8 — 2 Machabees

1But Judas Machabeus, and they that were with him, went privately into the towns: and calling together their kinsmen and friends, and taking unto them such as continued in the Jews’ religion, they assembled six thousand men.A Giuda Maccabeo, e quelli, che si stavano con lui, andavan segretamente pei castelli, e convocando i parenti e gli amici, e prendendo seco quelli, che si erano tenuti costanti nel Giudaismo, messer insieme fino a sei mila uomini.BVT Iudas Machabeus and they that were with him, went in secretely into the townes: and calling together their kinsemen and taking vnto them those that continewed in Iudaisme, they brought out to them six thousand men.Judas vero Machabæus, et qui cum illo erant, introibant latenter in castella: et convocantes cognatos et amicos, et eos qui permanserunt in Judaismo assumentes, eduxerunt ad se sex millia virorum. 2And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon his people that was trodden down by all and would have pity on the temple, that was defiled by the wicked:E invocavano il Signore, affinchè volgesse il suo sguardo a quel popolo calpestato da tutti, e avesse pietà del suo tempio profanato dagli empj.And they inuocated our Lord, that he would haue respect vnto his people that was troden of al, and would haue mercie on the temple, that was cotaminated of the impious:Et invocabant Dominum, ut respiceret in populum qui ab omnibus calcabatur, et misereretur templo quod contaminabatur ab impiis: 3That he would have pity also upon the city that was destroyed, that was ready to be made even with the ground, and would hear the voice of the blood that cried to him:E avesse compassione dello sterminio della città, la quale ben presto sarebbe agguagliata al suolo, e ascoltasse la voce del sangue, che alzava le grida a lui:he would haue pitie also vpon the destruction of the citie, which was forth with to be made flat with the ground, and would heare the voice of the bloud crying to him:misereretur etiam exterminio civitatis, quæ esset illico complananda, et vocem sanguinis ad se clamantis audiret: 4That he would remember also the most unjust deaths of innocent children, and the blasphemies offered to his name, and would shew his indignation on this occasion.E si ricordasse della ingiustissima strage de' pargoletti innocenti, e delle bestemmie scagliate contro il suo nome, e ne facesse vendetta.he would remember also the most vniust deathes of innocent children, and the blasphemies done to his name, and would take indignation for them.memoraretur quoque iniquissimas mortes parvulorum innocentum, et blasphemias nomini suo illatas, et indignaretur super his.

5Now when Machabeus had gathered a multitude, he could not be withstood by the heathens: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy.Ma Maccabeo, radunata molta gente, si rendeva terribile alle nazioni: perocché l'ira del Signore si volse in misericordia.But Machabeus hauing gathered a multitude, became intolerable to the heathen: for the wrath of our Lord was turned into mercie.At Machabæus, congregata multitudine, intolerabilis gentibus efficiebatur: ira enim Domini in misericordiam conversa est. 6So coming unawares upon the towns and cities, he set them on fire, and taking possession of the most commodious places, he made no small slaughter of the enemies:Ed egli giungendo repentinamente sopra i castelli, e le città, vi metteva il fuoco, e occupando i siti vantaggiosi faceva stragi non piccole de' nemici:And coming vpon the castels, and cities vnlooked for, he burnt them: & taking commodious places, he made not few slaughters of the enemies.Et superveniens castellis et civitatibus improvisus, succendebat eas: et opportuna loca occupans, non paucas hostium strages dabat: 7And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where.Principalmente di notte tempo faceva egli queste scorrerie, e la fama del suo valore si spargeva per ogni dove.and especially in the nightes he was caried to such excursions, and the fame of his manlines was spred abrode euerie where.maxime autem noctibus ad hujuscemodi excursus ferebatur, et fama virtutis ejus ubique diffundebatur. 8Then Philip seeing that the man gained ground by little and little, and that things for the most part succeeded prosperously with him, wrote to Ptolemee, the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, to send aid to the king’s affairs.Ma Filippo veggendo, che quest'uomo appoco appoco andava facendo progressi, e che il più delle volte le cose gli riuscivan felicemente, scrisse a Tolomeo Governatore della Celesiria, e della Fenicia, che mandasse aiuti per sostenere il partito del re.But Philip seing the man to come forward by litle and litle, and that thinges for the more part succeeded with him prosperously, wrote to Ptolomee the gouernour of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, to geue ayde to the kinges affaires.Videns autem Philippus paulatim virum ad profectum venire, ac frequentius res ei cedere propere, ad Ptolemæum ducem Cœlesyriæ et Phœnicis scripsit ut auxilium ferret regis negotiis. 9And he with all speed sent Nicanor, the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, giving him no fewer than twenty thousand armed men of different nations, to root out the whole race of the Jews, joining also with him Gorgias, a good soldier, and of great experience in matters of war.E quegli mandò speditamente Nicanore di Patroclo, uno dei principali signori, e suo amico, dandogli non meno di venti mila armati di varie nazioni, affinchè sterminasse tutta la stirpe Giudea, unendo con lui anche Gorgia uomo di guerra, e molto sperimentato nelle imprese militari.And he with spede sent Nicanor the sonne of Patroclus, of the principals of his freindes, geuing him of the nations mingled together, no lesse then twentie thousand armed men, to destroy vtterly al the stocke of the Iewes, adioyning also vnto him Gorgias a man of warre, and in martial affayres of very great experience.At ille velociter misit Nicanorem Patrocli de primoribus amicum, datis ei de permistis gentibus, armatis non minus viginti millibus, ut universum Judæorum genus deleret, adjuncto ei Gorgia viro militari, et in bellicis rebus experientissimo.

