Liber I Maccabaeorum, 11

1. Et rex Aegypti congregavit exercitum sicut arena, quae est circa oram maris, et naves multas et quaerebat obtinere regnum Alexandri dolo et addere illud regno suo.

1. Then the king of Egypt gathered great forces, like the sand by the seashore, and many ships; and he tried to get possession of Alexander's kingdom by trickery and add it to his own kingdom.

2. Et exiit in Syriam verbis pacificis, et aperiebant ei civitates et occurrebant ei, quia mandaverat Alexander rex exire ei obviam, eo quod socer suus esset.

2. He set out for Syria with peaceable words, and the people of the cities opened their gates to him and went to meet him, for Alexander the king had commanded them to meet him, since he was Alexander's father-in-law.

3. Cum autem introiret civitatem, Ptolemaeus ponebat custodias militum in singulis civitatibus.

3. But when Ptolemy entered the cities he stationed forces as a garrison in each city.

4. Et, ut appropiavit Azoto, ostenderunt ei templum Dagon succensum et Azotum et suburbana eius demolita et corpora proiecta et combustos, quos combusserat in bello; fecerant enim tumulos eorum in via eius.

4. When he approached Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon burned down, and Azotus and its suburbs destroyed, and the corpses lying about, and the charred bodies of those whom Jonathan had burned in the war, for they had piled them in heaps along his route.

5. Et narraverunt regi, quae fecit Ionathas, ut vituperarent eum; et tacuit rex.

5. They also told the king what Jonathan had done, to throw blame on him; but the king kept silent.

6. Et occurrit Ionathas regi in Ioppen cum gloria, et invicem se salutaverunt et dormierunt illic.

6. Jonathan met the king at Joppa with pomp, and they greeted one another and spent the night there.

7. Et abiit Ionathas cum rege usque ad fluvium, qui vocatur Eleutherus, et reversus est in Ierusalem.

7. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river called Eleutherus; then he returned to Jerusalem.

8. Rex autem Ptolemaeus obtinuit dominium civitatum maritimarum usque Seleuciam maritimam et cogitabat in Alexandrum consilia mala.

8. So King Ptolemy gained control of the coastal cities as far as Seleucia by the sea, and he kept devising evil designs against Alexander.

9. Et misit legatos ad Demetrium dicens: “Veni, componamus inter nos pactum, et dabo tibi filiam meam, quam habet Alexander, et regnabis in regno patris tui;

9. He sent envoys to Demetrius the king, saying, "Come, let us make a covenant with each other, and I will give you in marriage my daughter who was Alexander's wife, and you shall reign over your father's kingdom.

10. paenitet enim me quod dederim illi filiam meam: quaesivit enim me occidere”.

10. For I now regret that I gave him my daughter, for he has tried to kill me."

11. Et vituperavit eum, propterea quod concupisceret regnum eius.

11. He threw blame on Alexander because he coveted his kingdom.

12. Et abstulit filiam suam et dedit eam Demetrio et alienavit se ab Alexandro, et manifestatae sunt inimicitiae eorum.

12. So he took his daughter away from him and gave her to Demetrius. He was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity became manifest.

13. Et intravit Ptolemaeus Antiochiam et imposuit duo diademata capiti suo, Aegypti et Asiae.

13. Then Ptolemy entered Antioch and put on the crown of Asia. Thus he put two crowns upon his head, the crown of Egypt and that of Asia.

14. Alexander autem rex erat in Cilicia illis temporibus, quia rebellabant, qui erant de locis illis;

14. Now Alexander the king was in Cilicia at that time, because the people of that region were in revolt.

15. et audivit Alexander et venit ad eum in bello. Et produxit Ptolemaeus exercitum et occurrit ei in manu valida et fugavit eum.

15. And Alexander heard of it and came against him in battle. Ptolemy marched out and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight.

16. Et fugit Alexander in Arabiam, ut ibi protegeretur; rex autem Ptolemaeus exaltatus est.

16. So Alexander fled into Arabia to find protection there, and King Ptolemy was exalted.

17. Et abstulit Zabdiel Arabs caput Alexandri et misit Ptolemaeo.

17. And Zabdiel the Arab cut off the head of Alexander and sent it to Ptolemy.

18. Et rex Ptolemaeus mortuus est in die tertia; et qui erant in munitionibus, perierunt ab his, qui erant in munitionibus.

18. But King Ptolemy died three days later, and his troops in the strongholds were killed by the inhabitants of the strongholds.

19. Et regnavit Demetrius anno centesimo sexagesimo septimo.

19. So Demetrius became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year.

20. In diebus illis congregavit Ionathas eos, qui erant de Iudaea, ut expugnarent arcem, quae est in Ierusalem; et fecerunt contra eam machinas multas.

