THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 11

1 Maccabees 11

3 The dissension between Ptolemeus and Alexander his son in law. 17 The death of Alexander. 19 Demetrius reigns after the death of Ptolemeus. 32 Sion is besieged of Jonathan. 42 Demetrius seeing that no man resisted him, sends his army again. 54 Tryphon moves Antiochus against Demetrius.

AND the King of Egypt gathered a great host, like the sand that lies upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to obtain the kingdom of Alexander, and to join it unto his own realm.

Upon this he went into Syria with friendly words, and was let into the cities, and men came forth to meet him: for King Alexander had commanded them to meet him, because he was his father in law.

Now when he entered into the city of Ptolemais, he left bands and garrisons in every city.

And when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus, and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies cast abroad, and them that he had burnt in the battle: for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass.

And they told the King what Jonathan had done, to the intent they might get him evil will: but the King held his peace.

And Jonathan met the King with great honor at Ioppe; where they saluted one another, and lay there.

So when Jonathan had gone with the King unto the water that was called Eleutherus, he turned again to Jerusaelm.

And sent ambassadors unto King Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league between us, and I will give thee my daughter, which Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father’s kingdom.

For I repent that I gave Alexander my daughter: for he goes about to slay me.

And he took his daughter from him, and gave her unto Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.

Then Ptolemeus came to Antiochia, where he set two crowns upon his own head, of Asia and of Egypt.

In the mean season was King Alexander in Cilicia: for they that dwelt in those places, had rebelled against him:

But when Alexander heard it, he came to war against him, and Ptolemeus brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.

Then fled Alexander into Arabia, there to be defended: so Ptolemeus was exalted.

And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexander’s head, and sent it to Ptolemeus.

But the third day after, King Ptolemeus died: and they that were in the holds, were slain one of another.

And Demetrius reigned in the hundredth, three score and seventh year.

At the same time gathered Jonathan them that were in Judea, to lay siege unto the castle, which was at Jerusalem, and they made many instruments of war against it.

Then went three certain ungodly persons (which hated their own people) unto King Demetrius, and told him that Jonathan besieged the castle.

So when he heard it, he was angry, and immediately came unto Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should lay no more siege unto it, but that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais in all haste.

Nevertheless when Jonathan heard this, he commanded to besiege it: he chose also certain of the Elders of Israel, and the Priests, and put himself in danger.

And took with him silver and gold, and apparel, and diverse presents, and went to Ptolemais unto the King, and found favor in his sight.

And thou certain ungodly men of his own nation had made complaints upon him,

Yet the King entreat him as his predecessor had done, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,

And confirmed him in the high priesthood with all the honorable things, that he had afore, and made him his chief friend.

Jonathan also desired the King, that he would make Judea free with the three governments, and the country of Samaria, and Jonathan promised him three hundred talents.

Whereunto the King consented, and gave Jonathan writing of the same, containing these words,

KING DEMETRIUS unto his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews finding greeting.

We send you here a couple of the letter, which he did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye should see it.

King Demetrius unto Lasthenes his father sends greeting.

We send you here a copy of the letter, which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye should see it.

King Demetrius unto Lasthenes his father sends greeting.

For the faithfulness that our friends the nation of the Jews keep unto us, and for their goodwill towards us we are determined to do them good.

Wherefore we assign to them the coasts of Judea with the three governments Apherema, and Lydda, and Ramathe (which are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria) and all that appertains to all them that sacrifice in Jerusalem: both conerning the payments which the King took yearly aforetime, both for the fruits of the earth, and for the fruits of the trees.

As for the other things appertaining unto us of the tenths and tributes, which were due unto us, and the customs of the salt, and crown taxes, which were payed unto us, we discharge them of all from hence forth.

And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth and forever.

Therefore see that ye make a copy of these things, and deliver it unto Jonathan, that it ,may be set up upon the holy mount in an open place.

After this when Demetrius the King saw that his land was in rest, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his host, every man to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he brought from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all his father’s host hated him.

Now was there one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander’s part afore, which when he saw that all t he host murmured against Demetrius, he went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antichus the son of Alexander,

And lay sore upon him, to deliver him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father’s stead: he told him also what great evil Demetrius had done, and how his men of war hated him, and he remained there a long season.

Also Jonathan sent unto King Demetrius to drive them out which were in the castle at Jerusalem, and those that were in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.

So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do these things for thee and thy nation, but if opportunity serve, I will honor thee and thy nation.

Now therefore thou shalt do me a pleasure, if thou wilt send me men to help me: for all mine army is gone from me.

So Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antiochia, and they came unto the King: wherefore the King was very glad at their coming.

But they that were of the city, even an hundreth, and twenty thousand men, gathered them together in the midst of the city, and would have slain the King.

But the King fled into the palace, and the citizens kept the streets of the city, and began to fight.

Then the King called to the Jews for help, which came to him altogether, and went abroad through the city,

And slew the same day an hundred thousand, and set fire upon the city, and took many spoils in that day, and delivered the King.

So when the citizens saw that the Jews had gotten the upper hand of the city, and that they themselves were disappointed of their purpose, they made their supplication unto the King, saying,

Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from vexing us and the city.

So they cast away their weapons, and made peace, and the Jews were greatly honored before the King, and before all that were in his realm, and they came again to Jerusalem with great prey.

Then King Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom, and had peace in his land.

Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spoke, and withdrew himself from Jonathan, neither did he reward him according to the benefits which he had done for him, but troubled him very sore.

After this returned Tryphon with the young child Antiochus, which reigned, and was crowned.

Then there gathered unto him all t hem of war, whom Demetrius had scattered, and they fought against him, who fled and turned his back.

So Tryphon took the beasts, and won Antiochia.

And young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I appoint thee to be the chief Priests, and make thee ruler over the four governments, that thou may be a friend of the Kings.

Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to wear purple, and to have a collar of gold.

He made his brother Simon also captain from the coasts of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.

Then Jonathan went forth and passed through the cities beyond the flood, and all the men of war of Syria gathered unto him for to help him: so he came unto Ascalon, and they of the city received him honorably.

And from thence went he unto Gaza: but they of Gaza shut him out: wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.

Then they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, and he made peace with them, and took of the sons of the chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and went through the country unto Damascus.

And when Jonathan heard that Demetrius princes were come unto Cades, which is in Galile, with a great host, purposing to drive him out of the country,

He came against them, and left Simon his brother in the country.

And Simon besieged Beth-sura, and fought against it a long season, and shut it up.

So they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, and afterward put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in it.

Then Jonathan with his host came to the water of Genesar, and betimes in the morning came to the plain of Azor.

And behold the hosts of the strangers met him in the plain, and had laid ambushments for him in the mountains.

So that when they came against them, the ambushments rose out of their places and skirmished.

So that all that were of Jonathan’s side, fled: and there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the son of Absalomus, and Judas the son of Calphi the captains of the host.

Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed,

And turned again to them to fight, and put them to flight, so that they fled away.

Now when his own men that were fled, saw this, they turned again unto him, and helped him to follow after all unto their tents at Cades, and there they camped.

So there were slain of the strangers the same day about three thousand men, and Jonathan turned again to Jerusalem.