1. Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world including the lands of Israel and Judah after defeating King Darius of Persia. He ruled for over 20 years before his death. 2. After Alexander's death, his generals divided up his empire among themselves. His successors and their descendants increasingly oppressed the Jewish people. 3. The Seleucid King Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem, banned Jewish religious practices, and tried to force the Jews to assimilate into Greek culture. He was a cruel persecutor of the Jews.

2. ISAHLUKO 1
1 Kwathi emva kokuthi u-Aleksandru indodana kaFiliphu
waseMakedoniya, owavela ezweni laseKhetiyimi, ebulele
uDariyu inkosi yamaPheresiya namaMede, wabusa
esikhundleni sakhe, owokuqala eGrisi,
2 Wenza izimpi eziningi, wanqoba izinqaba eziningi,
wabulala amakhosi omhlaba;
3 Wadabula waze wafika emikhawulweni yomhlaba,
wathumba izizwe eziningi, waze wathula phambi kwakhe
umhlaba; lapho waphakanyiswa, nenhliziyo yakhe
yaziphakamisa.
4 Wabutha ibutho elinamandla, wabusa phezu kwamazwe,
nezizwe, namakhosi afakwa kuye.
5 Ngemva kwalezi zinto wagula, futhi wabona ukuthi uzokufa.
6 Ngakho wabiza izinceku zakhe ezazihloniphekile,
ezazikhuliswe kanye naye kwasebusheni bakhe, futhi
wababela umbuso wakhe phakathi kwazo esaphila.
7 Ngakho u-Aleksandru wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nambili,
wayesefa.
8 Izinceku zakhe zabusa, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni
yakhe.
9 Futhi emva kokufa kwakhe bonke babeka imiqhele phezu
kwabo; enze njalo amadodana abo emva kwabo iminyaka
eminingi; ububi banda emhlabeni.
10 Futhi kwaphuma kubo umsuka omubi u-Antiochus
osibongo sakhe singu-Epiphanes, indodana ka-Antiyochus
inkosi, owayekade eyisithunjwa eRoma, futhi wabusa
onyakeni wekhulu namashumi amathathu nesikhombisa
wombuso wamaGreki.
11 Ngalezo zinsuku kwaphuma kwa-Israyeli abantu ababi
abahunga abaningi, bathi: “Masihambe, senze isivumelwano
nezizwe ezisihaqileyo, ngokuba selokhu sasuka kubo saba
nosizi olukhulu.
12 Ngakho lo mshini wabajabulisa kakhulu.
13 Kwase kusukuma abathile kubantu, baze baya enkosini
eyabanika imvume yokwenza njengezimiso zabezizwe;
14 Bakha indawo yokuvivinya umzimba eJerusalema
ngokwesiko labezizwe;
15 Bazenza abangasokile, basishiya isivumelwano esingcwele,
bazihlanganisa nabezizwe, bathengiswa ukwenza okubi.
16 Manje lapho umbuso usumisiwe phambi kuka-Antiochus,
wacabanga ukubusa phezu kweGibhithe ukuze abe nokubusa
kwemibuso emibili.
17 Ngakho wangena eGibhithe enesixuku esikhulu, nezinqola,
nezindlovu, nabamahhashi, nemikhumbi emikhulu;
18 Walwa noPhetoleme inkosi yaseGibithe; futhi abaningi
balimala baze bafa.
19 Bayithola kanjalo imizi enamandla ezweni laseGibithe,
wathatha impango yalo.
20 Futhi emva kokuthi u-Antiochus eseshaye iGibhithe,
wabuya futhi ngonyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nantathu,
futhi wenyukela ngokumelene no-Israyeli neJerusalema
nesixuku esikhulu.
21 Bangena endlini engcwele ngokuzidla, basusa i-altare
legolide, nothi lwesibani lokukhanyisa nezitsha zalo zonke;
22 netafula lezinkwa zokubukwa, nezitsha zokuthulula,
nezitsha. nemicengezi yegolide, neveli, nomqhele, nezivunulo
zegolide ezaziphambi kwethempeli, wakuhlubula konke.
23 Wathatha nesiliva negolide nezitsha eziyigugu, wathatha
nengcebo efihliweyo ayitholayo.
24 Esesuse konke, waya ezweni lakubo, wabulala abantu
abaningi, wakhuluma ngokuzidla.
25 Ngakho kwaba khona isililo esikhulu kwa-Israyeli
ezindaweni zonke lapho bekhona;
26 Kwaze kwakhala izikhulu namalunga, izintombi
nezinsizwa zaba buthaka, nobuhle babesifazane bashintsha.
27 Wonke umkhwenyana waphakamisa isililo, nohlezi
ekamelweni lomshado edabukile;
28 Izwe lanyakaza kwabakhileyo kulo, nayo yonke indlu
kaJakobe yagcwala isiphithiphithi.
29 Kwathi ekupheleni kweminyaka emibili inkosi yathuma
umthelisi wayo omkhulu emizini yakwaJuda owafika
eJerusalema nesixuku esikhulu;
30 Wakhuluma kubo amazwi okuthula, kepha konke
kwakuyinkohliso;
31 Eseyithathile impango yomuzi, wayithungela ngomlilo,
wadiliza izindlu nezindonga zawo nxazonke.
32 Kepha abesifazane nabantwana babathumba, bazidla
izinkomo.
33 Bakha umuzi kaDavide ngogange olukhulu oluqinile
nemibhoshongo enamandla, bawenza ube yinqaba yabo.
34 Babeka khona isizwe esonayo, abantu ababi, baziqinisa
kuso.
35 Baligcina ngezikhali nokudla, sebebuthile impango
yaseJerusalema, bayibeka lapho, yaba lugibe olunzima;
36 Ngokuba kwakuyindawo yokuqamekela indlu engcwele,
nesitha esibi ku-Israyeli.
37 Kanjalo bachitha igazi elingenacala nxazonke zendlu
engcwele, bayingcolisa;
38 Kangokuba abakhileyo eJerusalema babaleka ngenxa yabo;
labantwana bakhe bamshiya.
39 Indlu yalo engcwele yachithwa njengehlane, imikhosi yalo
yaphenduka isililo, namasabatha alo aba yihlazo udumo lwalo
lwaba yikudelelwa.
40 Njengoba ubuhle bayo babunjalo, kanjalo nokuhlaziswa
kwayo kwanda, nobukhulu bayo baphenduka isililo.
41 Futhi inkosi u-Antiochus walobela umbuso wayo wonke
ukuthi bonke babe yisizwe esisodwa.
42 Yilowo nalowo makashiye imithetho yakhe; zonke izizwe
zavumelana ngokomthetho wenkosi.
43 Yebo, abaningi babakwa-Israyeli bavumelana nenkolo
yakhe, bahlabela izithombe, balingcolisa isabatha.
44 Ngokuba inkosi yayithumele izincwadi ngezithunywa
eJerusalema nasemizini yakwaJuda ukuba balandele imithetho
yezwe,
45 yenqabela iminikelo yokushiswa, nemihlatshelo,
neminikelo yokuphuzwa ethempelini; nokuthi bangcolise
amasabatha nezinsuku zemikhosi;
46 ningcolise indlu engcwele nabantu abangcwele;
47 nimise ama-altare, no-Ashera, nezindawo zokukhonzela
zezithombe, ninikele ngenyama yengulube nezilwane
ezingcolile;
48 ukuze bashiye abantwana babo bengasokile, benze
imiphefumulo yabo ibe yisinengiso ngakho konke ukungcola
nenhlamba;
49 Ukuze bakhohlwe umthetho, baguqule zonke izahlulelo.
50 Futhi noma ubani owayengafuni ukwenza ngokomyalo
wenkosi, wathi, kufanele afe.
51 Ngokunjalo walobela umbuso wakhe wonke, wamisa
ababonisi phezu kwabantu bonke, walaya imizi yakoJuda
ukuthi ihlabe, imizi ngemizi.
52 Kwasekubuthana kubo abanengi esixukwini, labo bonke
ababeyeke umlayo; futhi kanjalo benza ububi ezweni;
53 Futhi waxosha ama-Israyeli ezindaweni ezicashile, ngisho
nomaphi lapho ayengabalekela khona ukuze athole usizo.
54 Ngosuku lweshumi nanhlanu lwenyanga kaKaslewu,
ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nanhlanu, bamisa
isinengiso sencithakalo e-altare, bakha ama-altare ezithombe
emizini yakwaJuda nxazonke;
55 Bashisa impepho eminyango yezindlu zabo nasezitaladini.

3. 56 Badabula izincwadi zomthetho abazifumanayo, bazishisa
ngomlilo.
57 Futhi noma ubani owayetholakala enanoma iyiphi incwadi
yesivumelwano noma ubani ogcinile emthethweni, umyalo
wenkosi wawungukuthi kufanele bambulale.
58 Benza kanjalo ngegunya labo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli
inyanga nenyanga kubo bonke abafunyanwa emizini.
59 Ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga
banikela ngomhlatshelo e-altare lezithombe elaliphezu kwe-
altare likaNkulunkulu.
60 Ngaleso sikhathi ngokomthetho babulala abesifazane
abathile ababesokwe abantwana babo.
61 Baphanyeka abantwana ezintanyeni zabo, baphanga izindlu
zabo, bababulala labo ababebasokile.
62 Nokho abaningi kwa-Israyeli bazimisela ngokugcwele
futhi bazimisela phakathi kwabo ukuba bangadli noma yini
engcolile.
63 Ngakho-ke kungcono ukuba bafe, ukuze bangangcoliswa
ngokudla, futhi bangangcolisi isivumelwano esingcwele, bafa
kanjalo.
64 Futhi kwaba khona ulaka olukhulu kakhulu phezu
kukaIsrayeli.
ISAHLUKO 2
1 Ngalezo zinsuku kwasuka uMathathiya, indodana kaJohane,
kaSimeyoni, umpristi wamadodana kaJowaribi, evela
eJerusalema, futhi ehlala eModini.
2 Wayenamadodana ayisihlanu, uJohanani ogama lakhe
linguKadisi.
3 uSimoni; okuthiwa uThassi:
4 UJudasi othiwa nguMakhabewu;
5 u-Eleyazare ogama lakhe lingu-Avaran, noJonathani, ogama
lakhe lalingu-Aphusi.
6 Lapho ebona inhlamba eyenziwa kwaJuda naseJerusalema.
7 Wathi: “Maye kimi! Ngazalelwani ukuba ngibone lolu sizi
lwabantu bami, nomuzi ongcwele, ngihlale khona, lapho
unikelwe esandleni sesitha, nendlu engcwele esandleni
sabafokazi, na?
8 Ithempeli lalo selinjengomuntu ongenankazimulo.
9 Izitsha zalo ezikhazimulayo ziyiswa ekuthunjweni,
abantwana balo babulawa ezitaladini, nezinsizwa zalo
ngenkemba yesitha.
10 Yisiphi isizwe esingazange sibe nesabelo embusweni waso
futhi sizuze empangweni yaso?
11 Zonke izivunulo zalo zisusiwe; waba yisigqila
sowesifazane okhululekileyo.
12 Bhekani, indlu yethu engcwele, ubuhle bethu nodumo
lwethu, isichithiwe, nabezizwe bayingcolisile.
13 Ngakho-ke siyakuphila ngani na?
14 UMathathiya namadodana akhe baklebhula izingubo zabo,
bembatha indwangu yamasaka, balila kakhulu.
15 Phakathi naleso sikhathi izikhulu zenkosi, ezaziphoqelele
abantu ukuba bavukele, zangena emzini waseModini, ukuze
zenze imihlatshelo.
16 Kwathi abaningi bakwa-Israyeli befika kubo, uMathathiya
lamadodana akhe babuthana.
17 Khona-ke izinceku zenkosi zaphendula zathi kuMathathiya:
“Wena ungumbusi nohloniphekile nomkhulu kulo muzi,
oqiniswe namadodana nabafowabo;
18 Manje woza kuqala, ugcwalise umyalo wenkosi,
njengalokho enzile abezizwe bonke, yebo, namadoda
akwaJuda, nabaseleyo eJerusalema; niyakuba njalo wena
nendlu yakho esibalweni senkosi. bangane bakho, wena
nabantwana bakho niyakudunyiswa ngesiliva nangegolide
nangemivuzo eminingi.
19 UMathathiya waphendula wakhuluma ngezwi elikhulu,
wathi: “Noma izizwe zonke ezingaphansi kombuso wenkosi
ziyilalela, zihlubuke, kube yilowo nalowo enkolweni yoyise,
zivume imiyalo yayo;
20 Nokho mina namadodana ami nabafowethu ngiyohamba
ngesivumelwano sawokhokho bethu.
21 UNkulunkulu makube kude nathi ukuba sishiye umthetho
nezimiso.
22 Ngeke siwalalele amazwi enkosi, ukuba sisuke enkolweni
yethu, noma kwesokudla noma kwesokunxele.
23 Manje ngesikhathi eseqedile ukukhuluma la mazwi, kweza
omunye wamaJuda emehlweni abo bonke ukuthi anikele e-
altare eliseModini, ngokomyalelo wenkosi.
24 UMathathiya ekubona lokho wavutha intshiseko, nezinso
zakhe zaqhaqhazela, wayengenakukuyeka ukubonakalisa
intukuthelo yakhe njengokwahlulela;
25 Futhi induna yenkosi, eyaphoqelela abantu ukuba banikele,
yasibulala ngaleso sikhathi, futhi i-altare yadiliza.
26 Wawenza ngokushisekela umthetho kaNkulunkulu
njengalokho uFinehasi enza kuZamri indodana kaSalomu.
27 UMathathiya wamemeza emzini wonke ngezwi elikhulu,
wathi: “Yilowo nalowo oshisekela umthetho nogcina
isivumelwano, makangilandele.
28 Ngakho yena lamadodana akhe babalekela ezintabeni,
batshiya konke ababelakho emzini.
29 Abaningi ababefuna ukulunga nokwahlulela behlela ehlane
ukuba bahlale khona;
30 bona, nabantwana babo, nomkabo; nezinkomo zabo; ngoba
izinhlupheko zakhula kakhulu phezu kwabo.
31 Kwathi sekubikelwa izinceku zenkosi nebutho
laseJerusalema emzini kaDavide ukuthi amadoda athile
abephule umyalo wenkosi abehlele endaweni ecashile ehlane;
32 Babaxosha isixuku esikhulu, babafica, bamisa ukulwa nabo,
balwa nabo ngosuku lwesabatha.
33 Base bethi kubo: “Lokho enikwenzile kuze kube manje
kwanele; phumani, nenze njengesiyalezo senkosi, niyakuphila.
34 Kepha bathi: "Asiyikuphuma, futhi asiyikwenza umyalo
wenkosi ukungcolisa usuku lwesabatha."
35 Ngakho babapha impi ngejubane elikhulu.
36 Nokho abaphendulanga, ababajikijeli ngetshe,
abazivimbanga izindawo ababecashe kuzo;
37 Kodwa wathi: “Masifele sonke singenacala;
38 Ngakho babavukela empini ngesabatha, bababulala, kanye
nawomkabo, nabantwana babo, nezinkomo zabo, kwaze
kwafika inani labantu abayinkulungwane.
39 Kwathi uMathathiya labangane bakhe sebekuzwisisa lokhu,
babakhalela kakhulu.
40 Futhi omunye wabo wathi komunye: Uma sonke senza
njengoba abafowethu benza, futhi singalweli izimpilo zethu
kanye nemithetho ngokumelene nabezizwe, manje
bayosiphula masinyane emhlabeni.
41 Ngakho bamisa ngalesosikhathi besithi: Loba ngubani
ozakuza impi lathi ngesabatha, sizakulwa laye; futhi ngeke
sife sonke, njengabafowethu ababulawa ezindaweni ezicashile.
42 Kwase kufika kuye iviyo labase-Asiya, amadoda
anamandla akwa-Israyeli, bonke abazinikele ngokuzithandela
emthethweni.
43 Futhi bonke labo ababebalekela ukuzingelwa
bazihlanganisa nabo, futhi baba yinqaba kubo.
44 Bazihlanganisa, babulala abantu abayizoni ngentukuthelo
yabo, nababi ngokufutheka kwabo;
45 UMathathiya nabangane bakhe base bezungeza, badiliza
ama-altare;
46 Noma yibaphi abantwana ababafumana ogwini bakwa-
Israyeli bengasokile, babebasoka ngamandla.

