29,314 verses contain “And” (in the KJV: 28,365, in the BSB: 19,838) — showing 29,201–29,300
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And took the city by the will of God,
and made unspeakable slaughters,
insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining
thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.
Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.
Howbeit Dositheus
and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus’ captains, went forth,
and slew those that
Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands,
and set them over the bands,
and went against
Timotheus, who had about him an hundred
and twenty thousand men of foot,
and two thousand
and five hundred
horsemen.
Now when
Timotheus had knowledge of
Judas’ coming, he sent the women
and children
and the other
baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to
besiege,
and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.
But when
Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being
smitten with fear
and terror through the appearing of him who
seeth all things, fled
amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often
hurt of their own men,
and wounded with the points of their own swords.
Moreover
Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus
and Sosipater, whom he
besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews’ parents,
and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.
Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion,
and to the temple of Atargatis,
and there he
slew five
and twenty thousand persons.
And after he had put to flight
and destroyed them,
Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein
Lysias abode,
and a great multitude of
divers nations,
and the strong young men kept the walls,
and defended them
mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines
and darts.
But when
Judas and his company had called upon
Almighty God, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city,
and slew twenty
and five thousand of them that were within,
They gave them
thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them:
and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.
Who came out with three thousand men of foot
and four hundred
horsemen.
And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.
At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor’s company, who was on
horseback,
and a strong man, was still upon
Gorgias,
and taking hold of his coat drew him by force;
and when he would have taken that
cursed man alive, a
horseman of Thracia coming upon him
smote off his shoulder, so that
Gorgias fled unto Marisa.
Now when they that were with
Gorgias had fought long,
and were
weary,
Judas called upon the Lord, that he would
shew himself to be their helper
and leader of the battle.
And with that he began in his own language,
and sung psalms with a loud voice,
and rushing unawares upon
Gorgias’ men, he put them to flight.
So
Judas gathered his host,
and came into the city of Odollam,
And when the seventh day came, they
purified themselves, as the custom was,
and kept the sabbath in the same place.
And upon the day following, as the use had been,
Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain,
and to
bury them with their
kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.
Betook themselves unto prayer,
and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of
remembrance. Besides, that noble
Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well
and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been
superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy
and good thought.
Whereupon he made a
reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
In the hundred forty
and ninth year it was told
Judas, that
Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into
Judea,
And with him
Lysias his
protector,
and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a
Grecian power of
footmen, an hundred
and ten thousand,
and horsemen five thousand
and three hundred,
and elephants two
and twenty,
and three hundred
chariots armed with hooks.
But the King of kings moved
Antiochus’ mind against this wicked
wretch,
and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto
Berea,
and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.
Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes,
and it had a round instrument which on every side
hanged down into the ashes.
Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:
For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
Now the king came with a barbarous
and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father’s time.
Which things when
Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night
and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country,
and from the holy temple:
And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the
blasphemous nations.
And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king’s host should enter into
Judea,
and get the city, to go forth
and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.
So when he had committed all to the
Creator of the world,
and exhorted his soldiers to fight
manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country,
and the
commonwealth, he camped by Modin:
And having given the
watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most
valiant and choice young men he went in into the king’s tent by night,
and slew in the camp about four thousand men,
and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.
And at last they filled the camp with fear
and tumult,
and departed with good success.
And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:
But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews’ host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out,
and when they had
gotten him, they put him in prison.
Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was
desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself,
and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them,
and offered sacrifice, honoured the temple,
and dealt kindly with the place,
And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from
Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;
Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded,
pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king’s coming
and departing.
After three years was
Judas informed, that
Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the
haven of Tripolis with a great power
and navy,
Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest,
and had
defiled himself
wilfully in the times of their
mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,
Came to king
Demetrius in the hundred
and one
and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold,
and a palm,
and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple:
and so that day he held his peace.
