按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the incursions of enemies； and set guards therein。 He also
fortified the city Bethsura； that it might serve as a citadel
against any distresses that might come from our enemies。
CHAPTER 8。
How Judas Subdued The Nations Round About； And How Simon Beat The
People Of Tyre And Ptolemais； And How Judas Overcame Timotheus；
And Forced Him To Fly Away； And Did Many Other Things After
Joseph And Azarias Had Been Beaten
1。 When these things were over； the nations round about the Jews
were very uneasy at the revival of their power； and rose up
together； and destroyed many of them； as gaining advantage over
them by laying snares for them； and making secret conspiracies
against them。 Judas made perpetual expeditions against these men；
and endeavored to restrain them from those incursions； and to
prevent the mischiefs they did to the Jews。 So he fell upon the
Idumeans； the posterity of Esau； at Acrabattene； and slew a great
many of them； and took their spoils。 He also shut up the sons of
Bean； that laid wait for the Jews； and he sat down about them；
and besieged them； and burnt their towers； and destroyed the men
＇that were in them＇。 After this he went thence in haste against
the Ammonites； who had a great and a numerous army； of which
Timotheus was the commander。 And when he had subdued them； he
seized on the city Jazer； and took their wives and their children
captives； and burnt the city； and then returned into Judea。 But
when the neighboring nations understood that he was returned；
they got together in great numbers in the land of Gilead； and
came against those Jews that were at their borders； who then fled
to the garrison of Dathema； and sent to Judas； to inform him that
Timotheus was endeavoring to take the place whither they were
fled。 And as these epistles were reading； there came other
messengers out of Galilee； who informed him that the inhabitants
of Ptolemais； and of Tyre and Sidon； and strangers of Galilee；
were gotten together。
2。 Accordingly Judas； upon considering what was fit to be done；
with relation to the necessity both these cases required； gave
order that Simon his brother should take three thousand chosen
men； and go to the assistance of the Jews in Galilee； while he
and another of his brothers； Jonathan； made haste into the land
of Gilead； with eight thousand soldiers。 And he left Joseph； the
son of Zacharias； and Azarias； to be over the rest of the forces；
and charged them to keep Judea very carefully； and to fight no
battles with any persons whomsoever until his return。
Accordingly； Simon…went into Galilee； and fought the enemy； and
put them to flight； and pursued them to the very gates of
Ptolemais； and slew about three thousand of them； and took the
spoils of those that were slain； and those Jews whom they had
made captives； with their baggage； and then returned home。
3。 Now as for Judas Maccabeus； and his brother Jonathan； they
passed over the river Jordan； and when they had gone three days
journey； they lighted upon the Nabateans； who came to meet them
peaceably； and who told them how the affairs of those in the land
of Gilead stood； and how many of them were in distress； and
driven into garrisons； and into the cities of Galilee； and
exhorted him to make haste to go against the foreigners； and to
endeavor to save his own countrymen out of their hands。 To this
exhortation Judas hearkened； and returned to the wilderness； and
in the first place fell upon the inhabitants of Bosor； and took
the city； and beat the inhabitants； and destroyed all the males；
and all that were able to fight； and burnt the city。 Nor did he
stop even when night came on； but he journeyed in it to the
garrison where the Jews happened to be then shut up； and where
Timotheus lay round the place with his army。 And Judas came upon
the city in the morning； and when he found that the enemy were
making an assault upon the walls； and that some of them brought
ladders； on which they might get upon those walls； and that
others brought engines ＇to batter them＇； he bid the trumpeter to
sound his trumpet； and he encouraged his soldiers cheerfully to
undergo dangers for the sake of their brethren and kindred； he
also parted his army into three bodies； and fell upon the backs
of their enemies。 But when Timotheus's men perceived that it was
Maccabeus that was upon them； of both whose courage and good
success in war they had formerly had sufficient experience； they
were put to flight； but Judas followed them with his army； and
slew about eight thousand of them。 He then turned aside to a city
of the foreigners called Malle； and took it； and slew all the
males； and burnt the city itself。 He then removed from thence；
and overthrew Casphom and Bosor； and many other cities of the
land of Gilead。
4。 But not long after this； Timotheus prepared a great army； and
took many others as auxiliaries； and induced some of the
Arabians； by the promise of rewards； to go with him in this
expedition； and came with his army beyond the brook； over against
the city Raphon； and he encouraged his soldiers； if it came to a
battle with the Jews； to fight courageously； and to hinder their
passing over the brook； for he said to them beforehand； that 〃if
they come over it； we shall be beaten。〃 And when Judas heard that
Timotheus prepared himself to fight； he took all his own army；
and went in haste against Timotheus his enemy； and when he had
passed over the brook； he fell upon his enemies； and some of them
met him； whom he slew； and others of them he so terrified； that
he compelled them to throw down their arms and fly； and some of
them escaped； but some of them fled to what was called the Temple
of Camaim； and hoped thereby to preserve themselves； but Judas
took the city； and slew them； and burnt the temple； and so used
several ways of destroying his enemies。
5。 When he had done this； he gathered the Jews together； with
their children and wives； and the substance that belonged to
them； and was going to bring them back into Judea； but as soon as
he was come to a certain city； whose name was Ephron； that lay
upon the road； （and it was not possible for him to go any other
way； so he was not willing to go back again；） he then sent to the
inhabitants； and desired that they would open their gates； and
permit them to go on their way through the city； for they had
stopped up the gates with stones； and cut off their passage
through it。 And when the inhabitants of Ephron would not agree to
this proposal； he encouraged those that were with him； and
encompassed the city round； and besieged it； and； lying round it
by day and night； took the city； and slew every male in it； and
burnt it all down； and so obtained a way through it； and the
multitude of those that were slain was so great； that they went
over the dead bodies。 So they came over Jordan； and arrived at
the great plain； over against which is situate the city Bethshah；
which is called by the Greeks Scythopolis。 （20） And going away
hastily from thence； they came into Judea； singing psalms and
hymns as they went； and indulging such tokens of mirth as are
usual in triumphs upon victory。 They also offered
thank…offerings；