1 Maccabees 11

1 Καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου ἤθροισε δυνάμεις πολλὰς, ὡς τὴν ἄμμον τὴν περὶ τὸ χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ πλοῖα πολλά· καὶ ἐζήτησε κατακρατῆσαι τῆς βασιλείας Ἀλεξάνδρου δόλῳ, καὶ προσθεῖναι αὐτὴν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὑτοῦ.

2 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς Συρίαν λόγοις εἰρηνικοῖς, καὶ ἤνοιγον αὐτῷ οἱ ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων, καὶ συνήντων αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἐντολὴ ἦν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως συναντᾷν αὐτῷ, διὰ τὸ πενθερὸν αὐτοῦ εἶναι,

3 Ὡς δὲ εἰσεπορεύετο εἰς τὰς πόλεις Πτολεμαῖος, ἀπέτασσε τὰς δυνάμεις φρουρὰν ἐν ἑκάστῃ πόλει.

4 Ὡς δὲ ἤγγισεν Ἀζώτου, ἔδειξαν αὐτῷ τὸ ἱερὸν Δαγὼν ἐμπεπυρισμένον, καὶ Ἄζωτον, καὶ τὰ περιπόλια αὐτῆς καθῃρημένα, καὶ τὰ σώματα ἐῤῥιμμένα, καὶ τοὺς ἐμπεπυρισμένους οὓς ἐνεπύρισεν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ· ἐποίησαν γὰρ θημωνίας αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ.

5 Καὶ διηγήσαντο τῷ βασιλεῖ ἃ ἐποίησεν Ἰωνάθαν, εἰς τὸ ψογῆσαι αὐτόν· καὶ ἐσίγησεν ὁ βασιλεύς.

6 Καὶ συνήντησεν Ἰωνάθαν τῷ βασιλεῖ εἰς Ἰόππην μετὰ δόξης, καὶ ἠσπάσαντο ἀλλήλους, καὶ ἐκοιμήθησαν ἐκεῖ.

7 Καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἰωνάθαν μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ καλουμένου Ἐλευθέρου, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

8 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Πτολεμαῖος ἐκυρίευσε τῶν πόλεων τῆς παραλίας ἕως Σελευκίας τῆς παραθαλασσίας, καὶ διελογίζετο περὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου λογισμοὺς πονηρούς.

9 Καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρέσβεις πρὸς Δημήτριον τὸν βασιλέα, λέγων, δεῦρο συνθώμεθα πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς διαθήκην, καὶ δώσω σοι τὴν θυγατέρα μου ἣν ἔχει Ἀλέξανδρος, καὶ βασιλεύσεις τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ πατρός σου.

10 Μεταμεμέλημαι γὰρ δοὺς αὐτῷ τὴν θυγατέρα μου, ἐζήτησε γὰρ ἀποκτεῖναί με.

11 Καὶ ἐψόγησεν αὐτὸν χάριν τοῦ ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτὸν τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ·

12 Καὶ ἀφελόμενος αὐτοῦ τὴν θυγατέρα, ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ Δημητρίῳ, καὶ ἠλλοιώθη τοῦ Ἀλεξάνδρου, καὶ ἐφάνη ἡ ἔχθρα αὐτῶν.

13 Καὶ εἰσῆλθε Πτολεμαῖος εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ περιέθετο δύο διαδήματα περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, τὸ τῆς Ἀσίας καὶ Αἰγύπτου.

14 Ἀλέξανδρος δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἦν ἐν Κιλικίᾳ κατὰ τοὺς καιροὺς ἐκείνους, ὅτι ἀπεστάτουν οἱ ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων ἐκείνων.

15 Καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἀλέξανδρος, καὶ ἦλθεν ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πολέμῳ· καὶ ἐξήγαγε Πτολεμαῖος τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἐν χειρὶ ἰσχυρᾷ, καὶ ἐτροπώσατο αὐτόν.

16 Καὶ ἔφυγεν Ἀλέξανδρος εἰς τὴν Ἀραβίαν, τοῦ σκεπασθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ· ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Πτολεμαῖος ὑψώθη.

17 Καὶ ἀφειλε Ζαβδιὴλ ὁ Ἄραψ τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου, καὶ ἀπέστειλε τῷ Πτολεμαίῳ.

18 Καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Πτολεμαῖος ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, καὶ οἱ ὄντες ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασιν ἀπώλοντο ὑπὸ τῶν ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασι.

19 Καὶ ἐβασίλευσε Δημήτριος ἔτους ἑβδόμου καὶ ἑξηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ.

20 Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις συνήγαγεν Ἰωνάθαν τοὺς ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, τοῦ ἐκπολεμῆσαι τὴν ἄκραν τὴν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν μηχανὰς πολλάς.

