Ptolemy's Assault on the Temple
3 Maccabees 1
King Ptolemy Philopator defeats Antiochus at Raphia after Dositheus saves him from an assassination plot, then visits Jerusalem and, over the pleas of the priests and the horror of the whole city, insists on entering the sanctuary reserved for the high priest alone. As he presses toward the inner court, the priests and people fill the temple with weeping and prayer, begging the Lord to stop him.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
1
BrentonNow Philopater, on learning from those who came back that Antiochus had made himself master of the places which belonged to himself, sent orders to all his footmen and horsemen, took with him his sister Arsinoe, and marched out as far as the parts of Raphia, where Antiochus and his forces encamped.
GreekὉ ΔΕ Φιλοπάτωρ μαθὼν παρὰ τῶν ἀνακομισθέντων τὴν γενομένην τῶν ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ κρατουμένων τόπων ἀφαίρεσιν ὑπὸ Ἀντιόχου, παραγγείλας ταῖς πάσαις δυνάμεσι πεζικαῖς τε καὶ ἱππικαῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν Ἀρσινόην συμπαραλαβὼν, ἐξώρμησε μέχρι τῶν κατὰ Ῥαφίαν τόπων, ὅπου παρεμβεβλήκεισαν οἱ περὶ Ἀντίοχον.
2
BrentonAnd one Theodotus, intending to carry out his design, took with him the bravest of the armed men who had been before committed to his trust by Ptolemy, and got through at night to the tent of Ptolemy, to kill him on his own responsibility, and so to end the war.
GreekΘεόδοτος δέ τις ἐκπληρῶσαι τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν διανοηθεὶς, παραλαβὼν τῶν προϋποτεταγμένων αὐτῷ ὅπλων Πτολεμαϊκῶν τὰ κράτιστα, διεκομίσθη νύκτωρ ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ Πτολεμαίου σκηνὴν, ὡς μόνος κτεῖναι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ διαλῦσαι τὸν πόλεμον.
3
BrentonBut Dositheus, called the son of Drimulus, by birth a Jew, afterward a renegade from the laws and observances of his country, conveyed Ptolemy away, and made an obscure person lie down in his stead in the tent. It befel this man to receive the fate which was meant for the other.
GreekΤοῦτον δὲ διαγαγὼν Δωσίθεος ὁ Δριμύλου λεγόμενος, τὸ γένος Ἰουδαῖος, ὕστερον δὲ μεταβαλὼν τὰ νόμιμα, καὶ τῶν πατρίων δογμάτων ἀπηλλοτριωμένος, ἄσημόν τινα κατέκλινεν ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ, ὃν συνέβη κομίσασθαι τὴν ἐκείνου κόλασιν.
4
BrentonA fierce battle then took place; and the men of Antiochus prevailing, Arsinoe continually went up and down the ranks, and with dishevelled hair, with tears and entreaties, begged the soldiers to fight manfully for themselves, their children, and wives; and promised that if they proved conquerors, she would give them two minæ of gold apiece.
GreekΓενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης, καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων μᾶλλον ἐῤῥωμένων τῷ Ἀντιόχῳ, ἱκανῶς ἡ Ἀρσινόη ἐπιπορευσαμένη τὰς δυνάμεις παρεκάλει, μετὰ οἴκτου καὶ δακρύων, τοὺς πλοκάμους λελυμένη, βοηθεῖν ἑαυτοῖς τε καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις καὶ γυναιξὶ θαῤῥαλέως, ἐπαγγελλομένη δώσειν νικήσασιν ἑκάστῳ δύο μνᾶς χρυσίου.
5
BrentonIt thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners.
GreekΚαὶ οὕτω συνέβη τοὺς ἀντιπάλους ἐν χειρονομίαις διαφθαρῆναι, πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ δορυαλώτους συλληφθῆναι
6
BrentonHaving vanquished this attempt, the king then decided to proceed to the neighbouring cities, and encourage them.
GreekΚατακρατήσας δὲ τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἔκρινε τὰς πλησίον πόλεις ἐπελθὼν παρακαλέσαι.
7
BrentonBy doing this, and by making donations to their temples, he inspired his subjects with confidence.
GreekΠοιήσας δὲ τοῦτο, καὶ τοῖς τεμένεσι δωρεὰς ἀπονείμας, εὐθαρσεῖς τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους κατέστησε.
8
BrentonThe Jews also sent some of their council and of their elders to him. The greetings, guest-gifts, and congratulations on the past, bestowed by them, filled him with the greater eagerness to visit their city.
