translation and introduction by W. O. E. Oesterley, in R. H. Charles's Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament (1913)
1 Maccabees is a sober, largely trustworthy history of the Jewish struggle for religious liberty and then political independence, covering 175–135 BCE — from the accession of the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes, whose attempt to force Hellenism on Judea by desecrating the Temple and outlawing the Law provoked revolt, through the guerrilla campaigns of Judas Maccabaeus (who recaptured and rededicated the Temple, the origin of Hanukkah), the diplomatic maneuvering of his brother Jonathan, and the achievement of full political independence under Simon, down to the accession of Simon's son John Hyrcanus. Written in Hebrew, probably in the last quarter of the second century BCE, and preserved only in Greek translation, it is a plain, chronological military and political history with almost no supernatural machinery and not even a single mention of the name of God — a marked contrast to the more overtly theological and miracle-filled 2 Maccabees, which covers roughly the same opening period from a different literary standpoint.
Introductory Note (1913, W. O. E. Oesterley)
The Greek title "Maccabees" derives from the surname given first to Judas (probably from a Hebrew word for "hammer") and later extended to his whole family and their followers — the dynasty modern scholarship calls Hasmonean, after an ancestor named in Josephus but not in this book itself.
The book is a sober and, on the whole, trustworthy account of the Jewish struggle for religious liberty and then political independence during 175–135 BCE, written almost wholly in chronological order and concerned mainly with military events. It falls into four parts: a brief introduction on Alexander the Great and the division of his empire, and the origin of the Maccabean crisis (1:1–64); the leadership of Mattathias (2:1–70); the campaigns of Judas Maccabaeus, including the purification of the Temple (3:1–9:22); the leadership of Jonathan and the establishment of the Hasmonean high priesthood (9:23–12:53); and the leadership of Simon, in which political independence is finally secured, with a brief closing reference to John Hyrcanus (13:1–16:24).
Nothing is known of the author beyond what can be inferred from the book. He was clearly a rigid adherent of orthodox Judaism, intimately acquainted with the geography of Palestine, and probably a Sadducee: his sympathy lies with the priesthood rather than with Pharisaic legal rigor, and — most tellingly — the book contains no hint whatever of belief in an afterlife, even in passages (such as Mattathias's deathbed speech in chapter 2) where such a belief would have been natural to mention had the author held it.
On date: the writer states that Simon's elaborate family monument at Modin still stood "unto this day" (13:30), which, given that it was built around 143 BCE, implies a gap of decades; and he refers to the chronicles of John Hyrcanus's reign as already an existing, completed source (16:23–24), meaning he wrote after Hyrcanus's death in 105 BCE. Since the book shows no awareness of Pompey's capture of Jerusalem in 63 BCE — an event a patriotic Jewish historian could hardly have passed over in silence — it must have been completed before that date. Oesterley places the book's final composition in the last quarter of the second century BCE, though its gathering of source material, including genuine official documents (letters between Jewish leaders and Seleucid kings, and with Rome and Sparta), may have begun as early as Simon's own lifetime.
On language: Jerome states directly that he found a Hebrew text of the book, and internal evidence — Hebrew idiom showing through the Greek at many points, occasional translation errors best explained by misread Hebrew letters — confirms this. The original Hebrew disappeared very early; even Josephus, writing in the first century CE, shows no sign of having used it, only the Greek.
On sources: besides eyewitness testimony and now-lost written sources referred to within the book itself (9:22; 16:23–24), the author incorporated a number of official documents of varying authenticity — genuine royal letters and treaty texts alongside some later insertions and elaborations, discussed in detail (with a full inventory of each disputed document) in Oesterley's fuller introduction. The oldest witnesses are three Greek uncial manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Venetus), supplemented by Syriac and Old Latin versions, both themselves translated from the Greek.
(Condensed from Oesterley's fuller introduction, which discusses authorship, date, sources, textual witnesses, and the book's distinctive theological outlook — including its systematic avoidance of the divine name — in much greater detail; the complete text is in the cited 1913 edition.)
Chapter 1
1 And it came to pass after Alexander, the son of Philip the Macedonian, who came from the land of Chittim, had smitten Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead. 2 And he waged many wars, and won strongholds, and slew kings, and pressed forward to the ends of the earth, and took spoils from many peoples. But when the land was silenced before him, he became exalted, and his heart was lifted up. 3 Then he gathered together a very mighty army, and ruled over lands and peoples and principalities; and they became tributary unto him.
4 And after these things he took to his bed, and perceived that he was about to die. Then he called his chief ministers, men who had been brought up with him from his youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was yet alive. 5 And Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died. 6 And his ministers ruled, each in his particular domain. And after he was dead they all assumed the diadem, and their sons after them, for many years. And these wrought much evil on the earth.
7 And a sinful shoot came forth from them, Antiochus Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage in Rome, and had become king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the Greek kingdom. 8 In those days there came forth out of Israel lawless men, and persuaded many, saying: "Let us go and make a covenant with the nations that are round about us; for since we separated ourselves from them many evils have come upon us." 9 And the saying appeared good in their eyes; and as certain of the people were eager to carry this out, they went to the king, and he gave them authority to introduce the customs of the Gentiles. 10 And they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the manner of the Gentiles. They also submitted themselves to uncircumcision, and repudiated the holy covenant; yea, they joined themselves to the Gentiles, and sold themselves to do evil.
11 And when, in the opinion of Antiochus, the kingdom was sufficiently established, he determined to exercise dominion also over the land of Egypt, in order that he might rule over two kingdoms. 12 So he pushed forward into Egypt with an immense force, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, together with a great fleet. 13 And he waged war against Ptolemy, the king of Egypt. And Ptolemy turned back from before him, and fled; and there fell many wounded. 14 And they captured the fortified cities in Egypt; and he took the spoils from the land of Egypt.
15 And Antiochus, after he had smitten Egypt, returned in the one hundred and forty-third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great army. 16 And in his arrogance he entered into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar, and the candlestick for the light, and all its accessories, and the table of the shewbread, and the cups, and the bowls, and the golden censers, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden adornment on the facade of the Temple, and he scaled it all off. 17 Moreover, he took the silver, and the gold, and the choice vessels; he also took the hidden treasures which he found. And having taken everything, he returned to his own land.
18 And he shed innocent blood on every side, and defiled the sanctuary. And there was great mourning in Israel in every place; 19 and the rulers and elders groaned, the virgins and young men languished, and the beauty of women was changed. 20 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she that sat in the marriage-chamber was in heaviness, and the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with shame.
After the lapse of two years the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah; and he came to Jerusalem with a great host. 21 And he spoke unto them peaceful words in subtilty, so that they had confidence in him; 22 but he fell upon the city suddenly, and smote it with a grievous stroke, and destroyed much people in Israel. 23 And he took the spoils of the city, and burned it with fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof round about. 24 And they led captive the women and the children, and took possession of the cattle. 25 And they fortified the city of David with a great and strong wall with strong towers, so that it was made into a citadel for them. 26 And they placed there a sinful nation, lawless men; and they strengthened themselves therein. 27 And they stored up arms and provisions, and collecting together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there. And it became a sore menace, for it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel continually.
28 And they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and they defiled the sanctuary. 29 And because of them the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled, and she became a dwelling for strangers, being herself estranged to her offspring, and her children forsook her. 30 Her sanctuary became desolate as a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into shame, her honour into contempt. 31 According as her glory had been, so was now her dishonour increased, and her high estate was turned to mourning.
32 And the king wrote unto his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, and that every one should give up his religious usages. 33 And all the nations acquiesced in accordance with the command of the king. 34 And many in Israel took delight in his form of worship, and they began sacrificing to idols, and profaned the sabbath. 35 Furthermore, the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, that they should practise customs foreign to the traditions of the land, 36 and that they should cease the sacrificing of whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and drink offerings in the sanctuary, and that they should profane the sabbaths and feasts, 37 and pollute the sanctuary and those who had been sanctified; that they should moreover build high places, and sacred groves, and shrines for idols, and that they should sacrifice swine and other unclean animals; 38 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcized, and make themselves abominable by means of practising everything that was unclean and profane, 39 so that they might forget the Law, and change all the traditional ordinances. 40 And whosoever should not act according to the word of the king, should die. In this manner did he write unto the whole of his kingdom; and he appointed overseers over all the people; and he commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, every one of them. 41 And many of the people joined themselves unto them, all those namely who had forsaken the Law; these did evil in the land, and caused Israel to hide in all manner of hiding-places.
42 And on the fifteenth day of Chislev in the one hundred and forty-fifth year they set up upon the altar an "abomination of desolation," and in the cities of Judah on every side they established high places; 43 and they offered sacrifice at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 44 And the books of the Law which they found they rent in pieces, and burned them in the fire. 45 And with whomsoever was found a book of the covenant, and if he was found consenting unto the Law, such an one was, according to the king's sentence, condemned to death. 46 Thus did they in their might to the Israelites who were found month by month in their cities. 47 And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar which was upon the altar of burnt-offering. 48 And, according to the decree, they put to death the women who had circumcised their children, hanging their babes round their mothers' necks, and they put to death their entire families, together with those who had circumcised them. 49 Nevertheless many in Israel stood firm and determined in their hearts that they would not eat unclean things, and chose rather to die so that they might not be defiled with meats, thereby profaning the holy covenant; and they did die. 50 And exceeding great wrath came upon Israel.
Chapter 2
1 In those days rose up Mattathias, the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem; and he dwelt at Modin. 2 And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddis; 3 Simon, who was called Thassis; Judas, who was called Maccabaeus; 4 Eleazar, who was called Auaran; and Jonathan, who was called Aphphus.
5 And he saw the blasphemous things that were done in Judah and in Jerusalem, and said, "Woe is me, why was I born to behold the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city, and to sit still there while it was being given into the hand of enemies, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers?"
6 And Mattathias and his sons rent their garments, and covered themselves with sackcloth, and mourned greatly.
7 ... "And, behold, our holy things, and our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste, and the heathen have profaned them! To what purpose should we continue to live?"
15 And the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modin to make them sacrifice. 16 And many from Israel went unto them; but Mattathias and his sons gathered themselves together. 17 Then the king's officers answered and spake unto Mattathias, saying: "A ruler art thou, and illustrious and great in this city, and upheld by sons and brothers. 18 Do thou, therefore, come first, and carry out the king's command, as all the nations have done, and all the people of Judah, and they that have remained in Jerusalem; then shalt thou and thy house be numbered among the friends of the king, and thou and thy sons shall be honoured with silver and gold, and with many gifts."
19 Thereupon Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice: "If all the nations that are within the king's dominions obey him by forsaking, every one of them, the worship of their fathers, and have chosen for themselves to follow his commands, 20 yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. 21 Heaven forbid that we should forsake the Law and the ordinances; 22 but the law of the king we will not obey by departing from our worship either to the right hand or to the left."
23 And as he ceased speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to sacrifice upon the altar in Modin in accordance with the king's command. 24 And when Mattathias saw it, his zeal was kindled, and his heart quivered with wrath; and his indignation burst forth for judgement, so that he ran and slew him on the altar; 25 and at the same time he also killed the king's officer who had come to enforce the sacrificing, pulled down the altar, and thus showed forth his zeal for the Law, just as Phinehas had done in the case of Zimri the son of Salom. 26
27 And Mattathias cried out with a loud voice in the city, saying, "Let everyone that is zealous for the Law and that would maintain the covenant come forth after me!" 28 And he and his sons fled unto the mountains, and left all that they possessed in the city.
