1 Maccabees 11
1 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. 2 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 father in law.
3 Now as Ptolemee entered into the
cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
4 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. 5 Also they told
the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the intent he might blame him: but
the king held his peace.
6 Then Jonathan met the king with
great pomp at Joppe, where they saluted one another, and lodged.
7 Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone
with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.
8 King Ptolemee therefore, having
gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast,
imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.
9 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: 10 for I repent that I gave
my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.
11 Thus did he slander him, because
he was desirous of his kingdom.
12 Wherefore he took his daughter
from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their
hatred was openly known. 13 Then
Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the
crown of Asia, and of Egypt.
14 In the mean season was king
Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted
from him. 15 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.
16 So Alexander fled into Arabia,
there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:
17 for Zabdiel the Arabian took off
Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.
18 King Ptolemee also died the third
day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.
19 By this means Demetrius reigned in
the hundred threescore and seventh year.
20 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.
21 Then certain ungodly persons, who
hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan
besieged the tower. 22 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.
23 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; 24 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.
25 And though certain ungodly men of
the people had made complaints against him,
26 yet the king entreated him as his
predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his
friends, 27 and confirmed him in the
high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him
pre-eminence among his chief friends.
28 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.
29 So the king consented, and wrote
letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:
30 King Demetrius unto his brother
Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
31 We send you here a copy of the
letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye
might see it.
32 King Demetrius unto his father
Lasthenes sendeth greeting: 33 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.
34 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.
35 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. 36 And
nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.
37 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.
38 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.
39 Moreover there was one Tryphon,
that had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host
murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian, that brought up
Antiochus the young son of Alexander,
40 and lay sore upon him to deliver
him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his
father's stead: he told him therefore all that Demetrius had done, and how his
men of war were at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.
41 In the mean time Jonathan sent
unto king Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem,
and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.
42 So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan,
saying, I will not only do this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly
honour thee and thy nation, if opportunity serve.
43 Now therefore thou shalt do well,
if thou send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.
44 Upon this Jonathan sent him three
thousand strong men unto Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was
very glad of their coming. 45 Howbeit
they that were of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the
city, to the number of an hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have
slain the king. 46 Wherefore the king
fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and
began to fight.
47 Then the king called to the Jews
for help, who came unto him all at once, and dispersing themselves through the
city slew that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.
48 Also they set fire on the city,
and gat many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
49 So when they of the city saw that
the Jews had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore
they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,
50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews
cease from assaulting us and the city.
51 With that they cast away their
weapons, and made peace; and the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king,
and in the sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to
Jerusalem, having great spoils.
52 So king Demetrius sat on the
throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.
53 Nevertheless he dissembled in all
that ever he spake, and estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he
him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him
very sore.
54 After this returned Tryphon, and
with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
55 Then there gathered unto him all
the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against
Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.
56 Moreover Tryphon took the
elephants, and won Antioch.
57 At that time young Antiochus wrote
unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee
ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
58 Upon this he sent him golden
vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be
clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.
59 His brother Simon also he made
captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.
60 Then Jonathan went forth, and
passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria
gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon,
they of the city met him honourably.
61 From whence he went to Gaza, but
they of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the
suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.
62 Afterward, when they of Gaza made
supplication unto Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of
their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through
the country unto Damascus.
63 Now when Jonathan heard that
Demetrius' princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great
power, purposing to remove him out of the country,
64 he went to meet them, and left
Simon his brother in the country.
65 Then Simon encamped against
Bethsura, and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:
66 but they desired to have peace
with him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took
the city, and set a garrison in it.
67 As for Jonathan and his host, they
pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat
them to the plain of Nasor. 68 And,
behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in
ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him.
69 So when they that lay in ambush
rose out of their places, and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side
fled; 70 insomuch as there was not
one of them left, except Mattathias the son of
Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of
the host.
71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes,
and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
72 Afterwards turning again to
battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.
73 Now when his own men that were
fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades,
even unto their own tents, and there they camped.
74 So there were slain of the heathen
that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.