10And Nicanor purposed to raise for the king the tribute of two thousand talents, that was to be given to the Romans, by making so much money of the captive Jews:E Nicanore fece il conto di supplire al tributo di duemila talenti, che il re dovea dare ai Romani, colla vendita degli schiavi Giudei:And Nicanor appointed, that he would supplie vnto the king the tribute that was to be geuen to the Romanes, two thousand talents out of the captiuitie of the Iewes:Constituit autem Nicanor, ut regi tributum, quod Romanis erat dandum, duo millia talentorum de captivitate Judæorum suppleret: 11Wherefore he sent immediately to the cities upon the sea coast, to invite men together to buy up the Jewish slaves, promising that they should have ninety slaves for one talent, not reflecting on the vengeance which was to follow him from the Almighty.E tosto mandò pelle città marittime a invitare alla compra di schiavi Ebrei promettendo di dare novanta schiavi per un talento, senza riflettere al gastigo dell'Onnipotente, che dovea piombare sopra di lui.and forthwith he sent to the cities by the sea side, calling men together to the buying of the Iewish slaues, promising that he would sel ninetie slaues for a talent, not looking to the vengeance, which was to folow him from the Almightie.statimque ad maritimas civitates misit, convocans ad coëmptionem Judaicorum mancipiorum, promittens se nonaginta mancipia talento distracturum, non respiciens ad vindictam quæ eum ab Omnipotente esset consecutura. 12Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand.Ma Giuda subito che ne fu informato fece sapere a' Giudei, che eran seco, la venuta di Nicanore.But Iudas when he vnderstood it, shewed to those Iewes that were with him, the coming of Nicanor.Judas autem ubi comperit, indicavit his qui secum erant Judæis Nicanoris adventum. 13And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of God, fled away.De' quali alcuni paurosi non fidandosi della giustizia di Dio, si davano a fuggire:Of whom certaine fearing, and not crediting the iustice of God, fled away:Ex quibus quidam formidantes, et non credentes Dei justitiæ, in fugam vertebantur: 14Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord, that he would deliver them from the wicked Nicanor, who had sold them before he came near them:Altri poi vendevano tutto quel, che lor rimaneva, e insieme pregavano il Signore, che gli liberasse dall'empio Nicanore, il quale prima di averli veduti in viso gli avea venduti:and others if they had any thing left, sold it, & withal be sought our Lord, that he would deliuer them from the impious Nicanor, who had sold them before he came neere them:alii vero si quid eis supererat vendebant, simulque Dominum deprecabantur ut eriperet eos ab impio Nicanore, qui eos priusquam cominus veniret, vendiderat:

15And if not for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he had made with their fathers, and for the sake of his holy and glorious name that was invoked upon them.E ciò facesse se non per amore di essi, almen per riguardo al testamento fatto in favore de' padri loro, e perché dal nome di lui grande, e magnifico avean essi nome.and if not for them, yet for the testament that was with their fathers, and for the inuocation of his holie & magnifical name vpon them.etsi non propter eos, propter testamentum tamen quod erat ad patres eorum, et propter invocationem sancti et magnifici nominis ejus super ipsos. 16But Machabeus calling together seven thousand that were with him, exhorted them not to be reconciled to the enemies, nor to fear the multitude of the enemies who came wrongfully against them, but to fight manfully:Or Maccabeo, raunati i settemila uomini, che eran con lui, gli scongiurò di non venire a patti co' nemici, e a non temere la moltitudine di quelli, che venivano contro di loro, ma combattessero virilmente,But Machabeus calling together seuen thousand, that were with him, desired that they would not be reconciled to the enemies, nor feare the multitude of the enemies coming against them vniustly, but would fight manfully:Convocatis autem Machabæus septem millibus qui cum ipso erant, rogabat ne hostibus reconciliarentur, neque metuerent inique venientium adversum se hostium multitudinem: sed fortiter contenderent, 17Setting before their eyes the injury they had unjustly done the holy place, and also the injury they had done to the city, which had been shamefully abused, besides their destroying the ordinances of the fathers.Mettendosi davanti agli occhi le indegnità commesse da quelli contro del luogo santo, e le ingiurie, e gli insulti fatti alla città, e le istituzioni stesse de' maggiori abolite.hauing before their eyes the contume lie, that was vniustly done by them to the holie place, and moreouer the iniurie also of the citie being made a laughing stocke, besides also the ordinances of the ancesters broken.ante oculos habentes contumeliam quæ loco sancto ab his injuste esset illata, itemque et ludibrio habitæ civitatis injuriam, adhuc etiam veterum instituta convulsa. 18For, said he, they trust in their weapons, and in their boldness: but we trust in the Almighty Lord, who at a beck can utterly destroy both them that come against us, and the whole world.Imperocché quelli nelle armi confidano (diss'egli), e nell'audacia; ma noi nel Signore onnipotente confidiamo, il quale può ad un cenno e questi, che vengono contro di noi, e il mondo tutto distruggere:For they in dede trust to their weapons, sayd he, and to their boldnes also: but we trust in the Almightie Lord, who can vtterly destroy both them coming against vs, and the whole world with one becke.Nam illi quidem armis confidunt, ait, simul et audacia: nos autem in omnipotente Domino, qui potest et venientes adversum nos, et universum mundum, uno nutu delere, confidimus.

19Moreover, he put them in mind also of the helps their fathers had received from God: and how, under Sennacherib, a hundred and eighty-five thousand had been destroyed.E rammentò loro come Dio avea soccorsi i padri loro, e come a tempo, di Sennacherib perirono cento ottantacinque mila uomini:And he admonished them also of the aydes of God, that were geuen to their fathers: and that vnder Sennacherib an hundred foure score fiue thousand perished.Admonuit autem eos et de auxiliis Dei, quæ facta sunt erga parentes: et quod sub Sennacherib centum octoginta quinque millia perierunt: 20And of the battle that they had fought against the Galatians, in Babylonia; how they, being in all but six thousand, when it came to the point, and the Macedonians, their companions, were at a stand, slew a hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help they had from heaven, and for this they received many favours.E come nella guerra contro i Galati in Babilonia, allorché si venne alle mani, i Macedoni confederati essendo disanimati, eglino soli in numero di sei mila uccisero cento venti mila uomini mediante l'aiuto dato loro dal cielo, e perciò ottennero grandissimi privilegj.And of the battel, that they had against the Galatians in Babylonia, how al they, when it came to the point, the Macedonians their felowes staggering, being only six thousand slewe an hundred twentie thousand, by reason of the ayde geuen them from heauen, and for these thinges obteyned verie manie benefites.et de prælio quod eis adversus Galatas fuit in Babylonia, ut omnes, ubi ad rem ventum est, Macedonibus sociis hæsitantibus, ipsi sex millia soli peremerunt centum viginti millia, propter auxilium illis datum de cælo, et beneficia pro his plurima consecuti sunt. 21With these words they were greatly encouraged and disposed even to die for the laws and their country.Tali ragionamenti li renderon costanti, e pronti a morire per le leggi, e per la patria.With these wordes they were made constant, and readie to dye for the lawes, and their countrie.His verbis constantes effecti sunt, et pro legibus et patria mori parati. 22So he appointed his brethren captains over each division of his army; Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to each one fifteen hundred men.Egli pertanto diede il comando di una parte de' soldati a ciascuno de' suoi fratelli, Simone, Giuseppe, e Gionata, assegnando loro mille cinquecento uomini per ciascheduno.He appointed therfore his brethren captains ouer both orders, Simon, and Ioseph, and Ionathas, vnder euerie one putting a thousand and fiue hundreth.Constituit itaque fratres suos duces utrique ordini, Simonem, et Josephum, et Jonathan, subjectis unicuique millenis et quingentenis.