20. In those days Jonathan assembled the men of Judea to attack the citadel in Jerusalem, and he built many engines of war to use against it.

21. Et abierunt quidam, qui oderant gentem suam, viri iniqui ad regem et renuntiaverunt ei quod Ionathas obsideret arcem.

21. But certain lawless men who hated their nation went to the king and reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel.

22. Et audiens iratus est et statim, ut audivit, movit castra et venit ad Ptolemaidam et scripsit Ionathae, ne obsideret arcem et ut occurreret sibi ad colloquium in Ptolemaidam festinato.

22. When he heard this he was angry, and as soon as he heard it he set out and came to Ptolemais; and he wrote Jonathan not to continue the siege, but to meet him for a conference at Ptolemais as quickly as possible.

23. Ut audivit autem Ionathas, iussit obsidere et elegit de senioribus Israel et de sacerdotibus et dedit se periculo

23. When Jonathan heard this, he gave orders to continue the siege; and he chose some of the elders of Israel and some of the priests, and put himself in danger,

24. et accepit argentum et aurum et vestem et alia xenia multa et abiit ad regem in Ptolemaidam et invenit gratiam in conspectu eius.

24. for he went to the king at Ptolemais, taking silver and gold and clothing and numerous other gifts. And he won his favor.

25. Et interpellabant adversus eum quidam iniqui ex gente sua.

25. Although certain lawless men of his nation kept making complaints against him,

26. Et fecit ei rex, sicut fecerant ei qui ante eum fuerant, et exaltavit eum in conspectu omnium amicorum suorum

26. the king treated him as his predecessors had treated him; he exalted him in the presence of all his friends.

27. et statuit ei principatum sacerdotii et, quaecumque alia habuit prius pretiosa, et fecit eum principem primorum amicorum.

27. He confirmed him in the high priesthood and in as many other honors as he had formerly had, and made him to be regarded as one of his chief friends.

28. Et postulavit Ionathas a rege, ut immunem faceret Iudaeam et tres toparchias et Samaritidem, et promisit ei talenta trecenta.

28. Then Jonathan asked the king to free Judea and the three districts of Samaria from tribute, and promised him three hundred talents.

29. Et consensit rex et scripsit Ionathae epistulas de his omnibus hunc modum continentes:

29. The king consented, and wrote a letter to Jonathan about all these things; its contents were as follows:

30. “Rex Demetrius fratri Ionathae salutem et genti Iudaeorum.

30. "King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

31. Exemplum epistulae, quam scripsimus Lastheni parenti nostro de vobis, scripsimus et ad vos, ut sciretis:

31. This copy of the letter which we wrote concerning you to Lasthenes our kinsman we have written to you also, so that you may know what it says.

32. “Rex Demetrius Lastheni patri salutem.

32. `King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father, greeting.

33. Genti Iudaeorum amicis nostris et conservantibus, quae iusta sunt apud nos, decrevimus benefacere propter benignitatem ipsorum, quam erga nos habent.

33. To the nation of the Jews, who are our friends and fulfil their obligations to us, we have determined to do good, because of the good will they show toward us.

34. Statuimus ergo illis fines Iudaeae et tres regiones, Apherema et Lydda et Ramathaim, quae additae sunt Iudaeae ex Samaritide, et omnia confinia earum, omnibus sacrificantibus in Hierosolymis, pro regalibus, quae ab eis prius accipiebat rex per singulos annos de fructibus terrae et pomorum;

34. We have confirmed as their possession both the territory of Judea and the three districts of Aphairema and Lydda and Rathamin; the latter, with all the region bordering them, were added to Judea from Samaria. To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, we have granted release from the royal taxes which the king formerly received from them each year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees.

35. et alia, quae ad nos pertinent ex hoc tempore decimarum et tributorum pertinentium ad nos, et salis stagna et pertinentes ad nos coronas, omnia ipsis concedimus.

35. And the other payments henceforth due to us of the tithes, and the taxes due to us, and the salt pits and the crown taxes due to us -- from all these we shall grant them release.

36. Et nihil horum irritum erit ex hoc et in omne tempus.

36. And not one of these grants shall be canceled from this time forth for ever.

37. Nunc ergo curate facere horum exemplum, et detur Ionathae et ponatur in monte sancto in loco celebri””.

37. Now therefore take care to make a copy of this, and let it be given to Jonathan and put up in a conspicuous place on the holy mountain.'"

38. Et videns Demetrius rex quod siluit terra in conspectu suo, et nihil ei resistit, dimisit totum exercitum suum, unumquemque in locum suum, excepto peregrino exercitu, quem contraxit ab insulis gentium; et inimici erant ei omnes exercitus patrum eius.

