1 Maccabees 10

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 In the year one hundred and sixty, Alexander, who was called Epiphanes, son of Antiochus, came up and took Ptolemais. He was accepted and began to reign there.	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 whereof he reigned there,
2 When King Demetrius heard of it, he mustered a very large army and marched out to engage him in combat.	2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.
3 Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan written in peaceful terms, to pay him honor;	3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
4 for he said: "Let us be the first to make peace with him, before he makes peace with Alexander against us,	4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
5 since he will remember all the wrongs we have done to him, his brothers, and his nation."	5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.
6 So Demetrius authorized him to gather an army and procure arms as his ally; and he ordered that the hostages in the citadel be released to him.	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 Accordingly Jonathan went up to Jerusalem and read the letter to all the people. The men in the citadel	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 were struck with fear when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather an army.	8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.
9 They released the hostages to Jonathan, and he gave them back to their parents.	9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 Thereafter Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build and restore the city.	10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.
11 He ordered the workmen to build the walls and encircle Mount Zion with square stones for its fortification, which they did.	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 The foreigners in the strongholds that Bacchides had built, took flight;	12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;
13 each one of them left his place and returned to his own country.	13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.
14 Only in Beth-zur did some remain of those who had abandoned the law and the commandments, for they used it as a place of refuge.	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 King Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made to Jonathan; he was also told of the battles and valiant deeds of Jonathan and his brothers and the troubles that they had endured.	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 ever find another man like him? Let us now make him our friend and ally."	16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 So he sent Jonathan a letter written in these terms:	17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,
18 "King Alexander sends greetings to his brother Jonathan.	18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:
19 We have heard of you, that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be our friend.	19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
20 We have therefore appointed you today to be high priest of your nation; you are to be called the King's Friend, and you are to look after our interests and preserve amity with us." He also sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold.	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 Jonathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the year one hundred and sixty at the feast of Booths, and he gathered an army and procured many arms.	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 When Demetrius heard of these things, he was distressed and said:	22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,
23 "Why have we allowed Alexander to get ahead of us by gaining the friendship of the Jews and thus strengthening himself?	23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
24 I too will write them conciliatory words and offer dignities and gifts, so that they may be an aid to me."	24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.
25 So he sent them this message: "King Demetrius sends greetings to the Jewish nation.	25 He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
26 We have heard how you have kept the treaty with us and continued in our friendship and not gone over to our enemies, and we are glad.	26 Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.
27 Continue, therefore, to keep faith with us, and we will reward you with favors in return for what you do in our behalf.	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 We will grant you many exemptions and will bestow gifts on you.	28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29 "I now free you, as I also exempt all the Jews, from the tribute, the salt tax, and the crown levies.	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 Instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the fruit of the trees that should be my share, I renounce the right from this day forward: Neither now nor in the future will I collect them from the land of Judah or from the three districts annexed from Samaria.	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 and her territory, her tithes and her tolls, be sacred and free from tax.	31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.
32 I also yield my authority over the citadel in Jerusalem, and I transfer it to the high priest, that he may put in it such men as he shall choose to guard it.	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 Every one of the Jews who has been carried into captivity from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom I set at liberty without ransom; and let all their taxes, even those on their cattle, be canceled.	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 Let all feast days, sabbaths, new moon festivals, appointed days, and the three days that precede each feast day, and the three days that follow, be days of immunity and exemption for every Jew in my kingdom.	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 Let no man have authority to exact payment from them or to molest any of them in any matter.	35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 "Let thirty thousand Jews be enrolled in the king's army and allowances be given them, as is due to all the king's soldiers.	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 Let some of them be stationed in the king's principal strongholds, and of these let some be given positions of trust in the affairs of the kingdom. Let their superiors and their rulers be taken from among them, and let them follow their own laws, as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.	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 "Let the three districts that have been added to Judea from the province of Samaria be incorporated with Judea so that they may be under one man and obey no other authority than the high priest.	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 Ptolemais and its confines I give as a present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary.	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 I make a yearly personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels out of the royal revenues, from appropriate places.	40 Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king's accounts from the places appertaining.
41 All the additional funds that the officials did not hand over as they had done in the first years, shall henceforth be handed over for the services of the temple.	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 Moreover, the dues of five thousand silver shekels that used to be taken from the revenue of the sanctuary every year shall be canceled, since these funds belong to the priests who perform the services.	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 Whoever takes refuge in the temple of Jerusalem or in any of its precincts, because of money he owes the king, or because of any other debt, shall be released, together with all the goods he possesses in my kingdom.	43 And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm.
44 The cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary shall be covered out of the royal revenue.	44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king's accounts.
45 Likewise the cost of building the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it all around, and of building walls in Judea, shall be donated from the royal revenue."	45 Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expences shall be given out of the king's accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.
