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THE HOLY
BIBLE
THE FIRST BOOK OF MACHABEES
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 1
1 Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of
Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece,
coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown
Darius king of the Persians and Medes:
2 He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of
all, and slew the kings of the earth:
3 And he went through even to the ends of the earth,
and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth
was quiet before him.
4 And he gathered a power, and a very strong army:
and his heart was exalted and lifted up.
5 And he subdued countries of nations, and princes:
and they became tributaries to him.
6 And after these things, he fell down upon his bed,
and knew that he should die.
7 And he called his servants the nobles that were
brought up with him from his youth: and he divided
his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
8 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.
9 And his servants made themselves kings every one in
his place:
10 And they all put crowns upon themselves after his
death, and their sons after them many years, and
evils were multiplied in the earth.
11 And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus
the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had
been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the
hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of
the Greeks.
12 In those days there went out of Israel wicked men,
and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and
make a covenant with the heathens that are round
about us: for since we departed from them, many
evils have befallen us.
13 And the word seemed good in their eyes.
14 And some of the people determined to do this, and
went to the king: and he gave them license to do
after the ordinances of the heathens.
15 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem,
according to the laws of the nations:
16 And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from
the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the
heathens, and were sold to do evil.
17 And the kingdom was established before Antiochus,
and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt,
that he might reign over two kingdoms.
18 And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude,
with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a
great number of ships:
19 And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but
Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and
many were wounded unto death.
20 And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt:
and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.
21 And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred
and forty-third year, he returned and went up
against Israel.
22 And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
23 And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took
away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light,
and all the vessels thereof, and the table of
proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials,
and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and
the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before
the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.
24 And he took the silver and gold, and the precious
vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he
found: and when he had taken all away he departed
into his own country.
25 And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very
proudly.
26 And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every
place where they were.
27 And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the
virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the
beauty of the women was changed.
28 Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride
that set in the marriage bed, mourned:
29 And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof,
and all the house of Jacob was covered with
confusion.
30 And after two full years the king sent the chief
collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and
he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
31 And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and
they believed him.
32 And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it
with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in
Israel.
33 And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it
with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and
the walls thereof round about:
34 And they took the women captive, and the children,
and the cattle they possessed.
35 And they built the city of David with a great and
strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a
fortress for them:
36 And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men,
and they fortified themselves therein: and they
stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered
together the spoils of Jerusalem;
37 And laid them up there: and they became a great
snare.
38 And this was a place to lie in wait against the
sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.
39 And they shed innocent blood round about the
sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.
40 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason
of them, and the city was made the habitation to
strangers, and she became a stranger to her own
seed, and her children forsook her.
41 Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her
festival days were turned into mourning, her
sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to
nothing.
42 Her dishonour was increased according to her glory,
and her excellency was turned into mourning.
43 And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that
all the people should be one: and every one should
leave his own law.
44 And all nations consented according to the word of
king Antiochus.
45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and
they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.
46 And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers
to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that
they should follow the law of the nations of the
earth,
47 And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and
atonements to be made in the temple of God.
48 And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival
days, to be celebrated.
49 And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and
the holy people of Israel.
50 And he commanded altars to be built, and temples,
and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and
unclean beasts.
51 And that they should leave their children
uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with
all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that
they should forget the law, and should change all
the justifications of God.
52 And that whosoever would not do according to the
word of king Antiochus should be put to death.
53 According to all these words he wrote to his whole
kingdom, and he appointed rulers over the people
that should force them to do these things.
54 And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.
55 Then many of the people were gathered to them that
had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they
committed evils in the land:
56 And they drove away the people of Israel into
lurking holes, and into the secret places of
fugitives.
57 On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the
hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up
the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of
God, and they built altars throughout all the cities
of Juda round about:
58 And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors
of the houses, and in the streets.
59 And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the
books of the law of God:
60 And every one with whom the books of the testament
of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the
law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the
edict of the king.
61 Thus by their power did they deal with the people of
Israel, that were found in the cities month after
month.
62 And on the five and twentieth day of the month they
sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over
against the altar of God.
63 Now the women that circumcised their children, were
slain according to the commandment of king
Antiochus.
64 And they hanged the children about their necks in
all their houses: and those that had circumcised
them, they put to death.
65 And many of the people of Israel determined with
themselves, that they would not eat unclean things:
and they chose rather to die than to be defiled with
unclean meats.
66 And they would not break the holy law of God, and
they were put to death:
67 And there was very great wrath upon the people.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 2
1 In those days arose Mathathias the son of John, the
son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from
Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin.
2 And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis:
3 And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi:
4 And Judas, who was called Machabeus:
5 And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron: and Jonathan,
who was surnamed Apphus.
6 These saw the evils that were done in the people of
Juda, and in Jerusalem.
7 And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I
born to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of
the holy city, and to dwell there, when it is given
into the hands of the enemies?
8 The holy places are come into the hands of
strangers: her temple is become as a man without
honour.
9 The vessels of her glory are carried away captive:
her old men are murdered in the streets, and her
young men are fallen by the sword of the enemies.
10 What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and
gotten of her spoils?
11 All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free
is made a slave.
12 And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our
glory is laid waste, and the Gentiles have defiled
them.
13 To what end then should we live any longer?
14 And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and
they covered themselves with haircloth, and made
great lamentation.
15 And they that were sent from king Antiochus came
thither, to compel them that were fled into the city
of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to
depart from the law of God.
16 And many of the people of Israel consented, and came
to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.
17 And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering,
said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an
honourable, and great man in this city, and adorned
with sons, and brethren.
18 Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's
commandment, as all nations have done, and the men
of Juda, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and
thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the
king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver,
and many presents.
19 Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud
voice: Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so
as to depart every man from the service of the law
of his fathers, and consent to his commandments:
20 I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of
our fathers.
21 God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for
us to forsake the law, and the justices of God:
22 We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus,
neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the
commandments of our law, to go another way.
23 Now as he left off speaking these words, there came
a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to
the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin,
according to the king's commandment.
24 And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins
trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the
judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew
him upon the altar:
25 Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who
compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same
time, and pulled down the altar.
26 And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri
the son of Salomi.
27 And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud
voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the
law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow
me.
28 So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and
left all that they had in the city.
29 Then many that sought after judgment, and justice,
went down into the desert:
30 And they abode there, they and their children, and
their wives, and their cattle: because afflictions
increased upon them.
31 And it was told to the king's men, and to the army
that was in Jerusalem in the city of David, that
certain men who had broken the king's commandment,
were gone away into the secret places in the
wilderness, and that many were gone after them.
32 And forthwith they went out towards them, and made
war against them on the sabbath day,
33 And they said to them: Do you still resist? come
forth, and do according to the edict of king
Antiochus, and you shall live.
34 And they said: We will not come forth, neither will
we obey the king's edict, to profane the sabbath
day.
35 And they made haste to give them battle.
36 But they answered them not, neither did they cast a
stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,
37 Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and
heaven and earth shall be witnesses for us, that you
put us to death wrongfully.
38 So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they
were slain with their wives, and their children, and
their cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
39 And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they
mourned for them exceedingly.
40 And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall
all do as our brethren have done, and not fight
against the heathens for our lives, and our
justifications: they will now quickly root us out
of the earth.
41 And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever
shall come up against us to fight on the sabbath
day, we will fight against him: and we will not all
die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret
places.
42 Then was assembled to them the congregation of the
Assideans, the stoutest of Israel, every one that
had a good will for the law.
43 And all they that fled from the evils, joined
themselves to them, and were a support to them.
44 And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in
their wrath, and the wicked men in their
indignation: and the rest fled to the nations for
safety.
45 And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and
they threw down the altars:
46 And they circumcised all the children whom they
found in the confines of Israel that were
uncircumcised: and they did valiantly.
47 And they pursued after the children of pride, and
the work prospered in their hands:
48 And they recovered the law out of the hands of the
nations, and out of the hands of the kings: and
they yielded not the horn to the sinner.
49 Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die,
and he said to his sons: Now hath pride and
chastisement gotten strength, and the time of
destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
50 Now therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law,
and give your lives for the covenant of your
fathers.
51 And call to remembrance the works of the fathers,
which they have done in their generations: and you
shall receive great glory, and an everlasting name.
52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it
was reputed to him unto justice?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the
commandment, and he was made lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees our father, by being fervent in the zeal of
God, received the covenant of an everlasting
priesthood.
55 Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler
in Israel.
56 Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation,
received an inheritance.