4. 47 Baxosha abantu abazidlayo, nomsebenzi waphumelela
esandleni sabo.
48 Ngakho bawukhulula umthetho esandleni sabezizwe,
nasesandleni samakhosi, futhi abasivumelanga isoni ukuba
sinqobe.
49 Kwathi sesisondele isikhathi sokuthi uMathathiya afe,
wathi emadodaneni akhe: “Khathesi ukuzigqaja lokukhuzwa
sekuthole amandla, lesikhathi sokubhujiswa, lolaka lolaka.
50 Ngakho-ke, madodana ami, shisekelani umthetho, ninikele
ukuphila kwenu ngenxa yesivumelwano soyihlo.
51 Khumbulani izenzo obaba bethu abazenzayo ngesikhathi
sabo; kanjalo niyakwamukela udumo olukhulu negama
eliphakade.
52 U-Abrahama akatholwanga ethembekile ekulingweni,
kwabalelwa kuye ukuthi kungukulunga na?
53 UJosefa ngesikhathi sokucindezeleka kwakhe wawugcina
umyalo, wenziwa inkosi yaseGibhithe.
54 UFiniyasi ubaba wethu ngokushisekela nangokushisekela
wazuza isivumelwano sobupristi obuphakade.
55 UJesu waba ngumahluleli kwa-Israyeli ukuze
kugcwaliseke izwi.
56 UKalebi ukuze anikeze ubufakazi ngaphambi kokuba
ibandla lithole ifa lezwe.
57 UDavida ngokuba lesihawu waba lesihlalo sobukhosi
sombuso waphakade.
58 U-Eliya ngenxa yokushisekela nokushisekela umthetho
wenyuselwa ezulwini.
59 U-Ananiya, u-Azariya, noMishayeli, ngokukholwa
basindiswa emlilweni.
60 UDaniyeli wakhululwa emlonyeni wezingonyama ngenxa
yobumsulwa bakhe.
61 Futhi qaphelani kanjalo kuyo yonke iminyaka, ukuthi
akekho noyedwa owabeka ithemba lakhe kuye oyonqotshwa.
62 Ungawesabi-ke amazwi omuntu oyisoni, ngokuba udumo
lwakhe luyakuba ngumquba nezimpethu.
63 Namuhla uyophakanyiswa futhi kusasa ngeke atholakale,
ngoba ubuyele othulini lwakhe, futhi umcabango wakhe
ufeziwe.
64 Ngalokho-ke, nina madodana ami, yibani ngamaqhawe
futhi nizibonakalise ningamadoda egameni lomthetho; ngoba
ngalo lizazuza udumo.
65 Bhekani, ngiyazi ukuthi umfowenu uSimoni ungumluleki;
bekani indlebe kuye njalo;
66 UJudas Maccabeus yena unamandla futhi enamandla
kusukela ebusheni bakhe;
67 Thathani futhi kini bonke labo abagcina umthetho, futhi
niphindisele ukona kwabantu benu.
68 Buyiselani ngokugcwele abezizwe, nigcine imiyalo
yomthetho.
69 Wasebabusisa, wabuthelwa koyise.
70 Wafa ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi amane nesithupha;
amadodana akhe ammbela emathuneni awoyise eModini;
wonke u-Israyeli wamenzela isililo esikhulu.
ISAHLUKO 3
1 Kwasekusukuma indodana yakhe uJudasi othiwa
uMakhabewu esikhundleni sakhe.
2 Bonke abafowabo bamsiza, kanjalo nabo bonke
ababebambelele kuyise, balwa ngokujabula impi yakwa-
Israyeli.
3 Ngakho wazuza udumo olukhulu lwabantu bakhe, wafaka
isivikelo sesifuba njengomdondoshiya, wabhinca izikhali
zakhe zokulwa, wenza izimpi, wavikela impi ngenkemba
yakhe.
4 Ngezenzo zakhe wayenjengengonyama, nanjengewundlu
lengonyama elibhongela impango yalo.
5 Ngokuba waxosha ababi, wabafuna, washisa abahlupha
abantu bakhe.
6 Ngalokho ababi bahlehla ngokumesaba, nabo bonke abenza
okubi bathuthumela, ngokuba usindiso luphumelela esandleni
sakhe.
7 Wadabukisa amakhosi amaningi, wamthokozisa uJakobe
ngezenzo zakhe, nesikhumbuzo sakhe sibusisiwe kuze kube
phakade.
8 Wadabula imizi yakwaJuda, echitha abantu
abangamhloniphiyo uNkulunkulu, esusa ulaka ku-Israyeli;
9 Kangangoba waba nodumo kuze kube sekugcineni
komhlaba, futhi wemukela kuye labo ababelungele ukubhubha.
10 Khona-ke u-Apholonius wabutha abezizwe kanye nebutho
elikhulu eSamariya ukuba balwe no-Israyeli.
11 UJuda ekwazi lokho, waphuma ukumhlangabeza,
wamshaya, wambulala; abaningi bawa phansi bebulewe,
kepha abanye babaleka.
12 Ngakho uJuda wathatha impango yabo, kanye nenkemba
ka-Apholoniyu futhi, futhi walwa ngayo yonke impilo yakhe
yonke.
13 Manje ngesikhathi uSeroni, inkosana yebutho laseSiriya,
ezwa kuthiwa uJuda wayeseqoqele kuye isixuku kanye
neqembu labathembekileyo ukuthi baphume naye baye empini;
14 Wathi: "Ngiyakuzitholela igama nodumo embusweni;
ngoba mina ngizahamba ngilwe loJudasi labalabo abadelela
umlayo wenkosi.
15 Ngakho wamlungiselela ukukhuphuka, futhi kwahamba
naye ibutho elinamandla lababi ukuze limsize futhi
liphindisele kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
16 Esesondele emfuleni waseBetihoroni, uJuda waphuma
ukumhlangabeza eneviyo elincane;
17 Kwathi lapho bebona ibutho liza ukubahlangabeza, bathi
kuJuda: “Siyokwazi kanjani ukulwa nesixuku esingaka
esinamandla kangaka, siyingcosana nje, njengoba sesilungele
ukudangala ngokuzila ukudla lonke lolu suku na?
18 UJudasi waphendula wathi: Kakusiyo into enzima ukuthi
abanengi bavalelwe ezandleni zabalutshwana; futhi
kuNkulunkulu wezulu kukodwa ukukhulula ngesixuku
esikhulu noma ngeqembu elincane.
19 Ngokuba ukunqoba kwempi akumi ngobuningi bempi;
kodwa amandla avela ezulwini.
20 Beza phezu kwethu ngokuzidla okukhulu nangobubi ukuba
basibhubhise thina nawomkethu nabantwana bethu, basithathe;
21 Kodwa silwela izimpilo zethu kanye nemithetho yethu.
22 Ngalokho uJehova uyakubawisa phambi kwethu; nina-ke
ningabesabi.
23 Manje kwathi lapho eseqedile ukukhuluma, wagxumela
kubo ngokuzumayo, futhi kanjalo uSeroni nebutho lakhe
baketulwa phambi kwakhe.
24 Babaxosha kusukela ekwehleni kweBeti Horoni kwaze
kwaba sethafeni, lapho kwabulawa khona kubo abantu
kungathi abangamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili; abaseleyo
babalekela ezweni lamaFilisti.
25 Khona kwaqala ukwesaba kukaJuda nabafowabo,
nokwesaba okukhulu kakhulu okwehlela izizwe
ezibazungezile;
26 Kwaze kwathi udumo lwakhe lwafika enkosini, izizwe
zonke zakhuluma ngezimpi zikaJuda.
27 Manje ngesikhathi inkosi u-Antiyochus izwa lezi zinto,
yagcwala ukuthukuthela; ngalokho-ke yathumela futhi
yaqoqela ndawonye wonke amabutho ombuso wayo, ngisho
ibutho elinamandla kakhulu.

5. 28 Yasivula ingcebo yayo, yanika amasosha akhe umvuzo
womnyaka, ewayala ukuba azilungiselele noma nini lapho
ewadinga.
29 Nokho, ngesikhathi ebona ukuthi imali yengcebo yakhe
yehluleka kanye nokuthi intela ezweni yayincane, ngenxa
yokungezwani kanye nesifo esiwumshayabhuqe, ayesilethe
ezweni ekususeni imithetho eyayikhona kudala;
30 Wesaba ukuthi wayengeke esakwazi ukuzithwala, futhi
angabe esaba nezipho ezinjalo ukuze anikele ngesihle
njengakuqala, ngoba wayechichima ngaphezu kwamakhosi
ayengaphambi kwakhe.
31 Ngakho, edidekile kakhulu enhliziyweni yakhe, wazimisela
ukuya ePheresiya, ukuze athathe khona intela emazweni,
abuthe imali eningi.
32 Ngakho washiya uLisiya, isikhulu, omunye wegazi lenkosi,
+ ukuba aqondise izindaba zenkosi kusukela emfuleni i-
Ewufrathe kuze kube semingceleni yaseGibhithe.
33 Nokukhulisa indodana yakhe u-Antiochus, ize ibuye.
34 Wamnika nenxenye yempi yakhe, nezindlovu, wamyala
ngakho konke abethanda ukukwenza, nabahlala kwaJuda
naseJerusalema;
35 ukuze athumele impi ngokumelene nabo, ukuze abhubhise
futhi asiphule amandla ka-Israyeli, nensali yaseJerusalema,
futhi asuse isikhumbuzo sabo kuleyo ndawo;
36 Futhi abeke abafokazi kuzo zonke izindawo zabo, futhi
ahlukanise izwe labo ngenkatho.
37 Ngakho inkosi yathatha ingxenye yamabutho ayesele,
yasuka e-Antiyokiya, umuzi wayo wobukhosi, ngonyaka
wekhulu namashumi amane nesikhombisa; esewele umfula
uEwufrathe, wadabula izindawo eziphakemeyo.
38 Khona-ke uLisiya wakhetha uPtolemee indodana
kaDorimene, uNikanori noGorgia, amadoda anamandla
phakathi kwabangane benkosi.
39 Futhi kanye nabo wathumela abayizinkulungwane
ezingamashumi amane emigundatshani nabamahhashi
abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa ukuba baye ezweni
lakwaJuda, futhi balichithe, njengoba nje inkosi yayiyala.
40 Base bephuma ngamandla abo onke, bafika bamisa ngase-
Emawuse endaweni eyithafa.
41 Abathengisi bezwe sebezwile udumo lwabo, bathatha
isiliva negolide eliningi kanye nezinceku, bafika ekamu
ukuthenga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe yizigqila;
bazihlanganisa nabo.
42 Lapho uJuda nabafowabo bebona ukuthi usizi lwaluyanda
nokuthi amabutho akanise emikhawulweni yawo, ngoba
babazi ukuthi inkosi yayiyale kanjani ukuba kubhujiswe
abantu nokubaqeda;
43 Base bethi omunye komunye: "Masibuyise inhlanhla
yabantu bakithi, silwele abantu bakithi nendlu engcwele."
44 Khona-ke inhlangano yabuthana ukuba izilungiselele
ukulwa, futhi ukuze bathandaze, futhi bacele umusa nesihawu.
45 IJerusalema laliyize njengehlane, kwakungekho noyedwa
kubantwana balo owayengena noma aphume; abezizwe
babehlala kuleyondawo; injabulo yasuswa kuJakobe,
kwanqamuka umtshingo ngehabhu.
46 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthana, bafika eMizipa
malungana neJerusalema; ngoba eMispa yindawo lapho
ababekhuleka khona kudala kwaIsrayeli.
47 Bazila ukudla ngalolo suku, bembatha indwangu yamasaka,
bathela umlotha emakhanda abo, baklebhula izingubo zabo;
48 Wavula incwadi yomthetho abezizwe ababefuna kuyo
ukudweba umfanekiso wezithombe zabo.
49 Baletha nezingubo zabapristi, nolibo, nokweshumi, bavusa
amaNaziri abeseziqedile izinsuku zawo.
50 Basebememeza ngelizwi elikhulu ezulwini, besithi:
Sizakwenzani ngalaba, njalo sizabasa ngaphi?
51 Ngokuba indlu yakho engcwele inyathelwe phansi,
ingcolisiwe, nabapristi bakho balusizi, bathotshisiwe.
52 Bheka, abezizwe bayasibuthanela ukuba basibhubhise;
53 Sizokwazi kanjani ukumelana nabo, ngaphandle kokuthi
wena, O Nkulunkulu, ube usizo lwethu na?
54 Basebebetha amacilongo, bamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu.
55 Emva kwalokho uJuda wabeka izinduna phezu kwabantu,
izinduna zezinkulungwane, nezamakhulu, nezamashumi
amahlanu, nezamashumi.
56 Kepha abakha izindlu, noma ababegane abafazi, noma
ababetshala izivini, noma abesabayo, wabayala ukuba
babuyele, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe siqu,
ngokomthetho.
57 Ikamu lasuka, lamisa ngaseningizimu kwe-Emawuse.
58 Wathi uJuda: “Hlomani, nibe ngamadoda anamandla,
nibone ukuthi nilungele ukusa, ukuze nilwe nalezi zizwe
ezibuthene ukulwa nathi ukuba zisibhubhise kanye nendlu
yethu engcwele;
59 Ngoba kungcono kithi ukuthi sifele empini, kulokuthi
sibuke izinhlupheko zabantu bakithi kanye lendlu yethu
engcwele.
60 Nokho, makenze njengoba intando kaNkulunkulu
isezulwini.
ISAHLUKO 4
1 UGorgia wathatha izinkulungwane eziyisihlanu
zemigundatshani, nenkulungwane yabamahhashi abahle
kakhulu, wabasusa eminqubeni ebusuku;
2 Ukuze agijimele ikamu lamaJuda, awashaye ngokuzumayo.
Amadoda enqaba ayengabaqondisi bakhe.
3 UJuda esekuzwile lokho wasuka yena namaqhawe akanye
naye ukuba abulale impi yenkosi e-Emawusi;
4 Amabutho ayesehlakazekile ekamu.
5 Ngalesosikhathi uGorgia wafika ekamu likaJuda ebusuku,
engafumani muntu khona, wabafuna ezintabeni, ngokuba
wathi: “Laba bantu basibalekela.
6 Kwathi sekusile, uJudasi wabonakala ethafeni elamadoda
ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, lawo ayengangenanga zikhali
nankemba engqondweni yawo.
7 Babona ikamu labezizwe ukuthi lalinamandla, lihlotshiswe
kahle, lizungezwe abamahhashi; laba babengamachwephesha
empi.
8 UJuda wasesithi emadodeni ayelaye: Lingesabi ixuku labo,
lingesabi ukuhlasela kwabo.
9 Khumbulani ukuthi okhokho bethu bakhululwa eLwandle
Olubomvu, lapho uFaro ebaxotsha ngebutho.
10 Ngakho-ke masikhale ezulwini, uma mhlawumbe uJehova
engasihawukela, akhumbule isivumelwano sawobaba,
alichithe leli bandla phambi kwethu namuhla;
11 ukuze zonke izizwe zazi ukuthi ukhona okhululayo
nosindisa u-Israyeli.
12 Abafokazi baphakamisa amehlo abo, bababona beza
ngakubo;
13 Base bephuma ekamu* ukuya empini; kepha ababenoJuda
babetha amacilongo abo.
14 Basebehlanganyela impi;
+ 15 Nokho, bonke ababengasemuva babo babulawa
ngenkemba, + ngoba babaxosha kwaze kwaba seGazeri +
nasemathafeni asemathafeni ase-Idumiya + nase-Azotu +
naseJamniya + kwaze kwabulawa kuwo amadoda
ayizinkulungwane ezintathu.
16 Sekwenzekile lokho, uJuda wabuya nebutho lakhe
ekubaxosheni.
17 Wathi kubantu: “Ningafisi impango, lokhu kukhona
ukulwa phambi kwethu;

