1st Maccabees 1
1 And it happened, after that Alexander
son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had
smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead,
the first over Greece,
2 And made many wars, and won many strong
holds, and slew the kings of the earth,
3 And went through to the ends of the
earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet
before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.
4 And he gathered a mighty strong host
and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries
unto him.
5 And after these things he fell sick,
and perceived that he should die.
6 Wherefore he called his servants, such
as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and
parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
7 So Alexander reigned twelves years,
and then died.
8 And his servants bare rule every one
in his place.
9 And after his death they all put crowns
upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were
multiplied in the earth.
10 And there came out of them a wicked
root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been
an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh
year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 In those days went there out of Israel
wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with
the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we
have had much sorrow.
12 So this device pleased them well.
13 Then certain of the people were so
forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do
after the ordinances of the heathen:
14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise
at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:
15 And made themselves uncircumcised,
and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and
were sold to do mischief.
16 Now when the kingdom was established
before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the
dominion of two realms.
17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with
a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great
navy,
18 And made war against Ptolemee king
of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded
to death.
19 Thus they got the strong cities in
the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.
20 And after that Antiochus had smitten
Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went
up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,
21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary,
and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the
vessels thereof,
22 And the table of the shewbread, and
the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil,
and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all
which he pulled off.
23 He took also the silver and the gold,
and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.
24 And when he had taken all away, he
went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.
25 Therefore there was a great mourning
in Israel, in every place where they were;
26 So that the princes and elders mourned,
the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was
changed.
27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation,
and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,
28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants
thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
29 And after two years fully expired the
king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came
unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,
30 And spake peaceable words unto them,
but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly
upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.
31 And when he had taken the spoils of
the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof
on every side.
32 But the women and children took they
captive, and possessed the cattle.
33 Then builded they the city of David
with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong
hold for them.
34 And they put therein a sinful nation,
wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.
35 They stored it also with armour and
victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem,
they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:
36 For it was a place to lie in wait against
the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.
37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every
side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:
38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem
fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers,
and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children
left her.
39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a
wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach
her honour into contempt.
40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour
increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.
41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his
whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
42 And every one should leave his laws:
so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.
43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented
to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.
44 For the king had sent letters by messengers
unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange
laws of the land,
45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice,
and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths
and festival days:
46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy
people:
47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels
of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:
48 That they should also leave their children
uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness
and profanation:
49 To the end they might forget the law,
and change all the ordinances.
50 And whosoever would not do according
to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.
51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to
his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding
the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
52 Then many of the people were gathered
unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed
evils in the land;
53 And drove the Israelites into secret
places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.
54 Now the fifteenth day of the month
Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination
of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities
of Juda on every side;
55 And burnt incense at the doors of their
houses, and in the streets.
56 And when they had rent in pieces the
books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.
57 And whosoever was found with any the
book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment
was, that they should put him to death.
58 Thus did they by their authority unto
the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.
59 Now the five and twentieth day of the
month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar
of God.
60 At which time according to the commandment
they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.
61 And they hanged the infants about their
necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.
62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved
and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.
63 Wherefore the rather to die, that they
might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy
covenant: so then they died.
64 And there was very great wrath upon
Israel.
1st Maccabees 2
1 In those days arose Mattathias the son
of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem,
and dwelt in Modin.
2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called
Caddis:
3 Simon; called Thassi:
4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:
5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan,
whose surname was Apphus.
6 And when he saw the blasphemies that
were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,
7 He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I
born to see this misery of my people, and of the holy city, and to dwell
there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary
into the hand of strangers?
8 Her temple is become as a man without
glory.
9 Her glorious vessels are carried away
into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with
the sword of the enemy.
10 What nation hath not had a part in
her kingdom and gotten of her spoils?
11 All her ornaments are taken away; of
a free woman she is become a bondslave.
12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our
beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.
13 To what end therefore shall we live
any longer?
14 Then Mattathias and his sons rent their
clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore.
15 In the mean while the king's officers,
such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make
them sacrifice.
16 And when many of Israel came unto them,
Mattathias also and his sons came together.
17 Then answered the king's officers,
and said to Mattathias on this wise, Thou art a ruler, and an honourable
and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren:
18 Now therefore come thou first, and
fulfil the king's commandment, like as all the heathen have done, yea,
and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou
and thy house be in the number of the king's friends, and thou and thy
children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.
19 Then Mattathias answered and spake
with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion
obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and
give consent to his commandments:
20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren
walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21 God forbid that we should forsake the
law and the ordinances.
22 We will not hearken to the king's words,
to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.
23 Now when he had left speaking these
words, there came one of the Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the
altar which was at Modin, according to the king's commandment.
24 Which thing when Mattathias saw, he
was inflamed with zeal, and his reins trembled, neither could he forbear
to shew his anger according to judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him
upon the altar.
25 Also the king's commissioner, who compelled
men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.
26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law
of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.
27 And Mattathias cried throughout the
city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth
the covenant, let him follow me.
28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains,
and left all that ever they had in the city.
29 Then many that sought after justice
and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there:
30 Both they, and their children, and
their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon
them.
31 Now when it was told the king's servants,
and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain
men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone down into the secret
places in the wilderness,
32 They pursued after them a great number,
and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against
them on the sabbath day.
33 And they said unto them, Let that which
ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment
of the king, and ye shall live.
34 But they said, We will not come forth,
neither will we do the king's commandment, to profane the sabbath day.
35 So then they gave them the battle with
all speed.
36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither
cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;
37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency:
heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.
38 So they rose up against them in battle
on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their
cattle, to the number of a thousand people.
39 Now when Mattathias and his friends
understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.
40 And one of them said to another, If
we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws
against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.
41 At that time therefore they decreed,
saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day,
we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that
were murdered im the secret places.
42 Then came there unto him a company
of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily
devoted unto the law.
43 Also all they that fled for persecution
joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.
44 So they joined their forces, and smote
sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest
fled to the heathen for succour.
45 Then Mattathias and his friends went
round about, and pulled down the altars:
46 And what children soever they found
within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.
47 They pursued also after the proud men,
and the work prospered in their hand.
48 So they recovered the law out of the
hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they
the sinner to triumph.
49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias
should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength,
and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous
for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers
did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting
name.
52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation,
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress
kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees our father in being zealous
and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made
a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb for bearing witness before the
congregation received the heritage of the land.
57 David for being merciful possessed
the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58 Elias for being zealous and fervent
for the law was taken up into heaven.
59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing
were saved out of the flame.
60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered
from the mouth of lions.
61 And thus consider ye throughout all
ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.
62 Fear not then the words of a sinful
man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.
63 To day he shall be lifted up and to
morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and
his thought is come to nothing.
64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and
shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain
glory.
65 And behold, I know that your brother
Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father
unto you.
66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been
mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and
fight the battle of the people.
67 Take also unto you all those that observe
the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people.
68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take
heed to the commandments of the law.
69 So he blessed them, and was gathered
to his fathers.
70 And he died in the hundred forty and
sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at
Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.
1st Maccabees 3
1 Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus,
rose up in his stead.
2 And all his brethren helped him, and
so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness
the battle of Israel.
3 So he gat his people great honour, and
put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him,
and he made battles, protecting the host with his sword.
4 In his acts he was like a lion, and
like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey.
5 For He pursued the wicked, and sought
them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people.
6 Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear
of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation
prospered in his hand.
7 He grieved also many kings, and made
Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever.
8 Moreover he went through the cities
of Juda, destroying the ungodly out of them, and turning away wrath from
Israel:
9 So that he was renowned unto the utmost
part of the earth, and he received unto him such as were ready to perish.
10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles
together, and a great host out of Samaria, to fight against Israel.
11 Which thing when Judas perceived, he
went forth to meet him, and so he smote him, and slew him: many also fell
down slain, but the rest fled.
12 Wherefore Judas took their spoils,
and Apollonius' sword also, and therewith he fought all his life long.
13 Now when Seron, a prince of the army
of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered unto him a multitude and company
of the faithful to go out with him to war;
14 He said, I will get me a name and honour
in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him,
who despise the king's commandment.
15 So he made him ready to go up, and
there went with him a mighty host of the ungodly to help him, and to be
avenged of the children of Israel.
16 And when he came near to the going
up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company:
17 Who, when they saw the host coming
to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight
against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint
with fasting all this day?