57 David by his mercy obtained the throne of an
everlasting kingdom.
58 Elias, while he was full of zeal for the law, was
taken up into heaven.
59 Ananias and Azarias and Misael by believing, were
delivered out of the flame.
60 Daniel in his innocency was delivered out of the
mouth of the lions.
61 And thus consider through all generations: that
none that trust in him fail in strength.
62 And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his
glory is dung, and worms:
63 To day he is lifted up, and to morrow he shall not
be found, because he is returned into his earth; and
his thought is come to nothing.
64 You therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave
manfully in the law: for by it you shall be
glorious.
65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man
of counsel: give ear to him always, and he shall be
a father to you.
66 And Judas Machabeus who is valiant and strong from
his youth up, let him be the leader of your army,
and he shall manage the war of the people.
67 And you shall take to you all that observe the law:
and revenge ye the wrong of your people.
68 Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed
to the precepts of the law.
69 And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers.
70 And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year:
and he was buried by his sons in the sepulchres of
his fathers in Modin, and all Israel mourned for him
with great mourning.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 3
1 Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his
stead.
2 And all his brethren helped him, and all they that
had joined themselves to his father, and they fought
with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.
3 And he got his people great honour, and put on a
breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armour
about him in battles, and protected the camp with
his sword.
4 In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's
whelp roaring for his prey.
5 And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and
them that troubled his people he burnt with fire:
6 And his enemies were driven away for fear of him,
and all the workers of iniquity were troubled: and
salvation prospered in his hand.
7 And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with
his works, and his memory is blessed for ever.
8 And he went through the cities of Juda, and
destroyed the wicked out of them, and turned away
wrath from Israel.
9 And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the
earth, and he gathered them that were perishing.
10 And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a
numerous and great army from Samaria, to make war
against Israel.
11 And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him:
and he overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell
down slain, the rest fled away.
12 And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword
of Apollonius, and fought with it all his lifetime.
13 And Seron captain of the army of Syria heard that
Judas had assembled a company of the faithful, and a
congregation with him,
14 And he said: I will get me a name, and will be
glorified in the kingdom, and will overthrow Judas,
and those that are with him, that have despised the
edict of the king.
15 And he made himself ready: and the host of the
wicked went up with him, strong succours, to be
revenged of the children of Israel.
16 And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and
Judas went forth to meet him, with a small company.
17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they
said to Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to
fight against so great a multitude and so strong,
and we are ready to faint with fasting today?
18 And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be
shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no
difference in the sight of the God of heaven to
deliver with a great multitude, or with a small
company:
19 For the success of war is not in the multitude of
the army, but strength cometh from heaven.
20 They come against us with an insolent multitude, and
with pride, to destroy us, and our wives, and our
children, and to take our spoils.
21 But we will fight for our lives and our laws:
22 And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our
face: but as for you, fear them not.
23 And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, he
rushed suddenly upon them: and Seron and his host
were overthrown before him:
24 And he pursued him by the descent of Bethoron even
to the plain, and there fell of them eight hundred
men, and the rest fled into the land of the
Philistines.
25 And the fear of Judas and of his brethren, and the
dread of them fell upon all the nations round about
them.
26 And his fame came to the king, and all nations told
of the battles of Judas.
27 Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was
angry in his mind: and he sent and gathered the
forces of all his kingdom, an exceeding strong army.
28 And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the
army for a year: and he commanded them, that they
should be ready for all things.
29 And he perceived that the money of his treasures
failed, and that the tributes of the country were
small because of the dissension, and the evil that
he had brought upon the land, that he might take
away the laws of old times:
30 And he feared that he should not have as formerly
enough, for charges and gifts, which he had given
before with a liberal hand: for he had abounded
more than the kings that had been before him.
31 And he was greatly perplexed in mind, and purposed
to go into Persia, and to take tributes of the
countries, and to gather much money.
32 And he left Lysias, a nobleman of the blood royal,
to oversee the affairs of the kingdom, from the
river Euphrates even to the river of Egypt:
33 And to bring up his son Antiochus, till he came
again.
34 And he delivered to him half the army, and the
elephants: and he gave him charge concerning all
that he would have done, and concerning the
inhabitants of Judea, and Jerusalem:
35 And that he should send an army against them, to
destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the
remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away the memory of
them from that place:
36 And that he should settle strangers to dwell in all
their coasts, and divide their land by lot.
37 So the king took the half of the army that remained,
and went forth from Antioch the chief city of his
kingdom, in the hundred and forty-seventh year: and
he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through
the higher countries.
38 Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenus, and
Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's
friends.
39 And he sent with them forty thousand men, and seven
thousand horsemen: to go into the land of Juda, and
to destroy it according to the king's orders.
40 So they went forth with all their power, and came,
and pitched near Emmaus in the plain country.
41 And the merchants of the countries heard the fame
of them: and they took silver and gold in
abundance, and servants: and they came into the
camp, to buy the children of Israel for slaves: and
there were joined to them the forces of Syria, and
of the land of the strangers.
42 And Judas and his brethren saw that evils were
multiplied, and that the armies approached to their
borders: and they knew the orders the king had
given to destroy the people and utterly abolish
them.
43 And they said every man to his neighbour: Let us
raise up the low condition of our people, and let us
fight for our people, and our sanctuary.
44 And the assembly was gathered that they might be
ready for battle: and that they might pray, and ask
mercy and compassion.
45 Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a
desert: there was none of her children that went in
or out: and the sanctuary was trodden down: and
the children of strangers were in the castle, there
was the habitation of the Gentiles: and joy was
taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and harp ceased
there.
46 And they assembled together, and came to Maspha
over against Jerusalem: for in Maspha was a place
of prayer heretofore in Israel.
47 And they fasted that day, and put on haircloth, and
put ashes upon their heads: and they rent their
garments:
48 And they laid open the books of the law, in which
the Gentiles searched for the likeness of their
idols:
49 And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the
firstfruits and tithes, and stirred up the Nazarites
that had fulfilled their days:
50 And they cried with a loud voice toward heaven,
saying: What shall we do with these, and whither
shall we carry them?
51 For thy holies are trodden down, and are profaned,
and thy priests are in mourning, and are brought
low.
52 And behold the nations are come together against us
to destroy us: thou knowest what they intend against
us.
53 How shall we be able to stand before their face,
unless thou, O God, help us?
54 Then they sounded with trumpets, and cried out with
a loud voice.
55 And after this Judas appointed captains over the
people, over thousands, and over hundreds, and over
fifties, and over tens.
56 And he said to them that were building houses, or
had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or
were fearful, that they should return every man to
his house, according to the law.
57 So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south
side of Emmaus.
58 And Judas said: Gird yourselves, and be valiant
men, and be ready against the morning, that you may
fight with these nations that are assembled against
us to destroy us and our sanctuary.
59 For it is better for us to die in battle, than to
see the evils of our nation, and of the holies:
60 Nevertheless as it shall be the will of God in
heaven so be it done.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 4
1 Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand
of the best horsemen: and they removed out of the
camp by night.
2 That they might come upon the camp of the Jews, and
strike them suddenly: and the men that were of the
castle were their guides.
3 And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the
valiant men, to attack the king's forces that were
in Emmaus.
4 For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp.
5 And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas,
and found no man, and he sought them in the
mountains: for he said: These men flee from us.
6 And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the
plain with three thousand men only, who neither had
armour nor swords.
7 And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was
strong, and the men in breastplates, and the
horsemen round about them, and these were trained up
to war.
8 And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear
ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of
their assault.
9 Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in
the Red Sea, when Pharao pursued them with a great
army.
10 And now let us cry to heaven: and the Lord will
have mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of
our fathers, and will destroy this army before our
face this day:
11 And all nations shall know that there is one that
redeemeth and delivereth Israel.
12 And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them
coming against them.
13 And they went out of the camp to battle, and they
that were with Judas sounded the trumpet.
14 And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were
routed, and fled into the plain.
15 But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword, and
they pursued them as far as Gezeron, and even to the
plains of Idumea, and of Azotus, and of Jamnia: and
there fell of them to the number of three thousand
men.
16 And Judas returned again with his army that followed
him,
17 And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the
spoils: for there is war before us:
18 And Gorgias and his army are near us in the
mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and
overthrow them, and you shall take the spoils
afterwards with safety.
19 And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part
of them appeared looking forth from the mountain.
20 And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, ad
that they had set fire to the camp: for the smoke
that was seen declared what was done.
21 And when they had seen this, they were seized with
great fear, seeing at the same time Judas and his
army in the plain ready to fight.
