Page [unnumbered]
The .xv. Chapter.
2 Nicanor goeth about to come vpon Iudas on the Sabbath day. 5 The blasphemie of Nicanor. 14 Machabeus expounding vnto the Iewes the vision, boldeneth their heartes. 21 The prayer of Machabeus. 30 After the hoast of Nicanor is once ouer∣come, Machabeus commaundeth his head & his handes to be cut of, and his tongue to be geuen vnto foules.
[unspec A] * 1.11 NOwe when Nicanor knew that Iudas and his company were in the countrey of Sama∣ria, he thought with al his power to strike a fielde with him vpon a Sabbath day.
2 Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, saide: O do not so cruelly and vnkindly, but halowe the Sabbath day, and worshippe him that seeth all thinges:
3 [For all this,] yet saide the vngratious person,* 1.2 Is there a mightie one in hea∣uen that commaunded the Sabbath day to be kept?
4 And when they saide: yea the lyuing God, the mightie Lord in heauen* 1.3 com∣maunded the seuenth day to be kept,
5 He saide: And I am mightie vpon earth, to commaunde them for to arme them selues, & to perfourme the kinges busynesse. Notwithstanding, he might not haue his purpose.
6 Nicanor had deuised with great pride to ouercome Iudas, and to bring away the victory:
[unspec B] 7 But Machabeus had euer a fast confi∣dence and a perfect hope in God, that he would helpe him:
8 And exhorted his people not to be a∣frayde at the comming of the heathen: but alway to remember the helpe that had ben shewed vnto them from hea∣uen, yea and to be sure now also that al∣mightie God would geue them the vic∣torie.
9 He spake vnto them out of the lawe and prophetes, putting them in remem∣braunce of the battailes that they had striken afore, and made them to be of good courage.
10 So when their heartes were pluckt vp, he shewed them also the deceitefulnesse of the heathen, and how they woulde kepe no couenaunt nor oth.
11 Thus he weaponed them not with the armour of shielde and speare, but with wholsome wordes and exhortations: he shewed them a dreame also, where∣through he made them all glad,
12 Which was this: He thought that he saw Onias, which had ben hie priest, a vertuous and louing man, sad and of ho∣nest conuersation, well spoken, and one that had ben exercised in godlines from a childe, holding vp his handes toward heauen, and praying for his people.
13 After this, there appeared vnto him another man, which was aged, honora∣ble, [unspec C] and glorious.
14 And Onias saide: This is a louer of the brethren, and of the people of Isra∣el: this is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy citie, Iere∣mie the prophete of God.
15 He thought also that Ieremie helde out his right hande, and gaue vnto Iu∣das a sword of golde, saying:
16 Take this holy sworde, a gift from God, wherwith thou shalt smite downe the enemies of the people of Israel.
17 And so they were well comforted through the wordes of Iudas, whiche were very sweete and able to stirre vp their courage: and toke courage vnto them, so that the young men were de∣termined in their mindes to fight, and to abide stifly at it: insomuch that in the thinges which they toke in hande their boldnesse shewed the same, because the holy citie, the sanctuary, and the temple were in perill,
18 For the which they toke more care, then for their wyues, children, brethren, and kinsfolkes.
19 Againe, they that were in the citie, were [unspec D] most carefull for those which were to fight.
20 Now, when they were all in a hope that the iudgement of the matter was at hande, and the enemies drue nye, the hoast being set in aray, the Elephantes and horsemen euery one standing in his place:
21 Machabeus considering the cōming of the multitude, the ordinaunce of d••¦uers weapons, the cruelnes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beastes, helde vp his handes tow••