1 After three years Yahuḏah was informed that Dĕmĕtrios the son of Seleukus, having entered by the harbour of Tripolis with a fleet of great strength,
2 had taken the country and killed Antioḵos, and Lusias his guardian.
3 Now a certain Elyaqim, who had been kohĕn ha’gadol, and had deliberately defiled himself in the times of their mixing with the gentiles, seeing he could not save himself by any means, nor have any more access to the qodesh altar,
4 came to Sovereign Dĕmĕtrios in the hundred and fifty-first year, presenting a crown of gold to him and a palm, and also the branches which were used on Festivals in the Hĕyḵal. But that day he remained silent.
5 However having taken opportunity to further his foolish plan, and being called into counsel by Dĕmĕtrios and asked how the Yahuḏim stood affected and what they intended, he answered in this way:
6 “Those of the Yahuḏim that are called Ḥasiḏim, whose captain is Yahuḏah Maqqaḇah, fight continually and are treasonous and will not let the others be at peace.
7 “I therefore, being deprived of the honour of my ancestors, meaning the high kehunnah, have now come here.
8 “First indeed for the sincere concern I have of matters pertaining to the sovereign, and secondly, even after that, I intend for the good of my own countrymen; for all our nation is in no small grief through the foolishness of those already mentioned.
9 “Therefore O sovereign, seeing you know all these matters, have concern for this country and our nation which is pressed on every side, according to the gentleness that you readily show to all.
10 “For as long as Yahuḏah lives, it is not possible for the nation to be at rest.”
11 No sooner was this said of him, when other friends of the sovereign, being wickedly disposed toward Yahuḏah, enraged Dĕmĕtrios further.
12 And promptly calling Nikanor, who had been chief over the elephants, and making him governor over Yahuḏah, he sent him out,
13 commanding him to slay Yahuḏah and to scatter those that were with him, and to make Elyaqim kohĕn ha’gadol of the great Hĕyḵal.
14 Then the gentiles that had fled out from Yahuḏah out of Yahuḏah, flocked to Nikanor, thinking the harm and destruction of the Yahuḏim to be to their advantage.
15 Now when the Yahuḏim heard of Nikanor’s coming, and that the gentiles were against them, they threw dust on their heads and pleaded to He who had established His people forever, and who always helps His portion with manifestation of His presence.
16 So at the command of the captain they immediately moved from there and approached those at the town of Dessaou.
17 Now Shim’on, Yahuḏah’s brother, had joined in battle with Nikanor, but was somewhat confused through the sudden silence of his enemies.
18 Nevertheless Nikanor, hearing of the courage of those that were with Yahuḏah, and the courage that they had to fight for their country, did not dare try the matter by the sword.
19 Therefore he sent Poseidonius and Theodotus and Mattithyahu to make peace.
20 So when they had spent a long time taking counsel and the captain had made the multitude aware of this and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they agreed to the covenants,
21 and appointed a day to meet together by themselves. And when the day came, and chairs were placed for either of them,
22 Yahuḏah positioned soldiers at the ready in suitable places, lest some treachery should suddenly be taken by the enemies; so they held peace negotiations.
23 Now Nikanor dwelt in Yerushalayim, and did no harm, but sent away the people that came flocking to him.
24 And he would not readily allow Yahuḏah out of his sight, for he loved the man from his heart.
25 He asked him to also take a wife, and to bring forth children; so he married, was peaceable, and shared in this life.
26 But Elyaqim, perceiving the love that was between them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Dĕmĕtrios and told him that Nikanor was disloyal to the government, in that he had ordained Yahuḏah, a traitor to his reign, to be successor to the sovereign.
27 Then the sovereign being enraged and provoked with the accusations of this very wicked man, wrote to Nikanor signifying that he was very displeased with the covenants, and commanded that he send Maqqaḇah prisoner in all haste to Antioḵeia.
28 When this came to Nikanor’s hearing, he was very troubled within himself, and was grieved that he should annul the conditions that were agreed upon, the man having done no wrong.
29 But because there was no going against the sovereign, he watched for his time to accomplish this matter strategically.
30 However, when Maqqaḇah saw that Nikanor began to harden toward him, and that he dealt with him more roughly than he used to, perceiving that such sour behaviour did not come from goodness, he gathered not a few of his men together, and withdrew himself from Nikanor.
31 But the other, knowing that he was obviously hindered by Yahuḏah’s strategy, came into the great and qodosh Hĕyḵal, and commanded the kohenim that were offering their usual slaughterings to deliver the man to him.
32 And when they swore that they could not tell where the man whom he sought was,
33 he stretched out his right hand toward the Hĕyḵal, and made this oath: “If you will not deliver me Yahuḏah as a prisoner, I will lay this Hĕyḵal of Elohim even to the ground, and I will break down the altar, and build a splendid temple to Dionusos!”
34 After these words he departed. Then the kohenim lifted up their hands toward the shamayim, and pleaded to Him who was always a defender of their nation, saying,
35 “You, O Aḏon of all, who has need of nothing, was pleased that the Hĕyḵal of Your dwelling should be among us.
36 “Now therefore, O qodesh Aḏon of all qodeshah, keep this House which was recently cleansed, undefiled forever, and stop every unrighteous mouth.”
37 Now a certain Razis, one of the elders of Yerushalayim, a lover of his countrymen and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Yahuḏim, was accused before Nikanor.
38 For formerly, when they had not mixed themselves with the gentiles, he had been accused of Yahuḏaism, and boldly risked his body and life with all vehemency for the belief of the Yahuḏim.
39 So Nikanor, wanting to show the hate that he held for the Yahuḏim, sent over five hundred men of battle to capture him.
40 For he thought to do the Yahuḏim much harm by taking him.
41 Now when the multitude had almost taken the tower and violently broken through the outer door and called for fire to be brought to burn it, he, being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
42 choosing to die bravely rattier than to fall into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise appropriate to his noble birth.
43 But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall and threw himself down bravely among the thickest of them.
44 But when they quickly retreated, and made a space, he fell down into the midst of the empty space.
45 Nevertheless, while there was still breath within him, being inflamed with wrath, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were severe, he ran through the midst of the crowd. And standing upon a steep rock,
46 when his blood was now almost gone, he gathered out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he threw them upon the crowd. And calling upon the Aḏon of Ḥai and Ruaḥ to restore those again; therefore he died.