22 So they all fled away into the land of the
strangers.
23 And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp,
and they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk,
and purple of the sea, and great riches.
24 And returning home they sung a hymn, and blessed God
in heaven, because he is good, because his mercy
endureth for ever.
25 So Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26 And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told
Lysias all that had happened.
27 And when he heard these things, he was amazed and
discouraged: because things had not succeeded in
Israel according to his mind, and as the king had
commanded.
28 So the year following Lysias gathered together
threescore thousand chosen men, and five thousand
horsemen, that he might subdue them.
29 And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in
Bethoron, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
30 And they saw that the army was strong, and he
prayed, and said: Blessed art thou, O Saviour of
Israel, who didst break the violence of the mighty
by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver
up the camp of the strangers into the hands of
Jonathan the son of Saul and of his armourbearer.
31 Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel,
and let them be confounded in their host and their
horsemen.
32 Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness of
their strength to languish, and let them quake at
their own destruction.
33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love
thee: and let all that know thy name, praise thee
with hymns.
34 And they joined battle: and there fell of the army
of Lysias five thousand men.
35 And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight,
and how bold the Jews were, and that they were ready
either to live, or to die manfully, he went to
Antioch, and chose soldiers, that they might come
again into Judea with greater numbers.
36 Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our
enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to
cleanse the holy places and to repair them.
37 And all the army assembled together, and they went
up into mount Sion.
38 And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar
profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up
in the courts as in a forest, or on the mountains,
and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down.
39 And they rent their garments, and made great
lamentation, and put ashes on their heads:
40 And they fell face down to the ground on their
faces, and they sounded with the trumpets of alarm,
and they cried towards heaven.
41 Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that
were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy
places.
42 And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was
set upon the law of God:
43 And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the
stones that had been defiled into an unclean place.
44 And he considered about the altar of holocausts that
had been profaned, what he should do with it.
45 And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it
down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because
the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.
46 And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the
temple in a convenient place, till there should come
a prophet, and give answer concerning them.
47 Then they took whole stones according to the law,
and built a new altar according to the former:
48 And they built up the holy places, and the things
that were within the temple: and they sanctified
the temple, and the courts.
49 And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the
candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table
into the temple.
50 And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up
the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they
gave light in the temple.
51 And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up
the veils, and finished all the works that they had
begun to make.
52 And they arose before the morning on the five and
twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month
of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.
53 And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon
the new altar of holocausts which they had made.
54 According to the time, and according to the day
wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was
it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and
lutes, and cymbals.
55 And all the people fell upon their faces, and
adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had
prospered them.
56 And they kept the dedication of the altar eight
days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and
sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.
57 And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns
of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the
gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.
58 And there was exceeding great joy among the people,
and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.
59 And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of
Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of
the altar should be kept in its season from year to
year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day
of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.
60 They built up also at that time mount Sion, with
high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the
Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down
as they did before.
61 And he placed a garrison there to keep it, and he
fortified it to secure Bethsura, that the people
might have a defence against Idumea.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 5
1 Now it came to pass, when the nations round about
heard that the altar and the sanctuary were built up
as before, that they were exceeding angry.
2 And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob
that were among them, and they began to kill some of
the people, and to persecute them.
3 Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in
Idumea, and them that were in Acrabathane: because
they beset the Israelites around about, and he made
a great slaughter of them.
4 And he remembered the malice of the children of
Bean: who were a snare and a stumblingblock to the
people, by lying in wait for them in the way.
5 And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set
upon them, and devoted them to utter destruction,
and burnt their towers with fire, and all that were
in them.
6 Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where
he found a mighty power, and much people, and
Timotheus was their captain:
7 And he fought many battles with them, and they were
discomfited in their sight, and he smote them:
8 And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and
returned into Judea.
9 And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled
themselves together against the Israelites that were
in their quarters to destroy them: and they fled
into the fortress of Datheman.
10 And they sent letters to Judas and his brethren,
saying, The heathens that are round about are
gathered together against us, to destroy us:
11 And they are preparing to come, and to take the
fortress into which we are fled: and Timotheus is
the captain of their host.
12 Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their
hands, for many of us are slain.
13 And all our brethren that were in the places of
Tubin, are killed: and they have carried away their
wives, and their children, captives, and taken their
spoils, and they have slain there almost a thousand
men.
14 And while they were yet reading these letters,
behold there came other messengers out Galilee with
their garments rent, who related according to these
words:
15 Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of
Sidon, were assembled against them, and all Galilee
is filled with strangers, in order to consume us.
16 Now when Judas and all the people heard these words,
a great assembly met together to consider what they
should do for their brethren that were in trouble,
and were assaulted by them.
17 And Judas said to Simon his brother: Choose thee
men, and go, and deliver they brethren in Galilee:
and I, and my brother Jonathan will go into the
country of Galaad.
18 And he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias
captains of the people with the remnant of the army
in Judea to keep it:
19 And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge
of this people: but make no war against the
heathens, till we return.
20 Now three thousand men were alloted to Simon, to go
into Gallilee: and eight thousand to Judas to go
into the land of Galaad.
21 And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles
with the heathens: and the heathens were
discomfited before his face, and he pursued them
even to the gate of Ptolemais.
22 And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand
men, and he took the spoils of them,
23 And he took with him those that were in Galilee and
in Arbatis with their wives, and children, and all
that they had, and he brought them into Judea with
great joy.
24 And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan his brother passed
over the Jordan, and went three days' journey
through the desert.
25 And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a
peaceable manner, and told them all that happened to
their brethren in the land of Galaad,
26 And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in
Bosor, and in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth,
and in Carnaim: all these strong and great cities.
27 Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of
the cities of Galaad, and that they had appointed to
bring their army on the morrow near to these cities,
and to take them and to destroy them all in one day.
28 Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march
into the desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and
he slew every male by the edge of the sword, and
took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire.
29 And they removed from thence by night, and went till
they came to the fortress.
30 And it came to pass that early in the morning, when
they lifted up their eyes, behold there were people
without number, carrying ladders and engines to take
the fortress, and assault them.
31 And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry
of the battle went up to heaven like a trumpet, and
a great cry out of the city:
32 And he said to his host: Fight ye to day for your
brethren.
33 And he came with three companies behind them, and
they sounded their trumpets, and cried out in
prayer.
34 And the host of Timotheus understood that it was
Machabeus, and they fled away before his face: and
they made a great slaughter of them: and there fell
of them in that day almost eight thousand men.
35 And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and
took it, and he slew every male thereof, and took
the spoils thereof, and burnt it with fire.
36 From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth,
and Bosor, and the rest of the cities of Galaad.
37 But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and
camped over against Raphon beyond the torrent.
38 And Judas sent men to view the army: and they
brought him word, saying: All the nations, that are
round about us, are assembled unto him an army
exceeding great:
39 And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and
they have pitched their tents beyond the torrent,
ready to come to fight against thee. And Judas went
to meet them.
40 And Timotheus said to the captains of his army:
When Judas and his army come near the torrent of
water, if he pass over unto us first, we shall not
be able to withstand him: for he will certainly
prevail over us.
41 But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the
other side of the river, we will pass over to them
and shall prevail against him.
42 Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he
set the scribes of the people by the torrent, and
commanded them, saying: Suffer no man to stay
behind: but let all come to the battle.
43 And he passed over to them first, and all the
people after him, and all the heathens were
discomfited before them, and they threw away their
weapons, and fled to the temple that was in Carnaim.
44 And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with
fire, with all things that were therein: and
Carnaim was subdued, and could not stand against the
face of Judas.
45 And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that
were in the land of Galaad, from the least even to
the greatest, and their wives, and children, and an
army exceeding great, to come into the land of Juda.
46 And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a
great city situate in the way, strongly fortified,
and there was no means to turn from it on the right
hand or on the left, but the way was through the
midst of it.
47 And they that were in the city, shut themselves in,
and stopped up the gates with stones: and Judas
sent to them with peaceable words,
48 Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into
our country: and no man shall hurt you: we will
only pass through on foot. But they would not open
to them.
49 Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the
camp, that they should make an assault every man in
the place where he was.
50 And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted
that city all the day, and all the night, and the
city was delivered into his hands:
51 And they slew every male with the edge of the
sword, and he razed the city, and took the spoils
thereof, and passed through all the city over them
that were slain.
52 Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain
that is over against Bethsan.
53 And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he
exhorted the people all the way through, till they
came into the land of Juda.
