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Day 149 of 365

about 17 minutes

1 Maccabees 12-13

1 Maccabees Chapter 12

¹Jonathan 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. ²He also sent similar letters to the Spartans, and to other places. ³They 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.” ⁴They 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. ⁵This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: ⁶“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. ⁷Even before this time letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you are our kindred, as the copy written below shows. ⁸Onias welcomed honorably the man who was sent and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of alliance and friendship. ⁹Therefore we also, even though we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, ¹⁰have 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. ¹¹We 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. ¹²Moreover, we are glad for your glory. ¹³But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings who are around us have fought against us. ¹⁴We were unwilling to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars; ¹⁵for 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. ¹⁶We 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. ¹⁷We 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. ¹⁸And now you will do well if you give us a reply.” ¹⁹And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias: ²⁰“Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greetings. ²¹It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the descendants of Abraham. ²²Now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us of your prosperity. ²³We 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.” ²⁴Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had returned to fight against him with a greater army than before, ²⁵so 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. ²⁶He sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were preparing to attack them at night. ²⁷But 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. ²⁸The 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. ²⁹But Jonathan and his men didn’t know it until the morning; for they saw the fires burning. ³⁰Jonathan pursued after them, but didn’t overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus. ³¹Then Jonathan turned toward the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils. ³²He came out from there, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country. ³³Simon 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; ³⁴for he had heard that they were planning to hand over the stronghold to Demetrius’ men. He set a garrison there to guard it. ³⁵Then Jonathan returned and called the elders of the people together. He planned with them to build strongholds in Judea, ³⁶and 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. ³⁷They were gathered together to build the city. Part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side had fallen down, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha. ³⁸Simon also built Adida in the plain country, made it strong, and set up gates and bars. ³⁹And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to crown himself, and to stretch out his hand against Antiochus the king. ⁴⁰He 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. ⁴¹Jonathan came out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan. ⁴²Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, and he was afraid to stretch out his hand against him. ⁴³He received him honorably, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself. ⁴⁴He said to Jonathan, “Why have you put all these people to so much trouble, seeing there is no war between us? ⁴⁵Now 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.” ⁴⁶He put his trust in him, and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah. ⁴⁷But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him. ⁴⁸Now 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. ⁴⁹Tryphon sent troops and cavalry into Galilee, and into the Great Plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men. ⁵⁰They 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. ⁵¹Those who followed them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again. ⁵²They 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. ⁵³And 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.”

1: 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.

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

3: 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.”

4: 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.

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

6: “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.

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

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

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

10: 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.

11: 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.

12: Moreover, we are glad for your glory.

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

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

15: 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.

16: 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.

17: 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.

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

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

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

21: 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.

22: Now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us of your prosperity.

23: 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.”

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

25: 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.

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

27: 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.

28: 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.

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

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

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

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

33: 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;

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

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

36: 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.

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

38: Simon also built Adida in the plain country, made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

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

40: 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.

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

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

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

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

45: 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.”

46: 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.

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

48: 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.

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

50: 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.

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

52: 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.

53: 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.”

