1 Maccabees, 16

1. Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done.

1. At that time, John went up from Gazara to relate to his father what Cendebeus was doing.

2. Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have ever from my youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.

2. So, Simon called his two elder sons, John and Judas, and said to them: "I and my brothers and the family of my father have fought the enemies of Israel from our youth until today. And many times, we were able to liberate Israel.

3. But now I am old, and ye, by God's mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from heaven be with you.

3. But now I am old, while you - thanks be to Heaven - are already mature men. Take my place and my brother's, and go out to fight for our country. May Heaven's help be with you!"

4. So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modin.

4. Then he chose a thousand men and horsemen from the country whom he sent against Cendebeus. And they spent the night in Modein.

5. And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.

5. They arose early in the morning and advanced into the plain and saw what a large army, both infantry and cavalry, was coming to meet them. A stream lay between them,

6. So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.

6. and John with his troops drew up against the enemies. His troops were afraid to cross the stream, so he crossed over first. On seeing this, his men crossed after him.

7. That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies' horsemen were very many.

7. He divided his army into two groups and set the horsemen in the center for the enemy's cavalry was very numerous.

8. Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.

8. They sounded the trumpets, and Cendebeus and his army were defeated. Many of them fell, and those who remained fled to the fortress.

9. At that time was Judas John's brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.

9. Judas, the brother of John, fell wounded, but John pursued the enemies until Cendebeus reached Kedron which he had fortified.

10. So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace.

10. The enemy fled as far as the towers in the fields of Azotus, but John burned these down. About two thousand of the enemy perished. And after this, John returned safely to Judea.

11. Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:

11. Ptolemy, son of Abubos, had become general in command of the plain of Jericho. He had much silver and gold,

12. For he was the high priest's son in law.

12. besides being the High Priest's son-in-law.

13. Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.

13. He became too ambitious and thought of becoming the leader of his nation. So he looked for ways to do away with Simon and his sons.

14. Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:

14. Simon was then making the rounds of the cities of Judea and attending to their administration. In the eleventh month called Shebat, in the year one hundred and seventy-seven (134 B.C.), Simon came to Jericho with his two sons, Mattathias and Judas.

15. Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.

15. The son of Abubos received them treacherously into the small fortress called Dock which he had built. He gave them a grand banquet, but had set men in hiding.

16. So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

16. When Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men reached for their weapons and rushed on Simon in the midst of the banquet. They killed him with his two sons and some of his servants.

17. In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.

17. With this, Ptolemy committed a great act of treachery, repaying evil for good.

18. Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities.

18. Ptolemy then made haste to send a letter to the king to inform him of what had happened, asking Antiochus to help him in handing over to him the cities and the country.

19. He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.

19. He also sent other men to Gazara in order to kill John, and asked the commanders of the Jewish troops in a letter to defect to him, promising them silver, gold and gifts.

20. And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

20. He then sent others to seize Jerusalem and the Temple hill.

21. Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee also.

21. But a man ran and reached Gazara before them, informing John that his father and brothers had been killed. And he added, "He has also sent some people to kill you."

22. Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.

22. John was shocked by the news. So he arrested the men who had been sent to kill him and put them to death, for he knew that they had come with this purpose.

23. As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

23. The rest of the deeds of John, his battles, his exploits, the walls he built and all his other achievements

24. Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father. .

24. are written in the annals of his pontificate from the day he succeeded his father as High Priest.