54 And they went up to mount Sion with joy and
gladness, and offered holocausts, because not one of
them was slain, till they had returned in peace.
55 Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the
land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee
before Ptolemais,
56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias captain of
the soldiers, heard of the good success, and the
battles that were fought.
57 And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us
go fight against the Gentiles that are round about
us.
58 And he gave charge to them that were in his army,
and they went towards Jamnia.
59 And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to
give them battle.
60 And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were
pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there fell,
on that day, of the people of Israel about two
thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the
people:
61 Because they did not hearken to Judas, and his
brethren, thinking that they should do manfully.
62 But they were not of the seed of those men by whom
salvation was brought to Israel.
63 And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in
the sight of all Israel, and of all the nations
where their name was heard.
64 And people assembled to them with joyful
acclamations.
65 Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked
the children of Esau, in the land toward the south,
and he took Chebron, and her towns: and he burnt the
walls thereof and the towers all round it.
66 And he removed his camp to go into the land of the
aliens, and he went through Samaria.
67 In that day some priests fell in battle, while
desiring to do manfully they went out unadvisedly to
fight.
68 And Judas turned to Azotus into the land of the
strangers, and he threw down their altars, and he
burnt the statues of their gods with fire: and he
took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the
land of Juda.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 6
1 Now king Antiochus was going through the higher
countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in
Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver
and gold.
2 And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich:
and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields
which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian
that reigned first in Greece, had left there.
3 Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to
pillage it: But he was not able, because the design
was known to them that were in the city.
4 And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled
away from thence, and departed with great sadness,
and returned towards Babylonia.
5 And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that
told him, how the armies that were in the land of
Juda were put to flight:
6 And that Lysias went with a very great power, and
was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and
that thy were grown strong by the armour, and power,
and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of
the camps which they had destroyed:
7 And that they had thrown down the abomination which
he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that
they had compassed about the sanctuary with high
walls as before, and Bethsura also his city.
8 And it came to pass when the king heard these words,
that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved:
and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick
for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as
he imagined.
9 And he remained there many days: for great grief
came more and more and more upon him, and he made
account that he should die.
10 And he called for all his friends, and said to them:
Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away,
and my heart is cast down for anxiety.
11 And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation
am I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein
now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my
power!
12 But now I remember the evils that I have done in
Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the
spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I
sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without
cause.
13 I know therefore that for this cause these evils
have found me: and behold I perish with great grief
in a strange land.
14 Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he
made him regent over all his kingdom.
15 And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his
ring, that he should go to Antiochus his son, and
should bring him up for the kingdom.
16 So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred
and forty-nine.
17 And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he
set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he brought
up young: and he called his name Eupator.
18 Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the
Israelites round about the holy places: and they
were continually seeking their hurt, and to
strengthen the Gentiles.
19 And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called
together all the people, to besiege them.
20 And they came together, and besieged them in the
year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering
slings and engines.
21 And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked
men of Israel joined themselves unto them.
22 And they went to the king, and said: How long dost
thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge
our brethren?
23 We determined to serve thy father and to do
according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
24 And for this they of our nation are alienated from
us, and have slain as many of us as they could find,
and have spoiled our inheritances.
25 Neither have they put forth their hand against us
only, but also against all our borders.
26 And behold they have approached this day to the
castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have
fortified the stronghold of Bethsura:
27 And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do
greater things than these, and thou shalt not be
able to subdue them.
28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he
called together all his friends, and the captains of
his army, and them that were over the horsemen.
29 There came also to him from other realms, and from
the islands of the sea hired troops.
30 And the number of his army was an hundred thousand
footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and
thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.
31 And they went through Idumea, and approached to
Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made
engines: but they sallied forth and burnt them with
fire, and fought manfully.
32 And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the
camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp.
33 And the king rose before it was light, and made his
troops march on fiercely towards the way of
Bethzacharam: and the armies made themselves ready
for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets:
34 And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes,
and mulberries to provoke them to fight.
35 And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and
there stood by every elephant a thousand men in
coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their
heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were
chosen for every beast.
36 These before the time wheresoever the beast was, the
were there: and withersoever it went, they went,
and they departed not from it.
37 And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers,
which covered every one of them: and engines upon
them: and upon every one thirty-two valiant men,
who fought from above; and an Indian to rule the
beast.
38 And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side
and on that side at the two wings, with trumpets to
stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that
stood thick together in the legions thereof.
39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and
of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and
they shone like lamps of fire.
40 And part of the king's army was distinguished by the
high mountains, and the other part by the low
places: and they marched on warily and orderly.
41 And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at
the noise of their multitude, and the marching of
the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the
army was exceeding great and strong.
42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and
there fell of the king's army six hundred men.
43 And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts
harnessed with the king's harness: and it was
higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him
that the king was on it:
44 And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to
get himself an everlasting name.
45 And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the
legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left,
and they fell by him on this side and that side.
46 And he went between the feet of the elephant, and
put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to
the ground upon him, and he died there.
47 Then they seeing the strength of the king and the
fierceness of his army, turned away from them.
48 But the king's army went up against them to
Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents
against Judea and mount Sion.
49 And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura:
and they came forth out of the city, because they
had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the
year of rest to the land.
50 And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a
garrison to keep it.
51 And he turned his army against the sanctuary for
many days: and he set up there battering slings,
and engines and instruments to cast fire, and
engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to
shoot arrows, and slings.
52 And they also made engines against their engines,
and they fought for many days.
53 But there were no victuals in the city, because it
was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in
Judea of them that came from among the nations, had
eaten the residue of all that which had been stored
up.
54 And there remained in the holy places but a few, for
the famine had prevailed over them: and they were
dispersed every man to his own place.
55 Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus
while he lived had appointed to bring up his son
Antiochus, and to reign, to be king,
56 Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army
that went with him, and that he sought to take upon
him the affairs of the kingdom:
57 Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king
and to the captains of the army: We decay daily,
and our provision of victuals is small, and the
place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth
upon us to take order for the affairs of the
kingdom.
58 Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these
men, and make peace with them and with all their
nation.
59 And let us covenant with them, that they may live
according to their own laws as before. For because
of our despising their laws, they have been
provoked, and have done all these things.
60 And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the
king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to
make peace: and they accepted of it.
61 And the king and the princes swore to them: and
they came out of the stronghold.
62 Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the
strength of the place: and he quickly broke the
oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to
throw down the wall round about.
63 And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch,
where he found Philip master of the city: and he
fought against him, and took the city.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 7
1 In the hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the
son of Seleucus departed from the city of Rome, and
came up with a few men into a city of the sea coast,
and reigned there.
2 And it came to pass, as he entered into the house of
the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized
upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring them unto him.
3 And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their
face.
4 So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the
throne of his kingdom:
5 And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of
Israel: And Alcimus was at the head of them, who
desired to be made high priest.
6 And they accused the people to the king, saying:
Judas and his brethren have destroyed all thy
friends, and he hath driven us out of our land.
7 Now therefore send some man whom thou trustest, and
let him go, and see all the havock he hath made
amongst us, and in the king's lands: and let him
punish all his friends and their helpers.
8 Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends
that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom,
and was faithful to the king: and he sent him,
9 To see the havock that Judas had made: and the
wicked Alcimus he made high priest, and commanded
him to take revenge upon the children of Israel.
10 And they arose, and came with a great army into the
land of Juda: and they sent messengers, and spoke to
Judas and his brethren with peaceable words
deceitfully.
11 But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw
that they were come with a great army.
12 Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a
company of the scribes to require things that are
just:
13 And first the Assideans that were among the children
of Israel, and they sought peace of them.
14 For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of
Aaron is come, he will not deceive us.
15 And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to
them, saying: We will do you no harm nor your
friends.
16 And they believed him. And he took threescore of
them, and slew them in one day, according to the
word that is written:
17 The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they
have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none
to bury them.
18 Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people:
for they said: There is no truth, nor justice among
them: for they have broken the covenant, and the
oath which they made.
19 And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and
pitched in Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of
them that were fled away from him, and some of the
people he killed, and threw them into a great pit.
20 Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left
with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away
to the king:
21 But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief
priesthood.
22 And they that disturbed the people resorted to him,
and they got the land of Juda into their power, and
did much hurt in Israel.
23 And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they
that were with him, did to the children of Israel,
much more than the Gentiles.
24 And he went out into all the coasts of Juda round
about, and took vengeance upon the men that had
revolted, and they ceased to go forth any more into
the country.
