1st Maccabees 13

CHAPTER 13

¹And as Simon heard, that Tryphon gathered a great host, for to come into the land of Judea, and for to destroy it,

²and saw that the people was in trembling and dread, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people;

³and admonished, and said, Ye know, how great things I, and my brethren, and the house of my father, have done, for laws, and for holy things, battles, and what manner anguishes we saw.

⁴For love, [or grace, or cause] , of these things all my brethren perished for Israel, and I alone am left.

⁵And now befall it not to me, for to spare my life [or my soul] , in all the time of tribulation; for I am no better than my brethren.

⁶Therefore I shall avenge my folk, and holy things, and our children, and wives; for all heathen men be gathered, for to destroy us, because of enmity.

⁷And the spirit of the people was kindled together, as it heard these words.

⁸And they answered with great voice, saying, Thou art our duke instead of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brothers;

⁹fight thou our battles, and all things whatever thou shalt say to us, we shall do.

¹⁰And he gathered all men fighters, and hasted for to end all the walls of Jerusalem, and [he] strengthened it in compass.

¹¹And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with him a new host, into Joppa. And when he had put [or cast] out these men that were in it, he dwelt there.

¹²And Tryphon moved from Ptole-mais, with much host, for to come into the land of Judea, and Jonathan with him in keeping.

¹³Forsooth Simon applied in or pitched at Adida, against the face of the field.

¹⁴And as Tryphon knew, that Simon rose, in the stead [or instead] of his brother Jonathan, and that he was to joining battle with him, he sent to him legates, and said,

¹⁵For silver, that thy brother Jonathan owed, in accounts of the king, we withheld him.

¹⁶And now send thou an hundred talents of silver, and his two sons as pledges or hostages , that he not dismissed flee from us, and we shall again-send him.

¹⁷And Simon knew, that with guile he spake with him. Nevertheless he commanded the silver for to be given, and children, lest he should take great enmity of the people of Israel,

¹⁸saying, For he sent not to him silver and children, therefore he Jonathan perished.

¹⁹And he sent the children, and an hundred talents. And he lied, and dismissed not Jonathan.

²⁰And after these things, Tryphon came within the country, for to destroy it. And they compassed by the way that leadeth to Adora; and Simon and his host walked into each place, whither ever they went.

²¹Soothly they that were in the high tower, sent legates or messengers to Tryphon, for to hasten to come by desert, and send to them foods.

²²And Tryphon made ready all the multitude of horsemen, for to come in that night. Soothly there was full much snow, and he came not there, but instead went into Gilead.

²³And when he nighed to Bascama, he slew Jonathan, and his sons, there.

²⁴And Tryphon turned, and went into his land.

²⁵And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his brother, and buried those [or him] in Modin, the city of his fathers.

²⁶And all Israel bewailed him with great wailing, and they bemourned him many days.

²⁷And Simon builded on the sepulchre of his father and his brethren an high building in the sight, with stones polished, or fair dighted , behind and before.

²⁸And he ordained seven small buildings, broad beneath and sharp above , one against one, to father, and mother, and four brethren.

²⁹And to these he putted about great pillars, and on the pillars armours, to everlasting mind; and beside armours ships engraved [or engraved ships] , which should be seen of men sailing in the sea.

³⁰This is the sepulchre that Simon made in Modin, till into this day.

³¹Forsooth when Tryphon made way with Antiochus, the young king, in guile he slew him,

³²and reigned in his stead; and [he] putted on him the diadem of Asia, and made great vengeance in the land.

³³And Simon builded strengths of Judea, and warded them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and locks; and putted foods in strengthenings.

³⁴And Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius, that he should make remission to the country, for all [the] deeds of Tryphon were done by ravishing.

³⁵And king Demetrius answered to him to these words, and wrote such an epistle.

³⁶King Demetrius to Simon, highest priest, and friend of kings, and to the elder men, and folk of Jews, health.

³⁷We received the golden crown, and baheu, that is, an ornament of the neck, made with gold rings , which ye sent, and be ready for to make with you great peace, and for to write to provosts of the king, for to release to you what things we forgave;

³⁸for whatever things we ordain to you, be stable. The strengths that ye builded, be to you;

³⁹and we forgive ignorances and sins, till into this day, and the crown tax that ye owe; and if any other thing was tributary, either bound to tribute , in Jerusalem, now be it not tributary.

⁴⁰And if any of you be able for to be written together among our men, be they written together, and peace be betwixt us.

⁴¹In the hundred year and seventieth, the yoke of heathen men was taken away from Israel.

⁴²And the people began to write in tables, and common [or open] doings, in the first year under Simon, highest priest, great duke, and prince of Jews.

⁴³In those days Simon applied to or pitched at Gazara, and environed it with tents, either men of arms , and made engines, and applied to or set them by the city, and smote one tower [or a tower] , and took it.

⁴⁴And they that brake out, were within the engine in the city, and great stirring was made in the city.

⁴⁵And they went up, that were in the city, with their wives, and sons, on the walls, with their coats cut, and cried with great voice, asking of Simon that right hands be given to them,

⁴⁶and said, Yield thou not to us by [or after] our malices, but by [or after] thy mercies, and we shall serve to thee.

⁴⁷And Simon was bowed, either folded , and fought not against them; nevertheless he casted them out of the city, and cleansed fully the houses in which were simulacra, and then he entered into it with hymns, and blessed the Lord.

⁴⁸And when all uncleanness was cast out thereof, he setted therein men, that should do the law; and he strengthened it, and made an habitation to him.

⁴⁹Forsooth they that were in the high tower of Jerusalem, were forbidden for to go out and go in, into the country, and buy, and sell; and they hungered greatly, and many of them perished for hunger.

⁵⁰And they cried to Simon, for to take right hands, and he gave to them; and he casted out them from thence, and cleansed the high tower from defoulings.

⁵¹And they entered into it in the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the hundred and one and seventy year, with praising, and branches of palms, and instruments of music, either gitterns , and cymbals, and harps, [or psalteries] , and hymns, and songs, for the great enemy of Israel was all-broken.

⁵²And he ordained, that in all years these days should be done with gladness. And he strengthened the hill of the temple, that was beside the high tower, and dwelt there, he, and they that were with him.

⁵³And Simon saw John, his son, that he was a man of battle, and he putted him duke of all virtues, that is, warriors, or hosts , and he dwelt in Gazara.