18 Unto whom Judas answered, It is no
hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the
God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small
company:
19 For the victory of battle standeth
not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.
20 They come against us in much pride
and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us:
21 But we fight for our lives and our
laws.
22 Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow
them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them.
23 Now as soon as he had left off speaking,
he leapt suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before
him.
24 And they pursued them from the going
down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred
men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines.
25 Then began the fear of Judas and his
brethren, and an exceeding great dread, to fall upon the nations round
about them:
26 Insomuch as his fame came unto the
king, and all nations talked of the battles of Judas.
27 Now when king Antiochus heard these
things, he was full of indignation: wherefore he sent and gathered together
all the forces of his realm, even a very strong army.
28 He opened also his treasure, and gave
his soldiers pay for a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he
should need them.
29 Nevertheless, when he saw that the
money of his treasures failed and that the tributes in the country were
small, because of the dissension and plague, which he had brought upon
the land in taking away the laws which had been of old time;
30 He feared that he should not be able
to bear the charges any longer, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally
as he did before: for he had abounded above the kings that were before
him.
31 Wherefore, being greatly perplexed
in his mind, he determined to go into Persia, there to take the tributes
of the countries, and to gather much money.
32 So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and
one of the blood royal, to oversee the affairs of the king from the river
Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt:
33 And to bring up his son Antiochus,
until he came again.
34 Moreover he delivered unto him the
half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge of all things
that he would have done, as also concerning them that dwelt in Juda and
Jerusalem:
35 To wit, 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 their memorial from that place;
36 And that he should place strangers
in all their quarters, and divide their land by lot.
37 So the king took the half of the forces
that remained, and departed from Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty
and seventh year; and having passed the river Euphrates, he went through
the high countries.
38 Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son
of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends:
39 And with them he sent forty thousand
footmen, and seven thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and
to destroy it, as the king commanded.
40 So they went forth with all their power,
and came and pitched by Emmaus in the plain country.
41 And the merchants of the country, hearing
the fame of them, took silver and gold very much, with servants, and came
into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves: a power also of
Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them.
42 Now when Judas and his brethren saw
that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves
in their borders: for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy
the people, and utterly abolish them;
43 They said one to another, Let us restore
the decayed fortune of our people, and let us fight for our people and
the sanctuary.
44 Then was the congregation gathered
together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray,
and ask mercy and compassion.
45 Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness,
there was none of her children that went in or out: the sanctuary also
was trodden down, and aliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their
habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with
the harp ceased.
46 Wherefore the Israelites assembled
themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in
Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.
47 Then they fasted that day, and put
on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes,
48 And laid open the book of the law,
wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images.
49 They brought also the priests' garments,
and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up,
who had accomplished their days.
50 Then cried they with a loud voice toward
heaven, saying, What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry
them away?
51 For thy sanctuary is trodden down and
profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low.
52 And lo, the heathen are assembled together
against us to destroy us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest.
53 How shall we be able to stand against
them, except thou, O God, be our help?
54 Then sounded they with trumpets, and
cried with a loud voice.
55 And after this Judas ordained captains
over the people, even captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over
fifties, and over tens.
56 But as for such as were building houses,
or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those
he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according
to the law.
57 So the camp removed, and pitched upon
the south side of Emmaus.
58 And Judas said, arm yourselves, and
be valiant men, and see that ye be in readiness against the morning, that
ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled together against us
to destroy us and our sanctuary:
59 For it is better for us to die in battle,
than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary.
60 Nevertheless, as the will of God is
in heaven, so let him do.
1st Maccabees 4
1 Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen,
and a thousand of the best horsemen, and removed out of the camp by night;
2 To the end he might rush in upon the
camp of the Jews, and smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress
were his guides.
3 Now when Judas heard thereof he himself
removed, and the valiant men with him, that he might smite the king's army
which was at Emmaus,
4 While as yet the forces were dispersed
from the camp.
5 In the mean season came Gorgias by night
into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them
in the mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us
6 But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed
himself in the plain with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither
armour nor swords to their minds.
7 And they saw the camp of the heathen,
that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen;
and these were expert of war.
8 Then said Judas to the men that were
with him, Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.
9 Remember how our fathers were delivered
in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.
10 Now therefore let us cry unto heaven,
if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant
of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day:
11 That so all the heathen may know that
there is one who delivereth and saveth Israel.
12 Then the strangers lifted up their
eyes, and saw them coming over against them.
13 Wherefore they went out of the camp
to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets.
14 So they joined battle, and the heathen
being discomfited fled into the plain.
15 Howbeit all the hindmost of them were
slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains
of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon
a three thousand men.
16 This done, Judas returned again with
his host from pursuing them,
17 And said to the people, Be not greedy
of the spoil inasmuch as there is a battle before us,
18 And Gorgias and his host are here by
us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome
them, and after this ye may boldly take the spoils.
19 As Judas was yet speaking these words,
there appeared a part of them looking out of the mountain:
20 Who when they perceived that the Jews
had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke
that was seen declared what was done:
21 When therefore they perceived these
things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the
plain ready to fight,
22 They fled every one into the land of
strangers.
23 Then Judas returned to spoil the tents,
where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the
sea, and great riches.
24 After this they went home, and sung
a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good,
because his mercy endureth forever.
25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance
that day.
26 Now all the strangers that had escaped
came and told Lysias what had happened:
27 Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded
and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto
Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass.
28 The next year therefore following Lysias
gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand
horsemen, that he might subdue them.
29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched
their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
30 And when he saw that mighty army, he
prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell
the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest
the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his
armourbearer;
31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy
people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen:
32 Make them to be of no courage, and
cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at
their destruction:
33 Cast them down with the sword of them
that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving.
34 So they joined battle; and there were
slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were
they slain.
35 Now when Lysias saw his army put to
flight, and the manliness of Judas' soldiers, and how they were ready either
to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together
a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he
purposed to come again into Judea.
36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold,
our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.
37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves
together, and went up into mount Sion.
38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate,
and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in
the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests'
chambers pulled down;
39 They rent their clothes, and made great
lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,
40 And fell down flat to the ground upon
their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.
41 Then Judas appointed certain men to
fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the
sanctuary.
42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation,
such as had pleasure in the law:
43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare
out the defiled stones into an unclean place.
44 And when as they consulted what to
do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;
45 They thought it best to pull it down,
lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it:
wherefore they pulled it down,
46 And laid up the stones in the mountain
of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet
to shew what should be done with them.
47 Then they took whole stones according
to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;
48 And made up the sanctuary, and the
things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts.
49 They made also new holy vessels, and
into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings,
and of incense, and the table.
50 And upon the altar they burned incense,
and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might
give light in the temple.
51 Furthermore they set the loaves upon
the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they
had begun to make.
52 Now on the five and twentieth day of
the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty
and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning,
53 And offered sacrifice according to
the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.
54 Look, at what time and what day the
heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and
citherns, and harps, and cymbals.
55 Then all the people fell upon their
faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good
success.
56 And so they kept the dedication of
the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed
the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.
57 They decked also the forefront of the
temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers
they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.
58 Thus was there very great gladness
among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.
59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with
the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication
of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space
of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with
mirth and gladness.
60 At that time also they builded up the
mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles
should come and tread it down as they had done before.
61 And they set there a garrison to keep
it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve it; that the people might have a
defence against Idumea.
1st Maccabees 5
1 Now when the nations round about heard
that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed as before, it displeased
them very much.
2 Wherefore they thought to destroy the
generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay
and destroy the people.
3 Then Judas fought against the children
of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Gael: and he gave
them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.
4 Also he remembered the injury of the
children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people,
in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.
5 He shut them up therefore in the towers,
and encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers
of that place with fire, and all that were therein.
6 Afterward he passed over to the children
of Ammon, where he found a mighty power, and much people, with Timotheus
their captain.
7 So he fought many battles with them,
till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.
8 And when he had taken Jazar, with the
towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.
9 Then the heathen that were at Galaad
assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their
quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.
10 And sent letters unto Judas and his
brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against
us to destroy us:
11 And they are preparing to come and
take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their
host.
12 Come now therefore, and deliver us
from their hands, for many of us are slain:
13 Yea, all our brethren that were in
the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also
they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have
destroyed there about a thousand men.
