Maccabees 1 11
1And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lies upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to his own.
2Whereupon he took his journey into Syria in peaceful manner, so as they of the cities opened to him, and met him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law.
3Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
4And when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass.
5Also they told the king whatever Jonathan had done, to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.
6Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where they saluted one another, and lodged.
7Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.
8King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea to Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.
9Whereupon he sent ambassadors to king Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league between us, and I will give you my daughter whom Alexander has, and you shall reign in your father's kingdom:
10For I repent that I gave my daughter to him, for he sought to kill me.
11Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.
12Therefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.
13Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.
14In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those that lived in those parts had revolted from him.
15But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him: whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.
16So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:
17For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it to Ptolemee.
18King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.
19By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year.
20At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.
21Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went to the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,
22Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan, that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste.
23Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;
24And took silver and gold, and raiment, and various presents besides, and went to Ptolemais to the king, where he found favor in his sight.
25And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him,
26Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
27And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.
28Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.
29So the king consented, and wrote letters to Jonathan of all these things after this manner:
30King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, sends greeting:
31We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write to our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that you might see it.
32King Demetrius to his father Lasthenes sends greeting:
33We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.
34Therefore we have ratified to them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining to them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.
35And as for other things that belong to us, of the tithes and customs pertaining to us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due to us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.
36And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.
37Now therefore see that you make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered to Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.
38After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: therefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.
39Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part before, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,
40And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father's stead: he told him therefore all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.
41In the mean time Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.
42So Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for you and your people, but I will greatly honor you and your nation, if opportunity serve.
43Now therefore you shall do well, if you send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.
44Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men to Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of their coming.
45Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king.
46Therefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
47Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came to him all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city killed that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.
48Also they set fire on the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
49So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: therefore they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,
50Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the city.
51With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the Jews were honored in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to Jerusalem, having great spoils.
52So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.
53Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spoke, and estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.
54After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
55Then there gathered to him all the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.
56Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.
57At that time young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, I confirm you in the high priesthood, and appoint you ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
58Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.
59His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus to the borders of Egypt.
60Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honorably.
61From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; therefore he laid siege to it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.
62Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country to Damascus.
63Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him out of the country,
64He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country.
65Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:
66But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in it.
67As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they got them to the plain of Nasor.
68And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him.
69So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side fled;
70Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.
71Then Jonathan tore his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
72Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.
73Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again to him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even to their own tents, and there they camped.
74So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.
Commentaries for Maccabees 1 11:0