1 In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by means wher he reigned there,
2 Now when king Demetrius heard ther, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.
3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.
6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.
7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower:
8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.
9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.
11 And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for fortification; and they did so.
12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;
13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.
14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.
15 Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,
16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,
18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:
19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king's friend; (and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.
21 So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.
22 Wher when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,
23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.
25 He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
26 Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard her, and are glad.
27 Wherefore now continue ye still to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye do in our behalf,
28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29 And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,
30 And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three governments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.
31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders ther, both from tenths and tributes.
32 And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and give the high priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.
33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their cattle.
34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.
35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 I will further, that there be enrolled among the king's forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay shall be given, as belongeth to all king's forces.
37 And of them some shall be placed in the king's strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and I will that their overseers and governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.
38 And concerning the three governments that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority than the high priest's.
39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expences of the sanctuary.
40 Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king's accounts from the places appertaining.
41 And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the temple.
42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year by year, even those things shall be released, because they appertain to the priests that minister.
43 And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties her, being indebted unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm.
44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king's accounts.
45 Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying ther round about, expences shall be given out of the king's accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.
46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them very sore.
47 But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the first that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate with him always.
48 Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49 And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius' host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.
50 And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.
51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:
52 Forasmuch as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have gotten the dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country;
53 For after I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so that we sit in the throne of his kingdom:
54 Now therefore let us make a league of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife: and I will be thy son in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.
55 Then Ptolemee the king gave answer, saying, Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom.
56 And now will I do to thee, as thou hast written: meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.
57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:
58 Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory, as the manner of kings is.
59 Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.
60 Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.
61 At that time certain pestilent fellows of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: but the king would not hear them.
62 Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.
63 And he made him sit by himself, and said into his princes, Go with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause.
64 Now when his accusers saw that he was honored according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.
65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 Furthermore in the; hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:
68 Wher when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.
69 Then Demetrius made Apollonius the governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host, and camped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,
70 Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?
71 Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together: for with me is the power of the cities.
72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to to flight in their own land.
73 Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.
74 So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him.
75 And he pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.
76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77 Wher when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen, with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew him forth into the plain. because he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.
78 Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.
80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from morning till evening.
81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies' horses were tired.
82 Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were discomfited by him, and fled.
83 The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple, for safety.
84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.
85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.
86 And from thence Jonathan removed his host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came forth, and met him with great pomp.
87 After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 Now when king ALexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 And sent him a buckle of gold, as the use is to be given to such as are of the king's blood: he gave him also Accaron with the borders ther in possession.
1 Et anno centesimo sexagesimo, ascendit Alexander Antiochi filius, qui cognominatus est Nobilis, et occupavit Ptolemaidam: et receperunt eum, et regnavit illic.
2 Et audivit Demetrius rex, et congregavit exercitum copiosum valde, et exivit obviam illi in prlium.
3 Et misit Demetrius epistolam ad Jonathan verbis pacificis, ut magnificaret eum.
4 Dixit enim: Anticipemus facere pacem cum eo, priusquam faciat cum Alexandro adversum nos:
5 recordabitur enim omnium malorum, qu fecimus in eum, et in fratrem ejus, et in gentem ejus.
6 Et dedit ei potestatem congregandi exercitum, et fabricare arma, et esse ipsum socium ejus: et obsides, qui erant in arce, jussit tradi ei.
7 Et venit Jonathas in Jerusalem, et legit epistolas in auditu omnis populi, et eorum qui in arce erant.
8 Et timuerunt timore magno, quoniam audierunt quod dedit ei rex potestatem congregandi exercitum.
9 Et traditi sunt Jonath obsides, et reddidit eos parentibus suis:
10 et habitavit Jonathas in Jerusalem, et cpit dificare et innovare civitatem.
11 Et dixit facientibus opera ut exstruerent muros, et montem Sion in circuitu lapidibus quadratis ad munitionem: et ita fecerunt.
12 Et fugerunt alienigen, qui erant in munitionibus quas Bacchides dificaverat:
13 et reliquit unusquisque locum suum, et abiit in terram suam:
14 tantum in Bethsura remanserunt aliqui ex his qui reliquerant legem et prcepta Dei: erat enim hc eis ad refugium.
15 Et audivit Alexander rex promissa, qu promisit Demetrius Jonath: et narraverunt ei prlia, et virtutes quas ipse fecit, et fratres ejus, et labores quos laboraverunt:
16 et ait: Numquid inveniemus aliquem virum talem? et nunc faciemus eum amicum, et socium nostrum.
17 Et scripsit epistolam, et misit ei secundum hc verba, dicens:
18 Rex Alexander fratri Jonath salutem.
19 Audivimus de te quod vir potens sis viribus, et aptus es ut sis amicus noster:
20 et nunc constituimus te hodie summum sacerdotem gentis tu, et ut amicus voceris regis (et misit ei purpuram, et coronam auream) et qu nostra sunt sentias nobiscum, et conserves amicitias ad nos.
