1 Mac 16:8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.

1 Mac 16:9 At that time was Judas John's brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.

1 Mac 16:10 So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace.

1 Mac 16:11 Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:

1 Mac 16:12 For he was the high priest's son in law.

1 Mac 16:13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.

1 Mac 16:14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:

1 Mac 16:15 Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.

1 Mac 16:16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

1 Mac 16:17 In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.

1 Mac 16:18 Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities.

1 Mac 16:19 He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.

1 Mac 16:20 And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

1 Mac 16:21 Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee also.

1 Mac 16:22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.

1 Mac 16:23 As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

1 Mac 16:24 Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

The Second Book of the Maccabees

2 Mac 1:1 The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace:

2 Mac 1:2 G.o.d be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;

2 Mac 1:3 And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind;

2 Mac 1:4 And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you peace,

2 Mac 1:5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.

2 Mac 1:6 And now we be here praying for you.

2 Mac 1:7 What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,

2 Mac 1:8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.

2 Mac 1:9 And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu.

2 Mac 1:10 In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus' master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:

2 Mac 1:11 Insomuch as G.o.d hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.

2 Mac 1:12 For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.

2 Mac 1:13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea's priests.

2 Mac 1:14 For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a dowry.

2 Mac 1:15 Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered with a small company into the compa.s.s of the temple, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:

2 Mac 1:16 And opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without.

2 Mac 1:17 Blessed be our G.o.d in all things, who hath delivered up the unG.o.dly.

2 Mac 1:18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep it, as the feast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the temple and the altar.

2 Mac 1:19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.

2 Mac 1:20 Now after many years, when it pleased G.o.d, Neemias, being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those priests that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water;

2 Mac 1:21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.

2 Mac 1:22 When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marvelled.

2 Mac 1:23 And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming, I say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.

2 Mac 1:24 And the prayer was after this manner; O Lord, Lord G.o.d, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,

2 Mac 1:25 The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:

2 Mac 1:26 Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.

2 Mac 1:27 Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our G.o.d.

2 Mac 1:28 Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.

2 Mac 1:29 Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.

2 Mac 1:30 And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.