THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 13

1 Maccabees 13

2 After Jonathan was taken, Simon is chosen captain. 17 Tryphon, taking his children, and money for the redemption of Jonathan, kills him and his children. 31 Tryphon kills Antiochus, and passes the realm. 36 Demetrius takes truce with Simon. 43 Simon wins Gaza. 50 He possesses the tower of Sion. 53 He makes his son John captain.

NOW when Simon heard that Tryphon gathered a great host to come into the land of Juda, and to destroy it,

And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he came up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,

And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father’s house have done for the Law, and the Sanctuary, and the battles, and troubles that we have seen.

By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.

Now therefore God forbid, that I should spare mine own life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.

But I will avenge my nation, and the Sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered together to destroy us of very malice.

In hearing these words the hearts of the people were kindled,

So that they cried with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be our captain in stead of Judas and Jonathan thy brethren.

Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever thou command us, we will do it.

So he gathered all the men of war, making haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and fortified it round about.

Then sent he Jonathan the son of Absalomus with a great host unto Ioppe, which drove them out that were therein, and remained there himself.

Tryphon also removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to come into the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him as prisoner.

And Simon pitched his tents at Addidis upon the open plain.

But when Tryphon knew that Simon stood up in stead of his brother Jonathan, and that he would fight against him, he sent messengers unto him, saying,

Where as we have kept Jonathan thy brother, it is for money that he is owing in the King’s account concerning the business that he had in hand.

Wherefore send now an hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, and when he is let forth, he will not turn from us, and we will send him again.

Nevertheless Simon knew that he dissembled in his words, yet commanded he the money and children to be delivered unto him, lest he should be in greater hatred of the people of Israel.

Who might have said, Because he sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Jonathan dead.

So he sent the children and an hundred talents: but he dissembled, and would not let Jonathan go.

Afterward came Tryphon into the land to destroy it, and went round about by the way, that leads unto Adora: but wheresoever they went, thither went Simon and his host.

Now they that were in the cattle, sent messengers unto Tryphon, that he should make haste to come by the wilderness, and to send them vittles.

So Tryphon made ready all his horsemen: but the same night fell a very great snow, so that he came not, because of the snow: but he removed and went into the country of Galaad.

And when he came near to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and he was buried there.

So Tryphon returned, and went into his own land.

Then sent Simon to take the bones of Jonathan his brother, and they buried him in media his father’s cities.

And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and mourned for him very long.

And Simon made upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, a building high to look unto, of hewn stone behind and before,

And set up seven pillars upon it, one against another, for his father, his mother, and four brethren,

And set great pillars round about them, and set arms upon the pillars for a perpetual memory, and carved ships beside the armies, that they might be seen of men sailing in the sea.

This sepulchre which he made at Modin, stands yet unto this day.

Now as Tryphon went orth with the young King Antiochus, he slew him traitorously,

And reigned in his stead, and crowned himself King of Asia, and brought a great plague upon the land.

Simon also built up the castles of Judea, and compassed them about with high towers, and great walls, even with towers, and gates and bars, and laid up vittles in the strong holds.

Moreover Simon chose certain men and sent them to King Demetrius, that he would discharge the land: for all Tryphons doings were robberies.

Whereupon Demetrius the King answered him, and wrote unto him after this manner,

DEMETRIUS the King unto Simon the high Priest, and the friend of Kings, and to the Elders and to the nation of the Jews send greeting.

The golden crown, and precious stone that ye sent unto us, have we received, and are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, and to write unto the officers, to release you of the things wherein we made you free.

So the things that we have granted you, shall be stable: the strong holds which ye have built, shall be your own.

Also we forgive the oversights, and faults committed unto this day, and the crown tax that ye owe us: and where as was any other tribute in Jerusalem, it shall be now no tribute.

And they that are meet among you to be written with out men, let them be written up, that there may be peace between us.

Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken from Israel in the hundredth, seventy year.

And the people of Israel began to write in their letters, and public instruments, IN THE FIRST year of Simon, the high and chief Priest, governor, and prince of the Jews.

In those days Simon camped against Gaza, and besieged it round about, where he set up an engine of war, and approached near the city, and bet [abutment]* a tower, and took it.

So they that were in the engine, leapt into the city, and there was great trouble in the city,

Insomuch that the people of the city rent their clothes, and climbed up upon the walls with their wives, and children, and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace, saying,

Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.

Then Simon pitied them, and would fight no more against them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses, wherein the idols were, and so entered thereunto with psalms and thanksgiving.

So when he had cast all the filthiness out, he set such men in it as kept the Law, and fortified it, and built there a dwelling place for himself.

Now, when they in the castle at Jerusalem were kept, that they could not come forth nor go into the country, neither buy nor sell, they were very hungry, and many of them were famished to death.

Insomuch that they besought Simon to make peace with them: which he granted them, and put them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from filthiness.

And upon the three, and twenty day of the second month in the hundredth, seventy and one year, they entered into it with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and with cymbals, and with violes, and with psalms, and songs, because the great enemy of Israel was overcome.

And he ordained that the same day should be kept every year with gladness.

And he fortified the mount of the Temple that was beside the castle where he dwelt himself with his company.

Simon also seeing that John his son was now a man, he made him captain of all the hosts, and caused him to dwell in Gazaris.

*WP4Y