Category Archives: 2 Maccabees

1 To the brothers, the Jews, who are throughout Egypt: the brothers, the Jews, who are in Jerusalem and in the region of Judea, send greetings and good peace. 2 May God be gracious to you, and may he remember his covenant, which was spoken to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants. 3 […]

1 Now it is found in the descriptions of the prophet Jeremiah that he ordered those who transmigrated to take the fire, just as it was signified and as he ordered, into the transmigration. 2 And he gave them the law, so that they would never forget the commandments of the Lord, and so that […]

1 Therefore, when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and also the laws were still being kept very well because of the piety of Onias, the high priest, and the hatred that his soul held for evil, 2 it happened that even the kings and princes themselves considered the place worthy of the […]

1 But the aforementioned Simon, who was a betrayer of the money and of his nation, spoke evil about Onias, as if he had instigated Heliodorus to do these things and as if he had been the inciter of evils. 2 And he dared to say that he was a traitor to the kingdom, though […]

1 At the same time, Antiochus prepared for a second journey into Egypt. 2 But it happened, throughout the entire city of Jerusalem, that there were seen, for forty days, horsemen rushing through the air, having golden robes, and armed with spears, like a cohort of soldiers, 3 and horses, set in order by ranks, […]

1 But not much time later, the king sent a certain elder of Antioch, who compelled the Jews to transfer themselves from the laws of God and of their fathers, 2 and also to contaminate the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to name it ‘Jupiter of Olympus,’ and in Garizim, ‘Jupiter of Hospitality,’ exactly […]

1 And it happened also that seven brothers, united with their mother, were apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law, being tormented with scourges and whips. 2 But one of them, who was first, spoke in this way: “What would you ask, or what would you want […]

1 In truth, Judas Maccabeus, and those who were with him, went secretly into the villages, and, calling together their relatives and friends, and accepting among them those who persevered in Judaism, they brought six thousand men together. 2 And they called upon the Lord: to look upon his people, who were down trodden by […]

1 At the same time, Antiochus returned in dishonor from Persia. 2 For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude, rushing to arms, turned them to flight, and so it happened that Antiochus, after fleeing, returned in disgrace. 3 And […]

1 But Maccabeus and those who were with him, the Lord protecting them, even recovered the temple and the city. 2 Then he demolished the altars, which the foreigners had constructed in the streets, and likewise the shrines. 3 And, having purged the temple, they made another altar. And, taking glowing stones from the fire, […]