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of every one's own virtues。 Do you then esteem Simon as your
father； because he is a man of extraordinary prudence； and be
governed by him in what counsels be gives you。 Take Maccabeus for
the general of your army； because of his courage and strength；
for he will avenge your nation； and will bring vengeance on your
enemies。 Admit among you the righteous and religious； and augment
their power。〃
4。 When Mattathias had thus discoursed to his sons； and had
prayed to God to be their assistant； and to recover to the people
their former constitution； he died a little afterward； and was
buried at Modin； all the people making great lamentation for him。
Whereupon his son Judas took upon him the administration of
public affairs； in the hundred fbrty and sixth year； and thus； by
the ready assistance of his brethren； and of others； Judas cast
their enemies out of the country； and put those of their own
country to death who had transgressed its laws； and purified the
land of all the pollutions that were in it。
CHAPTER 7。
How Judas Overthrew The Forces Of Apollonius And Seron And Killed
The Generals Of Their Armies Themselves； And How When； A Little
While Afterwards Lysias And Gorgias Were Beaten He Went Up To
Jerusalem And Purified The Temple。
1。 When Apollonius； the general of the Samaritan forces； heard
this； he took his army； and made haste to go against Judas； who
met him； and joined battle with him； and beat him； and slew many
of his men； and among them Apollonius himself； their general；
whose sword being that which he happened then to wear； he seized
upon； and kept for himself； but he wounded more than he slew； and
took a great deal of prey from the enemy's camp； and went his
way。 But when Seron； who was general of the army of Celesyria；
heard that many had joined themselves to Judas； and that he had
about him an army sufficient for fighting； and for making war； he
determined to make an expedition against him； as thinking it
became him to endeavor to punish those that transgressed the
king's injunctions。 He then got together an army； as large as he
was able； and joined to it the runagate and wicked Jews； and came
against Judas。 He came as far as Bethhoron； a village of Judea；
and there pitched his camp； upon which Judas met him； and when he
intended to give him battle； he saw that his soldiers were
backward to fight； because their number was small； and because
they wanted food； for they were fasting； he encouraged them； and
said to them； that victory and conquest of enemies are not
derived from the multitude in armies； but in the exercise of
piety towards God； and that they had the plainest instances in
their forefathers； who； by their righteousness； exerting
themselves on behalf of their own laws； and their own children；
had frequently conquered many ten thousands； … for innocence is
the strongest army。 By this speech he induced his men to contenm
the multitude of the enemy； and to fall upon Seron。 And upon
joining battle with him； he beat the Syrians； and when their
general fell among the rest； they all ran away with speed； as
thinking that to be their best way of escaping。 So he pursued
them unto the plain； and slew about eight hundred of the enemy；
but the rest escaped to the region which lay near to the sea。
2。 When king Antiochus heard of these things； he was very angry
at what had happened； so he got together all his own army； with
many mercenaries； whom he had hired from the islands； and took
them with him； and prepared to break into Judea about the
beginning of the spring。 But when； upon his mustering his
soldiers； he perceived that his treasures were deficient； and
there was a want of money in them； for all the taxes were not
paid； by reason of the seditions there had been among the nations
he having been so magnanimous and so liberal； that what he had
was not sufficient for him； he therefore resolved first to go
into Persia； and collect the taxes of that country。 Hereupon he
left one whose name was Lysias； who was in great repute with him
governor of the kingdom； as far as the bounds of Egypt； and of
the Lower Asia； and reaching from the river Euphrates； and
committed to him a certain part of his forces； and of his
elephants； and charged him to bring up his son Antiochus with all
possible care； until he came back； and that he should conquer
Judea； and take its inhabitants for slaves； and utterly destroy
Jerusalem； and abolish the whole nation。 And when king Antiochus
had given these things in charge to Lysias； he went into Persia；
and in the hundred and forty…seventh year he passed over
Euphrates； and went to the superior provinces。
3。 Upon this Lysias chose Ptolemy； the son of Dorymenes； and
Nicanor； and Gorgias； very potent men among the king's friends；
and delivered to them forty thousand foot soldiers； and seven
thousand horsemen； and sent them against Judea； who came as far
as the city Emmaus； and pitched their camp in the plain country。
There came also to them auxiliaries out of Syria； and the country
round about； as also many of the runagate Jews。 And besides these
came some merchants to buy those that should be carried captives；
（having bonds with them to bind those that should be made
prisoners；） with that silver and gold which they were to pay for
their price。 And when Judas saw their camp； and how numerous
their enemies were； he persuaded his own soldiers to be of good
courage； and exhorted them to place their hopes of victory in
God； and to make supplication to him； according to the custom of
their country； clothed in sackcloth； and to show what was their
usual habit of supplication in the greatest dangers； and thereby
to prevail with God to grant you the victory over your enemies。
So he set them in their ancient order of battle used by their
forefathers； under their captains of thousands； and other
officers； and dismissed such as were newly married； as well as
those that had newly gained possessions； that they might not
fight in a cowardly manner； out of an inordinate love of life； in
order to enjoy those blessings。 When he had thus disposed his
soldiers； he encouraged them to fight by the following speech；
which he made to them： 〃O my fellow soldiers； no other time
remains more opportune than the present for courage and contempt
of dangers； for if you now fight manfully； you may recover your
liberty； which； as it is a thing of itself agreeable to all men；
so it proves to be to us much more desirable； by its affording us
the liberty of worshipping God。 Since therefore you are in such
circumstances at present； you must either recover that liberty；
and so regain a happy and blessed way of living； which is that
according to our laws； and the customs of our country； or to
submit to the most opprobrious sufferings； nor will any seed of
your nation remain if you be beat in this battle。 Fight therefore
manfully； and suppose that you must die； though you do not fight；
but believe； that besides such glorious rewards as those of the
liberty of your country； of your laws； of your religion； you
shall then obtain everlasting glory。 Prepare yourselves；
therefore； and put yourselves into such an agreeable