1 Maccabees 10

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 In the year 160, Alexander, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, raised an army and occupied Ptolemais. Hewas wel received, and there inaugurated his reign.	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 On hearing this, King Demetrius assembled a very large army and marched off to do battle with him.	2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.
3 Demetrius furthermore sent Jonathan a most conciliatory letter, promising to promote him in rank,	3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
4 for, as he said, 'We had better move first to come to terms with these people before he makescommon cause with Alexander against us;	4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
5 he wil not have forgotten al the wrongs we inflicted on him and his brothers, and on his nation.'	5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.
6 He even authorised him to raise an army, to manufacture arms, and to describe himself as his al y,and ordered the hostages in the Citadel to be surrendered 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 Jonathan went straight to Jerusalem and read the letter in the hearing of the whole people and of themen 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 They were terrified when they heard that the king had given him authority to raise an army.	8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.
9 The men in the Citadel surrendered the hostages to Jonathan, who handed them back to theirparents.	9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 Jonathan then took up residence in Jerusalem and began the rebuilding and restoration of the city.	10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.
11 He ordered those responsible for the work to build the wal s and the defences round Mount Zion ofsquared stone blocks to make them stronger, and this was done.	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 fortresses built by Bacchides abandoned them,	12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;
13 one after another leaving his post to go back to his own country.	13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.
14 Only at Beth-Zur were a few left of those who had forsaken the Law and the precepts, since this wastheir 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 al the promises Demetrius had sent to Jonathan, and he was also given anaccount of the battles and exploits of this man and his brothers and of the hardships 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 'Shal we ever find another man like him?' he exclaimed. 'We must make him our friend and al y!'	16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 He therefore wrote him a letter, addressing him in these terms:	17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,
18 'King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greetings.	18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:
19 'You have been brought to our notice as a strong man of action and as someone who deserves to beour friend.	19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
20 Accordingly, we have today appointed you high priest of your nation, with the title of "Friend of theKing" ' -- he also sent him a purple robe and a golden crown-'and you are to study our interests and maintainfriendly relations with us.'	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 160, on the feast of Shelters;he then set about raising troops and manufacturing arms in quantity.	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 Demetrius was displeased when he heard what had happened.	22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,
23 'What have we been doing,' he said, 'for Alexander to forestal us in winning the friendship of theJews and so improving his own position?	23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
24 I too shall address an appeal to them, offering them advancement and riches as an inducement tosupport me.'	24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.
25 And he wrote to them as fol ows: 'King Demetrius to the Jewish nation, greetings.	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 your agreement with us and have maintained friendly relationswith us and have not gone over to our enemies, and it has given us great satisfaction.	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 If you now continue to keep faith with us, we shal make you a handsome return for what you do onour 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 shal accord you many exemptions and grant you privileges.	28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29 'Henceforth I release you and exempt al the Jews from the tribute, the salt dues and the crownlevies,	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 whereas I am entitled to one-third of the grain and one-half of the fruit of the trees, I release fromthis levy, from today and for the future, Judaea and the three districts annexed to it from Samaria-Galilee, fromthis day henceforth in perpetuity.	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 Jerusalem wil be sacred and exempt, with its territory, from tithes and dues.	31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.
32 I relinquish control of the Citadel in Jerusalem and make it over to the high priest, so that he mayman it with a garrison of his own choosing.	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 Jewish person taken from Judaea into captivity in any part of my kingdom I set free withoutransom, and decree that al wil be exempt from taxes, even on their livestock.	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 Al festivals, Sabbaths, New Moons and days of special observance, and the three days before andthree days after a festival, wil be days of exemption and quittance for al the Jews 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 and no one wil have the right to exact payment from, or to molest, any of them for any matterwhatsoever.	35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 'Jews will be enrol ed in the king's forces to the number of thirty thousand men and receivemaintenance on the same scale as the rest of the king's forces.	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 Some of them wil be stationed in the king's major fortresses, and from among others appointmentswil be made to positions of trust in the kingdom. Their officers and commanders will be appointed from their ownnumber and wil live under their own laws, as the king has prescribed for Judaea.	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 'As regards the three districts annexed to Judaea from the province of Samaria, these wil beintegrated into Judaea and considered as coming under one governor, obeying the high priest's authority and noother.	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 the land thereto pertaining I present to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, to meet thenecessary expenses of public worship.	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 And I make a personal grant of fifteen thousand silver shekels annual y chargeable to the royalrevenue 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 And the entire surplus, which has not been paid in by the officials as in previous years, wilhenceforth be paid over by them for work on 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 In addition, the sum of five thousand silver shekels, levied annual y on the profits of the sanctuary, asshown in the annual accounts, is also relinquished as the perquisite of the priests who perform the liturgy.	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 Anyone who takes refuge in the Temple in Jerusalem or any of its precincts, when in debt to theroyal exchequer or otherwise, wil be discharged in ful possession of al the goods he owns 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 As regards the building and restoration of the sanctuary, the expense of the work wil be met fromthe royal exchequer.	44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king's accounts.