6. 18 Futhi uGorgia nebutho lakhe balapha ngakithi entabeni;
19 UJudasi esakhuluma lawo mazwi, kwabonakala ingxenye
yabo ibheka entabeni.
20 Sebebonile ukuthi abaJuda babebalekele impi yabo,
bashisa amatende; ngokuba umusi owabonwayo wamemezela
okwenzekileyo.
21 Kwathi sebekwazi lokho, besaba kakhulu, bebona ibutho
likaJuda ethafeni selilungele ukulwa.
22 Babaleka, kwaba yilowo nalowo, baya ezweni lezihambi.
23 UJuda wayesebuya ukuyophanga amatende, lapho athola
khona igolide eliningi, nesiliva, nosilika obuluhlaza,
nokububende kolwandle, nengcebo enkulu.
24 Emva kwalokho babuyela ekhaya, bahlabelela ihubo
lokubonga, bamdumisa uJehova ezulwini, ngokuba muhle,
ngokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade.
25 Kanjalo u-Israyeli waba nokukhululwa okukhulu ngalolo
suku.
26 Kwasekufika bonke abafokazi ababebalekile, babikela
uLisiya okwenzekileyo.
27 Kwathi lapho ekuzwa, wajabha, waphela amandla,
ngokuba akwenzekanga lokho abethanda ukukwenza ku-
Israyeli, nalokho inkosi eyamyala ngakho akuzange kwenzeke.
28 Ngakho ngomnyaka olandelayo olandelayo uLisiya
wabutha amadoda akhethiweyo enyawo azinkulungwane
ezingamatshumi ayisithupha labagadi bamabhiza
abazinkulungwane ezinhlanu, ukuze abanqobe.
29 Base befika e-Idumiya, bamisa amatende abo eBethsura,
uJuda wabahlangabeza enamadoda ayizinkulungwane
eziyishumi.
30 Lapho ebona lelo butho elinamandla, wakhuleka wathi:
“Ubusisiwe wena Msindisi ka-Israyeli owaqeda ubudlova
bendoda enamandla ngesandla sikaDavide inceku yakho,
wanikela impi yabafokazi esandleni sikaDavide. uJonathani
indodana kaSawule nodibi lwezikhali zakhe;
31 Vala leli butho esandleni sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, bajabhe
ngamandla abo nangabamahhashi.
32 Ubenze bangabi nesibindi, wenze ukuba isibindi samandla
abo siphele, bathuthumele ekubhujisweni kwabo.
33 Baphonse phansi ngenkemba yabakuthandayo, bonke
abalaziyo igama lakho bakudumise ngokubonga.
34 Basebehlanganyela impi; kwabulawa ekamu likaLisiya
amadoda angaba yizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu, abulawa
ngaphambi kwawo.
35 Manje lapho uLisiya ebona ibutho lakhe libaleka, kanye
nobudoda bamasosha kaJuda, nokuthi base bekulungele
kanjani ukuphila noma ukufa ngobuqhawe, waya e-
Antiyokiya, futhi wabuthela ndawonye iviyo lezihambi, futhi
wenza impi yakhe yaba nkulu. kunalokho wayehlose
ukubuyela eJudiya.
36 UJudasi nabafowabo base bethi: “Bhekani, izitha zethu
ziyaphithizela;
37 Ngemva kwalokho ibutho lonke labuthana ndawonye,
lenyukela entabeni yaseSiyoni.
38 Lapho bebona indlu engcwele incithakalo, ne-altare
lingcolisiwe, namasango eshisiwe, nezihlahlana ezimila
emagcekeni njengasehlathini noma kwenye yezintaba, yebo,
namakamelo abapristi ebhidlizwa;
39 Baklebhula izingubo zabo, benza isililo esikhulu, bathela
umlotha emakhanda abo;
40 Bawa phansi ngobuso, babetha amacilongo, bakhala
ngasezulwini.
41 UJuda wamisa amadoda athile ukuba alwe nalabo
ababesenqabeni, aze ahlambulule indlu engcwele.
42 Ngakho wakhetha abapristi benkambiso engelasici,
ababethokoziswa ngumthetho;
43 owahlanza indlu engcwele, wakhipha amatshe angcolile
endaweni engcolile.
44 Kwathi besabuzana ukuthi benzeni ngelathi leminikelo
yokutshiswa elalingcolisiwe;
45 Babona kukuhle ukuwudiliza, funa ube yihlazo kubo,
ngokuba abezizwe babewungcolisile; ngalokho bawudiliza;
46 bawabeka amatshe entabeni yethempeli endaweni ekahle,
kwaze kwafika umprofethi ukuba abonise lokho okufanele
kwenziwe ngawo.
47 Basebethatha amatshe apheleleyo njengomthetho, bakha
ilathi elitsha njengelokuqala;
48 Wenza indlu engcwele nezinto ezaziphakathi kwethempeli,
wangcwelisa amagceke.
49 Benza izitsha ezingcwele ezintsha, bangenisa uthi
lwezibani, ne-altare leminikelo yokushiswa, nelempepho,
netafula ethempelini.
50 Bashisa impepho phezu kwe-altare, nezibani ezaziphezu
kothi lwesibani bazikhanyisa, ukuze zikhanyise ethempelini.
51 Babeka izinkwa etafuleni, bendlala amaveli, baqeda yonke
imisebenzi ababeqale ukuyenza.
52 Kwathi ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga
yesishiyagalolunye, ethiwa yinyanga kaKaslewu, ngomnyaka
wekhulu namashumi amane nesishiyagalombili, bavuka
ekuseni;
53 Banikela ngomhlatshelo ngokomthetho e-altare elisha
leminikelo yokushiswa ababeyenzile.
54 Bhekani, ngasiphi isikhathi nangaluphi usuku abezizwe
ababelingcolisile, nangalokho langcweliswa ngamahubo,
nangezinsimbi, namahabhu, namasimbali.
55 Bonke abantu bawa ngobuso babo, bakhuleka, badumisa
uNkulunkulu wezulu obenzele impumelelo enhle.
56 Bakwenza-ke ukwahlukaniselwa kwe-altare izinsuku
eziyisishiyagalombili, banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa
ngentokozo, banikela ngomhlatshelo wokukhulula
nowokudumisa.
57 Bavunulisa ingaphambili lethempeli ngemiqhele yegolide
nezihlangu; amasango namakamelo bawavuselela, balengisa
iminyango kuwo.
58 Kanjalo kwaba khona intokozo enkulu kakhulu phakathi
kwabantu, ngokuba ihlazo labezizwe lisusiwe.
59 UJudasi nabafowabo kanye nebandla lonke lakwa-Israyeli
banquma ukuba izinsuku zokunikezelwa kwe-altare zigcinwe
ngesikhathi sazo unyaka nonyaka ngezinsuku
eziyisishiyagalombili, kusukela osukwini lwamashumi
amabili nanhlanu lwenyanga kaKaslewu. , ngokujabula
nangokujabula.
60 Ngaleso sikhathi bakha intaba yaseSiyoni enezindonga
eziphakeme nemibhoshongo eqinile nxazonke, funa abeZizwe
beze futhi bayinyathele njengoba benza ngaphambili.
61 Basebemisa lapho ikampa yebutho ukulilinda, basebeqinisa
iBethura ukuze liyilondoloze; ukuze abantu bazivikele e-
Idumiya.
ISAHLUKO 5
1 Kwathi izizwe nxazonke sezizwile ukuthi i-altare lakhiwe,
nendlu engcwele iye yavuselelwa njengakuqala, kwaba kubi
kakhulu kubo.
2 Ngalokho-ke bacabanga ukusibhubhisa isizukulwane
sikaJakobe esasiphakathi kwabo, futhi phezu kwalokho baqala
ukubulala nokubhubhisa abantu.
3 UJuda walwa nabantwana bakwa-Esawu e-Idumiya e-
Arabati, ngokuba bavimbezela iGayeli;
4 Futhi wakhumbula ukulimala kwabantwana bakwaBean
ababe yisihibe nesiphambeko kubantu ngokubaqamekela
ezindleleni.

7. 5 Wabavalela emibhoshongweni, wamisa ngakubo,
wabaqothula, wayishisa imibhoshongo yaleyo ndawo
ngomlilo, nakho konke okukuyo.
6 Ngasemuva wadlulela kubantwana bakwa-Amoni, lapho
wafumana khona amandla amakhulu, nabantu abaningi, kanye
noThimothewu induna yabo.
7 Ngakho walwa izimpi eziningi nabo, kwaze kwaba yilapho
beyaluza phambi kwakhe; wasebatshaya.
8 Kwathi eseyithathile iJazari lemizana yayo, wabuyela
eJudiya.
9 Khona-ke abezizwe ababeseGileyadi babuthana
ngokumelene nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababesendaweni
yabo ukuba bababhubhise; kodwa babalekela enqabeni
kaDathema.
10 Base bethumela izincwadi kuJudasi nabafowabo, bethi:
“Abezizwe abasihaqileyo basibuthanele ukuba basibhubhise;
11 Futhi sebelungiselela ukuza bathathe inqaba esabalekela
kuyo, uThimothewu induna yebutho labo.
12 Woza manje, usikhulule esandleni sabo, ngokuba abaningi
bethu babulewe;
13 Yebo, bonke abazalwane bethu ababesezindaweni
zikaThobi babulewe, omkabo nabantwana babo bathumba
abathunjwa, bamuka nempahla yabo; bachitha khona abantu
abangaba yinkulungwane.
14 Kwathi zisafunda lezi zincwadi, bheka, kwafika ezinye
izithunywa zivela eGalile, izingubo zazo ziklebhukile, zabika
kanjalo.
15 Athi: “AbasePhetolemayi, nabaseTire, nabaseSidoni,
neGalile yonke yabezizwe babuthana ngokumelene nathi
ukuze basiqothule.
16 Kwathi uJuda nabantu bezwa lawa mazwi, kwabuthana
isixuku esikhulu ukuba sibuze ukuthi bangabenzelani
abafowabo ababesebunzimeni, babashaya.
17 UJuda wasesithi kuSimoni umfowabo: Zikhethele
amadoda, uhambe ukhulule abafowenu abaseGalili;
18 Ngakho washiya uJosefa indodana kaZakariya no-Azariya
izinduna zabantu kanye nensali yebutho laseJudiya ukuba
baligcine.
19 Wabayala ngokuthi: “Lawula laba bantu, nibone ukuthi
ningalwi nabezizwe kuze kube yisikhathi esibuya ngaso.
20 USimoni waphiwa amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu
ukuba aye eGalile, nakuJuda amadoda ayizinkulungwane
eziyisishiyagalombili ezweni laseGalayadi.
21 Khona uSimoni waya eGalile, lapho alwa khona izimpi
eziningi nabezizwe, kangangokuthi abezizwe bashukunyiswa
nguye.
22 Wabaxosha kwaze kwaba sesangweni lasePhetolemayi;
kwabulawa ezizweni kungathi amadoda ayizinkulungwane
ezintathu, athatha impango yawo.
23 Futhi labo ababeseGalile nase-Aribhati, kanye nawomkabo,
nabantwana babo, futhi konke ababenakho, wabathatha kanye
naye, futhi wabayisa eJudiya ngentokozo enkulu.
24 UJuda Makabe nomfowabo uJonathani bawela iJordani,
bahamba uhambo lwezinsuku ezintathu ehlane;
25 Bahlangana khona namaNabati, abeza kubo ngokuthula,
abatshela konke okwehlele abafowabo ezweni laseGileyadi;
26 nokuthi abaningi babo babevalelwe eBosora, naseBosori,
nase-Alema, naseKasphori, naseMaked, naseKarnayimi;
yonke le mizi inamandla, mikhulu;
27 Futhi babevalelwe kuyo yonke eminye imizi yezwe
laseGileyadi, nokuthi kusasa babemise ukuletha impi yabo
ngokumelene nezinqaba, futhi bayithathe, futhi bayibhubhise
bonke ngalusuku lunye.
28 Khona-ke uJuda nebutho lakhe baphenduka ngokuzumayo
ngendlela yasehlane baya eBhosora; esewunqobile umuzi,
wababulala bonke abesilisa ngosiko lwenkemba, wathatha
yonke impango yabo, wawushisa umuzi ngomlilo.
29 Wasuka lapho ebusuku, wahamba waze wafika enqabeni.
30 Kwasekusithi ekuseni baphakamisa amehlo abo, khangela-
ke, abantu abanengi bethwele izikhwelo lezinye izikhali
zokulwa ukuze bathathe inqaba, ngoba babahlasela.
31 Kwathi uJuda ebona ukuthi impi isiqalile, nokukhala
komuzi kwenyukela ezulwini, namacilongo nezwi elikhulu;
32 Wathi ebuthweni lakhe: Lilwele abafowenu namuhla.
33 Ngakho waphuma ngemva kwabo ngezigaba ezintathu,
babetha amacilongo, bakhala ngokukhuleka.
34 Khona-ke ibutho likaThimothewu, likwazi ukuthi
nguMakhabewu, lambalekela; kwaze kwabulawa kubo
ngalolo suku kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane
eziyisishiyagalombili.
35 Esekwenzile lokho, uJuda waphambukela eMispa; ngemva
kokulishaya wathatha, wabulala abesilisa kulo, wathatha
impango yalo, wayishisa ngomlilo.
36 Wasuka lapho, wathumba iKasifoni, neMagedi, neBosori,
neminye imizi yasezweni laseGiliyadi.
37 Ngemva kwalezi zinto uThimothewu wabuthela elinye
ibutho futhi likanisa ngokumelene neRafoni ngaphesheya
komfula.
38 Ngakho uJuda wathuma amadoda ukuba ahlole ibutho;
39 Uqashile nama-Arabiya ukuba awasize, agxumeke
amatende awo ngaphesheya komfula, alungele ukuza ukulwa
nawe. Kulokhu uJudasi wahamba ukubahlangabeza.
40 UThimothewu wayesethi ezinduneni zebutho lakhe: “Nxa
uJuda nebutho lakhe sebesondele emfuleni, uma ewela kuqala
kithina, ngeke sibe namandla ukumelana naye; ngokuba
uyakusehlula ngamandla;
41 Kodwa uma esaba, emisa amatende phesheya komfula,
siyakuwela siye kuye, simnqobe.
42 UJuda esesondele emfudlaneni wamisa ababhali babantu
ngasemfudlaneni, wabayala ngokuthi: "Makungasali muntu
ekamu, kepha mabeze bonke ekulweni."
43 Wayesedlulela kubo kuqala, nabo bonke abantu
bemlandela;
44 Kodwa bawuthatha umuzi, balitshisa ithempeli labo bonke
ababekulo. Wanqotshwa kanjalo-ke iKarnayimi, futhi
babengasakwazi ukuma phambi kukaJuda.
45 Khona-ke uJuda wabutha wonke ama-Israyeli ayesezweni
laseGileyadi, kusukela komncane kuze kufike komkhulu,
ngisho nabafazi babo, nabantwana babo, nempahla yabo,
ibutho elikhulu kakhulu, ukuze bafike ezweni laseKhanani.
eJudiya.
46 Sebefike e-Efroni, (lona laliwumuzi omkhulu endleleni
ababefanele ukuhamba ngayo, ubiyelwe kahle kakhulu)
babengenakuchezuka kuwo, noma ngakwesokunene noma
ngakwesokhohlo, kodwa kwakumelwe badlule phakathi
kwentaba. yona.
47 Abasemzini babavalela ngaphandle, bavala amasango
ngamatshe.
48 UJuda wasethuma kubo ngokuthula, esithi: Asidabule
elizweni lenu siye elizweni lakithi, njalo kakho ozalilimaza;
sizodabula ngezinyawo kuphela, kepha abavumanga
ukumvulela.
49 Ngakho uJudasi walaya ukuthi kumemezelwe kulo lonke
ibutho lokuthi yilowo nalowo agxumeke itende lakhe
endaweni lapho ekhona.
50 Amasosha amisa, ahlasela umuzi lonke lolo suku nabo
bonke lobo busuku, kwaze kwaba sekugcineni umuzi
unikelwa esandleni sakhe.
51 Base bebulala abesilisa bonke ngosiko lwenkemba,
bawuchitha umuzi, bathatha impango yawo, badabula umuzi
phezu kwababuleweyo.

