Μ Α Κ Κ Α Β Α Ι Ω Ν Γ'. Now Philopater, on learning from those Ο ΔΕ Φιλοπάτωρ μαθὼν παρὰ τῶν ἀνακομισθέντων τὴν γενομέ who came back that Antiochus had made νην τῶν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κρατουμένων τόπων ἀφαίρεσιν ὑπὸ Ἀντιόχου, παραγγείλας ταῖς πάσαις δυνάμεσι πεζικαῖς τε καὶ ἱππικαῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν ̓Αρσινόην συμπαραλαβὼν, ἐξώρμησε μέχρι τῶν κατὰ ̔Ραφίαν τόπων, ὅπου παρεμβεβλήκεισαν οἱ περὶ ̓Αντίοχον. himself master of the places which belong. ed to himself, sent orders to all huis footmen and horsemen, took with him his sister Ar. sinoe, and marched out as far as the parts of Raphia, where Antiochus and his forces encamped. And one Theodotus, intending to carry out his design, took with him the bravest of the armed men who had been before committed to his trust by Ptolemy, and got through at night to the tent of Ptolemy, tο kill him on his own responsibility, and so to end the war. * But Dositheus, called the son of Drimulus, by birth a Jew, afterward a renegade from the laws and observances of his country, conveyed Ptolemy away, and made an obscure person lie down to receive the fate which was meant for in his stead in the tent. It befel this man the other. A fierce battle then took place; and the men of Antiochus prevailing, Arsinoe continually went up and down the ranks, and with dishevelled hair, with tears and entreaties, begged the soldiers to fight manfully for themselves, their children, and wives ; and promised that if they proved conquerors, she would give them two minæ of gold piece. It thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners. Θεόδοτος δέ τις ἐκπληρῶσαι τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν διανοηθεὶς, παρα- 2 λαβὼν τῶν προϋποτεταγμένων αὐτῷ ὅπλων Πτολεμαϊκῶν τὰ κράτιστα, διεκομίσθη νύκτωρ ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ Πτολεμαίου σκηνὴν, ὡς μόνος κτεῖναι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ διαλῦσαι τὸν πόλεμον. Τοῦτον δὲ διαγαγὼν Δωσίθεος ὁ Δριμύλου λεγόμενος, τὸ γένος 3 Ἰουδαῖος, ὕστερον δὲ μεταβαλὼν τὰ νόμιμα, καὶ τῶν πατρίων δογμάτων ἀπηλλοτριωμένος, ἄσημόν τινα κατέκλινεν ἐν τῇ σκηνῆ, ὃν συνέβη κομίσασθαι τὴν ἐκεῖνου κόλασιν. Γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης, καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων μᾶλλον 4 ἐῤῥωμένων τῷ ̓Αντιόχῳ, ἱκανῶς ἡ ̓Αρσινόη ἐπιπορευσαμένη τὰς δυνάμεις παρεκάλει, μετὰ οἴκτου καὶ δακρύων, τοὺς πλοκάμους λελυμένη, βοηθεῖν ἑαυτοῖς τε καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις καὶ γυναιξὶ θαῤῥαλέως, ἐπαγγελλομένη δώσειν νικήσασιν ἑκάστῳ δύο μνᾶς χρυσίου. Καὶ οὕτω συνέβη τοὺς ἀντιπάλους ἐν χειρονομίαις 5 διαφθαρῆναι, πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ δορυαλώτους συλληφθῆναι. * Having vanquished this attempt, the Κατακρατήσας δὲ τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἔκρινε τὰς πλησίον πόλεις 6 king then decided to proceed to the neigh. ἐπελθὼν παρακαλέσαι. Ποιήσας δὲ τοῦτο, καὶ τοῖς τεμένεσι 7 bouring cities, and encourage them. 7 By doing this, and by making donations το δωρεὰς ἀπονείμας, εὐθαρσεῖς τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους κατέστησε. their temples, he inspired his subjects with Τῶν δὲ Ἰουδαίων διαπεμψαμένων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γερουσίας 8 confidence. The Jews also sent some of their council and of their elders to him. καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοὺς ἀσπασομένους αὐτὸν. Καὶ ξένια The greetings, guest-gifts, and congratula, κομιοῦντας, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβεβηκόσι συγχαρησομένους, tions on the past, bestowed by them, filled him with the greater eagerness to visit συνέβη μᾶλλον αὐτὸν προθυμηθῆναι ὡς τάχιστα πρὸς αὐτοὺς their city. παραγενέσθαι. * Having arrived at Jerusalem, sacrificed, and offered thank-offerings to the Greatest God, and done whatever else was suitable to the sanctity of the place, and entered tης inner court, he was so struck with the exact magnificence of the place, and so wondered at the orderly arrangements of the temple, that he conceived the purpose of entering the sanctuary itself. "And when they told him that this was not permissible, none of the nation, no, nor even the priests in general, but only the Διακομισθεὶς δὲ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ θύσας τῷ μεγίστῳ 9 Θεῷ, καὶ χάριτας ἀποδιδοὺς, καὶ τῶν ἑξῆς τι τῷ τόπῳ ποιήσας, καὶ δὴ παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸν τόπον, καὶ τῇ σπουδαιότητι καὶ εὐπρεπείᾳ καταπλαγείς, θαυμάσας δὲ καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἱεροῦ εὐταξίαν, 10 ἐνεθυμήθη βουλεύσασθαι εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν ναόν. Τῶν δὲ εἰπόντων μὴ καθήκειν γίνεσθαι τοῦτο, διὰ τὸ μηδὲ 11 τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους ἐξεῖναι εἰσιέναι, μηδὲ πᾶσι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν, ἀλλ ̓ ἢ μονῳ τῷ προηγουμένῳ πάντων ἀρχιερεῖ, καὶ τούτῳ ἅπαξ 12 κατ' ἐνιαυτὸν, οὐδαμῶς ἠβούλετο πείθεσθαι. Τοῦ τε νόμου παραναγνωσθέντος, οὐδαμῶς ἀπέλιπε προφερόμενος ἑαυτὸν, δεῖν εἰσελθεῖν, λέγων, καὶ εἰ ἐκεῖνοι ἐστέρηνται ταύτης τῆς 13 τιμῆς, ἐμὲ οὐ δεῖ. Καὶ ἐπυνθάνετο, διὰ τίνα αἰτίαν εἰσερχόμενον αὐτὸν εἰς πᾶν τέμενος, οὐθεὶς ἐκώλυσε τῶν παρόντων. 14 Καί τις ἀπρονοήτως ἔφη κακῶς αὐτὸ τοῦτο τερατεύεσθαι. 15 Γενομένου δέ φησι τούτου διά τινα αἰτίαν, οὐχὶ πάντως εἰσ16 ελεύσεσθαι καὶ θελόντων αὐτῶν καὶ μή; Τῶν δὲ ἱερέων ἐν ταῖς ἁγίαις ἐσθήσεσι προπεσόντων, καὶ δεομένων τοῦ μεγίστου Θεοῦ βοηθεῖν τῇ ἐνεστώσῃ ἀνάγκῃ, καὶ τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ κακῶς ἐπιβαλλομένου μεταθεῖναι, κραυγῆς τε μετὰ δακρύων τὸ ἱερὸν 17 ἐμπλησάντων, οἱ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἀπολιπόμενοι, ταραχθέντες ἐξεπήδησαν, ἄδηλον τιθέμενοι τὸ γινόμενον. 18 Αἵ τε κατάκλειστοι παρθένοι ἐν θαλάμοις σὺν ταῖς τεκούσαις ἐξώρμησαν· καὶ σποδῷ καὶ κόνει τὰς κεφαλὰς πασάμεναι, γόων 19 τε καὶ στεναγμῶν τὰς πλατείας ἐνεπίμπλων. Αἱ δὲ καὶ προσαρτίως ἐσταλμέναι, τοὺς πρὸς ἀπάντησιν διατεταγμένους παστοὺς, καὶ τὴν ἁρμόζουσαν αἰδὼ παραλείπουσαι, δρόμον 20 ἄτακτον ἐν τῇ πόλει συνίσταντο. Τὰ δὲ νεογνὰ τῶν τέκνων, αἳ τε πρὸς τούτοις μητέρες καὶ τιθηνοὶ παραλιποῦσαι ἄλλως καὶ ἄλλως, αἱ μὲν κατ' οἴκους, αἱ δὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀγυιὰς ἀνεπιτρέπτως 21 εἰς τὸ πανυπέρτατον ἱερὸν ἠθροίζοντο. Ποικίλη δὲ ἦν τῶν εἰς τοῦτο συλλεγομένων ἡ δέησις ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνοσίως ὑπ ̓ ἐκείνου κατεγχειρουμένοις. him? supreme high priest of all, and he only πould by no means sive way. 1 Then they once in a year, being allowed to go in, he read the law to him, but he persisted in ought to be allowed: and saying, Be it that obtruding himself, exclaiming, that he they were deprived of this honour, I ought not to be. 13And he put the question, Why, when he entered all temples, none of the priests who were present forbad 14 He was thoughtlessly answered by some Welsince I have done this, said he, be one, That he did wrong to boast of this. the cause what it may, shall I not enter with or without your consent? 