38. Now when Demetrius the king saw that the land was quiet before him and that there was no opposition to him, he dismissed all his troops, each man to his own place, except the foreign troops which he had recruited from the islands of the nations. So all the troops who had served his fathers hated him.

39. Tryphon autem erat quidam partium Alexandri prius et vidit quoniam omnis exercitus murmurabat contra Demetrium et ivit ad Imalcue Arabem, qui nutriebat Antiochum filium Alexandri;

39. Now Trypho had formerly been one of Alexander's supporters. He saw that all the troops were murmuring against Demetrius. So he went to Imalkue the Arab, who was bringing up Antiochus, the young son of Alexander,

40. et assidebat ei, ut traderet eum ipsi, ut regnaret loco patris sui. Et enuntiavit ei quanta constituerat Demetrius et inimicitias exercituum eius adversus illum; et mansit ibi diebus multis.

40. and insistently urged him to hand Antiochus over to him, to become king in place of his father. He also reported to Imalkue what Demetrius had done and told of the hatred which the troops of Demetrius had for him; and he stayed there many days.

41. Et misit Ionathas ad Demetrium regem, ut eiceret eos, qui in arce erant in Ierusalem et qui in praesidiis erant, quia impugnabant Israel.

41. Now Jonathan sent to Demetrius the king the request that he remove the troops of the citadel from Jerusalem, and the troops in the strongholds; for they kept fighting against Israel.

42. Et misit Demetrius ad Ionathan dicens: “Non haec tantum faciam tibi et genti tuae, sed gloria illustrabo te et gentem tuam, cum fuerit opportunum;

42. And Demetrius sent this message to Jonathan, "Not only will I do these things for you and your nation, but I will confer great honor on you and your nation, if I find an opportunity.

43. nunc ergo recte feceris, si miseris in auxilium mihi viros, quia discessit omnis exercitus meus”.

43. Now then you will do well to send me men who will help me, for all my troops have revolted."

44. Et misit ei Ionathas tria milia virorum fortium Antiochiam, et venerunt ad regem, et delectatus est rex in adventu eorum.

44. So Jonathan sent three thousand stalwart men to him at Antioch, and when they came to the king, the king rejoiced at their arrival.

45. Et convenerunt, qui erant de civitate, centum viginti milia virorum, et volebant interficere regem;

45. Then the men of the city assembled within the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand, and they wanted to kill the king.

46. et fugit rex in aulam, et occupaverunt, qui erant de civitate, itinera civitatis et coeperunt pugnare.

46. But the king fled into the palace. Then the men of the city seized the main streets of the city and began to fight.

47. Et vocavit rex Iudaeos in auxilium, et convenerunt omnes simul ad eum et dispersi sunt per civitatem; et occiderunt in illa die centum milia hominum.

47. So the king called the Jews to his aid, and they all rallied about him and then spread out through the city; and they killed on that day as many as a hundred thousand men.

48. Et succenderunt civitatem et ceperunt spolia multa in die illa et liberaverunt regem.

48. They set fire to the city and seized much spoil on that day, and they saved the king.

49. Et viderunt, qui erant de civitate, quod obtinuissent Iudaei civitatem, sicut volebant, et infirmati sunt mente sua et clamaverunt ad regem cum precibus dicentes:

49. When the men of the city saw that the Jews had gained control of the city as they pleased, their courage failed and they cried out to the king with this entreaty,

50. “Da nobis dextras, et cessent Iudaei oppugnare nos et civitatem”.

50. "Grant us peace, and make the Jews stop fighting against us and our city."

51. Et proiecerunt arma sua et fecerunt pacem; et glorificati sunt Iudaei in conspectu regis et in conspectu omnium, qui erant in regno eius, et nominati sunt in regno et regressi sunt in Ierusalem habentes spolia multa.

51. And they threw down their arms and made peace. So the Jews gained glory in the eyes of the king and of all the people in his kingdom, and they returned to Jerusalem with much spoil.

52. Et sedit Demetrius rex in sede regni sui, et siluit terra in conspectu eius.

52. So Demetrius the king sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.

53. Et mentitus est omnia, quaecumque dixit, et abalienavit se a Ionatha et non retribuit ei secundum beneficia, quae sibi tribuerat, et vexabat eum valde.

53. But he broke his word about all that he had promised; and he became estranged from Jonathan and did not repay the favors which Jonathan had done him, but oppressed him greatly.

54. Post haec autem reversus est Tryphon, et Antiochus cum eo puer adulescentior; et regnavit et imposuit sibi diadema.

54. After this Trypho returned, and with him the young boy Antiochus who began to reign and put on the crown.

55. Et congregati sunt ad eum omnes exercitus, quos disperserat Demetrius, et pugnaverunt contra eum, et fugit et terga vertit.