GreekΤῶν δὲ Ἰουδαίων διαπεμψαμένων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γερουσίας καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοὺς ἀσπασομένους αὐτὸν. Καὶ ξένια κομιοῦντας, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβεβηκόσι συγχαρησομένους, συνέβη μᾶλλον αὐτὸν προθυμηθῆναι ὡς τάχιστα πρὸς αὐτοὺς παραγενέσθαι.
9
BrentonHaving arrived at Jerusalem, sacrificed, and offered thank-offerings to the Greatest God, and done whatever else was suitable to the sanctity of the place, and entered the inner court,
GreekΔιακομισθεὶς δὲ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ θύσας τῷ μεγίστῳ Θεῷ, καὶ χάριτας ἀποδιδοὺς, καὶ τῶν ἑξῆς τι τῷ τόπῳ ποιήσας, καὶ δὴ παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸν τόπον, καὶ τῇ σπουδαιότητι καὶ εὐπρεπείᾳ καταπλαγείς,
10
Brentonhe was so struck with the exact magnificence of the place, and so wondered at the orderly arrangements of the temple, that he conceived the purpose of entering the sanctuary itself.
Greekθαυμάσας δὲ καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἱεροῦ εὐταξίαν, ἐνεθυμήθη βουλεύσασθαι εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν ναόν.
11
BrentonAnd when they told him that this was not permissible, none of the nation, no, nor even the priests in general, but only the supreme high priest of all, and he only once in a year, being allowed to go in, he would by no means give way.
GreekΤῶν δὲ εἰπόντων μὴ καθήκειν γίνεσθαι τοῦτο, διὰ τὸ μηδὲ τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους ἐξεῖναι εἰσιέναι, μηδὲ πᾶσι τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν, ἀλλʼ ἢ μονῳ τῷ προηγουμένῳ πάντων ἀρχιερεῖ, καὶ τούτῳ ἅπαξ κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν, οὐδαμῶς ἠβούλετο πείθεσθαι.
12
BrentonThen they read the law to him; but he persisted in obtruding himself, exclaiming, that he ought to be allowed: and saying, Be it that they were deprived of this honour, I ought not to be.
GreekΤοῦ τε νόμου παραναγνωσθέντος, οὐδαμῶς ἀπέλιπε προφερόμενος ἑαυτὸν, δεῖν εἰσελθεῖν, λέγων, καὶ εἰ ἐκεῖνοι ἐστέρηνται ταύτης τῆς τιμῆς, ἐμὲ οὺ δεῖ.
13
BrentonAnd he put the question, Why, when he entered all temples, none of the priests who were present forbad him?
GreekΚαὶ ἐπυνθάνετο, διὰ τίνα αἰτίαν εἰσερχόμενον αὐτὸν εἰς πᾶν τέμενος, οὐθεὶς ἐλώλυσε τῶν παρόντων.
14
BrentonHe was thoughtlessly answered by some one, That he did wrong to boast of this.
GreekΚαί τις ἀπρονοήτως ἔφη κακῶς αὐτὸ τοῦτο τερατεύεσθαι.
15
BrentonWell; since I have done this, said he, be the cause what it may, shall I not enter with or without your consent?
GreekΓενομένου δέ φησι τούτου διά τινα αἰτίαν, οὐχὶ πάντως εἰσελεύσεσθαι καὶ θελόντων αὐτῶν καὶ μή;
16
BrentonAnd when the priests fell down in their sacred vestments imploring the Greatest God to come and help in time of need, and to avert the violence of the fierce aggressor, and when they filled the temple with lamentations and tears,
GreekΤῶν δὲ ἱερέων ἐν ταῖς ἁγίαις ἐσθήσεσι προπεσόντων, καὶ δεομένων τοῦ μεγίστου Θεοῦ βοηθεῖν τῇ ἐνεστώσῃ ἀνάγκῃ, καί τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ κακῶς ἐπιβαλλομένου μεταθεῖναι, κραυγῆς τε μετὰ δακρύων τὸ ἱερὸν ἐμπλησάνων,
17
Brentonthen those who had been left behind in the city were scared, and rushed forth, uncertain of the event.
Greekοἱ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἀπολιπόμενοι, ταραχθέντες ἐξεπήδησαν, ἄδηλον τιθέμενοι τὸ γινόμενον.
18
BrentonVirgins, who had been shut up within their chambers, came out with their mothers, scattering dust and ashes on their heads, and filling the streets with outcries.
GreekΑἵ τε κατάκλειστοι παρθένοι ἐν θαλάμοις σὺν ταῖς τεκούσαις ἐξώρμησαν· καὶ σποδῷ καὶ κόνει τὰς κεφαλὰς πασάμεναι, γόων τε καὶ στεναγμῶν τὰς πλατείας ἐνεπίμπλων.
19
BrentonWomen, but recently separated off, left their bridal chambers, left the reserve that befitted them, and ran about the city in a disorderly manner.