16 And when the priests fell down in their sacred vestments imploring the Greatest God to come and help in time of need, and to avert the violence of the fierce aggressor, and when they filled the temple with lamentations and tears, 17 then those who had been left behind in the city were scared, and rushed forth, uncertain of the event, their chambers, came out with their mo13 Virgins, who had been shut up within thers, scattering dust and ashes on their heads, and filling the streets with out cries. 19 Women, but recently separated of, left their bridal chambers, left the reserve that befitted them, and ran about the city in a disorderly manner. 20 Newborn babes were deserted by the mothers or nurses who waited upon them; some here, some there, in houses, or in fields: these now, with an ardour which could not be checked, swarmed into the Most High temple. 21 Various were the prayers offered up by those who assembled in this Place, on account of the unholy attempt of the king. 22 Along with these there were some of the citizens who took courage, and would not 22 Σύν τε τούτοις οἱ τῶν πολιτῶν θρασυνθέντες οὐκ ἠνείχοντο τέλεον αὐτοῦ ἐπικειμένου, καὶ τὸ τῆς προθέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐκπλη23 ροῦν διανοουμένου. Φωνήσαντες δὲ τὴν ὁρμὴν ἐπὶ τὰ ὅπλα ποιήσασθαι, καὶ θαῤῥαλέως ὑπὲρ τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου τελευτάν, sind his intention ἱκανὴν ἐποίησαν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τραχύτητα, μόλις τε υπό τε τῶν γεραιῶν καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀποτραπέντες ἐπὶ τὴν αὐτὴν τῆς δεήσεως ἔστησαν στάσιν, 24 Καὶ τὸ μὲν πλῆθος, ὡς ἔμπροσθεν, ἐν τούτοις ἀνεστρέφετο 25 δεόμενον. Οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν βασιλέα πρεσβύτεροι πολλαχώς ἐπειρῶντο τὸν ἀγέρωχον αὐτοῦ νοῦν ἐξιστάνειν τῆς ἐντεθυμη26 μένης βουλής. Θρασυνθεὶς δὲ καὶ πάντα παραπέμψας, ἤδη καὶ πρόσβασιν ἀποιεῖτο, τέλος ἐπιθήσειν δοκῶν τῷ προειρημένῳ. 27 Ταῦτ ̓ οὖν καὶ οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν ὄντες θεωροῦντες, ἐτράπησαν εἰς τὸ σὺν τοῖς ἡμετέροις ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τὸν πᾶν κράτος ἔχοντα, τοῖς παροῦσιν ἐπαμῖναι, μὴ παριδόντα τὴν ἄνομον καὶ ὑπερήφανον 28 πρᾶξιν. Ἐκ δὲ τῆς πυκνοτάτης τε καὶ ἐμπόνου τῶν ὄχλων 29 συναγομένης κραυγῆς, ἀνείκαστός τις ἦν βοή. Δοκεῖν γὰρ ἦν μὴ μόνον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ τείχη καὶ τὸ πᾶν ἔδαφος ἠχεῖν, ἅτε δὴ τῶν πάντων τότε θάνατον ἀλλασσομένων ἀντὶ τῆς τοῦ τόπου βεβηλώσεως. of carrying out his purpose. 2 Calling out to arms, and to die bravely in defence of the law of their fathers, they created a great uproar in the place, and were with εlders to the station of prayer which they difficulty brought back by the aged and the had occupied before. praying. The elders who surrounded the 24 During this time the multitude kept on king strove in many ways to divert his had formed. He, in his hardened mood, haughty mind from the design which he insensible to all persuasion, was going onwards, with the view of carrying out this design. 7 Yet even his own officers, when they saw this, joined the Jews in an appeal to Him who has all power, to aid in the present crisis, and not wink at such overweening lawlessness. Such was the frequency and crowd, that an indescribable noise ensued. the vehemence of the cry of the assembled τ Not the men only, the very walls and floor seemed to sound forth; all things preferring dissolution rather than to see the place defiled. Now was it that the high priest Simon bowed his knees over against the holy place, and spread out his hands in reverent form, and uttered the following supplication: 2 O Lord, Lord, King of the heavens, and Ruler of the whole