8. 52 Emva kwalokho bawela iJordani baya ethafeni elikhulu
eliphambi kweBetsani.
53 UJudasi wasebuthanisa labo ababeza ngemva, wakhuthaza
ixuku lonke laze lafika elizweni leJudiya.
54 Base benyukela entabeni yaseSiyoni ngokuthokoza
nentokozo, lapho banikela khona iminikelo yokushiswa,
ngokuba akubulawanga noyedwa kubo, baze babuya
ngokuthula.
55 Kwathi ngesikhathi uJudasi loJonathani besezweni leGalili,
loSimoni umfowabo eGalili phambi kwePetolemayi;
56 UJosefa indodana kaZakariya no-Azariya, izinduna
zamabutho amabutho, bezwa ngamaqhawe nezimpi
ababezenzile.
57 Ngakho bathi: "Asizenzele igama futhi, sihambe silwe
nezizwe ezisihaqileyo."
58 Sebeyalile ibutho lebutho elalinabo, baqonda eJamniya.
59 Khona-ke uGorgia namadoda akhe baphuma emzini ukuze
balwe nabo.
60 Kwasekusithi uJosefa loAzarasi babaleka, baxotshwa
kwaze kwaba semngceleni weJudiya, kwabulawa ngalolosuku
kubantwana bakoIsrayeli kungathi amadoda azinkulungwane
ezimbili.
61 Ngakho kwaba khona ukugumbuqelwa okukhulu phakathi
kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ngenxa yokuthi abazange
bamlalele uJuda nabafowabo, kodwa babecabanga ukwenza
isenzo esithile sobuqhawe.
62 Futhi laba abaphumanga enzalweni yalabo u-Israyeli
akhululwa ngesandla sabo.
63 Nokho lowo muntu uJuda nabafowabo babedume kakhulu
emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli nakubo bonke
abezizwe, nomaphi lapho igama labo lezwakala khona.
64 Kangangoba abantu babuthana kubo ngokuhalalisa.
65 Ngasemuva uJuda waphuma nabafowabo, balwa
nabantwana bakwa-Esawu ezweni elingaseningizimu, lapho
anqoba khona iHebroni nemizana yalo, wayidiliza inqaba yalo,
washisa imibhoshongo yalo nxazonke.
66 Wasuka lapho waya ezweni lamaFilisti, wadabula
iSamariya.
67 Ngaleso sikhathi abapristi abathile, befuna ukubonisa
ubuqhawe babo, babulawa empini, ngenxa yokuthi baphuma
ukulwa bengaqondile.
68 UJuda wayesephendukela e-Azotu ezweni lamaFilisti,
wadiliza ama-altare abo, washisa izithombe zabo ezibaziweyo
ngomlilo, waphanga imizi yabo, wabuyela ezweni lakwaJuda.
ISAHLUKO 6
1 Ngaleso sikhathi inkosi u-Antiyoku isidabula izindawo
eziphakemeyo yezwa kuthiwa i-Elimayi ezweni lasePheresiya
lalidume kakhulu ngengcebo, nesiliva, negolide;
2 nokuthi kwakukhona kulo ithempeli elinothile kakhulu,
okwakukhona kulo izimbozo zegolide, nezivikelo zesifuba
nezihlangu, u-Alekzandro indodana kaFiliphu, inkosi
yaseMakedoniya, owabusa kuqala phakathi kwamaGreki,
akushiya lapho.
3 Ngalokho weza wafuna ukuwuthumba umuzi,
nokuwuphanga; kepha akabanga namandla, ngokuba
babexwayisiwe abomuzi.
4 Wamvukela ekulweni, wabaleka, wamuka lapho
ngokudabuka okukhulu, wabuyela eBabele.
5 Futhi kwafika omunye owamlethela umbiko ePheresiya,
ukuthi amabutho ayehlasele izwe laseJudiya ayebalekile.
6 LoLisiya, owaphuma kuqala ngamandla amakhulu,
waxoshwa kumaJuda; nokuthi baqiniswa ngezikhali,
namandla, nenqwaba yempango, ababeyitholile emabuthweni,
ababewachithile;
7 nokuthi babedilizile isinengiso abesimisile e-altare
eJerusalema, bezungeza indlu engcwele ngezindonga
eziphakeme njengakuqala, nomuzi wakhe iBeti-sura.
8 Lapho inkosi izwa lawa mazwi, yamangala futhi
yanyakaziswa kakhulu;
9 Wahlala khona izinsuku eziningi, ngokuba usizi lwakhe
lwaluya lukhula, walandisa ukuthi useyakufa.
10 Ngakho wabiza bonke abangane bakhe, wathi kubo:
Ubuthongo buphelile emehlweni ami, futhi inhliziyo yami
iphelelwa yikukhathazeka okukhulu.
11 Ngasengicabanga enhliziyweni yami ukuthi: Ngingene
phakathi kosizi luni, futhi yeka uzamcolo wosizi engikuwo
manje! ngokuba bengichichima, ngithandeka ngamandla ami.
12 Kepha manje ngiyakhumbula ububi engabenza
eJerusalema, nokuthi ngathatha zonke izitsha zegolide
nezesiliva ezazikuyo, ngazithumela ukuba zichithe abakhileyo
eJudiya kungabi nasizathu.
13 Ngakho ngiyabona ukuthi ngenxa yalesi sizathu lezi
zinkathazo zingehlele, futhi bheka, ngifa ngokudabuka
okukhulu ezweni labezizwe.
14 Wasebiza uFiliphu, omunye wabangane bakhe, ambeka
umbusi phezu kwawo wonke umbuso wakhe,
15 Futhi yamnika umqhele, nejazi lakhe, kanye nendandatho
yayo, ukuze akhulise indodana yakhe u-Antiyochus, futhi
ayondle ukuze ibe ngumbuso.
16 Ngakho inkosi uAntiochus yafela lapho ngomnyaka
wekhulu lamatshumi amane lesificamunwemunye.
17 Manje ngesikhathi uLisiya azi ukuthi inkosi isifile, wamisa
u-Antiyochus indodana yakhe, ayeyikhulise isencane, ukuthi
abuse esikhundleni sakhe, futhi igama layo wayiqamba
ngokuthi u-Eupatori.
18 Ngaleso sikhathi ababesembhoshongweni bavalela
abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nxazonke zendlu engcwele,
babefuna njalo ukulimaza kwabo nokuqiniswa kwabezizwe.
19 Ngakho uJudasi, efuna ukubabhubhisa, wabizela
ndawonye abantu bonke ukuba babavimbezele.
20 Base bebuthana, babavimbezela ngomnyaka wekhulu
namashumi ayisihlanu, wenza iduli lokudutshulwa phezu
kwabo, nezinye izinsimbi.
21 Kepha kwaphuma abathile kwabavinjezelweyo,
abahlanganyela nabo abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu;
22 Basebesiya enkosini, bathi: Koze kube nini ungagwebi,
uphindisele abafowethu?
23 Besizimisele ukumkhonza uyihlo, nokwenza njengoba
ebethanda thina, nokulalela imiyalo yakhe;
24 Ngalokho-ke abesizwe sakithi bavimbezela umbhoshongo,
bahlukanisiwe nathi;
25 Futhi abelulelanga isandla sabo kithi kuphela, kodwa futhi
nasemingceleni yabo.
26 Bheka, namuhla bavimbezela umbhoshongo
waseJerusalema ukuba uwuthathe;
27 Ngakho-ke uma ungabavimbi ngokushesha, bayokwenza
izinto ezinkulu kunalezi, futhi ngeke ukwazi ukuzibusa.
28 Manje lapho inkosi ikuzwa lokhu, yathukuthela, futhi
yaqoqela ndawonye bonke abangane bayo, nezinduna zempi
yayo, nalabo ababephethe amahhashi.
29 Kweza kuye nakweminye imibuso, naseziqhingini
zolwandle, amaviyo aqashwayo.
30 Ngakho inani lebutho lakhe laliyimigundatshani
eyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu, nabamahhashi
abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili, nezindlovu
ezingamashumi amathathu nambili eziqeqeshelwe ukulwa.
31 Laba badabula i-Idumiya, bamisa ngaseBethsura,
abayishaya izinsuku eziningi, benza izinqola zempi; kepha
abeBethsura baphuma, babashisa ngomlilo, balwa
ngokunamandla.

9. 32 Kulokhu uJuda wasuka embhoshongweni, wamisa
eBatsakariya malungana nekamu lenkosi.
33 Inkosi yasivuka ekuseni kakhulu kanye lebutho layo laya
eBhathizakhariya, lapho amabutho ayo azilungisela impi,
abetha amacilongo.
34 Futhi ukuze bavuse izindlovu ukuba zilwe, bazibonisa
igazi lamagilebhisi nelamajikijolo.
35 Bahlukanisa izilo phakathi kwamabutho, nasezindlovu
zonke babeka amadoda ayinkulungwane ahlome amabhantshi
ensimbi, nezigqoko zethusi emakhanda abo; futhi ngaphandle
kwalokhu, ngoba zonke izilwane kwamiswa abamahhashi
abangamakhulu amahlanu kusukela best.
36 Lawa ayemi ngomumo ngazo zonke izikhathi;
37 Phezu kwezilwane kwakukhona imibhoshongo eqinile
yokhuni, eyasibekela zonke, ibhincelwe amaqhinga;
kwakukhona phezu kwazo zonke amadoda anamandla
angamashumi amathathu nambili, alwa nazo ngaphandle
kwamaNdiya ayebusa. yena.
38 Kepha insali yabagibeli bamahhashi, yabamisa ngalapha
nangalapha ezingxenyeni ezimbili zebandla, ibanika
izibonakaliso zokuthi benzeni, beboshiwe phakathi kwezinhlu.
39 Kwathi ilanga likhanya phezu kwezihlangu zegolide
lezethusi, izintaba zabenyezela ngakho, zikhanya
njengezibane zomlilo.
40 Ngakho ingxenye yebutho lenkosi ihlakazekile ezintabeni
eziphakemeyo, futhi ingxenye ezigodini ngaphansi, bahamba
ngokuphepha nangokuhlelekile.
41 Ngalokho bonke abezwa umsindo wesixuku sabo,
nokuhamba kwesixuku, nokugedla kwezikhali, ngokuba impi
yayinkulu kakhulu, inamandla.
42 UJuda nebutho lakhe basondela, bangena ekulweni,
kwabulawa ebuthweni lenkosi amadoda angamakhulu
ayisithupha.
43 U-Eleyazare ogama lakhe linguSavarani, ebona ukuthi
esinye sezilo, esihlome izikhali zobukhosi sasiphakeme
kunazo zonke ezinye, wathi inkosi iphezu kwakhe;
44 uzibeke engozini, ukuze akhulule abantu bakhe, azitholele
igama eliphakade;
45 Ngakho wagijimela kuye ngesibindi phakathi kwempi,
ebulala ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo, baze bahlukana
kuye nhlangothi zombili.
46 Esekwenzile lokho, wanyonyobela indlovu, wayigwaza,
yambulala; indlovu yawela phezu kwakhe, wafela khona.
47 Kepha abanye abaJuda bebona amandla enkosi nobudlova
bebutho layo baphenduka.
48 Ibutho lenkosi lase likhuphukela eJerusalema
ukubahlangabeza, inkosi yamisa amatende ayo ngaseJudiya
nasentabeni yaseSiyoni.
49 Kepha wenza ukuthula nabaseBethsura, ngokuba baphuma
emzini, lokhu babengenakudla lapho kokuvinjezelwa,
kungumnyaka wokuphumula ezweni.
50 Inkosi yasithatha iBethsura, yabeka ikampa yokulilinda.
51 Indlu engcwele wayivimbezela izinsuku eziningi, wabeka
khona izikhali nezinsimbi zokujikijela umlilo namatshe
nezinqamu zokuphonsa imicibisholo nezindwayimane.
52 Ngalokho-ke nabo benza izinjini ngokumelene nezinjini
zabo, futhi balwa nazo isikhathi eside.
53 Nokho ekugcineni, izitsha zabo zazingenamphako,
(ngokuba kwakungunyaka wesikhombisa, futhi labo eJudiya
ababekhululiwe kwabezizwe babeyidlile insalela yesiqongo;)
54 Kwasekusele abayingcosana endaweni engcwele, ngoba
indlala yabehlula, basebedinga ukuzihlakaza, ngulowo lalowo
aye endaweni yakhe.
55 Ngalesosikhathi uLisiya wezwa kuthiwa uFiliphu, lowo u-
Antiochus inkosi esaphila wayemmisile ukukhulisa indodana
yakhe uAntiochus, ukuze ibe yinkosi;
56 Wabuya evela ePheresiya naseMediya, kanye nebutho
lenkosi elalihamba naye, futhi wafuna ukumthathela umthetho
wezindaba.
57 Wasengena ngokuphangisa, wathi enkosini lezinduna
zebutho lexuku: Sibola insuku ngensuku, lokudla kwethu
kuncinyane, lendawo esiyivimbezelayo iqinile, lezindaba
zombuso. lala phezu kwethu:
58 Ngakho-ke masibe ngabangane balaba bantu, senze
ukuthula nabo kanye nesizwe sabo sonke;
59 wenze isivumelwano nabo ukuthi bayakuphila ngemithetho
yabo njengakuqala, ngokuba bacunule, benze zonke lezi zinto,
ngokuba siyichithile imithetho yabo.
60 Inkosi nezikhulu bavuma; ngalokho yathumela kubo
ukwenza ukuthula; futhi bakwamukela.
61 Inkosi nezikhulu zabafungisa, base bephuma enqabeni.
62 Inkosi yasingena entabeni yeZiyoni; kodwa lapho ebona
ukuqina kwendawo, waphula isifungo ayesenzile, wayala
ukuba kudilizwe ugange nxazonke.
63 Ngemva kwalokho wamuka ngejubane elikhulu, wabuyela
e-Antiyokiya, lapho athola khona uFiliphu engumphathi
womuzi, walwa naye, wawuthumba umuzi.
ISAHLUKO 7
1 Ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nanye
uDemetriyu indodana kaSeluku wasuka eRoma, wenyukela
nabantu abayingcosana emzini ongasogwini lolwandle,
wabusa khona.
2 Kwathi lapho engena endlini yoyisemkhulu, kwaba njalo
ukuthi amabutho akhe athatha u-Antiochus noLisiya
ukubaletha kuye.
3 Ngakho, ekwazi, wathi: Mangingaboni ubuso babo.
4 Ngakho ibutho lakhe lababulala. Kwathi uDemetriyu
esehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sombuso wakhe.
5 Kweza kuye bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababi
nabangamesabi uNkulunkulu, beno-Alkimu, owayethanda
ukuba ngumpristi omkhulu, induna yabo;
6 Base bemangalela abantu enkosini, bathi: “UJuda
nabafowabo bababulele bonke abangane bakho, basixosha
ezweni lakithi.
7 Ngakho-ke thuma umuntu othile omethembayo, ahambe,
abone ukuthi kungakanani ukuceka kwakhe akwenzile
phakathi kwethu nasezweni lenkosi, abajezise kanye nabo
bonke ababasizayo.
8 Inkosi yayisikhetha uBakidesi, umngane wenkosi,
owayebusa ngaphesheya kukazamcolo, wayengumuntu
omkhulu embusweni nothembekile enkosini,
9 Futhi yena wamthuma kanye nalowo u-Alkimu omubi,
amenza umphristi omkhulu, futhi wayala ukuthi aphindisele
kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
10 Base bemuka, bafika ezweni laseJudiya ngamandla
amakhulu, lapho bathumela khona izithunywa kuJuda
nabafowabo ngamazwi okuthula ngenkohliso.
11 Kodwa kabanakanga amazwi abo; ngoba babona ukuthi
beze ngamandla amakhulu.
12 Khona-ke kwabuthana ku-Alkimu noBakide iqembu
lababhali, ukuze lifune ubulungisa.
13 Ama-Asiya ayengabokuqala phakathi kwabantwana
bakwa-Israyeli abafuna ukuthula kubo.
14 Ngoba bathi: Umpristi wenzalo kaAroni ufikile lebutho,
njalo kayikusona;
15 Wasekhuluma kubo ngokuthula, wafunga kubo, esithi:
Kasiyikuthwala okubi kini loba abangane benu.
16 Bakholwa nguye, nokho wathatha kubo amadoda
angamashumi ayisithupha, wawabulala ngalusuku lunye,
njengamazwi awalobayo;

10. 17 Inyama yabangcwele bakho bayichithile, negazi labo
balichithile nxazonke zeJerusalema, akwabakho obembela.
18 Ngakho ukwesaba nokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabantu
bonke, abathi: “Akukho iqiniso nokulunga kubo; ngoba
basephulile isivumelwano lesifungo abasenzayo.
19 Emva kwalokho wasusa uBakide eJerusalema, wamisa
amatende akhe eBezeti, lapho athumela khona, wathatha
abaningi kubantu ababemshiyile, nabanye kubantu,
wababulala, wabaphonsa egodini elikhulu. umgodi.
20 Wayesenikela izwe ku-Alkimu, wamshiyela amandla
okumsiza; ngakho uBakide waya enkosini.
21 Kodwa u-Alkimu walwela ubuphristi obukhulu.
22 Kwase kusondela kuye bonke abahlupha abantu, abathi
sebelinike izwe lakwaJuda esandleni sabo, benza okubi
kakhulu kwa-Israyeli.
23 Kwathi uJuda ebona ububi bonke u-Alkimu neqembu
lakhe ababenzile phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli
naphezu kwabezizwe,
24 Waphuma waya kuzo zonke izifunda zaseJudiya
ezizingelezeleyo, waphindisela kwabahlubukayo kuye, ukuze
bangabe besalokotha baphumele ezweni.
25 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ngesikhathi u-Alkimu ebona
ukuthi uJuda kanye neqembu lakhe base bephumelele, futhi
bazi ukuthi wayengenakukwazi ukumelana nebutho labo,
waphinde waya enkosini, futhi wakhuluma konke okubi
kunabo bonke ayengakwenza.
26 Inkosi yasithuma uNikanori, omunye wezikhulu zayo
ezihloniphekayo, indoda enzondo ebulalayo kuIsrayeli,
ngomlayo wokubhubhisa abantu.
27 Wayesefika uNikonori eJerusalema enebutho elikhulu;
wathumela kuJudasi nabafowabo ngamazwi amnandi, wathi:
28 Makungabikho ukulwa phakathi kwami nawe; Ngizoza
namadoda ambalwa, ukuze ngikubone ngokuthula.
29 Ngakho wafika kuJudasi, babingelelana ngokuthula.
Nokho izitha zazizilungiselele ukuthatha uJudasi ngobudlova.
30 Lokho okwakwaziwa nguJudasi, ukuthi weza kuye
ngenkohliso, wamesaba kakhulu, kabe esabubona ubuso
bakhe.
31 UNikanori laye, ebona ukuthi icebo lakhe selifezekile,
waphuma ukuyakulwa loJudasi ngaseKhafarsalama.
32 Lapho kwabulawa khona ohlangothini lukaNikanori
amadoda angaba yizinkulungwane ezinhlanu, futhi abanye
babalekela emzini kaDavide.
33 Ngemva kwalokho uNikonori wakhuphukela eNtabeni
yaseSiyoni, futhi kwaphuma endlini engcwele abanye
babapristi nabanye bamalunga abantu ukuze bamkhulekele
ngokuthula futhi bambonise umhlatshelo wokushiswa
owanikelwa inkosi.
34 Kodwa wabahleka usulu, wabahleka, wabathuka,
wakhuluma ngokuzidla;
35 Wafunga ngolaka lwakhe, wathi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi
uJuda nebutho lakhe benganikelwa esandleni sami, uma
ngibuya ngokulondeka, ngiyoyishisa le ndlu,” futhi ngalokho
waphuma ethukuthele kakhulu.
36 Abapristi bangena, bema phambi kwe-altare nethempeli,
bekhala, bathi:
37 Wena, Jehova, wakhetha le ndlu ukuba ibizwe ngegama
lakho, ibe yindlu yokukhuleka nokunxusa yabantu bakho;
38 Ziphindiseleni kulo muntu nakulo ibutho lakhe, bawe
ngenkemba;
39 UNikanori waphuma eJerusalema, wamisa amatende akhe
eBeti Horoni, lapho impi evela e-Aramu yamhlangabeza
khona.
40 Kepha uJuda wamisa e-Adasa namadoda
ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, wakhuleka khona, wathi:
41 O Jehova, lapho ababethunywe enkosini yase-Asiriya
behlambalaza, ingelosi yakho yaphuma yabulala abantu
abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi
ayisishiyagalombili nanhlanu kubo.
42 Ngokunjalo chitha lelibutho phambi kwethu lamuhla,
ukuze abaseleyo bazi ukuthi ukhulume ngokuchapha ngendlu
yakho engcwele, lamahlulele njengobubi bakhe.
43 Ngosuku lweshumi nantathu lwenyanga ka-Adari
amabutho aqala ukulwa;
44 Manje lapho ibutho likaNikanori libona ukuthi ubulewe,
lalahla izikhali zalo, labaleka.
45 Base bebaxosha, ibanga losuku, besuka e-Adasa, baze
bafika eGazera, behlaba umkhosi emva kwabo benamacilongo
abo.
46 Basebephuma emizini yonke yeJudiya ezizingelezeleyo,
bazivalela; baze baphendukela ababebaxosha, babulawa bonke
ngenkemba, akwasala noyedwa kubo.
47 Ngasemuva bathatha impango nempango, bachitha ikhanda
likaNikanori nesandla sakhe sokunene ayelule ngokuziqhenya,
bakuthatha, bakulengisa ngaseJerusalema.
48 Ngenxa yalokho abantu bathokoza kakhulu, balugcina
lolosuku lwentokozo enkulu.
49 Base bemisa ukugcina lolu suku iminyaka ngeminyaka,
ngolweshumi nantathu luka-Adari.
50 Ngakho izwe lakwaJuda lazola isikhashana.
ISAHLUKO 8
1 Manje uJuda wayezwile ngamaRoma ukuthi ayengamadoda
anamandla namaqhawe, futhi ayethanda ukwamukela bonke
abazihlanganisa nawo, futhi enze isivumelwano sobudlelwane
nabo bonke abeza kubo;
2 Futhi nokuthi babengamadoda anamandla amakhulu.
Watshelwa futhi ngezimpi zabo nangezenzo zabo ezinhle
ababezenzile kwabaseGalathiya, nokuthi babanqoba kanjani,
babathela ngentela;
3 Futhi nalokho ababekwenzile ezweni laseSpaniya,
ngokuzuza ezimayini zesiliva negolide ezazilapho;
4 Futhi nokuthi ngomgomo wabo nangokubekezela
babeyinqobile yonke indawo, nakuba yayikude kakhulu nabo;
namakhosi abafikela wona evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba,
aze abadungadulisa, abachitha kakhulu, abaseleyo babathela
intela iminyaka ngeminyaka.
5 Phezu kwalokhu, ukuthi baxabana njani loFiliphu loPersewu
inkosi yamaKiti, kanye labanye abazigqajayo bemelana labo,
babanqoba;
6 Yeka ukuthi no-Antiochus, inkosi enkulu yase-Asiya,
owafika ukulwa nabo empini, enezindlovu eziyikhulu
namashumi amabili, nabamahhashi, nezinqola, nempi enkulu
kakhulu, wadunyazwa yibo;
7 nokuthi bambamba kanjani ephila, benza isivumelwano
sokuthi yena nababusa emva kwakhe bayakukhokha intela
enkulu, bakhiphe abathumbi, nalokho okwakuvunyelwene
ngakho;
8 nezwe laseNdiya, nelaseMediya, nelaseLidiya, nelamazwe
amahle kakhulu, abalithatha kuye, balinika inkosi u-Ewumene.
9 Futhi ukuthi amaGreki ayezimisele kanjani ukuza
azobabhubhisa;
10 Futhi ukuthi, bekwazi lokho bathumela kubo induna ethile,
futhi yalwa nabo yabulala abaningi babo, futhi yathumba
omkabo nabantwana babo, yabaphanga, yathatha amazwe abo,
futhi yadiliza amandla abo. wawabamba, wawaletha ukuba
abe yizinceku zawo kuze kube namuhla;
11 Watshelwa ngaphandle kwalokho ukuthi babhubhisa
kanjani futhi bayiyisa ngaphansi kokubusa kwayo yonke