25 And Alcimus saw that Judas, and they that were with
him prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand
against them, and he went back to the king, and
accused them of many crimes.
26 And the king sent Nicanor one of his principal
lords, who was a great enemy to Israel: and he
commanded him to destroy the people.
27 And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and
he sent to Judas and to his brethren deceitfully
with friendly words,
28 Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and
you: I will come with a few men to see your faces
with peace.
29 And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another
peaceably: and the enemies were prepared to take
away Judas by force.
30 And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to
him with deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and
would not see his face any more.
31 And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered:
and he went out to fight against Judas near
Capharsalama.
32 And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five
thousand men, and they fled into the city of David.
33 And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and
some of the priests and the people came out to
salute him peaceably, and to shew him the holocausts
that were offered for the king.
34 But he mocked them and despised them, and abused
them: and he spoke proudly,
35 And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his
army be delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I
return in peace, I will burn this house. And he
went out in a great rage.
36 And the priests went in, and stood before the face
of the altar and the temple: and weeping, they
said:
37 Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to
be called upon therein, that it might be a house of
prayer and supplication for thy people.
38 Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them
fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and
suffer them not to continue any longer.
39 Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped
near to Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him.
40 But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men:
and Judas prayed, and said:
41 O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib
blasphemed thee, an angel went out, and slew of them
a hundred and eighty-five thousand:
42 Even so destroy this army in our sight to day, and
let the rest know that he hath spoken ill against
thy sanctuary: and judge thou him according to his
wickedness.
43 And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day
of the month Adar: and the army of Nicanor was
defeated, and he himself was first slain in the
battle.
44 And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain, they
threw away their weapons, and fled:
45 And they pursued after them one day's journey from
Adazer, even till ye come to Gazara, and they
sounded the trumpets after them with signals.
46 And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea
round about, and they pushed them with the horns,
and they turned again to them, and they were all
slain with the sword, and there was not left of them
so much as one.
47 And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and
they cut off Nicanor's head, and his right hand,
which he had proudly stretched out, and they brought
it, and hung it up over against Jerusalem.
48 And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent
that day with great joy.
49 And he ordained that this day should be kept every
year, being the thirteenth of the month of Adar.
50 And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 8
1 Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they
are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all
things that are requested of them: and that
whosoever have come to them, they have made amity
with them, and that they are mighty in power.
2 And they heard of their battles, and their noble
acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they
conquered them, and brought them under tribute:
3 And how great things they had done in the land of
Spain, and that they had brought under their power
the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and
had gotten possession of all the place by their
counsel and patience:
4 And had conquered places that were very far off from
them, and kings that came against them from the ends
of the earth, and had overthrown them with great
slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every
year.
5 And that they had defeated in battle Philip, and
Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that
had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:
6 And how Antiochus the great king of Asia, who went
to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty
elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very
great army, was routed by them:
7 And how they took him alive, and appointed to him,
that both he and they that should reign after him,
should pay a great tribute, and that he should give
hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8 And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes,
and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces:
and those which they had taken from them they gave
to king Eumenes.
9 And that they who were in Greece had a mind to go
and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
10 And they sent a general against them, and fought
with them, and many of them were slain, and they
carried away their wives and their children
captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of
their land, and threw down their walls, and brought
them to be their servants unto this day.
11 And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any
time had resisted them, they had destroyed and
brought under their power.
12 But with their friends, and such as relied upon
them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms
that were near, and that were far off: for all that
heard their name, were afraid of them.
13 That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom,
those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed
from a kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
14 And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed
in purple, to be magnified thereby.
15 And that they made themselves a senate house, and
consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that
sat in council always for the people, that they
might do the things that were right.
16 And that they committed their government to one man
every year, to rule over all their country, and they
all obey one, and there is no envy, nor jealousy
amongst them.
17 So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of
Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent
them to Rome to make a league of amity and
confederacy with them.
18 And that they might take off from them the yoke of
the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the
kingdom of Israel with servitude.
19 And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they
entered into the senate house, and said:
20 Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of
the Jews have sent us to you, to make alliance and
peace with you, and that we may be registered your
confederates and friends.
21 And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22 And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote
back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to
Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a
memorial of the peace and alliance.
23 GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of
the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: and far be
the sword and enemy from them.
24 But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or
any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
25 The nation of the Jews shall help them according as
the time shall direct, with all their heart:
26 Neither shall they give them, whilst they are
fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or
money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the
Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without
taking any thing of them.
27 In like manner also if war shall come first upon the
nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with
all their heart, according as the time shall permit
them.
28 And there shall not be given to them that come to
their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or
ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and
they shall observe their orders without deceit.
29 According to these articles did the Romans covenant
with the people of the Jews.
30 And if after this one party or the other shall have
a mind to add to these articles, or take away
anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and
whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be
ratified.
31 Moreover concerning the evils that Demetrius the
king hath done against them, we have written to him,
saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our
friends, and allies, the Jews?
32 If therefore they come again to us complaining of
thee, we will do them justice, and will make war
against thee by sea and land.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 9
1 In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor
and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again
Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing
of his army with them.
2 And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and
they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and
they made themselves masters of it, and slew many
people.
3 In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second
year they brought the army to Jerusalem:
4 And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty
thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.
5 Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three
thousand chosen men with him:
6 And they saw the multitude of the army that they
were many, and they were seized with great fear:
and many withdrew themselves out of the camp, and
there remained of them no more than eight hundred
men.
7 And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the
battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast
down: because he had not time to gather them
together, and he was discouraged.
8 Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise,
and go against our enemies, if we may be able to
fight against them.
9 But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be
able, but let us save our lives now, and return to
our brethren, and then we will fight against them:
for we are but few.
10 Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this
thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be
come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let
us not stain our glory.
11 And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood
over against them: and the horsemen were divided
into two troops, and the slingers, and the archers
went before the army, and they that were in the
front were all men of valour.
12 And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion
drew near on two sides, and they sounded the
trumpets:
13 And they also were on Judas' side, even they also
cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the
armies: and the battle was fought from morning even
unto the evening.
14 And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the
army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the
stout of heart came together with him:
15 And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he
pursued them even to the mount Azotus.
16 And they that were in the left wing saw that the
right wing was discomfited, and they followed after
Judas, and them that were with him, at their back:
17 And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many
wounded of the one side and of the other.
18 And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
19 And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and
buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the
city of Modin.
20 And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great
lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.
21 And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved
the people of Israel!
22 But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and
of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness,
are not written: for they were very many.
23 And it came to pass after the death of Judas, that
the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the
confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity
rose up.
24 In those days there was a very great famine, and
they and all their country yielded to Bacchides.
25 And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them
lords of the country:
26 And they sought out, and made diligent search after
the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides,
and he took vengeance of them, and abused them.
27 And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as
was not since the day, that there was no prophet
seen in Israel.
28 And all the friends of Judas came together, and said
to Jonathan:
29 Since thy brother Judas died, there is not a man
like him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides,
and them that are the enemies of our nation.
30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our
prince, and captain in his stead to fight our
battles.
31 So Jonathan took upon him the government at that
time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.
32 And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to
kill him.
33 And Jonathan and Simon his brother, knew it, and all
that were with them: and they fled into the desert
of Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake
of Asphar,
34 And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself
with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath
day.
35 And Jonathan sent his brother a captain of the
people, to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that
they would lend them their equipage, which was
copious.
36 And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba,
and took John, and all that he had, and went away
with them.
37 After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon his
brother, that the children of Jambri made a great
marriage, and were bringing the bride out of Madaba,
the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan,
with great pomp.
38 And the remembered the blood of John their brother:
and they went up, and hid themselves under the
covert of the mountain.
39 And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold
a tumult, and great preparation: and the bridegroom
came forth, and his friends, and his brethren to
meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments,
and many weapons.
40 And they rose up against them from the place where
they lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell
many wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains,
and they took all their spoils:
41 And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the
noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.
42 And they took revenge for the blood of their
brother: and they returned to the bank of the
Jordan.
43 And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath
day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great
power.
44 And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and
fight against our enemies: for it is not now as
yesterday, and the day before.
45 And behold the battle is before us, and the water of
the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks,
and marshes, and woods: and there is no place for
us to turn aside.
46 Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be
delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they
joined battle.
47 And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike
Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.
48 And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped
into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:
49 And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a
thousand man: and they returned to Jerusalem,
50 And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress
that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron,
and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo,
with high walls, and gates, and bars.
