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CHAPTER MACCABEES 11
Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore
displeasure for the things that were done.
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And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against
the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles,
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And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high
priesthood to sale every year:
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Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and
his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
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So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from
Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.
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Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the
people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver
Israel.
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Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard
themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.
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And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing,
shaking his armour of gold.
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Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready
not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.
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Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was
merciful unto them
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And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and
sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.
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Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully,
and so escaped.
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Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and
considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he
sent unto them,
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And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade
the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.
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Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and
whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
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For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people
of the Jews sendeth greeting:
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John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made
request for the performance of the contents thereof.
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