21 Καὶ ἐπορεύθησάν τινες μισοῦντες τὸ ἔθνος αὐτῶν, ἄνδρες παράνομοι, πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ ὅτι Ἰωνάθαν περικάθηται τὴν ἄκραν.

22 Καὶ ἀκούσας ὠργίσθη· ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν, εὐθέως ἀναζεύξας ἦλθεν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ ἔγραψεν Ἰωνάθαν, τοῦ μὴ περικαθῆσθαι τῇ ἄκρᾳ, καὶ τοῦ ἀπαντῆσαι αὐτὸν αὐτῷ συνμίσγειν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα τὴν ταχίστην.

23 Ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν Ἰωνάθαν, ἐκέλευσε περικαθῆσθαι, καὶ ἐπέλεξε τῶν πρεσβυτέρων Ἰσραὴλ καὶ τῶν ἱερέων, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν τῷ κινδύνῳ.

24 Καὶ λαβὼν ἀργύριον, καὶ χρυσίον, καὶ ἱματισμὸν, καὶ ἕτερα ξένια πλείονα, ἐπορεύθη πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ εὗρε χάριν ἑνώτιον αὐτοῦ.

25 Καὶ ἐνετύγχανον κατʼ αὐτοῦ τινὲς ἄνομοι τῆς ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους.

26 Καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεὺς καθὼς ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ οἱ πρὸ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὕψωσεν αὐτὸν ἐναντίον πάντων τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ.

27 Καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτῷ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην, καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα εἶχε τίμια τοπρότερον, καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν τῶν πρώτων φίλων ἡγεῖσθαι.

28 Καὶ ἠξίωσεν Ἰωνάθαν τὸν βασιλέα ποιῆσαι τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἀφορολόγητον, καὶ τὰς τρεῖς τοπαρχίας, καὶ τὴν Σαμαρεῖτιν, καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο αὐτῷ τάλαντα τριακόσια.

29 Καὶ εὐδόκησεν ὁ βασιλεύς, καὶ ἔγραψε τῷ Ἰωνάθαν ἐπιστολὰς περὶ πάντων τούτων ἐχούσας τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον·

30 Βασιλεὺς Δημήτριος Ἰωνάθαν τῷ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν, καὶ ἔθνει Ἰουδαίων.

31 Τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῆς ἐπιστολῆς ἧς ἐγράψαμεν Λασθένει τῷ συγγενεῖ ἡμῶν περὶ ὑμῶν, γεγράφαμεν καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς. ὅπως εἰδῆτε.

32 Βασιλεὺς Δημήτριος Λασθένει τῷ πατρὶ χαίρειν.

33 Τῷ ἔθνει τῶν Ἰουδαίων φίλοις ἡμῶν καὶ συντηροῦσι τὰ πρὸς ἡμᾶς δίκαια ἐκρίναμεν ἀγαθοποιῆσαι, χάριν τῆς ἑξ αὐτῶν εὐνοίας πρὸς ἡμᾶς.

34 Ἑστάκαμεν οὖν αὐτοῖς τὰ τε ὅρια τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοὺς τρεῖς νομοὺς, Ἀφαίρεμα, καὶ Λύδδαν, καὶ Ῥαμαθὲμ, αἵτινες προσετέθησαν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἀπὸ τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος, καὶ πάντα τὰ συγκυροῦντα αὐτοῖς πᾶσι τοῖς θυσιάζουσιν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ἀντὶ τῶν βασιλικῶν ὧν ἐλάμβανεν ὁ βασιλεὺς παρʼ αὐτῶν τοπρότερον κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν γεννημάτων τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀκροδρύων.

35 Καὶ τὰ ἄλλα τὰ ἀνήκοντα ἡμῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν τῶν δεκατῶν, καὶ τῶν τελῶν τῶν ἀνηκόντων ἡμῖν, καὶ τὰς τοῦ ἁλὸς λίμνας, καὶ τοὺς ἀνήκοντας ἡμῖν στεφάνους, πάντα ἐπαρκῶς παρίεμεν αὐτοῖς.

36 Καὶ οὐκ ἀθετηθήσεται οὐδὲ ἓν τούτων ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον.

37 Νῦν οὖν ἐπιμέλεσθε τοῦ ποιῆσαι τούτων ἀντίγραφον· καὶ δοθήτω Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ τεθήτω ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ ἁγίῳ ἐν τόπῳ ἐπισήμῳ.

38 Καὶ εἶδε Δημήτριος ὁ βασιλεὺς ὅτι ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ ἀνθειστήκει, καὶ ἀπέλυσε πάσας τὰς δύναμεις αὐτοῦ ἕκαστον εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον, πλὴν τῶν ξένων δυνάμεων ὧν ἐξενολόγησεν ἀπὸ τῶν νήσων τῶν ἐθνῶν· καὶ ἤχθραναν αὐτῷ πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.

