1 Mac 2:44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.

1 Mac 2:45 Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:

1 Mac 2:46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncirc.u.mcised, those they circ.u.mcised valiantly.

1 Mac 2:47 They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.

1 Mac 2:48 So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.

1 Mac 2:49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:

1 Mac 2:50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

1 Mac 2:51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.

1 Mac 2:52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?

1 Mac 2:53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt.

1 Mac 2:54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.

1 Mac 2:55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.

1 Mac 2:56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.

1 Mac 2:57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.

1 Mac 2:58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.

1 Mac 2:59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame.

1 Mac 2:60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.

1 Mac 2:61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.

1 Mac 2:62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.

1 Mac 2:63 To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.

1 Mac 2:64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.

1 Mac 2:65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.

1 Mac 2:66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.

1 Mac 2:67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people.

1 Mac 2:68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law.

1 Mac 2:69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.

1 Mac 2:70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.

1 Mac 3:1 Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead.

1 Mac 3:2 And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.

1 Mac 3:3 So he gat his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles, protecting the host with his sword.

1 Mac 3:4 In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey.

1 Mac 3:5 For He pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people.

1 Mac 3:6 Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.

1 Mac 3:7 He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever.

1 Mac 3:8 Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying the unG.o.dly out of them, and turning away wrath from Israel:

1 Mac 3:9 So that he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he received unto him such as were ready to perish.

1 Mac 3:10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host out of Samaria, to fight against Israel.

1 Mac 3:11 Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, and so he smote him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the rest fled.

1 Mac 3:12 Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius' sword also, and therewith he fought all his life long.

1 Mac 3:13 Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered unto him a mult.i.tude and company of the faithful to go out with him to war;

1 Mac 3:14 He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king's commandment.

1 Mac 3:15 So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the unG.o.dly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel.

1 Mac 3:16 And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company:

1 Mac 3:17 Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a mult.i.tude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day?

1 Mac 3:18 Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the G.o.d of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great mult.i.tude, or a small company:

1 Mac 3:19 For the victory of battle standeth not in the mult.i.tude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.

1 Mac 3:20 They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us:

1 Mac 3:21 But we fight for our lives and our laws.

1 Mac 3:22 Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them.

1 Mac 3:23 Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before him.