1 Maccabees 3:38-4:24
New Catholic Bible
38 Lysias chose Ptolemy, the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor[a] and Gorgias, powerful men among the Friends of the King, 39 and under their command he sent forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to invade the land of Judah and destroy it in compliance with the king’s orders. 40 Setting out with all their forces, they reached the plain in the region of Emmaus,[b] where they pitched camp. 41 When the local merchants heard the news of this army, they came to the camp with a large amount of silver and gold as well as fetters, seeking to purchase the Israelites for slaves. In addition, forces from Idumea and Philistia joined with them.
42 The Triumph of Judas.[c] Judas and his brothers realized how critical their situation had become, with opposing forces encamped within their territory. They also had learned of the orders that the king had issued for the total destruction of their people. 43 Therefore, they said to one another, “Let us restore the shattered fortunes of our people and fight for our people and our sanctuary.”
44 They then gathered together in a full assembly, both to prepare for battle and to offer prayers and implore mercy and compassion.
45 Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness;
not one of her children entered or came out.
The sanctuary was trodden underfoot,
and foreigners had captured the citadel,
which had become a lodging place for the Gentiles.
Joy had vanished from Jacob;
the flute and the harp were silent.
46 After assembling, they made their way to Mizpah,[d] opposite Jerusalem, because in former times Mizpah had been a place of worship for Israel. 47 That day they fasted, donned sackcloth, sprinkled ashes on their heads, and tore their garments. 48 They unrolled the scroll of the law, seeking therein the guidance for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their gods. 49 They also carried with them the priestly vestments and the firstfruits and the tithes, and they brought forth the Nazirites[e] who had completed the period of their vows. 50 Then they cried aloud to Heaven: “What shall we do with these people, and where shall we take them? 51 Your sanctuary has been trampled underfoot and profaned, and your priests mourn in humiliation. 52 And now the Gentiles have formed an alliance to destroy us. You are well aware of what fate they plan for us. 53 How will we be able to withstand them if you do not come to our aid?” 54 Then they sounded the trumpets and raised a great shout.
55 After this, Judas appointed leaders of the people, in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 56 He ordered to return to their homes those who were building houses, those who were just married, those who were planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, in accordance with the provisions of the law. 57 Then the army marched out and encamped to the south of Emmaus. 58 “Arm yourselves and be brave,” Judas instructed. “In the morning be prepared to fight against these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. 59 It is better that we die in battle than that we witness the misfortunes of our people and our sanctuary. Whatever Heaven wills, so will he do.”
Chapter 4
The Battle of Emmaus.[f] 1 Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this detachment set out at night 2 in order to launch a surprise attack on the camp of the Jews. Men from the citadel served as his guides. 3 However, Judas learned of their plan, and he and his soldiers moved out to attack the royal forces at Emmaus 4 while some of the troops were still dispersed away from the camp. 5 When Gorgias reached the camp of Judas by night, therefore, he found no one there, and he began to search for them in the mountains, saying, “These men are fleeing from us.”
6 At daybreak, Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, although they lacked the armor and the swords they would have wished for. 7 They saw the camp of the Gentiles with its strong fortifications, flanked with cavalry, and a fighting force expert in the art of warfare. 8 Judas said to those who were with him: “Do not be afraid of their superior numbers or panic when they attack. 9 Remember how our ancestors were saved at the Red Sea when Pharaoh was pursuing them with his forces. 10 So now let us cry out to Heaven, asking him to show us his favor, to remember his covenant with our ancestors, and to destroy this army confronting us today. 11 Then all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves Israel.”
12 When the foreigners looked up and saw them advancing against them, 13 they came out of their camp to engage in battle. Then the men with Judas blew their trumpets, 14 and the fighting began. The Gentiles were defeated and fled into the plain. 15 All those who were in the rear fell by the sword, and the rest were pursued as far as Gazara[g] and the plains of Judea, to Azotus and Jamnia, with about three thousand of them slain.
16 When Judas and his army broke off their pursuit, he said to the people: 17 “Do not be greedy for plunder, for we have yet another battle ahead of us. 18 Gorgias and his army are very close to us in the mountain area. Stand firm now against our enemies and defeat them. After that, you can safely take as much booty as you please.”
19 Just as Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, looking down from the mountain. 20 They could see that their army had been put to flight and that their camp was being burned. The smoke that could be clearly seen indicated what had occurred. 21 When they perceived this, they were very much afraid, and when they also beheld the army of Judas in the plain, ready for battle, 22 they all fled into the territory of the Philistines.
23 Then Judas went back to plunder the camp, and they confiscated a great amount of gold and silver, violet and purple cloths, and magnificent treasures. 24 As they returned, they sang hymns of thanksgiving and praise to glorify Heaven, “for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.”[h]
Footnotes
- 1 Maccabees 3:38 Nicanor was the leader of another expedition against the Jews four years later and was ultimately slain by Judas (see 1 Mac 7:26-46).
- 1 Maccabees 3:40 Emmaus: this was not the Emmaus of Lk 24:13, but a town about twenty-five miles west of Jerusalem, which dominated the ways of access to it.
- 1 Maccabees 3:42 Preparations are made for a holy war by prayer and penitence (see 1 Sam 7:5). The Lord is implored, his word is consulted (see v. 48), and the law is more strictly observed, for it is from Heaven—that is, from God—that the outcome of the combat depends. The people are ready to risk everything in the cause of God, to save the temple and the nation.
- 1 Maccabees 3:46 Mizpah: political and religious center (see Jdg 20:1-3; 1 Sam 7:12) about eight miles north of Jerusalem along the way to Samaria. From there one could see the temple of Jerusalem, which had been profaned.
- 1 Maccabees 3:49 Nazirites: see Num 6:1-21 and note.
- 1 Maccabees 4:1 Judas knows how to unite action and prayer. A remarkable tactician, he forces the adversary to divide his forces, then defeats him in a surprise attack, and pillages his camp. Once the victory is achieved, Judas and his men offer fervent thanksgiving to God (Heaven).
- 1 Maccabees 4:15 The pursuit took all directions: Gazara, or Gezer (Jos 21:21; 1 Ki 9:17), lay five miles northwest of Emmaus; Judea was to the far south; Azotus, or Ashdod, and Jamnia, were west and southwest.
- 1 Maccabees 4:24 The victors intoned the great Hallel (Ps 118) in thanksgiving.