11. eminye imibuso neziqhingi ezamelana nayo nganoma yisiphi
isikhathi;
12 Kodwa kanye nabangane babo nalabo ababethembele kubo
bagcina uthando, nokuthi babenqobe imibuso ekude naseduze,
kangangokuthi bonke abezwa igama labo babesaba.
13 Futhi ukuthi, labo ababeyobasiza embusweni, labo
bayabusa; futhi labo ababefuna futhi, babasusa, ekugcineni
baphakanyiswa kakhulu.
14 Nokho akukho noyedwa kubo owayembethe umqhele
noma owembethe okububende ukuze akhazinyuliswe ngakho;
15 Futhi ukuthi babezenzele indlu yesine, lapho amadoda
angamakhulu amathathu namashumi amabili ahlala khona
emhlanganweni nsuku zonke, ecebisana nabantu njalo, ukuze
amiswe kahle.
16 Futhi nokuthi banikela umbuso wabo endodeni eyodwa
minyaka yonke, eyayibusa lonke izwe labo, nokuthi bonke
babemlalela lowo, futhi kwakungekho mhawu namona
phakathi kwabo.
17 Ngemva kokunaka lezi zinto, uJuda wakhetha u-
Ewupolemu kaJohane ka-Akose noJasoni indodana ka-
Eleyazare, wabathumela eRoma ukuze benze isivumelwano
sobudlelwane+ futhi benze isivumelwano nabo.
18 nokubanxusa ukuba balisuse kubo ijoka; ngokuba babona
ukuthi umbuso wamaGreki wamcindezela u-Israyeli
ngobugqila.
19 Ngakho baya eRoma, okwakuwuhambo olude kakhulu,
bafika endlini yezikhulu, bakhuluma khona, basho.
20 UJudas Makcabeus kanye labafowabo kanye labantu
bamaJuda basithumile kini ukuze senze isivumelwano
lokuthula lani, ukuze sibhaliswe njengabangane benu
labangane benu.
21 Ngakho leyo ndaba yabajabulisa amaRoma.
22 Nansi ikhophi yencwadi amalungu ebandla abuye ayiloba
ezibhebheni zethusi, yathunyelwa eJerusalema ukuba kube
khona ngazo isikhumbuzo sokuthula nobudlelwane;
23 Impumelelo kayibe kumaRoma, nakubantu bamaJuda,
olwandle nasemhlabeni kuze kube phakade; inkemba nesitha
makube kude nabo;
24 Uma kuqala ukulwa namaRoma nanoma yiliphi
lamaqembu awo embusweni wawo wonke,
25 Abantu bamaJuda bazabasiza ngesikhathi esimisiweyo
ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo;
26 Futhi abayikunikela lutho kulabo abalwa nabo, noma
babasize ngokudla, izikhali, imali, noma imikhumbi, njengoba
kubonakala kukuhle kumaRoma; kodwa bayogcina
izivumelwano zabo ngaphandle kokuthatha lutho ngakho.
27 Kanjalo futhi, uma kuqala ukulwa phezu kwesizwe
samaJuda, amaRoma ayakusisiza ngenhliziyo yonke,
ngokwesikhathi esimisiweyo;
28 Futhi abayikunikwa ukudla labo abahlanganyela nabo,
noma izikhali, noma imali, noma imikhumbi, njengoba
kubonakala kukuhle kumaRoma; kodwa bayogcina
izivumelwano zabo, futhi ngaphandle kwenkohliso.
29 Ngokwalezi zihloko ingabe amaRoma enza isivumelwano
nabantu bamaJuda.
30 Nokho uma emva kwalokhu iqembu elilodwa noma elinye
lizocabanga ukuhlangana ukuze linezele noma linciphise
noma yini, lingakwenza ngokuthanda kwalo, futhi noma yini
abayoyengeza noma abayoyisusa kuyoqinisekiswa.
31 Maqondana nobubi uDemetriyu abenzayo kumaJuda,
simbhalele sithi: ‘Ulenzeleni ijoka lakho laba nzima phezu
kwabangane bethu, uhlanganise nabaJuda na?
32 Ngakho uma besakhononda ngawe, siyakubenzela
ubulungisa, silwe nawe ngolwandle nasemhlabeni.
ISAHLUKO 9
1 Futhi lapho uDemetriyu ezwa ukuthi uNikanori nebutho
lakhe babulewe empini, wathumela uBhakide no-Alkimu
ngokwesibili ezweni laseJudiya, kanye nabo impi eyikhulu
yebutho lakhe.
2 Baphuma ngendlela eholela eGiligala, bamisa amatende abo
phambi kweMasaloti ese-Aribela, sebelinqobile, babulala
abantu abaningi.
3 Ngenyanga yokuqala yonyaka wekhulu namashumi
ayisihlanu nambili bamisa phambi kweJerusalema;
4 Basuka lapho, baya eBereya, benemigundatshani
eyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nabamahhashi
abayizinkulungwane ezimbili.
5 UJuda wayesegxumeke amatende akhe e-Eleyasa,
enamadoda akhethiweyo ayizinkulungwane ezintathu;
6 Kwathi ebona ixuku lebutho elikhulu kangaka, besaba
kakhulu; abaningi baphuma empini, abaze bahlala kubo
kuphela abantu abangamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili.
7 Kwathi uJudasi ebona ukuthi ibutho lakhe liyahlehla lokuthi
impi imcindezela, wakhathazeka kakhulu engqondweni yakhe,
wakhathazeka kakhulu, ngoba wayengelasikhathi sokubabutha.
8 Nokho wathi kwabaseleyo: “Masisuke, sikhuphuke, silwe
nezitha zethu, mhlawumbe singase sikwazi ukulwa nazo.
9 Kodwa bamcindezela, bathi: “Asinakukwazi naphakade;
10 Wayesethi uJuda: "Makube kude nami ukuba ngenze lokhu,
ngibabalekele; uma isikhathi sethu sesifikile, masife
njengabantu ngenxa yabafowethu, singangcolisi udumo
lwethu."
11 Lase liphuma ibutho likaBakide ematendeni alo, lema
malungana nabo, abamahhashi balo behlukene kabili,
abasawuli balo nabacibishelayo behamba phambi kwekamu,
nabahamba phambili bonke babengamadoda anamandla.
12 UBakide yena wayesophikweni lokunene; ibutho lasondela
ezinhlangothini zombili, labetha amacilongo.
13 Nabo abasohlangothini lukaJuda babetha amacilongo abo,
kwaze kwazamazama umhlaba ngomsindo wamabutho, impi
yaqhubeka kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwahlwa.
14 Kwathi uJudasi esebonile ukuthi uBakide lamandla ebutho
lakhe bangakwesokunene, wathatha wonke amaqhawe
alamandla.
15 owahlephula iphiko lokunene, wabaxosha kwaze kwaba
sentabeni yase-Azotu.
16 Kodwa abophiko lwesokhohlo bathi bebona ukuthi
abangakwesokunene bayayaluza, bamlandela uJuda nababe
naye ezithendeni kabuhlungu ngemuva.
17 Kwaba khona impi enzima, kwaze kwabulawa abaningi
ezinhlangothini zombili.
18 UJudasi laye wabulawa, insali yabaleka.
19 Khona-ke uJonathani noSimoni bathatha uJuda umfowabo,
futhi bamngcwaba ethuneni laboyise eModini.
20 Bamkhalela, u-Israyeli wonke wamenzela isililo esikhulu,
wamlilela izinsuku eziningi, wathi:
21 Yeka ukuwa kwendoda eyiqhawe eyakhulula u-Israyeli!
22 Ngokuqondene nezinye izinto ngoJuda, nezimpi zakhe,
nezenzo zodumo azenzayo, nobukhulu bakhe, azibhalwanga,
ngokuba zaziziningi kakhulu.
23 Manje emva kokufa kukaJuda ababi baqala ukukhipha
amakhanda abo kuzo zonke izifunda zakwa-Israyeli, futhi
kwavuka bonke abenza ububi.
24 Ngalezo zinsuku kwaba khona indlala enkulu kakhulu,
okwathi ngayo izwe lahlubuka, lahamba nabo.
25 Khona-ke uBakide wakhetha amadoda amabi, wawenza
amakhosi ezwe.
26 Base bebuza, badinga abangane bakaJuda, babayisa
kuBakide, owaphindisela kubo, wabaphatha kabi.

12. 27 Kanjalo kwaba khona usizi olukhulu kwa-Israyeli,
olungazange lube njengalo kusukela esikhathini umprofethi
angabonakali phakathi kwabo.
28 Ngakho bonke abangane bakaJuda babuthana, bathi
kuJonathani:
29 Selokhu umfowenu uJudasi afa, asinamuntu onjengaye
ongaphuma ayokulwa nezitha zethu, noBakidesi, nabesizwe
sakithi esimelene nathi.
30 Ngakho manje sesikukhethile namuhla ukuba ube
yisikhulu nenduna yethu esikhundleni sakhe, ukuze ulwe
izimpi zethu.
31 UJonathani wathatha umbuso phezu kwakhe ngaleso
sikhathi, wasuka esikhundleni sikaJuda umfowabo.
32 Kodwa lapho uBakide ekwazi ngakho, wafuna ukumbulala
33 UJonathani, noSimoni umfowabo, nabo bonke ababe naye
sebekwazi lokho, babalekela ehlane laseThekowa, bamisa
amatende abo ngasemanzini echibi lase-Asfari.
34 Kwathi uBakide esezwile, wasondela eJordani lebutho
lakhe lonke ngosuku lwesabatha.
35 UJonathani wayesethume umfowabo uJohane, induna
yabantu, ukuba akhulekele abangane bakhe, amaNabati,
ukuba bahambe nabo imithwalo yabo, yayiminingi.
36 Kodwa amadodana kaJambri aphuma eMedaba, athatha
uJohane lakho konke ayelakho, bahamba laye.
37 Ngemva kwalokhu kwafika izwi kuJonathani noSimoni
umfowabo, ukuthi abantwana bakwaJambri benza umshado
omkhulu, futhi baletha umakoti wakwaNadabhatha ngesixuku
esikhulu, njengendodakazi yesinye sezikhulu ezinkulu
zaseKhanani.
38 Ngakho bakhumbula uJohane umfowabo, bakhuphuka
bacasha ngaphansi kwesitha sentaba.
39 Lapho baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona, khangela-ke,
kwakukhona isiphithiphithi lempahla enkulu;
40 UJonathani nababe naye babavukela besuka endaweni
ababeqamekele kuyo, babaceka kangangokuthi abaningi bawa
bafa, abaseleyo babalekela entabeni, bathatha konke. impango
yabo.
41 Kanjalo umshado waphenduka isililo, nomsindo wehubo
labo laba isililo.
42 Ngakho sebephindisele ngokupheleleyo igazi lomfowabo,
babuyela enkangala yeJordani.
43 Kwathi uBakide ekuzwa lokho, wafika ngosuku
lwesabatha ngasemfuleni iJordani enamandla amakhulu.
44 UJonathani wayesethi eqenjini lakhe: “Masikhuphuke
manje, silwele ukuphila kwethu, ngokuba akusekho kithi
namuhla njengakuqala;
45 Ngokuba bhekani, impi iphambi kwethu nangasemva
kwethu, namanzi aseJordani ngalapha nangalapha, ixhaphozi
nezinkuni, akukho ndawo esingaphambukela kuyo.
46 Ngakho-ke khala manje ezulwini, ukuze ukhululwe
esandleni sezitha zenu.
47 Basebehlanganyela impi, uJonathani welula isandla sakhe
ukuze abulale uBakidesi, kodwa wahlehla kuye.
48 UJonathani nababe naye bagxumela eJordani, babhukuda
ngaphesheya kosebe, kepha abawelanga iJordani kubo.
49 Ngakho kwabulawa ngasohlangothini lukaBakide
ngalolosuku amadoda angaba yinkulungwane.
50 Ngasemuva uBakide wabuyela eJerusalema, walungisa
imizi enamandla yaseJudiya; inqaba yaseJeriko, nase-
Emawuse, naseBeti Horoni, naseBethele, naseThaminatha,
nasePharathoni, naseThafoni, lezi waziqinisa ngezindonga
eziphakemeyo, namasango, nemigoqo.
51 Wamisa kuzo izikaniso zamabutho ukuba benze okubi
kwa-Israyeli.
52 Wawuqinisa umuzi waseBethsura, neGazera,
nombhoshongo, wabeka amabutho kuwo, wanikela ngokudla.
53 Ngaphezu kwalokho wathumba amadodana ezikhulu
zezwe, wawabeka embhoshongweni waseJerusalema ukuba
agcinwe.
54 Futhi ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nantathu,
ngenyanga yesibili, u-Alkimu wayala ukuba udonga lwegceke
elingaphakathi lendlu engcwele lubhidlizwe; wadiliza
nemisebenzi yabaprofethi
55 Kwathi lapho eqala ukudiliza, nangaleso sikhathi u-Alkimu
washaywa, futhi ingqondo yakhe yavinjelwa, ngoba umlomo
wakhe wawuvaliwe, futhi wayebanjwe yisigoga,
kangangokuthi wayengabe esakwazi ukukhuluma lutho, futhi
akazange akhiphe umyalo mayelana. indlu yakhe.
56 Ngakho u-Alkimu wafa ngaleso sikhathi ngokuhlushwa
okukhulu.
57 Kwathi uBakide ebona ukuthi u-Alkimu ufile, wabuyela
enkosini;
58 Khona-ke bonke abantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu
benza isigungu, bathi: “Bheka, uJonathani neqembu lakhe
bahlezi ngokukhululeka, futhi bahlala belondekile;
59 Ngakho bahamba bacebisana laye.
60 Wayesesuka, weza nebutho elikhulu, wathumela izincwadi
ngasese kubalandeli bakhe eJudiya ukuba babambe
uJonathani nababe naye; kepha babengenakukwazi, ngokuba
icebo labo lalisaziwa kubo.
61 Base bethatha kubantu bezwe ababengabenzi bobubi,
abantu kungathi abangamashumi amahlanu, bababulala.
62 Ngemva kwalokho oJonathani loSimoni lalabo ababelaye
basuka baya eBhethi-bhasi esenkangala, balungisa
okwakubolile kulo, baliqinisa.
63 UBakide esekwazi lokho, wabutha ibutho lakhe lonke,
wathumela kwabaseJudiya.
64 Wasehamba wavimbezela iBeti-Basi; futhi balwa nayo
isikhathi eside futhi benza izinjini zempi.
65 Kepha uJonathani washiya umfowabo uSimoni emzini,
waphuma yena waya emaphandleni, waphuma enenani elithile.
66 Wabulala u-Odonarike nabafowabo, nabantwana
bakwaFasironi etendeni labo.
67 Kwathi eseqalile ukubatshaya, wenyuka lebutho lakhe,
uSimoni leqembu lakhe baphuma emzini, batshisa izinjini
zokulwa;
68 Base belwa noBakidesi, owayecunukile kubo, bamhlupha
kakhulu, ngokuba isiluleko sakhe nemihelo yakhe kwaba yize.
69 Ngalokho-ke wabathukuthelela kakhulu abantu ababi
ababemcebisa ukuthi eze ezweni, kangangoba wabulala
abaningi babo, futhi ehlose ukubuyela ezweni lakubo.
70 UJonathani esekwazi, wathuma izithunywa kuye ukuze
enze ukuthula naye, abakhulule iziboshwa.
71 Wakwamukela lokho, wakwenza njengokusho kwakhe,
wafunga kuye ukuthi akasoze amlimaza zonke izinsuku
zokuphila kwakhe.
72 Kwathi esebuyisele kuye izibotshwa ayezithumbile kudala
elizweni leJudiya, wabuyela elizweni lakibo, kabe esangena
emikhawulweni yabo.
73 Yanqamuka ke inkemba ku-Israyeli; uJonathani wahlala
eMakimasi, waqala ukubusa abantu; futhi wabhubhisa abantu
abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli.
ISAHLUKO 10
1 Ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha u-Aleksandru
indodana ka-Antiochus othiwa u-Epiphanes, wakhuphuka
wathatha uPhetolemayi, ngokuba abantu babemamukele,
abusa ngakho khona;
2 Kwathi inkosi uDemetriyu ikuzwa lokho, yabutha impi
enkulu kakhulu, yaphuma ukulwa nayo.

