1 Maccabees, 10
1. In the year 160, Alexander, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, raised an army and occupied Ptolemais. He was well received, and there inaugurated his reign.
1. In the one hundred and sixtieth year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, landed and occupied Ptolemais. They welcomed him, and there he began to reign.
2. On hearing this, King Demetrius assembled a very large army and marched off to do battle with him.
2. When Demetrius the king heard of it, he assembled a very large army and marched out to meet him in battle.
3. Demetrius furthermore sent Jonathan a most conciliatory letter, promising to promote him in rank,
3. And Demetrius sent Jonathan a letter in peaceable words to honor him;
4. for, as he said, 'We had better move first to come to terms with these people before he makes common cause with Alexander against us;
4. for he said, "Let us act first to make peace with him before he makes peace with Alexander against us,
5. he will not have forgotten all the wrongs we inflicted on him and his brothers, and on his nation.'
5. for he will remember all the wrongs which we did to him and to his brothers and his nation."
6. He even authorised him to raise an army, to manufacture arms, and to describe himself as his ally, and ordered the hostages in the Citadel to be surrendered to him.
6. So Demetrius gave him authority to recruit troops, to equip them with arms, and to become his ally; and he commanded that the hostages in the citadel should be released to him.
7. Jonathan went straight to Jerusalem and read the letter in the hearing of the whole people and of the men in the Citadel.
7. Then Jonathan came to Jerusalem and read the letter in the hearing of all the people and of the men in the citadel.
8. They were terrified when they heard that the king had given him authority to raise an army.
8. They were greatly alarmed when they heard that the king had given him authority to recruit troops.
9. The men in the Citadel surrendered the hostages to Jonathan, who handed them back to their parents.
9. But the men in the citadel released the hostages to Jonathan, and he returned them to their parents.
10. Jonathan then took up residence in Jerusalem and began the rebuilding and restoration of the city.
10. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem and began to rebuild and restore the city.
11. He ordered those responsible for the work to build the walls and the defences round Mount Zion of squared stone blocks to make them stronger, and this was done.
11. He directed those who were doing the work to build the walls and encircle Mount Zion with squared stones, for better fortification; and they did so.
12. The foreigners in the fortresses built by Bacchides abandoned them,
12. Then the foreigners who were in the strongholds that Bacchides had built fled;
13. one after another leaving his post to go back to his own country.
13. each left his place and departed to his own land.
14. Only at Beth-Zur were a few left of those who had forsaken the Law and the precepts, since this was their refuge.
14. Only in Beth-zur did some remain who had forsaken the law and the commandments, for it served as a place of refuge.
15. King Alexander heard of all the promises Demetrius had sent to Jonathan, and he was also given an account of the battles and exploits of this man and his brothers and of the hardships they had endured.
15. Now Alexander the king heard of all the promises which Demetrius had sent to Jonathan, and men told him of the battles that Jonathan and his brothers had fought, of the brave deeds that they had done, and of the troubles that they had endured.
16. 'Shall we ever find another man like him?' he exclaimed. 'We must make him our friend and ally!'
16. So he said, "Shall we find another such man? Come now, we will make him our friend and ally."
17. He therefore wrote him a letter, addressing him in these terms:
17. And he wrote a letter and sent it to him, in the following words:
18. 'King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greetings.
18. "King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting.
19. 'You have been brought to our notice as a strong man of action and as someone who deserves to be our friend.
19. We have heard about you, that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be our friend.
20. Accordingly, we have today appointed you high priest of your nation, with the title of "Friend of the King" ' -- he also sent him a purple robe and a golden crown-'and you are to study our interests and maintain friendly relations with us.'
20. And so we have appointed you today to be the high priest of your nation; you are to be called the king's friend" (and he sent him a purple robe and a golden crown) "and you are to take our side and keep friendship with us."
21. Jonathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the year 160, on the feast of Shelters; he then set about raising troops and manufacturing arms in quantity.
21. So Jonathan put on the holy garments in the seventh month of the one hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of tabernacles, and he recruited troops and equipped them with arms in abundance.
22. Demetrius was displeased when he heard what had happened.
22. When Demetrius heard of these things he was grieved and said,
23. 'What have we been doing,' he said, 'for Alexander to forestall us in winning the friendship of the Jews and so improving his own position?
23. "What is this that we have done? Alexander has gotten ahead of us in forming a friendship with the Jews to strengthen himself.
24. I too shall address an appeal to them, offering them advancement and riches as an inducement to support me.'
24. I also will write them words of encouragement and promise them honor and gifts, that I may have their help."
25. And he wrote to them as follows: 'King Demetrius to the Jewish nation, greetings.
25. So he sent a message to them in the following words: "King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
26. 'We have heard how you have kept your agreement with us and have maintained friendly relations with us and have not gone over to our enemies, and it has given us great satisfaction.
