1 Maccabees 8

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them;

Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them — a new power's fame reaching the captain: the Romans, mighty and valiant, accepting all who joined them and making a league, a covenant of friendship, with all who came.

2And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;

And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute — their valour and their wars reported: noble acts among the Galatians, conquered and brought under tribute.

3And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there;

And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there — Spain's part in the report: the silver and gold mines won by the distant power.

4And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the place, though it were very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year:

And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the place, though it were very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year — policy and patience named as the instruments: distant lands conquered, opposing ruling states from the earth's uttermost part discomfited, and the rest paying yearly tribute.

5Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had overcome them:

Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had overcome them — Philip and Perseus of the Citims named among the discomfited: every state that lifted itself against them overcome.

6How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them;

How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them — the report's weightiest item for Judas: Antiochus the great, with a hundred and twenty elephants, horse, chariots, and a very great army, discomfited by this power; even the persecuting empire's greater king humbled by Rome.

7And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,

And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon — the great king taken alive and bound by covenant: tribute, hostages, and the agreed terms laid on him and his successors.

8And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes:

And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes — countries stripped from the humbled king, India, Media, Lydia among the goodliest, and given to king Eumenes: Rome disposing of empires.

9Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them;

Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them — the Grecians' own design reported: determined to come and destroy the Romans.

10And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this day:

And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this day — knowledge answered with a captain sent: many slain, affections and young states captive, lands possessed, strongholds pulled down, and the Grecians servants unto this day.

11It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them;

It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them — the report's general sum: every kingdom and isle that ever resisted them destroyed or brought under dominion.

12But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them:

But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them — the other face of the fame: amity kept faithfully with friends and with those who relied on them, and dread of their name on all who heard it.

13Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly exalted:

Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly exalted — kingmakers by report: whom they help, reigns; whom they will, they displace; and they themselves greatly exalted.

14Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby:

Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby — the report's marvel recorded plainly: exalted above kings, yet no crown worn and no purple assumed for magnification.

15Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:

Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered — the senate described: three hundred and twenty men in daily council, consulting always for the people, that they might be well ordered.

16And that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among them.

And that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among them — yearly rule committed to one man, all obedient to that one, and neither envy nor emulation among them: the ordered state of the distant power held up in the report.

17In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them,

In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them — the embassy chosen on the report's strength: Eupolemus and Jason sent to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy.

18And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude.

And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude — the embassy's second errand named: to entreat the yoke's removal, for the Grecian kingdom oppressed Israel, the spiritual house, with servitude.

19They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spake and said.

They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spake and said — the very great journey made, the envoys standing in the senate and speaking.

20Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends.

Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends — the message delivered in form: confederacy and peace sought, and registration as Rome's confederates and friends.

21So that matter pleased the Romans well.

So that matter pleased the Romans well — the matter pleasing the senate well: the league welcomed by the distant power.

22And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:

And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy — the senate's epistle copied here from tables of brass, sent to Jerusalem to stand there as a memorial of peace and confederacy.

23Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,

Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them — the epistle's blessing: good success to Romans and to the Jews' people by sea and by land for ever, the cutting word and the enemy far from them.

24If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion,

If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion — the mutual-defence articles begin: war coming first upon the Romans or any of their confederates, throughout all their dominion.

25The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart:

The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart — the Jews' people bound to help at the appointed time, and with all their heart: the aid pledged without reserve of affection.

26Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants without taking any thing therefore.

Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants without taking any thing therefore — nothing given to Rome's enemies, no victuals, weapons, money, or ships; and their covenants kept without payment taken therefore.

27In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall be appointed them:

In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall be appointed them — the article reversed in the same manner: war upon the Jews' nation first, and Rome helping with all its heart at the appointed time.

28Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit.

Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit — nothing given to the Jews' enemies either, and the covenants kept without deceit: plain dealing written into the league.

29According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.

According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews — the covenant concluded according to the articles: Rome and the Jews' people bound in the stated terms.

30Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.

Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified — the amendment article: either party may meet to add or diminish, at their pleasures, and the change ratified.

31And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews?

And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews? — the epistle turning to the present wrong: Rome's own letter to Demetrius quoted, demanding why he made his yoke heavy on Rome's friends and confederates the Jews.

32If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.

If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land — the warning closing the epistle: further complaint answered with justice done to the Jews, and war on Demetrius by sea and by land.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.