Глава XV

Nicanor's attempt to attack Judas on the Sabbath day (2Mac 15:1–5). The inspiration of the Jews by Judas (2 Mac. 15:6–16). Courageous performance of the Jews for battle and victory. Death of Nikanor. Establishment of a holiday (2 Mac. 15:17–37). Conclusion of the book (2Mac 15:38–39). 2Mac.15:1 When Nicanor learned that those who were with Judas were in the country of Samaria, he thought to attack them on the day of rest with complete impunity. “In the country of Samaria...”, έν τοίς κατα Σαμαριαν τόποις ... in places along Samaria, that is, on the border of Samaria, between Bethoron and Gothnoah (1 Mac VII: 39 etc.). 2 Mac.15:2 When the Jews who unwillingly accompanied him said: “Do not destroy them so cruelly and inhumanly, give honor to the day sanctified by the All-Seeing One”; “To the day sanctified by the All-Seeing...” ᾿ημέρα ..., glory. more precisely: “preferred by the All-Seeing One with the sanctity of the day...”, i.e., the day, the reverence of which is sanctified by the example and commandment of the All-Seeing Lord Himself (cf. Gen. II: 3; Exodus XX: 8–11 etc.). 2Mac 15:3 Then this wicked man asked: “Is there really a ruler in heaven who has commanded that the Sabbath day be kept?” The question: “is there really a Lord in heaven who commanded...” does not express a denial of the existence of God, but only a denial of the said command - a denial of the fact that “among the gods” there was one who would issue this command. 2Mac 15:4 And when they answered: “There is a living Lord, the Lord of heaven, who commanded that the seventh day should be honored,” “The Living Lord” - ό Κυριοί ζών - alive - in contrast to the dead pagan gods. 2Mac.15:5 then he said: “And I am a lord on earth, commanding that we take up arms and do the king’s service.” However, he did not have time to complete his plan. What prevented Nicanor’s plan to attack the Jews on the Sabbath is unknown. 2 Mac 15:6–10 Puffed up with great pride, Nicanor thought of winning a general victory over those who were with Judas. Maccabee did not cease to hope with full confidence that he would receive intercession from the Lord. He urged those with him not to be afraid of the invasion of the pagans, but, remembering former experiences of heavenly help, and now expect victory and help from the Almighty. Comforting them with the promises of the law and the prophets, recalling to them the exploits they themselves had accomplished, he inspired them with courage. Arousing their spirit, he convinced them, moreover pointing out the treachery of the pagans and their violation of oaths. Examples of the treachery and perjury of the pagans - 1 Mac XVI:17; 1Mac VI:62; 2Mak.V:25 etc. and 2Mak.XII:5. 2Mac.15:11-12 He armed everyone not so much with strong shields and spears, but with convincing, kind speeches, and, moreover, he delighted everyone with a story about a dream worthy of belief. His vision was this: he saw Onias, the former high priest, an honest and kind man, respectable in appearance, meek in disposition, pleasant in speech, who had zealously mastered everything related to virtue from childhood - he saw that he, stretching out his hands, prayed for the entire people of Judah. About Onias this - see 2 Mac III: 1, 5, IV: 1, etc. 2Mac 15:13-16 Then another man appeared, adorned with gray hair and glory, surrounded by wondrous and extraordinary majesty. And Onias said: This is a brotherly lover who prays a lot for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah, the prophet of God. Then Jeremiah, stretching out his right hand, gave Judah a golden sword and, handing it over, said: Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you will crush your enemies. “The Holy Sword...”, as given to him by God to cut off the evil and wickedness that encroached on His shrine. 2Mac.15:17 Comforted by such kind speeches of Judas, which could arouse to courage and strengthen the hearts of the young, the Jews decided not to camp, but to attack bravely and, entering into battle with full courage, decide the matter, for the city and the shrine and the church were in danger. “City and shrine and church...”, τήν πόλιν και τα αγία και τό ιερόν – glor.: “city, and holy, and sanctuary...” Τα αγια nearby and precisely in front of ιερόν – shows that here it (ta αγία) is used in the broad sense of the word - a sacred structure, sacred institutions of the people. 2Mac 15:18 The struggle for wives and children, brothers and relatives seemed to them a matter of less importance; the greatest and primary fear was for the holy church. “The primary fear was for the holy church...” - in view of Nicanor’s threats - XIV: 33. 