creation, Holy among κτίσεως, ἅγιε ἐν ἁγίοις, μόναρχε, παντοκράτωρ, πρόσχες ἡμῖν the holy, sole Governor, Almighty, give ear to us who are oppressed by a wicked and καταπονουμένοις ὑπὸ ἀνοσίου καὶ βεβήλου θράσει καὶ σθένει profane one, who exulteth in his confidence πεφραγμένου. Σὺ γὰρ ὁ κτίσας τὰ πάντα καὶ τῶν ὅλων 3 and strength, It is thou, the Creator of ἐπικρατῶν δυνάστης δίκαιος εἶ, καὶ τοὺς ὕβρει καὶ ἀγερωχία all, the Lord of the universe, who art a righteous Governor, and judgest all who πράσσοντάς τι κρίνεις. act with pride and insolence. 4 It was thou who didst destroy the for Σὺ τοὺς ἔμπροσθεν ἀδικίαν ποιήσαντας, ἐν οἷς καὶ γίγαντες 4 mer workers of unrighteousness, among ἦσαν ῥώμῃ καὶ θράσει πεποιθότες, διέφθειρας, ἐπαγαγὼν αὐτοῖς whom were the giants, who trusted in their strength and hardinood, by covering them ἀμέτρητον ὕδωρ. Σὺ τοὺς ὑπερηφανίαν ἐργαζομένους Σοδομί- 5 with a measureless food. It was thou τας, διαδήλους ταῖς κακίαις γενομένους, πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ κατέφλε who didst make the Sodomites, those work- ξας, παράδειγμα τοῖς ἐπιγινομένοις καταστήσας. ers of exceeding iniquity, men notorious for their vices, an example to after generations, when thou didst consume them with fire and brimstone. thou causedst the bold Pharaon, the Σὺ τὸν θρασὺν Φαραὼ καταδουλωσάμενον τὸν λαόν σου τὸν 6 ἅγιον Ἰσραὴλ, ποικίλαις καὶ πολλαῖς δοκιμάσας τιμωρίαις, γνώρισας τὴν σὴν δυναστείαν· ἐφ' αἷς ἐγνώρισας τὸ μέγα σου κράτος. Καὶ ἐπιδιώξαντα αὐτὸν σὺν ἅρμασι καὶ ὄχλων πλή- 7 θει, ἐπέκλυσας βάθει θαλάσσης, τοὺς δὲ ἐμπιστεύσαντας ἐπὶ σοὶ τῷ τῆς ἁπάσης κτίσεως δυναστεύοντι, σώους διεκόμισας. a multitude of followers, and gavest a safe Οἳ καὶ συνειδότες ἔργα σῆς χειρὸς, ᾔνεσάν σε τὸν παντοκρά- 8 passage to those who put their trust in thee, 6 Thou didst make known thy power when ver of thy people, to pass through the ordeal of many and diverse infictions. And thou rolledst the depths of the sea over him, when he made pursuit with chariots, and with the Lord of the whole creation. These τορα. saw and felt the works of thine hands, and praised thee the Almighty. Σὺ, βασιλεῦ, κτίσας τὴν ἀπέραντον καὶ ἀμέτρητον γῆν, 9 • Thou, Ο King, when thou createdst the εξελέξω τὴν πόλιν ταύτην, καὶ ἁγιάσας τὸν τόπον τοῦτον εἰς illimitable and measureless earth, didst ὄνομά σοι τῷ τῶν ἁπάντων ἀπροσδεεῖ, καὶ παρεδόξασας ἐν choose out this city: thou didst make this place sacred to thy name, albeit thou need! ἐπιφανεία μεγαλοπρεπεῖ, σύστασιν ποιησάμενος αὐτοῦ πρὸς est nothing: thou didst glorify it with thy δόξαν τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ἐντίμου ὀνόματός σου. illustrious presence, after constructing it to the glory of thy great and honourable name. . And thou didst promise, out of lofe to the house of Israel, that should we fall away from thee, and become afHicted, and then come to this house and pray, thou wouldest hear our prayer. Verily thou art faithful and true. Καὶ ἀγαπῶν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, ἐπηγγείλω δὴ ὅτι ἐὰν 10 γένηται ἡμῶν ἀποστροφὴ, καὶ καταλάβῃ ἡμᾶς στενοχωρία, καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον δεηθῶμεν, εἰσακούσῃ τῆς δεήσεως ἡμῶν. Καὶ δὴ πιστὸς εἶ καὶ ἀληθινός. 