2 Macabeos 14

1Mas de allí a tres años Judas y su gente entendieron que Demetrio, hijo de Seleuco, habiendo llegado con muchas naves y un numeroso ejército al puerto de Trípoli, se había apoderado de los puestos más ventajosos,

2y ocupado varios territorios, a despecho de Antíoco y de su general Lisias.

3Entretanto un cierto Alcimo, que había sido Sumo Sacerdote, y que voluntariamente se había contaminado en los tiempos de la mezcla, considerando que no había ningún remedio para él, y que jamás podría acercarse al altar,

4pasó a ver al rey Demetrio el año ciento cincuenta, presentándole una corona de oro y una palma, y además unos ramos que parecían ser del Templo; y por entonces no le dijo nada.

5Habiendo logrado una buena coyuntura para ejecutar su loco designio, por haberle llamado Demetrio a su consejo, y preguntándole cuál era el sistema y máximas con que se regían los judíos;

6respondió: “Aquellos judíos que se llaman asideos, cuyo caudillo es Judas Macabeo, son los que fomentan la guerra, y mueven las sediciones, y no dejan estar en quietud el reino.

7Yo mismo, despojado de la dignidad hereditaria de mi familia, quiero decir, del Sumo Sacerdocio, me vine aquí;

8primeramente por ser fiel a la causa del rey, y lo segundo para mirar por el bien de mis conciudadanos; pues toda nuestra nación padece grandes vejaciones por causa de la perversidad de aquellos hombres.

9Así que te suplico, oh rey, que informándote por menor de todas estas cosas, mires por nuestra tierra y nación, conforme a tu bondad a todos notoria.

10Porque en tanto que viva Judas, es imposible que haya allí paz.”

11Habiéndose él explicado de esta suerte, todos sus amigos inflamaron también a Demetrio contra Judas, del cual eran enemigos declarados.

12Así es que al punto envió el rey a la Judea por general a Nicanor, comandante de los elefantes,

13con orden de que capturase vivo a Judas, dispersase sus tropas, y pusiese a Alcimo en posesión del Sumo Sacerdocio del gran Templo.

14Entonces los gentiles que habían huido de Judea por temor de Judas, vinieron a bandadas a juntarse con Nicanor, mirando como prosperidad propia las miserias y calamidades de los judíos.

15Luego que estos supieron la llegada de Nicanor, y la reunión de los gentiles con él; esparciendo polvo sobre sus cabezas, dirigieron sus plegarias a Aquel que se había formado un pueblo suyo para conservarle eternamente, y, que con evidentes milagros había protegido a esta su herencia.

16E inmediatamente, por orden del comandante, partieron de allí, y fueron a acampar junto al castillo de Desau.

17Había ya Simón, hermano de Judas, venido a las manos con Nicanor; pero se llenó de sobresalto con la repentina llegada de los enemigos.

18Sin embargo, enterado Nicanor del denuedo de las tropas de Judas, y de la grandeza de ánimo con que combatían por su patria, temió fiar su suerte a la decisión de una batalla.

19Y así envió delante a Posidonio, a Teodoto y a Matías para presentar y recibir proposiciones de paz.

20Y habiendo durado largo tiempo las conferencias sobre el asunto, y dando el mismo general parte de ellas al pueblo, todos unánimemente fueron de parecer que se aceptara la paz.

21En virtud de lo cual emplazaron un día para conferenciar entre sí secretamente; a cuyo fin se llevó y puso una silla para cada uno de ellos.

22Esto no obstante, mandó Judas apostar algunos soldados en lugares oportunos, no fuera que los enemigos intentasen de repente hacer alguna tropelía. Pero la conferencia se celebró como debía.

23Por eso Nicanor fijó después su residencia en Jerusalén, sin hacer ninguna vejación a nadie, y despidió aquella multitud de tropas que se le habían juntado.

24Amaba constantemente a Judas con un amor sincero, mostrando una particular inclinación a su persona.