1 Maccabees Chapter 13

¹Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a mighty army to come into the land of Judah and destroy it utterly. ²He saw that the people were trembling in great fear. So he went up to Jerusalem and gathered the people together. ³He encouraged them, and said to them, “You yourselves know all the things that I, my kindred, and my father’s house have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we have seen. ⁴Because of this, all my brothers have perished for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone. ⁵Now be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction, for I am not better than my kindred. ⁶However, I will take vengeance for my nation, for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children, because all the Gentiles have gathered out of hatred to destroy us.” ⁷The spirit of the people revived as soon as they heard these words. ⁸They answered with a loud voice, saying, “You are our leader in the place of Judas and Jonathan your brothers. ⁹Fight our battles, and we will do all that you tell us to do.” ¹⁰He gathered together all the men of war, and hurried to finish the walls of Jerusalem. He fortified it all around. ¹¹He sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great army, to Joppa. He threw out those who were in it, and lived there. ¹²Tryphon left Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard. ¹³But Simon encamped at Adida, near the plain. ¹⁴Tryphon knew that Simon had risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, so he sent ambassadors to him, saying, ¹⁵“It is for money which Jonathan your brother owed to the king’s treasury, by reason of the offices which he had, that we are detaining him. ¹⁶Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages, so that when he is released he may not revolt against us, and we will release him.” ¹⁷Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, but he sent to get the money and the children, lest perhaps he would arouse great hostility among the people, ¹⁸who might say, “Because I didn’t send him the money and the children, he perished.” ¹⁹So he sent the children and the hundred talents, but Tryphon lied, and didn’t release Jonathan. ²⁰After this, Tryphon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he went around by the way that leads to Adora. Simon and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went. ²¹Now the people of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors, urging him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food. ²²So Tryphon prepared all his cavalry to come, but on that night a very heavy snow fell, and he didn’t come because of the snow. He marched off and went into the land of Gilead. ²³When he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there. ²⁴Then Tryphon turned back, and went away into his own land. ²⁵Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers. ²⁶All Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days. ²⁷Simon built a monument on the tomb of his father and his kindred, and raised it high so that it could be seen, with polished stone on the front and back. ²⁸He also set up seven pyramids, one near another, for his father, his mother, and his four brothers. ²⁹For these, he made an elaborate setting, erecting great pillars around them, and upon the pillars he made suits of armor for a perpetual memorial, and beside the suits of armor, he carved ships, so that they could be seen by all who sail on the sea. ³⁰This is the tomb which he made at Modin. It remains to this day. ³¹Now Tryphon deceived the young King Antiochus and killed him, ³²and reigned in his place. He put on himself the crown of Asia and brought a great calamity upon the land. ³³Simon built up the strongholds of Judea, and walled them all around with high towers, great walls, gates, and bars; and he stored food in the strongholds. ³⁴Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius with a request that he grant the country an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder. ³⁵King Demetrius sent to him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter to him, as follows: ³⁶“King Demetrius to Simon the high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greetings. ³⁷The golden crown and the palm branch, which you sent, we have received. We are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers to release you from tribute. ³⁸Whatever things we confirmed to you, they are confirmed. The strongholds, which you have built, let them be your own. ³⁹As for any oversights and faults committed to this day, we forgive them, and the crown tax which you owed us. If there were any other tax collected in Jerusalem, let it be collected no longer. ⁴⁰If any among you are qualified to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.” ⁴¹In the one hundred seventieth year, the yoke of the Gentiles was taken away from Israel. ⁴²The people began to write in their instruments and contracts, “In the first year of Simon, the great high priest and captain and leader of the Jews.” ⁴³In those days Simon encamped against Gazara, and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege engine, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and captured it. ⁴⁴Those who were in the engine leaped out into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city. ⁴⁵The people of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, asking Simon to give them his right hand. ⁴⁶They said, “Don’t deal with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.” ⁴⁷So Simon was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them; but he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses where the idols were, and then entered into it with singing and giving praise. ⁴⁸He removed all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it men who would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built a dwelling place for himself in it. ⁴⁹But the people of the citadel in Jerusalem were hindered from going out and from going into the country, and from buying and selling. So they were very hungry, and a great number of them perished from famine. ⁵⁰Then they cried out to Simon, that he should give them his right hand; and he gave it to them; but he expelled them from there, and he cleansed the citadel from its pollutions. ⁵¹He entered into it on the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventy-first year, with praise and palm branches, with harps, with cymbals, and with stringed instruments, with hymns, and with songs, because a great enemy had been destroyed out of Israel. ⁵²Simon ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. He made the hill of the temple that was by the citadel stronger than before, and he lived there with his men. ⁵³Simon saw that his son John was a man, so he made him leader of all his forces; and he lived in Gazara.

1: Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a mighty army to come into the land of Judah and destroy it utterly.

2: He saw that the people were trembling in great fear. So he went up to Jerusalem and gathered the people together.

3: He encouraged them, and said to them, “You yourselves know all the things that I, my kindred, and my father’s house have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we have seen.

4: Because of this, all my brothers have perished for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.

5: Now be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction, for I am not better than my kindred.