11 Ἐπεὶ δὲ πλεονάκις θλιβέντων τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ἐβοήθησας 12 And whereas thou didst often aid our αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει, καὶ ἐῤῥύσω αὐτοὺς ἐκ μεγάλων κινfathers when hard pressed, and in low estate, δύνων, ἰδοὺ δὴ νῦν, ἅγιε βασιλεῦ, διὰ τὰς πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας 13 and deliveredst them out of great dangers, 13 see now, holy King, how through our many ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίας καταπονούμεθα, καὶ ὑπετάγημεν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς and great sins we are borne down, and ἡμῶν, καὶ παρείμεθα ἐν ἀδυναμίαις. Ἐν δὲ τῇ ἡμετέρα 14 made subject to our enemies, and are be come weak and powerless. We being in καταπτώσει ὁ θρασὺς καὶ βέβηλος οὗτος ἐπιτηδεύει καθυβρίσαι this low condition, this bold and profane τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀναδεδειγμένον τῷ ὀνόματι τῆς δόξης σου ἅγιον man seeks to dishonour this thy holy place, τόπον. consecrated out of the earth to the name of thy Majesty. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ οἰκητήριόν σου οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀνέφικτος 15 15 Thy dwelling-place, the heaven of hea- ἀνθρώποις ἐστίν. Αλλ ̓ ἐπεὶ εὐδόκησας τὴν δόξαν σου ἐν τῷ 16 vens, is indeed unapproachable to men. 1 But since it seemed good to thee to ex· λαῷ σου Ἰσραὴλ, ἡγίασας τὸν τόπον τοῦτον. Μὴ ἐκδικήσῃς 17 hibit thy glory among thy people Israel, ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ τούτων ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, μηδὲ εὐθύνῃς ἡμᾶς ἐν βεβηλώσει· ἵνα μὴ καυχήσωνται οἱ παράνομοι ἐν θυμῷ αὐτῶν, μηδὲ ἀγαλλιάσωνται ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ γλώσσης αὐτῶν, λέγοντες, ἡμεῖς 18 κατεπατήσαμεν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἁγιασμοῦ, ὡς καταπατοῦνται οἱ οἶκοι τῶν προσοχθισμάτων. thou didst sanctify this place. 17 Punish us not by means of the uncleanness of their men, nor chastise us by means of their pro fanity; lest the lawless ones should boast in their rage, and exult in exuberant prid of speech, and say, 18 We have trampled upon the holy house, as idolatrous houses are trampled upon. * Blot out our iniquities, and do away with our errors, and shew forth thy compassion in this hour. * Let thy mercies quickly go before us. Grant us peace, that the cast down and broken hearted may praise thee with their mouth. At that time God, who seeth all things, who is beyond all Holy among the holy, Απάλειψον τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, καὶ διασκέδασον τὰς ἀμπλα- 19 κίας ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐπίφανον τὸ ἔλεός σου κατὰ τὴν ὥραν ταύτην. Ταχὺ προκαταλαβέτωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ οἰκτιρμοί σου· καὶ δὸς 20 αἰνέσεις ἐν στόματι τῶν καταπεπτωκότων καὶ συντετριμμένων τὰς ψυχὰς, ποιήσας ἡμῖν εἰρήνην. Ἐνταῦθα ὁ πάντων ἐπόπτης Θεὸς, καὶ πρὸ πάντων ἅγιος 21 heard that prayer, so suitable; and scourged ἐν ἁγίοις, εἰσακούσας τῆς ἐνθέσμου λιτανείας, τὸν ὕβρει καὶ 22 θράσει μεγάλως ἐπῃρμένον ἐμάστιξεν αὐτὸν, ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν κραδάνας αὐτὸν ὡς κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου, ὥστε κατ ̓ ἐδάφους ἄπρακτον ἔτι, καὶ τοῖς μέλεσι παραλελυμένον, μηδὲ φωνῆσαι δύνασθαι δικαίᾳ περιπεπλεγμένον κρίσει. 23 Ὅθεν οἵ τε φίλοι καὶ οἱ σωματοφύλακες αὐτοῦ ταχεῖαν καὶ ὀξεῖαν ἰδόντες τὴν καταλαβοῦσαν αὐτὸν εὐθύναν, φοβούμενοι μὴ καὶ τὸ ζῆν ἐκλείπῃ, ταχέως αὐτὸν ἐξείλκυσαν ὑπερβάλλοντι 24 καταπεπληγμένοι φόβῳ. Ἐν χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον ἀναλεξάμενος ἑαυτὸν, οὐδαμῶς εἰς μετάμελον ἦλθεν ἐπιτιμηθεὶς, μετ ̓ ἀπειλῆς 25 δὲ πικρᾶς ἀνέλυσε. Διακομισθεὶς δὲ εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον, καὶ τὰ τῆς κακίας ἐπαύξων, διὰ δὲ τῶν προαποδεδειγμένων συμποτών 26 καὶ ἑταίρων τοῦ παντὸς δικαίου κεχωρισμένων, οὐ μόνον ταῖς ἀναριθμήτοις ἀσελγείαις διηρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον θράσους προῆλθεν, ὥστε δυσφημίας ἐν τοῖς τόποις συνίστασθαι, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν φίλων ἀτενίζοντας εἰς τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως πρόθεσιν καὶ αὐτοὺς ἔπεσθαι τῇ ἐκείνου θελήσει. 