1 maccabees 12-14

 

Chapter 12

1	And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain men and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with them:
2	And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places according to the same form.
3	And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance as it was before.
4	And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.
5	And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6	Jonathan the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.
7	There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest from Arius who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8	And Onias received the ambassador with honour: and received the letters wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.
9	We, though we needed none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,
10	Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.
11	We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days, wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet, and becoming to remember brethren.
12	And we rejoice at your glory.
13	But we have had many troubles and wars on every side, and the kings that are round about us, have fought against us.
14	But we would not be troublesome to you, nor the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.
15	For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.
16	We have chosen therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the former amity and alliance.
17	And we have commanded them to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18	And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.
19	And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:
20	Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greeting.
21	It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.
22	And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23	And we also have written back to you: That our cattle, and our possessions are yours: and yours, ours. We therefore have commanded that these things should be told you.
24	Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.
25	So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.
26	And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.
27	And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels round about the camp.
28	And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they were struck with fear, and dread in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.
29	But Jonathan and they that were with him knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30	And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.
31	And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.
32	And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.
33	Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of it,
34	(For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them that took part with Demetrius,) and he put a garrison there to keep it.
35	And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people, and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,
36	And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell.
37	And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that was upon the brook towards the east was broken down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:
38	And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up gates and bars.
39	Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia, and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus:
40	Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.
41	And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.
42	Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him,
43	But received him with honour, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.
44	And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?
45	Now therefore send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming.
46	And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:
47	But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.
48	Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that came in with him they slew with the sword.
49	Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain to destroy all Jonathan's company.
50	But they, when they understood that Jonathan and all that were with him were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.
51	Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.
52	Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda. And they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great lamentation.
53	Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:
54	They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst mem.

Chapter 13

1	Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.
2	And seeing that the people was in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people:
3	And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:
4	By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.
5	And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.
6	I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.
7	And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words.
8	And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan thy brother.
9	Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.
10	So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
11	And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.
12	And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.
13	But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.
14	And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,
15	Saying: We have detained thy brother Jonathan for the money that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.
16	But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will release him.
17	Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the money, and the children to be sent: lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:
18	Because he sent not the money, and the children, therefore is he lost.
19	So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.
20	And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.
21	And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and sent them victuals.
22	And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of Galaad.
23	And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.
24	And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.
25	And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.
26	And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.
27	And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:
28	And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brethren:
29	And round about these he set great pillars: and upon the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea.
30	This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin even unto this day.
31	But Tryphon when he was upon a journey with the young king Antiochus, treacherously slew him.
32	And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.
33	And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.
34	And Simon chose men and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an immunity to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
35	And king Demetrius in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:
36	King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
37	The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have released.
38	For all that we have decreed in your favour, shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.
39	And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.
40	And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
41	In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.
42	And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and public records, The first year under Simon the high priest, the great captain and prince of the Jews.
43	In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and took it.
44	And they that were within the engine leaped into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.
45	And they that were in the city went up with their wives and children upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
46	And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.
47	And Simon being moved, did not destroy them: but yet he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord.
48	And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.
49	But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through famine.
50	And they cried to Simon form peace, and he granted it to them: and he cast them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.
51	And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.
52	And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.
53	And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.
54	And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.

Chapter 14

1	In the year one hundred and seventy-two, king Demetrius assembled has army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against Tryphon.
2	And Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take him alive, and bring him to him.
3	And he went and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody.
4	And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and he sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased them well all his days.
5	And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea.
6	And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master of the country.
7	And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away all uncleanness out of it and there was none that resisted him.
8	And every man tilled his land with peace: and the land of Juda yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit.
9	The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of the good things of the land, and the young men put on them glory, and the robes of war.
10	And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory was renowned even to the end of the earth.
11	He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.
12	And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and there was none to make them afraid.
13	There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings were discomfited in those days.
14	And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man.
15	He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the holy places.
16	And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead: and they were very sorry.
17	But when they heard that Simon his brother was made high priest in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the cities therein:
18	They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and alliance which they had made with Judas, and with Jonathan his brethren.
19	And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.
20	The princes and the cities of the Spartans to Simon the high priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews their brethren, greeting.
21	The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoice at their coming.
22	And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the people in this manner: Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with us.
23	And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to the people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to Simon the high priest.
24	And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of gold the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with them. And when the people of Rome had heard
25	These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and his sons?
26	For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.
27	And this is a copy of the writing: The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third year under Simon the high priest at Asaramel,
28	In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country,
29	And Simon the son of Mathathias of the children of Jarib, and his brethren have put themselves in danger, and have resisted the enemies of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: and have raised their nation to great glory.
30	And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their high priest, and he was laid to his people.
31	And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places.
32	Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them wages:
33	And he fortified the cities of Judea, and Bethsura that lieth in the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and he placed there a garrison of Jews.
34	And he fortified Joppe which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for their reparation.
35	And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he meant to bring his nation, made him their prince, and high priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice, and faith, which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to advance his people.
36	And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem in the castle, out of which they issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and did much evil to its purity.
37	And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and of the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem.
38	And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood.
39	According to these things he made him his friend, and glorified him with great glory.
40	For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews their friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had received Simon's ambassadors with honour:
41	And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented that he should be their prince, and high priest for ever, till there should arise a faithful prophet:
42	And that he should be chief over them, and that he should have the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint rulers over their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the strong holds.
43	And that he should have care of the holy places: and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name: and that he should be clothed with purple, and gold:
44	And that it should not be lawful for any of the people, or of the priests, to disannul any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to call together an assembly in the country without him: or to be clothed with purple, or to wear a buckle of gold:
45	And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void any of these things shall be punished.
46	And it pleased all the people to establish Simon, and to do according to these words.
47	And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to execute the office of the high priesthood, and to be captain, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be chief over all.
48	And they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the sanctuary, in a conspicuous place:
49	And that a copy thereof should be put in the treasury, that Simon and his sons may have it.