2Mac 15:1 

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. 

2Mac 15:2 

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. 

2Mac 15:3 

Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a 

Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be 

kept. 

2Mac 15:4 

And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and 

mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept: 

2Mac 15:5 

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. 

2Mac 15:6 

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. 

2Mac 15:7 

But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would 

help him: 

2Mac 15:8 

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. 

2Mac 15:9 

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. 

2Mac 15:10 

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. 

2Mac 15:11 

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. 

2Mac 15:12 

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. 

2Mac 15:13 

This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray 

hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and 

excellent majesty. 

2Mac 15:14 

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. 

2Mac 15:15 

Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas 

a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus, 

2Mac 15:16 

Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou 

shalt wound the adversaries. 

2Mac 15:17 

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. 

2Mac 15:18 

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. 

2Mac 15:19 

Also they that were in the city took not the least care, 

being troubled for the conflict abroad. 

2Mac 15:20 

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, 

2Mac 15:21 

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: 

2Mac 15:22 

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: 

2Mac 15:23 

Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel 

before us for a fear and dread unto them; 

2Mac 15:24 

And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with 

terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he 

ended thus. 

2Mac 15:25 

Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with 

trumpets and songs. 

2Mac 15:26 

But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with 

invocation and prayer. 

2Mac 15:27 

So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God 

with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty 

and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they 

were greatly cheered. 

2Mac 15:28 

Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they 

knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness. 

2Mac 15:29 

Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the 

Almighty in their own language. 

2Mac 15:30 

And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens 

both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his 

countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, 

and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. 

2Mac 15:31 

So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, 

and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were 

of the tower, 

2Mac 15:32 

And shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that 

blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against 

the holy temple of the Almighty. 

2Mac 15:33 

And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, 

he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, 

and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple. 

2Mac 15:34 

So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, 

saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled. 

2Mac 15:35 

He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and 

manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord. 

2Mac 15:36 

And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let 

that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth 

day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called 

Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day. 

2Mac 15:37 

Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the 

Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an 

end. 

2Mac 15:38 

And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is 

that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that 

which I could attain unto. 

2Mac 15:39 

For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as 

wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: 

even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that 

read the story. And here shall be an end.