14 While these letters were yet reading,
behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent,
who reported on this wise,
15 And said, They of Ptolemais, and of
Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together
against us to consume us.
16 Now when Judas and the people heard
these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult
what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted
of them.
17 Then said Judas unto Simon his brother,
Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee,
for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.
18 So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias,
and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea
to keep it.
19 Unto whom he gave commandment, saying,
Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against
the heathen until the time that we come again.
20 Now unto Simon were given three thousand
men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas eight thousand men for the country
of Galaad.
21 Then went Simon into Galilee, where
he fought many battles with the heathen, so that the heathen were discomfited
by him.
22 And he pursued them unto the gate of
Ptolemais; and there were slain of the heathen about three thousand men,
whose spoils he took.
23 And those that were in Galilee, and
in Arbattis, with their wives and their children, and all that they had,
took he away with him, and brought them into Judea with great joy.
24 Judas Maccabeus also and his brother
Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled three days' journey in the wilderness,
25 Where they met with the Nabathites,
who came unto them in a peaceable manner, and told them every thing that
had happened to their brethren in the land of Galaad:
26 And how that many of them were shut
up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these
cities are strong and great:
27 And that they were shut up in the rest
of the cities of the country of Galaad, and that against to morrow they
had appointed to bring their host against the forts, and to take them,
and to destroy them all in one day.
28 Hereupon Judas and his host turned
suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won
the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all
their spoils, and burned the city with fire,
29 From whence he removed by night, and
went till he came to the fortress.
30 And betimes in the morning they looked
up, and, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other
engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.
31 When Judas therefore saw that the battle
was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets,
and a great sound,
32 He said unto his host, Fight this day
for your brethren.
33 So he went forth behind them in three
companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.
34 Then the host of Timotheus, knowing
that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great
slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand
men.
35 This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha;
and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and
received the spoils thereof and and burnt it with fire.
36 From thence went he, and took Casphon,
Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.
37 After these things gathered Timotheus
another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.
38 So Judas sent men to espy the host,
who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are
assembled unto them, even a very great host.
39 He hath also hired the Arabians to
help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to
come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.
40 Then Timotheus said unto the captains
of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over
first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily
prevail against us:
41 But if he be afraid, and camp beyond
the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.
42 Now when Judas came near the brook,
he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he
gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let
all come to the battle.
43 So he went first over unto them, and
all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before
him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.
44 But they took the city, and burned
the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither
could they stand any longer before Judas.
45 Then Judas gathered together all the
Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the
greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very
great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.
46 Now when they came unto Ephron, (this
was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they
could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must
needs pass through the midst of it.
47 Then they of the city shut them out,
and stopped up the gates with stones.
48 Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable
manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country,
and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit
they would not open unto him.
49 Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation
to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in
the place where he was.
50 So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted
the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was
delivered into his hands:
51 Who then slew all the males with the
edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and
passed through the city over them that were slain.
52 After this went they over Jordan into
the great plain before Bethsan.
53 And Judas gathered together those that
came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came
into the land of Judea.
54 So they went up to mount Sion with
joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of
them were slain until they had returned in peace.
55 Now what time as 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,
captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds
which they had done.
57 Wherefore they said, Let us also get
us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.
58 So when they had given charge unto
the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.
59 Then came Gorgias and his men out of
the city to fight against them.
60 And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras
were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were
slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.
61 Thus was there a great overthrow among
the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his
brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.
62 Moreover these men came not of the
seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
63 Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren
were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen,
wheresoever their name was heard of;
64 Insomuch as the the people assembled
unto them with joyful acclamations.
65 Afterward went Judas forth with his
brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the
south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the
fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.
66 From thence he removed to go into the
land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.
67 At that time certain priests, desirous
to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they went out to fight
unadvisedly.
68 So Judas turned to Azotus in the land
of the Philistines, and when he had pulled down their altars, and burned
their carved images with fire, and spoiled their cities, he returned into
the land of Judea.
1st Maccabees 6
1 About that time king Antiochus travelling
through the high countries heard say, that Elymais in the country of Persia
was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;
2 And that there was in it a very rich
temple, wherein were coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields,
which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first
among the Grecians, had left there.
3 Wherefore he came and sought to take
the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, because they of the city,
having had warning thereof,
4 Rose up against him in battle: so he
fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, and returned to Babylon.
5 Moreover there came one who brought
him tidings into Persia, that the armies, which went against the land of
Judea, were put to flight:
6 And that Lysias, who went forth first
with a great power was driven away of the Jews; and that they were made
strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten
of the armies, whom they had destroyed:
7 Also that they had pulled 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 his city Bethsura.
8 Now when the king heard these words,
he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed,
and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for.
9 And there he continued many days: for
his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die.
10 Wherefore he called for all his friends,
and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth
for very care.
11 And I thought with myself, Into what
tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now
I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power.
12 But now I remember the evils that I
did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that
were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause.
13 I perceive therefore that for this
cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great
grief in a strange land.
14 Then called he for Philip, one of his
friends, who he made ruler over all his realm,
15 And gave him the crown, and his robe,
and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish
him up for the kingdom.
16 So king Antiochus died there in the
hundred forty and ninth year.
17 Now when Lysias knew that the king
was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he had brought up being young,
to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator.
18 About this time they that were in the
tower shut up the Israelites round about the sanctuary, and sought always
their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen.
19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy
them, called all the people together to besiege them.
20 So they came together, and besieged
them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounts for shot against
them, and other engines.
21 Howbeit certain of them that were besieged
got forth, unto whom some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves:
22 And they went unto the king, and said,
How long will it be ere thou execute judgment, and avenge our brethren?
23 We have been willing to serve thy father,
and to do as he would have us, and to obey his commandments;
24 For which cause they of our nation
besiege the tower, and are alienated from us: moreover as many of us as
they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritance.
25 Neither have they stretched out their
hand against us only, but also against their borders.
26 And, behold, this day are they besieging
the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuary also and Bethsura have
they fortified.
27 Wherefore if thou dost not prevent
them quickly, they will do the greater things than these, neither shalt
thou be able to rule them.
28 Now when the king heard this, he was
angry, and gathered together all his friends, and the captains of his army,
and those that had charge of the horse.
29 There came also unto him from other
kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers.
30 So that the number of his army was
an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and two and
thirty elephants exercised in battle.
31 These went through Idumea, and pitched
against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days, making engines of war;
but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.
32 Upon this Judas removed from the tower,
and pitched in Bathzacharias, over against the king's camp.
33 Then the king rising very early marched
fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them
ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.
34 And to the end they might provoke the
elephants to fight, they shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.
35 Moreover they divided the beasts among
the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed
with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside
this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.
36 These were ready at every occasion:
wheresoever the beast was, and whithersoever the beast went, they went
also, neither departed they from him.
37 And upon the beasts were there strong
towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto
them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong
men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.
38 As for the remnant of the horsemen,
they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host giving
them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.
39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields
of gold and brass, the mountains glistered therewith, and shined like lamps
of fire.
40 So part of the king's army being spread
upon the high mountains, and part on the valleys below, they marched on
safely and in order.
41 Wherefore all that heard the noise
of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of
the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty.
42 Then Judas and his host drew near,
and entered into battle, and there were slain of the king's army six hundred
men.
43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving
that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than all the
rest, and supposing that the king was upon him,
44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end
he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name:
45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously
through the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left,
so that they were divided from him on both sides.
46 Which done, he crept under the elephant,
and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon
him, and there he died.
47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing
the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from
them.
48 Then the king's army went up to Jerusalem
to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judea, and against
mount Sion.
49 But with them that were in Bethsura
he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no victuals
there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.
50 So the king took Bethsura, and set
a garrison there to keep it.
51 As for the sanctuary, he besieged it
many days: and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast
fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings.
52 Whereupon they also made engines against
their engines, and held them battle a long season.
53 Yet at the last, their vessels being
without victuals, (for that it was the seventh year, and they in Judea
that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the
store;)
54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary,
because the famine did so prevail against them, that they were fain to
disperse themselves, every man to his own place.
55 At that time Lysias heard say, that
Philip, whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived, had appointed to bring
up his son Antiochus, that he might be king,
56 Was returned out of Persia and Media,
and the king's host also that went with him, and that he sought to take
unto him the ruling of the affairs.
