1 Maccabees 7 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021(NRSVUE)

1 Maccabees 7Expedition of Bacchides and Alcimus

1 has brought on us and on the land of the king, and let him punish them and all who help them.”

8 spoke peaceable words to them and swore this oath to them, “We will not seek to injure you or your friends.”

16So they trusted him, but he seized sixty of them and killed them in one day, in accordance with the word that was written,

17 and some of the people, and killed them and threw them into a great pit.

20He placed Alcimus in charge of the country and left with him a force to help him; then Bacchides went back to the king.

21 went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea, taking vengeance on those who had deserted and preventing those in the city from going out into the country.

25When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown strong and realized that he could not withstand them, he returned to the king and brought malicious charges against them.

Nicanor in Judea

26 had come to him with treacherous intent, and he was afraid of him and would not meet him again.

31When Nicanor learned that his plan had been disclosed, he went out to meet Judas in battle near Caphar-salama.

32About five hundred of the army of Nicanor fell, and the rest fled into the city of David.

Nicanor Threatens the Temple

33

42 has spoken wickedly against the sanctuary, and judge him according to this wickedness.”

43 pursued them a day’s journey, from Adasa as far as Gazara, and as they followed they kept sounding the battle call on the trumpets.

46People came out of all the surrounding villages of Judea, and they outflanked the enemy and drove them back to their pursuers, so that they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left.

47 seized the spoils and the plunder; they cut off Nicanor’s head and the right hand that he had so arrogantly stretched out and brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem.

48The people rejoiced greatly and celebrated that day as a day of great gladness.

492 Macc 15.36They decreed that this day should be celebrated each year on the thirteenth day of Adar.

501 Macc 9.57; 14.4So the land of Judah had rest for a few days.