A selection of books called the “Apocrypha” was published in the original 1611 King James Bible.   Positioned between the Old and New Testament  (containing genealogies and maps)  For 274 years the apocrypha was part of the King James Version being removed in 1885 A.D. The Catholic Church called a portion of these books deuterocanonical-books.  The word Apocrypha  means “hidden” Dating back to before 70 A.D. Fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls contained parts of the apocrypha books in Hebrew including Sirach and Tobit.
Many claim the apocrypha should of never have been included with other claiming the apocrypha should of never been removed.
Reason for not being included in the first place , was the raising doubt about its validity and believing it was not God inspired  ( Tobit chapter 6 verses 5-8 a reference about magic seems inconsistent with the rest of the Bible.)
It being removed a little more than 100 years ago after being part of the Bible for nearly 2,000 years. Some say it was removed because of not being found in the original Hebrew manuscripts.   With others claiming it wasn’t removed by the Church but by printers to cut costs in distributing Bibles in the United States.     Both side use the same verses that warn against adding or subtracting from the Bible.

1.But Nicanor hearing that Iudas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolued without any danger to set vpon them on þe sabbath day.

2Neuertheles, the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but giue honour to that day, which he that seeth all things, hath honoured with holinesse aboue other dayes.

3Then this most vngracious wretch demanded, if there were a mightie one in heauen that had commanded the Sabbath day to be kept.

4And when they said, There is in heauen a liuing Lord, and mightie, who commanded the seuenth day to be kept,

5Then said the other, And I also am mightie vpon earth, & I cōmand to take armes, and to do the kings busines: yet he obteined not to haue his wicked wil done.

6So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtinesse, determined to set vp a publike moument of his victorie ouer Iudas, and them that were with him.

7But Maccabeus had euer sure confidence that the Lord would helpe him.

8Wherfore he exhorted his people not to feare the comming of the heathen against them, but to remember the helpe which in former times they had receiued from heauen, and now to expect the victory, and aid which should come vnto them from the Almightie.

9And so comforting them out of the law, and the prophets, and withall putting them in mind of the battels that they won afore, he made them more cheerefull.

10And when he had stirred vp their minds, he gaue them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falshood of the heathen, and the breach of othes.

11Thus he armed euery one of them not so much with defence of shields and speares, as with comfortable and good words: and besides that, he tolde them a dreame worthy to be beleeued, as if it had bin so indeed, which did not a litle reioyce them.

12And this was his vision: that Onias, who had bin high Priest, a vertuous, and a good man, reuerend in conuersation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of vertue, holding vp his hands, prayed for the whole bodie of the Iewes.

13This done, in like maner there appeared a man with gray haires, & exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderfull and excellent maiestie.

14Then Onias answered, saying, This is a louer of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy citie, (to wit) Ieremias þe prophet of God.

15Whereupon Ieremias, holding forth his right hand, gaue to Iudas a sword of gold, and in giuing it spake thus:

16Take this holy sword a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the aduersaries.

17Thus being well comforted by the words of Iudas, which were very good, and able to stirre them vp to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the yong men, they determined not to pitch campe, but couragiously to set vpon them, and manfully to trie the matter by conflict, because the citie, and the Sanctuarie, and the Temple were in danger.

18For the care that they tooke for their wiues, and their children, their brethren, and kinsfolkes, was in least account with them: but the greatest, and principall feare, was for the holy Temple.

19Also they that were in the citie, tooke not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.

20And now when as all looked what should bee þe triall, & the enemies were already come neere, and the armie was set in aray, and the beasts conueniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings:

21Maccabeus seeing the comming of the multitude, and the diuers preparations of armour, and the fiercenesse of the beasts, stretched out his hands towards heauen, and called vpon the Lord, that worketh wonders, knowing that victorie commeth not by armes, but euen as it seemeth good to him, he giueth it to such as are worthy:

22Therefore in his prayer he said after this maner: O Lord, thou diddest send thine Angel in the time of Ezekias king of Iudea, and diddest slay in the host of Sennacherib, an hundred, fourescore, and fiue thousand.