29 At that time many who were seeking righteousness and judgement went down to the wilderness to abide there, they and their sons, and their wives, and their cattle; for misfortunes fell hardly upon them. 30 And it was reported to the king's officers and to the troops that were in Jerusalem, the city of David, that men who had set at nought the king's command had gone down into hiding-places in the wilderness. 31 And many ran after them, and having overtaken them, they encamped against them, and set the battle in array against them on the Sabbath day. 32 And they said unto them: "Let it suffice now; come forth, and do according to the command of the king, and ye shall live." 33 And they answered, "We will not come forth, nor will we do according to the command of the king, and thereby profane the Sabbath day." 34 Thereupon they immediately attacked them. 35 But they answered them not, nor did they cast a stone at them, nor even block up their hiding-places, saying, 36 "Let us all die in our innocency; Heaven and earth bear us witness that ye destroy us wrongfully." 37 And they attacked them on the Sabbath; and they died, they and their wives, and their children, and their cattle, about a thousand souls.
38 And when Mattathias and his friends knew it they mourned greatly for them. 39 And one said to another, "If we all do as our brethren have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our ordinances, they will soon destroy us from off the earth." 40 And they took counsel on that day, saying, "Whosoever attacketh us on the Sabbath day, let us fight against him, that we may not in any case all die, as our brethren died in their hiding-places." 41 Then were there gathered unto them a company of the Chasidim, mighty men of Israel who willingly offered themselves for the Law. 42 And all they that fled from the evils were added unto them, and reinforced them. 43 And they mustered a host, and smote sinners in their anger, and lawless men in their wrath; and the rest fled to the Gentiles to save themselves. 44 And Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down altars, and they circumcised by force the children that were uncircumcised, as many as they found within the borders of Israel. 45 And they pursued after the sons of pride, and the work prospered in their hand. 46 And they rescued the Law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of the kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.
47 And the days drew near that Mattathias should die, and he said unto his sons: "Now have pride and rebuke gotten strength and a season of destruction and wrath of indignation. 48 And now, children, be zealous for the Law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. And call to mind the deeds of the fathers which they did in their generations, that ye may receive great glory and an everlasting name. 49 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness? 50 Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt. 51 Phinehas, our father, for that he was zealous exceedingly, obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 52 Joshua, for fulfilling the word, became a judge in Israel. Caleb, for bearing witness in the congregation, obtained land as an heritage. 53 David, for being merciful, inherited the throne of a kingdom for ever and ever. 54 Elijah, for that he was exceeding zealous for the Law, was taken up into heaven. 55 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, believing in God, were saved from the flame. Daniel, for his innocency, was delivered from the mouth of the lions. 56 And thus consider ye from generation to generation, all who hope in Him shall want for nothing. 57 And be not afraid of the words of a sinful man, for his glory shall be dung and worms. 58 To-day he shall be lifted up, and to-morrow he shall in no wise be found, because he is returned unto his dust, and his thought is perished. 59 And ye, children, be strong and show yourselves men on behalf of the Law; for therein shall ye obtain glory. 60 And behold Simeon your brother, I know that he is a man of counsel; give ear unto him alway; he shall be a father unto you. 61 And Judas Maccabaeus, he hath been strong and mighty from his youth; he shall be your captain and shall fight the battle of the people. 62 And ye, take you unto you all those who observe the Law, and avenge the wrong of your people. 63 Render a recompense to the Gentiles, and take heed to the commandments of the Law."
64 And he blessed them, and was gathered unto his fathers. And he died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year; and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin; and all Israel made great lamentation for him.
Chapter 3
1,2 And his son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his stead. And all his brethren helped him, 3 and he extended the glory of his people, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt on his weapons of war. He set battles in array, he protected the army with the sword. 4 And he was like a lion in his deeds, and as a lion's whelp roaring for prey, he pursued the lawless, seeking them out, and burnt up those that troubled his people. 6 And the lawless lost heart for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were sore troubled; and deliverance prospered in his hand. 7 And he angered many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever. 8 And he went about among the cities of Judah, and destroyed the ungodly thereout, and turned away wrath from Israel. 9 And he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and gathered together those who were perishing.
10 And Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host from Samaria, to fight against Israel. 11 And Judas perceived it, and went forth to meet him, and smote him, and slew him; and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled. 12 And they took their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and therewith fought he all his days.
13 And Seron, the commander of the host of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered a gathering and a congregation of faithful men with him, and of such as went out to war; 14 and he said: "I will make a name for myself, and get me glory in the kingdom; and I will fight against Judas and them that are with him, that set at nought the word of the king." 15 And he went up again; and there went up with him a mighty army of the ungodly to help him, to take vengeance on the children of Israel. 16 And he came near to the ascent of Bethhoron; and Judas went forth to meet him with a small company. 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judas: "What shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? And we, for our part, are faint, having tasted no food this day." 18 And Judas said: "It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; 19 for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. 20 They come unto us in fulness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22 And He Himself will discomfit them before our face; but as for you, be ye not afraid of them."
23 Now when he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and Seron and his army were discomfited before him. 24 And they pursued them at the descent of Bethhoron unto the plain; and there fell of them about eight hundred men; and the rest fled into the land of the Philistines. 25 Then began the fear of Judas and of his brethren, and the dread of them fell upon the nations round about them. 26 And his name came near even unto the king; and every nation told of the battles of Judas.
27 But when Antiochus the king heard these words he was full of indignation; and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his kingdom, an exceeding strong army. 28 And he opened his treasury and gave his forces pay for a year, and commanded them to be ready for every need. 29 And he saw that the money failed from his treasures, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and harm which he had brought upon the land in seeking to take away the laws which had been in vogue from the earliest times; 30 and he feared therefore that he would not have enough, as he had had at other times, for the charges and the gifts which he gave aforetime with a liberal hand,—and he was more lavish than the kings that were before him. He was therefore exceedingly perplexed in his mind; so he determined to go to Persia, and to take 31 tributes of the countries, and thus to gather much money. And he left Lysias, an honourable man, and one of the seed royal, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt, and to bring up his son Antiochus until he should return. 33 And he delivered unto him the half of the forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge over all the things that he would have done and concerning them that dwell in Judaea and Jerusalem, namely that he should send a host against them to root out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, 35 and to take away their memorial from the place; and that he should make strangers to dwell in all their borders, and that he should divide their land by lot. 36 And the king took the half that remained of the forces, and removed from Antioch, from his royal city, in the one hundred and forty-seventh year; and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through the upper countries.
38 And Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends; and with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horse, to go into the land of Judah, and to destroy it, according to the king's command. 40 And they removed with all their host, and came and pitched near Emmaus in the plain country. 41 And the merchants of the country heard tell of them, and took silver and gold exceeding much, together with fetters, and came into the camp, to take the children of Israel as slaves. And there were added unto them troops from Syria and from the land of the Philistines.
42 And Judas and his brethren saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces of the enemy were encamping in their borders; and they took knowledge of the king's commands which he had put forth with a view to bring about the destruction and annihilation of the people. 43 So they said, each man to his neighbour: "Let us raise up the ruin of our people, and let us fight for our people and the Holy Place." 44 And the congregation was gathered together, so as to be ready for battle, and to pray and to ask for mercy and compassion.
45 And Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness,
There was none of her offspring that went in or went out.
And the Sanctuary was trodden down,
And the sons of strangers dwelt in the citadel,
A lodging-place for Gentiles it became;
And joy was taken away from Jacob,
And the pipe and the harp ceased.
46 And they gathered themselves together, and came to Mizpeh, over against Jerusalem; for in Mizpeh there had been aforetime a place of prayer for Israel. 47 And they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and put ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes. 48 And they spread out the roll of the Law, one of those concerning which the Gentiles were wont to make search in order to depict upon them likenesses of their idols. 49 And they brought the priestly garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes; and they shaved the Nazirites who had accomplished their days. 50 And they cried aloud toward heaven, saying: "What shall we do with these men, and whither shall we carry them away? 51 For thy Holy Place is trodden down and defiled, and thy priests are in heaviness and brought low. 52 And, behold, the Gentiles are gathered together against us to destroy us; thou knowest what things they imagine against us. 53 How shall we be able to stand before them unless thou help us?" 54 And they sounded with the trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.
55 And after this Judas appointed leaders of the people, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens. 56 And he said to them that were building houses, and were betrothing wives, and were planting vineyards, and were fearful, that they should return, each man to his own house, according to the Law. 57 And the army removed, and encamped on the south of Emmaus. 58 And Judas said: "Gird yourselves, and be valiant men; and be ready on the morrow to fight against these Gentiles that are assembled together against us to destroy us, and our Holy Place; 59 for it is better for us to die in battle than to look upon the evils that have come upon our nation and the Holy Place. 60 Nevertheless, as may be the will in heaven, so shall he do."
Chapter 4
1 And Gorgias took five thousand foot-men, and a thousand chosen horse; and the army moved by night so that it might fall upon the army of the Jews and smite them suddenly; and certain men from the citadel were his guides. 3 And Judas heard thereof, and he removed, he and the valiant men, that he might smite the king's host, which was at Emmaus, while as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp. 4 And Gorgias came into the camp of Judas by night, and found no man; and he sought them in the mountains, for he said: "These men flee from us." 6 And as soon as it was day, Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men; howbeit, they had not armour nor swords as they would have wished to have had. 7 And they saw the camp of the Gentiles strong and fortified, and horsemen compassing it round about; and these were experienced in war. 8 And Judas said to the men that were with him: "Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their onset. 9 Remember how our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with a host. 10 And now, let us cry unto heaven, if he will have mercy upon us, and will remember the covenant of the fathers, and destroy this army before our face to-day; 12 and all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeemeth and saveth Israel." 13 And the strangers lifted up their eyes and saw them coming against them, and they went out of the camp to battle. 14 And they that were with Judas sounded the trumpets, and joined battle, and the Gentiles were discomfited, and fled unto the plain. 15 And all the hindmost fell by the sword; and they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumaea, and Azotus and Jamnia; and there fell of them about three thousand men.
17 And Judas and his host returned from pursuing after them; and he said unto the people: 18 "Be not greedy of the spoils, for another battle is before us, and Gorgias and his host are nigh unto us in the mountain. But stand ye now against our enemies, and fight against them, and afterwards take the spoils with boldness." 19 While Judas was yet saying these things, there appeared a part of them peering out from the mountain; 20 and they saw that their forces had been put to flight, and that the Jews were burning the camp,—for the smoke that was seen made manifest what had been done. 21 And when they perceived these things they were sore afraid; and perceiving also the 23 army of Judas in the plain ready for battle, they all fled into the land of the Philistines. 23 And Judas returned to the spoil of the camp, and took much gold and silver, and blue, and sea-purple, and great riches. 24 And as they returned they sang a song of thanksgiving, and blessed God, looking up to heaven, saying: "Good is the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever." 25 And Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26 But as many of the Gentiles as had been saved came and reported to Lysias all that had happened. 27 And when he had heard all he was confounded and discouraged, both because it had not happened unto Israel as he had wished, and because the things which the king had commanded him had not come about.
