2 Maccabees 11

1 Not very long afterward, Lysias — the king’s guardian and kinsman, and the man set over affairs — took what had happened very hard. [a] 2 He gathered about eighty thousand men, with all his cavalry, and came against the Jews, meaning to make the city a place for Greeks to live in, 3 to make the temple a source of silver, like the other sacred precincts of the nations, and to put the chief priesthood up for sale year by year. [b] 4 He took no account at all of the strength of God, but was puffed up with his tens of thousands of foot soldiers, his thousands of horsemen, and his eighty elephants. 5 He came into Judea, drew near Beth-zur, a fortified place a little over half a mile from Jerusalem, and pressed hard on it. [c]

6 When Maccabeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and the crowds with them begged the Lord with groaning and tears to send a good messenger to rescue Israel. [d] 7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the others to run the risk along with him and go to the help of their brothers. So they set out together, and eagerly. 8 There, while they were still close to Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head in white clothing, shaking golden armor. 9 Together they all blessed the merciful God, and their spirits were so strengthened that they were ready to pierce not only men but the wildest beasts and walls of iron. 10 They advanced in battle order, with their ally from heaven; for the Lord had shown them mercy. 11 They flung themselves on the enemy like lions and laid low eleven thousand foot soldiers and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee. 12 Most of those got away wounded and stripped of their arms; and Lysias himself escaped by a shameful flight.

13 He was not a stupid man. Turning over in his mind the defeat he had suffered, and seeing that the Hebrews could not be beaten because God, who is able, was fighting on their side, [e] 14 he sent to them and persuaded them to come to terms on everything that was just, and said he would win the king over too and press him to become their friend. 15 Maccabeus agreed to everything Lysias urged, since he had the common good in mind; for whatever Maccabeus set down in writing to Lysias about the Jews, the king granted.

16 These are the letters that were written to the Jews. The one from Lysias ran like this: “Lysias to the people of the Jews, greetings. [f] 17 John and Absalom, who were sent by you, handed over the document written below and asked about the matters it names. 18 Whatever had to be laid before the king I made clear to him, and what could be allowed, he allowed. 19 If, then, you keep up your goodwill toward the government, I will try in the future as well to help bring good things about. 20 About these matters and the details of them, I have given orders both to your men and to mine to talk them over with you. 21 Farewell. The 148th year, the twenty-fourth of Dioscorinthius.” [g]

22 The king’s letter ran like this: “King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings. [h] 23 Now that our father has passed over to the gods, it is our will that those in the kingdom be left undisturbed to look after their own affairs. [i] 24 We have heard that the Jews do not agree with our father’s change to Greek ways, but choose their own manner of life and ask that their own customs be allowed them. 25 Choosing, then, that this nation too should be free of disturbance, we determine that their temple be given back to them, and that they live as citizens by the customs of their forefathers. 26 You will do well, then, to send to them and give them your right hand, so that when they know our purpose they may take heart and go about their own business gladly.”

27 And the king’s letter to the nation was this: “King Antiochus to the council of elders of the Jews and to the rest of the Jews, greetings. [j] 28 If you are well, it is as we wish; we too are in good health. 29 Menelaus has made it plain to us that you wish to go home and see to your own affairs. 30 So those who come home by the thirtieth of Xanthicus shall have our right hand, and safety with it. 31 The Jews may use their own foods and their own laws, as before, and none of them shall be troubled in any way for what was done in ignorance. [k] 32 I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you. 33 Farewell. The 148th year, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.” [l]

34 The Romans also sent them a letter, which ran like this: “Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greetings. [m] 35 Whatever Lysias, the king’s kinsman, has granted you, we too agree to. 36 But about the matters he judged should be referred to the king — look them over and send someone at once, so that we may set them out as suits you; for we are on our way to Antioch. 37 So hurry and send some men, that we too may learn what your mind is. 38 Be well. The 148th year, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.”