30 31 Ινα δὲ μὴ τοῖς πᾶσιν ἀπεχθόμενος φαίνηται, ὑπέγραψεν, ἐὰν δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν προαιρῶνται ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὰς τελετὰς μεμνημένοις ἀναστρέφεσθαι, τούτους ἰσοπολίτας ̓Αλεξανδρεῦ. σιν εἶναι. Ενιοι μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ πόλεως τὰς τῆς πόλεως εὐσεβείας ἐπιβάθρας στυγοῦντες, εὐχερῶς ἑαυτοὺς ἐδίδοσαν, ὡς μεγάλης τινὸς κοινωνήσοντες εὐκλείας ἀπὸ τῆς ἐσομένης τῷ βασιλεῖ 32 συναναστροφής. Οἱ δὲ πλεῖστοι γενναία ψυχῇ ἐνίσχυσαν καὶ οὐ διέστησαν τῆς εὐσεβείας· τά τε χρήματα περὶ τοῦ ζῆν ἀντικαταλλασσόμενοι, ἀδεῶς ἐπειρῶντο ἑαυτοὺς ῥύσασθαι ἐκ 33 τῶν ἀπογραφῶν. Εὐέλπιδες δὲ καθειστήκεισαν ἀντιλήψεως τεύξεσθαι, καὶ τοὺς ἀποχωροῦντας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐβδελύσσοντο, καὶ ὡς πολεμίους τοῦ ἔθνους ἔκρινον, καὶ τῆς κοινῆς συναναστροφῆς καὶ εὐχρηστίας ἐστέρουν. 3 “Α καὶ μεταλαμβάνων ὁ δυσσεβὴς ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐχόλησεν, ὥστε οὐ μόνον τοῖς κατ' ̓Αλεξάνδρειαν διοργίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ βαρυτέρως ἐναντιωθῆναι, καὶ προστάξαι σπεύσαντας συναγαγεῖν πάντας ἐπιτοαυτὸ, καὶ χειρίστῳ μόρῳ τοῦ ζῆν μεταστῆσαι. the man greatly uplifted with scorn and insolence. Shaking him to and fro as a reed is shaken with the wind, he cast him upon the pavement, powerless, with limbs paralyzed; by a righteous judgment deprived of the faculty of speech. the swift recompense which had suddenly 23 His friends and body-guards, beholding overtaken him, struck with exceeding terremoved him. When in course of time ror, and fearing that he would die, speedily he had come to himself, this severe check caused no repentance within him, but he departed with bitter threatenings. 25 He proceeded to Egypt, grew worse in wickedness through his beforementioned compan n wine, who were lost to all goodness and not satisfied with countless acts of impiety, his audacity so increased that he friends, watching his purpose attentively, raised evil reports there, and many of his joined in furthering his will. 27 His purpose was to inflict a public stigma upon our race; wherefore he erected a pillar at the tower-porch, and caused the following inscription to be engraven upon it: That entrance to their own temple not sacrifce; that all the Jews were to be registered among the common people; that those who resisted were to be forcibly seized and put to death; that those who were thus registered, were to be marked on nysus, and to be set apart with these limited their persons by the ivy-leaf symbol of Diorights. was to be refused to all those who would To do away with the appearance of not them should elect to enter the hating them all, he had it written underneath, community of those initiated in the rites, these should have equal rights with the Alexandrians. 31 Some of those who were over the city, therefore, abhorring any approach to the king, and expected to derive some great city of piety, unhesitatingly gave in to the honour from a future connection with him. majority to dling to their religious obser3A nobler spirit, however, prompted the vances, and by paying money that they might live unmolested, these sought to escape the registration: 33 cheerfully looking forward to future aid, they abhorred their own apostates, considering them to be national foes, and debarring them from the common usages of social intercourse. On discovering this, so incensed was the wicked king, that he no longer confined his rage to the Jews in Alexandria. Laying his hand more heavily upon those who lived in the country, he gave orders that they should be quickly collected into one place, and most cruelly deprived of their Lives. 