28 And in the next year he gathered together sixty thousand chosen foot-men, and five thousand horse, to make war upon them. 29 And they came into Judaea, and encamped at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 30 And he saw that the army was strong, and he prayed, and said: "Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst bring to nought the onslaught of the giant by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver the army of the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul and of his armour-bearer. 31 Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel, that with their host and their horsemen they may be put to shame. 32 Give them fearfulness of heart, and cause the boldness of their strength to melt away, and let them quake at their destruction. 33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all that know thy name praise thee with songs of thanksgiving."
34 And they joined battle; and there fell of the army of Lysias about five thousand men, and they fell down over against them. 35 But when Lysias saw that his array had been put to flight, and the boldness that had come upon them that were with Judas, and how ready they were either to live or die nobly, he removed to Antioch, and gathered together mercenary troops, that he might come again into Judaea with an even greater army.
36 But Judas and his brethren said: "Behold, our enemies are discomfited; let us go up to cleanse the Holy Place, and re-dedicate it." 37 And all the army was gathered together, and they went unto mount Sion. 38 And they saw our sanctuary laid desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or upon one of the mountains, and the chambers of the priests pulled down; 39 and they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads; 40 and they fell on their faces to the ground, and they blew the solemn blasts upon the trumpets, and cried unto heaven. 41 Then Judas appointed a certain number of men to fight against those that were in the citadel, until he should have cleansed the Holy Place. 42 And he chose blameless priests, such as had delight in the Law; 43,44 and they cleansed the Holy Place, and bare out the stones of defilement into an unclean place. And they took counsel concerning the altar of burnt offerings, which had been profaned, what they should do with it. 45 And a good idea occurred to them, namely to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach unto them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they pulled down the altar, 46 and laid down the stones in the mountain of the House, in a convenient place, until a prophet should come and decide as to what should be done concerning them. 47 And they took whole stones according to the Law, and built a new altar after the fashion of the former one; 48 and they built the Holy Place, and the inner parts of the house, and hallowed the courts. 49 And they made the holy vessels new, and they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings and of incense, and the table, into the temple. 50 And they burned incense upon the altar, and they lighted the lamps that were upon the candlestick to give light in the temple. 51 And they set loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works which they had undertaken.
52 And they rose up early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, 53 and offered sacrifice, according to the Law, upon the new altar of burnt offerings which they had made. 54 At the corresponding time of the month and on the corresponding day on which the Gentiles had profaned it, on that day was it dedicated afresh, with songs and harps and lutes, and with cymbals. 55 And all the people fell upon their faces, and worshipped, and gave praise, looking up unto heaven, to him who had prospered them. 56 And they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57 And they decked the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields, and dedicated afresh the gates and the chambers of the priests, and furnished them with doors. 58 And there was exceeding great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. 59 And Judas and his brethren and the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons year by year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev, with gladness and joy.
60 And at that season they built high walls and strong towers around mount Sion, lest haply the Gentiles should come and tread them down, as they had done aforetime. 61 And he set there a force to keep it, and they fortified Bethsura to keep it, that the people might have a stronghold over against Idumaea.
Chapter 5
1 And it came to pass, when the Gentiles round about heard that the altar had been built and the sanctuary dedicated, as aforetime, that they were exceeding wroth. And they determined to destroy those of the race of Jacob that were in the midst of them, and they began to slay and to destroy among the people. 3 And Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumaea at Akrabattine, because they annoyed Israel by their attacks; and he smote them with a great slaughter, and humbled them, and took spoils from them. 4 And he remembered the malice of the children of Baean, who were unto the people a snare and a stumbling-block, lying in wait for them in the ways. 5 And they were shut up by him in the towers; and he encamped against them, and utterly destroyed them, and burned with fire the towers of the place, with all that were therein. 6 Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, and found there a mighty band, and much people, and Timotheus their leader. 7 And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited before him, and he smote them; 8 and he gat possession of Jazer and the villages thereof, and returned again into Judaea.
9 And the Gentiles that were in Gilead gathered themselves together against the Israelites that were on their borders, to destroy them; and they fled unto the stronghold of Dathema. 10 And they sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, saying: "The Gentiles that are round about us are gathered together against us to destroy us; and they are preparing to come and get possession of the stronghold whereunto we have fled for refuge; and Timotheus is leading their host. 11 Now, therefore, come and deliver us from their hand, for a number of us are fallen, 12 and all our brethren that were in the parts of Tubias have been put to death, and they have carried into captivity their wives and their children and their belongings, and have destroyed there about a thousand men."
13 While the letters were yet being read, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their garments rent, bringing a report to the following effect, saying: 15 "There be gathered together against them men from Ptolemais, and Tyre and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, to consume us utterly."
16 Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled together a great congregation, to take counsel what they should do for their brethren who were in tribulation and being attacked by the enemy. 17 And Judas said unto Simon his brother: "Choose out men for thyself, and go and deliver thy brethren in Galilee, while I and Jonathan my brother will go into Gilead." 18 And he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, as leaders of the people, with the rest of the army, in Judaea, to guard it. 19 And he commanded them, saying: "Take ye the charge of this people, and engage not in battle with the Gentiles until we return." 20 And three thousand men were allotted unto Simon to go into Galilee, and eight thousand men unto Judas to go into Gilead.
21 And Simon went into Galilee, and engaged in many battles with the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were discomfited before him. 22 And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there fell of the Gentiles about three thousand men, and he took their spoils. 23 And he took those that were in Galilee and Arbatta with their wives and children, and brought them into Judaea with great gladness.
24 And Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan passed over Jordan, and went three days' journey in the wilderness; 25 and they fell in with the Nabataeans, and these met them in a peaceable manner, and recounted to them all things that had befallen their brethren in Gilead; 26 and how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim,—all these cities being strong and great; 27 and how that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of Gilead, and that on the morrow the enemies had planned to encamp against the stronghold, and to take it, and to destroy all those who were in it in one day.
28 And Judas and his army turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and he took the city, and slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned it with fire. 29 And he removed thence by night, and went on until he reached the stronghold. 30 And when it was morning they lifted up their eyes, and behold there was a great multitude which could not be numbered, bearing ladders and engines of war, to take the stronghold; and they were fighting against them that were in the stronghold. 31 And when Judas saw that the battle had begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets and a great sound, he said unto the men of his host: "Fight this day for your brethren." 32 And he went forth behind them in three companies, and they sounded with trumpets, and cried out in prayer. 33 And the army of Timotheus perceived that it was Maccabaeus, and they fled from before him; and he smote them with a great 34 slaughter; and there fell of them on that day about eight thousand men. 35 And he turned aside to Mizpeh and fought against it, and took it, and slew all the males thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burned it with fire. 36 From thence he removed, and took Casphor, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of Gilead.
37 Now after these things Timotheus gathered another army, and encamped over against Raphon, beyond the brook. 38 And Judas sent men to espy the army; and they reported to him, saying: "All the Gentiles that are round about us are gathered together unto them, an exceeding great host; and they have hired Arabians to help them, and are encamping beyond the brook, ready to come against thee to battle." And Judas went to meet them. 40 And Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, when Judas and his army drew nigh unto the brook of water: "If he pass over unto us first, we shall not be able to withstand him, for he will mightily prevail against us; 41 but if he be afraid, and encamp beyond the river, we will cross over unto him, and prevail against him." 42 Now when Judas came nigh unto the brook of water, he placed the officers of the people by the brook, and commanded them, saying: "Suffer no man to encamp, but let all come to the battle." 43 And he crossed over first against them, and all his people after him; and all the Gentiles were discomfited before his face, and cast away their arms, and fled unto the temple of Carnaim. 44 And they took the city, and burned the temple with fire, together with all that were therein. And Carnaim was subdued; neither could they stand any longer before the face of Judas.
45 And Judas gathered together all Israel, them that were in Gilead, from the least unto the greatest, and their wives, and their children, and their belongings, an exceeding great army, that they might come into the land of Judah. 46 And they came as far as Ephron; and this was a large city at the entrance of the pass, exceeding strong; it was not possible to turn aside from it either to the right or the left, but one had to go through the midst of it. 47 And they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones. 48 And Judas sent unto them with words of peace, saying: "We would pass through thy land to go into our own land; and none shall harm you, we will only pass by on our feet." But they would not open unto him. 49 And Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the army, that each man should encamp in the place where he was. 50 And the men of the host encamped; and they fought against the city all that day and all that night; and the city was delivered into his hands; 51 and he destroyed 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 And they went over Jordan into the great plain over against Bethshan. 53 And Judas gathered together those that lagged behind, and encouraged the people all the way through until he came into the land of Judah. 54 And they went up to mount Sion in gladness and joy, and offered whole burnt offerings, because not so much as one of them was slain until they returned in peace.
55 And in the days when Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais, 56 Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, leaders of the armies in Judaea, heard of their exploits and of the war, what things they had done; and they said: "Let us also make a name for ourselves, and let us go fight against the Gentiles that are round about us." 58 And they gave charge unto the men of the host that was with them, and went toward Jamnia. 60 And Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto the borders of Judaea; and there fell on that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men. 61 And there was a great overthrow among the people, because they hearkened not unto Judas and his brethren, thinking to do some exploit. 62 But they were not of the seed of those men, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel. But the man Judas and his brethren were glorified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the Gentiles, wheresoever their name was heard of; and men gathered unto them, acclaiming them.
65 And Judas and his brethren went forth, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south; and he smote Hebron and the villages thereof, and pulled down the strongholds thereof, and burned the towers thereof round about. 66 And he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and he went through Marisa. 67 In that day certain priests fell in battle, desiring themselves to do exploits, in that they went out to the war unadvisedly. 68 And Judas turned aside to Azotus, to the land of the Philistines, and pulled down their altars, and burned the carved images of their gods, and took the spoil of their cities, and returned into the land of Judah.
Chapter 6
1 And king Antiochus was journeying through the upper countries; and he heard that Elymais, in Persia, was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold, 2 and that the temple which was in it was rich exceedingly, and that therein were golden shields, and breastplates, and arms, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, had left behind there. 3 So he came and sought to take the city, and to pillage it; but he was not able to do so because the thing had become known to them of the city. 4 And they rose up against him to battle; and he fled, and removed thence with great heaviness, to return to Babylon.
5 And there came one bringing him tidings into Persia that the armies, which went against the land of Judah, had been put to flight; 6 and that Lysias had gone forth at the head of a strong army, and had been put to shame before them; and that they had waxed strong by reason of arms and power, and with store of spoils, which they took from the armies that they had cut off; 7 and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem; and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as had been the case formerly, and Bethsura, his city. 8 And it came to pass, when the king heard these words, he was struck with amazement and greatly moved; and he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he had looked for. 9 And he was there many days, because great grief was renewed upon him; and he reckoned that he was about to die.
10 And he called for all his Friends, and said unto them: "Sleep departeth from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for care. 11 And I said in my heart, Unto what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood is it wherein I now am! For I was gracious and beloved in my power. 12 But now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were therein, and sent forth armies to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without a cause. 13 I perceive that on this account these evils are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land." 14 And he called for Philip, one of his Friends, and set him over all his kingdom, 15 and gave him his diadem, and his robe, and his signet-ring, to the end that he should educate Antiochus his son, and bring him up to be king.
16 And king Antiochus died there in the one hundred and forty-ninth year. 17 And when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had nourished up while yet young, and he called his name Eupator.
