DB1 | Letter: Antiochus IV Epiphanes to Lycias. (164 BCE) 2Mace.11.26 | KNSB Contents | notes| 11 | katapi NEW STUDY BIBLE | Passage | Old Testament in Greek (Septuagint) |
| 22 | The king's letter ran thus: "King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. | Letter: Antiochus IV Epiphanes to Lycias. (164 BCE) 2Mace.11.26 | Ἡ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιστολὴ περιεῖχεν οὕτως Βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος τῷ ἀδελφῷ Λυσίᾳ χαίρειν. |
| 23 | Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their own affairs. | τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν εἰς θεοὺς μεταστάντος βουλόμενοι τοὺς ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας ἀταράχους ὄντας γενέσθαι πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἰδίων ἐπιμέλειαν | |
| 24 | We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to Greek customs but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own customs be allowed them. | ἀκηκοότες τοὺς Ιουδαίους μὴ συνευδοκοῦντας τῇ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπὶ τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ μεταθέσει, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀγωγὴν αἱρετίζοντας ἀξιοῦντας συγχωρηθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὰ νόμιμα, | |
| 25 | Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also be free from disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live according to the customs of their ancestors. | αἱρούμενοι οὖν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἔθνος ἐκτὸς ταραχῆς εἶναι κρίνομεν τό τε ἱερὸν ἀποκατασταθῆναι αὐτοῖς καὶ πολιτεύεσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν προγόνων αὐτῶν ἔθη. | |
| 26 | You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of good cheer and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs." | εὖ οὖν ποιήσεις διαπεμψάμενος πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ δοὺς δεξιάς, ὅπως εἰδότες τὴν ἡμετέραν προαίρεσιν εὔθυμοί τε ὦσιν καὶ ἡδέως διαγίνωνται πρὸς τῇ τῶν ἰδίων ἀντιλήμψει. | |
| 27 | To the nation the king's letter was as follows: "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting. | Letter: Antiochus IV Epiphanes to the Jews. (164 BCE) 2Mace.11.27-33 | Πρὸς δὲ τὸ ἔθνος ἡ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιστολὴ τοιάδε ἦν Βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος τῇ γερουσίᾳ τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Ιουδαίοις χαίρειν. |
| 28 | If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health. | εἰ ἔρρωσθε, εἴη ἂν ὡς βουλόμεθα· καὶ αὐτοὶ δὲ ὑγιαίνομεν. | |
| 29 | Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after your own affairs. | ἐνεφάνισεν ἡμῖν Μενέλαος βούλεσθαι κατελθόντας ὑμᾶς γίνεσθαι πρὸς τοῖς ἰδίοις. | |
| 30 | Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission | τοῖς οὖν καταπορευομένοις μέχρι τριακάδος Ξανθικοῦ ὑπάρξει δεξιὰ μετὰ τῆς ἀδείας | |
| 31 | for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and none of them shall be molested in any way for what he may have done in ignorance. | χρῆσθαι τοὺς Ιουδαίους τοῖς ἑαυτῶν δαπανήμασιν καὶ νόμοις, καθὰ καὶ τὸ πρότερον, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν κατ' οὐδένα τρόπον παρενοχληθήσεται περὶ τῶν ἠγνοημένων. | |
| 32 | And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you. | πέπομφα δὲ καὶ τὸν Μενέλαον παρακαλέσοντα ὑμᾶς. | |
| 33 | Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." | ἔρρωσθε. ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ τεσσαρακοστοῦ ὀγδόου, Ξανθικοῦ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ. | |