23And after the holy book had been read to them by Esdras, and he had given them for a watchword, The help of God: himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor:E oltre a ciò lesse ad essi Esdra il libro santo, e dato per segno l'aiuto di Dio, stando egli stesso alla testa dell'esercito, attaccò la zuffa con Nicanore.Beside this also the holie booke being read vnto them by Esdras,Ad hoc etiam ab Esdra lecto illis sancto libro, et dato signo adjutorii Dei, in prima acie ipse dux commisit cum Nicanore. 24And the Almighty being their helper, they slew above nine thousand men: and having wounded and disabled the greater part of Nicanor’s army, they obliged them to fly.E aiutati dall'Onnipotente uccisero più di nove mila uomini, e messero in fuga l'esercito di Nicanore, la maggior parte rifinito per le ferite.and a signe of Gods helpe being geuen, in the foreward the duke himself ioyned battel with Nicanor. And the Almightie being made their helper, they slew aboue nine thousand men: and the greater part of Nicanors armie being made weake with woundes, they forced to flee.Et facto sibi adjutore Omnipotente, interfecerunt super novem millia hominum: majorem autem partem exercitus Nicanoris vulneribus debilem factam fugere compulerunt. 25And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they pursued them on every side.E tolto il denaro di quelli che eran venuti per comperarli, inseguirono il nemico per lungo tratto.And taking away their money that came to buy them, they pursued them on euerie hand,Pecuniis vero eorum, qui ad emptionem ipsorum venerant, sublatis, ipsos usquequaque persecuti sunt: 26But they came back for want of time: for it was the day before the sabbath: and therefore they did not continue the pursuit.Ma stretti dall'ora tarda tornaron indietro, perché era la vigilia del sabato, e perciò non continuarono ad inseguirli.but they returned being taken short with the time: for it was the day before the Sabbath: for the which cause they continewed not pursewing them.sed reversi sunt hora conclusi, nam erat ante sabbatum: quam ob causam non perseveraverunt insequentes. 27But when they had gathered together their arms and their spoils, they kept the sabbath: blessing the Lord who had delivered them that day, distilling the beginning of mercy upon them.Ma raunate le armi, e le spoglie dei nemici, celebrarono il sabato, bene dicendo il Signore, il quale gli avea quel dì liberati, gettando sopra di essi una stilla di sua misericordia.But gathering together the armour and spoiles of them, they kept the Sabbath: blessing our Lord that deliuered them this day, distilling the beginning of mercie vpon them.Arma autem ipsorum, et spolia congregantes, sabbatum agebant, benedicentes Dominum, qui liberavit eos in isto die, misericordiæ initium stillans in eos.

28Then after the sabbath they divided the spoils to the feeble and the orphans, and the widows, and the rest they took for themselves and their servants.E dopo il sabato fecer parte delle spoglie agli stroppiati, agli orfani, e alle vedove, e il rimanente fu per loro, e pella loro gente.But after the sabbath they diuided the spoyles to the feeble and to orphans, and to widowes: & the rest themselues had with their felowes.Post sabbatum vero debilibus, et orphanis, et viduis diviserunt spolia: et residua ipsi cum suis habuere. 29When this was done, and they had all made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord, to be reconciled to his servants unto the end.Dopo tali cose fatta in comune l'orazione pregavano il misericordioso Signore, che si placasse per sempre co' servi suoi.These thinges therfore being done, and obsecration being made in common of al, they desired our merciful Lord, that he would be reconciled to his seruants vnto the end.His itaque gestis, et communiter ab omnibus facta obsecratione, misericordem Dominum postulabant ut in finem servis suis reconciliaretur. 30Moreover, they slew above twenty thousand of them that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, and they made themselves masters of the high strong holds: and they divided amongst them many spoils, giving equal portions to the feeble, the fatherless, and the widows; yea, and the aged also.Ed essendo stati assaliti dall'esercito di Timoteo, e di Bacchide, ne uccisero più di venti mila uomini, e si impadronirono di altissime fortezze, e fecero gran bottino, dandone ugual porzione agli invalidi, ai pupilli, e alle vedove, e anche ai vecchi.And of them that were with Timothee and Bacchides fighting against them, they slew aboue twentie thousand, & wanne the high holdes: and they diuided manie prayes, making equal portion to the feeble, pupils, and widowes, yea and to the elder men.Et ex his qui cum Timotheo et Bacchide erant contra se contendentes, super viginti millia interfecerunt, et munitiones excelsas obtinuerunt: et plures prædas diviserunt, æquam portionem debilibus, pupillis, et viduis, sed et senioribus facientes. 31And when they had carefully gathered together their arms, they laid them all up in convenient places, and the residue of their spoils they carried to Jerusalem:E raunate tutte le armi de' nemici diligentemente, le riposero in luoghi opportuni; il resto poi delle spoglie le portarono a Gerusalemme:And when they had diligently gathered together their armour, they layd al together in conuenient places, and the residue of the spoiles they caried to Ierusalem:Et cum arma eorum diligenter collegissent, omnia composuerunt in locis opportunis: residua vero spolia Jerosolymam detulerunt:

