The Book of Maccabees I Reader

After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother,

that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.

Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:

Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was much ado and great carriage: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of musick, and many weapons.

Then Jonathan and they that were with him rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and made a slaughter of them in such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant fled into the mountain, and they took all their spoils.

Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.

So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.

Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.

Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us to day, as in time past:

For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on this side and that side, the marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place for us to turn aside.

Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.

With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.

Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan unto them.

So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men.

Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.

And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.

He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.

Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.

Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets.

And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued,

and his enterprises hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing, nor give order concerning his house. So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.

Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.

Behold, Jonathan and his company are at ease, and dwell without care: now therefore we will bring Bacchides hither, who shall take them all in one night.

Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to his adherents in Judea, that they should take Jonathan and those that were with him: howbeit they could not,

Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.

Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.

Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.

Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of war.

But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a certain number went he forth. 66 And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.

And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces,

Simon and his company went out of the city, and burned up the engines of war, And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore:

for his counsel and travail was in vain. Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, inasmuch as he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.

Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.

Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and sware unto him that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.

When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way into his own land, neither came he any more into their borders.

Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.

In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there,

Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.

Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.

For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:

Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.

Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.

Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower:

Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.

Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.

This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.

And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for fortification; and they did so.

Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away; Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.

Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.

Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured, He said,

Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.

Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,

King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:

We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.

Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king’s friend;

(and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.

So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.

Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,

What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?

I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.

King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:

Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.

Wherefore now continue ye still to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye do in our behalf,

And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.

And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,

And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees,

I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three governments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.

Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.

And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and give the high priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.

Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their cattle.

Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.

Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.

I will further, that there be enrolled among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay shall be given, as belongeth to all king’s forces.

And of them some shall be placed in the king’s strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust:

and I will that their overseers and governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.

And concerning the three governments that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority than the high priest’s.

As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary.

Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king’s accounts from the places appertaining.

And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the temple.

And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year by year, even those things shall be released, because they appertain to the priests that minister.

And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm.

For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expenses shall be given of the king’s accounts. Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expenses shall be given out of the king’s accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.

Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them very sore.

But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the first that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate with him always.

Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.

And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.

And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.

Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:

Forasmuch as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors,

and have gotten the dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country;

For after I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so that we sit in the throne of his kingdom:

Now therefore let us make a league of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife:

and I will be thy son in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.

Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom. And now will I do to thee, as thou hast written:

meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.

So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:

Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory, as the manner of kings is.

Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.

Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.

At that time certain pestilent fellows of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: but the king would not hear them.

Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.

And he made him sit by himself, and said into his princes, Go with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation,

that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause.

Now when his accusers saw that he was honoured according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.

So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.

Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.

Furthermore in the; hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:

Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.

Then Demetrius made Apollonius the governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host, and camped in Jamnia,...

Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?

Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together: for with me is the power of the cities.

Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part,

and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to stand before our face; for thy fathers have twice been put to flight in their own land.

Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.

So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him. And he pitched his tents against Joppa:

but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.

Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.

Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen, with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew him forth into the plain. because he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.

Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.

Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.

And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from morning till evening.

But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired.

Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were discomfited by him, and fled.

The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol’s temple, for safety.

But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.

Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.

And from thence Jonathan removed his host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came forth, and met him with great pomp.

After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.

Now when king Alexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more. And sent him a buckle of gold, as the use is to be given to such as are of the king’s blood: he gave him also Accaron with the borders thereof in possession.

And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander’s kingdom, and join it to his own.

Whereupon he took his journey into Syria in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law.

Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.

And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed,

and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass.

Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done,...

to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.

Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where they saluted one another, and lodged.

Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.

King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.

Whereupon he sent ambassadors unto king Demetrius, saying,

Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father’s kingdom:

For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.

Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.

Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius,

and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known. Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.

In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.

But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him: whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.

So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:

For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander’s head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.

King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.

By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year.

At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.

Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,

Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan,

that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste.

Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;

And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found favour in his sight.

And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him, Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,

And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.

Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.

So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:

King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:

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

King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:

We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.

Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem,

instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees. And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.

And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.

Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.

After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place,

except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.