Christ to°k sp°ils thereof, and passed through
cir. 164. the city over them that were flain.
52 After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethfan.
53 And Judas gathered together those wltbind t^lat " came "behind, and H exhorted the peo- 'Zl'p, '" ' pie all the way through, till they came Numb.io. into the land of Judea, jor,
54 So they went up to mount Sion with com/orted, joy and gladness, where they offered II burnt ra/,7'"' offerings, because not one of them were II 6r,' slain until they had returned in peace. if "im 5 5 N°w wnat time as Judas and Jonathan Josenf?.' were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his Antlq. brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,
5° Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Aza- rias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.
57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.
58 So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went towards Jamnia.
59 Then came Gorgias and his men out °^ tne c'ltY^ to fight against them. tbem tn
60 And so it was, that Joseph and Aza- battU. rias were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: ana there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.
61 Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his bre thren, but thought to do some valiant act.
62 Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
63 Howbeit the man Judas and his bre thren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and or all the heathen, where soever their name was heard of ;
64 Insomuch as the people assembled un to them with joyful acclamations.
65 Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, andfought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the t towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.
66 From thence he removed to go into t Gr. the land of t the Philistines, and passed jegbttrt. through Samaria.
67 At that time certain priests, desirous to mew their valour, were flain in battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly
68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.
{{c}CHAP. VI. }}
ABOUT that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard fay, that Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold ;
2 And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were II coverings or gold, II or, and breastplates, and II shields, which A- lexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian armour. king, who reigned first among the Gre cians, had left there.
3 Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,
4 Rose up against him in battle : so he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, and returned to Babylon.
5 Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies, yvhich went against the land of Judea, were put to flight :
6 And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power, was driven away of the Jews ; and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten of the armies, whom they had destroyed
7 Also that they had pulled down 1 the ach.i.54. abomination, which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city Bethsura.
8 Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved : where upon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not be fallen him as he looked for.
9 And there he continued many days : for his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die.
10 Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from,
