2 Maccabees 14:1–46

¹ Three years later, news was brought to Judas and his company that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a mighty army and a fleet, (WEB) ² had taken possession of the country, having made away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias. (WEB) ³ But one Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest, and had willfully polluted himself in the times when there was no mingling with the Gentiles, considering that there was no deliverance for him in any way, nor any more access to the holy altar, (WEB) ⁴ came to King Demetrius in about the one hundred fifty-first year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and beside these some of the festal olive boughs of the temple. For that day, he held his peace; (WEB) ⁵ but having gotten opportunity to further his own madness, being called by Demetrius into a meeting of his council, and asked how the Jews stood affected and what they intended, he answered: (WEB) ⁶ “Those of the Jews called Hasidaeans, whose leader is Judas Maccabaeus, keep up war and are seditious, not allowing the kingdom to find tranquillity. (WEB) ⁷ Therefore, having laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood—I have now come here, (WEB) ⁸ first for the genuine care I have for the things that concern the king, and secondly because I have regard also to my own fellow citizens. For through the unadvised dealing of those of whom I spoke before, our whole race is in no small misfortune. (WEB) ⁹ O king, having informed yourself of these things, take thought both for our country and for our race, which is surrounded by enemies, according to the gracious kindness with which you receive all. (WEB) ¹⁰ For as long as Judas remains alive, it is impossible for the government to find peace. (WEB) ¹¹ When he had spoken such words as these, at once the rest of the king’s friends, having ill will against Judas, inflamed Demetrius yet more. (WEB) ¹² He immediately appointed Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and made him governor of Judea. He sent him out, (WEB) ¹³ giving him written instructions to kill Judas himself and to scatter those who were with him, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple. (WEB) ¹⁴ Those in Judea who had driven Judas into exile thronged to Nicanor in flocks, supposing that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would be successes to themselves. (WEB) ¹⁵ But when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s advance and the assault of the heathen, they sprinkled dirt on their heads and made solemn prayers to him who had established his own people for evermore, and who always, making manifest his presence, upholds those who are his own heritage. (WEB) ¹⁶ When the leader had given orders, he immediately set out from t… (WEB)