26. Since you have kept your agreement with us and have continued your friendship with us, and have not sided with our enemies, we have heard of it and rejoiced.
27. If you now continue to keep faith with us, we shall make you a handsome return for what you do on our behalf.
27. And now continue still to keep faith with us, and we will repay you with good for what you do for us.
28. We shall accord you many exemptions and grant you privileges.
28. We will grant you many immunities and give you gifts.
29. 'Henceforth I release you and exempt all the Jews from the tribute, the salt dues and the crown levies,
29. "And now I free you and exempt all the Jews from payment of tribute and salt tax and crown levies,
30. and whereas I am entitled to one-third of the grain and one-half of the fruit of the trees, I release from this levy, from today and for the future, Judaea and the three districts annexed to it from Samaria-Galilee, from this day henceforth in perpetuity.
30. and instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the fruit of the trees that I should receive, I release them from this day and henceforth. I will not collect them from the land of Judah or from the three districts added to it from Samaria and Galilee, from this day and for all time.
31. Jerusalem will be sacred and exempt, with its territory, from tithes and dues.
31. And let Jerusalem and her environs, her tithes and her revenues, be holy and free from tax.
32. I relinquish control of the Citadel in Jerusalem and make it over to the high priest, so that he may man it with a garrison of his own choosing.
32. I release also my control of the citadel in Jerusalem and give it to the high priest, that he may station in it men of his own choice to guard it.
33. Every Jewish person taken from Judaea into captivity in any part of my kingdom I set free without ransom, and decree that all will be exempt from taxes, even on their livestock.
33. And every one of the Jews taken as a captive from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom, I set free without payment; and let all officials cancel also the taxes on their cattle.
34. All festivals, Sabbaths, New Moons and days of special observance, and the three days before and three days after a festival, will be days of exemption and quittance for all the Jews in my kingdom,
34. "And all the feasts and sabbaths and new moons and appointed days, and the three days before a feast and the three after a feast -- let them all be days of immunity and release for all the Jews who are in my kingdom.
35. and no one will have the right to exact payment from, or to molest, any of them for any matter whatsoever.
35. No one shall have authority to exact anything from them or annoy any of them about any matter.
36. 'Jews will be enrolled in the king's forces to the number of thirty thousand men and receive maintenance on the same scale as the rest of the king's forces.
36. "Let Jews be enrolled in the king's forces to the number of thirty thousand men, and let the maintenance be given them that is due to all the forces of the king.
37. Some of them will be stationed in the king's major fortresses, and from among others appointments will be made to positions of trust in the kingdom. Their officers and commanders will be appointed from their own number and will live under their own laws, as the king has prescribed for Judaea.
37. Let some of them be stationed in the great strongholds of the king, and let some of them be put in positions of trust in the kingdom. Let their officers and leaders be of their own number, and let them live by their own laws, just as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.
38. 'As regards the three districts annexed to Judaea from the province of Samaria, these will be integrated into Judaea and considered as coming under one governor, obeying the high priest's authority and no other.
38. "As for the three districts that have been added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be so annexed to Judea that they are considered to be under one ruler and obey no other authority but the high priest.
39. Ptolemais and the land thereto pertaining I present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, to meet the necessary expenses of public worship.
39. Ptolemais and the land adjoining it I have given as a gift to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, to meet the necessary expenses of the sanctuary.
40. And I make a personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels annually chargeable to the royal revenue from appropriate places.
40. I also grant fifteen thousand shekels of silver yearly out of the king's revenues from appropriate places.
41. And the entire surplus, which has not been paid in by the officials as in previous years, will henceforth be paid over by them for work on the Temple.
41. And all the additional funds which the government officials have not paid as they did in the first years, they shall give from now on for the service of the temple.
42. In addition, the sum of five thousand silver shekels, levied annually on the profits of the sanctuary, as shown in the annual accounts, is also relinquished as the perquisite of the priests who perform the liturgy.
42. Moreover, the five thousand shekels of silver which my officials have received every year from the income of the services of the temple, this too is canceled, because it belongs to the priests who minister there.
43. Anyone who takes refuge in the Temple in Jerusalem or any of its precincts, when in debt to the royal exchequer or otherwise, will be discharged in full possession of all the goods he owns in my kingdom.
43. And whoever takes refuge at the temple in Jerusalem, or in any of its precincts, because he owes money to the king or has any debt, let him be released and receive back all his property in my kingdom.
44. As regards the building and restoration of the sanctuary, the expense of the work will be met from the royal exchequer.
44. "Let the cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary be paid from the revenues of the king.