6: However, I will take vengeance for my nation, for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children, because all the Gentiles have gathered out of hatred to destroy us.”

7: The spirit of the people revived as soon as they heard these words.

8: They answered with a loud voice, saying, “You are our leader in the place of Judas and Jonathan your brothers.

9: Fight our battles, and we will do all that you tell us to do.”

10: He gathered together all the men of war, and hurried to finish the walls of Jerusalem. He fortified it all around.

11: He sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great army, to Joppa. He threw out those who were in it, and lived there.

12: Tryphon left Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard.

13: But Simon encamped at Adida, near the plain.

14: Tryphon knew that Simon had risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, so he sent ambassadors to him, saying,

15: “It is for money which Jonathan your brother owed to the king’s treasury, by reason of the offices which he had, that we are detaining him.

16: Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages, so that when he is released he may not revolt against us, and we will release him.”

17: Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, but he sent to get the money and the children, lest perhaps he would arouse great hostility among the people,

18: who might say, “Because I didn’t send him the money and the children, he perished.”

19: So he sent the children and the hundred talents, but Tryphon lied, and didn’t release Jonathan.

20: After this, Tryphon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he went around by the way that leads to Adora. Simon and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went.

21: Now the people of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors, urging him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food.

22: So Tryphon prepared all his cavalry to come, but on that night a very heavy snow fell, and he didn’t come because of the snow. He marched off and went into the land of Gilead.

23: When he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there.

24: Then Tryphon turned back, and went away into his own land.

25: Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers.

26: All Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days.

27: Simon built a monument on the tomb of his father and his kindred, and raised it high so that it could be seen, with polished stone on the front and back.

28: He also set up seven pyramids, one near another, for his father, his mother, and his four brothers.

29: For these, he made an elaborate setting, erecting great pillars around them, and upon the pillars he made suits of armor for a perpetual memorial, and beside the suits of armor, he carved ships, so that they could be seen by all who sail on the sea.

30: This is the tomb which he made at Modin. It remains to this day.

31: Now Tryphon deceived the young King Antiochus and killed him,

32: and reigned in his place. He put on himself the crown of Asia and brought a great calamity upon the land.

33: Simon built up the strongholds of Judea, and walled them all around with high towers, great walls, gates, and bars; and he stored food in the strongholds.

34: Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius with a request that he grant the country an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder.

35: King Demetrius sent to him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter to him, as follows:

36: “King Demetrius to Simon the high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greetings.

37: The golden crown and the palm branch, which you sent, we have received. We are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers to release you from tribute.

38: Whatever things we confirmed to you, they are confirmed. The strongholds, which you have built, let them be your own.

39: As for any oversights and faults committed to this day, we forgive them, and the crown tax which you owed us. If there were any other tax collected in Jerusalem, let it be collected no longer.

40: If any among you are qualified to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.”

41: In the one hundred seventieth year, the yoke of the Gentiles was taken away from Israel.

42: The people began to write in their instruments and contracts, “In the first year of Simon, the great high priest and captain and leader of the Jews.”

43: In those days Simon encamped against Gazara, and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege engine, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and captured it.

44: Those who were in the engine leaped out into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city.

45: The people of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, asking Simon to give them his right hand.

46: They said, “Don’t deal with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.”

47: So Simon was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them; but he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses where the idols were, and then entered into it with singing and giving praise.

48: He removed all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it men who would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built a dwelling place for himself in it.

49: But the people of the citadel in Jerusalem were hindered from going out and from going into the country, and from buying and selling. So they were very hungry, and a great number of them perished from famine.

50: Then they cried out to Simon, that he should give them his right hand; and he gave it to them; but he expelled them from there, and he cleansed the citadel from its pollutions.

51: He entered into it on the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventy-first year, with praise and palm branches, with harps, with cymbals, and with stringed instruments, with hymns, and with songs, because a great enemy had been destroyed out of Israel.

52: Simon ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. He made the hill of the temple that was by the citadel stronger than before, and he lived there with his men.

53: Simon saw that his son John was a man, so he made him leader of all his forces; and he lived in Gazara.

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Scripture text: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (WEBC) — public domain

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