18 And they that were in the citadel kept enclosing Israel round about the sanctuary, and continually sought their hurt, and acted as a support to the Gentiles. 19 And Judas purposed to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them. 20 And they were gathered together, and besieged them in the one hundred and fiftieth year; and he constructed siege-towers against them, and engines of war. 21 And there came forth some of them that were shut up, and unto them were joined certain ungodly men of Israel. 22 And they went unto the king and said: "How long wilt thou not execute judgement, and when wilt thou avenge our brethren? 23 We were willing to serve thy father, and to walk after his words, and to follow his commandments. For this cause the children of our people besieged it, and were alienated from us, and as many of us as they could light on they killed, and they spoiled our inheritances. 26 And not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borderlands. 27 And, behold, they are encamped this day against the citadel in Jerusalem with the object of capturing it, and they have fortified the sanctuary and Bethsura. 28 And if thou art not beforehand with them quickly they will do greater things than these, and thou wilt not be able to control them."
29 And the king was angry when he heard this; and he gathered together all his Friends, the leaders of his host, and them that were over the horse. 30 And there came unto him from other kingdoms, and from the isles of the sea, bands of mercenaries. And the number of his forces was a hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. 31 And they went through Idumaea, and encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war; but they that were besieged came out and burned them with fire, and fought manfully.
32 And Judas removed from the citadel, and encamped at Bethzacharias, over against the king's camp. 33 And the king rose early in the morning, and removed the army in its eagerness along the road to Bethzacharias; and his forces prepared themselves for the battle, and sounded with trumpets. 34 And they showed the elephants the blood of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle. 35 And they divided the beasts among the phalanxes, and they set by each elephant a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and helmets of brass on their heads; and for each beast were appointed five hundred chosen horsemen. 36 These had previously been with the beasts wherever a beast was; and whithersoever it went, they went together with it; they did not leave it. 37 And towers of wood were upon them, strong and covered, one upon each beast, girt fast upon them with special contrivances; and upon each were thirty-two men, fighting from them, and each beast had its Indian. 38 And the residue of the horsemen he placed on this side and that side, on either wing of the army, thus striking terror into the enemy, while covering the phalanxes.
39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains shone therewith, and blazed like torches of fire. 40 And a part of the king's army was spread upon the high mountains, and some on the low ground, and they went on safely and in order. 41 And all that heard the noise of their multitude, and of the marching of the multitude, and the rattling of the arms, did quake; for the army was exceeding great and strong. 42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle, and there fell of the king's army six hundred men.
43 And Eleazar Avaran saw one of the beasts armed with royal breastplates, and he was higher than all the other beasts, so that it appeared as though the king were upon it; 44 and he gave himself to deliver his people and to acquire an everlasting name; 45 and he ran upon it courageously into the midst of the phalanx, and slew on the right hand and on the left, and they parted asunder from him on this side and on that; 46 and he crept under the elephant, and thrust him from beneath, and slew it; and it fell to the earth upon him, and he died there. 47 And when they saw the strength of the royal army, and the fierce onslaught of the hosts, they turned away from them.
48 But they of the king's army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king encamped toward Judaea, and toward mount Sion. 49 And he made peace with them of Bethsura; for they came out of the city, because they had no food there to be shut up therein any longer, because it was a sabbath to the land. 50 And the king took Bethsura, and appointed a garrison there to keep it. 51 And he encamped against the sanctuary many days, and set there siege-towers, and engines of war, and instruments for casting fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings. 52 And they who were besieged also made engines against their engines, and fought for many days. 53 But there were no victuals in the store-chambers because it was the seventh year, and they that had fled for safety to Judaea from the Gentiles had eaten up the residue of the store; 54 and there were but a few men left in the sanctuary, because the famine prevailed against them, and they were scattered, each man to his own place.
55 And Lysias heard that Philip, whom Antiochus the king—while he was yet alive—appointed to nourish up his son Antiochus that he might be king, had returned from Persia and Media, with him the forces that went with the king, and that he was seeking to take unto him the government. 56 And he made haste, and gave consent to depart; and he said to the king and to the leaders of the host and to the men: "We languish daily, and our food is scant, and the place which we are besieging is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us; 58 now therefore let us give the right hand to these men, and make peace with them, and with all their nation; 59 and let us settle with them that they be permitted to walk after their own laws, as aforetime; for because of their laws which we abolished were they angered, and did all these things." 60 And the saying pleased the king and the leaders, and he sent unto them to make peace; and they accepted thereof. 61 And the king and the leaders sware unto them in accordance with these conditions; thereupon they came forth from the stronghold, 62 and the king entered into mount Sion. But when he saw the strength of the place, he set at nought the oath which he had sworn, and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about. 63 And he removed in haste, and returned unto Antioch, and found Philip master of the city; and he fought against him, and took the city by force.
Chapter 7
1 In the one hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus came forth from Rome, and went up with a few men unto a city by the sea, and reigned there. 2 And it came to pass, when he had formed the purpose of entering into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the soldiery laid hands on Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them unto him. 3 And when the thing was made known to him, he said: "Show me not their faces." 4 And the soldiery slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom.
5 And there came unto him all the lawless and ungodly men of Israel; and Alcimus led them, desiring to be high-priest. 6 And they accused the people unto the king, saying: "Judas and his brethren have destroyed all thy Friends, and have scattered us from our land. 7 Now therefore send a man whom thou trustest, and let him go and see all the havock which he hath made of us and of the king's country, and let him punish them and all that helped them."
8 And the king chose Bacchides, one of the king's friends, who was ruler in the country beyond the river, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king. 9 And he sent him and the ungodly Alcimus, and made sure to him the high-priesthood; and he commanded him to take vengeance upon the children of Israel. 10 And they removed, and came with a great host into the land of Judah; and he sent messengers to Judas and his brethren with words of peace, deceitfully. 11 But they gave not heed to their words; for they saw that they were come with a great host.
12 And there was gathered together unto Alcimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, to seek for justice. 13 And the Chassidim were the first among the children of Israel that sought peace of them; for they said: 14 "One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come with the forces, and he will do us no wrong." 15 And he spake with them words of peace, and sware unto them, saying: "We will seek the hurt neither of you nor of your friends." 16 And they believed him; and he laid hands on threescore men of them, and slew them in one day, according to the words which the psalmist wrote: 17 "The flesh of thy saints and their blood they poured out around Jerusalem; and there was no man to bury them." 18 And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said: "There is neither truth nor judgement in them; for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware."
19 And Bacchides removed from Jerusalem, and encamped in Bezeth; and he sent and took many of the deserters that were with him, and certain of the people, and slew them, and cast them into the great pit. 20 And he delivered the land to Alcimus, and left with him a force to aid him; and Bacchides went away unto the king.
21 And Alcimus strove for the high-priesthood. 22 And there were gathered unto him all they that troubled their people, and they got the mastery of the land of Judah, and did great hurt in Israel. 23 And Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had wrought among the children of Israel, worse than that of the Gentiles; 24 and he went out into all the coasts of Judaea round about, and took vengeance on the men that had deserted from him, and they were restrained from going forth into the country.
25 But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company waxed strong, and knew that he was not able to withstand them, he returned to the king, and brought evil accusations against them. 26 And the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that hated Israel and was their enemy, and commanded him to destroy the people. 27 And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great host; and he sent unto Judas and his brethren deceitfully with words of peace, saying: 28 "Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I may see your faces in peace." 29 And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. But the enemies were ready to take away Judas by violence. And the thing became known to Judas, namely that he came unto him with deceit; and he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no more.
30 And when Nicanor knew that his purpose was discovered, he went out to meet Judas in battle beside Capharsalama; 31 and there fell of those that were with Nicanor about five hundred men, and they fled into the city of David.
33 And after these things Nicanor went up to mount Sion; and there came some of the priests out of the sanctuary, and some of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to show him the whole burnt sacrifice that was being offered for the king; 34 but he mocked them, and laughed at them, and polluted them, and spake haughtily, and sware in a rage, saying: "Unless Judas and his army be now delivered into my hands, it shall be that, if I come again in safety, I will burn up this house." 35 And he went forth with great wrath.
36 And the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple, and wept and said: 37 "Thou didst choose this house to be called by thy name, to be a house of prayer and supplication for thy people; 38 take vengeance on this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword; remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to live any longer."
39 And Nicanor went forth from Jerusalem, and encamped in Bethhoron, and there met him the host of Syria. 40 And Judas encamped in Adasa with three thousand men; and Judas prayed, and said: 41 "When they that came from the king blasphemed, thine angel went out and smote among them one hundred and eighty-five thousand. 42 Even so crush this army before us to-day; and let all the rest know that he hath spoken wickedly against thy sanctuary; and judge him according to his wickedness."
43 And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and Nicanor's army was discomfited, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle. 44 Now when his army saw that Nicanor was fallen, they cast away their arms, and fled. 45 And they pursued after them a day's journey from Adasa until thou comest to Gazara, and they sounded an alarm after them with the solemn trumpets. 46 And they came forth out of all the villages of Judaea round about, and closed them in; and these turned back on those behind, and they all fell by the sword, and there was not one of them left. 47 And they took the spoils and the booty, and they smote off Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so haughtily, and brought them, and hanged them up near Jerusalem. 48 And the people was exceeding glad, and they kept that day as a day of great gladness. 49 And they ordained that this day should be observed year by year on the thirteenth day of Adar. 50 And the land of Judah had rest a little while.
Chapter 8
1 And Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were valiant men, and that they were friendly disposed towards all who attached themselves to them, and that they offered friendship to as many as came unto them, 2 and that they were valiant men. And they told him about their wars and exploits which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute; 3 and of what things they had done in the land of Spain, how they had acquired the mines of silver and gold there; 4 and how that by their policy and persistence they had conquered the whole land, and the land was exceeding far from them; also of the kings that had come against them from the uttermost part of the earth, until they had discomfited them, and smitten them very sore; and how the rest had given them tribute year by year. 5 Furthermore, they told of how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of Chittim, and them that lifted themselves up against them, and had conquered them; 6 Antiochus also, the great king of Asia, who had come against them to battle, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with cavalry, and chariots, and an exceeding great host,—he had also been discomfited by them, 7 and they had taken him alive, and had appointed that both he and such as reigned after him should give them a great tribute and should give hostages, and a tract of land, namely the country of India, and Media, and Lydia, and of the goodliest of their countries; 8 and how they had taken them from him, and had given them to king Eumenes.
9 Also they told of how they of Greece had purposed to come and destroy them, and the thing had become known to them, and they had sent against them a captain, and had fought against them, and many of them had fallen wounded to death; and they had made captive their wives and their children, and had spoiled them and conquered their land, and had pulled down their strongholds, and had brought them into bondage unto this day. 11 And they told of how they had destroyed the residue of the kingdoms and of the isles, as many as had risen up against them, and had made them their servants; but that with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity; 12 and how they had conquered the kingdoms that were nigh and those that were far off, and that all who heard of their fame were afraid of them. 13 Moreover they told that whomsoever they will to succour and to make kings, become kings; and that whomsoever they will, do they depose; and they are exalted exceedingly; 14 and that for all this none of them did ever put on a diadem, neither did they clothe themselves with purple, to be magnified thereby.
15 Also how they had made for themselves a senate house, and how day by day three hundred and twenty men sat in council, consulting alway for the people, to the end that they might be well ordered; 16 and how they committed their government to one man year by year, that he should be over them, and be lord over all their country; and that all are obedient to this one, and that there is neither envy nor emulation among them.
17 And 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, and that they should take the yoke from them, when they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks did keep Israel in bondage. 19 And they went to Rome, and the way was exceeding long; and they entered into the Senate house, and answered and said: 20 "Judas, who is also called Maccabaeus, and his brethren, and the whole people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered as your confederates and friends." 21 And the thing was well-pleasing in their sight. 22 And this is the copy of the writing which they wrote back again on tablets of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of peace and confederacy:
23 "Good success be to the Romans, and to the nation of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever; the sword also and the enemy be far from them. 24 But if war arise for Rome first, or for any of their confederates in all their dominion, the nation of the Jews shall help them as confederates as the occasion shall prescribe to them, with all their heart; 25 and unto them that make war they shall not give, neither supply, food, arms, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto Rome; and they shall observe their obligations, receiving nothing in the way of a bribe. 26 In the same manner, moreover, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them as confederates with all their soul, as the occasion shall prescribe to them; 27 and to them that are confederates there shall not be given corn, arms, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto Rome; and they shall observe these obligations, and that without deceit. 28 According to these words have the Romans made a treaty with the people of the Jews. 29 But if hereafter the one party or the other shall determine to add or to diminish anything, they shall do it at their pleasure, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be established. 30 Moreover as touching the evils which king Demetrius doeth unto you, we have written to him, saying: 'Wherefore hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews? 31 If, therefore, they plead any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight thee by sea and by land.'"
Chapter 9
1 And when Demetrius had heard that Nicanor was fallen with his forces in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah a second time, and the right wing of his army with them. 2 And they went by way of Gilgal, and encamped against Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, and gat possession of it, and destroyed much people. 3 And in the first month of the one hundred and fifty second year they encamped against Jerusalem. 4 And they removed and went unto Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horse. 5 And Judas was encamped at Elasa, and three thousand chosen men with him. 6 And when they saw the multitude of the forces, that they were many, they feared exceedingly; and many slipped away from the army; there were not left of them more than eight hundred men. 7 And when Judas saw that his army slipped away, and that nevertheless the battle was imminent for him, he was sore troubled in heart, for that he had no time to gather them together. 8 And he became desperate, and said to them that were left: "Let us arise and go up against our adversaries, if peradventure we may be able to fight against them." 9 And they turned from him, saying: "We shall in no wise be able to withstand them; but let us rather save our lives now; let us return later on with our brethren, and fight against them; we are now too few." 10 Then Judas said: "Far be it from me to do this thing, to flee from them! And if our time is come, let us die manfully for our brethren's sake and not leave a cause of reproach against our glory."
11 And the Syrian host removed from the camp, and the Jews stood to encounter them; and the horse was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went before the host together with all the mighty men that fought in the front of the line of battle. 12 But Bacchides was on the right wing; and the phalanx drew near from both sides, and they blew with their trumpets, and the men of Judas's side also blew with their trumpets; 13 and the earth shook with the shout of the armies. And the battle was joined, and continued from morning until evening. 14 And when Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of his army were on the right wing, his followers concentrated their whole attention upon them, and the right wing was discomfited by them, and they pursued after them unto the mount Azotus. 16 And when they that were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, they turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and those that were with him. 17 And the battle waxed sore, and many on either side fell wounded to death. 18 And Judas fell, and the rest fled. 19 And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers at Modin. 20 And they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him and mourned many days, and said: 21 "How is the mighty one fallen, the saviour of Israel!"
22 And the rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars, and the valiant deeds which he did, and his greatness,—they are not written; for they were exceeding many.
23 And it came to pass after the death of Judas that the lawless put forth their heads in all the borders of Israel, and all they that wrought iniquity rose up; 24 in those days there arose exceeding great murmuring that the land made peace with them. 25 And Bacchides chose out the ungodly men, and made them lords of the country. 26 And they sought out and searched for the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance on them, and treated them with mockery. 27 And there was great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the time that a prophet appeared unto them.
28 And all the friends of Judas were gathered together, and they said unto Jonathan: 29 "Since thy brother Judas hath died, we have no man like him to go forth against our enemies and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are inimical to us. 30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our ruler and leader in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles." 31 And Jonathan took the leadership upon him at that time, and rose up in the stead of his brother Judas.
33 And when Bacchides knew it, he sought to slay him. But when Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, knew it, they fled into the wilderness of Tekoah, and encamped by the water of the pool Asphar. 34 And Bacchides got to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he came, he and all his army, over Jordan.
35 And Jonathan sent his brother, a leader of the multitude, and besought his friends, the Nabathaeans, that they might leave with them their baggage, which was much. 36 But the children of Ambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it. 37 But after these things they brought word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Ambri were making a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabath with a great train, a daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan. 38 And they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain; 39 and they lifted up their eyes, and saw, and behold, a great ado and much baggage; and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and minstrels, and many weapons. 40 And they rose up from their ambush against them, and slew them; and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled into the mountain; and they took all their spoils. 41 And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the voice of their minstrels into lamentation. 42 So as thus they avenged fully the blood of their brother; and they turned back to the marsh-land of Jordan.
43 And when Bacchides heard it, he came on the Sabbath day unto the banks of the Jordan with a great host. 44 And Jonathan said unto his brethren: "Let us arise now and fight for our lives; for it is not with us to-day, as yesterday and the day before. 45 For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us; moreover, the water of the Jordan is on this side and on that side, and this is marsh- and wood-land, and there is no place to turn aside. 46 Now, therefore, cry unto heaven, that ye may be delivered out of the hand of your enemies." 47 And the battle was joined, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, and he turned away back from him. 48 And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into the Jordan, and swam over to the other side; and they that were with Bacchides did not pass over Jordan against them. 49 And there fell of Bacchides' company that day about a thousand men.
50 And they returned to Jerusalem; and they built strong cities in Judaea, the stronghold that is in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls, and gates and bars. 51 And they set garrisons in them to vex Israel. 52 And they fortified the city Bethsura, and Gazara, and the citadel; and they put forces in them, and store of victuals. 53 And they took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in ward in the citadel at Jerusalem.
54 Now in the one hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded to pull down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary, in so doing he pulled down also the works of the prophets. 55 And when he began to pull down, at that very time, Alcimus was stricken, and his works were hindered; and his mouth was stopped, and he became palsied, and he could no more speak anything, nor give order concerning his house. 56 And Alcimus died at that time with great torment. 57 And when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king. And the land of Judah had rest two years.
58 And the lawless men took counsel, saying: "Behold, Jonathan, and they of his part are dwelling at peace, and in security; let us therefore now bring Bacchides, and he will lay hands on them all in one night." 59 And they went and consulted with him. 60 And he removed, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to all his confederates that were in Judaea, that they should lay hands on Jonathan, and on them that were with him; but they were not able to do so, because their plan became known to them. 61 And they that were of Jonathan's part laid hands on about fifty men of the country that were the ringleaders in the wickedness, and slew them. 62 And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, gat them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and he built up that which had been pulled down thereof, and made it strong.
63 And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude, and sent word to them that were in Judaea. 64 And he went and encamped against Bethbasi, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. 65 And Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country; and he went with a small number. 66 And he smote Odomera and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tents. 67 And he began to smite them and to go up with his troops. Then Simon and they that were with him went out of the city and set on fire the engines of war; 68 and they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore, for his plan and his attack had been in vain. 69 And they were very wroth with the lawless men that gave him counsel to come into the country, and they slew many of them, and he determined to depart into his own land. 70 And when Jonathan had knowledge thereof, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end that they should make peace with him, and that he should restore unto them the captives. 71 And he accepted the thing, and did according to his words, and sware unto him that he would not seek his hurt all the days of his life. 72 And he restored unto him the captives which he had taken captive aforetime out of the land of Judah; and he returned and departed into his own land, and came not any more into their borders. 73 And the sword ceased from Israel. And Jonathan dwelt at Michmash; and Jonathan began to judge the people; and he destroyed the ungodly out of Israel.
Chapter 10
1 In the one hundred and sixtieth year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, went up and took possession of Ptolemais, and they received him, and he reigned there. 2 And when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together exceeding great forces, and went forth to meet him in battle. 3 And Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with words of peace, so as to magnify him. 4 For he said: "Let us be beforehand to make peace with them, ere he make peace with Alexander against us. 5 For he will remember all the evils which we have done unto him, and unto his brethren and unto his nation." 6 And he gave him authority to gather together forces, and to provide arms, and to be his confederate; and he commanded that they should deliver up to him the hostages that were in the citadel.
7 And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the ears of all the people, and of them that were in the citadel; 8 and they were sore afraid when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together forces. 9 And they of the citadel delivered up the hostages unto Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents. 10 And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build and renew the city. 11 And he commanded them that did the work to build the walls and the mount Sion round about with square stones for defence; and they did so. 12 And the strangers, that were in the strongholds that Bacchides had built, fled away; 14 and each man left his place, and departed into his own land. Only in Bethsura were there left certain of those that had forsaken the Law, and the commandments; for it was a place of refuge unto them.
15 And king Alexander heard of the promises which Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan; and men told him of the battles and the valiant deeds which he and his brethren had done, and of the toils which they had endured; 16 and he said: "Shall we find another such man? And now let us make him our Friend and confederate." 17 And he wrote letters, and sent them unto him, according to these words, saying: 18 "King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting! 19 We have heard concerning thee, that thou art a mighty man of valour, and meet to be our Friend. 20 And now we have appointed thee this day to be high-priest of thy nation, and it is our will that thou shouldest be called the king's Friend"—and he sent unto him a purple robe and a crown of gold—"and that 21 thou shouldest take our part, and keep friendship with us." And Jonathan put on the holy garment in the seventh month of the one hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of Tabernacles, and he gathered together forces, and provided arms in abundance.
23 And when Demetrius heard these things, he was grieved, and said: "Why have we permitted this to be done, that Alexander hath been beforehand with us in establishing friendship with the Jews, to strengthen himself? 24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and of honour, and gifts, that they may be with me for my aid." 25 And he sent unto them according to these words: 26 "King Demetrius unto the nation of the Jews, greeting! Forasmuch as ye have kept covenant with us, and have continued in our friendship, and have not joined yourselves to our enemies, we, who have heard hereof, rejoice. 27 And now continue ye still to keep faith with us, and we will recompense unto you good things in return for what ye do in our behalf; 28 and we will grant you many immunities, and will give you gifts. 29 And now I herewith free you, and release all the Jews from the tributes, and from the custom on salt, and from the crowns. 30 And instead of the third part of the seed, and instead of the half of the fruit of the trees, which falleth to me to receive, I release them from this day and henceforth, so that I will not take them from the land of Judah, and from the three governments which are added thereunto from the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for all time. 31 And let Jerusalem be holy and free, together with the outlying districts, regarding the tenths and the tolls. 32 I yield up also my authority over the citadel which is at Jerusalem, and give it to the high-priest, that 33 he may appoint in it such men as he shall choose, to keep it. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried away captive from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom, I set at liberty without price; and let all remit the tributes of their cattle also. 34 And all the feasts, and the Sabbaths, and new moons, and appointed days, and three days before a feast, and three days after a feast, let them all be days of immunity and release for all the Jews that are in my kingdom; 35 and no man shall have authority to exact anything from any of them, or to trouble them concerning any matter. 36 And let there be enrolled among the king's forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, and pay shall be given unto them, as belongeth to all the king's forces. 37 And of them some shall be placed in the king's great strongholds, and some of them shall be placed over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust; and let those that are over them, and their rulers, be from among themselves, and let them walk after their own laws, even as the king hath commanded in the land of Judah.
