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Apocrypha. their wives, and their cattle ; because f af flictions increased sore upon them.

31 Now when it was told the king's ser vants, and e the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone down into ' the secret places in the wilderness,

32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war a- gainst them on the sabbath day.

33 And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice ; come forth, and do according to the command ment of the king, and ye shall live.

34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do * the king's com mandment, to profane the sabbath day.

35 So then they gave !l them the battle with all speed.

36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid ;

37 But said, Let us die all in our + inno- cency : heaven and earth shall testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.

38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they flew them, with their wives and children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand f people.

39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right fore.

40 And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.

41 At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him ; neither will we die^ all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.

42 Then came there unto him a com pany of Affideans, who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.

43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.

44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath : but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.

45 Then Mattathias and his friends went roundabout, and pulled down the altars

46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircum- cised, those they circumcised || valiantly.

47 They pursued al so after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.

48 So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither f suffered they the sinner t Gr.

49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his w' li6' sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation :

50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zea lous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

51 Calho remembrance what acts our fa thers did in theirs time; so (hall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name. niraAant.

52 1 Was not Abraham found faithful' in 1 Gen. **. temptation, and it was imputed unto him j[0TM|4> 3. for righteousness ?

53 'Joseph in the time of" his distress" kept the commandment,, and was made +o. lord of Egypt.

54 1 Phinees oar father in being zealous 'Nwnb. and fervent obtained the covenant of an Icci'm^ everlasting priesthood.

55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.

56" Caleb for bearing witness before "Numb, the congregation received the heritage of J*' 6' T' • the land.

57 "David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom. 4. & 7. 16.

58 p Elias for being zealous and fervent fiKingi for the law was taken up into heaven. 9 An^nJjc Azarias, and Misael, believing were fiwed out of the flame.

60 ' Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.

61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.

62 Fear not then the words of a sinful- man : for his glory shall be dung and worms.

63 To day he shall be listed up, and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is * returned into his dust,, and his thought ' Gen- J* is come to nothing.

. 64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law ; for by it shall ye obtain glory.

65 And, behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him al way : he shall be a father unto you.

66 As forjudas Maccabeus, he hath beenr mighty and strong, even from his youth if Or, fight and 0 fights,/ &

up : let him be your captain, the battle of the people. people.