the captayne of the battel.

29   But when there was a sore fight, there appeared to the aduersaries from heauen fiue men vpon horses, comelie with golden bridles, conducting the Iewes:

30   of whom two hauing Machabeus betwen them, compassing him round about with their armour, kept him safe: and against the aduersaries they threw darts, & fire balles, wherby both confounded with blindnes, and filled with perturbation they fel.

31   And there were slaine twentie thousand fiue hundred, and horsemen six hundred.

32   But Timothee fled into Gazara a strong hold, wherof Chæreas was the captaine.

33   And Machabeus, and they that were with him ioyfully besieged the hold foure dayes.

34   But they that were within, trusting to the place, blasphemed aboue measure, & cast forth abominable wordes.

35   But when the fifth day appeared, ^note twentie yong men of them that were with Machabeus, incensed in their mindes because of the blasphemie, went manfully to the wal, and with fierce conrege going on, they scaled to the top:

36   Yea and the others also mounting vp, attempted to set the towres and the gates on fire, and to burne the blasphemers themselues aliue.

37   And the hold being sacked for two dayes together, they slewe Timothee that was found hyding himself in a certaine place: and his brother Chæreas, and Apollophanes they killed.

38   Which thinges being done, they blessed our Lord in hymnes and confessions, who did great thinges in Israel, and gaue them the victorie.

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