55. All the troops that Demetrius had cast off gathered around him, and they fought against Demetrius, and he fled and was routed.

56. Et accepit Tryphon bestias et obtinuit Antiochiam.

56. And Trypho captured the elephants and gained control of Antioch.

57. Et scripsit Antiochus adulescentior Ionathae dicens: “Constituo tibi summum sacerdotium et constituo te super quattuor regiones et ut sis de amicis regis”.

57. Then the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, "I confirm you in the high priesthood and set you over the four districts and make you one of the friends of the king."

58. Et misit illi vasa aurea et ministerium et dedit ei potestatem bibendi in auro et esse in purpura et habere fibulam auream.

58. And he sent him gold plate and a table service, and granted him the right to drink from gold cups and dress in purple and wear a gold buckle.

59. Et Simonem fratrem eius constituit ducem a descensu Tyri usque ad fines Aegypti.

59. Simon his brother he made governor from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.

60. Et exiit Ionathas et perambulabat trans flumen et in civitatibus, et congregatus est ad eum omnis exercitus Syriae in auxilium; et venit Ascalonem, et occurrerunt ei honorifice de civitate.

60. Then Jonathan set forth and traveled beyond the river and among the cities, and all the army of Syria gathered to him as allies. When he came to Askalon, the people of the city met him and paid him honor.

61. Et abiit inde Gazam, et concluserunt, qui erant Gazae; et obsedit eam et succendit, quae erant in circuitu civitatis, et praedatus est ea.

61. From there he departed to Gaza, but the men of Gaza shut him out. So he beseiged it and burned its suburbs with fire and plundered them.

62. Et rogaverunt Gazenses Ionathan, et dedit illis dexteram et accepit filios principum eorum obsides et misit illos in Ierusalem; et perambulavit regionem usque Damascum.

62. Then the people of Gaza pleaded with Jonathan, and he made peace with them, and took the sons of their rulers as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem. And he passed through the country as far as Damascus.

63. Et audivit Ionathas quod aderant principes Demetrii in Cades, quae est in Galilaea, cum exercitu multo volentes eum removere a negotio;

63. Then Jonathan heard that the officers of Demetrius had come to Kadesh in Galilee with a large army, intending to remove him from office.

64. et occurrit illis, fratrem autem suum Simonem reliquit in regione.

64. He went to meet them, but left his brother Simon in the country.

65. Et applicuit Simon ad Bethsuram et expugnabat eam diebus multis et conclusit eos.

65. Simon encamped before Beth-zur and fought against it for many days and hemmed it in.

66. Et postulaverunt ab eo dextras accipere, et dedit illis; et eiecit eos inde et cepit civitatem et posuit in ea praesidium.

66. Then they asked him to grant them terms of peace, and he did so. He removed them from there, took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.

67. Et Ionathas et castra eius applicuerunt ad aquam Gennesar et ante lucem vigilaverunt in campo Asor.

67. Jonathan and his army encamped by the waters of Gennesaret. Early in the morning they marched to the plain of Hazor,

68. Et ecce castra alienigenarum occurrebant ei in campo et tendebant ei insidias in montibus; ipsi autem occurrerunt ex adverso.

68. and behold, the army of the foreigners met him in the plain; they had set an ambush against him in the mountains, but they themselves met him face to face.

69. Insidiae vero exsurrexerunt de locis suis et commiserunt proelium.

69. Then the men in ambush emerged from their places and joined battle.

70. Et fugerunt, qui erant ex parte Ionathae omnes, et nemo relictus est ex eis, nisi Matthathias filius Absalomi et Iudas filius Chalphi princeps militiae exercitus.

70. All the men with Jonathan fled; not one of them was left except Mattathias the son of Absalom and Judas the son of Chalphi, commanders of the forces of the army.

71. Et scidit Ionathas vestimenta sua et posuit terram in capite suo et oravit.

71. Jonathan rent his garments and put dust on his head, and prayed.

72. Et reversus est ad eos in proelium et convertit eos in fugam; et fugerunt.

72. Then he turned back to the battle against the enemy and routed them, and they fled.

73. Et viderunt, qui fugiebant partis illius, et reversi sunt ad eum et insequebantur cum eo usque Cades, usque ad castra ipsorum, et applicuerunt illic.

73. When his men who were fleeing saw this, they returned to him and joined him in the pursuit as far as Kadesh, to their camp, and there they encamped.

74. Et ceciderunt de alienigenis in die illa tria milia virorum; et reversus est Ionathas in Ierusalem.

74. As many as three thousand of the foreigners fell that day. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.