The First Book of Maccabees

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- Kapitel 12 -

Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The forces of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made prisoner by Tryphon.

And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain men and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with them:

And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places according to the same form.

And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance as it was before.

And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.

And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

Jonathan the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.

There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest from Arius who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.

And Onias received the ambassador with honour: and received the letters wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.

We, though we needed none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,

Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.

We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days, wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet, and becoming to remember brethren.

And we rejoice at your glory.

But we have had many troubles and wars on every side, and the kings that are round about us, have fought against us.

But we would not be troublesome to you, nor the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.

For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.

We have chosen therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the former amity and alliance.

And we have commanded them to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.

And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:

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

It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.

And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.

And we also have written back to you: That our cattle, and our possessions are yours: and yours, ours. We therefore have commanded that these things should be told you.

Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.

So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.

And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.

And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels round about the camp.

And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they were struck with fear, and dread in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.

But Jonathan and they that were with him knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.

And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.

And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.

And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.

Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of it,

(For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them that took part with Demetrius,) and he put a garrison there to keep it.

And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people, and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,

And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell.

And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that was upon the brook towards the east was broken down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:

And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up gates and bars.

Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia, and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus:

Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.

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

Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him,

But received him with honour, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.

And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?

Now therefore send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming.

And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:

But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

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

Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain to destroy all Jonathan’s company.

But they, when they understood that Jonathan and all that were with him were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.

Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.

Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda. And they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great lamentation.

Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:

They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst men.

Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The forces of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made prisoner by Tryphon.

Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, so he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.

He also sent similar letters to the Spartans, and to other places.

They went to Rome, entered into the senate house, and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew for them the friendship and the alliance, as in former time.”

They gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should provide safe conduct for them on their way to the land of Judah.

This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

“Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greetings.

Even before this time letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Arius,(a) who was reigning among you, to signify that you are our kindred, as the copy written below shows.

Onias welcomed honorably the man who was sent and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of alliance and friendship.

Therefore we also, even though we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,

have undertaken to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for a long time has passed since you sent your letter to us.

We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to be mindful of kindred.

Moreover, we are glad for your glory.

But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings who are around us have fought against us.

We were unwilling to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars;

for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled.

We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former alliance.

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

And now you will do well if you give us a reply.”

And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:

“Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greetings.

It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the descendants of Abraham.

Now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us of your(b) prosperity.

We moreover write on our part to you, that your livestock and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you accordingly.”

Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had returned to fight against him with a greater army than before,

so he marched away from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no opportunity to set foot in his country.

He sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were preparing to attack them at night.

But as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be armed, that all the night long they might be ready for battle. He stationed sentinels around the camp.

The adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp then withdrew.

But Jonathan and his men didn’t know it until the morning; for they saw the fires burning.

Jonathan pursued after them, but didn’t overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus.

Then Jonathan turned toward the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.

He came out from there, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.

Simon went out, and took his journey as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that were near it. Then he turned toward Joppa and took possession of it;

for he had heard that they were planning to hand over the stronghold to Demetrius’ men. He set a garrison there to guard it.

Then Jonathan returned and called the elders of the people together. He planned with them to build strongholds in Judea,

and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might be isolated, that its garrison might neither buy nor sell.

They were gathered together to build the city. Part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side fell down, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha.

Simon also built Adida in the(c) plain country, made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to crown himself, and to stretch out his hand against Antiochus the king.

He was afraid that Jonathan wouldn’t allow him, and that he would fight against him; and he sought a way to seize him, that he might destroy him. So he marched out and came to Bethshan.

Jonathan came out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.

Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, and he was afraid to stretch out his hand against him.

He received him honorably, and commended him to all his(d) friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself.

He said to Jonathan, “Why have you put all this people to so much trouble, seeing there is no war between us?

Now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers. Then I will turn around and depart; for this is why I came.”

He put his trust in him, and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah.

But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.

Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais shut the gates and seized him. They killed all those who came in with him with the sword.

Tryphon sent troops and cavalry into Galilee, and into the Great Plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men.

They perceived that he had been seized and had perished, along with those who were with him. They encouraged one another and went on their way close together, prepared to fight.

Those who followed them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again.

They all came in peace into the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan and those who were with him, and they were very afraid. All Israel mourned with a great mourning.

And all the Gentiles who were around them sought to destroy them utterly; for they said, “They have no ruler nor anyone to help them. Now therefore let’s fight against them, and take away their memory from among men.”

Fußnoten

(a)12:7 So the old Latin versions and Josephus: compare also ver. 20. All the other authorities read Dariusin this place.

(b)12:22 Gr. peace

(d)12:43 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .