Liber I Maccabaeorum, 12

1. Et vidit Ionathas quia tem pus eum adiuvat; et elegit vi ros et misit Romam statuere et renovare cum eis amicitiam;

1. Now when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with them.

2. et ad Spartiatas et ad alia loca misit epistulas secundum eadem.

2. He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.

3. Et abierunt Romam et intraverunt curiam et dixerunt: “Ionathas summus sacerdos et gens Iudaeorum miserunt nos renovare amicitiam et societatem secundum pristinum”.

3. So they went to Rome and entered the senate chamber and said, "Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former friendship and alliance with them."

4. Et dederunt illis epistulas ad ipsos per loca, ut deducerent eos in terram Iudae cum pace.

4. And the Romans gave them letters to the people in every place, asking them to provide for the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah.

5. Et hoc est exemplum epistularum, quas scripsit Ionathas Spartiatis:

5. This is a copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

6. “Ionathas summus sacerdos et seniores gentis et sacerdotes et reliquus populus Iudaeorum Spartiatis fratribus salutem.

6. "Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren the Spartans, greeting.

7. Iampridem missae erant epistulae ad Oniam summum sacerdotem ab Ario, qui regnabat apud vos, quoniam estis fratres nostri, sicut rescriptum continet, quod subiectum est.

7. Already in time past a letter was sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was king among you, stating that you are our brethren, as the appended copy shows.

8. Et suscepit Onias virum, qui missus fuerat, cum honore; et accepit epistulas, in quibus significabatur de societate et amicitia.

8. Onias welcomed the envoy with honor, and received the letter, which contained a clear declaration of alliance and friendship.

9. Nos igitur, cum nullo horum indigeremus, exhortationem habentes sanctos libros, qui sunt in manibus nostris,

9. Therefore, though we have no need of these things, since we have as encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,

10. tentavimus mittere ad vos renovare fraternitatem et amicitiam, ne forte alieni efficiamur a vobis; multa enim tempora transierunt, ex quo misistis ad nos.

10. we have undertaken to send to renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, so that we may not become estranged from you, for considerable time has passed since you sent your letter to us.

11. Nos ergo in omni tempore sine intermissione in diebus sollemnibus et ceteris, quibus oportet, memores sumus vestri in sacrificiis, quae offerimus, et in obsecrationibus, sicut fas est et decet meminisse fratrum.

11. We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both in our feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brethren.

12. Laetamur itaque de gloria vestra.

12. And we rejoice in your glory.

13. Nos autem circumdederunt multae tribulationes et multa proelia; et impugnaverunt nos reges, qui sunt in circuitu nostro.

13. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encircled us; the kings round about us have waged war against us.

14. Noluimus ergo vobis molesti esse et ceteris sociis et amicis nostris in his proeliis;

14. We were unwilling to annoy you and our other allies and friends with these wars,

15. habemus enim de caelo auxilium, quod nos adiuvat, et liberati sumus nos ab inimicis nostris, et humiliati sunt inimici nostri.

15. for we have the help which comes from Heaven for our aid; and we were delivered from our enemies and our enemies were humbled.

16. Elegimus itaque Numenium Antiochi filium et Antipatrem Iasonis filium et misimus ad Romanos renovare cum eis amicitiam et societatem pristinam;

16. We therefore have chosen Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.

17. mandavimus itaque eis, ut veniant etiam ad vos et salutent vos et reddant vobis epistulas nostras de innovatione et fraternitate nostra.

17. We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our brotherhood.

18. Et nunc bene facietis respondentes nobis ad haec”.

18. And now please send us a reply to this."

19. Et hoc est rescriptum epistularum, quas miserunt Oniae:

19. This is a copy of the letter which they sent to Onias:

20. “Arius rex Spartiatarum Oniae sacerdoti magno salutem.

20. "Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greeting.

21. Inventum est in scriptura de Spartiatis et Iudaeis quoniam sunt fratres et quod sunt de genere Abraham.

21. It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brethren and are of the family of Abraham.

22. Et nunc, ex quo haec cognovimus, bene facietis scribentes nobis de pace vestra.

22. And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare;

23. Sed et nos rescribimus vobis. Pecora vestra et possessiones vestrae nostrae sunt; et, quae nostra, vestra sunt. Mandamus itaque, ut annuntient vobis secundum haec”.

23. we on our part write to you that your cattle and your property belong to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys report to you accordingly."

24. Et audivit Ionathas quoniam regressi sunt principes Demetrii cum exercitu multo supra quam prius pugnare adversus eum.

24. Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned, with a larger force than before, to wage war against him.

25. Et exiit ab Ierusalem et occurrit eis in Amathitem regionem; non enim dedit eis spatium, ut ingrederentur regionem eius.

25. So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country.

26. Et misit speculatores in castra eorum, et reversi renuntiaverunt ei quod ita constituunt supervenire illis nocte.

26. He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that the enemy were being drawn up in formation to fall upon the Jews by night.

27. Cum occidisset autem sol, praecepit Ionathas suis vigilare et esse in armis paratos ad pugnam tota nocte; et emisit custodes per circuitum castrorum.

27. So when the sun set, Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle, and he stationed outposts around the camp.

28. Et audierunt adversarii quod paratus est Ionathas cum suis in bellum, et timuerunt et formidaverunt in corde suo et accenderunt focos in castris suis.

28. When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart; so they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew.