21 Et induit se Jonathas stola sancta septimo mense, anno centesimo sexagesimo, in die solemni scenopegi: et congregavit exercitum, et fecit arma copiosa.
22 Et audivit Demetrius verba ista, et contristatus est nimis, et ait:
23 Quid hoc fecimus, quod proccupavit nos Alexander apprehendere amicitiam Judorum ad munimen sui?
24 scribam et ego illis verba deprecatoria, et dignitates, et dona, ut sint mecum in adjutorium.
25 Et scripsit eis in hc verba: Rex Demetrius genti Judorum salutem.
26 Quoniam servastis ad nos pactum, et mansistis in amicitia nostra, et non accessistis ad inimicos nostros, audivimus, et gavisi sumus.
27 Et nunc perseverate adhuc conservare ad nos fidem, et retribuemus vobis bona pro his qu fecistis nobiscum:
28 et remittemus vobis prstationes multas, et dabimus vobis donationes.
29 Et nunc absolvo vos et omnes Judos a tributis, et pretia salis indulgeo, et coronas remitto, et tertias seminis:
30 et dimidiam partem fructus ligni, quod est portionis me, relinquo vobis ex hodierno die, et deinceps, ne accipiatur a terra Juda, et a tribus civitatibus qu addit sunt illi ex Samaria et Galila; ex hodierna die et in totum tempus:
31 et Jerusalem sit sancta, et libera cum finibus suis: et decim et tributa ipsius sint.
32 Remitto etiam potestatem arcis, qu est in Jerusalem: et do eam summo sacerdoti, ut constituat in ea viros quoscumque ipse elegerit, qui custodiant eam.
33 Et omnem animam Judorum, qu captiva est a terra Juda in omni regno meo, relinquo liberam gratis, ut omnes a tributis solvantur, etiam pecorum suorum.
34 Et omnes dies solemnes, et sabbata, et neomeni, et dies decreti, et tres dies ante diem solemnem, et tres dies post diem solemnem, sint omnes immunitatis et remissionis omnibus Judis, qui sunt in regno meo:
35 et nemo habebit potestatem agere aliquid, et movere negotia adversus aliquem illorum in omni causa.
36 Et ascribantur ex Judis in exercitu regis ad triginta millia virorum: et dabuntur illis copi ut oportet omnibus exercitibus regis, et ex eis ordinabuntur qui sint in munitionibus regis magni:
37 et ex his constituentur super negotia regni, qu aguntur ex fide, et principes sint ex eis, et ambulent in legibus suis, sicut prcepit rex in terra Juda.
38 Et tres civitates, qu addit sunt Jud ex regione Samari, cum Juda reputentur: ut sint sub uno, et non obediant alii potestati, nisi summi sacerdotis.
39 Ptolemaida et confines ejus, quas dedi donum sanctis qui sunt in Jerusalem, ad necessarios sumptus sanctorum.
40 Et ego do singulis annis quindecim millia siclorum argenti de rationibus regis, qu me contingunt:
41 et omne quod reliquum fuerit, quod non reddiderant qui super negotia erant annis prioribus, ex hoc dabunt in opera domus.
42 Et super hc quinque millia siclorum argenti, qu accipiebant de sanctorum ratione per singulos annos: et hc ad sacerdotes pertineant, qui ministerio funguntur.
43 Et quicumque confugerint in templum quod est Jerosolymis, et in omnibus finibus ejus, obnoxii regi in omni negotio dimittantur, et universa qu sunt eis in regno meo, libera habeant.
44 Et ad dificanda vel restauranda opera sanctorum, sumptus dabuntur de ratione regis:
45 et ad exstruendos muros Jerusalem, et communiendos in circuitu, sumptus dabuntur de ratione regis, et ad construendos muros in Juda.
46 Ut audivit autem Jonathas et populus sermones istos, non crediderunt eis, nec receperunt eos: quia recordati sunt maliti magn, quam fecerat in Isral, et tribulaverat eos valde.
47 Et complacuit eis in Alexandrum, quia ipse fuerat eis princeps sermonum pacis, et ipsi auxilium ferebant omnibus diebus.
48 Et congregavit rex Alexander exercitum magnum, et admovit castra contra Demetrium.
49 Et commiserunt prlium duo reges, et fugit exercitus Demetrii, et insecutus est eum Alexander, et incubuit super eos.
50 Et invaluit prlium nimis, donec occidit sol: et cecidit Demetrius in die illa.
51 Et misit Alexander ad Ptolemum regem gypti legatos secundum hc verba, dicens:
52 Quoniam regressus sum in regnum meum, et sedi in sede patrum meorum, et obtinui principatum, et contrivi Demetrium, et possedi regionem nostram,
53 et commisi pugnam cum eo, et contritus est ipse et castra ejus a nobis, et sedimus in sede regni ejus:
54 et nunc statuamus ad invicem amicitiam: et da mihi filiam tuam uxorem, et ego ero gener tuus, et dabo tibi dona, et ipsi, digna te.
