1 Maccabees, 12

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

1. Jonathan saw that circumstances were to his advantage. So he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the alliance of friendship with the Romans.

2. He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.

2. He also sent letters to the Spartans and to other places for this same purpose.

3. So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.

3. Those who went to Rome entered the Senate and delivered this message: "The High Priest Jonathan and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew with you the friendship and alliance that formerly united us."

4. Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.

4. The Senate gave them letters of recommendation to the authorities of each region, enabling them to journey safely back to the land of Judah.

5. And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:

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

6. Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:

6. "Jonathan, High Priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the whole country of the Jews, to the people of Sparta, their brothers: peace.

7. There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.

7. In the past, our high priest Onias received from Areios, your king, a letter stating that you are indeed our brothers, as the enclosed copy attests.

8. At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.

8. Onias received the envoy with great honor and accepted the letter which clearly spoke of friendship and alliance.

9. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,

9. Though we are not in need, for we have our consolation in our Sacred Books,

10. Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.

10. we have decided to send ambassadors to you to renew our fraternal bonds and friendship in order not to become strangers to you, for it has been a long time since you wrote us.

11. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren:

11. For our part, we constantly remember you in all circumstances, on special days, in the sacrifices we offer, as well as in our prayers; for it is but right and proper to remember our brothers

12. And we are right glad of your honour.

12. and greatly rejoice at your prosperity and fame.

13. As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

13. For our part, we have been involved in many trials, in misery and wars, for neighboring kings have attacked us.

14. Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:

14. However, we did not want to be a burden to you or to the rest of our allies and friends during these wars,

15. For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.

15. for our help comes from Heaven. Finally we have been freed from our enemies who have been humbled.

16. For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.

16. So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and sent them to the Romans to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.

17. We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

17. We have also ordered them to go to you, greet you and deliver this letter to you on our behalf, with which we wish to renew our alliance.

18. Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.

18. We shall be glad to receive a favorable response."

19. And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.

19. This is a copy of the letter which Onias had received:

20. Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:

20. "Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias the High Priest.

21. It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

21. We have found in one of our documents that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers, for both are of the race of Abraham.

22. Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.

22. Now that we have come to know this, we shall be grateful if you send us news of your welfare.

23. We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.

23. And we say this to you: our livestock and our possessions are yours, and similarly all that are yours are ours. This is what we have instructed our envoys to say to you."

24. Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius' princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,

24. Jonathan learned that the generals of Demetrius had come to attack him with a larger army than before.

25. He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country.

25. So he left Jerusalem at once and went to face them in the country of Hamath, so as not to give them time to invade his own land.

26. He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.

26. He sent spies to their camp, and on their return, they told him that the enemy planned to attack them during the night.

27. Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to fight: also he sent forth centinels round about the host.

27. So, at sunset, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch throughout the night with their weapons at hand, ready to fight. And he posted guards around the camp.

28. But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.

28. When the enemies learned that Jonathan was keeping watch with his troops and ready for battle, they were afraid and discouraged; for this reason, they kindled fires in their camp and fled.

29. Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.

29. But neither Jonathan nor his army knew of their withdrawal until morning, for they saw the fires burning the whole night.

30. Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

30. Jonathan pursued them but was not able to catch up with them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus river.

31. Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.

31. So Jonathan went back against the Arabs called Zabadeans, defeated them and plundered them.

32. And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country,

32. After breaking camp, he went to Damascus and traveled throughout the region. Meanwhile,

33. Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Ascalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to Joppa, and won it.

33. Simon had also set out and gone as far as Askalon and the neighboring fortresses. He then proceeded to Joppa and occupied it,

34. For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius' part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.

34. for he had heard that the inhabitants of that city planned to hand the Citadel over to the supporters of Demetrius. And he stationed a garrison there to hold it.

35. After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judea,

35. On returning, Jonathan summoned the elders of the people. The assembly decided to build fortresses in Judea,

36. And making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.

36. to make the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a barrier between the Citadel and the city, to separate it from the city and to isolate it and prevent its defenders from going out to buy or sell.

37. Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha.

37. They also held an assembly to rebuild the city. Part of the wall over a rushing stream had fallen and they built up a new wall they called Chapthenatha.

38. Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.

38. Simon rebuilt Adida in the Shephelah, fortified it and erected barred gates in it.

39. Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.

39. Trypho wanted to reign in Asia, and to do away with King Antiochus in order to be king himself.

40. Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him; wherefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed, and came to Bethsan.

40. But he feared that Jonathan might not allow him to do so, and might even come to attack him. He set out and came to Bethshan.

41. Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.

41. At once Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men, and he, too, came to Bethshan.

42. Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him;

42. When Trypho saw that Jonathan had come with a large army, he was afraid to begin the assault.

43. But received him honourably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him, as to himself.

43. So he received Jonathan with honor, presented him to all his Friends, gave him gifts, and instructed his Friends and his troops to obey Jonathan as they obeyed him.

44. Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us?

44. Then he asked Jonathan, "Why have you bothered to come with so many men? Are we perhaps enemies?

45. Therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of my coming.

45. Send them back to their homes and remain here with some of them. Then you will come with me to the city of Ptolemais because I wish to hand it over to you, as well as the other fortresses and to place the rest of the troops and their officers at your disposal. Then, I will return home, for I have come only for this."

46. So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.

46. Jonathan believed him and did as Trypho had asked him. He dismissed his men who then returned to the land of Judea,

47. And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

47. and three thousand men remained with him. Of these, he left two thousand in Galilee and only a thousand accompanied him.

48. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew with the sword.

48. But as soon as they had entered Ptolemais, the inhabitants closed the gates. They seized him and killed all who had come with him.

49. Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's company.

49. Trypho sent troops and cavalry to Galilee and to the Great Plain to wipe out all of Jonathan's men.

50. But when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another; and went close together, prepared to fight.

50. On receiving the news that Jonathan and his companions had been seized and killed, his soldiers encouraged one another and prepared to face their pursuers.

51. They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.

51. When their enemy saw them ready to fight for their lives, they turned back.

52. Whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation.

52. So the men of Jonathan reached the land of Judea safe and sound. They wept for Jonathan and his companions and they were discouraged. And all Israel was in mourning.

53. Then all the heathen that were round about then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from among men.

53. Then all the neighboring nations planned to destroy them on seeing that they were now without leader or ally. And the pagans said: "This is now the opportunity to wipe out the remembrance of them from among men."