46 When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they neither believed nor accepted them, for they remembered the great evil that Demetrius had done in Israel, and how sorely he had afflicted them.	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 They therefore decided in favor of Alexander, for he had been the first to address them peaceably, and they remained his allies for the rest of his life.	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 King Alexander gathered together a large army and encamped opposite Demetrius.	48 Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49 The two kings joined battle, and when the army of Demetrius fled, Alexander pursued him, and overpowered his soldiers.	49 And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius' host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.
50 He pressed the battle hard until sunset, and Demetrius fell that day.	50 And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.
51 Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, with this message:	51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:
52 "Now that I have returned to my realm, taken my seat on the throne of my fathers, and established my rule by crushing Demetrius and gaining control of my country--	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 I engaged him in battle, defeated him and his army, and recovered the royal throne--	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 let us now establish friendship with each other. Give me your daughter for my wife; and as your son-in-law, I will give to you and to her gifts worthy of you."	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 King Ptolemy answered in these words: "Happy the day on which you returned to the land of your fathers and took your seat on their royal throne!	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 I will do for you what you have written; but meet me in Ptolemais, so that we may see each other, and I will become your father-in-law as you have proposed."	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 Ptolemy with his daughter Cleopatra set out from Egypt and came to Ptolemais in the year one hundred and sixty-two.	57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:
58 There King Alexander met him, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. Their wedding was celebrated at Ptolemais with great splendor according to the custom of kings.	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 King Alexander also wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.	59 Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.
60 So he went with pomp to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings and gave them and their friends silver and gold and many gifts and thus won their favor.	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 Some pestilent Israelites, transgressors of the law, united against him to accuse him, but the king paid no heed to them.	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 He ordered Jonathan to be divested of his ordinary garments and to be clothed in royal purple; and so it was done.	62 Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.
63 The king also had him seated at his side. He said to his magistrates: "Go with him to the center of the city and make a proclamation that no one is to bring charges against him on any grounds or be troublesome to him in any way."	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 When his accusers saw the honor paid to him in the proclamation, and the purple with which he was clothed, they all fled.	64 Now when his accusers saw that he was honored according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.
65 The king also honored him by numbering him among his Chief Friends and made him military commander and governor of the province.	65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
66 So Jonathan returned in peace and happiness to Jerusalem.	66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 In the year one hundred and sixty-five, Demetrius, son of Demetrius, came from Crete to the land of his fathers.	67 Furthermore in the; hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:
68 When King Alexander heard of it he was greatly troubled, and returned to Antioch.	68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.
69 Demetrius appointed Apollonius governor of Coelesyria. Having gathered a large army, Appollonius pitched his camp at Jamnia. From there he sent this message to Jonathan the high priest:	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 "You are the only one who resists us. I am laughed at and put to shame on your account. Why are you displaying power against us in the mountains?	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 If you have confidence in your forces, come down now to us in the plain, and let us test each other's strength there; the city forces are on my side.	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 Inquire and learn who I am and who the others are who are helping me. Men say that you cannot make a stand against us because your fathers were twice put to flight in their own land.	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 Now you too will be unable to withstand our cavalry and such a force as this in the plain, where there is not a stone or a pebble or a place to flee."	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 When Jonathan heard the message of Apollonius, he was roused. Choosing ten thousand men, he set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother joined him to help him.	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 He pitched camp near Joppa, but the men in the city shut him out because Apollonius had a garrison there. When the Jews besieged it,	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 the men of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and so Jonathan took possession of Joppa.	76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77 When Apollonius heard of it, he drew up three thousand horsemen and an innumerable infantry. He marched on Azotus as though he were going on through the country, but at the same time he advanced into the plain, because he had such a large number of horsemen to rely on.	77 Whereof 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 Jonathan followed him to Azotus, and they engaged in battle.	78 Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
79 Apollonius, however, had left a thousand cavalry in hiding behind them.	79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.
80 When Jonathan discovered that there was an ambush behind him, his army was surrounded. From morning until evening they showered his men with arrows.	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 his men held their ground, as Jonathan had commanded, whereas the enemy's horses became tired out.	81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies' horses were tired.
82 When the horsemen were exhausted, Simon attacked the phalanx, overwhelmed it and put it to flight.	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 too were scattered over the plain. The enemy fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, to save themselves.	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 burned and plundered Azotus with its neighboring towns, and destroyed by fire both the temple of Dagon and the men who had taken refuge in it.	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 Those who fell by the sword, together with those who were burned alive, came to about eight thousand men.	85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.
86 Then Jonathan left there and pitched his camp at Ashkalon, and the people of that city came out to meet him with great pomp.	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 He and his men then returned to Jerusalem, laden with much booty.	87 After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 When King Alexander heard of these events, he accorded new honors to Jonathan.	88 Now when king ALexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 He sent him a gold buckle, such as is usually given to King's Kinsmen; he also gave him Ekron and all its territory as a possession.	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 thereof in possession.