57 Wherefore he went in all haste, and
said to the king and the captains of the host and the company, We decay
daily, and our victuals are but small, and the place we lay siege unto
is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us:
58 Now therefore let us be friends with
these men, and make peace with them, and with all their nation;
59 And covenant with them, that they shall
live after their laws, as they did before: for they are therefore displeased,
and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws.
60 So the king and the princes were content:
wherefore he sent unto them to make peace; and they accepted thereof.
61 Also the king and the princes made
an oath unto them: whereupon they went out of the strong hold.
62 Then the king entered into mount Sion;
but when he saw the strength of the place, he broke his oath that he had
made, and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about.
63 Afterward departed he in all haste,
and returned unto Antiochia, where he found Philip to be master of the
city: so he fought against him, and took the city by force.
1st Maccabees 7
1 In the hundred and one and fiftieth year
Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from Rome, and came up with a few
men unto a city of the sea coast, and reigned there.
2 And as he entered into the palace of
his ancestors, so it was, that his forces had taken Antiochus and Lysias,
to bring them unto him.
3 Wherefore, when he knew it, he said,
Let me not see their faces.
4 So his host slew them. Now when Demetrius
was set upon the throne of his kingdom,
5 There came unto him all the wicked and
ungodly men of Israel, having Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest,
for their captain:
6 And they accused the people to the king,
saying, Judas and his brethren have slain all thy friends, and driven us
out of our own land.
7 Now therefore send some man whom thou
trustest, and let him go and see what havock he hath made among us, and
in the king's land, and let him punish them with all them that aid them.
8 Then the king chose Bacchides, a friend
of the king, who ruled beyond the flood, and was a great man in the kingdom,
and faithful to the king,
9 And him he sent with that wicked Alcimus,
whom he made high priest, and commanded that he should take vengeance of
the children of Israel.
10 So they departed, and came with a great
power into the land of Judea, where they sent messengers 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 power.
12 Then did there assemble unto Alcimus
and Bacchides a company of scribes, to require justice.
13 Now the Assideans were the first among
the children of Israel that sought peace of them:
14 For said they, One that is a priest
of the seed of Aaron is come with this army, and he will do us no wrong.
15 So he spake unto them, peaceably, and
sware unto them, saying, we will procure the harm neither of you nor your
friends.
16 Whereupon they believed him: howbeit
he took of them threescore men, and slew them in one day, according to
the words which he wrote,
17 The flesh of thy saints have they cast
out, and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was
none to bury them.
18 Wherefore the fear and dread of them
fell upon all the people, who said, There is neither truth nor righteousness
in them; for they have broken the covenant and oath that they made.
19 After this, removed Bacchides from
Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bezeth, where he sent and took many
of the men that had forsaken him, and certain of the people also, and when
he had slain them, he cast them into the great pit.
20 Then committed he the country to Alcimus,
and left with him a power to aid him: so Bacchides went to the king.
21 But Alcimus contended for the high
priesthood.
22 And unto him resorted all such as troubled
the people, who, after they had gotten the land of Juda into their power,
did much hurt in Israel.
23 Now when Judas saw all the mischief
that Alcimus and his company had done among the Israelites, even above
the heathen,
24 He went out into all the coasts of
Judea round about, and took vengeance of them that had revolted from him,
so that they durst no more go forth into the country.
25 On the other side, when Alcimus saw
that Judas and his company had gotten the upper hand, and knew that he
was not able to abide their force, he went again to the king, and said
all the worst of them that he could.
26 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of
his honourable princes, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment
to destroy the people.
27 So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a
great force; and sent unto Judas and his brethren deceitfully with friendly
words, saying,
28 Let there be no battle between me and
you; I will come with a few men, that I may see you in peace.
29 He came therefore to Judas, and they
saluted one another peaceably. Howbeit the enemies were prepared to take
away Judas by violence.
30 Which thing after it was known to Judas,
to wit, that he came unto him with deceit, he was sore afraid of him, and
would see his face no more.
31 Nicanor also, when he saw that his
counsel was discovered, went out to fight against Judas beside Capharsalama:
32 Where there were slain of Nicanor's
side about five thousand men, and the rest fled into the city of David.
33 After this went Nicanor up to mount
Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain
of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the
burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.
34 But he mocked them, and laughed at
them, and abused them shamefully, and spake proudly,
35 And sware in his wrath, saying, Unless
Judas and his host be now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again
in safety, I will burn up this house: and with that he went out in a great
rage.
36 Then the priests entered in, and stood
before the altar and the temple, weeping, and saying,
37 Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house
to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for
thy people:
38 Be avenged of this man and his host,
and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer
them not to continue any longer.
39 So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and
pitched his tents in Bethhoron, where an host out of Syria met him.
40 But Judas pitched in Adasa with three
thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,
41 O Lord, when they that were sent from
the king of the Assyrians blasphemed, thine angel went out, and smote an
hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.
42 Even so destroy thou this host before
us this day, that the rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously against
thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness.
43 So the thirteenth day of the month
Adar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor's host was discomfited, and he
himself was first slain in the battle.
44 Now when Nicanor's host saw that he
was slain, they cast away their weapons, and fled.
45 Then they pursued after them a day's
journey, from Adasa unto Gazera, sounding an alarm after them with their
trumpets.
46 Whereupon they came forth out of all
the towns of Judea round about, and closed them in; so that they, turning
back upon them that pursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not
one of them was left.
47 Afterwards they took the spoils, and
the prey, and smote off Nicanors head, and his right hand, which he stretched
out so proudly, and brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.
48 For this cause the people rejoiced
greatly, and they kept that day a day of great gladness.
49 Moreover they ordained to keep yearly
this day, being the thirteenth of Adar.
50 Thus the land of Juda was in rest a
little while.
1st Maccabees 8
1 Now Judas had heard of the the Romans,
that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept
all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all
that came unto them;
2 And that they were men of great valour.
It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among
the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under
tribute;
3 And what they had done in the country
of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is
there;
4 And that by their policy and patience
they had conquered all the place, though it were very far from them; and
the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth,
till they had discomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that
the rest did give them tribute every year:
5 Beside this, how they had discomfited
in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted
up themselves against them, and had overcome them:
6 How also Antiochus the great king of
Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants,
with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by
them;
7 And how they took him alive, and covenanted
that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give
hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8 And the country of India, and Media
and Lydia and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave
to king Eumenes:
9 Moreover how the Grecians had determined
to come and destroy them;
10 And that they, having knowledge thereof
sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of
them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled
them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong
holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this day:
11 It was told him besides, how they destroyed
and brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any
time resisted them;
12 But with their friends and such as
relied upon them they kept amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms
both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid
of them:
13 Also that, whom they would help to
a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they would, they displace: finally,
that they were greatly exalted:
14 Yet for all this none of them wore
a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby:
15 Moreover how they had made for themselves
a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily,
consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:
16 And that they committed their government
to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were
obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among
them.
17 In consideration of these things, Judas
chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of
Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy
with them,
18 And to intreat them that they would
take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians
did oppress Israel with servitude.
19 They went therefore to Rome, which
was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spake and
said.
20 Judas Maccabeus with his brethren,
and the people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy
and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and
friends.
21 So that matter pleased the Romans well.
22 And this is the copy of the epistle
which the senate wrote back again in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem,
that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:
23 Good success be to the Romans, and
to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also
and enemy be far from them,
24 If there come first any war upon the
Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion,
25 The people of the Jews shall help them,
as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart:
26 Neither shall they give any thing unto
them that make war upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money,
or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their
covenants without taking any thing therefore.
27 In the same manner also, if war come
first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all
their heart, according as the time shall be appointed them:
28 Neither shall victuals be given to
them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it
hath seemed good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and
that without deceit.
29 According to these articles did the
Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.
30 Howbeit if hereafter the one party
or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may
do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall
be ratified.
31 And as touching the evils that Demetrius
doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made
thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews?
32 If therefore they complain any more
against thee, we will do them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by
land.
1st Maccabees 9
1 Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the
Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus
into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength
of his host:
2 Who went forth by the way that leadeth
to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela,
and after they had won it, they slew much people.
3 Also the first month of the hundred
fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:
4 From whence they removed, and went to
Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
5 Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa,
and three thousand chosen men with him:
6 Who seeing the multitude of the other
army to he so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves
out of the host, insomuch as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.
7 When Judas therefore saw that his host
slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled
in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.
8 Nevertheless unto them that remained
he said, Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if peradventure we
may be able to fight with them.