23Wherfore now also O Lord of heauen, send a good Angel before vs, for a feare, and dread vnto them.

24And through the might of thine arme, let those bee stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

25Then Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward with trumpets, and songs.

26But Iudas, and his company encountred the enemies with inuocation, and prayer.

27So that fighting with their hands, and praying vnto God with their hearts, they slew no lesse then thirty and fiue thousand men: for through the appearance of God, they were greatly cheered.

28Now when the battell was done, returning againe with ioy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harnesse.

29Then they made a great shout, and a noise, praising the Almighty in their owne language:

30And Iudas, who was euer the chiefe defender of the citizens both in body, and minde, and who continued his loue towards his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanors head, and his hand, with his shoulder, & bring them to Ierusalem.

31So when he was there, and had called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the Towre,

32And shewed them vile Nicanors head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy Temple of the Almightie.

33And when he had cut out the tongue of that vngodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should giue it by pieces vnto the foules, and hang vp the reward of his madnesse before the Temple.

34So euery man praised towards the heauen the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be hee that hath kept his owne place vndefiled.

35He hanged also Nicanors head vpon the Towre, an euident, and manifest signe vnto all, of the helpe of the Lord.

36And they ordained all with a common decree, in no case to let that day passe without solemnitie: but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus day.

37Thus went it with Nicanor, and from that time forth, the Hebrewes had the citie in their power: and heere will I make an end.

38And if I haue done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly, and meanly, it is that which I could attaine vnto.

39For as it is hurtfull to drinke wine, or water alone; & as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the tast: euen so speech finely framed, delighteth the eares of them that read the storie. And heere shall be an end.

 

 

 

1 When Nicanor learned that Judas and his companions were in the territory of Samaria, he decided to attack them in all safety on the day of rest.

2 The Jews who were forced to follow him pleaded, "Do not massacre them in that way, like a savage barbarian, but show respect for the day which the All-seeing has exalted with holiness above all other days."

3 At this the thrice-sinful wretch asked if there was a ruler in heaven who prescribed the keeping of the sabbath day.

4 When they replied that there was indeed such a ruler in heaven, the living LORD himself, who commanded the observance of the sabbath day,

5 he said, "I, on my part, am ruler on earth, and my orders are that you take up arms and carry out the king's business." Nevertheless he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.

6 In his utter boastfulness and arrogance Nicanor had determined to erect a public monument of victory over Judas and his men.

7 But Maccabeus remained confident, fully convinced that he would receive help from the LORD.

8 He urged his men not to fear the enemy, but mindful of the help they had received from Heaven in the past, to expect that now, too, victory would be given them by the Almighty.

9 By encouraging them with words from the law and the prophets, and by reminding them of the battles they had already won, he filled them with fresh enthusiasm.

10 Having stirred up their courage, he gave his orders and pointed out at the same time the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation of oaths.

11 When he had armed each of them, not so much with the safety of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of vision, worthy of belief.

12 What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in every virtuous practice, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community.

13 Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air about him of extraordinary, majestic authority.

14 Onias then said of him, "This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his brethren and fervently prays for his people and their holy city."

15 Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said,

16 "Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your adversaries."

17 Encouraged by Judas' noble words, which had power to instill valor and stir young hearts to courage, the Jews determined not to delay, but to charge gallantly and decide the issue by hand-to-hand combat with the utmost courage, since their city and its temple with the sacred vessels were in danger.

18 They were not so much concerned about their wives and children or their brothers and kinsmen; their first and foremost fear was for the consecrated sanctuary.

19 Those who remained in the city suffered a like agony, anxious as they were about the battle in the open country.

20 Everyone now awaited the decisive moment. The enemy were already drawing near with their troops drawn up in battle line, their elephants placed in strategic positions, and their cavalry stationed on the flanks.

21 Maccabeus, contemplating the hosts before him, their elaborate equipment, and the fierceness of their elephants, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the LORD who works miracles; for he knew that it is not through arms but through the LORD'S decision that victory is won by those who deserve it.

22 He prayed to him thus: "You, O LORD, sent your angel in the days of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand men of Sennacherib's army.

23 Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel now to spread fear and dread before us.

