Old Testament

New Testament

1 Maccabees 7:2-14 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

2. And it happened that, as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, the army captured Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them to him.

3. And the matter became known to him, and he said, "Do not show me their face."

4. And so the army killed them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom.

5. And there came to him iniquitous and impious men from Israel. And Alcimus was their leader, who wanted to be made a priest.

6. And they accused the people to the king, saying: "Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends, and he has scattered us from our land.

7. Now, therefore, send a man, whom you trust, and let him go and see all the destruction he has done to us and to the regions of the king. And let him punish all his friends and their helpers."

8. And so the king chose, from among his friends, Bacchides, who ruled across the great river in the kingdom, and who was faithful to the king. And he sent him

9. to see the destruction that Judas had done. Moreover, he appointed the wicked Alcimus to the priesthood, and he commanded him to take revenge on the sons of Israel.

10. And they rose up and came forth with a great army into the land of Judah. And they sent messengers, who spoke to Judas and his brothers with words of peace, in deceitfulness.

11. But they did not heed their words, for they saw that they arrived with a great army.

12. Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides, a congregation of scribes, to seek just terms.

13. And first, the Hasideans, who were among the sons of Israel, also sought peace from them.

14. For they said, "A man who is a priest from the offspring of Aaron has arrived; he will not deceive us."

Read complete chapter 1 Maccabees 7