2 While this was going on, an invidious rumour was uttered abroad by men who had banded together to injure the Jewish race. The purport of their charge was, that the Jews kept them away from the or always maintained a feeling of unswerving dinances of the law. Now, while the Jews loyalty towards the kings, yet, as they worshipped God, and observed his law, they made certain distinctions, and avoided certain things. Hence some persons held them in odium ; s although, as they adorned ἐφαίνοντο. Τῇ δὲ τῶν δικαίων εὐπραξίᾳ κοσμοῦντες τὴν 5 their conversation with works of righteousness, they had established themselves in συναναστροφὴν, ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις εὐδόκιμοι καθειστήκεισαν. the good opinion of the world. 6 What all the rest of mankind said, was, Τὴν μὲν οὖν περὶ τοῦ γένους ἐν πᾶσι θρυλλουμένην εὐπρα- 6 however, made of no account by the foreigners;7 who said much of the exclusiveness ξίαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι οὐδαμῶς διηριθμήσαντο. Τὴν δὲ περὶ τῶν 7 of the Jews with regard to their worship προσκυνήσεων καὶ τροφῶν διάστασιν ἐθρύλλουν, φάσκοντες and meats; they alleged that they were men unsociable, hostile to the king's inter- μήτε τῷ βασιλεῖ μήτε ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ὁμοσπόνδους τοὺς ἀνests, refusing to associate with him or his θρώπους γενέσθαι, δυσμενεῖς δὲ εἶναι καὶ μέγα τι τοῖς πράγμαtroops. By, this way of speaking, they σιν ἐναντιουμένους· καὶ οὐ τῷ τυχόντι περιῆψαν ψόγῳ. brought much odium upon them. 8 Nor was this unexpected uproar and sudden conflux of people unobserved by the Greeks who lived in the city, concerning men who had never harmed them: yet to aid them was not in their power, since all was oppression around; but they encouraged the Jews by sympathizing with them in their troubles, and expected a favourable turn of afairs 9 He who knowethall things, will not, said they, disregard so great a people. 1 Some of the neighbours, friends, and fellow dealers of the Jews, even called them secretly to an interview, pledged them their assistance, and promised to do their very utmost for them. 11 Now the king, elated with his prosperous fortune, and not regarding the superior power of God, but thinking to persevere in his present purpose, wrote the following letter to the prejudice of the Jews. * King Ptolemy Philopater, to the com. manders and soldiers in Egypt, and in all places, health and happiness! 13 I am right well, and so, too, are my affairs. Since our Asiatic campaign, the particulars of which ye know, and which by the aid of the gods, not lightly given, and by our own vigour, has been brought to a successful issue according to our expectation, resolved, not with strength of spear, but with gentleness and much humanity, as it were to nurse the inhabitants of Cale Syria and Phonicia,and to be their willing benefactors. 16 So, having bestowed considerable sums of money upon the temples of the severaὶ 18 15 we Οἱ δὲ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν Ἕλληνες οὐδὲν ἠδικημένοι, ταραχὴν 8 ἀπροσδόκητον περὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους θεωροῦντες, καὶ συνδρομὰς ἀπροσκόπους γινομένας βοηθεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἔσθενον· τυραννικὴ γὰρ ἦν ἡ διάθεσις· παρεκάλουν δὲ καὶ δυσφόρως εἶχον, καὶ μεταπεσεῖσθαι ταῦτα ὑπελάμβανον. Μὴ γὰρ οὕτως παροραθή. 