33
he stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground; and I will break down the altar and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.
34
After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought Him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35
Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of Thine habitation should be among us.
36
Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed; and stop every unrighteous mouth.
37
Now there was accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen and a man of very good report, who, for his kindness, was called a father of the Jews.
38
For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and boldly jeopardized his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.
39
So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bore for the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him;
40
for he thought, by taking him, to do the Jews much hurt.
41
Now when the multitude was about to take the tower and were violently breaking into the outer door, and bidding that fire should be brought to burn it, Razis, being about to be taken on every side, fell upon his sword,
42
choosing rather to die manfully than to come into the hands of the wicked to be abused otherwise than befitted his noble birth.
43
But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.