Christ orPnans> w^ows, yea, and the aged also,
dr. 166. equal in spoils with themselves.
31 And when they had gathered their
armour together, they laid them up all
carefully in convenient places, and the
remnant of the spoils they brought to
Jerusalem.
32 They flew also Philarches, that wick ed person, who was with Timotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways.
33 Furthermore at such time as they kept the feast for the victory in their coun try they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire upon the holy gates, who had fled in to a little house ; and so he received a re ward meet for his wickedness.
34 As for that most ungracious Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants ^»<r'. 15. to buy the Jews,
35 He was through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom he made least account'; and putting off" his glorious apparel, and discharging his company, he came like a fugitive servant through the midland unto Antioch, having very great dishonour, for that his host was destroyed.
- T«r. 10. 26 Thus he, that ' took upon him to
make good to the Romans their tribute by means of the captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the Jews had God to fight for them, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws that he gave them.
CHAP. IX.
ABOUT that time came Antiochus Ov, dis. || with dishonour a out of the coun- 'Æc. try of Persia.
2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend them selves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antio chus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame.
3 Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.
4 Then swelling with anger, he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him oy those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotmen to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of Cod- now following him. For he had'spoken proudly CHR1ST in this fort, That he would come to Jeru- dr. 164, salem, and make it a common burying- place of the Jews.
5 But the Lord Almighty, the God of" Israel, smote him with an incurable and' ' invisible plague : for as soon as he had spoken these words, b a pain of the bowels b 1 Mac*, that was remediless came upon him, and ,9r' fore torments of the inner parts ;.
6 And that most justly : for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments.
7 Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride,, breathing out fire in his- rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the jour ney : but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently ; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his- body were much pained.
8 And thus he that a little aforethought he might command the waves of the sea,, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto* all the manifest power of God.
9 SothatcthewormsroseupoutofthecA&>»■*■ body of this wicked man, and whiles he *3, lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.
10 And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars 6f heaven,, no man could endure to carry for his into lerable stink.
11 Here therefore, being plagued, he- began to leave off* his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God,, his pain increasing every moment.
12 And when he himself could not abide- his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a. man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself, as if he were God.
13. This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,
14 That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste, to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common bury- ingplace,) he would set at liberty :
15 And as touching the Jews, whom he- had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to^be cast out with their child ren to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of H Athens:
