2 Maccabees 10

2 Maccabees 10, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. But Maccabeus and those who were with him, the Lord protecting them, even recovered the temple and the city.

   Machabæus autem, et qui cum eo erant, Domino se protegente, templum quidem et civitatem recepit:

2. 2

   Then he demolished the altars, which the foreigners had constructed in the streets, and likewise the shrines.

   aras autem quas alienigenæ per plateas exstruxerant, itemque delubra demolitus est:

3. 3

   And, having purged the temple, they made another altar. And, taking glowing stones from the fire, they began to offer sacrifices again after two years, and they set out incense, and lamps, and the bread of the Presence.

   et purgato templo, aliud altare fecerunt, et de ignitis lapidibus igne concepto sacrificia obtulerunt post biennium, et incensum, et lucernas, et panes propositionis posuerunt.

4. 4

   Having done these things, they petitioned the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, lest they should fall once more into such evils, but also, if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more mildly, and not be delivered over to barbarians and blasphemous men.

   Quibus gestis, rogabant Dominum prostrati in terram, ne amplius talibus malis inciderent: sed et, siquando peccassent, ut ab ipso mitius corriperentur, et non barbaris ac blasphemis hominibus traderentur.

5. 5

   Then, on the day that the temple had been polluted by the foreigners, it happened on the same day that the purification was accomplished, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, which was Kislev.

   Qua die autem templum ab alienigenis pollutum fuerat, contigit eadem die purificationem fieri, vigesima quinta mensis qui fuit Casleu.

6. 6

   And they celebrated for eight days with joy, in the manner of the Feast of Tabernacles, remembering that, a little time before, they had celebrated the solemn days of the Feast of Tabernacles in mountains and caves, in the manner of wild beasts.

   Et cum lætitia diebus octo egerunt in modum tabernaculorum, recordantes quod ante modicum temporis diem solemnem tabernaculorum in montibus et in speluncis more bestiarum egerant.

7. 7

   Because of this, they now preferred to carry boughs and green branches and palms, for him who had prospered the cleansing of his place.

   Propter quod thyrsos, et ramos virides, et palmas præferebant ei qui prosperavit mundari locum suum.

8. 8

   And they decreed a common precept and decree, that all the people of the Jews should keep those days every year.

   Et decreverunt communi præcepto et decreto universæ genti Judæorum omnibus annis agere dies istos.

9. 9

   Now certainly Antiochus, who was called illustrious, held himself to be so at the passing of his life.

   Et Antiochi quidem, qui appellatus est Nobilis, vitæ excessus ita se habuit.

10. 10

    But next we will describe what happened with Eupator, the son of the impious Antiochus, abridging the evils which happened in the wars.

    Nunc autem de Eupatore Antiochi impii filio quæ gesta sunt narrabimus, breviantes mala quæ in bellis gesta sunt.

11. 11

    For when he assumed the kingdom, he appointed, over the affairs of the kingdom, a certain Lysias, leader of the Phoenician and Syrian military.

    Hic enim suscepto regno, constituit super negotia regni Lysiam quemdam, Phœnicis et Syriæ militiæ principem.

12. 12

    For Ptolemy, who was called Macer, decided to be strict in justice toward the Jews, especially because of the iniquity that had been done to them, and to deal with them peacefully.

    Nam Ptolemæus, qui dicebatur Macer, justi tenax erga Judæos esse constituit, et præcipue propter iniquitatem quæ facta erat in eos, et pacifice agere cum eis.

13. 13

    But, for this reason, he was accused before Eupator by his friends, and was frequently called a traitor. For he had deserted Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him. And so, transferring to Antiochus the illustrious, he even withdrew from him. And he ended his life by poison.

    Sed ob hoc accusatus ab amicis apud Eupatorem, cum frequenter proditor audiret, eo quod Cyprum creditam sibi a Philometore deseruisset, et ad Antiochum Nobilem translatus etiam ab eo recessisset, veneno vitam finivit.

14. 14

    But Gorgias, when he was the leader of the places, taking to him new arrivals, frequently made war against the Jews.

    Gorgias autem cum esset dux locorum, assumptis advenis, frequenter Judæos debellabat.

15. 15

    In truth, the Jews, who held the strategic fortresses, took in those who were fleeing from Jerusalem, and they attempted to make war.†

    Judæi vero qui tenebant opportunas munitiones, fugatos ab Jerosolymis suscipiebant, et bellare tentabant.

16. 16

    In fact, those who were with Maccabeus, petitioning the Lord through prayers to be their helper, made a forceful attack upon the fortresses of the Idumeans.

    Hi vero qui erant cum Machabæo, per orationes Dominum rogantes ut esset sibi adjutor, impetum fecerunt in munitiones Idumæorum:

17. 17

    And, persevering with much force, they obtained the places, killing those they met, and cutting down in all no less than twenty thousand.

    multaque vi insistentes, loca obtinuerunt, occurrentes interemerunt, et omnes simul non minus viginti millibus trucidaverunt.

18. 18

    Yet certain ones, when they had fled into two well-fortified towers, gave all appearance of fighting back.

    Quidam autem cum confugissent in duas turres valde munitas, omnem apparatum ad repugnandum habentes,

19. 19

    So Maccabeus left behind Simon and Joseph, and likewise Zachaeus, and those who were with them, to fight against them. And since those who were with them were sufficient in number, he turned back to those who attacked more forcefully.

