Nisan.
chcrTst mme e)'es» an^ my heart faileth for ve-
cir. 164. ry care.
11 And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am 1 come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am ! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power.
12 But now I remember the evils that I &c.
did at Jerusalem, and that b I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, «ch. 1.57. ancj c fent tQ destroy tne inhabitants of Judea without a cause.
13 I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.
14 Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, whom he made ruler over all his realm,
15 And gave him the crown, and his bHiuak, robe, and his signet, to the end he should bis [on An- bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish Tim!" " kim up for the kingdom.
16 So king Antiochus died there in the '64. hundred forty and ninth year.
17 Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he call ed Eupator.
18 About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites round about the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen.
19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to de stroy them, called all the people together to besiege them.
163. 20 So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against them, and other engines.
2 1 Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto whom some un godly men of Israel joined themselves :
22 And they went unto the king, and said, How long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren ?
23 We have been willing to serve thy father, and to do as he would have us, and to obey his commandments ;
24 For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from
- ch.5. »2, us . moreover d as many of us as they
could light on they flew, and spoiled our inheritance.
25 Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against all their borders.
26 And, behold, this day are they be sieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it : the sanctuary also and ' Bethsura have c^^r they fortified. cir. 163.
27 Wherefore if thou dost not prevent •ch.4.61. them quickly, they will do greater things than these, neither shalt thou be able to rule them.
28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends* and the captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse.
29 There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers.
30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle.
31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war ; but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.
32 Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over against the king's camp.
33 Then the king rising very early march ed fiercely with his host toward Bathza charias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.
34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.
35 Moreover they divided the beasts a- mong the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats or mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads ; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horse men of the best.
36 These were ready at every occasion : wheresoever the beast was, and whitherso ever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him.
37 And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices : there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.
38 As for the remnant of the horscmen they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host, II giving them H.or, signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks. andb/mg
30 Now when the fun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains ranks, or, glistered therewith, and shined like lamps of sire.
40 Sd part of the king's army being
