2Mac 15:1 
But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the 
strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set 
upon them on the sabbath day. 
 
2Mac 15:2 
Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him 
said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour 
to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with 
holiness above all other days. 
 
2Mac 15:3 
Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a 
Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be 
kept. 
 
2Mac 15:4 
And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and 
mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept: 
 
2Mac 15:5 
Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I 
command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he 
obtained not to have his wicked will done. 
 
2Mac 15:6 
So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to 
set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them 
that were with him. 
 
2Mac 15:7 
But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would 
help him: 
 
2Mac 15:8 
Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of 
the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in 
former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect 
the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the 
Almighty. 
 
2Mac 15:9 
And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and 
withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, 
he made them more cheerful. 
 
2Mac 15:10 
And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their 
charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, 
and the breach of oaths. 
 
2Mac 15:11 
Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of 
shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and 
beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if 
it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them. 
 
2Mac 15:12 
And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high 
priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, 
gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a 
child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for 
the whole body of the Jews. 
 
2Mac 15:13 
This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray 
hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and 
excellent majesty. 
 
2Mac 15:14 
Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, 
who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, 
Jeremias the prophet of God. 
 
2Mac 15:15 
Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas 
a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus, 
 
2Mac 15:16 
Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou 
shalt wound the adversaries. 
 
2Mac 15:17 
Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were 
very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage 
the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, 
but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the 
matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the 
temple were in danger. 
 
2Mac 15:18 
For the care that they took for their wives, and their 
children, their brethren, and folks, was in least account with 
them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy 
temple. 
 
2Mac 15:19 
Also they that were in the city took not the least care, 
being troubled for the conflict abroad. 
 
2Mac 15:20 
And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the 
enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, 
and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in 
wings, 
 
2Mac 15:21 
Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers 
preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, 
stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord 
that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, 
but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are 
worthy: 
 
2Mac 15:22 
Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, 
thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of 
Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred 
fourscore and five thousand: 
 
2Mac 15:23 
Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel 
before us for a fear and dread unto them; 
 
2Mac 15:24 
And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with 
terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he 
ended thus. 
 
2Mac 15:25 
Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with 
trumpets and songs. 
 
2Mac 15:26 
But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with 
invocation and prayer. 
 
2Mac 15:27 
So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God 
with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty 
and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they 
were greatly cheered. 
 
2Mac 15:28 
Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they 
knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness. 
 
2Mac 15:29 
Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the 
Almighty in their own language. 
 
2Mac 15:30 
And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens 
both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his 
countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, 
and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. 
 
2Mac 15:31 
So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, 
and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were 
of the tower, 
 
2Mac 15:32 
And shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that 
blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against 
the holy temple of the Almighty. 
 
2Mac 15:33 
And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, 
he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, 
and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple. 
 
2Mac 15:34 
So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, 
saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled. 
 
2Mac 15:35 
He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and 
manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord. 
 
2Mac 15:36 
And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let 
that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth 
day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called 
Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day. 
 
2Mac 15:37 
Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the 
Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an 
end. 
 
2Mac 15:38 
And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is 
that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that 
which I could attain unto. 
 
2Mac 15:39 
For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as 
wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: 
even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that 
read the story. And here shall be an end.

Back to Index of the Book