13. 3 UDemetriyu wathumela izincwadi kuJonathani ngamazwi
othando, waze wamkhulisa.
4 Ngokuba wathi: “Masenze ukuthula naye kuqala,
ngaphambi kokuba ahlangane no-Aleksandru amelane nathi;
5 Uma kungenjalo, uyokhumbula bonke ububi esibenze
ngokumelene naye, futhi ngokumelene abafowabo kanye
nabantu bakhe.
6 Ngakho wamnika igunya lokuqoqa impi, futhi enze izikhali,
ukuze amsize ekulweni, futhi wayala ukuba abathunjwa
ababesembhoshongweni bakhululwe kuye.
7 UJonathani wayesefika eJerusalema, wafunda izincwadi
ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu nezabo
ababesembhoshongweni;
8 Besaba kakhulu, bezwa ukuthi inkosi imnike igunya
lokubutha impi.
9 Base benikela abathunjwa babo kuJonathani, wabanikela
kubazali babo.
10 UJonathani wenza lokhu, wahlala eJerusalema, waqala
ukwakha nokulungisa umuzi.
11 Wayala abenzi bomsebenzi ukuba bakhe izingange nentaba
yaseSiyoni nxazonke ngamatshe ayizikwele abe yizivikelo;
benze njalo.
12 Abafokazi ababesezinqabeni ezazakhayo uBakide babaleka;
13 Kwaze kwathi wonke umuntu wasuka endaweni yakhe,
waya elizweni lakibo.
14 Kuphela eBethsura kwasala abathile kwabashiya umthetho
nemiyalo, ngokuba kwakuyindawo yabo yokuphephela.
15 Kwathi inkosi u-Aleksandru isizwile izithembiso
uDemetriyu azithumele kuJonathani, nalapho itshelwa
ngezimpi nangezenzo ezinhle ababezenzile yena nabafowabo,
nangobuhlungu ababebubekezelele;
16 Wathi: "Singamfumana yini omunye onjalo na?" manje-ke
sizomenza umngane wethu futhi sibe yinhlangano.
17 Wabhala incwadi, wayithumela kuye ngokwala mazwi,
wathi:
18 Inkosi u-Aleksandru kuJonathani umfowabo ithi:
19 Sizwile ngawe, ukuthi uyindoda enamandla amakhulu,
nofanele ukuba ngumngane wethu;
20 Ngakho-ke namuhla siyakumisa ukuba ube ngumpristi
omkhulu wesizwe sakini, ubizwe ngokuthi ungumngane
wenkosi; wathumela kuye ingubo ebubende nomqhele
wegolide;
21 Kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa ngomnyaka wekhulu
namashumi ayisithupha, ngomkhosi wamadokodo, uJonathani
wembatha ingubo engcwele, wabutha amabutho, walungisa
izikhali eziningi.
22 Kwathi uDemetriyu ekuzwile wadabuka kakhulu, wathi:
23 Senzeni, ukuthi u-Alekzandro usevimbele ukuba senze
ubuhlobo nabaJuda ukuba aziqinise na?
24 Futhi ngizobabhalela amazwi enkuthazo, futhi
ngibathembise izithunzi nezipho, ukuze ngithole usizo lwabo.
25 Ngakho wathumela kubo ukuthi: UDemetriyu inkosi
ebantwini bamaJuda uyakhonza;
26 Nakuba nizigcinile izivumelwano nathi, futhi naqhubeka
ebunganini bethu, ningahlangani nezitha zethu, sikuzwile
lokhu, futhi siyajabula.
27 Ngakho-ke qhubekani nithembekile kithi, futhi
sizonibuyisela kahle ngezinto enisenzela zona.
28 Futhi uyoninika ukuzivikela okuningi, futhi aninike
nemivuzo.
29 Manje ngiyanikhulula, futhi ngenxa yenu ngikhulula
abaJuda bonke ezithelweni, nasemikhubeni kasawoti,
nasezinteleni zemiqhele,
30 Futhi kulokho okungokwami ukwamukela ingxenye
yesithathu noma imbewu, nengxenye yesithelo sezihlahla,
ngiyakukhulula kusukela kulolu suku kuqhubeke, ukuze
zingathathwa ezweni lakwaJuda, noma zithathwe. yemibuso
emithathu eyenezelwa kukho evela ezweni laseSamariya
nelaseGalile, kusukela namuhla kuze kube phakade.
31 IJerusalema nayo mayibe ngcwele futhi ikhululeke, kanye
nemingcele yayo, kusukela kokweshumi kanye nentela.
32 Ngokuqondene nombhoshongo oseJerusalema, nginikeza
igunya phezu kwawo, futhi nginikeza umpristi omkhulu
ukuba amise kuwo labo abathanda ukuwugcina.
33 Futhi ngabakhulula bonke abaJuda ababethunjiwe
bephuma ezweni lakwaJuda bayiswa kunoma iyiphi ingxenye
yombuso wami, futhi ngithanda ukuba zonke izikhonzi zami
zikhokhe intela yezinkomo zabo.
34 Futhi ngithanda ukuthi yonke imikhosi, namasabatha,
nokuthwasa kwenyanga, nezinsuku ezimisiweyo, nezinsuku
ezintathu ngaphambi komkhosi, nezinsuku ezintathu emva
komkhosi kube ngukukhululeka nokukhululeka kuwo wonke
amaJuda asembusweni wami.
35 Futhi akukho muntu oyoba negunya lokugxambukela noma
lokunukubeza noma yimuphi wabo kunoma iyiphi indaba.
36 Futhi ngiyakubalwa phakathi kwebutho lenkosi amadoda
angaba yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu
kumaJuda, okufanele akhokhelwe ngokwawo wonke
amabutho enkosi.
37 Abanye babo bayakubekwa ezinqabeni zenkosi, okukhona
kubo abanye abayakubekwa phezu kwezindaba zombuso
ezithembekile; ngithanda ukuba ababonisi babo nababusi babo
babe ngabo ngokwabo, futhi baphile ngemva kwalokho.
imithetho yabo, njengoba nje inkosi eyalile ezweni lakwaJuda.
38 Ngokuphathelene nemibuso emithathu eyenezelwe eJudiya
evela ezweni laseSamariya, mabahlanganiswe neJudiya,
ukuze kuthiwe bangaphansi komunye, futhi baboshwe
njengabangaphansi kwegunya elinye ngaphandle
kwelompristi omkhulu.
39 Ngokuqondene noPhetolemayi+ nezwe eliqondene nalo,
ngikunika+ indawo engcwele yaseJerusalema njengesipho+
ngezindleko ezifanele zendlu engcwele.
40 Futhi ngikhipha minyaka yonke amashekeli
ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nanhlanu esiliva ekubalweni
kwenkosi ezindaweni ezikhona.
41 Futhi konke okuchichimayo izikhulu ezingakukhokhinga
njengakuqala, kusukela manje kuyakunikelwa emsebenzini
wethempeli.
42 Futhi ngaphandle kwalokhu, amashekeli ayizinkulungwane
ezinhlanu esiliva ababewathatha ezintweni zethempeli
ekubaleni iminyaka ngeminyaka, lezo zinto ziyakukhululwa,
ngokuba ziqondene nabapristi abakhonzayo.
43 Futhi noma yibaphi ababalekela ethempelini eJerusalema,
noma abaphakathi kwenkululeko yalo, benecala enkosini,
noma nganoma iyiphi enye indaba, mabakhululeke, kanye
nakho konke abanakho embusweni wami.
44 Ngokuba izindleko zokwakhiwa nokulungiswa
kwemisebenzi yendlu engcwele ziyakubalwa enkosini.
45 Yebo, futhi ukwakhiwa kwezindonga zaseJerusalema,
kanye nokuqiniswa kwayo nxazonke, izindleko ziyokhishwa
ezindabeni zenkosi, kanjalo nezokwakha izindonga
zaseJudiya.
46 UJonathani nabantu bezwa lawa mazwi, kabavumanga,
abawemukelanga, ngokuba bakhumbula ububi obukhulu
abenzile kwa-Israyeli; ngoba wayebahluphe kakhulu.
47 Kodwa u-Aleksandru bajabula ngo-Alekzandro, ngokuba
uyena owabancenga ukuba kube nokuthula kweqiniso kubo,
futhi babebambisana naye ngaso sonke isikhathi.
48 Khona inkosi uAleksandru yabutha amabutho amakhulu,
yamisa malungana noDemetriyu.

14. 49 Kwathi ngemva kokuba lawo makhosi amabili esehlangene
empini, ibutho likaDemetriyu labaleka, kodwa u-Aleksandro
wamlandela, wawanqoba.
50 Waqhubeka nokulwa kanzima kwaze kwashona ilanga;
ngalolo suku wabulawa uDemetriyu.
51 Ngemva kwalokho u-Aleksandru wathumela amanxusa
kuPhetolemee inkosi yaseGibhithe nomyalezo othi:
52 Njengoba ngiphinde ngabuyela embusweni wami, futhi
ngihlezi esihlalweni sokhokho bami, futhi ngithole ukubusa,
futhi ngigumbuqele uDemetriyu, futhi ngabuyisela izwe
lakithi;
53 Ngoba ngemva kokulwa laye, yena lebutho lakhe
badungeka ngathi, saze sahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi
sombuso wakhe.
54 Ngakho-ke masenze isivumelwano sobudlelwano, unginike
indodakazi yakho ibe ngumkakho, mina ngibe
ngumkhwenyana wakho, ngikunike nobabili wena naye
njengokufanele isithunzi sakho.
55 Inkosi uPhetolemeya yasiphendula yathi: Kalubusiswe
usuku owabuyela ngalo elizweni laboyihlo, wahlala
esihlalweni sobukhosi babo.
56 Khathesi-ke ngizakwenza kuwe njengokuloba kwakho:
Ngakho ngihlangabeze ePetolemayi, ukuze sibonane; ngoba
ngiyakuthathela indodakazi yami njengesifiso sakho.
57 Ngakho uPhetoleme waphuma eGibhithe kanye
nendodakazi yakhe uKleyoopatra, futhi bafika ePhetolemayi
ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha nambili.
58 Lapho inkosi u-Aleksandru yahlangana naye, yamnika
indodakazi yakhe uKleopatra, futhi yagubha umshado wayo
ePhetolemayi ngenkazimulo enkulu, njengoba kunjalo
ngendlela yamakhosi.
59 Manje inkosi u-Aleksandru yayibhalele uJonathani, ukuthi
eze azomhlangabeza.
60 Khona-ke waya ePhetolemayi ngokuhloniphekile, lapho
ahlangana khona namakhosi amabili, wawanika wona
nabangane bawo isiliva negolide nezipho eziningi, futhi
wathola umusa emehlweni awo.
61 Ngaleso sikhathi abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababi, abantu ababi,
babuthanela kuye ukuba bambeke icala, kepha inkosi
ayibalalelanga.
62 Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkosi yayala ukuba akhumule
izingubo zakhe, amembathiswe okububende;
63 Wamhlalisa yedwa, wathi ezikhulwini zakhe: Hambani
naye niye phakathi komuzi, nimemezele ukuba kungabi
namuntu omsolayo nganoma iyiphi indaba, futhi kungabikho
muntu omhluphayo nganoma yisiphi isizathu. .
64 Kwathi abamangaleli bakhe bebona ukuthi uyatuseka
njengokumenyezelwa, nokuthi embethe ezibubende, babaleka
bonke.
65 Ngakho inkosi yamhlonipha, yamloba phakathi
kwabangane bakhe abakhulu, yamenza umbusi,
nomhlanganyeli embusweni wakhe.
66 Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani wabuyela eJerusalema
ngokuthula lenjabulo.
67 Phezu kwalokho ku; UDemetriyu indodana kaDemetriyu
ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi ayisithupha nanhlanu
waphuma eKrethe, waya ezweni lawoyise.
68 Kwathi inkosi u-Aleksandru isizwa lokho, yadabuka,
yabuyela e-Antiyokiya.
69 UDemetriyu wamisa u-Apolloniyu umbusi waseKelosiriya,
wabutha impi enkulu, wamisa eJamniya, wathumela
kuJonathani umpristi omkhulu, wathi:
70 Wena wedwa uziphakamisile ngokumelene nathi, futhi
ngihlekwa usulu ngenxa yakho, futhi ngihlanjalazwa; futhi
kungani ugabisa amandla akho ngokumelene nathi ezintabeni?
71 Ngakho-ke, uma wethemba amandla akho, yehlela kithi
ethafeni, sihlole indaba khona kanye; ngokuba ngakimi
amandla emizi.
72 Buza futhi ufunde ukuthi ngingubani, kanye nabanye
abathatha ingxenye yethu, futhi bayokutshela ukuthi unyawo
lwakho alukwazi ukubaleka ezweni labo.
73 Ngalokho-ke manje awuyikukwazi ukumelana
nabamahhashi kanye negunya elingaka ethafeni, lapho
kungekho itshe noma insengetsha, nandawo yokubalekela.
74 Kwathi uJonathani ezwa lamazwi ka-Apholoniyu,
wathinteka enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi wakhetha amadoda
ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi waphuma eJerusalema, lapho
uSimoni umfowabo amhlangabeza khona ukuze amsize.
75 Wamisa amatende akhe ngaseJopha; abaseJopha bamvalela
ngaphandle komuzi, ngokuba u-Apholoniyu wayenebutho
lapho.
76 UJonathani wawuvimbezela, abantu bomuzi bamngenisa
ngokwesaba; uJonathani wayinqoba iJopha.
77 Kwathi lapho u-Apholoniyu ekuzwa lokho, wathatha
izinkweli zamahhashi eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu, nebutho
elikhulu labahamba ngezinyawo, waya e-Azotu njengomuntu
ohambayo, futhi ngalokho wamdonsela ethafeni. ngoba
wayenexuku elikhulu labagadi bamabhiza ayethembele kubo.
78 UJonathani wamlandela, waya e-Azotu, lapho amabutho
ahlangana khona.
79 Manje u-Apollonius wayeshiye abagibeli bamahhashi
abayinkulungwane beqamekele.
80 UJonathani wazi ukuthi kukhona abaqamekele emva
kwakhe; + ngoba base bezungeza ibutho lakhe + baphonsa
abantu ngemicibisholo kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwahlwa.
81 Kepha abantu bema, njengalokho uJonathani ebayalile,
akhathala amahhashi ezitha.
82 USimoni wasekhupha ibutho lakhe, wabamisa phezu
kwabagadi bamabhiza, ngoba abagadi bamabhiza base
bephelile, basebedudana nguye, babaleka.
83 Abamahhashi nabo, behlakazekile endle, babalekela e-
Azotu, futhi bangena eBethdagoni, ithempeli lesithombe sabo,
ukuze baphephe.
84 UJonathani washisa i-Azotu nemizi nxazonke zayo,
wathatha impango yayo; ithempeli likaDagoni kanye nalabo
ababebalekele kulo, walishisa ngomlilo.
85 Ngakho kwashiswa futhi kwabulawa ngenkemba cishe
amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili.
86 UJonathani wasuka lapho, wamisa impi malungana ne-
Ashikeloni, lapho abantu bomuzi baphuma khona,
bamhlangabeza ngokugabadela okukhulu.
87 Emva kwalokho uJonathani nebutho lakhe babuyela
eJerusalema benempango.
88 Manje ngesikhathi inkosi u-Alexander izwa lezi zinto,
yamhlonipha kakhulu uJonathani.
89 Wamthumelela ihawu legolide, njengalokhu elifanele
ukunikwa abegazi lenkosi;
ISAHLUKO 11
1 Inkosi yaseGibithe yabutha impi enkulu engangesihlabathi
esisogwini lolwandle nemikhumbi eminingi, yadabula
ngenkohliso ukuze ithathe umbuso ka-Aleksandru,
iwuhlanganise kowakhe.
2 Ngemva kwalokho wathatha uhambo lwakhe lokuya
eSpaniya ngokuthula, kwathi abasemzini bamvulela
bamhlangabeza;
3 Manje njengoba uPhetoleme engena emadolobheni, wabeka
kuyo ngayinye ibutho lamasosha ukuba alilinde.
4 Lapho esondela e-Azotu bambonisa ithempeli likaDagoni
elalishisiwe, ne-Azotu namadlelo alo ayebhuqiwe, nezidumbu