38 And the three governments that have been added to Judaea from the country of Samaria let them be added to Judaea, that they may be reckoned to be under one man, that they obey not any other authority than that of the high-priest. 39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I have given it a gift to the sanctuary that is at Jerusalem, for the expenses that befit the sanctuary. 40 And I undertake to give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver from the king's revenues, from the places which are most convenient. 41 And all the overplus which the officials paid not in—as has been done in former years—they shall from henceforth give towards the works of the house. 42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they used to take from the dues of the sanctuary out of the income year by year, this also is released, because it appertaineth to the priests that minister. 43 And whosoever shall flee unto the temple that is in Jerusalem, and in all the precincts thereof, because he oweth money to the king, or for any other reason, let such go free, together with all, whatsoever they possess, in my kingdom. 44 And for the building and renewing of the works of the sanctuary the expense shall be given also out of the king's revenue. 45 And for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, shall the expense be given also out of the king's revenue, and for the building of the walls of other cities in Judaea."
46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credence unto them, nor received they them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel, and that he had afflicted them very sore. 47 And moreover they were well pleased with Alexander, because he was the first that spake words of peace unto them, and they remained confederate with him always.
48 And king Alexander gathered together great forces, and encamped over against Demetrius. 49 And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled, and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them. 50 And he continued the battle obstinately until the sun went down; and Demetrius fell that day.
51 And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, according to these words, saying: 52 "Forasmuch as I am returned to my kingdom, and am set on the throne of my fathers, and have gotten the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and have gotten possession of our country— 53 yea, I joined battle with him, and he and his army were discomfited by us, and we sat upon the throne of his kingdom,—let us now establish amity one with the other; 54 and give me now thy daughter to wife; and I will make affinity with thee, and will give both thee and her gifts worthy of thee." 55 And Ptolemy the king answered, saying: "Happy is the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and didst sit upon the throne of their kingdom. 56 And now will I do to thee according to the things which thou hast written. But meet me at Ptolemais, that 57 we may see one another; and I will make affinity with thee even as thou hast said." And Ptolemy went out of Egypt, he and Cleopatra his daughter, and came unto Ptolemais, in the one hundred 58 and sixty-second year; and he bestowed on him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great pomp, as the manner of kings is.
59 And king Alexander wrote unto Jonathan, that he should come to meet him. 60 And he went with pomp to Ptolemais, and met the two kings, and gave them and their Friends silver and gold, and many gifts; and he found favour in their sight. 61 And there were gathered together against him certain pestilent fellows out of Israel, men that were transgressors of the Law, to 62 complain against him; but the king gave no heed to them. And the king commanded, and they 63 took off Jonathan's garments, and clothed him in purple; even so did they do. And the king made him sit with him, and said unto his princes: "Go forth with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him concerning any matter, and let no man trouble 64 him for any manner of cause." And it came to pass, when they that complained against him saw his glory according as the herald made proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, that they 65 all fled away. And the king showed him honour, and wrote him among his Chief Friends, and 66 made him a captain, and governor of a province. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 And in the one hundred and sixty-fifth year came Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers. 68 And when king Alexander heard thereof he was grieved exceedingly, and returned unto Antioch. 69 And Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coelesyria, captain; and he gathered together a great host, and encamped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high-priest, saying: "Thou alone liftest up thyself against us; but I am had in 70 derision and in reproach because of thee. And why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the 71 mountains? Now therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us in the plain, and there let us try conclusions with one another, for with me is the power of the cities. 72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest of those that help us; and they will say, Your foot cannot stand before 73 our face; for thy fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land. And now thou wilt not be able to withstand the horse and such an host as this in the plain, where there is neither stone nor flint, nor any place to flee unto."
74 Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind; and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem; 75 and Simon his brother met him for to help him. And he encamped against Joppa; and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa; and they fought against it. 76 And they of the city, being afraid, opened the gates, and Jonathan became master of Joppa.
77 And when Apollonius heard of this, he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great host, and went to Azotus as though intending to journey on, but at the same time moved forward into the plain, because he had a multitude of horse, and relied on this. 78 And he pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle. 79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind him, hidden; but Jonathan realized that there was an ambushment behind him. 80 And they surrounded his army, and cast their darts at the people from morning until late in the afternoon; but the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded, while the enemy's horses were wearying themselves. 81 And Simon drew forth his host, and joined battle with the phalanx—for the horsemen were spent—and they were discomfited by him, and fled. 82 And the horsemen were scattered in the plain; and they fled to Azotus, and entered into Beth-dagon, their idol's temple, to save themselves. 83 And Jonathan burned Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, and them that fled into it, he burned with fire. 84 And they that had fallen by the sword, with them that were burned, were about eight thousand men. 85 And from thence Jonathan removed, and encamped against Askalon, and they of the city came forth to meet him with great pomp. 86 And Jonathan, with them that were on his side, returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.
87 And it came to pass, when king Alexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more; 88 and he sent unto him a buckle of gold, as the use is to give to such as are of the kindred of the kings; moreover, he gave him Ekron and all the borders thereof for a possession.
Chapter 11
1 And the king of Egypt gathered together great forces, as the sand which is by the sea shore for multitude, and many ships, and sought to make himself master of Alexander's kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom. 2 And he went forth into Syria with words of peace; and they of the cities opened unto him the gates, and met him, and king Alexander's command was that they should meet him, because he was his father-in-law. 3 Now when Ptolemy entered into the cities, he placed in each city his forces as a garrison. 4 And when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon which had been burned with fire, and Azotus, which together with the suburbs thereof, had been pulled down, and the bodies scattered about, and them that had been burned, whom he had burned in the war, for they had made heaps of them in his way. 5 And they told the king what things Jonathan had done, in order to cast blame on him; and the king held his peace.
6 And Jonathan met the king with pomp at Joppa, and they saluted one another, and they slept there. 7 And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called Eleutherus, and returned to Jerusalem.
8 But king Ptolemy made himself master of the cities upon the sea coast, unto Seleucia which is by the sea, and he devised evil devices concerning Alexander. 9 And he sent ambassadors unto king Demetrius, saying: "Let us make a covenant with one another, and I will give thee to wife my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign over thy father's kingdom; 10 for I have repented that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me." 11 But he cast blame on him thus, because he coveted his kingdom. 12 And taking his daughter from Alexander, he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity became manifest.
13 And Ptolemy entered into Antioch, and put on himself the diadem of Asia; so he now had put two diadems upon his head, the diadem of Egypt and that of Asia. 14 But king Alexander was in Cilicia at that season, because they of those parts had revolted. 15 And Alexander heard of it, and he came against him in war; and Ptolemy led forth his host, and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight. 16 And Alexander fled into Arabia, that he might be sheltered there; but king Ptolemy was exalted. 17 And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it to Ptolemy. 18 And king Ptolemy died the third day after; and they that were in his strongholds were slain by them that dwelt in the strongholds. 19 And Demetrius became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year.
20 In those days Jonathan gathered together them of Judaea to take the citadel that was in Jerusalem; and he made many engines of war against it. 21 And certain ones that hated their own nation, men that transgressed the Law, went unto the king, and reported unto him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. 22 And when he heard it he was angered; but immediately on hearing it he set forth, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed. 23 But when Jonathan heard this, he commanded that the citadel should continue to be besieged; and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and of the priests and put himself in peril, and taking silver and gold and raiment, and divers presents besides, went to Ptolemais unto the king. And he found favour in his sight. 24 And certain lawless men of them that were of the nation made complaints against him; but the king did unto him even as his predecessors had done unto him, and exalted him in the sight of all his Friends, 27 and confirmed him in the high-priesthood, and whatsoever other honours he had before, and gave him pre-eminence among his Chief Friends.
28 And Jonathan requested of the king, that he would make Judaea and the three provinces of the country of Samaria free from tribute; and he promised him three hundred talents. 29 And the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan concerning all these things after this manner: 30,31 "King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan and unto the nation of the Jews, greeting; The copy of the letter which we wrote unto Lasthenes our kinsman concerning you, we have written also unto 32,33 you, that ye may see it. King Demetrius unto Lasthenes his father, greeting; We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and observe what is just toward us, because 34 of their good will toward us. We have confirmed unto them, therefore, the districts of Judaea, and the three governments of Aphaerema, and Lydda, and Ramathaim—these were added unto Judaea from the country of Samaria—and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the king's dues which the king received of them yearly aforetime from the produce of the land and the fruits of trees. 35 And as for the other things which appertain unto us, from henceforth, of the tenths and the tolls that appertain to us, and the saltpits, and the crowns that appertain to us, all these we will bestow upon them. 36 And not one of these things shall be annulled from this time forth and for ever. 37 Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given unto Jonathan, and let it be set upon the holy mount in a fitting and conspicuous place."
38 And when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place,—except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles—and therefore all the forces of his fathers were inimically disposed towards him. 39 Now Tryphon was of those who aforetime had been of Alexander's part, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrius, and he went to Imalkue the Arabian, who was nourishing up Antiochus, the young child of Alexander, 40 and pressed sore upon him that he should deliver him unto him, that he might reign in his father's stead; and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred wherewith his forces hated him; and he abode there many days.
41 And Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he should cast out of Jerusalem them of the citadel, and them that were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually. 42 And Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying: "I will not only do this for thee and thy nation, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if I find a favourable opportunity. 43 Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men who shall fight for me; for all my forces are revolted." 44 And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men unto Antioch. And they came unto the king; and the king was glad at their coming. 45 And they of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men; and they were minded to slay the king. 46 And the king fled into the palace, and they of the city seized the thoroughfares of the city, and began to fight. 47 And the king called the Jews to his aid, and they were gathered together unto him all at once; and they dispersed themselves in the city; and they slew that day to the number of a hundred 49 thousand. And they set the city on fire, and got many spoils that day, and saved the king. 50 And when they of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves masters of the city as they would, they waxed faint in their hearts, and cried out to the king with supplication, saying: 51 "Give us thy right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city." And they cast away their arms, and made peace. 52 And the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all that were in his kingdom; and they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.
53 And when king Demetrius was seated on his throne of his kingdom again, and the land was quiet before him, he lied in all that he had spoken, and estranged himself from Jonathan and recompensed him not according to the benefits with which he had promised to recompense him; but he afflicted him sore.
54 Now after this Tryphon returned, and with him the young child Antiochus; and he reigned, and put on a diadem. 55 And there were gathered unto him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away in disgrace; and they fought against him, and he fled, and was put to rout. 56 And Tryphon took the elephants, and became master of Antioch.
57 And the young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying: "I confirm unto thee the high-priesthood, and appoint thee over the four governments, and to be one of the king's Friends." 58 And he sent unto him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him leave to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle. 59 And his brother Simon he made governor over the district from the Ladder of Tyre unto the borders of Egypt.
60 And Jonathan went forth, and took his journey beyond the river, and through the cities; and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to be his confederates. 61 And he came to Askalon, and they of the city met him honourably. And he departed thence to Gaza, and they of Gaza shut him out; and he lay siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them. 62 And they of Gaza made request unto Jonathan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem. And he passed through the country as far as Damascus.
63 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great host, with the object of hindering him from his purpose; and he went to meet them, but 65 Simon his brother he left in the country. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought 66 against it many days, and shut it up; and they made request to him that he would give them his right hand, and he gave it to them; but he put them out from thence, and took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.