Howbeit having
gotten opportunity to further his
foolish enterprize,
and being called into counsel by
Demetrius,
and asked how the Jews stood affected,
and what they intended, he answered
thereunto:
First,
verily for the
unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king;
and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the
unadvised dealing of them aforersaid.
Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country,
and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the
clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.
And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants,
and making him governor over
Judea, he sent him forth,
Commanding him to
slay Judas,
and to
scatter them that were with him,
and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.
Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming,
and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads,
and made
supplication to him that had established his people for ever,
and who always helpeth his portion with
manifestation of his presence.
So at the commandment of the captain they removed
straightways from thence,
and came near unto them at the town of
Dessau.
Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the
manliness of them that were with
Judas,
and the
courageousness that they had to fight for their country,
durst not try the matter by the sword.
Wherefore he sent
Posidonius,
and Theodotus,
and Mattathias, to make peace.
So when they had taken long
advisement thereupon,
and the captain had made the multitude acquainted
therewith,
and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,
And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,
Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem,
and did no
hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.
And he would not willingly have
Judas out of his sight: for he love the man from his heart
He prayed him also to take a wife,
and to
beget children: so he married, was quiet,
and took part of this life.
But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was
betwixt them,
and considering the covenants that were made, came to
Demetrius,
and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained
Judas, a
traitor to his realm, to be the king’s successor.
Then the king being in a
rage,
and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor,
signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants,
and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all
haste unto Antioch.
When this came to Nicanor’s hearing, he was much confounded in himself,
and took it
grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.
Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be
churlish unto him,
and that he
entreated him more roughly than he was
wont, perceiving that such
sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men,
and withdrew himself from Nicanor.
But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by
Judas’ policy, came into the great
and holy temple,
and commanded the priests, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
And when they
sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,
He stretched out his right hand toward the temple,
and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me
Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground,
and I will break down the altar,
and erect a notable temple unto
Bacchus.
After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven,
and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;
Therefore now, O holy Lord of all
holiness, keep this house ever
undefiled, which lately was
cleansed,
and stop every unrighteous mouth.
Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.
For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of
Judaism,
and did boldly
jeopard his body
and life with all
vehemency for the religion of the Jews.
Now when the multitude would have taken the tower,
and violently broken into the outer door,
and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
But missing his stroke through
haste, the multitude also
rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall,
and cast himself down
manfully among the thickest of them.
But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.
Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up;
and though his blood
gushed out like spouts of water,
and his wounds were
grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the
throng;
and standing upon a steep rock,
When as his blood was now quite gone, he
plucked out his
bowels,
and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the
throng,
and calling upon the Lord of life
and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.
But Nicanor, hearing that
Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.
Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly
and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that
seeth all things, hath honoured with
holiness above all other days.
And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:
Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king’s business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.
So Nicanor in exceeding pride
and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over
Judas and them that were with him.
Wherefore he
exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven,
and now to expect the victory
and aid, which should come unto them from the
Almighty.
And so comforting them out of the law
and the prophets,
and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won
afore, he made them more
cheerful.
And when he had
stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge,
shewing them therewithall the
falsehood of the heathen,
and the breach of oaths.
Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields
and spears, as with comfortable
and good words:
and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little
rejoice them.
And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a
virtuous and a good man,
reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also,
and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.
This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.
Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.
Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to
Judas a sword of gold,
and in giving it spake thus,
Thus being well comforted by the words of
Judas, which were very good,
and able to
stir them up to valour,
and to
encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but
courageously to set upon them,
and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city
and the sanctuary
and the temple were in danger.
For the care that they took for their wives,
and their children, their brethren,
and folks, was in least account with them: but the greatest
and principal fear was for the holy temple.
And now, when as all looked what should be the trial,
and the enemies were already come near,
and the army was set in
array,
and the beasts conveniently placed,
and the
horsemen set in wings,
Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude,
and the
divers preparations of armour,
and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven,
and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:
Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou
didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of
Judea,
and didst slay in the host of
Sennacherib an hundred
fourscore and five thousand:
Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear
and dread unto them;