45. The reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the fortification of the perimeter will also be a charge on the royal exchequer, as also the reconstruction of other city walls in Judaea.'
45. And let the cost of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it round about, and the cost of rebuilding the walls in Judea, also be paid from the revenues of the king."
46. When Jonathan and the people heard these proposals, they put no faith in them and refused to accept them, remembering what great wrongs Demetrius had done to Israel and how cruelly he had oppressed them.
46. When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they did not believe or accept them, because they remembered the great wrongs which Demetrius had done in Israel and how he had greatly oppressed them.
47. They decided in favour of Alexander, since he seemed to offer the better inducements of the two, and they became his constant allies.
47. They favored Alexander, because he had been the first to speak peaceable words to them, and they remained his allies all his days.
48. King Alexander now mustered large forces and advanced against Demetrius.
48. Now Alexander the king assembled large forces and encamped opposite Demetrius.
49. The two kings met in battle. Alexander's army was routed, and Demetrius pursued him and defeated his troops.
49. The two kings met in battle, and the army of Demetrius fled, and Alexander pursued him and defeated them.
50. He continued the battle with vigour until sunset. Demetrius himself, however, was killed the same day.
50. He pressed the battle strongly until the sun set, and Demetrius fell on that day.
51. Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt, with this message:
51. Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt with the following message:
52. 'Since I have returned to my kingdom, have ascended the throne of my ancestors, have gained control by crushing Demetrius, and so recovered our country-
52. "Since I have returned to my kingdom and have taken my seat on the throne of my fathers, and established my rule -- for I crushed Demetrius and gained control of our country;
53. for I fought him and we crushed both him and his army, and I now occupy his royal throne-
53. I met him in battle, and he and his army were crushed by us, and we have taken our seat on the throne of his kingdom --
54. let us now make a treaty of friendship. Give me your daughter in marriage: as your son-in-law, I shall give you, and her, presents which are worthy of you.'
54. now therefore let us establish friendship with one another; give me now your daughter as my wife, and I will become your son-in-law, and will make gifts to you and to her in keeping with your position."
55. King Ptolemy replied as follows: 'Happy the day when you returned to the land of your ancestors and ascended their royal throne!
55. Ptolemy the king replied and said, "Happy was the day on which you returned to the land of your fathers and took your seat on the throne of their kingdom.
56. I shall at once do for you what your letter proposes; but meet me at Ptolemais, so that we can see one another, and I shall become your father-in-law, as you have asked.'
56. And now I will do for you as you wrote, but meet me at Ptolemais, so that we may see one another, and I will become your father-in-law, as you have said."
57. Ptolemy left Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra and reached Ptolemais in the year 162.
57. So Ptolemy set out from Egypt, he and Cleopatra his daughter, and came to Ptolemais in the one hundred and sixty-second year.
58. King Alexander went to meet him, and Ptolemy gave him the hand of his daughter Cleopatra and celebrated her wedding in Ptolemais with great magnificence, as kings do.
58. Alexander the king met him, and Ptolemy gave him Cleopatra his daughter in marriage, and celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with great pomp, as kings do.
59. King Alexander then wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.
59. Then Alexander the king wrote to Jonathan to come to meet him.
60. Jonathan made his way in state to Ptolemais and met the two kings; he gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many gifts, and made a favourable impression on them.
60. So he went with pomp to Ptolemais and met the two kings; he gave them and their friends silver and gold and many gifts, and found favor with them.
61. A number of scoundrels, the pest of Israel, combined to denounce him, but the king paid no attention to them.
61. A group of pestilent men from Israel, lawless men, gathered together against him to accuse him; but the king paid no attention to them.
62. In fact, the king commanded that Jonathan should be divested of his own garments and clothed in the purple, which was done.
62. The king gave orders to take off Jonathan's garments and to clothe him in purple, and they did so.
63. The king then seated him by his side and said to his officers, 'Escort him into the centre of the city and proclaim that no one is to bring charges against him on any count; no one is to molest him for any reason.'
63. The king also seated him at his side; and he said to his officers, "Go forth with him into the middle of the city and proclaim that no one is to bring charges against him about any matter, and let no one annoy him for any reason."
64. And so, when his accusers saw the honour done him by this proclamation, and Jonathan himself invested in the purple, they all fled.
64. And when his accusers saw the honor that was paid him, in accordance with the proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all fled.
65. The king did him the honour of enrolling him among the First Friends, and appointed him commander-in-chief and governor-general.
65. Thus the king honored him and enrolled him among his chief friends, and made him general and governor of the province.
66. Jonathan then returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.
66. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.
67. In the year 165, Demetrius son of Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his ancestors.
67. In the one hundred and sixty-fifth year Demetrius the son of Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his fathers.