25Le rogó que se casase, y pensase en tener hijos. En efecto, se casó, vivía tranquilo, y los dos se trataban familiarmente.

26Mas viendo Alcimo la amistad y buena armonía que reinaba entre ellos, fue a ver a Demetrio, y le dijo que Nicanor favorecía los intereses ajenos, y que tenía destinado por sucesor a Judas, que aspiraba al trono.

27Exasperado e irritado el rey sobremanera con sus atroces calumnias, escribió a Nicanor diciéndole que llevaba muy a mal la amistad que había contraído con el Macabeo, y que le mandaba que luego al punto se lo enviase encadenado a Antioquía.

28Enterado de esto Nicanor, quedó lleno de consternación, y sentía sobremanera tener que violar los tratados hechos con aquel varón, sin haber recibido de él ofensa alguna.

29Mas no pudiendo desobedecer al rey, andaba buscando oportunidad para poner en ejecución la orden recibida.

30Entretanto el Macabeo, observando que Nicanor le trataba con aspereza, y que en las visitas acostumbradas se le mostraba con cierto aire duro e imponente, consideró que aquella aspereza no podía nacer de nada bueno, y reuniendo algunos pocos de los suyos, se ocultó de Nicanor.

31Luego que este reconoció que Judas había tenido la destreza de prevenirle, fue al augusto y santísimo Templo, hallándose los sacerdotes ofreciendo los sacrificios acostumbrados, y les mandó que le entregasen al Macabeo.

32Mas como ellos le asegurasen con juramento que no sabían dónde estaba el que él buscaba, Nicanor levantó la mano contra el Templo,

33y juró, diciendo: “Si no me entregáis maniatado a Judas, arrasaré este templo de Dios, derribaré este altar, y consagraré aquí un templo al padre Baco”.

34Y dicho esto, se marchó. Los sacerdotes entonces, levantando sus manos al cielo, invocaban a Aquel que había sido siempre el defensor de su nación, y oraban de este modo:

35“Señor del universo, Tú que de nada necesitas, quisiste tener entre nosotros un Templo para tu morada.

36Conserva oh Santo de los santos, Señor de todas las cosas, conserva ahora y para siempre libre de profanación esta Casa, que hace poco tiempo ha sido purificada.”

37En este tiempo fue acusado a Nicanor uno de los ancianos de Jerusalén, llamado Racías, varón amante de la patria, y de reputación, al cual se daba el nombre de padre de los judíos por el afecto con que los miraba.

38Este ya de mucho tiempo antes, llevaba una vida muy exacta en el judaísmo, pronto a dar su cuerpo y su vida antes que faltar a su observancia.

39Mas queriendo Nicanor manifestar el odio que tenía a los judíos, envió quinientos soldados para que le prendiesen.

40Pues juzgaba que si lograba seducir a este hombre, haría un daño gravísimo a los judíos.

41Pero al tiempo que los soldados hacían sus esfuerzos para entrar en la casa, rompiendo la puerta, y poniéndole fuego, así que estaban ya para prenderle, se hirió con su espada;

42prefiriendo morir noblemente a verse esclavo de los pecadores, y a sufrir ultrajes indignos de su nacimiento.

43Mas como por la precipitación con que se hirió, no fuese mortal la herida, y entrasen ya de tropel los soldados en la casa, corrió animosamente al muro, y se precipitó denodadamente encima de las gentes;

44las cuales retirándose al momento para que no les cayese encima, vino a dar de cabeza contra el suelo.

45Pero como aún respirase, hizo un nuevo esfuerzo, y se volvió a poner de pie; y aunque la sangre le salía a borbollones por sus heridas mortales, pasó corriendo por medio de la gente,

46y subiéndose sobre una roca escarpada, desangrado ya como estaba, agarró con ambas manos sus propias entrañas, y las arrojó sobre las gentes, invocando al Señor del alma y de la vida, a fin de que se las volviese a dar algún día; y de esta manera acabó de vivir.

1Sed post triennii tempus, cognovit Judas et qui cum eo erant Demetrium Seleuci cum multitudine valida et navibus per portam Tripolis ascendisse ad loca opportuna,

2et tenuisse regiones adversus Antiochum, et ducem ejus Lysiam.

3Alcimus autem quidam, qui summus sacerdos fuerat, sed voluntarie coinquinatus est temporibus commistionis, considerans nullo modo sibi esse salutem neque accessum ad altare,

4venit ad regem Demetrium centesimo quinquagesimo anno, offerens ei coronam auream et palmam, super hæc et thallos, qui templi esse videbantur. Et ipsa quidem die siluit.

5Tempus autem opportunum dementiæ suæ nactus, convocatus a Demetrio ad consilium, et interrogatus quibus rebus et consiliis Judæi niterentur,

6respondit: Ipsi qui dicuntur Assidæi Judæorum, quibus præest Judas Machabæus, bella nutriunt, et seditiones movent, nec patiuntur regnum esse quietum:

7nam et ego defraudatus parentum gloria (dico autem summo sacerdotio) huc veni:

8primo quidem utilitatibus regis fidem servans, secundo autem etiam civibus consulens: nam illorum pravitate universum genus nostrum non minime vexatur.

9Sed oro his singulis, o rex, cognitis, et regioni et generi, secundum humanitatem tuam pervulgatam omnibus, prospice:

10nam, quamdiu superest Judas, impossibile est pacem esse negotiis.

11Talibus autem ab hoc dictis, et ceteri amici hostiliter se habentes adversus Judam, inflammaverunt Demetrium.

12Qui statim Nicanorem præpositum elephantorum ducem misit in Judæam:

13datis mandatis ut ipsum quidem Judam caperet: eos vero qui cum illo erant, dispergeret, et constitueret Alcimum maximi templi summum sacerdotem.

14Tunc gentes quæ de Judæa fugerant Judam, gregatim se Nicanori miscebant, miserias et clades Judæorum prosperitates rerum suarum existimantes.

15Audito itaque Judæi Nicanoris adventu, et conventu nationum, conspersi terra rogabant eum qui populum suum constituit, ut in æternum custodiret, quique suam portionem signis evidentibus protegit.

16Imperante autem duce, statim inde moverunt, conveneruntque ad castellum Dessau.

17Simon vero frater Judæ commiserat cum Nicanore: sed conterritus est repentino adventu adversariorum.

18Nicanor tamen, audiens virtutem comitum Judæ, et animi magnitudinem quam pro patriæ certaminibus habebant, sanguine judicium facere metuebat.

19Quam ob rem præmisit Posidonium, et Theodotium, et Matthiam, ut darent dextras atque acciperent.

20Et cum diu de his consilium ageretur, et ipse dux ad multitudinem retulisset, omnium una fuit sententia amicitiis annuere.

21Itaque diem constituerunt, qua secreto inter se agerent: et singulis sellæ prolatæ sunt, et positæ.

22Præcepit autem Judas armatos esse locis opportunis, ne forte ab hostibus repente mali aliquid oriretur: et congruum colloquium fecerunt.

23Morabatur autem Nicanor Jerosolymis, nihilque inique agebat: gregesque turbarum quæ congregatæ fuerant, dimisit.

24Habebat autem Judam semper carum ex animo, et erat viro inclinatus.

25Rogavitque eum ducere uxorem, filiosque procreare. Nuptias fecit: quiete egit, communiterque vivebant.

26Alcimus autem, videns caritatem illorum ad invicem et conventiones, venit ad Demetrium, et dicebat Nicanorem rebus alienis assentire, Judamque regni insidiatorem successorem sibi destinasse.

27Itaque rex exasperatus, et pessimis hujus criminationibus irritatus, scripsit Nicanori, dicens graviter quidem se ferre de amicitiæ conventione, jubere tamen Machabæum citius vinctum mittere Antiochiam.

28Quibus cognitis, Nicanor consternabatur, et graviter ferebat, si ea quæ convenerant irrita faceret, nihil læsus a viro:

29sed quia regi resistere non poterat, opportunitatem observabat qua præceptum perficeret.

30At Machabæus, videns secum austerius agere Nicanorem, et consuetum occursum ferocius exhibentem, intelligens non ex bono esse austeritatem istam, paucis suorum congregatis, occultavit se a Nicanore.

31Quod cum ille cognovit, fortiter se a viro præventum, venit ad maximum et sanctissimum templum: et sacerdotibus solitas hostias offerentibus, jussit sibi tradi virum.

32Quibus cum juramento dicentibus nescire se ubi esset qui quærebatur, extendens manum ad templum,

33juravit, dicens: Nisi Judam mihi vinctum tradideritis, istud Dei fanum in planitiem deducam, et altare effodiam, et templum hoc Libero patri consecrabo.

34Et his dictis abiit. Sacerdotes autem protendentes manus in cælum, invocabant eum qui semper propugnator esset gentis ipsorum, hæc dicentes:

35Tu, Domine universorum, qui nullius indiges, voluisti templum habitationis tuæ fieri in nobis.

36Et nunc, Sancte sanctorum, omnium Domine, conserva in æternum impollutam domum istam, quæ nuper mundata est.

37Razias autem quidam de senioribus ab Jerosolymis delatus est Nicanori, vir amator civitatis, et bene audiens: qui pro affectu pater Judæorum appellabatur.

38Hic multis temporibus continentiæ propositum tenuit in Judaismo, corpusque et animam tradere contentus pro perseverantia.

39Volens autem Nicanor manifestare odium quod habebat in Judæos, misit milites quingentos ut eum comprehenderent.

40Putabat enim, si illum decepisset, se cladem Judæis maximam illaturum.

41Turbis autem irruere in domum ejus, et januam dirumpere: atque ignem admovere cupientibus, cum jam comprehenderetur, gladio se petiit,

42eligens nobiliter mori potius quam subditus fieri peccatoribus, et contra natales suos indignis injuriis agi.

43Sed cum per festinationem non certo ictu plagam dedisset, et turbæ intra ostia irrumperent, recurrens audacter ad murum præcipitavit semetipsum viriliter in turbas:

44quibus velociter locum dantibus casui ejus, venit per mediam cervicem.

45Et cum adhuc spiraret, accensus animo, surrexit, et cum sanguis ejus magno fluxu deflueret, et gravissimis vulneribus esset saucius, cursu turbam pertransiit:

46et stans supra quamdam petram præruptam, et jam exsanguis effectus, complexus intestina sua, utrisque manibus projecit super turbas, invocans dominatorem vitæ ac spiritus ut hæc illi iterum redderet: atque ita vita defunctus est.

1But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius the son of Seleucus was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis to places proper for his purpose.

2And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general Lysias.

3Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,

4Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.

5But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,

6He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.

7For I also being deprived of my ancestors’ glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:

8Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king’s interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of those men.

9Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,

10For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.

11Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the king’s friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.

12And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:

13Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.

14Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by docks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.

15Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him, who chose his people to keep them for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.

16Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.

17Now Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor, but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.

18Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas’ companions, and the greatness of courage with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.

19Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to present and receive the right hands.

20And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, the) were all of one mind to consent to covenants.

21So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.

22But Judas ordered men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might he suddenly practiced by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.

23And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.

24And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.

25And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.

26But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.

27Then the king being in a rage and provoked with this man’s wicked accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying, that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.

28When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.

29But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders.

30But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner: and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.

31But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.

32And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,

33And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.

34And when he had spoken thus he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:

35Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.

36Therefore now, O Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled which was lately cleansed.

37Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his affection was called the father of the Jews.

38This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews’ religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.

39So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.

40For he thought by insnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.

41Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:

42Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.

43But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:

44But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.

45And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:

46And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels with both hands, he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.