39 Τρύφων δὲ ἦν τῶν παρὰ Ἀλεξάνδρου τοπρότερον, καὶ εἶδεν ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις καταγογγύζουσι τοῦ Δημητρίου, καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Εἰμαλκουαὶ τὸν Ἄραβα, ὃς ἔτρεφε τὸν Ἀντίοχον τὸ παιδάριον τὸ τοῦ Ἀλεξάνδρου·

40 καὶ προσήδρευεν αὐτῷ, ὅπως παραδοῖ αὐτὸν αὐτῷ, ὅπως βασιλεύσῃ ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ ὅσα συνετέλεσε Δημήτριος, καὶ τὴν ἔχθραν ἣν ἐχθραίνουσιν αὐτῷ αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας πολλάς.

41 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰωνάθαν πρὸς Δημήτριον τὸν βασιλέα, ἵνα ἐκβάλῃ τοὺς ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ τοὺς ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασιν, ἦσαν γὰρ πολεμοῦντες τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

42 Καὶ ἀπέστειλε Δημήτριος πρὸς Ἰωνάθαν, λέγων, οὐ μόνον ταῦτα ποιήσω σοι καὶ τῷ ἔθνει σου, ἀλλὰ δόξῃ δοξάσω σε καὶ τὸ ἔθνος σου, ἐὰν εὐκαιρίας τύχω.

43 Νῦν οὖν ὀρθῶς ποιήσεις ἀποστείλας μοι ἄνδρας οἳ συμμαχήσουσιν, ὅτι ἀπέστησαν πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις μου.

44 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰωνάθαν ἄνδρας τρισχιλίους δυνατοὺς ἰσχύϊ αὐτῷ εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ εὐφράνθη ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ τῇ ἐφόδῳ αὐτῶν.

45 Καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως εἰς μέσον τῆς πόλεως εἰς ἀνδρῶν δώδεκα μυριάδας, καὶ ἠβούλοντο ἀνελεῖν τὸν βασιλέα.

46 Καὶ ἔφυγεν ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν, καὶ κατελάβοντο οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως τὰς διόδους τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἤρξαντο πολεμεῖν.

47 Καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἐπὶ βοήθειαν, καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντες ἅμα· καὶ διεσπάρησαν ἐν τῇ πόλει πάντες ἅμα· καὶ ἀπέκτειναν ἐν τῇ πόλει τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ εἰς μυριάδας δέκα.

48 Καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἐλάβοσαν σκῦλα πολλὰ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ ἔσωσαν τὸν βασιλέα.

49 Καὶ ἴδον οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ὅτι κατεκράτησαν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῆς πόλεως, ὡς ἠβούλοντο, καὶ ἠσθένησαν ταῖς διανοίαις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα μετὰ δεήσεως, λέγοντες,

50 δὸς ἡμῖν δεξιὰς, καὶ παυσάσθωσαν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι πολεμοῦντες ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν πόλιν.

51 Καὶ ἔῤῥιψαν τὰ ὅπλα, καὶ ἐποίησαν εἰρήνην· καὶ ἐδοξάσθησαν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐναντίον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔχοντες σκῦλα πολλά.

52 Καὶ ἐκάθισε Δημήτριος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ θρόνου τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.

53 Καὶ ἐψεύσατο πάντα ὅσα εἶπε, καὶ ἠλλοτριώθη τῷ Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ οὐκ ἀνταπέδωκε κατὰ τὰς εὐνοίας ἃς ἀνταπέδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔθλιβεν αὐτὸν σφόδρα.

54 Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἀπέστρεψε Τρύφων καὶ Ἀντίοχος μετʼ αὐτοῦ παιδάριον νεώτερον· καὶ ἐβασίλευσε καὶ ἐπέθετο διάδημα.

55 Καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις ἃς ἀπεσκόρπισε Δημήτριος, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔφυγε καὶ ἐτροπώθη.

56 Καὶ ἔλαβε Τρύφων τὰ θηρία, καὶ κατεκράτησεν Ἀντιοχείας

57 Καὶ ἔγραψεν Ἀντίοχος ὁ νεώτερος τῷ Ἰωνάθαν, λέγων. ἵστημί σοι τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην, καὶ καθίστημί σε ἐπὶ τῶν τεσσάρων νομῶν, καὶ εἶναί σε τῶν φίλων τοῦ βασιλέως.

58 Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ χρυσώματα καὶ διακονίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πίνειν ἐν χρυσώμασι, καὶ εἶναι ἐν πορφύρᾳ, καὶ ἔχειν πόρπην χρυσῆν.

59 Καὶ Σίμωνα τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ κατέστησε στρατηγὸν ἀπὸ τῆς κλίμακος Τύρου ἕως τῶν ὁρίων Αἰγύπτου.