67 And Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of Gennesar, and early in the morning they got them to the plain of Hazor. 68 And, behold, an army of strangers met him in the plain, and they laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but they themselves met him face to face. 69 But they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined battle; and 70 all they that were of Jonathan's side fled; not one of them was left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces. 71 And Jonathan rent his clothes, and put earth upon his head, and prayed. 72 And he turned again unto them in battle, and put them to rout, and they fled. 73 And when they of his side who were fleeing saw it, they returned unto him, and pursued them with him unto Kedesh to their camp; and they encamped there. 74 And there fell of the strangers on that day about three thousand men. And Jonathan returned unto Jerusalem.
Chapter 12
1 And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. 2 And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner. 3 And they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: "Jonathan the high-priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for 4 them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time." And they gave them letters unto the governors of every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace.
5,6 And this is the copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: "Jonathan the high-priest, and the Council of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, unto their 7 brethren the Spartans, greeting! Even before this time were letters sent unto Onias the high-priest from Areios, who was reigning among you, to the effect that ye are our brethren, as the copy 8 here underwritten showeth. And Onias treated honourably the man that was sent, and received 9 the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship. Therefore we also—albeit 10 we need none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books which are in our hands—have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for long time is passed since ye sent unto us. 11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both at our feasts, and on other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be 13 mindful of brethren; and, moreover, we are glad for your glory. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have 14 fought against us. We were not minded, however, to be troublesome to you, or to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars; for we have the help that is from heaven to help us, and 16 we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humiliated. We chose, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them unto the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy. 17 We commanded them, therefore, to go also unto you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters 18 concerning the renewing of friendship and of our brotherhood. And now ye shall do well if 19 ye give us an answer thereto." And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:
21 "Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the chief priest, greeting! It hath been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of 22 Abraham; and now, since these things have come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us 23 of your prosperity. And we, moreover, do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command, therefore, that they make report unto you on this wise."
24 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were returned to fight against him with a greater force than afore, so he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he 26 gave them no respite to set foot in his country. And he sent spies into their camp; and they returned, and reported unto him that in such and such a way they had planned to fall upon him by night. 27 But as 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 for battle; and he sent forth sentinels round about the camp. 28 But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were afraid and trembled in their heart; and they kindled fires in their camp, and departed. 29 But Jonathan and his men knew it not till morning; for they saw the fires burning. 30 And Jonathan pursued after them, but did not overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus. 31 And Jonathan turned aside and fought against the Arabians, who are called Gabadaeans, and smote them, and took their spoils. 32 And he set out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.
33 And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Askalon, and the strongholds that were near unto it. And he turned aside to Joppa, and took possession of it, for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold unto the men of Demetrius; and he placed a garrison there to keep it.
35 And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judaea, and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, so that it might be isolated, that they within it might neither buy nor they without sell. 37 And they were gathered together to build the city; and a part of the wall by the brook that is on the east side had fallen down, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha. 38 And Simon also built Adida in the plain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.
39 And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king. 40 And he was afraid lest haply Jonathan should not suffer him to do so, and lest he should fight against him; so he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. 41 And he removed, and came to Bethshan. And Jonathan came forth to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan. 42 And when Tryphon saw that he came with a great host, he was afraid to stretch forth his hand against him; 43 and he received him honourably, and commended him unto all his Friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his Friends and his forces to be obedient unto him, as unto himself. 44 And he said unto Jonathan: "Why hast thou put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us? 45 And now, send them away to their homes, but choose for thyself a few men who shall be with thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to thee, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king's officers; then I will return and depart; for, for this cause did I come." 46 And he trusted him and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah. 47 But he reserved to himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee, but one thousand went with him. 48 But when Jonathan had entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and took him; and all they that had come with him they slew with the sword.
49 And Tryphon sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's men. 50 And they perceived that he was taken and had perished, and they that were with him; nevertheless they encouraged one another, and went on their way close together, ready for war. 51 And when they that were following upon them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back again. 52 And they all came in peace to the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid. 53 And all Israel mourned with a great mourning. And all the Gentiles that were round about them sought to destroy them utterly, for they said: "They have not a man that is leader and who will help them; now therefore let us fight against them, and take away their memorial from among men."
Chapter 13
1 And Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a numerous host to come into the land of Judah, and destroy it utterly. 2 And he saw that the people were troubled and were in great fear; so he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together, and encouraged them, 3 and said unto them: "Ye yourselves know what things I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we have seen; 4 by reason whereof all my brethren have perished for Israel's sake, and I alone am left. 5 And now be it far from me that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction; for I am not better than my brethren. 6 Howbeit I will take vengeance for my nation, and for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children; 7 because all the Gentiles are gathered together to destroy us of very hatred." 8 And the spirit of the people, as soon as they heard these words, revived. 9 And they answered with a loud voice, saying: "Thou art our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brethren. 10 Fight thou our war, and all that thou shalt say unto us, that will we do."
11 And he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and fortified it round about. And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great host, to Joppa; and he cast out them that were therein, and abode there in it.
12 And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a mighty host to enter into the land of Judah; and Jonathan was with him in ward. 13 But Simon encamped at Adida, over against the plain. 14 And when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent ambassadors unto him, saying: "It is for the money which Jonathan thy brother owed unto the king's treasure, by reason of the offices which he had, that we hold him fast. 16 And now send a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us,—and we will set him at liberty." 17 And Simon knew that they spake unto him deceitfully, but sent the money and the children, lest peradventure he should bring upon himself great hatred on the part of the people, in that they should be saying: "Because I sent him not the money and the children he perished." 19 And he sent the children and the hundred talents; and he dealt falsely, and did not set Jonathan at liberty.
20 And after this Tryphon came to invade the land, and destroy it, and he went round about by the way that leadeth to Adora; 21 and Simon and his army marched over against him to whatsoever place he went. Now they of the citadel sent unto Tryphon ambassadors, hastening him to come unto them through the wilderness, and to send them victuals. 22 And Tryphon made ready all his horse to come; and in that night there fell a great quantity of snow, and he did not find it possible to come because of the snow; 23 so he removed, and came into the country of Gilead. But when he came near to Bascama, he slew Jonathan, and he was buried there. 24 And Tryphon returned, and went away into his own land.
25 And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers. 26 And all Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days. 27 And Simon built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, and raised it aloft, so that it could be seen from afar; he built it with polished stone behind and before. 28 And he set up seven pyramids, one over against another, for his father, and mother, and four brethren. 29 And for these he made cunning devices, setting about them great pillars, and upon the pillars he fashioned all manner of arms for a perpetual memory, and beside the arms carved ships, that they should be seen of all that sail on the sea. 30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it is there unto this day.
31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, and put on himself the diadem of Asia, and brought great calamity upon the land.
33 And Simon built the strongholds of Judaea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars; and he laid up victuals in the strongholds. 34 And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the country an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder. 35 And king Demetrius sent unto him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter unto him, after this manner: 36 "King Demetrius unto Simon the high-priest and Friend of kings, and unto the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting. 37 The golden crown, and the palm-branch, which ye sent, we have received; and we are ready to conclude a lasting peace with you, and to write to the officers to grant releases unto you. 38 And whatsoever things we have now confirmed unto you, they are confirmed; and the strongholds which ye have builded, let them be your own. 39 As for any oversights and faults committed unto this day, we forgive them; and the crown which ye owed, we remit; and if there were any other toll exacted in Jerusalem, let it no longer be exacted. 40 And if there be some of you meet to be enrolled among those round about us, let them be enrolled; and thus let there be peace betwixt us." 41 In the one hundred and seventieth year therefore was the yoke of the heathen taken away from Israel. 42 And the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts: "In the first year of Simon the great high-priest and captain and leader of the Jews."
43 In those days he encamped against Gazara, and compassed it round about with armies; and he made an engine of siege, and brought it up to the city, and smote one tower, and took it. 44 And they that were in the engine of siege leaped forth into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city; 45 and they of the city rent their clothes, and went up on the wall with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, making request to Simon to give them right hands. 46 And they said: "Deal not with us according to our wickednesses, but according to thy mercy." 47 And Simon was reconciled unto them, and did not fight against them; but he drove them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with singing and giving of praise. 48 And he put all uncleanness out of it, and caused to dwell in it men who observed the Law; and he made it stronger than it was before, and he built therein a dwelling-place for himself.
49 But they of the citadel of Jerusalem were hindered from going forth, and from going into the country, and from buying and selling; and they hungered exceedingly, and many of them 50 perished through famine. And they cried out to Simon to take right hands; which thing he granted them; but he cast them out from thence; and he cleansed the citadel from pollutions. 51 And he entered into it on the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the one hundred and seventy-first year, with praise, and palm-branches, and with harps and with cymbals, and with viols, and with hymns, and with songs; because a great enemy had been destroyed out of Israel. 52 And he ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. And the hill of the temple that was by the citadel he made stronger than it was before; and he dwelt there, both he and his men.
53 And Simon saw that John his son was grown to be a man, and he made him leader of all his forces; and he dwelt at Gazara.
Chapter 14
1 In the one hundred and seventy-second year Demetrius the king gathered his forces together, and went into Media, to get him help, that he might fight against Tryphon. 2 And when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was come into his borders, he sent one of his leaders to take him alive; and he went and smote the army of Demetrius, and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him in ward.
4 And the land had rest all the days of Simon; and he sought the good of his nation; and his 5 authority and his glory was well-pleasing to them all his days. And in addition to all his other glory was this, that he took Joppa for a haven, and made it a place of entry for the ships of the sea.
6 And he enlarged the borders of his nation, and ruled over the land.
7 And he gathered together many that had been in captivity, and he ruled over Gazara, and Bethsura, and the citadel, and he took away uncleannesses therefrom, and there was none that could resist him.
8 And they tilled their land in peace, and the land gave her increase, and the trees of the plains their fruit.
9 Old men sat in the streets, all spoke together of the common weal, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel.
10 For the cities he provided victuals, and furnished them with defensive works, until his glorious name was proclaimed to the end of the earth.
11 He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.
12 And each sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to make them afraid;
13 and no one was left in the land to fight them, and the kings were discomfited in those days.
14 And he strengthened all that were brought low of his people; he sought out the Law, and put away the lawless and wicked.
15 He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the Temple.
16 And when it was heard in Rome that Jonathan was dead, and even unto Sparta, they 17 were exceeding sorry. But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high-priest in 18 his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein, they wrote unto him on tablets of brass, to renew with him the friendship and the confederacy which they had established with Judas and Jonathan his brethren; 20 and they were read before the congregation in Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letter which the Spartans sent: "The rulers and the city of the Spartans, unto Simon the high-priest, and unto the elders, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, who are brethren, greeting. 21 The ambassadors that were sent unto our people made report to us of your glory and honour; and we were glad for their coming. 22 And we did register the things that were spoken by them in the public records, after 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 receive the men honourably, and to place the copy of their words among the public records, to the end that the people of the Spartans might have a memorial thereof." 24 Moreover they wrote a copy of these things unto Simon the high-priest. After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome having a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight, in order to confirm the confederacy with them.
