2 Maccabees 9
9
Antiochus in Persia Hears of the Defeats of His Generals
(1 Maccabees 6.1-7)
1About that time came An-ti´ochus with dishonor out of the country of Persia. 2#2 Macc 1.11-17. For he had entered the city called Persep´olis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that An-ti´ochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame. 3Now when he came to Ecbatana, news was brought him what had happened unto Nica´nor and Timo´theus. 4Then swelling with anger, he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of God now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
Antiochus Becomes Sick
(1 Maccabees 6.8,9)
5But the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: for as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts; 6and that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments. 7Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained. 8#Isa 51.21; Dan 11.37; Isa 40.12. And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horse-litter, showing forth unto all the manifest power of God. 9#Acts 12.23. So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and while he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army. 10#Isa 41.13. And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink.
Antiochus Repents
(1 Maccabees 6.10-13)
11 #
2 Macc 7.37. Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment. 12And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself, as if he were God. 13This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus, 14that the holy city (to the which he was going in haste, to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common burying place,) he would set at liberty: 15and as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens: 16And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices: 17yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.
Antiochus Writes a Conciliatory Letter to the Jews
18But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner: 19An-ti´ochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity: 20#1 Macc 3.18,19; 2 Macc 7.11. If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven. 21As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honor and good will. Returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all: 22not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness. 23#1 Macc 3.37. But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries, appointed a successor, 24to the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled: 25again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbors unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son An-ti´ochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth: 26therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son. 27For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favorably and graciously yield to your desires.
Death of Antiochus
(1 Maccabees 6.14-17)
28Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he treated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains. 29#1 Macc 6.14,15. And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of An-ti´ochus went into Egypt to Ptoleme´us Philome´tor.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.