    Machabæus ad eorum expugnationem relicto Simone, et Josepho, itemque Zachæo, eisque qui cum ipsis erant satis multis, ipse ad eas quæ amplius perurgebant pugnas conversus est.

20. 20

    In truth, those who were with Simon, being led by avarice, were persuaded by money from certain ones who were in the towers. And accepting seventy thousand didrachmas, they allowed certain ones to flee.

    Hi vero qui cum Simone erant, cupiditate ducti, a quibusdam qui in turribus erant, suasi sunt pecunia: et septuaginta millibus didrachmis acceptis, dimiserunt quosdam effugere.

21. 21

    But when what was done had been reported to Maccabeus, gathering together the leaders of the people, he accused those who had sold their brothers for money, having sent away their adversaries.

    Cum autem Machabæo nuntiatum esset quod factum est, principibus populi congregatis accusavit quod pecunia fratres vendidissent, adversariis eorum dimissis.

22. 22

    Therefore, he executed these who had acted as traitors, and he quickly captured the two towers.

    Hos igitur proditores factos interfecit, et confestim duas turres occupavit.

23. 23

    And so, having success in arms and in all things that he took in hand, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.

    Armis autem ac manibus omnia prospere agendo in duabus munitionibus plus quam viginti millia peremit.

24. 24

    And Timothy, who had been overcome by the Jews before, calling together a multitude of foreign troops and gathering horsemen from Asia, arrived as if he would capture Judea with arms.

    At Timotheus, qui prius a Judæis fuerat superatus, convocato exercitu peregrinæ multitudinis, et congregato equitatu Asiano, advenit quasi armis Judæam capturus.

25. 25

    But Maccabeus, and those who were with him, as he was approaching, beseeched the Lord, sprinkling dirt on their heads and wrapping their waists with haircloth.

    Machabæus autem et qui cum ipso erant, appropinquante illo, deprecabantur Dominum, caput terra aspergentes, lumbosque ciliciis præcincti,

26. 26

    And lying prostrate at the pedestal of the altar, they beseeched him to be forgiving to them, but to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, just as the law says.

    ad altaris crepidinem provoluti, ut sibi propitius, inimicis autem eorum esset inimicus, et adversariis adversaretur, sicut lex dicit.

27. 27

    And so, after prayer, taking up arms, they proceeded further from the city, and, reaching close proximity to the enemies, they settled in.

    Et ita post orationem, sumptis armis, longius de civitate procedentes, et proximi hostibus effecti, resederunt.

28. 28

    But, as soon as the sun rose, both sides joined battle: these ones having the guarantee of victory and success by the strength of the Lord, yet the others having courage as their leader in battle.

    Primo autem solis ortu utrique commiserunt: isti quidem victoriæ et prosperitatis sponsorem cum virtute Dominum habentes: illi autem ducem belli animum habebant.

29. 29

    But, while they were fighting vehemently, to the adversaries there appeared from heaven five men on horses, which were adorned with bridles of gold, providing leadership to the Jews.

    Sed cum vehemens pugna esset, apparuerunt adversariis de cælo viri quinque in equis, frenis aureis decori, ducatum Judæis præstantes:

30. 30

    Two of them, having Maccabeus in the middle and surrounding him with their weapons, kept him safe. But, at the enemy, they cast darts and lightning, so that they fell down, being both confused with blindness and filled with disturbances.

    ex quibus duo Machabæum medium habentes, armis suis circumseptum incolumem conservabant: in adversarios autem tela et fulmina jaciebant, ex quo et cæcitate confusi et repleti perturbatione, cadebant.

31. 31

    Moreover, there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, along with six hundred horsemen.

    Interfecti sunt autem viginti millia quingenti, et equites sexcenti.

32. 32

    In fact, Timothy fled away to Gazara, to a fortified stronghold, where Chaereas was in charge.

    Timotheus vero confugit in Gazaram præsidium munitum, cui præerat Chæreas.

33. 33

    Then Maccabeus, and those who were with him, joyfully besieged the stronghold for four days.

    Machabæus autem et qui cum eo erant, lætantes obsederunt præsidium diebus quatuor.

34. 34

    But those who were inside, trusting to the strength of the place, spoke evil without limit and cast out nefarious words.

    At hi qui intus erant, loci firmitate confisi, supra modum maledicebant, et sermones nefandos jactabant.

35. 35

    But when the fifth day began to dawn, twenty youths of those who were with Maccabeus, inflamed in soul because of the blasphemy, manfully approached to the wall, and, advancing with fierce courage, ascended it.

    Sed cum dies quinta illucesceret, viginti juvenes ex his qui cum Machabæo erant, accensi animis propter blasphemiam, viriliter accesserunt ad murum, et feroci animo incedentes ascendebant:

36. 36

    Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

    sed et alii similiter ascendentes, turres portasque succendere aggressi sunt, atque ipsos maledicos vivos concremare.

37. 37

    Then, having continued throughout two days to lay waste to the fortress, they killed Timothy, who was found hiding himself in a certain place. And they also killed his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.†

    Per continuum autem biduum præsidio vastato, Timotheum occultantem se in quodam repertum loco peremerunt: et fratrem illius Chæream et Apollophanem occiderunt.

38. 38

    When this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and confessions, who had done great things in Israel and had given them the victory.

    Quibus gestis, in hymnis et confessionibus benedicebant Dominum, qui magna fecit in Israël, et victoriam dedit illis.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)