29. Ionathas autem et, qui cum eo erant, non cognoverunt usque mane; videbant enim luminaria ardentia.

29. But Jonathan and his men did not know it until morning, for they saw the fires burning.

30. Et insecutus est eos Ionathas et non comprehendit eos; transierant enim flumen Eleutherum.

30. Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus river.

31. Et divertit Ionathas ad Arabas, qui vocantur Zabadaei, et percussit eos et accepit spolia eorum.

31. So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, and he crushed them and plundered them.

32. Et iunxit et venit Damascum et perambulabat omnem regionem illam.

32. Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, and marched through all that region.

33. Simon autem exiit et venit usque ad Ascalonem et ad proxima praesidia et declinavit in Ioppen et occupavit eam;

33. Simon also went forth and marched through the country as far as Askalon and the neighboring strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and took it by surprise,

34. audivit enim quod vellent praesidium tradere partibus Demetrii, et posuit ibi custodes, ut custodirent eam.

34. for he had heard that they were ready to hand over the stronghold to the men whom Demetrius had sent. And he stationed a garrison there to guard it.

35. Et reversus est Ionathas et convocavit seniores populi et cogitavit cum eis aedificare praesidia in Iudaea

35. When Jonathan returned he convened the elders of the people and planned with them to build strongholds in Judea,

36. et altius extollere muros Ierusalem et exaltare altitudinem magnam inter medium arcis et civitatis, ut separaret eam a civitate, ut esset ipsa singulariter, ut neque emant neque vendant.

36. to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a high barrier between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, in order to isolate it so that its garrison could neither buy nor sell.

37. Et convenerunt, ut aedificarent civitatem; et cecidit de muro, qui erat super torrentem a subsolano, et reparavit eum, qui vocatur Chaphenatha.

37. So they gathered together to build up the city; part of the wall on the valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha.

38. Et Simon aedificavit Adida in Sephela et munivit eam et imposuit portas et seras.

38. And Simon built Adida in the Shephelah; he fortified it and installed gates with bolts.

39. Et quaesivit Tryphon regnare Asiae et imponere sibi diadema et extendere manum in Antiochum regem.

39. Then Trypho attempted to become king in Asia and put on the crown, and to raise his hand against Antiochus the king.

40. Et veritus est, ne forte non permitteret eum Ionathas et ne forte pugnaret adversus eum, et quaerebat comprehendere eum et occidere et exsurgens abiit in Bethsan.

40. He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do so, but might make war on him, so he kept seeking to seize and kill him, and he marched forth and came to Beth-shan.

41. Et exivit Ionathas obviam illi cum quadraginta milibus virorum electorum in proelium et venit Bethsan.

41. Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand picked fighting men, and he came to Beth-shan.

42. Et vidit Tryphon quia venit cum exercitu multo et extendere in eum manus timuit

42. When Trypho saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to raise his hand against him.

43. et excepit eum cum honore et commendavit eum omnibus amicis suis et dedit ei munera et praecepit exercitibus suis, ut oboedirent ei sicut sibi.

43. So he received him with honor and commended him to all his friends, and he gave him gifts and commanded his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself.

44. Et dixit Ionathae: “Ut quid vexasti universum populum, cum bellum nobis non sit?

44. Then he said to Jonathan, "Why have you wearied all these people when we are not at war?

45. Et nunc remitte eos in domos suas. Elige autem tibi viros paucos, qui tecum sint, et veni mecum Ptolemaidam, et tradam eam tibi et reliqua praesidia et reliquum exercitum et universos praepositos negotiis et conversus abibo; propterea enim veni”.

45. Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to stay with you, and come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and will turn round and go home. For that is why I am here."

46. Et credidit ei et fecit, sicut dixit, et dimisit exercitum, et abierunt in terram Iudae.

46. Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he sent away the troops, and they returned to the land of Judah.

47. Retinuit autem secum tria milia virorum, ex quibus remisit in Galilaeam duo milia; mille autem venerunt cum eo.

47. He kept with himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee, while a thousand accompanied him.

48. Ut autem intravit Ptolemaidam Ionathas, clauserunt portas Ptolemenses et comprehenderunt eum; et omnes, qui cum eo intraverant, gladio interfecerunt.

48. But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the men of Ptolemais closed the gates and seized him, and all who had entered with him they killed with the sword.

49. Et misit Tryphon exercitum et equites in Galilaeam et in campum magnum, ut perderent omnes socios Ionathae.

49. Then Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's soldiers.

50. At illi, cum cognovissent quia comprehensus est Ionathas et periit, et omnes, qui cum eo erant, hortati sunt semetipsos et ibant conglobati parati in proelium.

50. But they realized that Jonathan had been seized and had perished along with his men, and they encouraged one another and kept marching in close formation, ready for battle.

51. Et videntes hi, qui insecuti fuerant, quia pro anima res est illis, reversi sunt;

51. When their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back.

52. illi autem venerunt omnes cum pace in terram Iudae et planxerunt Ionathan et eos, qui cum ipso fuerant, et timuerunt valde; et luxit Israel luctu magno.

52. So they all reached the land of Judah safely, and they mourned for Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear; and all Israel mourned deeply.

53. Et quaesierunt omnes gentes, quae erant in circuitu eorum, conterere eos; dixerunt enim:

53. And all the nations round about them tried to destroy them, for they said, "They have no leader or helper. Now therefore let us make war on them and blot out the memory of them from among men."

54. “Non habent principem et adiuvantem; nunc ergo expugnemus illos et tollamus de hominibus memoriam eorum”.

54.