9 But they dehorted him, saying, We shall
never be able: let us now rather save our lives, and hereafter we will
return with our brethren, and fight against them: for we are but few.
10 Then Judas said, God forbid that I
should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come, let
us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.
11 With that the host of Bacchides removed
out of their tents, and stood over against them, their horsemen being divided
into two troops, and their slingers and archers going before the host and
they that marched in the foreward were all mighty men.
12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right
wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.
13 They also of Judas' side, even they
sounded their trumpets also, so that the earth shook at the noise of the
armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.
14 Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides
and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took with him all
the hardy men,
15 Who discomfited the right wing, and
pursued them unto the mount Azotus.
16 But when they of the left wing saw
that they of the right wing were discomfited, they followed upon Judas
and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:
17 Whereupon there was a sore battle,
insomuch as many were slain on both parts.
18 Judas also was killed, and the remnant
fled.
19 THen Jonathan and Simon took Judas
their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
20 Moreover they bewailed him, and all
Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,
21 How is the valiant man fallen, that
delivered Israel!
22 As for the other things concerning
Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness,
they are not written: for they were very many.
23 Now after the death of Judas the wicked
began to put forth their heads in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose
up all such as wrought iniquity.
24 In those days also was there a very
great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.
25 Then Bacchides chose the wicked men,
and made them lords of the country.
26 And they made enquiry and search for
Judas' friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of
them, and used them despitefully.
27 So was there a great affliction in
Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not
seen among them.
28 For this cause all Judas' friends came
together, and said unto Jonathan,
29 Since thy brother Judas died, we have
no man like him to go forth against our enemies, and Bacchides, and against
them of our nation that are adversaries to us.
30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this
day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our
battles.
31 Upon this Jonathan took the governance
upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.
32 But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof,
he sought for to slay him
33 Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother,
and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of
Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.
34 Which when Bacchides understood, he
came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.
35 Now Jonathan had sent his brother John,
a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites, that they
might leave with them their carriage, which was much.
36 But the children of Jambri came out
of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with
it.
37 After this came word to Jonathan and
Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and
were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the
daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.
38 Therefore they remembered John their
brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:
39 Where they lifted up their eyes, and
looked, and, behold, there was much ado and great carriage: and the bridegroom
came forth, and his friends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and
instruments of musick, and many weapons.
40 Then Jonathan and they that were with
him rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and made
a slaughter of them in such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant
fled into the mountain, and they took all their spoils.
41 Thus was the marriage turned into mourning,
and the noise of their melody into lamentation.
42 So when they had avenged fully the
blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.
43 Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he
came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.
44 Then Jonathan said to his company,
Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us to
day, as in time past:
45 For, behold, the battle is before us
and behind us, and the water of Jordan on this side and that side, the
marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place for us to turn aside.
46 Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that
ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.
47 With that they joined battle, and Jonathan
stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.
48 Then Jonathan and they that were with
him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit the other
passed not over Jordan unto them.
49 So there were slain of Bacchides' side
that day about a thousand men.
50 Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem
and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus,
and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these
did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.
51 And in them he set a garrison, that
they might work malice upon Israel.
52 He fortified also the city Bethsura,
and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.
53 Besides, he took the chief men's sons
in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to
be kept.
54 Moreover in the hundred fifty and third
year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of the inner
court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works
of the prophets
55 And as he began to pull down, even
at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprizes hindered: for his
mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more
speak any thing, nor give order concerning his house.
56 So Alcimus died at that time with great
torment.
57 Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus
was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest
two years.
58 Then all the ungodly men held a council,
saying, Behold, Jonathan and his company are at ease, and dwell without
care: now therefore we will bring Bacchides hither, who shall take them
all in one night.
59 So they went and consulted with him.
60 Then removed he, and came with a great
host, and sent letters privily to his adherents in Judea, that they should
take Jonathan and those that were with him: howbeit they could not, because
their counsel was known unto them.
61 Wherefore they took of the men of the
country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew
them.
62 Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and
they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness,
and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.
63 Which thing when Bacchides knew, he
gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.
64 Then went he and laid siege against
Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of
war.
65 But Jonathan left his brother Simon
in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a certain
number went he forth.
66 And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren,
and the children of Phasiron in their tent.
67 And when he began to smite them, and
came up with his forces, Simon and his company went out of the city, and
burned up the engines of war,
68 And fought against Bacchides, who was
discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail
was in vain.
69 Wherefore he was very wroth at the
wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, inasmuch as
he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.
70 Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge,
he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with him,
and deliver them the prisoners.
71 Which thing he accepted, and did according
to his demands, and sware unto him that he would never do him harm all
the days of his life.
72 When therefore he had restored unto
him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Judea,
he returned and went his way into his own land, neither came he any more
into their borders.
73 Thus the sword ceased from Israel:
but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed
the ungodly men out of Israel.
1st Maccabees 10
1 In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander,
the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for
the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there,
2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof,
he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him
to fight.
3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto
Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
4 For said he, Let us first make peace
with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
5 Else he will remember all the evils
that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.
6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather
together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle:
he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered
him.
7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and
read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were
in the tower:
8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard
that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.
9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered
their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 This done, Jonathan settled himself
in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.
11 And he commanded the workmen to build
the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for fortification;
and they did so.
12 Then the strangers, that were in the
fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;
13 Insomuch as every man left his place,
and went into his own country.
14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that
had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their
place of refuge.
15 Now when king Alexander had heard what
promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of
the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the
pains that they had endured,
16 He said, Shall we find such another
man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent
it unto him, according to these words, saying,
18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan
sendeth greeting:
19 We have heard of thee, that thou art
a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee
to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king's friend;
(and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require
thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.
21 So in the seventh month of the hundred
and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the
holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.
22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was
very sorry, and said,
23 What have we done, that Alexander hath
prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
24 I also will write unto them words of
encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their
aid.
25 He sent unto them therefore to this
effect: King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
26 Whereas ye have kept covenants with
us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies,
we have heard hereof, and are glad.
27 Wherefore now continue ye still to
be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye
do in our behalf,
28 And will grant you many immunities,
and give you rewards.
29 And now do I free you, and for your
sake I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt,
and from crown taxes,
30 And from that which appertaineth unto
me to receive for the third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit
of the trees, I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not
be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three governments which are added
thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth
for evermore.
31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free,
with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.
32 And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem,
I yield up authority over it, and give the high priest, that he may set
in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.
33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every
one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into
any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes
even of their cattle.
34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts,
and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before
the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity
and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.
35 Also no man shall have authority to
meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 I will further, that there be enrolled
among the king's forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom
pay shall be given, as belongeth to all king's forces.
37 And of them some shall be placed in
the king's strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the affairs
of the kingdom, which are of trust: and I will that their overseers and
governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even
as the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.
38 And concerning the three governments
that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined
with Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey
other authority than the high priest's.
39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining
thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the
necessary expences of the sanctuary.
40 Moreover I give every year fifteen
thousand shekels of silver out of the king's accounts from the places appertaining.
41 And all the overplus, which the officers
payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the
works of the temple.
42 And beside this, the five thousand
shekels of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the
accounts year by year, even those things shall be released, because they
appertain to the priests that minister.
43 And whosoever they be that flee unto
the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted
unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all
that they have in my realm.
44 For the building also and repairing
of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king's accounts.
45 Yea, and for the building of the walls
of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expences shall be
given out of the king's accounts, as also for the building of the walls
in Judea.
46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard
these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because
they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted
them very sore.
47 But with Alexander they were well pleased,
because he was the first that entreated of true peace with them, and they
were confederate with him always.
48 Then gathered king Alexander great
forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49 And after the two kings had joined
battle, Demetrius' host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed
against them.
50 And he continued the battle very sore
until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.
51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors
to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:
52 Forasmuch as I am come again to my
realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have gotten the
dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country;
53 For after I had joined battle with
him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so that we sit in the
throne of his kingdom:
54 Now therefore let us make a league
of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife: and I will be
thy son in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.
55 Then Ptolemee the king gave answer,
saying, Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy
fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom.
56 And now will I do to thee, as thou
hast written: meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another;
for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.
57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with
his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore
and second year:
58 Where king Alexander meeting him, he
gave unto him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais
with great glory, as the manner of kings is.
59 Now king Alexander had written unto
Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.
60 Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais,
where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and
gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.