51 And he placed garrisons in them, that they might
wage war against Israel:
52 And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara,
and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and
provisions of victuals:
53 And he took the sons of the chief men of the country
for hostages, and put them in the castle in
Jerusalem in custody.
54 Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the
second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the
inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and
the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he
began to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.
55 At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were
hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was
taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a
word, nor give order concerning his house.
56 And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
57 And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he
returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two
years.
58 And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold
Jonathan, and they that are with him, dwell at ease,
and without fear: now therefore let us bring
Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one
night.
59 So they went, and gave him counsel.
60 And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent
secretly letters to his adherents that were in
Judea, to seize upon Jonathan, and them that were
with him: but they could not, for their design was
known to them.
61 And he apprehended of the men of the country, that
were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty
men, and slew them.
62 And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him
retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert:
and he repaired the breaches thereof, and they
fortified it.
63 And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all
his multitude: and sent word to them that were of
Judea.
64 And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought
against it many days, and made engines.
65 But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and
went forth into the country: and came with a number
of men.
66 And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the
children of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to
slay, and to increase in forces.
67 But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out
of the city, and burnt the engines.
68 And they fought against Bacchides, and he was
discomfited by them: and they afflicted him
exceedingly, for his counsel, and his enterprise was
in vain.
69 And he was angry with the wicked men that had given
him counsel to come into their country, and he slew
many of them: and he purposed to return with the
rest into their country.
70 And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent
ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to
restore to him the prisoners.
71 And he accepted it willingly, and did according to
his words, and swore that the would do him no harm
all the days of his life.
72 And he restored to him the prisoners which he before
had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned
and went away into his own country, and he came no
more into their borders.
73 So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt
in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the
people, and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 10
1 Now in the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander the
son of Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up
and took Ptolemais, and they received him, and he
reigned there.
2 And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered
together an exceeding great army, and went forth
against him to fight.
3 And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan with
peaceable words, to magnify him.
4 For he said: Let us first make a peace with him,
before he make one with Alexander against us.
5 For he will remember all the evils that we have done
against him, and against his brother, and against
his nation.
6 And he gave him authority to gather together an
army, and to make arms, and that he should be his
confederate: and the hostages that were in the
castle, he commanded to be delivered to him.
7 And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the
letters in the hearing of all the people, and of
them that were in the castle.
8 And they were struck with great fear, because they
heard that the king had given him authority to
gather together an army.
9 And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he
restored them to their parents.
10 And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build,
and to repair the city.
11 And he ordered workmen to build the walls, and mount
Sion round about with square stones for
fortification: and so they did.
12 And the strangers that were in the strong holds,
which Bacchides had built, fled away.
13 And every man left his place, and departed into his
own country:
14 Only in Bethsura there remained some of them, that
had forsaken the law, and the commandments of God:
for this was a place of refuge for them.
15 And king Alexander heard of the promises that
Demetrius had made Jonathan: and they told him of
the battles, and the worthy acts that he, and his
brethren had done, and the labours that they had
endured.
16 And he said: Shall we find such another man? now
therefore we will make him our friend and our
confederate.
17 So he wrote a letter, and sent it to him according
to these words, saying:
18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting.
19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great
power, and fit to be our friend:
20 Now therefore we make thee this day high priest of
thy nation, and that thou be called the king's
friend, (and he sent him a purple robe, and a crown
of gold,) and that thou be of one mind with us in
our affairs, and keep friendship with us.
21 Then Jonathan put on the holy vestment in the
seventh month, in the year one hundred and
threescore, at the feast day of the tabernacles:
and he gathered together an army, and made a great
number of arms.
22 And Demetrius heard these words, and was exceeding
sorry, and said:
23 What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath
prevented us to gain the friendship of the Jews to
strengthen himself?
24 I also will write to them words of request, and
offer dignities, and gifts: that they may be with
me to aid me.
25 And he wrote to them in these words: King Demetrius
to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
26 Whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have
continued in our friendship, and have not joined
with our enemies, we have heard of it, and are glad.
27 Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity
towards us, and we will reward you with good things,
for what you have done in our behalf.
28 And we will remit to you many charges, and will give
you gifts.
29 And now I free you, and all the Jews from tributes,
and I release you from the customs of salt, and
remit the crowns, and the thirds of the seed:
30 And the half of the fruit of trees, which is my
share, I leave to you from this day forward, so that
it shall not be taken of the land of Juda, and of
the three cities that are added thereto out of
Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for
ever:
31 And let Jerusalem be holy and free, with the borders
thereof: and let the tenths, and tributes be for
itself.
32 I yield up also the power of the castle that is in
Jerusalem, and I give it to the high priest, to
place therein such men as he shall choose to keep
it.
33 And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried
captive from the land of Juda in all my kingdom, I
set at liberty freely, that all be discharged from
tributes even of their cattle.
34 And I will that all the feasts, and the sabbaths,
and the new moons, and the days appointed, and three
days before the solemn day, and three days after the
solemn day, be all days of immunity and freedom, for
all the Jews that are in my kingdom:
35 And no man shall have power to do any thing against
them, or to molest any of them, in any cause.
36 And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the
number of thirty thousand of the Jews: and
allowance shall be made them as is due to all the
king's forces, and certain of them shall be
appointed to be in the fortresses of the great king:
37 And some of them shall be set over the affairs of
the kingdom, that are of trust, and let the
governors be taken from among themselves, and let
them walk in their own laws, as the king hath
commanded in the land of Juda.
38 And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of
the country of Samaria, let them be accounted with
Judea: that they may be under one, and obey no
other authority but that of the high priest:
39 Ptolemais, and the confines thereof, I give as a
free gift to the holy places, that are in Jerusalem,
for the necessary charges of the holy things.
40 And I give every year fifteen thousand sicles of
silver out of the king's accounts, of what belongs
to me:
41 And all that is above, which they that were over the
affairs the years before, had not paid, from this
time they shall give it to the works of the house.
42 Moreover the five thousand sicles of silver which
they received from the account of the holy places,
every year, shall also belong to the priests that
execute the ministry.
43 And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in
Jerusalem, and in all the borders thereof, being
indebted to the king for any matter, let them be set
at liberty, and all that they have in my kingdom,
let them have it free.
44 For the building also, or repairing the works of the
holy places, the charges shall be given out of the
king's revenues:
45 For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and
the fortifying thereof round about, the charges
shall be given out of the king's account, as also
for the building of the walls in Judea.
46 Now when Jonathan, and the people heard these words,
they gave no credit to them nor received them:
because they remembered the great evil that he had
done in Israel, for he had afflicted them
exceedingly.
47 And their inclinations were towards Alexander,
because he had been the chief promoter of peace in
their regard, and him they always helped.
48 And king Alexander gathered together a great army,
and moved his camp near to Demetrius.
49 And the two kings joined battle, and the army of
Demetrius fled away, and Alexander pursued after
him, and pressed them close.
50 And the battle was hard fought till the sun went
down: and Demetrius was slain that day.
51 And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of
Egypt, with words to this effect, saying:
52 Forasmuch as I am returned into my kingdom, and am
set in the throne of my ancestors and have gotten
the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and
possessed our country,
53 And have joined battle with him, and both he and his
army have been destroyed by us, and we are placed in
the throne of his kingdom:
54 Now therefore let us make friendship one with
another: and give me now thy daughter to wife, and
I will be thy son in law, and I will give both thee
and her gifts worthy of thee.
55 And king Ptolemee answered, saying: Happy is the
day wherein thou didst return to the land of thy
fathers, and sattest in the throne of their kingdom.
56 And now I will do to thee as thou hast written: but
meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another,
and I may give her to thee as thou hast said.
57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his
daughter, and he came to Ptolemais in the hundred
and sixty-second year.
58 And king Alexander met him, and he gave him his
daughter Cleopatra: and he celebrated her marriage
at Ptolemais, with great glory, after the manner of
kings.
59 And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should
come and meet him.
60 And he went honourably to Ptolemais, and he met
there the two kings, and he gave them much silver,
and gold, and presents: and he found favour in
their sight.
61 And some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked
life, assembled themselves against him to accuse
him: and the king gave no heed to them.
62 And he commanded that Jonathan's garments should be
taken off, and that he should be clothed with
purple: and they did so. And the king made him sit
by himself.
63 And he said to his princes: Go out with him into
the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that
no man complain against him of any matter, and that
no man trouble him for any manner of cause.
64 So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and
him clothed with purple, they all fled away.
65 And the king magnified him, and enrolled him amongst
his chief friends, and made him governor and
partaker of his dominion.
