Alcimus Accuses Judas
2 Maccabees 14, verse 1. After three years’ time, word reached Judas and his soldiers that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, had killed Antiochus and Lysias his guardian, then had sailed into the harbor of Tripolis with a powerful army and fleet 2 Maccabees 14, verse 2. and taken possession of the country. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 3. Now there was a certain Alcimus, formerly a high priest, who had willfully defiled himself in the times of social and political disturbance. He realized there was no way for him to live in safety or to approach the holy altar ever again. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 4. So he went to King Demetrius sometime in the one hundred and fifty-first year and presented him a crown of gold and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he remained peaceful. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 5. But he seized an opportunity in his own stupidity when he was invited by Demetrius to a session of the council and was questioned about the disposition and intentions of the Jews. Thus he said to the council: 2 Maccabees 14, verse 6. “Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas Maccabeus, are maintaining war and stirring up rebellion, and will not allow the kingdom to attain stability. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 7. Wherefore I have set aside my paternal glory—meaning my high priesthood—and now have come here. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 8. I came here first out of my honest concern for the well-being of the king, and second out of consideration for my own fellow-citizens; for through the rashness of those just mentioned, our entire nation is suffering misfortune. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 9. Because you, O king, are acquainted with the details of these things, please take care of our country and our hard-pressed people with the gracious love for mankind that you have for everyone. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 10. For as long as Judas is alive, it will be impossible for the government to experience peace.”
Nicanor Sent to Kill Judas
2 Maccabees 14, verse 11. After he said this, the rest of the king's friends who bore malice against Judas aroused even greater anger in Demetrius. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 12. Immediately he chose Nicanor, the commander of a squadron of elephants, appointing him governor of Judea. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 13. He sent him off with the charge to kill Judas, scatter his soldiers, and establish Alcimus as high priest of the great temple. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 14. The Gentiles who had fled before Judas throughout Judea joined Nicanor, for they thought the setbacks and calamities of the Jews would bring prosperity to themselves. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 15. The Jews got word of Nicanor's coming and the assault of the Gentiles. So they sprinkled their heads with earth and prayed to Him who establishes His people forever, and always helps His own inheritance by making Himself present. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 16. At the command of Judas their leader, they immediately moved the army from there and met the enemy in battle at a village called Dessau. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 17. Simon, the brother of Judas, had encountered Nicanor in battle, but was halted because of the unexpected silence of those adversaries.
A Short-Lived Alliance
2 Maccabees 14, verse 18. Nevertheless, when Nicanor heard of the bravery of Judas and his men and their courage in battle for their country, he pulled back from deciding the matter by bloodshed. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 19. So he sent forth Posidonius, Theodotus, and Mattathias to offer and receive pledges of friendship. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 20. After an extensive investigation of the terms, the leader communicated the terms to the people, and it appeared they were of one mind; and they agreed to the treaty. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 21. So they set aside a day to meet privately. From each army a chariot came forward, and seats of honor were set in place. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 22. Judas appointed battle-ready men at strategic places lest the enemy attempt sudden trickery, but the consultation was held in a fitting way. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 23. Nicanor remained in Jerusalem and did nothing improper, but he dismissed the crowd of people that had gathered. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 24. He also kept Judas in his presence continually, for he was heartily attached to the man. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 25. He encouraged him to marry and have children. Thus Judas got married, settled down, and lived a normal life.
A Rekindled Enmity
2 Maccabees 14, verse 26. When Alcimus became aware of their goodwill for each other, he took the treaty that was made and went to King Demetrius. He told him Nicanor was disloyal to the government, since he had appointed Judas, the plotter against the kingdom, to be his successor. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 27. The king became enraged. Provoked by the false accusations of that depraved man, he wrote to Nicanor that he was most displeased with the treaty and ordered him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch at once. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 28. When this message reached Nicanor, he was upset and very grieved that he had to break the agreement when the man had not done wrong. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 29. But since he could not act in opposition to the king, he watched for a strategic opportunity to carry out the command. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 30. Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor was becoming more harsh in his treatment of him and more rude when they met than was customary. Judas decided Nicanor's sour behavior was not at all propitious, so he gathered up a good number of his men and hid from him. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 31. When Nicanor realized he had been boldly outmaneuvered by the man, he went to the great and holy temple and found the priests offering the customary sacrifices. He commanded them to hand him over. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 32. They declared under oath they did not know the whereabouts of the man he sought. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 33. So Nicanor stretched out his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: “If you will not hand over Judas to me as a prisoner, I will raze this shrine of God to the ground, destroy the altar, and erect at this place a splendid temple to Dionysus.” 2 Maccabees 14, verse 34. After he said this, he departed. Then the priests reached out their hands to heaven, calling upon the everlasting Defender of our nation, saying, 2 Maccabees 14, verse 35. “O Lord of all, while You have need of nothing, You were pleased to have a temple for Your dwelling in our midst. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 36. Now then, O Holy One, O Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house so recently purified.”
Razis the Elder Dies
2 Maccabees 14, verse 37. Razis was one of the elders of Jerusalem and was denounced before Nicanor as a man who loved his fellow-citizens, a man held in high esteem and called a father of the Jews because of his goodwill. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 38. For in past times when there was isolation from the Gentiles, he was brought to judgment for practicing the Jewish religion. But with all zeal he risked his life, body and soul, for his religion. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 39. Nicanor wished to make obvious his ill-will for the Jews. So he sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest Razis, 2 Maccabees 14, verse 40. for he thought that by arresting him he would produce calamity among the Jews. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 41. Thus when the soldiers were about to capture the tower and were forcing open the door of the courtyard, they commanded that the doors be set on fire. When Razis was surrounded, he fell upon his own sword, 2 Maccabees 14, verse 42. for he preferred to die bravely rather than fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his own noble birth. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 43. However, in the tension of the confrontation, he did not fall with exactness on his sword. As the crowd rushed through the doors, he took courage and jumped up on the wall, bravely throwing himself down into the throng. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 44. But as people quickly stepped back, there was an open space, and he landed in the midst of the empty area. 2 Maccabees 14, verse 45. He was still alive. In a blaze of anger, he stood up; and though his blood gushed like a spring and his injuries were severe, he darted through the crowd. He climbed up on a steep rock, 2 Maccabees 14, verse 46. and with his blood completely drained out of him, he tore out his intestines, took them in both hands and threw them at the crowd as he called on the Lord of life and spirit to return them to him again. Such was the manner of his death.