3 Maccabees 7
1 King Ptolemy Philopator to the
commanders throughout Egypt, and to all who are set over affairs, joy and
strength. 2 We, too, and our children
are well; and God has directed our affairs as we wish.
3 Certain of our friends did of malice
vehemently urge us to punish the Jews of our realm in a body, with the
infliction of a monstrous punishment.
4 They pretended that our affairs
would never be in a good state till this took place. Such, they said, was the
hatred borne by the Jews to all other people.
5 They brought them fettered in
grievous chains as slaves, nay, as traitors. Without enquiry or examination
they endeavoured to annihilate them. They buckled themselves with a savage
cruelty, worse than Scythian custom.
6 For this cause we severely
threatened them; yet, with the clemency which we are wont to extend to all
men, we at length permitted them to live. Finding that the God of heaven cast
a shield of protection over the Jews so as to preserve them, and that he
fought for them as a father always fights for his sons;
7 and taking into consideration their
constancy and fidelity towards us and towards our ancestors, we have, as we
ought, acquitted them of every sort of charge.
8 And we have dismissed them to their
several homes; bidding all men everywhere to do them no wrong, or
unrighteously revile them about the past.
9 For know ye, that should we conceive
any evil design against, or in any manner aggrieve them, we shall ever have as
our opposite, not man, but the highest God, the ruler of all might. From Him
there will be no escape, as the avenger of such deeds. Fare ye well.
10 When they had received this
letter, they were not forward to depart immediately. They petitioned the king
to be allowed to inflict fitting punishment upon those of their race who had
willingly transgressed the holy God, and the law of God.
11 They alleged that men who had for
their bellies' sake transgressed the ordinances of God, would never be
faithful to the interests of the king.
12 The king admitted the truth of
this reasoning, and commended them. Full power was given them, without warrant
or special commission, to destroy those who had transgressed the law of God
boldly in every part of the king's dominions.
13 Their priests, then, as it was
meet, saluted him with good wishes, and all the people echoed with the
Hallelujah. They then joyfully departed.
14 Then they punished and destroyed
with ignominy every polluted Jew that fell in their way;
15 slaying thus, in that day, above
three hundred men, and esteeming this destruction of the wicked a season of
joy. 16 They themselves having held
fast their God unto death, and having enjoyed a full deliverance, departed
from the city garlanded with sweet-flowered wreaths of every kind. Uttering
exclamations of joy, with songs of praise, and melodious hymns they thanked
the God of their fathers, the eternal Saviour of Israel.
17 Having arrived at Ptolemais,
called from the specialty of that district Rose-bearing, where the fleet, in
accordance with the general wish, waited for them seven days,
18 they partook of a banquet of
deliverance, for the king generously granted them severally the means of
securing a return home. 19 They were
accordingly brought back in peace, while they gave utterance to becoming
thanks; and they determined to keep these days during their sojourn as days of
joyfulness. 20 These they registered
as sacred upon a pillar, when they had dedicated the place of their festivity
to be one of prayer. They departed unharmed, free, abundant in joy, preserved
by the king's command, by land, by sea, and by river, each to his own home.
21 They had more weight than before
among their enemies; and were honoured and feared, and no one in any way
robbed them of their goods. 22 Every
man received back his own, according to inventory; those who had obtained
their goods, giving them up with the greatest terror. For the greatest God
wrought with perfectness wonders for their salvation.
23 Blessed be the Redeemer of Israel
unto everlasting. Amen.