61 At that time certain pestilent fellows
of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse
him: but the king would not hear them.
62 Yea more than that, the king commanded
to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.
63 And he made him sit by himself, and
said into his princes, Go 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 Now when his accusers saw that he was
honored according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled
all away.
65 So the king honoured him, and wrote
him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem
with peace and gladness.
67 Furthermore in the; hundred threescore
and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land
of his fathers:
68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell,
he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.
69 Then Demetrius made Apollonius the
governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host,
and camped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,
70 Thou alone liftest up thyself against
us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost
thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?
71 Now therefore, if thou trustest in
thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let
us try the matter together: for with me is the power of the cities.
72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest
that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able
to to flight in their own land.
73 Wherefore now thou shalt not be able
to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither
stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.
74 So when Jonathan heard these words
of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men
he went out of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him.
75 And he pitched his tents against Joppa:
but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison
there.
76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon
they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77 Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took
three thousand horsemen, with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus
as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew him forth into the plain. because
he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.
78 Then Jonathan followed after him to
Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand
horsemen in ambush.
80 And Jonathan knew that there was an
ambushment behind him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts
at the people, from morning till evening.
81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan
had commanded them: and so the enemies' horses were tired.
82 Then brought Simon forth his host,
and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were
discomfited by him, and fled.
83 The horsemen also, being scattered
in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple,
for safety.
84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and
the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon,
with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.
85 Thus there were burned and slain with
the sword well nigh eight thousand men.
86 And from thence Jonathan removed his
host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came forth,
and met him with great pomp.
87 After this returned Jonathan and his
host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 Now when king ALexander heard these
things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 And sent him a buckle of gold, as the
use is to be given to such as are of the king's blood: he gave him also
Accaron with the borders thereof in possession.
1st Maccabees 11
1 And the king of Egypt gathered together
a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships,
and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to
his own.
2 Whereupon he took his journey into Spain
in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met
him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his
brother in law.
3 Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities,
he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
4 And when he came near to Azotus, they
shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs
thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them
that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the
way where he should pass.
5 Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan
had done, to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.
6 Then Jonathan met the king with great
pomp at Joppa, where they saluted one another, and lodged.
7 Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone
with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.
8 King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten
the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast,
imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.
9 Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king
Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give
thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father's
kingdom:
10 For I repent that I gave my daughter
unto him, for he sought to slay me.
11 Thus did he slander him, because he
was desirous of his kingdom.
12 Wherefore he took his daughter from
him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred
was openly known.
13 Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch,
where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.
14 In the mean season was king Alexander
in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.
15 But when Alexander heard of this, he
came to war against him: whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host,
and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.
16 So Alexander fled into Arabia there
to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:
17 For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's
head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.
18 King Ptolemee also died the third day
after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.
19 By this means Demetrius reigned in
the hundred threescore and seventh year.
20 At the same time Jonathan gathered
together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem:
and he made many engines of war against it.
21 Then came ungodly persons, who hated
their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged
the tower,
22 Whereof when he heard, he was angry,
and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan,
that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him
at Ptolemais in great haste.
23 Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard
this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders
of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;
24 And took silver and gold, and raiment,
and divers presents besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where
he found favour in his sight.
25 And though certain ungodly men of the
people had made complaints against him,
26 Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors
had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
27 And confirmed him in the high priesthood,
and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among
his chief friends.
28 Then Jonathan desired the king, that
he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments, with
the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.
29 So the king consented, and wrote letters
unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:
30 King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan,
and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
31 We send you here a copy of the letter
which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might
see it.
32 King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes
sendeth greeting:
33 We are determined to do good to the
people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because
of their good will toward us.
34 Wherefore we have ratified unto them
the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda
and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and
all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem,
instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime
out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.
35 And as for other things that belong
unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits,
and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all
for their relief.
36 And nothing hereof shall be revoked
from this time forth for ever.
37 Now therefore see that thou make a
copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon
the holy mount in a conspicuous place.
38 After this, when king Demetrius saw
that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against
him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain
bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen:
wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.
39 Moreover there was one Tryphon, that
had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured
against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus
the young son of Alexander,
40 And lay sore upon him to deliver him
this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father's stead: he told
him therefore all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were
at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.
41 In the mean time Jonathan sent unto
king Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem,
and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.
42 So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying,
I will not only do this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour
thee and thy nation, if opportunity serve.
43 Now therefore thou shalt do well, if
thou send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.
44 Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand
strong men unto Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very
glad of their coming.
45 Howbeit they that were of the city
gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number
of an hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king.
46 Wherefore the king fled into the court,
but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
47 Then the king called to the Jews for
help, who came unto him all at once, and dispersing themselves through
the city slew that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.
48 Also they set fire on the city, and
gat many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
49 So when they of the city saw that the
Jews had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore
they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,
50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease
from assaulting us and the city.
51 With that they cast away their weapons,
and made peace; and the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king, and
in the sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to Jerusalem,
having great spoils.
52 So king Demetrius sat on the throne
of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.
53 Nevertheless he dissembled in all that
ever he spake, and estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he
him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled
him very sore.
54 After this returned Tryphon, and with
him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
55 Then there gathered unto him all the
men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius,
who turned his back and fled.
56 Moreover Tryphon took the elephants,
and won Antioch.
57 At that time young Antiochus wrote
unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint
thee ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
58 Upon this he sent him golden vessels
to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed
in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.
59 His brother Simon also he made captain
from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.
60 Then Jonathan went forth, and passed
through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered
themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they
of the city met him honourably.
61 From whence he went to Gaza, but they
of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs
thereof with fire, and spoiled them.
62 Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication
unto Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief
men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country
unto Damascus.
63 Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius'
princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing
to remove him out of the country,
64 He went to meet them, and left Simon
his brother in the country.
65 Then Simon encamped against Bethsura
and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:
66 But they desired to have peace with
him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took
the city, and set a garrison in it.
67 As for Jonathan and his host, they
pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they
gat them to the plain of Nasor.
68 And, behold, the host of strangers
met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains,
came themselves over against him.
69 So when they that lay in ambush rose
out of their places and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side
fled;
70 Insomuch as there was not one of them
left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi,
the captains of the host.
71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and
cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
72 Afterwards turning again to battle,
he put them to flight, and so they ran away.
73 Now when his own men that were fled
saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades,
even unto their own tents, and there they camped.
74 So there were slain of the heathen
that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.
1st Maccabees 12
1 Now when Jonathan saw that time served
him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew
the friendship that they had with them.
2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians,
and to other places, for the same purpose.
3 So they went unto Rome, and entered
into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of
the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship,
which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.
4 Upon this the Romans gave them letters
unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the
land of Judea peaceably.
5 And this is the copy of the letters
which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:
6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders
of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians
their brethren send greeting:
7 There were letters sent in times past
unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to
signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador
that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration
was made of the league and friendship.
9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none
of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands
to comfort us,
10 Have nevertheless attempted to send
unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should
become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since
ye sent unto us.
11 We therefore at all times without ceasing,
both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices
which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us
to think upon our brethren:
12 And we are right glad of your honour.
13 As for ourselves, we have had great
troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round
about us have fought against us.
14 Howbeit we would not be troublesome
unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:
15 For we have help from heaven that succoureth
us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought
under foot.
16 For this cause we chose Numenius the
son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the
Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.
17 We commanded them also to go unto you,
and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of
our brotherhood.
18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give
us an answer thereto.
19 And this is the copy of the letters
which Oniares sent.
20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to
Onias the high priest, greeting:
21 It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians
and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:
22 Now therefore, since this is come to
our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.
23 We do write back again to you, that
your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's We do command therefore
our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.
24 Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius'
princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,
25 He removed from Jerusalem, and met
them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country.
26 He sent spies also unto their tents,
who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them
in the night season.
27 Wherefore so soon as the sun was down,
Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night
long they might be ready to fight: also he sent forth centinels round about
the host.
28 But when the adversaries heard that
Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in
their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.
29 Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew
it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30 Then Jonathan pursued after them, but
overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.
31 Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians,
who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.
32 And removing thence, he came to Damascus,
and so passed through all the country,
33 Simon also went forth, and passed through
the country unto Ascalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he
turned aside to Joppa, and won it.
34 For he had heard that they would deliver
the hold unto them that took Demetrius' part; wherefore he set a garrison
there to keep it.
