1 Mac 7:22 And unto him resorted all such as troubled the people, who, after they had gotten the land of Juda into their power, did much hurt in Israel.

1 Mac 7:23 Now when Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had done among the Israelites, even above the heathen,

1 Mac 7:24 He went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance of them that had revolted from him, so that they durst no more go forth into the country.

1 Mac 7:25 On the other side, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had gotten the upper hand, and knew that he was not able to abide their force, he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could.

1 Mac 7:26 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the people.

1 Mac 7:27 So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great force; and sent unto Judas and his brethren deceitfully with friendly words, saying,

1 Mac 7:28 Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I may see you in peace.

1 Mac 7:29 He came therefore to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. Howbeit the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by violence.

1 Mac 7:30 Which thing after it was known to Judas, to wit, that he came unto him with deceit, he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no more.

1 Mac 7:31 Nicanor also, when he saw that his counsel was discovered, went out to fight against Judas beside Capharsalama:

1 Mac 7:32 Where there were slain of Nicanor's side about five thousand men, and the rest fled into the city of David.

1 Mac 7:33 After this went Nicanor up to mount Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.

1 Mac 7:34 But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them shamefully, and spake proudly,

1 Mac 7:35 And sware in his wrath, saying, Unless Judas and his host be now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again in safety, I will burn up this house: and with that he went out in a great rage.

1 Mac 7:36 Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple, weeping, and saying,

1 Mac 7:37 Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and pet.i.tion for thy people:

1 Mac 7:38 Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

1 Mac 7:39 So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bethhoron, where an host out of Syria met him.

1 Mac 7:40 But Judas pitched in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,

1 Mac 7:41 O Lord, when they that were sent from the king of the a.s.syrians blasphemed, thine angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.

1 Mac 7:42 Even so destroy thou this host before us this day, that the rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously against thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

1 Mac 7:43 So the thirteenth day of the month Adar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor's host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle.

1 Mac 7:44 Now when Nicanor's host saw that he was slain, they cast away their weapons, and fled.

1 Mac 7:45 Then they pursued after them a day's journey, from Adasa unto Gazera, sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets.

1 Mac 7:46 Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and closed them in; so that they, turning back upon them that pursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not one of them was left.

1 Mac 7:47 Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off Nicanors head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly, and brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.

1 Mac 7:48 For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day a day of great gladness.

1 Mac 7:49 Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day, being the thirteenth of Adar.

1 Mac 7:50 Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while.

1 Mac 8:1 Now Judas had heard of the the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them;

1 Mac 8:2 And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and n.o.ble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;

1 Mac 8:3 And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there;

1 Mac 8:4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the place, though it were very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year:

1 Mac 8:5 Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had overcome them:

1 Mac 8:6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with hors.e.m.e.n, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them;

1 Mac 8:7 And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,

1 Mac 8:8 And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes:

1 Mac 8:9 Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them;

1 Mac 8:10 And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this day:

1 Mac 8:11 It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them;

1 Mac 8:12 But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them:

1 Mac 8:13 Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly exalted:

1 Mac 8:14 Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby:

1 Mac 8:15 Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:

1 Mac 8:16 And that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among them.

1 Mac 8:17 In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them,

1 Mac 8:18 And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude.

1 Mac 8:19 They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spake and said.

1 Mac 8:20 Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends.

1 Mac 8:21 So that matter pleased the Romans well.