Ozzuu Bible
en_RV1895 - 2ma 11Config
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Now after a very little time [1] Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman and chancellor, being sore displeased for the things that had come to pass,
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[2] Collected about fourscore thousand footmen and all his horsemen and came against the Jews, thinking to make the city [3] a place for Greeks to dwell in,
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And to levy tribute on the temple, as [4] on the other sacred places of the nations, and [5] to put up the high priesthood to sale every year;
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Holding in no account the might of God, but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
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And coming into Judæa and drawing near to [6] Bethsuron, which was a strong place and distant from Jerusalem about [7] five leagues, he pressed it hard.
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But when Maccabæus and his men learned that he was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people with lamentations and tears made supplication unto the Lord [8] to send a good angel to save Israel.
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And Maccabæus himself took up arms first, and exhorted the others to jeopard themselves together with him and succour their brethren; and they sallied forth with him right willingly.
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And as they were there, close to Jerusalem, there appeared [9] at their head one on horseback in white apparel, brandishing [10] weapons of gold.
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And they all together praised [11] the merciful God, and were yet more strengthened in heart: being ready to [12] assail not men only but the wildest beasts, and walls of iron,
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They advanced in array, having him that is in heaven to fight on their side, for the Lord had mercy on them.
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And hurling themselves [13] like lions upon the enemy, [14] they slew of them eleven thousand footmen and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee.
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But the more part of them escaped wounded and naked; and Lysias also himself escaped by shameful flight.
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But as he was a man not void of understanding, weighing with himself the defeat which had befallen him, and considering that [15] the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God fought on their side, he sent again unto them,
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And persuaded them to come to terms on condition that all their rights were acknowledged, and [16] promised [17] that he would also persuade the king to become their friend.
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And Maccabæus gave consent upon all the conditions which [18] Lysias proposed to him, being careful of the common good; for whatsoever requests Maccabæus delivered in writing unto Lysias concerning the Jews the king allowed.
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For the letters written unto the Jews from Lysias were to this effect: LYSIAS unto the [19] people of the Jews, greeting.
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John and [20] Absalom, who were sent from you, having delivered the [21] petition written below, made request concerning the things signified therein.
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What things soever therefore had need to be brought before the king I declared to him, and what things were possible he allowed.
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If then ye will preserve your good will toward the state, henceforward also will I endeavour to contribute to your good.
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[22] And on this behalf I have given order in detail, both to these men and to those that are sent from me, to confer with you.
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[23] Fare ye well. Written in the hundred forty and eighth year, on the four and twentieth day of the month [24] Dioscorinthius.
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Seeing that our father passed unto the gods having the wish that the subjects of his kingdom [26] should be undisturbed and give themselves to the care of their own affairs,
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We, having heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's purpose [27] to turn them unto the customs of the Greeks, but choose rather their own manner of living, and make request [28] that the customs of their law be allowed unto them,—
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Choosing therefore that this nation also should be free from [29] disturbance, we determine that their temple [30] be restored to them, and [31] that they live according to the customs that were in the days of their ancestors.
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Thou wilt therefore do well to send messengers unto them and give them [32] the right hand of friendship, that they, knowing our mind, may be of good heart, and gladly occupy themselves with the conduct of their own affairs.
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And unto the nation the king's letter was after this manner: King Antiochus to [33] the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting.
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They therefore that depart home up to the thirtieth day of Xanthicus shall have our [35] friendship, with full permission
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That the Jews use their own proper meats and observe their own laws, even as heretofore; and none of them shall be in any way molested for the things that have been ignorantly done.
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[37] Fare ye well. Written in the hundred forty and eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.
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And the [38] Romans also sent unto them a letter in these words: QUINTUS Memmius and Titus Manius, ambassadors of the Romans, unto the people of the Jews, greeting.
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But as for the things which he judged [40] should be referred to the king, send one forthwith, after ye have advised thereof, that we may publish such decrees as befit your case; for we are on our way to [41] Antioch.
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[42] [43] Farewell. Written in the hundred forty and eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.