GreekΑἱ δὲ καὶ προσαρτίως ἐσταλμέναι, τοὺς πρὸς ἀπάντησιν διατεταγμένους παστοὺς, καὶ τὴν ἁρμόζουσαν αἰδὼ παραλείπουσαι, δρόμον ἄτακτον ἐν τῇ πόλει συνίσταντο.
20
BrentonNewborn babes were deserted by the mothers or nurses who waited upon them; some here, some there, in houses, or in fields; these now, with an ardour which could not be checked, swarmed into the Most High temple.
GreekΤὰ δὲ νεογνὰ τῶν τέκνων, αἵ τε πρὸς τούτοις μητέρες καὶ τιθηνοὶ παραλιποῦσαι ἄλλως καὶ ἄλλως, αἱ μὲν κατʼ οἴκους, αἱ δὲ κατὰ τὰς ἀγυιὰς ἀνεπιτρέπτως εἰς τὸ πανυπέρτατον ἱερὸν ἠθροίζοντο.
21
BrentonVarious were the prayers offered up by those who assembled in this place, on account of the unholy attempt of the king.
GreekΠοικίλη δὲ ἦν τῶν εἰς τοῦτο συλλεγομένων ἡ δέησις ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνοσίως ὑπʼ ἐκείνου κατεγχειρουμένοις.
22
BrentonAlong with these there were some of the citizens who took courage, and would not submit to his obstinacy, and his intention of carrying out his purpose.
GreekΣύν τε τούτοις οἱ τῶν πολιτῶν θρασυνθέντες οὐκ ἠνείχοντο τέλεον αὐτοῦ ἐπικειμένου, καὶ τὸ τῆς προθέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐκπληροῦν διανοουμένου.
23
BrentonCalling out to arms, and to die bravely in defence of the law of their fathers, they created a great uproar in the place, and were with difficulty brought back by the aged and the elders to the station of prayer which they had occupied before.
GreekΘωνήσαντες δὲ τὴν ὁρμὴν ἐπὶ τὰ ὅπλα ποιήσασθαι, καὶ θαῤῥαλέως ὑπὲρ τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου τελευτᾷν, ἱκανὴν ἐποίησαν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τραχύτητα, μόλις τε ὑπό τε τῶν γεραιῶν καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀποτραπέντες ἐπὶ τὴν αὐτὴν τῆς δεήσεως ἔστησαν στάσιν.
24
BrentonDuring this time the multitude kept on praying.
GreekΚαὶ τὸ μὲν πλῆθος, ὡς ἔμπροσθεν, ἐν τούτοις ἀνεστρέφετο δεόμενον.
25
BrentonThe elders who surrounded the king strove in many ways to divert his haughty mind from the design which he had formed.
GreekΟἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν βασιλέα πρεσβύτεροι πολλαχῶς ἐπειρῶντο τὸν ἀγέρωχον αὐτοῦ νοῦν ἐξιστάνειν τῆς ἐντεθυμημένης βουλῆς.
26
BrentonHe, in his hardened mood, insensible to all persuasion, was going onwards, with the view of carrying out this design.
GreekΘρασυνθεὶς δὲ καὶ πάντα παραπέμψας, ἤδη καὶ πρόσβασιν ἀποιεῖτο, τέλος ἐπιθήσειν δοκῶν τῷ προειρημένῳ.
27
BrentonYet even his own officers, when they saw this, joined the Jews in an appeal to Him who has all power, to aid in the present crisis, and not wink at such overweening lawlessness.
GreekΤαῦτʼ οὖν καὶ οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν ὄντες θεωροῦντες, ἐτράπησαν εἰς τὸ σὺν τοῖς ἡμετέροις ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τὸν πᾶν κράτος ἔχοντα, τοῖς παροῦσιν ἐπαμῦναι, μὴ περιδόντα τὴν ἄνομον καὶ ὑπερήφανον πρᾶξιν.
28
BrentonSuch was the frequency and the vehemence of the cry of the assembled crowd, that an indescribable noise ensued.
GreekἘκ δὲ τῆς πυκνοτάτης τε καὶ ἐμπόνου τῶν ὄχλων συναγομένης κραυγῆς, ἀνείκαστός τις ἦν βοή.
29
BrentonNot the men only, the very walls and floor seemed to sound forth; all things preferring dissolution rather than to see the place defiled.
GreekΔοκεῖν γὰρ ἦν μὴ μόνον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ τείχη καὶ τὸ πᾶν ἔδαφος ἠχεῖν, ἅτε δὴ τῶν πάντων τότε θάνατον ἀλλασσομένων ἀντὶ τῆς τοῦ τόπου βεβηλώσεως.