2Mac 15:19-21 For those who remained in the city, there was also a lot of worry, for they were worried about the battle that was going to take place in the field. So, when everyone expected that the decision of the matter was coming, when the enemies had already united and the army was put in line, the elephants were placed in the proper places and the cavalry was located on the sides, Maccabeus, seeing the advance of a large army, the variety of weapons prepared and the ferocity of the animals, stretched out his hands to heaven and called on the Lord, who works miracles and sees everything, knowing that victory is not achieved by weapons, but by Himself, as He pleases, grants victory to the worthy. “The ferocity of beasts...”, i.e. elephants. 2Mac 15:22-24 In his prayer he said this: You, Lord, sent an angel under Hezekiah king of Judah, and he killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand of Sennacherib’s army. And now, Lord of heaven, send a good Angel before us to the fear and trembling of our enemies. By the strength of Your arm let those who come to blaspheme Your holy people be defeated. With that he finished. 2Mac.15:25-27 Those who were with Nicanor went with the sound of trumpets and shouts, and those who were with Judas, with invocations and prayers, entered into battle with the enemies. Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they beat up no less than thirty-five thousand, greatly rejoicing at the visible help of God. 2Mac 15:28-30 Having finished the job and returning joyfully, they learned that Nicanor had fallen fully armed. When the shouting and noise subsided, they praised the Lord in their native language. Then Judas, the first ascetic for his fellow citizens both in body and soul and saving his best years for his fellow tribesmen, gave the order that Nikanor’s head and arm and shoulder be cut off and carried to Jerusalem. 2Mac.15:31-33 Arriving there, he called together his fellow tribesmen and placed priests before the altar, called also those who were in the fortress, and, showing the head of the wicked Nicanor and the hand of the blasphemer, which he extended to the holy house of the Almighty and boasted, he ordered the tongue of the wicked Nicanor to be cut out and, having crushed it, to be scattered to the birds, and the hand of a madman to be hung against the church. “The hand of a madman...”, τα δ ΄ έπιχειρα τής ανοίας; glory more precisely: “and this in retribution of madness... hang.” The singular το επίχειρον is very rarely used (Jeremiah XLVIII: 25) to mean shoulder; in the plural, τα επίχειρα means - what comes “into someone’s hands”, is destined, deserved - retribution of the deed, and if the deed is evil, then punishment. Consequently, in this place - to hang τα δ᾿επίχειρα τής ανοίας - means to hang a sign of punishment for a madman, i.e. his cut off hand. 2Mac 15:34-35 Then everyone, turning to heaven, glorified the Lord who had shown help and said: Blessed is He who has kept His place undefiled! He hung Nikanor’s head on the fortress as a visible and clear sign of the Lord’s help. “At the fortress...” Here, as in v. 21. of course, not the fortress of Zion, which was cleared of the pagans later, under the successors of Judah, but, probably, the fortifications of Jerusalem itself and the temple, as opposed to the fortifications of Zion. 2Mac 15:36 And they all determined with a common verdict: never to leave this day without a celebration, but to honor with a festival the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called in the Syrian language Adar, the day before the day of Mordecai. For the establishment of a holiday on the 13th day of Adar, see 1 Mac VII: 49. – “The day before the day of Mordecai...”, i.e. on the eve of the holiday of Purim (Esther IX: 31 etc.). - “In the Syrian language” - τή Συριακή φωνή, that is, in the Aramaic dialect, which then came into general use among the Jews of Palestine. 2Mac 15:37-39 Thus ended the matter with Nicanor; and since that time the city remained in the power of the Jews, I will end my word here. If I presented it well and satisfactorily, then that’s what I wanted; if it is weak and mediocre, then I did what was within my power. It is unpleasant to drink especially wine and immediately drink especially water, while wine mixed with water is sweet and gives pleasure; Likewise, the composition of the essay pleasantly occupies the reader’s ear with proportionality. Let it end here.