2 Maccabees 14
Demetrius moved by Alcimus sends Nicanor to kill the Jews. 18 Nicanor makes a compact with the Jews. 29 Which he yet breaks through the motion of the King. 17 Nicanor commands Raz is to be taken, who slays himself.
AFTER three years was Judas informed that Demetrius the son of Selecius was come up with a great power and name by the haven of Tripolis,
When he had won the country, and slain Antiochus and his lieutenant Lysias.
Now Alcimus, which had been the high Priest, and willfully defiled himself in the time that all things were confounded, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more entrance to the holy altar,
He came to King Demetrius in the hundredth, fifty and one year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and of the boughes, which were used solemnly in the Temple, and that day he held his tongue.
But when he had gotten opportunity, and occasion for his rage, Demetrius called him to counsel, and asked him what devises or counsels the Jews leaned unto.
To the which he answered, the Jews that be called Asideans whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, maintain wars, and make insurrections, and will not let the realm be in peace.
Therefore I, being deprived of my father’s honor (I mean the high priesthood) am now come hither,
Partly because I was well affectioned unto the King’s affairs, and secondly because I fought the profit of mine own citizens: for all our people, through their rashness, are not a little troubled.
Wherefore, o King, seeing thou know all these things, make provision of the country, and our nation which is abused, according to thine own humanity, that is ready to help all men.
For as long as Judas lives, it is not possible that the matter should be well.
When he had spoken these words, other friends also having evil will at Judas, set Demetrius on fire.
Who immediately called for Nicanor, the ruler of the elephants, and make him captain over Judea,
And sent him forth, commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high Priest of the great Temple.
Then the heathen which fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the Jews to be their welfare.
Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and the gathering together of the heathen, they sprinkled themselves with earth, and prayed unto him which had appointed himself a people forever, and did always defend his own portion with evident tokens.
So at the commandment of the captain, they removed straight ways from thence, and came to the town of Dessan,
Where Simon Judas’s brother had joined battle with Nicanor, and was somewhat astonished through the sudden silence of the enemies.
Nevertheless Nicanor hearing the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the bold stomachs that they had for their country, did not prove the matter with blood shedding.
Wherefore, he sent Posidonius, Theodocius, and Matthias before, to make peace.
So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain showed it unto the multitude, they were agred in one mind, and consented to the covenants.
And they appointed a day when they should particularly come together: so when the day was come, they set for every man his stool.
Nevertheless Judas commanded certain men of arms to wait in convenient places, lest there should suddenly arise any evil through the enemies: and so they communed together of the things whereupon they had agreed.
Nicanor, while he abode at Jerusalem, did none hurt, but sent away the people that were gathered together.
He loved Judas, and favored him in his heart.
He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, and they lived together.
But Alcimus perceiving the love that was between them, and understanding the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand, and ordained Judas a traitor to the realm, to be his successor.
Then the King was displeased, and by the reports of this wicked man, he wrote to Nicanor, saying, that he was very angry for the covenants, commanding him that he should send Maccabeus in all haste prisoner unto Antiochia.
When these things came to Nicanor, he was astonished, and sore grieved, and he should break the things wherein they had agreed, seeing that that man had committed no wickedness.
But because it was not commodious [convenient]* to him to withstand the King, he fought craftily to accomplish it.
Notwithstanding when Maccabeus perceived that Nicanor began to be rough unto him, and that he entreated him more rudely than he was wonte [custom, habit, practice]*, he perceived that such rigor came not of good, and therefore he gathered a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.
But the other perceiving that he was prevented by Maccabeus worthy policy, came into the great and holy Temple, and commanded the Priests, which were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
And when they swore that they could not tell where the man was, whom he sought,
He stretched out his right hand toward the Temple, and made an oath in this manner, If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will make this Temple of God a plain field, and will break down the altar, and will erect a notable Temple unto Bacchus.
After these words he departed: then the Priests lift up their hands towards heaven, and besought him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner,
Thou, o Lord of all things, which hast need of nothing, would that the Temple of thine habitation should be among us.
Therefore now, o most holy Lord, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stopped all the mouths of the unrighteous.
Now was there accused unto Nicanor, Razis one of the Elders of Jerusalem, a lover of the city, and a man of very good report, which for his love was called a father of the Jews.
For this man afore times when the Jews were minded to keep themselves undefiled and pure, being accused to be of their legion of the Jews, did offer to spend his body and life with all constancy for the religion of the Jews.
So Nicanor willing to declare the hatred that he bore to the Jews, sent about five hundredth men of war to take him.
For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.
But when this company would have taken his castle, and would have broken the gates by violence, and commanded to bring fire to burn the gates, so that he was ready to be taken on every side, he fell on his sword.
Willing rather to die manfully, than to give himself into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer reproach unworthy for his noble stock.
Notwithstanding while there was yet breath in him, being kindled in his mind, he rose up, and though his blood gushed out like a fountain, and he was very sore wounded, yet he ran through the midst of the people,
And got him to the top of an holy rock: so when his blood was utterly gone, he took out his own bowels with both his hands, and threw them upon the people, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, that he would restore him again unto him, and thus he died.
*WP4Y
warriorprincess4yeshua.blog 