Victory for Judas and death of Nicanor
1Nicanor was informed that the men of Judas were in the neighboring villages of Samaria, so he prepared to safely attack them on the day of the sabbath. 2The Jews, who were forced to accompany him, said to him, “Do not destroy them so savagely and barbarously, but show respect for the day of the sabbath, for He who sees all has honored this day and sanctified it.” 3But the wretch asked if there was indeed a sovereign in heaven who had commanded that the sabbath be holy. 4They answered, “It is the living God himself, the Sovereign in heaven, who has commanded us to celebrate the seventh day.”
5“So I, as sovereign on earth, command you to take up arms and carry out the decrees of the king.” But he could not bring to completion his evil designs.
6Nicanor was so sure of victory, that he planned to build a monument with the mortal remains of Judas and his men. 7But Maccabeus, for his part, felt confident and put his trust in God’s help. 8He encouraged his men not to fear the attack of the pagans, and not to forget the times God had come to their help, confident that even now God would give them victory. 9He roused their spirit with the words of the Law and the Prophets, reminding them of previous triumphs. 10Encouraging his men more and more, he finished by showing them the evil of the pagans and how they had betrayed their oath.
11So he armed them not with the sword or shield but with the certainty that comes from noble words. Then he made them all full of joy by telling them what he saw in a true dream.
12 ① He had seen Onias, the former High Priest, a courteous, good man, humble in his ways, distinguished in his words and exemplary in his irreproachable conduct since childhood. With arms outstretched, Onias prayed for the whole Jewish community. 13Then, a gray-haired and honorable man appeared, praying in the same way, and characterized by dignity and majesty. 14Then Onias, the High Priest, said to Judas, “This is he who loves his compatriots, he who prays without ceasing for the people and for the Holy City. He is Jeremiah, the prophet of God.” 15And Jeremiah had stretched out his right hand giving a golden sword to Judas, as he said, 16“Receive this sword as a gift from God, with which you shall destroy your enemies.”
17Encouraged by these beautiful words of Judas, which were able to encourage righteous people and strengthen young souls, they determined not to set up camp with defenses. They decided instead to rush out bravely and take the offensive to settle the matter by fighting bravely, for the Holy City Jerusalem, their religion and the Temple were in danger. 18They considered of secondary importance any concern for their wives, children and friends; because they feared above all for the Temple consecrated to God. 19Regarding those who had stayed in the city, their anxiety was by no means little, since they were worried about the battle that was about to begin in the camp.
20Everyone waited for the imminent outcome as the enemies attacked. They had set their troops in place, led the elephants to strategic positions and had the cavalry in the wings. 21Then Maccabeus could see this multitude with their weapons of every kind and the ferocious elephants. He stretched forth his hands to heaven and called on the Lord who works marvels, for he knew that God gives victory to those who deserve it, and this does not depend on weapons, but on the will of God.
22So Judas said in prayer, “O Lord, you sent your angel in the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and he wiped out one hundred and eighty-five thousand men of the army of Sennacherib. 23So now, O Lord of Heaven, send your good angel, before us too, to fill our enemies with fear and terror. 24Show your power and let your arm strike those who insult you and who come to destroy your holy people.” With this, he ended his prayer.
25Meanwhile, Nicanor and his men advanced amid blasts of trumpets and shouts of war. 26Judas and his men, for their part, entered into battle with supplication and prayer. 27As they fought with their hands, their hearts prayed to God. And being so magnificently strengthened by the manifest presence of God, they killed no less than thirty-five thousand enemies.
28When the battle ended, and they returned rejoicing, they found Nicanor dead, lying on the ground with all his armor. 29Then they blessed God in their ancestral language amidst shouts and clamors. 30Judas, who had once fully consecrated himself to the welfare of his fellow residents and had never wavered in his affection for them, ordered that Nicanor’s head and arms up to the shoulders be cut off and brought to Jerusalem.
31There he summoned his compatriots and priests. He stood before the altar and ordered them to send for those in the Citadel. 32He showed them the head of that wretched, Nicanor, and the hand which that wicked man had raised in pride above the house of God. 33He ordered that Nicanor’s tongue be cut into pieces and given to the birds, and the hand be hung in front of the sanctuary as punishment for his arrogance. 34Then they blessed Heaven saying, “Blessed be he who did not let his Sacred House be defiled!”
35Finally, Judas ordered that Nicanor’s head be hung in the Citadel as a sign of God’s help. 36By popular agreement, they decided that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month called Adar in Aramaic, the vespers of the day of Mordecai would be commemorated as a festival day.
Author’s conclusion
37These were the events during the time of Nicanor. As from those days the city remained under the power of the Hebrews, I end my account here. 38If the narration has been good and well composed, that is indeed what I desired; but if it has been ordinary and indifferent, it is what I was able to do. 39The readers’ pleasure depends on how the account was arranged, just as it is with one who drinks. It does not do any good when one drinks only pure wine or water but wine mixed with water is tasty and delightful. Let this, then, be my last word.
- The faithful begin to discover the solidarity binding the living and dead members of God's people. Here, the men of God of the past intercede for their descendants: Jeremiah, the prophet of previous centuries as well as Onias, the High Priest murdered a few years before.