45 The reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the fortification of the perimeter will also be acharge on the royal exchequer, as also the reconstruction of other city wal s in Judaea.'	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 proposals, they put no faith in them and refused toaccept them, remembering what great wrongs Demetrius had done to Israel and how cruel y he had oppressedthem.	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 decided in favour of Alexander, since he seemed to offer the better inducements of the two,and they became his constant al ies.	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 now mustered large forces and advanced against Demetrius.	48 Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49 The two kings met in battle. Alexander's army was routed, and Demetrius pursued him and defeatedhis troops.	49 And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius' host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.
50 He continued the battle with vigour until sunset. Demetrius himself, however, was kil ed the sameday.	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 'Since I have returned to my kingdom, have ascended the throne of my ancestors, have gainedcontrol by crushing Demetrius, and so recovered our 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 fought him and we crushed both him and his army, and I now occupy his 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 make a treaty of friendship. Give me your daughter in marriage: as your son-in-law, I shalgive you, and her, presents which are 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 replied as follows: 'Happy the day when you returned to the land of your ancestors andascended 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 shal at once do for you what your letter proposes; but meet me at Ptolemais, so that we can seeone another, and I shall become your father-in-law, as you have asked.'	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 Ptolemy left Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra and reached Ptolemais in the year 162.	57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:
58 King Alexander went to meet him, and Ptolemy gave him the hand of his daughter Cleopatra andcelebrated her wedding in Ptolemais with great magnificence, as kings do.	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 then wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.	59 Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.
60 Jonathan made his way in state to Ptolemais and met the two kings; he gave them and their friendssilver and gold, and many gifts, and made a favourable impression on them.	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 A number of scoundrels, the pest of Israel, combined to denounce him, but the king paid no attentionto 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 In fact, the king commanded that Jonathan should be divested of his own garments and clothed inthe purple, which 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 then seated him by his side and said to his officers, 'Escort him into the centre of the cityand proclaim that no one is to bring charges against him on any count; no one is to molest him for any reason.'	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 And so, when his accusers saw the honour done him by this proclamation, and Jonathan himselfinvested in the purple, 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 did him the honour of enrol ing him among the First Friends, and appointed himcommander-in-chief and governor-general.	65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
66 Jonathan then returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.	66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 In the year 165, Demetrius son of Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his ancestors.	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 plunged into gloom, and retired to Antioch.	68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.
69 Demetrius confirmed Apol onius as governor of Coele-Syria; the latter assembled a large force,encamped at Jamnia and sent the fol owing 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 entirely alone in rising against us, and now I find myself ridiculed and reproached on youraccount. Why do you use your authority to our disadvantage 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 are so confident in your forces, come down now to meet us on the plain and let us take eachother's measure there; on my side I have the strength of the towns.	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 who the others supporting us are. You will hear that you cannot standup to us, since your ancestors were twice routed on their own ground,	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 nor wil you now be able to withstand the cavalry or so great an army on the plain, where there isneither rock, nor stone, nor refuge of any kind.'	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 On hearing Apollonius' words, Jonathan's spirit was roused; he picked ten thousand men and leftJerusalem, and his brother Simon joined him with reinforcements.	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 drew up his forces outside Joppa, the citizens having shut him out, since Apol onius had agarrison in Joppa. When they began the attack,	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 citizens took fright and opened the gates, and Jonathan occupied Joppa.	76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77 Hearing this, Apol onius marshal ed three thousand cavalry and a large army and made his way toAzotus as though intending to march through, while in fact pressing on into the plain, since he had a greatnumber of cavalry on which he was relying.	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 pursued him as far as Azotus, where the armies joined battle.	78 Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
79 Now, Apol onius had left a thousand horsemen in concealment behind them.	79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.
80 Jonathan knew of this enemy position behind him; the horsemen surrounded his army, firing theirarrows into his men from morning til evening.	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 troops stood firm, as Jonathan had ordered. Once the cavalry was exhausted,	81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies' horses were tired.
82 Simon sent his own troops into attack against the phalanx, which he cut to pieces and routed.	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 cavalry scattered over the plain and fled to Azotus, where they took sanctuary in Beth-Dagon,the temple of their idol.	83 The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple, for safety.
84 Jonathan, however, set fire to Azotus and the surrounding towns, plundered them, and burned downthe temple of Dagon, with al the fugitives who had crowded into 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 The enemy losses, counting those who fell by the sword and those burnt to death, total ed abouteight thousand men.	85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.
86 Jonathan then left and pitched camp outside Ascalon, where the citizens came out to meet him withgreat ceremony.	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 Jonathan then returned to Jerusalem with his fol owers, laden with booty.	87 After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 In the event, when King Alexander heard what had happened, he awarded Jonathan furtherhonours:	88 Now when king ALexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 he sent him the golden brooch, of the kind customarily presented to the King's Cousins, and gavehim proprietary rights over Ekron and the land adjoining it.	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.