9 σεται τηλικοῦτο σύστημα μηδὲν ἠγνοηκώς. Ἤδη δὲ καί τινες 10 γείτονές τε καὶ φίλοι καὶ συμπραγματευόμενοι, μυστικῶς τινας ἐπισπώμενοι, πίστεις ἐδίδουν συνασπιεῖν, καὶ πᾶν ἐκτενὲς προσοίσεσθαι πρὸς ἀντίληψιν. Ἐκεῖνος μὲν οὖν τῇ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν εὐημερία γεγαυρωμένος, 11 καὶ οὐ καθορῶν τὸ τοῦ μεγίστου Θεοῦ κράτος, ὑπολαμβάνων δὲ διηνεκῶς ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ διαμένειν βουλῇ, ἔγραψε κατ ̓ αὐτῶν ἐπιστολὴν τήνδε. Βασιλεὺς Πτολεμαῖος Φιλοπάτωρ τοῖς κατ ̓ Αἴγυπτον, καὶ 12 κατὰ τόπον στρατηγοῖς καὶ στρατιώταις, χαίρειν καὶ ἐῤῥῶσθαι. ̓́Εῤῥωμαι δὲ καὶ ἐγὼ αὐτὸς καὶ τὰ πράγματα ἡμῶν. Ἐκ 13, 14 τῆς εἰς τὴν ̓Ασίαν γενομένης ἡμῖν ἐπιστρατείας, ἧς ἴστε καὶ αὐτοὶ, τῇ τῶν θεῶν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀπροπτώτῳ συμμαχίᾳ, καὶ τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ δὲ ῥώμῃ κατὰ λόγον ἐπ ̓ ἄριστον τέλος ἀχθείσης, ἡγησάμεθα μὴ βίᾳ δόρατος, ἐπιεικείᾳ δὲ καὶ πολλῇ φιλαν. 15 θρωπία τιθηνήσασθαι τὰ κατοικοῦντα κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην ἔθνη, εὐποιῆσαί τε ἀσμένως. cities, we proceeded even as far as Jerusalem; and went up to honour the temple Καὶ τοῖς κατὰ πόλεσιν ἱεροῖς ἀπονείμαντες προσόδους πλεί. 16 of these wretched beings who never cease στας, προήχθημεν καὶ εἰς τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα, ἀναβάντες τιμῆσαι from their folly. To outward appearance they received us willingly; but belied that τὸ ἱερὸν τῶν ἀλιτηρίων καὶ μηδέποτε ληγόντων τῆς ἀνοίας. appearance by their deeds. When we were Οἱ δὲ λόγῳ μὲν τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀποδεξάμενοι παρουσίαν, τῷ δὲ 17 eager to enter their temple, and to honour it with the most beautiful and exquisite πράγματι νόθως, προθυμηθέντων ἡμῶν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν ναὸν gifts, 1s they were so carried away by their αὐτῶν, καὶ τοῖς ἐκπρεπέσι καὶ καλλίστοις ἀναθήμασι τιμῆσαι, old arrogance, as to forbid us the entrance; τύφοις φερόμενοι παλαιοτέροις εἶρξαν ἡμᾶς τῆς εἰσόδου, ἀπο- 18 while we, out of our forbearance all men, refrained from exercising our power λειπόμενοι τῆς ἡμετέρας ἀλκῆς, δι ̓ ἣν ἔχομεν πρὸς ἅπαντας upon them. 19 And thus exhibiting their ἀνθρώπους φιλανθρωπίαν. Τὴν δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς ἡμᾶς δυσμένειαν 19 enmity against us, they alone among the nations lift up their heads against kings and ἔκδηλον καθιστάντες, ὡς μονώτατοι τῶν ἐθνῶν βασιλεῦσι καὶ benefactors, as men unwilling to submit to τοῖς ἑαυτῶν εὐεργέταις ὑψαυχενοῦντες, οὐδὲν γνήσιον βούλονται φέρειν. any thing reasonable. * We then, having endeavoured to make allowance for the madness of these persons, and on our victorious return treating all peo- Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ τούτων ἀνοίᾳ συμπεριενεχθέντες, καὶ μετὰ νίκης 20 ple in Egypt courteously, acted in a manner διακομισθέντες, καὶ εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον τοῖς πᾶσιν ἔθνεσι φιλανwhich was befitting. Accordingly, bearing no ill-will against their kinsmen at Jerusa θρώπως ἀπαντήσαντες, καθὼς ἔπρεπεν ἐποιήσαμεν. Ἐν δὲ 21 lem], but rather remembering our connec. τούτοις πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοφύλους αὐτῶν ἀμνησικακίαν ἅπασι γνωρί tion with them, and the numerous matters with sincere heart from a remote period ζοντες, διά τε τὴν συμμαχίαν καὶ τὰ πεπιστευμένα μετὰ entrusted to them, we wished to venture a ἁπλότητος αὐτοῖς ἀρχῆθεν μύρια πράγματα τολμήσαντες |