66 And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and
joy.
67 In the year one hundred and sixty-five Demetrius the
son of Demetrius came from Crete into the land of
his fathers.
68 And king Alexander heard of it, and was much
troubled, and returned to Antioch.
69 And king Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who
was governor of Celesyria: and he gathered together
a great army, and came to Jamnia: and he sent to
Jonathan the high priest,
70 Saying: Thou alone standest against us, and I am
laughed at, and reproached, because thou shewest thy
power against us in the mountains.
71 Now therefore if thou trustest in thy forces, come
down to us into the plain, and there let us try one
another: for with me is the strength of war.
72 Ask, and learn who I am, and the rest that help me,
who also say that your foot cannot stand before our
face, for thy fathers have twice been put to flight
in their own land:
73 And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen,
and so great an army in the plain, where there is no
stone, nor rock, nor place to flee to?
74 Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he
was moved in his mind: and he chose ten thousand
men, and went out of Jerusalem, and Simon his
brother met him to help him.
75 And they pitched their tents near Joppe, but they
shut him out of the city: because a garrison of
Apollonius was in Joppe, and he laid siege to it.
76 And they that were in the city being affrighted,
opened the gates to him: so Jonathan took Joppe.
77 And Apollonius heard of it, and he took three
thousand horsemen, and a great army.
78 And he went to Azotus as one that was making a
journey, and immediately he went forth into the
plain: because he had a great number of horsemen,
and he trusted in them. And Jonathan followed after
him to Azotus, and they joined battle.
79 And Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand
horsemen behind them.
80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind
him, and they surrounded his army, and cast darts at
the people from morning till evening.
81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had
commanded them: and so their horses were fatigued.
82 Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the
legion: for the horsemen were wearied: and they
were discomfited by him, and fled.
83 And they that were scattered about the plain, fled
into Azotus, and went into Bethdagon their idol's
temple, there to save themselves.
84 But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that
were around it, and took the spoils of them, and the
temple of Dagon: and all them that were fled into
it, he burnt with fire.
85 So they that were slain by the sword, with them that
were burnt, were almost eight thousand men.
86 And Jonathan removed his army from thence, and
camped against Ascalon: and they went out of the
city to meet him with great honour.
87 And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his
people, having many spoils.
88 And it came to pass: When Alexander the king heard
these words, that he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is,
to be given to such as are of the royal blood. And
he gave him Accaron and all the borders thereof in
possession.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 11
1 And the king of Egypt gathered together an army,
like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and
many ships: and he sought to get the kingdom of
Alexander by deceit, and join it to his own kingdom.
2 And he went out into Syria with peaceable words, and
they opened to him the cities, and met him: for
king Alexander had ordered them to go forth to meet
him, because he was his father in law.
3 Now when Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put
garrisons of soldiers in every city.
4 And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the
temple of Dagon that was burnt with fire, and
Azotus, and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed,
and the bodies that were cast abroad, and the graves
of them that were slain in the battle, which they
had made near the way.
5 And they told the king that Jonathan had done these
things, to make him odious: but the king held his
peace.
6 And Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with
glory, and they saluted one another, and they lodged
there.
7 And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river,
called Eleutherus: and he returned into Jerusalem.
8 And king Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by
the sea side, even to Seleucia, and he devised evil
designs against Alexander.
9 And he sent ambassadors to Demetrius, saying: Come,
let us make a league between us, and I will give
thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt
reign in the kingdom of thy father.
10 For I repent that I have given him my daughter: for
he hath sought to kill me.
11 And he slandered him, because he coveted his
kingdom.
12 And he took away his daughter, and gave her to
Demetrius, and alienated himself from Alexander, and
his enmities were made manifest.
13 And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two
crowns upon his head, that of Egypt, and that of
Asia.
14 Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time:
because they that were in those places had rebelled.
15 And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him
battle, and king Ptolemee brought forth his army,
and met him with a strong power, and put him to
flight.
16 And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be
protected: and king Ptolemee was exalted.
17 And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head,
and sent it to Ptolemee.
18 And king Ptolemee died the third day after: and
they that were in the strong holds were destroyed by
them that were within the camp.
19 And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and
sixty-seventh year.
20 In those days Jonathan gathered together them that
were in Judea, to take the castle that was in
Jerusalem: and they made many engines of war
against it.
21 Then some wicked men that hated their own nation,
went away to king Demetrius, and told him that
Jonathan was besieging the castle.
22 And when he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith
he came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan, that he
should not besiege the castle, but should come to
him in haste, and speak to him.
23 But when Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege
it still: and he chose some of the ancients of
Israel, and of the priests, and put himself in
danger.
24 And he took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many
other presents, and went to the king to Ptolemais,
and he found favour in his sight.
25 And certain wicked men of his nation made complaints
against him.
26 And the king treated him as his predecessor had done
before: and he exalted him in the sight of all his
friends.
27 And he confirmed him in the high priesthood, and all
the honours he had before, and he made him the chief
of his friends.
28 And Jonathan requested of the king that he would
make Judea free from tribute, and the three
governments, and Samaria, and the confines thereof:
and he promised him three hundred talents.
29 And the king consented: and he wrote letters to
Jonathan of all these things to this effect.
30 King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the
nation of the Jews, greeting.
31 We send you here a copy of the letter, which we have
written to Lasthenes our parent concerning you, that
you might know it.
32 King Demetrius to Lasthenes his parent, greeting.
33 We have determined to do good to the nation of the
Jews who are our friends, and keep the things that
are just with us, for their good will which they
bear towards us.
34 We have ratified therefore unto them all the borders
of Judea, and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda, and
Ramatha, which are added to Judea, out of Samaria,
and all their confines, to be set apart to all them
that sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments
which the king received of them every year, and for
the fruits of the land, and of the trees.
35 And as for other things that belonged to us of the
tithes, and of the tributes, from this time we
discharge them of them: the saltpans also, and the
crowns that were presented to us.
36 We give all to them, and nothing hereof shall be
revoked from this time forth and for ever.
37 Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these
things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and set
upon the holy mountain, in a conspicuous place.
38 And king Demetrius seeing that the land was quiet
before him, and nothing resisted him, sent away all
his forces, every man to his own place, except the
foreign army, which he had drawn together from the
islands of the nations: so all the troops of his
fathers hated him.
39 Now there was one Tryphon who had been of
Alexander's party before: who seeing that all the
army murmured against Demetrius, went to Emalchuel
the Arabian, who brought up Antiochus the son of
Alexander.
40 And he pressed him much to deliver him to him, that
he might be king in his father's place: and he told
him all that Demetrius had done, and how his
soldiers hated him. And he remained there many
days.
41 And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that
he would cast out them that were in the castle in
Jerusalem, and those that were in the strong holds:
because they fought against Israel.
42 And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not
only do this for thee, and for thy people, but I
will greatly honour thee, and thy nation, when
opportunity shall serve.
43 Now therefore thou shalt do well if thou send me men
to help me: for all my army is gone from me.
44 And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to
Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king
was very glad of their coming.
45 And they that were of the city assembled themselves
together, to the number of a hundred and twenty
thousand men, and would have killed the king.
46 And the king fled into the palace, and they of the
city kept the passages of the city, and began to
fight.
47 And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and
they came to him all at once, and they all dispersed
themselves through the city.
48 And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men,
and they set fire to the city, and got many spoils
that day, and delivered the king.
49 And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had
got the city as they would: and they were
discouraged in their minds, and cried to the king,
making supplication, and saying:
50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from
assaulting us, and the city.
51 And they threw down their arms, and made peace, and
the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king,
and in the sight of all that were in his realm, and
were renowned throughout the kingdom, and returned
to Jerusalem with many spoils.
52 So king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom:
and the land was quiet before him.
53 And he falsified all whatsoever he had said, and
alienated himself from Jonathan, and did not reward
him according to the benefits he had received from
him, but gave him great trouble.
54 And after this Tryphon returned, and with him
Antiochus the young boy, who was made king, and put
on the diadem.
55 And there assembled unto him all the hands which
Demetrius had sent away, and they fought against
Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.
56 And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself
master of Antioch.
57 And young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying: I
confirm thee in the high priesthood, and I appoint
thee ruler over the four cities, and to be one of
the king's friends.
58 And he sent him vessels of gold for his service, and
he gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be
clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle:
59 And he made his brother Simon governor from the
borders of Tyre even to the confines of Egypt.
60 Then Jonathan went forth and passed through the
cities beyond the river: and all the forces of
Syria gathered themselves to him to help him, and he
came to Ascalon, and they met him honourably out of
the city.
