THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 12

1 Maccabees 12

1 Jonathan sends ambassadors to Rome. 2 And to the people of Sparta, to remove their covenant of friendship. 20 Jonathan put to flight the princes of Demetrius. 40 Tryphon takes Jonathan by deceit.

JONATHAN now seeing that the time was meet for him, those certain men, and sent them unto Rome, to establish and renew the friendship with them.

He sent letters also unto the Spartans and to other places, for the same purpose.

So they went unto Rome, and entered into the Senate, and said, Jonathan the high Priest and the nation of the Jews sent us unto you, for to renew friendship with you, and the bond of love, as in times past.

So the Romans gave them free passports, that men should lead them home into the land of Juda peaceably.

AND THIS is the copy of the letters that Jonathan wrote unto the Spartans,

Jonathan the high Priest with the Elders of the nation, and of the Priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, send greeting unto the Spartans their brethren.

Heretofore were letters sent unto Onias the high Priest, from Arius, which then reigned among you, that ye would be our brethren, as the copy hereunder written specifies.

And Onias entreated the ambassador who honorably, and received the letters: wherein there was mention made of the bond of love and friendship.

But as for us, we need no such writings: for we have the holy books in our hands for comfort.

Nevertheless we thought it good to send unto you, for the renewing of the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should be strange unto you: for it is long since the time that ye sent unto us.

Wherefore we remember you at all seasons continually, and in the feasts and other days appointed when we offer sacrifices and prayers, as it is meet and convenient to think upon our brethren.

And we rejoice at your prosperous estate.

And though we have been environed [surrounded]* with great troubles and war, so that the Kings round about us have fought against us,

Yet would we not be grievous unto you, nor to other of our confederates and friends in these wars.

For we have had help from heaven, that hath succored us, and we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are subdued.

Yet have we chosen Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Iason, and sent them unto the Romans, for to renew the former friendship with them, and league.

We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute you, and to deliver you out letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

And now ye shall do us a pleasure to give us an answer of these things.

And this was the copy of the letters, which Arius the King of Sparta sent unto Onias.

THE KING of the Spartans unto Onias the high Priest sends greeting.

It is found in writing, that the Spartans and Jews are brethren, and come out of the generation of Abraham.

And now for so much as this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well, to write unto us of your prosperity.

As for us, we have written unto you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours: these things have we commanded to be showed unto you.

Now when Jonathan heard, that Demetrius princes were come to fight against him, that they were appointed to come upon him in the night.

Wherefore, when the sun was gone down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms ready to fight all the night, and sent watchmen round about the host.

But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan was ready with his men to the battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and kindled fires in their tents, and fled away.

Nevertheless Jonathan and his company knew it not til the morning: for they save the fires burning.

Then Jonathan turned to the Arabians, which were called Zabedes, and slew them, and took their spoil.

He proceeded further also, and came unto Damascus, and went through all the country.

But Simon his brother went forth, and came to Ascalon and to the next holds, departing unto Ioppe, and won it.

For he heard that they would deliver the hold to them that took Demetrius part: wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.

After this came Jonathan home, and called the Elders of the people together, and devised with them for to build up the strong holds in Judea,

And to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to make a great mount betwixt the castle and the city, for to separate it from the city, that it might be alone, and that men should neither buy, nor sell in it.

So they came together to build up the city: for part of the wall upon the brook of the East side was fallen down, and they repaired it, and called it Caphenatha.

Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.

In the meantime Tryphon purposed to reign in Asia, and to be crowned when he had slain the King Antiochus.

But he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, but fight against him: wherefore he went about to take Jonathan, and to kill him: so he departed, and came unto Bethsan.

Then went Jonathan forth against him to the battle with forty thousand chosen men, and came unto Bethsan.

But when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with so great an host, he did not lay hand upon him,

But received him honorably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him rewards, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him as to himself,

And said unto Jonathan, Why have thou caused this people to take such travail, seeing there is no war between us?

Therefore send them now home again, and choose certain men to wait upon thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais: for I will give it thee, with the other strong holds, and the other garrisons, and all them that have the charge of the common affairs: so will I return, and depart: for this is the cause of my coming.

Jonathan believed him, and did as he said, and sent away his host, which went into the land of Juda,

And retained but three thousand with him, wherefore he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with himself.

Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemias, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and took him, and slew all them with the sword, that came in with him.

Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen, and horsemen into Galile, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company.

But when they knew that Jonathan was taken, and slain, and those that were with him, they encouraged one another, and came forth against them ready to the battle.

But when they which followed upon them, saw that it was a matter of life, they turned back again.

By this means all they came into the land of Juda peaceably, and bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and feared greatly, and all Israel made great lamentation.

For all the heathen that were round about them, sought to destroy them.

For they said, Now have they no captain, nor any man to help them: therefore let us now fight against them, and root out their memories from among men.

*WP4Y