24 By the might of your arm may those be struck down who have blasphemously come against your holy people!" With this he ended his prayer.

25 Nicanor and his men advanced to the sound of trumpets and battle songs.

26 But Judas and his men met the army with supplication and prayers.

27 Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced greatly over this manifestation of God's power.

28 When the battle was over and they were joyfully departing, they discovered Nicanor lying there in all his armor;

29 so they raised tumultuous shouts in their native tongue in praise of the divine Sovereign.

30 Then Judas, who was ever in body and soul the chief defender of his fellow citizens, and had maintained from youth his affection for his countrymen, ordered Nicanor's head and whole right arm to be cut off and taken to Jerusalem.

31 When he arrived there, he assembled his countrymen, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for those in the citadel.

32 He showed them the vile Nicanor's head and the wretched blasphemer's arm that had been boastfully stretched out against the holy dwelling of the Almighty.

33 He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor, saying he would feed it piecemeal to the birds and would hang up the other wages of his folly opposite the temple.

34 At this, everyone looked toward heaven and praised the Lord who manifests his divine power, saying, "Blessed be he who has kept his own Place undefiled!"

35 Judas hung up Nicanor's head on the wall of the citadel, a clear and evident proof to all of the Lord's help.

36 By public vote it was unanimously decreed never to let this day pass unobserved, but to celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic, the eve of Mordecai's Day.

37 Since Nicanor's doings ended in this way, with the city remaining in possession of the Hebrews from that time on, I will bring my own story to an end here too.

38 If it is well written and to the point, that is what I wanted; if it is poorly done and mediocre, that is the best I could do.

39 Just as it is harmful to drink wine alone or water alone, whereas mixing wine with water makes a more pleasant drink that increases delight, so a skillfully composed story delights the ears of those who read the work. Let this, then, be the end.

 

I. Wrote the Jews of Egypt a letter (1:1-2:18)

          A. Letter number one (1:1-9)
          B. Letter number Two (1:10-2:18)

II The Epitomist's Preface (2:19-32)

III The High Priesthood Decline (3:1-4:50)

          A. The Episode of Heliodorus (3:1-40)
          B. Simon's Plot Against Onias (4:1-6)
          C. The High Priest Jason introdices Hellenisin (4:7-20)
          D. In Jerusalem Jason receives Antiochus (4:21-22)
          E. High Pries Menelaus (4:23-50)

IV The Imposition of Hellenism and Antiochus Epiphanes (5:1-7:42)

 A. Jerusael Ravages by Antiochus (5:1-14)
 B. Temple is Despoiled by Antiochus (5:15-23)
 C. Apollonius Attachs Jerusalem (5:23-26)
 D. In the Desert Judas Maccabeus (5:27)
 E. Antiochus imposes Hellenian (6:1-11)
 F. The Epitomist's Evaluation (6:12-17)
 G. The Martydom of Eleazer (6:18-31)
 H. The Mother and her seven sons Martyrdom (7:1-42)

V. Under Judas Maccabeus the Triumph of Judaism (8:1-10:9)

A. Organizes Resistance to the Presection by Judas (8:1-7)
 B. Nicanor and Gorgias defeated by Judas (8:8-29 , 34-36)
 C. Other Victories by Judas (8:30-33)
 D. The Death of the Persecutor (9:1-29) E. Temple purified by Judas (10:1-9)

VI. Judas's subsequent struggles (10:10-15:39)

 A. Ptolemy Macron's suicide (10:10-13)
 B. Judas fights in Idumea (10:14-23)
 C. Judas defeats Timothy (10:24-38)
 D. At Beth-zur victory over Lysias (11:1-15 12:1)
 E. The Letters (11:16-38)
 F. The Battles with Neighboring People. (12:2-45)
 G. In Judah Lysias' Second Campaign (13:1-26)
 H. The Accession of Demetrius I Soter (14:1-2)
 I. Alcimus' Hostility (14:3-11)
 J. Nicanor and Judas (14:12-36)
 K. Razis's Death (14:37-46)
 L. Nicanor's Defeat (15:1-37)
 M. Epitomist's Epilogue (15:37-39)