2 Maccabees 13

1In the one hundred forty-ninth year, it happened to those around Judas that Antiochus Eupator had arrived with forces against Judea,

2and with him Lysias, the guardian and overseer of affairs, each having a Greek force: eleven myriads of infantry, five thousand three hundred cavalry, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred scythed chariots.

3Menelaus also joined them and, with great insincerity, kept urging Antiochus on—not for the safety of the fatherland, but because he thought he would be established in power.

4But the King of kings stirred up Antiochus’s anger against the wretch, and when Lysias pointed him out as being responsible for the evils and for everything, he ordered them to put him to death, taking him to Beroea, as is the custom in that place.

5In that place there was a tower fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had all around it a circular contrivance sloping steeply down into the ashes.

6Here everyone pushes on to destruction the man guilty of temple robbery, or one who has committed some outstanding excess of other evils.

7By such a fate the lawless Menelaus happened to die, not even obtaining burial in the earth.

8Very justly; for because he had committed many sins against the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he met his death in ashes.

9But the king, weighed down in spirit, advanced, intending to inflict on the Jews the worst things that had happened under his father.

10And when Judas learned these things, he ordered the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, that, as at other times, so now also he might come to their aid,

11[they were] about to be deprived of the law and fatherland and holy temple, and [he urged them] not to allow the people, who had just now recovered a little, to become subject to the reviling nations.

12And when all had done the same together and had implored the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and prostration for three days without ceasing, Judas encouraged them and ordered them to assemble.

13But he himself, after meeting with the elders, decided, before the king’s army could invade Judea and gain control of the city, to go out and decide the matter with the help of God.

14And after entrusting the outcome to the Lord of the world, and urging those with him to fight bravely to the death for the laws, the temple, the city, the homeland, and the commonwealth, he encamped near Modein.

15And after giving those around him the battle cry, “God’s Victory,” he attacked the royal court by night with the finest armed young men, struck down about two thousand men in the camp, and cut down the leading elephant together with its rider.

16And in the end they filled the camp with fear and confusion, and withdrew prosperously.

17And when day was already beginning to appear, this had happened because the Lord’s protection had quickly come to his aid.

18But the king, having learned by experience the Jews’ boldness, tried to take the strongholds by stratagems,

19And at Bethsura he attacked a small garrison of the Jews, but was turned back, was repulsed, and was weakened.

20But Judas kept sending in what was needed to those inside.

21But Rhodocus, from the Jewish ranks, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; he was sought out and caught and imprisoned.

22The king negotiated further with those in Bethsura, gave and received pledges of good faith, and went away,

23He attacked those around Judas, but was defeated. Having become desperate, he took action against Philip in Antioch, the one left in charge of affairs; he was thrown into confusion, appealed to the Jews, submitted, and swore to all the just terms. He was reconciled and offered sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and the place, and showed kindness.

24And he received Maccabaeus favorably, and left Hegemonides as commander from Ptolemais as far as the Gerrenians,

25He came to Ptolemais. The people of Ptolemais were displeased about the terms, for they were exceedingly fearful, and they wanted to set aside the arrangements.

26Lysias came forward to the tribunal, made as good a defense as he could, persuaded them, calmed them, made them well-disposed, and marched back to Antioch. Thus the king’s attack and withdrawal proceeded.