15. ezazilahlwe ngaphandle kanye nalokho ayekushisile empini;
ngoba babezenze izinqwaba endleleni lapho ayezodlula khona.
5 Bayitshela inkosi konke uJonathani ayekwenzile ukuba ibe
necala kuyo, kepha inkosi yathula.
6 UJonathani wahlangana nenkosi ngokuziqhenya okukhulu
eJopha, lapho babingelelana, balala.
7 Ngasemuva uJonathani wahamba nenkosi emfuleni othiwa
i-Elewutherusi, wabuyela eJerusalema.
8 Ngakho-ke inkosi uPtolemeya isizuze ukubusa kwemizi
engasolwandle kwaze kwaba seSelukiya ngasogwini
lolwandle, yaceba amacebo amabi ngo-Aleksandru.
9 Yathuma amanxusa enkosini uDemetriyu, yathi: “Woza,
senze isivumelwano phakathi kwethu, futhi ngiyakukunika
indodakazi yami u-Alekzandro anayo, ubuse embusweni
kayihlo;
10 Ngokuba ngiyazisola ngokuthi ngimnike indodakazi yami,
ngokuba ubefuna ukungibulala.
11 Wamnyundela kanjalo, ngokuba wayefisa umbuso wakhe.
12 Ngakho wathatha indodakazi yakhe kuye, wayinika
uDemetriyu, wamshiya u-Aleksandru, ukuze kwaziwe
ukuzonda kwabo.
13 Khona-ke uPtoleme wangena e-Antiyokiya, lapho ebeka
imiqhele emibili ekhanda lakhe, umqhele wase-Asiya
nowaseGibhithe.
14 Ngaleso sikhathi kwakukhona inkosi u-Alexander
eKhilikhiya, ngoba ababehlala kulezo zingxenye
babemhlubukile.
15 Kodwa u-Aleksandru ekuzwa lokho, weza ukulwa naye;
lapho inkosi uPtoleme yakhipha impi yayo, yamhlangabeza
enamandla amakhulu, yambalekela.
16 Ngakho u-Aleksandru wabalekela e-Arabhiya ukuze
avikelwe; kepha inkosi uPtoleme yaphakanyiswa;
17 Ngoba uZabidiyeli umArabhiya wasusa ikhanda lika-
Aleksandru, walithumela ePtoleme.
18 Inkosi uPhetolemeya yafa ngosuku lwesithathu
olulandelayo, futhi labo ababesezinqabeni babulawa omunye
nomunye.
19 Ngale ndlela uDemetriyu wabusa ngonyaka wekhulu
namashumi ayisithupha nesikhombisa.
20 Ngaleso sikhathi uJonathani wabutha abaseJudiya ukuba
bathathe umbhoshongo owawuseJerusalema, wenza izinjini
eziningi zempi ngokumelene nawo.
21 Kwasekufika abantu abangamhloniphiyo ababezonda
abantu bakubo, baya enkosini, bayitshela ukuthi uJonathani
uvimbezele umbhoshongo;
22 Ekuzwa lokho wathukuthela, wahle wasuka, wafika
ePhetolemayi, walobela uJonathani ukuthi angavimbezeli
umbhoshongo, kepha afike akhulume naye ePhetolemayi
ngokuphangisa okukhulu.
23 Nokho uJonathani, esizwa lokho, wayala ukuba
kuqhutshekwe ukuvinjezelwa, wakhetha amadoda amalunga
akwa-Israyeli nabapristi, wazifaka engozini;
24 Wathatha isiliva negolide nezingubo nezinye izipho futhi
waya ePhetolemayi enkosini, lapho athola khona umusa
emehlweni ayo.
25 Lanxa abantu abathile abangamesabi uNkulunkulu
bemmangalela.
26 Kepha inkosi yamncenga njengalokho benza ngaphambili
abokuqala, yamphakamisa emehlweni abo bonke abangane
bakhe;
27 bamqinisa ebupristini obukhulu nakukho konke ubukhosi
ayenakho ngaphambili, wambeka waba mkhulu phakathi
kwabangane bakhe abakhulu.
28 UJonathani wacela enkosini ukuthi ikhulule iJudiya
ekuthelisweni, njengemibuso emithathu, kanye nezwe
laseSamariya; wamthembisa amatalenta angamakhulu
amathathu.
29 Inkosi yasivuma, yalobela uJonathani izincwadi ngazo
zonke lezi zinto.
30 Inkosi uDemetriyu kuJonathani umfowabo, nasesizweni
sabaJuda, iyakhonza;
31 Sinithumelela lapha ikhophi yencwadi esayibhalela umzala
wethu uLathenes mayelana nani, ukuze niyibone.
32 Inkosi uDemetriyusi kuyise uLastenesi uyakhonza.
33 Sizimisele ukwenza okuhle kubantu bamaJuda,
abangabangane bethu, futhi sigcine izivumelwano nathi,
ngenxa yentando yabo enhle ngathi.
34 Ngakho-ke sibanikeze imingcele yeJudiya, imibuso
emithathu yase-Apherema, neLida, neRamathem, eyenezelwe
eJudiya ivela ezweni laseSamariya, nakho konke okuqondene
nabo, kubo bonke abanikela imihlatshelo eJerusalema;
esikhundleni senkokhelo eyayitholwa yinkosi iminyaka
ngeminyaka ngaphambili ezithelweni zomhlaba nasemithini.
35 Ngokuqondene nezinye izinto zethu, okweshumi namasiko
akithi, kanye nemigodi kasawoti, nentela yomqhele okufanele
thina siyikhiphe kukho konke ukuze sibasize.
36 Futhi akukho lutho lwakho oluyohoxiswa kusukela kulesi
sikhathi kuze kube phakade.
37 Ngalokho bheka, wenze ikhophi yalezi zinto, uyinike
uJonathani, uhlale entabeni engcwele endaweni ekhazimulayo.
38 Emva kwalokho inkosi uDemetriyu isibonile ukuthi izwe
lizolile phambi kwayo nokuthi akukho kumelana nayo,
yaxosha yonke impi yayo, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni
yakubo, ngaphandle kwamaviyo athile abezizwe
eyayiwabuthile. ngakho zonke izixuku zawoyise zamzonda.
39 Kwakukhona-ke uTrifoni owayengoka-Aleksandru
ngaphambili, owathi ibutho lonke lalikhonona ngoDemetriyu,
waya kuSimaleki umArabiya owawondla u-Antiyoku
indodana ka-Aleksandru;
40 Futhi bamcindezela kakhulu ukuba bamnikele lo Antiochus
osemusha, ukuze abuse esikhundleni sikayise; wamtshela
ngakho konke uDemetriyu ayekwenzile, nokuthi amadoda
akhe empi ayenobutha naye, futhi wahlala lapho isikhathi
eside. isizini.
41 Ngaleso sikhathi uJonathani wathumela enkosini
uDemetriyu ukuba ikhiphe abasembhoshongweni eJerusalema
kanye nalabo ababesezinnqabeni, ngoba balwa no-Israyeli.
42 UDemetriyu wayesethumela kuJonathani, ethi:
"Angiyikukwenza lokhu wena nabantu bakho kuphela, kepha
ngiyakukudumisa nokukukhazimulisa wena nesizwe sakho,
uma ithuba livela."
43 Ngakho-ke uyakwenza kahle uma ungithuma amadoda
ukuba angisize; ngoba wonke amandla ami aphelile kimi.
44 Ngalokho uJonathani wamthuma e-Antiyokiya amadoda
anamandla ayizinkulungwane ezintathu;
45 Kepha abemzini babuthana phakathi komuzi, baba
ngamadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili,
befuna ukuyibulala inkosi.
46 Inkosi yabalekela egcekeni, kepha abantu bomuzi bagcina
izintuba zomuzi, baqala ukulwa.
47 Inkosi yayisibiza abaJuda, abeza kuye masinyane,
bahlakazeka emzini ngalolo suku, babulala abantu
abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu.
48 Bawuthungela ngomlilo umuzi, bazuza impango eningi
ngalolo suku, bayikhulula inkosi.
49 Kwathi abasemzini bebona ukuthi abaJuda bawuthathile
umuzi njengokuthanda kwabo, isibindi sabo saphela;
basebekhuleka enkosini, bamemeza besithi:
50 Siphe ukuthula, futhi amaJuda mawayeke ukusihlasela
kanye nedolobha.

16. 51 Ngalokho balahla izikhali zabo, benza ukuthula; + futhi
amaJuda ayedunyiswa emehlweni enkosi + nasemehlweni abo
bonke ababesembusweni wayo; babuyela eJerusalema
benempango eningi.
52 Ngakho inkosi uDemetriyu yahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi
sombuso wayo, futhi izwe lazola phambi kwayo.
53 Nokho wakhohlisa kukho konke akukhulumayo,
wazehlukanisa noJonathani, akambuyiselanga njengokwesihle
abemukele ngakho kuye, kepha wamkhathaza kakhulu.
54 Emva kwalokhu wabuya uTrifoni, kanye naye nomntwana
omncane u-Antiochus, owabusa, futhi wathweswa umqhele.
55 Kwabuthana kuye onke amadoda empi, uDemetriyu
ayewaxoshile, alwa noDemetriyu, wafulathela, wabaleka.
56 UTrifoni wathatha izindlovu, wayinqoba i-Antiyokiya.
57 Ngaleso sikhathi u-Antiochus osemusha wabhalela
uJonathani, ethi: “Ngiyakumisa esikhundleni sobupristi
obukhulu, ngikubeke umbusi phezu kwemibuso emine, futhi
ube omunye wabangane benkosi.
58 Ngalokho wamthumelela izitsha zegolide ukuba aphakelwe
kuzo, wamnikeza imvume yokunatha igolide, nesembatho
esiyibubende, nesembatho segolide.
59 USimoni umfowabo wambeka waba yinduna endaweni
ethiwa Ikhwelo laseTire kuze kube semikhawulweni
yaseGibithe.
60 UJonathani wayesephuma, wadabula imizi ngaphesheya
kwamanzi, onke amabutho ase-Aramu abuthana kuye
ukumsiza;
61 Wasuka lapho waya eGaza, kepha abaseGaza bamvalela
ngaphandle; ngalokho wawuvimbezela, washisa amadlelo awo
ngomlilo, wawaphanga.
62 Ngasemuva lapho abaseGaza bekhuleka kuJonathani,
wenza ukuthula nabo, wathumba amadodana ezinhloko zabo,
wabathuma eJerusalema, wadabula izwe waya eDamaseku.
63 UJonathani esezwile ukuthi izikhulu zikaDemetriyu
sezifikile eKadesi eseGalile, zinamandla amakhulu, zihlose
ukumkhipha kulelo zwe.
64 Wasuka wabahlangabeza, watshiya uSimoni umfowabo
emaphandleni.
65 USimoni wamisa ngaseBethsura, walwa nalo isikhathi
eside, walivala;
66 Kodwa bafisa ukuba nokuthula naye, wabanika khona,
base bebakhipha lapho, bawuthumba umuzi, babeka ibutho
lamabutho kuwo.
67 UJonathani nebutho lakhe bamisa ngasemanzini
aseGenesari, lapho basuka khona ekuseni kakhulu, bafika
esigodini saseNasori.
68 Bheka, isixuku sabafokazi sabahlangabeza ethafeni,
bamqamekela ezintabeni, beza malungana naye.
69 Kwathi lapho abaqamekeli besuka ezindaweni zabo
bahlanganyela empini, bonke abangabakaJonathani babaleka;
70 kangangokuthi akusalanga noyedwa kubo, ngaphandle
kukaMathathiya indodana ka-Abisalomu noJuda indodana
kaKhafi, izinduna zebutho.
71 UJonathani wayeseklebhula izingubo zakhe, wathela
inhlabathi ekhanda lakhe, wakhuleka.
72 Ngemva kwalokho waphindela empini, wabaxotsha,
ngakho babaleka.
73 Lapho abantu bakhe ababebalekile bekubona lokhu,
baphindela kuye, futhi kanye naye babaxosha baze bafika
eKadesi, ngisho nasematendeni abo, futhi bamisa lapho.
74 Kwabulawa-ke kwabezizwe ngalolo suku kungathi
amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu; uJonathani wabuyela
eJerusalema.
ISAHLUKO 12
1 Kwathi uJonathani ebona ukuthi isikhathi simkhonza,
wakhetha amadoda athile, wawathumela eRoma, ukuze
aqinise futhi avuselele ubungane ababenabo nabo.
2 Wathumela nezincwadi kwabaseLakedemoni nakwezinye
izindawo, ngenjongo efanayo.
3 Ngakho baya eRoma, bangena endlini yamaJuda, bathi:
“Umpristi omkhulu uJonathani nabantu bamaJuda basithumile
kini, ukuze nivuselele ubuhlobo enabo nabo, nesivumelwano
phakathi kwenu. , njengasesikhathini sangaphambili.
4 Ngemva kwalokho amaRoma abanika izincwadi eziya
kubabusi bazo zonke izindawo ukuba babangenise ngokuthula
ezweni laseJudiya.
5 Nansi ikhophi yezincwadi uJonathani azilobela
amaLakedemoni:
6 UJonathani umpristi omkhulu, namalunga esizwe, nabapristi,
nabanye bamaJuda, kubafowabo baseLakedemoni,
bayakhonza;
7 Kwake kwathunyelwa izincwadi ku-Onia umpristi omkhulu
zivela kuDariyu owayebusa phakathi kwenu ngaleso sikhathi,
zisho ukuthi ningabazalwane bethu, njengokuba ikhophi yalo
isho ngokucacile.
8 Ngaleso sikhathi u-Onias waliphatha kahle inxusa
elalithunywe, futhi wamukela izincwadi, lapho kwenziwa
khona isimemezelo ngesivumelwano nobungane.
9 Ngakho lathi kasidingi lutho lwalokhu, ukuthi siphethe
izincwadi ezingcwele ezandleni zethu, ukuze asiduduze;
10 Nokho ngizamile ukuthuma kini ukuze kwenziwe kabusha
ubuzalwane nobuhlobo, funa sibe ngabafokazi kini
ngokuphelele;
11 Ngakho-ke siyanikhumbula ngezikhathi zonke, emadilini
ethu nangezinye izinsuku ezifanele, ngemihlatshelo
esiyinikelayo nasemithandazweni yethu, njengokuba
kunengqondo, nangokufanele thina ukucabanga ngabazalwane
bethu;
12 Futhi siyajabula ngodumo lwakho.
13 Thina-ke siye saba lezinhlupheko ezinkulu lezimpi
nxazonke, njengoba amakhosi asihanqileyo elwa lathi.
14 Kepha asiyikubahlupha nina, nakwabanye abahlanganyeli
bethu nabangane bethu kulezi zimpi;
15 Ngokuba sinosizo oluvela ezulwini olusisizayo,
njengalokhu sikhululiwe ezitheni zethu, nezitha zethu
zithotshisiwe.
16 Ngenxa yalokho sakhetha uNumeniyu indodana ka-
Antiyoku no-Antiphatheri indodana kaJasoni, sabathumela
kumaRoma, ukuze bavuselele uthando esasinalo nabo,
nesivumelwano sokuqala.
17 Sabalaya futhi ukuthi beze kini, babingelele, balethe
izincwadi zethu mayelana lokuvuselelwa kobuzalwane bethu.
18 Ngakho-ke nizokwenza kahle ngokusiphendula ngakho.
19 Futhi lena yikhophi yezincwadi u-Oniares azithumelayo.
20 u-Areyu inkosi yamaLakedoniya ku-Oniya umpristi
omkhulu, uyabingelela.
21 Kutholakala embhalweni ukuthi amaLakedemoni lamaJuda
bayizelamani, lokuthi bangabohlanga lukaAbrahama;
22 Ngakho-ke, njengoba lokhu sesikwazile, niyobe nenza
kahle ngokusibhalela ngokuphumelela kwenu.
23 Siyanilobela futhi ukuthi izinkomo zenu nempahla yenu
ingeyethu, neyethu ingeyenu; ngalokho siyayala amanxusa
ethu ukuba akubikele kanje.
24 UJonathani esezwile ukuthi izikhulu zikaDemebhiyu
zazize ukulwa naye zinempi enkulu kunangaphambili;
25 Wasuka eJerusalema, wahlangana nabo ezweni lase-
Amathi, ngokuba akabanikanga kuphumula ukuba bangene
ezweni lakhe.