60 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ διεπορεύετο πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, καὶ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι, καὶ ἠθροίσθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις Συρίας εἰς συμμαχίαν, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ἀσκάλωνα, καὶ ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐνδόξως.

61 Καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν εἰς Γάζαν, καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν οἱ ἀπὸ Γάζης, καὶ περιεκάθισε περὶ αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐνεπύρισε τὰ περιπόλια αὐτῆς πυρὶ, καὶ ἐσκύλευσεν αὐτά.

62 Καὶ ἠξίωσαν οἱ ἀπὸ Γάζης τὸν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς δεξιάς, καὶ ἔλαβε τοὺς υἱοὺς ἀρχόντων αὐτῶν εἰς ὅμηρα, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ διῆλθε τὴν χώραν ἕως Δαμασκοῦ.

63 Καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰωνάθαν ὅτι παρῆσαν οἱ ἄρχοντες Δημητρίου εἰς Κάδης τὴν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς, βουλόμενοι μεταστῆσαι αὐτὸν τῆς χρείας.

64 Καὶ συνήντησεν αὐτοῖς, τὸν δὲ ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ Σίμωνα κατέλιπεν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ.

65 Καὶ παρενέβαλε Σίμων ἐπὶ Βαιθσούρα, καὶ ἐπολέμει αὐτὴν ἡμέρας πολλὰς, καὶ συνέκλεισεν αὐτήν.

66 Καὶ ἠξίωσαν αὐτὸν τοῦ δεξιὰς λαβεῖν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ κατελάβετο τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἔθετο ἐπʼ αὐτῇ φρουράν.

67 Καὶ Ἰωνάθαν καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ Γεννησάρ, καὶ ὤρθρισαν τοπρωῒ εἰς τὸ πεδίον Νασώρ.

68 Καὶ ἰδοὺ παρεμβολὴ ἀλλοφύλων ἀπήντα αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ, καὶ ἐξέβαλον ἔνεδρον ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν, αὐτοὶ δὲ ἀπήντησαν ἐξεναντίας.

69 Τὰ δὲ ἔνεδρα ἐξανέστησαν ἐκ τῶν τόπων αὐτῶν, καὶ συνῆψαν πόλεμον· καὶ ἔφυγον οἱ παρὰ Ἰωνάθαν πάντες,

70 οὐδὲ εἷς κατελείφθη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, πλὴν Ματταθίας ὁ τοῦ Ἀβεσσαλώμου, καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ τοῦ Χαλφί, ἄρχοντες τῆς στρατιᾶς τῶν δυνάμεων.

71 Καὶ διέῤῥηξεν Ἰωνάθαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπέθηκε γῆν ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσηύξατο.

72 Καὶ ὑπέστρεψε πρὸς αὐτοὺς πολέμῳ, καὶ ἐτροπώσατο αὐτούς, καὶ ἔφυγον.

73 Καὶ ἴδον οἱ φεύγοντες οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδίωκον μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἕως Κάδης ἕως της παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν, καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐκεῖ.

74 Καὶ ἔπεσον ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα ἐκείνῃ εἰς ἄνδρας τρισχιλίους· καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωνάθαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

1 And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to his own.

2 Whereupon he took his journey into Syria in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his father in law.

3 Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.

4 And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed 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.

5 Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.

6 Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppe, where they saluted one another, and lodged.

7 Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.

8 King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.

9 Whereupon he sent ambassadors unto king Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father's kingdom:

10 for I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.

11 Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.

12 Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.

13 Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.

14 In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.

15 But 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.

16 So Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:

17 for Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.

18 King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.

19 By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year.

20 At 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.

21 Then certain ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower.

22 Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste.

23 Nevertheless 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;

24 and took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found favour in his sight.

25 And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him,

26 yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,

27 and confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him pre-eminence among his chief friends.

28 Then 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.

29 So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:

30 King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:

31 We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.

32 King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:

33 We 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.

34 Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining unto 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.

35 And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.

36 And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.

37 Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.

38 After 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: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.

39 Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian, that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,

40 and 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.

41 In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.

42 So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if opportunity serve.

43 Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.

44 Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of their coming.

45 Howbeit 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.

46 Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.

47 Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came unto him all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.

48 Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day, and delivered the king.

49 So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,

50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the city.

51 With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the Jews were honoured 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.

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

53 Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.

54 After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.

55 Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.

56 Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.

57 At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.

58 Upon 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.

59 His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.

60 Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably.

61 From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.

62 Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto 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 unto Damascus.

63 Now 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,

64 he went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country.

65 Then Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:

66 but 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.

67 As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor.

68 And, 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.

69 So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side fled;

70 insomuch 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.

71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.

72 Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.

73 Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto their own tents, and there they camped.

74 So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.