Nicanor's Failed Plan
2 Maccabees 15, verse 1. When Nicanor learned that Judas and his men were in the province of Samaria, he decided to attack them in utter safety on their day of rest. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 2. But the Jews who were forced to accompany him said, “By no means should you so cruelly and barbarously bring destruction. Show respect for the Sabbath day, which He who sees all things has honored with holiness above other days.” 2 Maccabees 15, verse 3. Then the thrice-sinful man asked if there were a Lord in heaven who ordered the keeping of the Sabbath day. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 4. When they declared, “It is the living Lord Himself, the Ruler in heaven, who commanded the keeping of the seventh day,” 2 Maccabees 15, verse 5. he responded, “I am a ruler on earth. I command you to take up your weapons and complete the king's business.” Nevertheless, he was unsuccessful in carrying out his heinous plan.
Judas Maccabeus Mobilizes His Men
2 Maccabees 15, verse 6. In his utter vanity and arrogance, Nicanor decided to put up a public monument of victory over Judas and his army. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 7. But Maccabeus never ceased to trust the Lord and fully hope that He would help him. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 8. So he encouraged his men to have no fear of any attack from the Gentiles, but to bear in mind how help had come to them from heaven in times past. Now they should anticipate the victory the Almighty would give to them. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 9. He also exhorted them out of the law and the prophets, calling to mind the battles they had won, making them more eager to fight. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 10. Then after he revived their courage, he gave his commands and at the same time emphasized the Gentiles’ faithlessness and their failure to keep their oaths. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 11. So he issued each of them armor—not so much of the surety of shields and spears as with the encouragement of courageous speech. Then he inspired them all by telling about a dream, a kind of vision, worthy of believing. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 12. The vision he saw was this: Onias, who had been high priest, a true gentleman of modest and noble manner, one well-spoken and from childhood formed in all that pertains to virtue, was praying with hands outstretched for the whole nation of the Jews. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 13. Then in the same manner another man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and glory, and having about him a certain astonishing and majestic preeminence. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 14. Onias then spoke, saying, “This is Jeremiah, the prophet of God, a man who loves his brothers and prays fervently for the people and the holy city.” 2 Maccabees 15, verse 15. Stretching forth his right hand, Jeremiah gave a sword of gold to Judas, and as he presented it to him, he addressed him as follows: 2 Maccabees 15, verse 16. “Take this sacred sword, a gift from God, by which you will strike down your enemies.” 2 Maccabees 15, verse 17. Encouraged by Judas’ words, a man so good and able in stirring up virtue and courage in the souls of young men, they determined not to plan out a campaign. Instead they would wage war bravely, at once, deciding the matter with hand-to-hand combat with all manliness, because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were at risk. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 18. Their main concern was not first for wives and children, or even for brothers and relatives; their greatest fear was for the consecrated temple. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 19. As for those who remained in the city, they were distressed and worried about the conflict in the open country.
Nicanor's Demise
2 Maccabees 15, verse 20. Everyone was now living in suspense over the outcome of the war. The enemy was nearby; their army was prepared for battle. And their elephants were strategically positioned, and the cavalry was deployed on the flanks. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 21. Maccabeus noted carefully the great masses before him, the variety of their armaments, and the savageness of the elephants. So he reached out his hands toward heaven and called on the Lord, the Wonderworker; for he knew it is not by weapons alone, but by the Lord's decision that victory is won by those worthy of it. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 22. Thus he cried out to Him in the following manner: “O Lord, in the time of Hezekiah the king of Judea, You sent Your angel, and he killed as many as one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of Sennacherib. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 23. So now, O Ruler of the heavens, send us a noble angel to go before us spreading fear and trembling. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 24. By the strength of Your arm, may those who speak blasphemy as they come against Your holy ones be struck down.” With these words he completed his prayer. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 25. Nicanor and his men marched ahead with trumpets and battle songs, 2 Maccabees 15, verse 26. but Judas and his men joined the enemy in battle with invocations and prayers. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 27. They fought with their hands and prayed to God in their hearts, and struck down at least thirty-five thousand men. So they were deeply gladdened by God's visitation. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 28. When the battle was ended and they were marching home with joy, they recognized Nicanor, in full armor, lying dead. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 29. With tumultuous shouts, they blessed the Lord in the language of their fathers. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 30. Then Judas, who was in body and soul ever the chief defender of his fellow-citizens and who from youth maintained goodwill toward his countrymen, commanded them to sever Nicanor's head and arm and take them back to Jerusalem. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 31. When he arrived there, he called his countrymen together and stationed the priests before the altar. Then he sent for those in the citadel. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 32. Before them, he displayed the head of the defiled Nicanor and that slanderous man's hand, which he had boastfully stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 33. He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor and announced he would feed it to the birds bit by bit, and hang up the rewards of his folly opposite the sanctuary. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 34. Then everyone lifted their eyes to heaven and blessed the Lord who visited them, saying, “Blessed is He who kept His own place undefiled.” 2 Maccabees 15, verse 35. Judas then fastened Nicanor's head to the wall of the citadel, a visible symbol to all present of the Lord's help. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 36. So they all decreed by public vote never to allow this day to be unobserved, but to celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in the Syrian language—the day before Mordecai's day.
The End
2 Maccabees 15, verse 37. This is the way things turned out for Nicanor. So from that time on the city has been controlled by the Hebrews. Thus I will end my story here. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 38. If I have written well and made my point in the narrative, this is what I myself desired. But if it was done poorly and is just average, this is the best I could do. 2 Maccabees 15, verse 39. For as it is disagreeable to drink wine only or water only, whereas wine mingled with water is pleasing and delightful and brings greater joy, so also the written style of the account delights the ears of those who read it. This then shall be the end.