17. 26 Wathuma izinhloli ematendeni abo, zabuye zeza,
zamtshela ukuthi zazimisiwe ukuba zize phezu kwabo
ngesikhathi sasebusuku.
27 Kwathi selishonile ilanga, uJonathani wayala amadoda
akhe ukuba alinde, ahlome, alungele ukulwa ubusuku bonke;
28 Kepha izitha sezizwile ukuthi uJonathani nabantu bakhe
balungele ukulwa, zesaba, zathuthumela ezinhliziyweni zazo,
zokhela umlilo ekamu.
29 Kepha uJonathani nebandla lakhe abakwazanga kwaze
kwasa, ngokuba babona izibani zivutha.
30 UJonathani wabaxosha, kepha akabaficanga, ngokuba
bawela umfula i-Elewutherusi.
31 Ngakho uJonathani waphendukela kuma-Arabhiya
ayebizwa ngokuthi amaZabadiya, wawabulala, wathatha
impango yawo.
32 Wasuka lapho, wafika eDamaseku, walidabula izwe lonke;
33 USimoni laye waphuma, wadabula ilizwe waya e-Askeloni,
lezinqaba eziseduze, lapho aphambukela khona eJopha,
walinqoba.
34 Ngoba wayezwile ukuthi bazanikela inqaba kwabathatha
isabelo sikaDemetriyu; ngalokho wabeka ikampa yokuligcina.
35 Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani wabuyela ekhaya, wabiza
amalunga abantu, wabonisana nawo ngokwakha izinqaba
eJudiya.
36 Wakhuphula izingange zaseJerusalema, wamisa intaba
enkulu phakathi kombhoshongo nomuzi, ukuba uwuhlukanise
nomuzi, ukuze ube wodwa ukuba bangathengisi, bangathengi
kuwo.
37 Ngemva kwalokho babuthana ukuze bakhe umuzi,
njengoba udonga olwalubheke emfuleni ngasempumalanga
lwaluwile, futhi balungisa lokho okwakuthiwa iKhafenatha.
38 USimoni naye wamisa i-Adida eSephela, wayiqinisa
ngamasango nemigoqo.
39 Manje uTrifoni wazama ukuthatha umbuso wase-Asiya,
futhi abulale u-Antiochus inkosi, ukuze abeke umqhele
ekhanda lakhe.
40 Nokho wayesaba ukuthi uJonathani wayengeke amvumele
futhi alwe naye; ngalokho wafuna indlela yokumbamba
uJonathani ukuba ambulale. Wasuka, wafika eBetsani.
41 UJonathani waphuma ukumhlangabeza enezinkulungwane
ezingamashumi amane ababekhethelwe ukulwa, bafika
eBetsani.
42 Manje lapho uTrifoni ebona uJonathani eza nebutho
elikhulu kangaka, akabange esalokotha eselulele isandla sakhe
kuye;
43 Kodwa wamemukela ngodumo, wamtusa kubo bonke
abangane bakhe, wamnika izipho, walaya amabutho akhe
ukuthi amlalele njengalokhu ezilalela yena.
44 Wathi kuJonathani: "Ubehliseleni laba bantu
ekuhluphekeni okungaka, lokhu kungekho mpi phakathi
kwethu na?"
45 Ngakho-ke babuyisele manje ekhaya, ukhethe amadoda
ambalwa ukuba akukhonze, futhi uhambe nami ePetolemayi,
+ ngoba ngizokunika yona, + nezinye izinqaba nezinqaba,
nabo bonke abanegunya. mina-ke, ngiyakubuya, ngimuke,
ngokuba lokhu kuyisizathu sokufika kwami.
46 Ngakho uJonathani wamkholwa wenza njengokutsho
kwakhe kuye, walimukisa ibutho lakhe, laya elizweni leJudiya.
47 Wasala laye amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu kuphela,
athuma kuwo izinkulungwane ezimbili eGalili,
lenkulungwane ezahamba laye.
48 Kwathi nje lapho uJonathani engena ePhetolemayi,
abasePhetolemayi bavala amasango bamthatha, futhi bonke
ababehamba naye bababulala ngenkemba.
49 Khona-ke uTrifoni wathumela ibutho lemigundatshani
nabamahhashi eGalile nasethafeni elikhulu ukuba lichithe
lonke ibandla likaJonathani.
50 Kepha sebekwazi ukuthi uJonathani nababe naye
bathathiwe, babulawa, bakhuthazana; futhi basondela
ndawonye, zilungiselele ukulwa.
51 Ngakho-ke labo ababalandela, bebona ukuthi base
bekulungele ukulwela izimpilo zabo, baphinde babuyela
emuva.
52 Base befika ezweni lakwaJuda ngokuthula bonke,
bakhalela khona uJonathani nababe naye, besaba kakhulu;
ngakho wonke u-Israyeli wenza isililo esikhulu.
53 Ngaleso sikhathi zonke izizwe ezazizungezile zafuna
ukubabhubhisa, ngokuba zazithi: “Abananduna namuntu
ongabasiza; ngalokho masilwe nabo, sisuse isikhumbuzo sabo
kubantu.
ISAHLUKO 13
1 Kwathi uSimoni esezwile ukuthi iTrifoni ubuthe ibutho
elikhulu ukuba lihlasele ilizwe leJudiya, balichithe,
2 Ebona ukuthi abantu bethuthumela nokwesaba okukhulu,
wakhuphukela eJerusalema, wabutha abantu;
3 Wabakhuthaza, ethi: “Nina ngokwenu niyakwazi lokho
okukhulu mina, nabafowethu, nendlu kababa, esiye sakwenza
ngemithetho nendlu engcwele, futhi izimpi nezinkathazo
esizibonile.
4 Ngenxa yalokho bonke abafowethu babulawa ngenxa ka-
Israyeli, futhi mina ngisele ngedwa.
5 Ngakho kakube khatshana lami ukuthi ngiyeke ukuphila
kwami loba yisiphi isikhathi sokuhlupheka, ngoba
kangingcono kulabafowethu.
6 Ngiyakuphindisela isizwe sami, nendlu engcwele, nabafazi
bethu, nabantwana bethu, ngokuba zonke izizwe zibuthene
ukusibhubhisa ngobubi obukhulu.
7 Kwathi nje lapho abantu bezwa la mazwi, umoya wabo
wavuseleleka.
8 Baphendula ngezwi elikhulu, bathi: "Wena uyakuba
ngumholi wethu esikhundleni sikaJuda noJonathani
umfowenu."
9 Yilwa wena izimpi zethu, futhi noma yini, osiyala ngayo,
sizoyenza.
10 Wayesebutha onke amadoda empi, washesha ukuqeda
izingange zaseJerusalema, waliqinisa nxazonke.
11 Wathuma uJonathani indodana ka-Abisalomu kanye naye
enamandla amakhulu eJopha, wabaxosha ababekulo abasala
khona.
12 Ngakho uTrifoni wasuka ePhetolemawu ngamandla
amakhulu ukuze ahlasele ilizwe laseJudiya, loJonathani
wayelaye elugcinweni.
13 Kodwa uSimoni wagxumeka amathente akhe e-Adida
maqondana lethafa.
14 Kwathi uTrifoni esazi ukuthi uSimoni uvukile esikhundleni
sikaJonathani umfowabo, esefuna ukulwa naye, wathuma
izithunywa kuye, wathi:
15 Thina sinoJonathani umfowenu eboshiwe, kungenxa
yemali engcebweni yenkosi mayelana nomsebenzi
ayewuphathisiwe.
16 Ngakho khathesi thumela amatalenta ayikhulu esiliva,
lamadodana akhe amabili abe yizithunjwa, ukuze kuthi lapho
esekhululekile angasihlubuki, sizamkhulula.
17 Ngakho uSimoni, ebona ukuthi bakhuluma kuye ngobuqili,
wathumela imali labantwana, hlezi azitholele inzondo enkulu
ebantwini.
18 Ngubani obengasho ukuthi: ‘Ngokuba ngingamthumanga
imali nabantwana, uJonathani ufile.

18. 19 Wayesebathuma abantwana namatalenta ayikhulu; kepha
uTrifoni waqamba amanga, akamvumelanga uJonathani ukuba
ahambe.
20 Emva kwalokho kwafika uTrifoni ukuba ahlasele izwe,
alichithe, azungeza ngendlela eholela e-Adora; kepha uSimoni
nebutho lakhe bamsukela ezindaweni zonke, lapho eya khona.
21 Ababesembhoshongweni bathuma izithunywa eTrifoni
ukuba asheshise ukuza kubo ehlane, abathumele umphako.
22 Ngalokho uTrifoni walungisela bonke abamahhashi bakhe
ukuba beze ngalobo busuku, kepha kwawa iqhwa elikhulu
kakhulu, elingafikanga ngalo. Wamuka ke, waya ezweni
laseGiliyadi.
23 Esesondele eBaskama wambulala uJonathani, wembelwa
khona.
24 Ngemva kwalokho uTrifoni wabuya waya ezweni lakubo.
25 USimoni wayesethuma, wathatha amathambo kaJonathani
umfowabo, wawambela eModini, emzini wawoyise.
26 Wonke u-Israyeli wamenzela isililo esikhulu, wamkhalela
izinsuku eziningi.
27 USimoni laye wakha itshe phezu kwethuna likayise
labafowabo, waliphakamisela phezulu ukuze libonwe,
lalilamatshe aqoshiweyo ngemva langaphambili.
28 Wasemisa amaphiramidi ayisikhombisa, elinye kwelinye,
eloyise, nonina, nabafowabo abane.
29 Kuwo wenza amasu ahlakaniphileyo, abeka phezu kwawo
izinsika ezinkulu, naphezu kwezinsika zonke izikhali zazo
wazenza zibe yisikhumbuzo saphakade, nangemikhumbi
yezikhali eqoshiwe ukuba ibonakale kubo bonke abahamba
olwandle. .
30 Leli yithuna alenza eModini, lisasekhona kuze kube
namuhla.
31 Manje uTrifoni wenza ngenkohliso enkosini esencane u-
Antiochus, futhi wambulala.
32 Futhi wabusa esikhundleni sakhe, futhi wazibeka inkosi
yase-Asiya, futhi waletha inhlekelele enkulu phezu kwezwe.
33 USimoni wakha izinqaba zaseJudiya, wazibiyela
ngemibhoshongo emide, nezindonga ezinkulu, namasango,
nemigoqo, wabeka ukudla kuzo.
34 USimoni wakhetha amadoda, wathumela enkosini
uDemetriyu, ukuze akhulule izwe, ngokuba konke akwenzayo
uTrifoni kwakuwukuphanga.
35 Inkosi uDemetriyu yamphendula yabhala ukuthi:
36 Inkosi uDemetriyu kuSimoni umpristi omkhulu, umngane
wamakhosi, namalunga nesizwe sabaJuda, uyakhonza;
37 Umqhele wegolide nejazi elibomvu enilithumele kithi,
samukelisiwe, futhi sesilungele ukwenza ukuthula okuqinile
kini, yebo, nokubhalela izikhonzi zethu, ukuqinisa
ukungavikeleki esikunikeze.
38 Futhi noma yiziphi izivumelwano esizenzile nani
ziyokuma; lezinqaba enizakhileyo zizakuba ngokwenu.
39 Ngokuqondene nanoma yibuphi ububi noma iphutha
elenziwe kuze kube namuhla, siyakuthethelela, kanye nentela
yomqhele eninayo kithi; futhi uma kukhona enye intela
ekhokhwa eJerusalema, ngeke isakhokhwa.
40 Bhekani, abafaneleka phakathi kwenu ukuba babe
segcekeni lethu, mababhaliswe, kube nokuthula phakathi
kwethu.
41 Kanjalo ijoka labezizwe lasuswa ku-Israyeli ngomnyaka
wekhulu namashumi ayisikhombisa.
42 Khona-ke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli baqala ukubhala
ezincwadini zabo nasezivumelwaneni zabo: Ngomnyaka
wokuqala kaSimoni umpristi omkhulu, umbusi nomholi
wabaJuda.
43 Ngalezonsuku uSimoni wamisa inkamba maqondana
leGaza, wayivimbezela inhlangothi zonke; wenza nenqola
yempi, wayimisa ngasemzini, wabhidliza umbhoshongo othile,
wawuthatha.
44 Abasenjinini bagxumela emzini; kwase kuba khona
isiyaluyalu esikhulu emzini.
45 Kangangoba abantu bomuzi baklebhula izingubo zabo,
futhi bagibela odongeni kanye nabafazi nabantwana babo,
futhi bamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, benxusa uSimoni ukuba
abanike ukuthula.
46 Bathi: "Ungasenzeli njengobubi bethu, kodwa ngokomusa
wakho."
47 Ngakho uSimoni wabathobisa, akabe esalwa nabo, kodwa
wabakhiphela ngaphandle komuzi, wahlambulula izindlu
okwakukhona kuzo izithombe, wangena kuzo ngokuhlabelela
nangokubonga.
48 Yebo, wakhipha konke ukungcola kuyo, wabeka lapho
abagcina umthetho, wawenza waqina kunakuqala, wazakhela
khona indawo yokuhlala.
49 Nabo abombhoshongo waseJerusalema bacindezelwa
ukuba baphume, bangene emaphandleni, bathenge, bathengise;
ngalokho babesekuhluphekeni okukhulu ngenxa yokuswela
ukudla, kwafa isixuku esikhulu kubo. ngendlala.
50 Basebememeza kuSimoni, bemncenga ukuthi ahlale labo;
esebakhiphile lapho, wahlambulula umbhoshongo
ekungcoleni.
51 Yangena kuyo ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nantathu
lwenyanga yesibili ngomnyaka wekhulu namashumi
ayisikhombisa nanye ngokubonga, namagatsha esundu,
namahabhu, namasimbali, nezingubhu, nezihlabelelo,
nezihlabelelo; wabhujiswa isitha esikhulu kwa-Israyeli.
52 Wamisa futhi ukuthi lolo suku lugcinwe iminyaka yonke
ngokujabula. Intaba yethempeli eyayingasembhoshongweni
wayenza yaba namandla kunayo, futhi wahlala lapho yena
neqembu lakhe.
53 Kwathi uSimoni ebona ukuthi uJohane indodana yakhe
uyindoda eliqhawe, wambeka umkhokheli wamabutho wonke;
wahlala eGazera.
ISAHLUKO 14
1Ngomnyaka wekhulu lamatshumi ayisithupha lambili inkosi
uDemetriyu wabutha amabutho akhe, waya eMediya
ukumsiza ekulweni leTrifoni.
2 Kwathi u-Arsakesi, inkosi yasePheresiya naseMediya, ezwa
ukuthi uDemetriyu usengenile emingceleni yakhe, wathumela
enye yezikhulu zakhe ukuba imbambe ephila.
3 eyahamba yatshaya ibutho likaDemetriyu, yamthatha,
yamyisa e-Arsace, afakwa esitokisini sakhe.
4 Kepha izwe laseJudiya lalinokuthula izinsuku zonke
zikaSimoni; ngokuba wayefuna okuhle esizweni sakhe
kanjalo, kangangokuthi igunya lakhe nodumo lwakhe
lwabajabulisa ngaso sonke isikhathi.
5 Njengoba wayenodumo kuzo zonke izenzo zakhe, ngakho
kulokhu, waze wathatha iJopha yaba yitheku, wangenisa
iziqhingi zolwandle,
6 Wakhulisa imingcele yesizwe sakhe, wabuyisa izwe;
7 Wabutha isixuku esikhulu sabathunjwa, wabusa eGazeri,
naseBethsura, nombhoshongo, akhipha kuwo konke
ukungcola, akwabakho omelana naye.
8 Basebelima umhlabathi wabo ngokuthula, umhlabathi
wathela izithelo zawo, lezihlahla zeganga izithelo zazo.
9 Amaxhegu ayehlezi emigwaqweni yonke, ekhulumisana
ngokuhle, lamajaha embethe okodumo lokulwa.
10 Walungiselela imizi ukudla, wabeka kuyo zonke izinhlobo
zezikhali, ukuze igama lakhe elihloniphekayo laduma kuze
kube sekupheleni kwezwe.