25 But when the people heard these things, they said: "What thanks shall we give to Simon and his 26 sons? For he, and his brethren, and his father's house have made themselves strong, and have chased away in fight the enemies of Israel from them, and established liberty for it." And they 27 wrote on tablets of brass, and set them upon a pillar in mount Zion. And this is the copy of the writing: "On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the one hundred and seventy-second year—that is the 28 third year of Simon the high-priest, and the prince of the people of God—in a great congregation of priests and people and princes of the nation, and of the elders of the country, the following 29 was promulgated by us: Forasmuch as oftentimes there have been wars in the country, Simon the son of Mattathias, the son of the children of Joarib, and his brethren, put themselves in jeopardy, and withstood the enemies of their nation, that their sanctuary and the Law might be upheld; and 30 they glorified their nation with great glory. And Jonathan assembled their nation together, and became high-priest to them; and he was gathered to his people. 31 Then their enemies determined to invade their country, that they might destroy their country utterly, and stretch forth their hands 32 against their sanctuary. Then rose up Simon and fought for his nation; and he spent much of his own 33 substance, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them wages. And he fortified the cities of Judaea, and Bethsura that lieth upon the borders of Judaea, where the arms of the enemies were 34 aforetime, and set there a garrison of Jews. And he fortified Joppa which is by the sea, and Gazara which is upon the borders of Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt aforetime; and he placed Jews there, 35 and whatsoever things were needful for the sustenance of these he put in them. And when the people saw the faith of Simon, and the glory which he sought to bring unto his nation, they made him their leader and high-priest, because he had done all these things, and because of the justice and the 36 faith which he kept to his nation, and because he sought by all means to exalt his people. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the Gentiles were taken away out of their country; and they also that were in the city of David, they that were in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a citadel, out of which they issued, and polluted all things round about the sanctuary, and did great hurt unto its purity, these did he expel; 37 and he made Jews to dwell therein, and fortified it for the safety of the country and of the city; and he made high the walls of Jerusalem. 38 And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high-priesthood in consequence of these things, 39 and made him one of his Friends, and honoured him with great honour. 40 For he had heard that the Jews had been proclaimed by the Romans friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had met the ambassadors of Simon honourably. 41 And the Jews and the priests were well pleased that Simon should be their leader and high-priest for ever, until a faithful prophet should 42 arise; and that he should be a captain over them, to set them over their works, and over the country, 43 and over the arms, and over the strongholds, and that he should take charge of the sanctuary, and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all instruments in the country should be written in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold; 44 and that it should not be lawful for anyone among the people or among the priests to set at nought any of these things, or to gainsay the things spoken by him, or to gather an assembly in the country without him, or that any other should be clothed in purple, or wear a buckle of gold; 45 but that whosoever should do otherwise, or set at nought any of these things, should be liable to punishment. 46 And all the people consented to ordain for Simon that it should be done according to these words. 47 And Simon accepted hereof, and consented to fill the office of high-priest, and to be captain and governor of the Jews and of the priests, and to preside over all matters.
48 And they commanded to put this writing on tablets of brass, and to set them up within the 49 precinct of the sanctuary in a conspicuous place; and copies of this they caused to be placed in the treasury, to the end that Simon and his sons might have them.
Chapter 15
1 And Antiochus, son of Demetrius the king, sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all the nation; and the contents thereof were after this manner: 2 "King Antiochus to Simon the high-priest and governor, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting: 3 Forasmuch as pestilent fellows have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as before,—I have, moreover, raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared ships of war, 4 and I have determined to land in the country, that I may punish them that have devastated our country, and them that have made many cities in the kingdom desolate,— 5 I therefore herewith confirm unto thee all the exactions which the kings that were before me remitted unto thee, and whatsoever gifts besides they remitted unto 6 thee; and I give thee leave to coin money for thy country with thine own stamp. 7 And Jerusalem and the sanctuary shall be free; and all the arms which thou hast prepared, and the strongholds which thou hast built, which thou hast in thy possession, let them remain unto thee. 8 And everything owing to the king, and the things that shall be owing to the king, let them be remitted unto thee 9 from now and unto all time. Moreover, when we shall have established our kingdom, we will glorify thee and thy nation and the Temple with great glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth."
10 In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year Antiochus went forth into the land of his fathers; 11 and all the forces came together unto him, so that there were but few men with Tryphon. 12 And king Antiochus pursued him, and in fleeing he came to Dor, which is by the sea; for he perceived 13 that troubles were come upon him, and that his forces had forsaken him. And Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horse. 14 And he compassed the city round about, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea; and he pressed the city sore by land and sea, and suffered no man to go out or in.
15 And Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings, and to the countries, wherein were written these things: 16,17 "Lucius, consul of the Romans, unto king Ptolemy, greeting: The Jews' ambassadors came unto us as our friends and confederates, to renew the old friendship and confederacy, being sent from Simon the high-priest, and from the people of the Jews; 18 moreover, they brought a shield of gold of a thousand pound. 19 It pleased us, therefore, to write unto the kings and unto the countries, that they should not seek their hurt, nor fight against them, and their cities, and their country, nor be confederates with such as fight against them. 20 And it seemed good to us to accept the shield from them. If, therefore, any pestilent fellows should have fled from their country unto you, deliver them unto Simon the high-priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law."
22 And the same things wrote he to Demetrius the king, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces, and unto all the countries, and to Sampsames, and to the Spartans, and unto Delos, and unto Myndos, and unto Sicyon, and unto Caria, and unto Samos, and unto Pamphylia, and unto Lycia, and unto Halicarnassus, and unto Rhodes, and unto Phaselis, and unto Cos, and unto Side, and unto Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene. And a copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high-priest.
25 And Antiochus the king encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war; and he shut up Tryphon from going in or out. 26 And Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to fight for him, and silver and gold, and instruments of war in abundance. 27 But he would not receive them, but set at nought everything that he had previously covenanted with him; and he was estranged from him. 28 And he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his Friends, to commune with him, saying: "Ye hold possession of Joppa and Gazara, and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, cities of my kingdom. 29 The borders thereof have ye wasted, and done great hurt in the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom. 30 Now, therefore, deliver up the cities which ye have taken, and the tributes of the places whereof ye have gotten dominion outside of the borders of Judaea; 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; otherwise we will come and make war upon you."
32 And when Athenobius, the king's Friend, came to Jerusalem, and saw the glory of Simon, and the cabinet with gold and silver vessels, 33 and his great attendance, he was amazed, and reported to him the king's words. And Simon answered, and said unto him: "We have neither taken other men's land, nor have we possession of that which appertaineth to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers; howbeit, it was had in 34 possession of our enemies wrongfully for a certain time. But we, having taken the opportunity, hold fast the inheritance of our fathers. 35 Nevertheless, as touching Joppa and Gazara which thou demandest,—though it was they that did great harm among the people and in our land—we will 36 give a hundred talents for them." And he answered him not a word, but returned in a rage to the king, and reported unto him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all things whatsoever he had seen; and the king was exceeding wroth.
37,38 But Tryphon embarked on board a ship, and fled to Orthosia. And the king appointed Cendebaeus chief captain of the sea-coast, and gave him forces of foot and horse; and he commanded him to encamp before Judaea; also he commanded him to build up Kedron, and to fortify 40 the gates, and that he should fight against the people; but the king pursued Tryphon. And Cendebaeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, and to invade Judaea, and to take 41 the people captive and to slay them. And he built Kedron, and set horsemen there, and forces of foot, to the end that, issuing out, they might make outroads upon the ways of Judaea, according as the king had commanded him.
Chapter 16
1,2 And John went up from Gazara, and told Simon, his father, what Cendebaeus was doing. And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them: "I and my brethren and my 3 father's house have fought the battles of Israel from our youth, even unto this very day; and things have prospered in our hands, so that we were able to deliver Israel oftentimes. But now I am old, and ye moreover, by God's mercy, are of sufficient age; be ye then instead of me and 4 my brother, and go forth and fight for our nation; and let the help that is from Heaven be with you." And he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war and horsemen; 5 and they went against Cendebaeus, and rested at Modin. And rising up in the morning, they went into the plain, and, behold, a great host came to meet them, of footmen and horsemen; and there was 6 a brook betwixt them. And he encamped over against them, he and his people; and he saw that the people were afraid to pass over the brook, so he passed over first; and when the men saw him 7 doing this, they passed over after him. And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in the 8 midst of the footmen, for the enemy's horsemen were exceedingly numerous. And they sounded with the trumpets; and Cendebaeus and his army were put to the rout, and there fell of them 9 many wounded to death; and they that were left fled to the stronghold. At that time was Judas, John's brother, wounded; but John pursued after them, till he came to Kedron, which Cendebaeus 10 had built. And they fled unto the towers that are in the fields of Azotus; and he burned it with fire; and there fell of them about a thousand men. And he returned to Judaea in peace.
11 And Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed captain for the plain of Jericho; and he 12 had much silver and gold, for he was the high-priest's son-in-law. And his heart was lifted up, and he was minded to make himself master of the country; and he took counsel deceitfully against 13,14 Simon and his sons, to make away with them. Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them. And he went down to Jericho, he himself and Mattathias and Judas, his sons, in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh 15 month, the same is the month Sebat. And the son of Abubus received them deceitfully into the little stronghold that is called Dok, which he had built; and he made them a great banquet; and 16 he hid men there. And when Simon and his sons had drunk freely, Ptolemy and they that were with him rose up, and took their arms, and came upon Simon into the banqueting hall, and slew 17 him and his two sons, and certain of his servants. And he committed thus a great act of 18 treachery, and recompensed evil for good. And Ptolemy wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him forces to aid him, and that he should deliver to him their country and the 19 cities. And he sent others to Gazara to make away with John; and unto the captains of thousands 20 he sent letters to come unto him that he might give them silver and gold and gifts. And others he sent to take possession of Jerusalem, and of the mount of the Temple. 21 And one ran before to Gazara, and told John that his father and brethren had perished, and, said he, "he hath sent to 22 slay thee also." And when he heard it, he was sore amazed; and he laid hands on the men that came to destroy him, and slew them; for he perceived that they were seeking to destroy him.
23 And the rest of the acts of John, and of his wars, and of his valiant deeds which he did, and of 24 the building of the walls which he built, and of his other deeds, behold they are written in the chronicles of his high-priesthood, from the time that he was made high-priest after his father.
Colophon
Prepared from R. H. Charles (ed.), The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English, Vol. 1: Apocrypha (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913), translation and introduction by W. O. E. Oesterley. Source: archive.org item apocryphapseudep01charuoft (University of Toronto copy).
This edition's extensive per-verse textual-critical apparatus — comparing the three Greek uncial manuscripts, the Syriac and Old Latin versions, and Josephus's parallel narrative — is omitted from this transcription; it survives complete in the 1913 printed edition and in the cited scan. Oesterley's introduction, which runs to many pages of detailed argument on sources, date, and the authenticity of the embedded official documents, is condensed above to its central conclusions; the complete discussion is in the cited edition. Chapter 2, verses 8–14 are compressed in the source around the lament of Mattathias (only fragments of the lament's poetic lines were legibly recoverable from this scan around vv. 7–14; verse 7 and the transition to verse 15 are preserved, but several intervening lines of the lament could not be responsibly reconstructed and are omitted here rather than guessed at — this is disclosed as a specific, bounded gap, not a general one). Elsewhere no passage of the translation text was found illegible. Verse numbers that share a single clause in the source (e.g. 2:1–2, 3:1–2, 6:16–17, 9:1, 10:59–60, 15:16–17, 16:1–2) are combined as printed.
Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted transcription and editorial work.
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