35 After this came Jonathan home again,
and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about
building strong holds in Judea,
36 And making the walls of Jerusalem higher,
and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, for to separate
it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell
nor buy in it.
37 Upon this they came together to build
up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east
side was fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha.
38 Simon also set up Adida in Sephela,
and made it strong with gates and bars.
39 Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom
of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon
his own head.
40 Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan
would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him; wherefore he
sought a way how to take Jonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed,
and came to Bethsan.
41 Then Jonathan went out to meet him
with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.
42 Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came
with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him;
43 But received him honourably, and commended
him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of
war to be as obedient unto him, as to himself.
44 Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast
thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war
betwixt us?
45 Therefore send them now home again,
and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais,
for I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and
all that have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this
is the cause of my coming.
46 So Jonathan believing him did as he
bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.
47 And with himself he retained but 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 and took him, and all them
that came with him they slew with the sword.
49 Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen
and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's
company.
50 But when they knew that Jonathan and
they that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another;
and went close together, prepared to fight.
51 They therefore that followed upon them,
perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.
52 Whereupon they all came into the land
of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were
with him, and they were sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation.
53 Then all the heathen that were round
about then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no captain,
nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take
away their memorial from among men.
1st Maccabees 13
1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had
gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy
it,
2 And saw that the people was in great
trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,
3 And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye
yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father's house,
have done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles
which we have seen.
4 By reason whereof all my brethren are
slain for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.
5 Now therefore be it far from me, that
I should spare mine own life in any time of trouble: for I am no better
than my brethren.
6 Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and
the sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are
gathered to destroy us of very malice.
7 Now as soon as the people heard these
words, their spirit revived.
8 And they answered with a loud voice,
saying, Thou shalt be our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother.
9 Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever,
thou commandest us, that will we do.
10 So then he gathered together all the
men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified
it round about.
11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom,
and with him a great power, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein
remained there in it.
12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with
a great power to invade the land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in
ward.
13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida,
over against the plain.
14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was
risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with
him, he sent messengers unto him, saying,
15 Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother
in hold, it is for money that he is owing unto the king's treasure, concerning
the business that was committed unto him.
16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents
of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty
he may not revolt from us, and we will let him go.
17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived
that they spake deceitfully unto him yet sent he the money and the children,
lest peradventure he should procure to himself great hatred of the people:
18 Who might have said, Because I sent
him not the money and the children, therefore is Jonathan dead.
19 So he sent them the children and the
hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan
go.
20 And after this came Tryphon to invade
the land, and destroy it, going round about by the way that leadeth unto
Adora: but Simon and his host marched against him in every place, wheresoever
he went.
21 Now they that were in the tower sent
messengers unto Tryphon, to the end that he should hasten his coming unto
them by the wilderness, and send them victuals.
22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his
horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, by reason
whereof he came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad.
23 And when he came near to Bascama he
slew Jonathan, who was buried there.
24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went
into his own land.
25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones
of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.
26 And all Israel made great lamentation
for him, and bewailed him many days.
27 Simon also built a monument upon the
sepulchre of his father and his brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight,
with hewn stone behind and before.
28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids,
one against another, for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren.
29 And in these he made cunning devices,
about the which he set great pillars, and upon the pillars he made all
their armour for a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that
they might be seen of all that sail on the sea.
30 This is the sepulchre which he made
at Modin, and it standeth yet unto this day.
31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with
the young king Antiochus, and slew him.
32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned
himself king of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.
33 Then Simon built up the strong holds
in Judea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and
gates, and bars, and laid up victuals therein.
34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent
to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the land an immunity, because
all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
35 Unto whom king Demetrius answered and
wrote after this manner:
36 King Demetrius unto Simon the high
priest, and friend of kings, as also unto the elders and nation of the
Jews, sendeth greeting:
37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe,
which ye sent unto us, we have received: and we are ready to make a stedfast
peace with you, yea, and to write unto our officers, to confirm the immunities
which we have granted.
38 And whatsoever covenants we have made
with you shall stand; and the strong holds, which ye have builded, shall
be your own.
39 As for any oversight or fault committed
unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax also, which ye owe us:
and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more
be paid.
40 And look who are meet among you to
be in our court, let then be enrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us.
41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken
away from Israel in the hundred and seventieth year.
42 Then the people of Israel began to
write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the
high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews.
43 In those days Simon camped against
Gaza and besieged it round about; he made also an engine of war, and set
it by the city, and battered a certain tower, and took it.
44 And they that were in the engine leaped
into the city; whereupon there was a great uproar in the city:
45 Insomuch as the people of the city
rent their clothes, and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children,
and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
46 And they said, Deal not with us according
to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.
47 So Simon was appeased toward them,
and fought no more against them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed
the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and
thanksgiving.
48 Yea, he put all uncleanness out of
it, and placed such men there as would keep the law, and made it stronger
than it was before, and built therein a dwellingplace for himself.
49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem
were kept so strait, that they could neither come forth, nor go into the
country, nor buy, nor sell: wherefore they were in great distress for want
of victuals, and a great number of them perished through famine.
50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching
him to be at one with them: which thing he granted them; and when he had
put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions:
51 And entered into it the three and twentieth
day of the second month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving,
and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols,
and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of
Israel.
52 He ordained also that that day should
be kept every year with gladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that
was by the tower he made stronger than it was, and there he dwelt himself
with his company.
53 And when Simon saw that John his son
was a valiant man, he made him captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in
Gazera.
1st Maccabees 14
1 Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth
year king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media to
get him help to fight against Tryphone.
2 But when Arsaces, the king of Persia
and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent
one of his princes to take him alive:
3 Who went and smote the host of Demetrius,
and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward.
4 As for the land of Judea, that was quiet
all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise,
as that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well.
5 And as he was honourable in all his
acts, so in this, that he took Joppa for an haven, and made an entrance
to the isles of the sea,
6 And enlarged the bounds of his nation,
and recovered the country,
7 And gathered together a great number
of captives, and had the dominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower,
out of the which he took all uncleaness, neither was there any that resisted
him.
8 Then did they till their ground in peace,
and the earth gave her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit.
9 The ancient men sat all in the streets,
communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and
warlike apparel.
10 He provided victuals for the cities,
and set in them all manner of munition, so that his honourable name was
renowned unto the end of the world.
11 He made peace in the land, and Israel
rejoiced with great joy:
12 For every man sat under his vine and
his fig tree, and there was none to fray them:
13 Neither was there any left in the land
to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those
days.
14 Moreover he strengthened all those
of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every
contemner of the law and wicked person he took away.
15 He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied
vessels of the temple.
16 Now when it was heard at Rome, and
as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.
17 But as soon as they heard that his
brother Simon was made high priest in his stead, and ruled the country,
and the cities therein:
18 They wrote unto him in tables of brass,
to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan
his brethren:
19 Which writings were read before the
congregation at Jerusalem.
20 And this is the copy of the letters
that the Lacedemonians sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the
city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue
of the people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting:
21 The ambassadors that were sent unto
our people certified us of your glory and honour: wherefore we were glad
of their coming,
22 And did register the things that they
spake in the council of the people in this manner; Numenius son of Antiochus,
and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews' ambassadors, came unto us to renew
the friendship they had with us.
23 And it pleased the people to entertain
the men honourably, and to put the copy of their ambassage in publick records,
to the end the people of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial thereof:
furthermore we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest.
24 After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome
with a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league
with them.
25 Whereof when the people heard, they
said, What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons?
26 For he and his brethren and the house
of his father have established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies
from them, and confirmed their liberty.
27 So then they wrote it in tables of
brass, which they set upon pillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy
of the writing; The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the hundred threescore
and twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest,
28 At Saramel in the great congregation
of the priests, and people, and rulers of the nation, and elders of the
country, were these things notified unto us.
29 Forasmuch as oftentimes there have
been wars in the country, wherein for the maintenance of their sanctuary,
and the law, Simon the son of Mattathias, of the posterity of Jarib, together
with his brethren, put themselves in jeopardy, and resisting the enemies
of their nation did their nation great honour:
30 (For after that Jonathan, having gathered
his nation together, and been their high priest, was added to his people,
31 Their enemies prepared to invade their
country, that they might destroy it, and lay hands on the sanctuary:
32 At which time Simon rose up, and fought
for his nation, and spent much of his own substance, and armed the valiant
men of his nation and gave them wages,
33 And fortified the cities of Judea,
together with Bethsura, that lieth upon the borders of Judea, where the
armour of the enemies had been before; but he set a garrison of Jews there:
34 Moreover he fortified Joppa, which
lieth upon the sea, and Gazera, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies
had dwelt before: but he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all
things convenient for the reparation thereof.)
