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katapi HOME 1 Maccabees 3:1-26 - Judas Maccabaeus - early victories.  1Mace.3.1-26- 2Mace.8.1-7 | KNSB Contents | notes

3 1 Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place. 3 2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.

3 3 He extended the glory of his people.
Like a giant he put on his breastplate;
he girded on his armor of war and waged battles,
protecting the host by his sword.
3 4 He was like a lion in his deeds,
like a lion's cub roaring for prey.
3 5 He searched out and pursued the lawless;
he burned those who troubled his people.
3 6 Lawless men shrank back for fear of him;
all the evildoers were confounded;
and deliverance prospered by his hand.
3 7 He embittered many kings,
but he made Jacob glad by his deeds,
and his memory is blessed for ever.
3 8 He went through the cities of Judah;
he destroyed the ungodly out of the land;
thus he turned away wrath from Israel.
3 9 He was renowned to the ends of the earth;
he gathered in those who were perishing.

3 10 But Apollonius gathered together Gentiles and a large force from Samaria to fight against Israel. 3 11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him. Many were wounded and fell, and the rest fled. 3 12 Then they seized their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and used it in battle the rest of his life.

3 13 Now when Seron, the commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him and went out to battle, 3 14 he said, "I will make a name for myself and win honour in the kingdom. I will make war on Judas and his companions, who scorn the king's command." 3 15 And again a strong army of ungodly men went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the sons of Israel.

3 16 When he approached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a small company. 3 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, "How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and strong a multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today." 3 18 Judas replied, "It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. 3 19 It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. 3 20 They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us; 3 21 but we fight for our lives and our laws. 3 22 He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them."

3 23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were crushed before him. 3 24 They pursued them down the descent of Beth-horon to the plain; eight hundred of them fell, and the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.

3 25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell upon the Gentiles round about them. 3 26 His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of the battles of Judas.