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The .viij. Chapter.
1 Iudas gathereth together his hoast. 9 Nicanor is sent against Iudas. 16 Iudas ex∣horteth his souldiers to constantnes. 20 Nicanor is ouercome. 27 The Iewes ge∣ueth thankes after they haue put their enemies to flight, deuiding the spoyles vnto the fatherlesse and vnto the wydowes. 35 Nicanor fleeth vnto Antiochus.
[unspec A] 1 THen Iudas Ma∣chabeus, and they that were with him, went priuilie into the townes, called their kinse∣folkes & friendes together, toke vn∣to them al such as continued yet in the faith and lawe of the Iewes, and brought forth sixe thou∣sand men.
2 So they called vpon the Lorde, that he woulde haue an eye vnto his people, which was troden downe of euery man, to be gratious vnto the temple, that was defiled of the vngodly,
3 To haue compassion vpon the destruc∣tion of the citie, which was shortly lyke to be layde waste, to heare the voyce of the blood that cryed vnto him:
4 To remember the most vnrighteous deathes of young innocent children, the blasphemies also done vnto his name, and to punishe them.
5 * 1.1Now when Machabeus had gathe∣red this multitude together, he was to mightie for the heathen, for the wrath of the Lorde was turned into mercie,
6 He fell vpon the townes and cities vn∣wares, brent them, toke the most com∣modious places, and slue many of the enemies.
[unspec B] 7 But specially he made such chases by night, insomuch that his manlines was spoken of euery where.
8 So when Philip sawe that the man encreased by litle and litle, and that the matter prospered with him for the most parte: he wrote vnto Ptolomi, which was a captaine in Celosyria and Pheni∣ces, to helpe him in the kinges busines.
9 * 1.2Then sent he Nicanor the sonne of Patroclus, a speciall friend of his, in all the haste, and gaue him of the common sorte of the heathen no lesse then twen∣tie thousand harnessed men, to roote out the whole generation of the Iewes, hauing to helpe him one Gorgias a man of warre, which in matters concerning battailes had great experience.
10 Nicanor ordayned also the tribute, which the Romanes shoulde haue had, to be euen vnto the king out of the cap∣tiue of the Iewes, [namely] two thou∣sand talentes.
11 And immediatly he sent to the cities of the sea coaste, requiring them for to bye Iewes to be their seruauntes and bond∣men, promysing to sell them fourscore and ten for one talent: but he considered not the wrath of almightie God that was to come vpon him.
12 When Iudas knewe of this, he tolde the Iewes that were with him, of Ni∣canors comming.
13 Now were there some of them feare∣full, [unspec C] not trusting vnto the righteousnes of God, and fled their way, and abode not in that place:
14 But the other that remained, came to∣gether, and besought the Lorde to deli∣uer them from that wicked Nicanor, which had solde them or euer he came nye them:
15 And though he woulde not do it for their sakes, yet for the couenaunt that he made with their fathers, and because they called vpon his holy and glorious name.
16 * 1.3And so Machabeus called his men together [namely] about sixe thousand, exhorting them not to agree vnto their enemies, * 1.4 neither to be afraide for the multitude of their aduersaries comming against them vnrighteously, but to fight manly,
17 Considering the reproofe that they had done to the holy place without cause, how they had despised and oppressed the citie, yea and destroyed the lawes of the fathers.
18 * 1.5For they, saide he, trust in their wea∣pons and boldnesse: but our confidence is in the almightie Lorde, which in the twinkling of an eye may both destroye them, and come against vs, and all the worlde.
19 He exhorted them also to call to remem∣braunce the helpe that God shewed vn∣to [unspec D]