32They slew also Philarches, who was with Timotheus, a wicked man, who had many ways afflicted the Jews.E fecer morire Filarche, che avea seguitato Timoteo, ed era uomo scellerato, che molto male avea fatto a' Giudei.and Philarches that was with Timothee, they slewe, a wicked man, which in manie thinges had afflicted the Iewes.et Philarchen, qui cum Timotheo erat, interfecerunt, virum scelestum, qui in multis Judæos afflixerat. 33And when they kept the feast of the victory at Jerusalem, they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire to the holy gates, who had taken refuge in a certain house, rendering to him a worthy reward for his impieties:E quando furono in Gerusalemme a render grazie per la vittoria, essendosi quel Callistene, che avea brugiate le porte sante, rifugiato in una certa casa, ve l'abbrugiarono, rendendogli giusta mercede delle sue empietà.And when they kept the feast of victorie in Ierusalem, him that had burnt the holie gates, that is, Callisthenes, when he was fled into a certaine house, they burnt, a worthie reward being repayed him for his impieties:Et cum epinicia agerent Jerosolymis, eum qui sacras januas incenderat, id est, Callisthenem, cum in quoddam domicilium refugisset, incenderunt, digna ei mercede pro impietatibus suis reddita. 34But as for that most wicked man, Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Jews,E lo scelleratissimo Nicanore, il quale avea condotti seco mille mercatanti per vender loro i Giudei,But the most impious Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Iewes,Facinorosissimus autem Nicanor, qui mille negotiantes ad Judæorum venditionem adduxerat, 35Being, through the help of the Lord, brought down by them, of whom he had made no account, laying aside his garment of glory, fleeing through the midland country, he came alone to Antioch, being rendered very unhappy by the destruction of his army.Umiliato col divino aiuto da quelli, ch'ei credeva uomini da nulla, deposte le splendide vesti fuggendo dalla parte del mare, arrivò solo ad Antiochia, ridotto a somma infelicità per la distruzione del suo esercito.being humbled through the helpe of our Lord by them, whom he esteemed no bodie, laying aside his garment of glorie, fleeing by the midland, came alone to Antioch, hauing gotten great infelicitie by the destruction of his armie.humiliatus auxilio Domini ab his quos nullos existimaverat, deposita veste gloriæ, per mediterranea fugiens, solus venit Antiochiam, summam infelicitatem de interitu sui exercitus consecutus.

36And he that had promised to levy the tribute for the Romans, by the means of the captives of Jerusalem, now professed that the Jews had God for their protector, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws appointed by him.Ed egli che avea promesso di pagare il tributo a' Romani colla vendita degli schiavi gerosolimitani, adesso dicea pubblicamente, che i Giudei avean, Dio per protettore, ed erano invulnerabili, perché seguivan le leggi date da lui.And he that had promised that he would render tribute to the Romanes of the captiuitie of Ierusalem, now professed that the Iewes had God their protectour, & that for him they could not be wounded, because they folowed the lawes appointed by him.Et qui promiserat Romanis se tributum restituere de captivitate Jerosolymorum, prædicabat nunc protectorem Deum habere Judæos, et ob ipsum invulnerabiles esse, eo quod sequerentur leges ab ipso constitutas.