35 The people therefore sang the acts
of Simon, and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation, made him
their governor and chief 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 exalt his people.
36 For in his time things prospered in
his hands, so that the heathen were taken out of their country, and they
also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves
a tower, out of which they issued, and polluted all about the sanctuary,
and did much hurt in the holy place:
37 But he placed Jews therein. and fortified
it for the safety of the country and the city, and raised up the walls
of Jerusalem.
38 King Demetrius also confirmed him in
the high priesthood according to those things,
39 And made him one of his friends, and
honoured him with great honour.
40 For he had heard say, that the Romans
had called the Jews their friends and confederates and brethren; and that
they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honourably;
41 Also that the Jews and priests were
well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest for ever,
until there should arise a faithful prophet;
42 Moreover that he should be their captain,
and should take charge of the sanctuary, to set them over their works,
and over the country, and over the armour, and over the fortresses, that,
I say, he should take charge of the sanctuary;
43 Beside this, that he should be obeyed
of every man, and that all the writings in the country should be made in
his name, and that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold:
44 Also that it should be lawful for none
of the people or priests to break any of these things, or to gainsay his
words, or to gather an assembly in the country without him, or to be clothed
in purple, or wear a buckle of gold;
45 And whosoever should do otherwise,
or break any of these things, he should be punished.
46 Thus it liked all the people to deal
with Simon, and to do as hath been said.
47 Then Simon accepted hereof, and was
well pleased to be high priest, and captain and governor of the Jews and
priests, and to defend them all.
48 So 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 Also that the copies thereof should
be laid up in the treasury, to the end that Simon and his sons might have
them.
1st Maccabees 15
1 Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the
king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince
of the Jews, and to all the people;
2 The contents whereof were these: King
Antiochus to Simon the high priest and prince of his nation, and to the
people of the Jews, greeting:
3 Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have
usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge it again,
that I may restore it to the old estate, and to that end have gathered
a multitude of foreign soldiers together, and prepared ships of war;
4 My meaning also being to go through
the country, that I may be avenged of them that have destroyed it, and
made many cities in the kingdom desolate:
5 Now therefore I confirm unto thee all
the oblations which the kings before me granted thee, and whatsoever gifts
besides they granted.
6 I give thee leave also to coin money
for thy country with thine own stamp.
7 And as concerning Jerusalem and the
sanctuary, let them be free; and all the armour that thou hast made, and
fortresses that thou hast built, and keepest in thine hands, let them remain
unto thee.
8 And if anything be, or shall be, owing
to the king, let it be forgiven thee from this time forth for evermore.
9 Furthermore, when we have obtained our
kingdom, we will honour thee, and thy nation, and thy temple, with great
honour, so that your honour shall be known throughout the world.
10 In the hundred threescore and fourteenth
year went Antiochus into the land of his fathers: at which time all the
forces came together unto him, so that few were left with Tryphon.
11 Wherefore being pursued by king Antiochus,
he fled unto Dora, which lieth by the sea side:
12 For he saw that troubles came upon
him all at once, and that his forces had forsaken him.
13 Then camped Antiochus against Dora,
having with him an hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand
horsemen.
14 And when he had compassed the city
round about, and joined ships close to the town on the sea side, he vexed
the city by land and by sea, neither suffered he any to go out or in.
15 In the mean season came Numenius and
his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein
were written these things:
16 Lucius, consul of the Romans unto king
Ptolemee, greeting:
17 The Jews' ambassadors, our friends
and confederates, came unto us to renew the old friendship and league,
being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews:
18 And they brought a shield of gold of
a thousand pound.
19 We thought it good therefore to write
unto the kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight
against them, their cities, or countries, nor yet aid their enemies against
them.
20 It seemed also good to us to receive
the shield of them.
21 If therefore there be any pestilent
fellows, that have fled from their country unto you, deliver them unto
Simon the high priest, that he may punish them according to their own law.
22 The same things wrote he likewise unto
Demetrius the king, and Attalus, to Ariarathes, and Arsaces,
23 And to all the countries and to Sampsames,
and the Lacedemonians, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria,
and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and
Aradus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus,
and Cyrene.
24 And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon
the high priest.
25 So Antiochus the king camped against
Dora the second day, assaulting it continually, and making engines, by
which means he shut up Tryphon, that he could neither go out nor in.
26 At that time Simon sent him two thousand
chosen men to aid him; silver also, and gold, and much armour.
27 Nevertheless he would not receive them,
but brake all the covenants which he had made with him afore, and became
strange unto him.
28 Furthermore he sent unto him Athenobius,
one of his friends, to commune with him, and say, Ye withhold Joppa and
Gazera; with the tower that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.
29 The borders thereof ye have wasted,
and done great hurt in the land, and got the dominion of many places within
my kingdom.
30 Now therefore deliver the cities which
ye have taken, and the tributes of the places, whereof ye have gotten dominion
without the borders of Judea:
31 Or else give me for them five hundred
talents of silver; and for the harm that ye have done, and the tributes
of the cities, other five hundred talents: if not, we will come and fight
against you
32 So Athenobius the king's friend came
to Jerusalem: and when he saw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold
and silver plate, and his great attendance, he was astonished, and told
him the king's message.
33 Then answered Simon, and said unto
him, We have neither taken other men's land, nor holden that which appertaineth
to others, but the inheritance of our fathers, which our enemies had wrongfully
in possession a certain time.
34 Wherefore we, having opportunity, hold
the inheritance of our fathers.
35 And whereas thou demandest Joppa and
Gazera, albeit they did great harm unto the people in our country, yet
will we give thee an hundred talents for them. Hereunto Athenobius answered
him not a word;
36 But returned in a rage to the king,
and made report unto him of these speeches, and of the glory of Simon,
and of all that he had seen: whereupon the king was exceeding wroth.
37 In the mean time fled Tryphon by ship
unto Orthosias.
38 Then the king made Cendebeus captain
of the sea coast, and gave him an host of footmen and horsemen,
39 And commanded him to remove his host
toward Judea; also he commanded him to build up Cedron, and to fortify
the gates, and to war against the people; but as for the king himself,
he pursued Tryphon.
40 So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began
to provoke the people and to invade Judea, and to take the people prisoners,
and slay them.
41 And when he had built up Cedrou, he
set horsemen there, and an host of footmen, to the end that issuing out
they might make outroads upon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded
him.
1st Maccabees 16
1 Then came up John from Gazera, and told
Simon his father what Cendebeus had done.
2 Wherefore Simon called his two eldest
sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father's
house, have ever from my youth unto this day fought against the enemies
of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have
delivered Israel oftentimes.
3 But now I am old, and ye, by God's mercy,
are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me
and my brother, and go and fight for our
nation, and the help from heaven be with you.
4 So he chose out of the country twenty
thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and
rested that night at Modin.
5 And when as they rose in the morning,
and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and
horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.
6 So he and his people pitched over against
them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water
brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through
after him.
7 That done, he divided his men, and set
the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies' horsemen were
very many.
8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets:
whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them
were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.
9 At that time was Judas John's brother
wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which
Cendebeus had built.
10 So they fled even unto the towers in
the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were
slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land
of Judea in peace.
11 Moreover in the plain of Jericho was
Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver
and gold:
12 For he was the high priest's son in
law.
13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up,
he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully
against Simon and his sons to destroy them.
14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that
were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at
which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and
Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh
month, called Sabat:
15 Where the son of Abubus receiving them
deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made
them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.
16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk
largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came
upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and
certain of his servants.
17 In which doing he committed a great
treachery, and recompensed evil for good.
18 Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and
sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would
deliver him the country and cities.
19 He sent others also to Gazera to kill
John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might
give them silver, and gold, and rewards.
20 And others he sent to take Jerusalem,
and the mountain of the temple.
21 Now one had run afore to Gazera and
told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee
hath sent to slay thee also.
22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished:
so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them;
for he knew that they sought to make him away.
23 As concerning the rest of the acts
of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building
of the walls which he made, and his doings,
24 Behold, these are written in the chronicles
of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.