55 Et respondit rex Ptolemus, dicens: Felix dies, in qua reversus es ad terram patrum tuorum, et sedisti in sede regni eorum.
56 Et nunc faciam tibi quod scripsisti: sed occurre mihi Ptolemaidam, ut videamus invicem nos, et spondeam tibi sicut dixisti.
57 Et exivit Ptolemus de gypto, ipse et Cleopatra filia ejus, et venit Ptolemaidam anno centesimo sexagesimo secundo.
58 Et occurrit ei Alexander rex, et dedit ei Cleopatram filiam suam: et fecit nuntias ejus Ptolemaid, sicut reges in magna gloria.
59 Et scripsit rex Alexander Jonath, ut veniret obviam sibi.
60 Et abiit cum gloria Ptolemaidam, et occurrit ibi duobus regibus, et dedit illis argentum multum, et aurum, et dona: et invenit gratiam in conspectu eorum.
61 Et convenerunt adversus eum viri pestilentes ex Isral, viri iniqui interpellantes adversus eum: et non intendit ad eos rex.
62 Et jussit spoliari Jonathan vestibus suis, et indui eum purpura: et ita fecerunt. Et collocavit eum rex sedere secum.
63 Dixitque principibus suis: Exite cum eo in medium civitatis, et prdicate, ut nemo adversus eum interpellet de ullo negotio, nec quisquam ei molestus sit de ulla ratione.
64 Et factum est, ut viderunt qui interpellabant gloriam ejus, qu prdicabatur, et opertum eum purpura, fugerunt omnes:
65 et magnificavit eum rex, et scripsit eum inter primos amicos, et posuit eum ducem, et participem principatus.
66 Et reversus est Jonathas in Jerusalem cum pace et ltitia.
67 In anno centesimo sexagesimo quinto, venit Demetrius filius Demetrii a Creta in terram patrum suorum.
68 Et audivit Alexander rex, et contristatus est valde, et reversus est Antiochum.
69 Et constituit Demetrius rex Apollonium ducem, qui prerat Clesyri: et congregavit exercitum magnum, et accessit ad Jamniam: et misit ad Jonathan summum sacerdotem,
70 dicens: Tu solus resistis nobis: ego autem factus sum in derisum, et in opprobrium, propterea quia tu potestatem adversum nos exerces in montibus.
71 Nunc ergo si confidis in virtutibus tuis, descende ad nos in campum, et comparemus illic invicem: quia mecum est virtus bellorum.
72 Interroga, et disce quis sum ego, et ceteri qui auxilio sunt mihi, qui et dicunt quia non potest stare pes vester ante faciem nostram, quia bis in fugam conversi sunt patres tui in terra sua:
73 et nunc quomodo poteris sustinere equitatum et exercitum tantum in campo, ubi non est lapis, neque saxum, neque locus fugiendi?
74 Ut audivit autem Jonathas sermones Apollonii, motus est animo: et elegit decem millia virorum, et exiit ab Jerusalem, et occurrit ei Simon frater ejus in adjutorium:
75 et applicuerunt castra in Joppen, et exclusit eum a civitate, quia custodia Apollonii Joppe erat: et oppugnavit eam.
76 Et exterriti qui erant in civitate, aperuerunt ei, et obtinuit Jonathas Joppen.
77 Et audivit Apollonius, et admovit tria millia equitum, et exercitum multum.
78 Et abiit Azotum tamquam iter faciens, et statim exiit in campum, eo quod haberet multitudinem equitum, et confideret in eis. Et insecutus est eum Jonathas in Azotum, et commiserunt prlium.
79 Et reliquit Apollonius in castris mille equites post eos occulte.
80 Et cognovit Jonathas quoniam insidi sunt post se, et circuierunt castra ejus, et jecerunt jacula in populum a mane usque ad vesperam.
81 Populus autem stabat, sicut prceperat Jonathas: et laboraverunt equi eorum.
82 Et ejecit Simon exercitum suum, et commisit contra legionem: equites enim fatigati erant: et contriti sunt ab eo, et fugerunt.
83 Et qui dispersi sunt per campum, fugerunt in Azotum, et intraverunt in Bethdagon idolum suum, ut ibi se liberarent.
84 Et succendit Jonathas Azotum, et civitates qu erant in circuitu ejus, et accepit spolia eorum, et templum Dagon: et omnes qui fugerunt in illud, succendit igni.
85 Et fuerunt qui ceciderunt gladio, cum his qui succensi sunt, fere octo millia virorum.
86 Et movit inde Jonathas castra, et applicuit ea Ascalonem: et exierunt de civitate obviam illi in magna gloria.
87 Et reversus est Jonathas in Jerusalem cum suis, habentibus spolia multa.
88 Et factum est, ut audivit Alexander rex sermones istos, addidit adhuc glorificare Jonathan.
89 Et misit ei fibulam auream, sicut consuetudo est dari cognatis regum. Et dedit ei Accaron, et omnes fines ejus, in possessionem.