68. When King Alexander heard of it he was plunged into gloom, and retired to Antioch.
68. When Alexander the king heard of it, he was greatly grieved and returned to Antioch.
69. Demetrius confirmed Apollonius as governor of Coele-Syria; the latter assembled a large force, encamped at Jamnia and sent the following message to Jonathan the high priest:
69. And Demetrius appointed Apollonius the governor of Coelesyria, and he assembled a large force and encamped against Jamnia. Then he sent the following message to Jonathan the high priest:
70. 'You are entirely alone in rising against us, and now I find myself ridiculed and reproached on your account. Why do you use your authority to our disadvantage in the mountains?
70. "You are the only one to rise up against us, and I have become a laughingstock and reproach because of you. Why do you assume authority against us in the hill country?
71. If you are so confident in your forces, come down now to meet us on the plain and let us take each other's measure there; on my side I have the strength of the towns.
71. If you now have confidence in your forces, come down to the plain to meet us, and let us match strength with each other there, for I have with me the power of the cities.
72. Ask and learn who I am and who the others supporting us are. You will hear that you cannot stand up to us, since your ancestors were twice routed on their own ground,
72. Ask and learn who I am and who the others are that are helping us. Men will tell you that you cannot stand before us, for your fathers were twice put to flight in their own land.
73. nor will you now be able to withstand the cavalry or so great an army on the plain, where there is neither rock, nor stone, nor refuge of any kind.'
73. And now you will not be able to withstand my cavalry and such an army in the plain, where there is no stone or pebble, or place to flee."
74. On hearing Apollonius' words, Jonathan's spirit was roused; he picked ten thousand men and left Jerusalem, and his brother Simon joined him with reinforcements.
74. When Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, his spirit was aroused. He chose ten thousand men and set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him.
75. He drew up his forces outside Joppa, the citizens having shut him out, since Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa. When they began the attack,
75. He encamped before Joppa, but the men of the city closed its gates, for Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa.
76. the citizens took fright and opened the gates, and Jonathan occupied Joppa.
76. So they fought against it, and the men of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and Jonathan gained possession of Joppa.
77. Hearing this, Apollonius marshalled three thousand cavalry and a large army and made his way to Azotus as though intending to march through, while in fact pressing on into the plain, since he had a great number of cavalry on which he was relying.
77. When Apollonius heard of it, he mustered three thousand cavalry and a large army, and went to Azotus as though he were going farther. At the same time he advanced into the plain, for he had a large troop of cavalry and put confidence in it.
78. Jonathan pursued him as far as Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
78. Jonathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle.
79. Now, Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in concealment behind them.
79. Now Apollonius had secretly left a thousand cavalry behind them.
80. Jonathan knew of this enemy position behind him; the horsemen surrounded his army, firing their arrows into his men from morning till evening.
80. Jonathan learned that there was an ambush behind him, for they surrounded his army and shot arrows at his men from early morning till late afternoon.
81. But the troops stood firm, as Jonathan had ordered. Once the cavalry was exhausted,
81. But his men stood fast, as Jonathan commanded, and the enemy's horses grew tired.
82. Simon sent his own troops into attack against the phalanx, which he cut to pieces and routed.
82. Then Simon brought forward his force and engaged the phalanx in battle (for the cavalry was exhausted); they were overwhelmed by him and fled,
83. The cavalry scattered over the plain and fled to Azotus, where they took sanctuary in Beth-Dagon, the temple of their idol.
83. and the cavalry was dispersed in the plain. They fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, for safety.
84. Jonathan, however, set fire to Azotus and the surrounding towns, plundered them, and burned down the temple of Dagon, with all the fugitives who had crowded into it.
84. But Jonathan burned Azotus and the surrounding towns and plundered them; and the temple of Dagon, and those who had taken refuge in it he burned with fire.
85. The enemy losses, counting those who fell by the sword and those burnt to death, totalled about eight thousand men.
85. The number of those who fell by the sword, with those burned alive, came to eight thousand men.
86. Jonathan then left and pitched camp outside Ascalon, where the citizens came out to meet him with great ceremony.
86. Then Jonathan departed from there and encamped against Askalon, and the men of the city came out to meet him with great pomp.
87. Jonathan then returned to Jerusalem with his followers, laden with booty.
87. And Jonathan and those with him returned to Jerusalem with much booty.
88. In the event, when King Alexander heard what had happened, he awarded Jonathan further honours:
88. When Alexander the king heard of these things, he honored Jonathan still more;
89. he sent him the golden brooch, of the kind customarily presented to the King's Cousins, and gave him proprietary rights over Ekron and the land adjoining it.
89. and he sent to him a golden buckle, such as it is the custom to give to the kinsmen of kings. He also gave him Ekron and all its environs as his possession.
