Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/148

Apocrypha 28 The land also was moved forthe inha bitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

29 And after two years fully expired % the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit : for when they had given him credence* he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore,, and de stroyed much people of Israel.

3 1 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

33 Tnen builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.

34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified//6e/«/£/'U£x therein.

35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare :

36 For- it was a place, to lie in wait a- gainst the sanctuary, and an evil adversary $0 Israel.

37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it :

38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jeru salem fled because of them : whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a •»Tob.».6. wilderness, b her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honour into contempt.

40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

42 And every one should leave his laws : so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

43 Yea, many also of the Israelites con sented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

44 For the king had sent letters by mes sengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Tuda, that they should follow II the strange lawsai,ar 'c,,j " w Has of the laws ot the land, jrafigers 4^ And forbid burnt offerings, and facri- si tuian . £ce# ^ drinkofFerings, in die temple; and that they mould profane the sabbaths and festival days :

46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people

47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and un clean beasts :

48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls* abominable with all manner of unclean- ness and profanation :

49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

50 And 1 whosoever would not do accord- 1 *Mae. a ing to the commandment of the king, he 9* said, he should die.

51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and k appointed over- k*Mac.t» seers over all the people, commanding the **" cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

52 Then many of the people were ga thered unto them, to wit, every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land ;

53 || And 1 drove the Israelites into secret <** places, even wheresoever they could flee 'i/Ze7bidt for suCCOUr. themstlvit

54 Now the fifteenth day of the month JjJjjjS,. Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, ofsuccour, they set up " the abomination of dese-1"*1*"* cfr- ,68i upon the altar, and builded idol throughout the cities of Juda on side ;

55 And burnt incense at the doors of 4U their houses, and in the streets. 56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

57 And wheresoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any con sented to the law, f the king's command ment was, that they should put him to death.

58 Thus did they by their authority unto <t"ub' the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

60 At which time according to the com-*- mandment " they put to death certain wo- n*Mac.s. men, f that had caused their children- to TMhr.thai be circumcised..

61 And they hanged the infants about X7r'&. their necks, and rifled their houses, and r«. flew them that had circumcised them.

62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully cir.iff. resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing. the abomination of desolation itM,1CiS. altars it.