and of our sanctuary. And God will
decide our fate.
Our spies have done well. They
have returned with reports that
Gorgias has a large army — there
are 5000 infantry and 1000 picked
cavalry.
Maccabees: How can we fight
them?
They outnumber us.
They are well-armed.
We have such poor equipment
and arms.
Judah: Gorgias moved out one
division during the night and is
planning a surprise attack. We will
turn the tables on them. According
to our spies, part of Gorgias' troops
remain in the camp at Emmaus.
They are assuming that Gorgias
and the rest of the troops will return
victorious from the battle with us.
But we won't let this happen!
Instead, we will all leave our
camp so that Gorgias will find our
camp empty and be forced into the
hillside to look at us. At the same
time, we will attack his troops at
Emmaus who are lounging in the
camp, unprepared for battle. When
we have defeated these divisions,
we will head for the hills to engage
Gorgias and his army in battle.
There we will have the advantage
because we know every inch of soil
and every rock, and they are so
unfamiliar with the area.
So, men, let us put our trust in
God and in our planning, and let's
now move out to victory!
Narrator: Judah and his troops
have left the camp and are on their
way to Emmaus. Meanwhile,
Gorgias and his troops have entered
the camp of Judah and discover
that it is empty.
Gorgias: Where are the Jews?
They must be hiding in the hills.
Everyone . . . follow me!
Narrator: It is daybreak and
Judah and his 3000 men appear in
the plain. From far away, they see
the remaining Syrian Greeks at the
camp.
Judah: There is the camp of
the Syrian Greeks!
1st Maccabee: Their camp is so
strong!
2nd Maccabee: It's surrounded
by cavalry!
3rd Maccabee: And they have
all been trained in war!
Judah: Do not fear their
numbers or be afraid when they
charge. Remember how our
ancestors were saved at the Red
Sea when Pharoah with his forces
pursued them. And, now, let us call
out to Heaven to see whether God
will favor us and remember His
covenant with our ancestors and
crush this army before us today.
Then all the Syrian Greeks will
know that there is One who
redeems and saves Israel.
Narrator: Gorgias is also
encouraging his troops as they go
out to battle.
Gorgias: Charge! and be
victorious over the Jews!
Judah: (Shouting over the
sound of the trumpets.) "Men, let us
go out and meet the enemy."
(Sounds of battle.)
Narrator: At the end of this
clash, Judah and his troops are the
victors.
1st Maccabee: We have done it!
We have defeated the enemy in the
plains!
2nd Maccabee: We have
defeated them in the rear!
3rd Maccabee: We have killed
3000 of Gorgias' men!
Narrator: But Judah cautions
the troops.
Judah: Do not be greedy and
seize their loot for the battle is not
over. Gorgias and his forces are
near us in the hills. Stand now
Gorgias had a giant army
against our enemies and fight them, tens of thousands at his call;
and afterwards seize their loot.
all were rough and ready Syrians,
Narrator: Just as Judah finished
they were sure Israel would fall.
his speech, a detachment of
They had lots of heavy armor
Gorgias' army appears coming from
even elephants so tall;
the hills. They see that their army
Judah's strength was not in
has fled and that the Jews are
numbers,
burning their camp. They are
belief in God was how they all
frightened and when they see the
kept going.
army of Judah drawn up in the plain
Judah told his little army
for a battle, they all flee in fear and
confusion into the land of the
when the Syrians had gone away,
Philistines.
and at night the Jews attacked at
Emmaus
Narrator: After Judah and his
men conquered the camp of
there was nothing left next day.
Gorgias at Emmaus, they seized
Gorgias' army it was searching,
great riches, much gold and silver
searching the Judaean hills;
and cloth dyed blue and sea purple. but the Jews were right behind
On their return, they sang hymns
them,
and praises to God. "He is good
they weren't ready to be killed.
and His mercy endures forever." (All
Emmaus was just a pile of
sing.)
rubble
The play ends with the sound
when the Syrians returned to see;
of Maccabees marching and
that
was that, as far as they were
robustly singing:
concerned;
Now that Judah was the leader
they gave up, and all did flee!
battles raging everywhere,
in the hills and the in the valleys
they fought
Reprinted with permission, Shofar
they were brave and they did care!
Magazine, December, 1984.
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