61 And he went from thence to Gaza: and they that were
in Gaza shut him out: and he besieged it, and burnt
all the suburbs round about, and took the spoils.
62 And the men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan,
and he gave them the right hand: and he took their
sons for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem: and
he went through the country as far as Damascus.
63 And Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius
were come treacherously to Cades, which is in
Galilee, with a great army, purposing to remove him
from the affairs of the kingdom:
64 And he went against them: but left his brother
Simon in the country.
65 And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted
it many days, and shut them up.
66 And they desired him to make peace, and he granted
it them: and he cast them out from thence, and took
the city, and placed a garrison in it.
67 And Jonathan, and his army encamped by the water of
Genesar, and before it was light they were ready in
the plain of Asor.
68 And behold the army of the strangers met him in the
plain, and they laid an ambush for him in the
mountains: but he went out against them.
69 And they that lay in ambush arose out of their
places, and joined battle.
70 And all that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none
was left of them, but Mathathias the son of Absalom,
and Judas the son of Calphi, chief captain of the
army.
71 And Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon
his head, and prayed.
72 And Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he
put them to flight, and they fought.
73 And they of his part that fled saw this, and they
turned again to him, and they all with him pursued
the enemies even to Cades to their own camp, and
they came even thither.
74 And there fell of the aliens in that day three
thousand men: and Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.
The First Book of Machabees, 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.
The First Book of Machabees, 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.
The First Book of Machabees, 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.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 15
1 And king Antiochus the son of Demetrius sent letters
from the isles of the sea to Simon the priest, and
prince of the nation of the Jews, and to all the
people:
2 And the contents were these: King Antiochus to
Simon the high priest, and to the nation of the
Jews, greeting.
3 Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the
kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to
challenge the kingdom, and to restore it to its
former estate: and I have chosen a great army, and
have built ships of war.
4 And I design to go through the country that I may
take revenge of them that have destroyed our
country, and that have made many cities desolate in
my realm.
5 Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations
which all the kings before me remitted to thee, and
what other gifts soever they remitted to thee:
6 And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy
country:
7 And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the
armour that hath been made, and the fortresses which
thou hast built, and which thou keepest in thy
hands, let them remain to thee.
8 And all that is due to the king, and what should be
the king's hereafter, from this present and for
ever, is forgiven thee.
9 And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we
will glorify thee, and thy nation, and the temple
with great glory, so that your glory shall be made
manifest in all the earth.
10 In the year one hundred and seventy-four Antiochus
entered into the land of this fathers, and all the
forces assembled to him, so that few were left with
Tryphon.
11 And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled
along by the sea coast and came to Dora.
12 For he perceived that evils were gathered together
upon him, and his troops had forsaken him.
13 And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and
twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand
horsemen:
14 And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by
sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea,
and suffered none to come in, or to go out.
15 And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came
from the city of Rome, having letters written to the
kings, and countries, the contents whereof were
these:
16 Lucius the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee,
greeting.
17 The ambassadors of the Jews our friends came to us,
to renew the former friendship and alliance, being
sent from Simon the high priest, and the people of
the Jews.
18 And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand
pounds.
19 It hath seemed good therefore to us to write to the
kings, and countries, that they should do them no
harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or
countries: and that they should give no aid to them
that fight against them.
20 And it hath seemed good to us to received the shield
of them.
21 If therefore any pestilent men are fled out of their
country to you, deliver them to Simon the high
priest, that he may punish them according to their
law.
22 These same things were written to king Demetrius,
and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,
23 And to all the countries; and to Lampsacus, and to
the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon,
and Caria, and Samus, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and
Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and
Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and
Cyprus, and Cyrene.
24 And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon the high
priest, and to the people of the Jews.
25 But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second
time, assaulting it continually, and making engines:
and shut up Tryphon, that he could not go out.
26 And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid
him, silver also, and gold, and abundance of
furniture.
27 And he would not receive them, but broke all the
covenant that he had made with him before, and
alienated himself from him.
28 And he sent to him Athenobius one of his friends,
to treat with him, saying: You hold Joppe, and
Gazara, and the castle that is in Jerusalem, which
are cities of my kingdom:
29 Their borders you have wasted, and you have made
great havock in the land, and have got the dominion
of many places in my kingdom.
30 Now therefore deliver up the cities that you have
taken, and the tributes of the places whereof you
have gotten the dominion without the borders of
Judea.
31 But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of
silver, and for the havock that you have made, and
the tributes of the cities other five hundred
talents: or else we will come and fight against
you.
32 So Athenobius the king's friend came to Jerusalem,
and saw the glory of Simon and his magnificence in
gold, and silver, and his great equipage, and he was
astonished, and told him the king's words.
33 And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have
neither taken other men's land, neither do we hold
that which is other men's: but the inheritance of
our fathers, which was for some time unjustly
possessed by our enemies.
34 But we having opportunity claim the inheritance of
our fathers.
35 And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and
Gazara, they did great harm to the people, and to
our country: yet for these we will give a hundred
talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word:
36 But returning in a rage to the king, made report to
him of these words, and of the glory of Simon, and
of all that he had seen, and the king was exceeding
angry.
37 And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias.
38 And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea
coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen.
39 And he commanded him to march with his army towards
Judea: and he commanded him to build up Gedor, and
to fortify the gates of the city, and to war against
the people. But the king himself pursued after
Tryphon.
40 And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke
the people, and to ravage Judea, and to take the
people prisoners, and to kill, and to build Gedor.
41 And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that
they might issue forth, and make incursions upon the
ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.
The First Book of Machabees, Chapter 16
1 Then John came up from Gazara, and told Simon his
father what Cendebeus had done against their people.
2 And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and
John, and said to them: I and my brethren, and my
father's house, have fought against the enemies of
Israel from our youth even to this day: and things
have prospered so well in our hands that we have
delivered Israel oftentimes.
3 And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my
brethren, and go out, and fight for our nation: and
the help from heaven be with you.
4 Then he chose out of the country twenty thousand
fighting men, and horsemen, and they went forth
against Cendebeus: and they rested in Modin.
5 And they arose in the morning, and went into the
plain: and behold a very great army of footmen and
horsemen came against them, and there was a running
river between them.
6 And he and his people pitched their camp over
against them, and he saw that the people were afraid
to go over the river, so he went over first: then
the men seeing him, passed over after him.
7 And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in
the midst of the footmen: but the horsemen of the
enemies were very numerous.
8 And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus
and his army were put to flight: and there fell
many of them wounded, and the rest fled into the
strong hold.
9 At that time Judas John's brother was wounded: but
John pursued after them, till he came to Cedron,
which he had built:
10 And they fled even to the towers that were in the
fields of Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And
there fell of them two thousand men, and he returned
into Judea in peace.
11 Now Ptolemee the son of Abobus was appointed captain
in the plain of Jericho, and he had abundance of
silver and gold,
12 For he was son in law of the high priest.
13 And his heart was lifted up, and he designed to make
himself master of the country, and he purposed
treachery against Simon, and his sons, to destroy
them.
14 Now Simon, as he was going through the cities that
were in the country of Judea, and taking care for
the good ordering of them, went down to Jericho, he
and Mathathias and Judas his sons, in the year one
hundred and seventy-seven, the eleventh month: the
same is the month Sabath.
15 And the son of Abobus received them deceitfully into
a little fortress, that is called Doch which he had
built: and he made them a great feast, and hid men
there.
16 And when Simon and his sons had drunk plentifully,
Ptolemee and his men rose up and took their weapons,
and entered into the banqueting place, and slew him,
and his two sons, and some of his servants.
17 And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and
rendered evil for good.
18 And Ptolemee wrote these things and sent to the king
that he should send him an army to aid him, and he
would deliver him the country, and their cities, and
tributes.
19 And he sent others to Gazara to kill John: and to
the tribunes he sent letters to come to him, and
that he would give them silver, and gold, and gifts.
20 And he sent others to take Jerusalem, and the
mountain of the temple.
21 Now one running before, told John in Gazara, that
his father and his brethren were slain, and that he
hath sent men to kill thee also.
22 But when he heard it he was exceedingly afraid: and
he apprehended the men that came to kill him, and he
put them to death: for he knew that they sought to
make him away.
23 And as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and
his wars, and the worthy deeds, which he bravely
achieved, and the building of the walls, which he
made, and the things that he did:
24 Behold these are written in the book of the days of
his priesthood, from the time he was made high
priest after his father.
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