CHAPTER 10
1 Forsooth Maccabeus, and they that were with him, for the Lord defended them, received soothly the temple, and city.
2 Forsooth he destroyed the altars, that aliens made by streets, and also [the] temples of washing.
3 And when the temple was purged, they made another altar, and of stones fired, or flints, by fire conceived, they offered sacrifices after two years, and putted incense, and lanterns, and loaves of proposition.
4 And when these things were done, they were cast down to earth, and prayed the Lord, that they should no more fall in[to] such evils; but though in anytime they had sinned, that they should be chastised of him more easily, and should not be betaken to barbarians, [or heathen], and blasphemous men.
5 Forsooth in what day the temple was defouled of aliens, it befell that in the same day cleansing was made, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that was Kislev.
6 And with gladness in eight days they did by manner of Tabernacles, bethinking that before a little of time they had done the solemn day of Tabernacles, in hills and in dens, by custom of beasts.
7 For which thing they bare before rods, and green branches, and palms, to him that gave prosperity for to cleanse his place.
8 And they deemed with common behest, and with doom, to all the folk of Jews, for to do these feast days in all years.
9 And the ending of life of Antiochus, that was called noble or Epiphanes, had it thus.
10 Now forsooth we shall tell of Eupator, son of unpious Antiochus, what things were done, and abridge, or shortly tell, the evils that were done in battles.
11 For when this Eupator had received the realm, he ordained on needs of the realm a man Lysias, prince of knighthood, of Phoenicia and Coelesyria.
12 For why Ptolemy, that was said Macron, ordained for to hold just things against Jews, and mostly for wickedness that was done against them, and peaceably for to do with them.
13 But for this thing he was accused of friends with Eupator, when he heard often, Thou traitor, for that he had forsaken Cyprus, betaken to him of Philometor, and had translated to Antiochus noble or Antiochus Epiph-anes, also he had gone away from him, with venom he ended the life.
14 Forsooth Gorgias, when he was duke of places, with comelings taken, overcame often Jews in battle.
15 Forsooth Jews that held covenable strengths, received men driven from Jerusalem, and assayed, either attempted, for to fight.
16 These forsooth that were with Maccabeus, prayed the Lord by prayers, that he should be helper to them, and they made assault into strengths of Idumeans.
17 And they were busy by much strength, and wielded places, and slew men running again, and strangled all together, not less than five and twenty thousands.
18 Forsooth when some fled together into two towers full strong, having all apparel to against-fight,
19 Maccabeus left Simon, and Joseph, and again Zacchaeus, and them that were with them, many enough, to the over-coming of them; and he was converted [or turned again] to those battles that constrained more.
20 Soothly these that were with Simon, were led by covetousness, and were counselled by money, of some that were in the towers; and when they had taken seventy thousand double drachmas, they let some [to] flee out.
21 Forsooth when that thing that was done, was told to Maccabeus, he gathered the princes of people, and he accused, that they had sold brethren for money, for they delivered [or dismissed] adversaries of them.
22 Therefore he slew these made traitors, and anon occupied the two towers.
23 Forsooth in doing all things wealsomely, either by prosperity, in arms, and hands, he slew in the two strengths more than twenty thousands.
24 And Timothy, that before was overcome of Jews, called [or gathered] together an host of strange multitude, and gathered the multitude of horse-men of Asia, and came with arms, as to take Judea.
25 Forsooth Maccabeus, and they that were with him, when he nighed, besought God, and besprinkled the heads with earth, and before-girded the loins with hair-shirts,
26 and kneeled down at the brink of the altar, that he should be helpful to them, forsooth that to enemies of them he were enemy [or that he were enemy to the enemies of them], and were adversary to adversaries, as the law saith.
27 And so after prayer, when they had taken arms, they went forth far from the city, and they were made next to enemies, and sat.
28 Forsooth in the first rising of the sun, both joined battle; these soothly had the Lord promiser of victory and prosperity; for they had [their own] hardiness the duke of battle.
29 But when great fight was, five fair man, that is, angels in the likeness of men, on horses with golden bridles, appeared to adversaries from heaven, and gave leading to Jews;
30 of which twain [or of whom two] had Maccabeus in the middle, and set about with their armours or arms, and kept him sound, either without harm. Forsooth they casted darts and lightnings against adversaries; of which thing and they were shamed [or confused] with blindness, and were [full]-filled with perturbation, and fell down.
31 Forsooth there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and horsemen six hundred.
32 Soothly Timothy fled into the stronghold [or a stronghold] of Gazara, of which stronghold Chaereas was sovereign.
33 Forsooth Maccabeus, and they that were with him, were glad, and besieged the stronghold by four days.
34 And they that were within, trusted in the secureness of the place, and cursed above manner, and casted, or proudly pronounced, cursed words, that is, blasphemy against God.
35 But when the fifth day shined, twenty young men of these that were with Maccabeus, were kindled in souls for blasphemy, and went manly to the wall, and they went with fierce will, and went up;
36 but and others also ascended [or going up], and assailed for to burn towers and gates, and altogether burn the cursers quick. Forsooth by continual two days they wasted the stronghold,
37 and slew Timothy, hiding himself, found in some place; and they slew his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.
38 When these things were done, they blessed the Lord in hymns and confessions, which did great things in Israel, and gave them victory.