1 Maccabees 12

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 When Jonathan saw that circumstances were working in his favour, he sent a select mission to Rometo confirm and renew his treaty of friendship with the Romans.	1 Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.
2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.	2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.
3 The envoys made their way to Rome, entered the Senate and said, 'Jonathan the high priest and theJewish nation have sent us to renew your treaty of friendship and al iance with them as before.'	3 So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.
4 The Senate gave them letters to the authorities of each place, to procure their safe conduct toJudaea.	4 Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.
5 The fol owing is the copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:	5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:
6 'Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the rest of the Jewish people to theSpartans their brothers, greetings.	6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:
7 'In the past, a letter was sent to Onias, the high priest, from Areios, one of your kings, stating that youare indeed our brothers, as the copy subjoined attests.	7 There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8 Onias received the envoy with honour, and accepted the letter, in which a clear declaration was made of friendship and al iance.	8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.
9 For our part, though we have no need of these, having the consolation of the holy books in ourpossession,	9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,
10 we venture to send to renew our fraternal friendship with you, so that we may not become strangersto you, a long time having elapsed since you last wrote to us.	10 Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.
11 We, for our part, on every occasion, at our festivals and on other appointed days, unfailinglyremember you in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and fitting to remember brothers.	11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren:
12 We rejoice in your renown.	12 And we are right glad of your honour.
13 'We ourselves, however, have had many trials and many wars, the neighbouring kings making waron us.	13 As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.
14 We were unwil ing to trouble you or our other al ies and friends during these wars,	14 Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:
15 since we have the support of Heaven to help us, thanks to which we have been delivered from ourenemies, and they are the ones who have been brought low.	15 For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.
16 We have therefore chosen Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, and sent themto the Romans to renew our former treaty of friendship and alliance,	16 For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.
17 and we have ordered them also to visit you, to greet you and deliver you this letter of oursconcerning the renewal of our brotherhood;	17 We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18 we shal be grateful for an answer to it.'	18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.
19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias:	19 And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.
20 'Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings.	20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:
21 'It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and ofthe race of Abraham.	21 It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:
22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you wil send us news of yourwelfare.	22 Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.
23 Our own message to you is this: your flocks and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours, andwe are instructing our envoys to give you a message to this effect.'	23 We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.
24 Jonathan learned that Demetrius' generals had returned with a larger army than before to make waron him.	24 Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius' princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,
25 He therefore left Jerusalem and went to engage them in the area of Hamath, not giving them thetime to invade his own territory.	25 He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country.
26 He sent spies into their camp, who told him on their return that the enemy were taking up positionsfor a night attack on the Jews.	26 He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.
27 At sunset, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch with their weapons at hand, in readiness to fightat any time during the night, and posted advance guards al round the camp.	27 Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to fight: also he sent forth centinels round about the host.
28 On learning that Jonathan and his men were ready to fight, the enemy took fright and, with quakinghearts, lit fires in their bivouac and decamped.	28 But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.
29 Jonathan and his men, watching the glow of the fires, were unaware of their withdrawal untilmorning,	29 Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30 and although Jonathan pursued them, he failed to overtake them, for they had already crossed theriver Eleutherus.	30 Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.
31 So Jonathan wheeled round on the Arabs cal ed Zabadaeans, beat them and plundered them;	31 Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.
32 then, breaking camp, he went to Damascus, thus crossing the whole province.	32 And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country,
33 Simon, meanwhile, had also set out and had penetrated as far as Ascalon and the neighbouringtowns. He then turned on Joppa and moved quickly to occupy it,	33 Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Ascalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to Joppa, and won it.
34 for he had heard of their intention to hand over this strong point to the supporters of Demetrius; hestationed a garrison there to hold it.	34 For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius' part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.
35 Jonathan, on his return, cal ed a meeting of the elders of the people and decided with them to buildfortresses in Judaea	35 After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judea,
36 and to heighten the walls of Jerusalem and erect a high barrier between the Citadel and the city, tocut the former off from the city and isolate it, to prevent the occupants from buying or sel ing.	36 And making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.
37 Rebuilding the city was a co-operative effort: part of the wall over the eastern ravine had fal en down;he restored the quarter called Chaphenatha.	37 Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha.
38 Simon, meanwhile, rebuilt Adida in the lowlands, fortifying it, and erecting gates with bolts.	38 Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.
39 Trypho's ambition was to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and overpower King Antiochus.	39 Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.
40 He was apprehensive that Jonathan might not al ow him to do this, and might even make war onhim, so he set out and came to Beth-Shean, in the hopes of finding some pretext for having him arrested and putto death.	40 Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him; wherefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed, and came to Bethsan.
41 Jonathan went out to intercept him, with forty thousand picked men in battle order, and arrived atBeth-Shean.	41 Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.
42 When Trypho saw him there with a large force, he hesitated to make any move against him.	42 Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him;
43 He even received him with honour, commended him to al his friends, gave him presents andordered his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself.	43 But received him honourably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him, as to himself.
44 He said to Jonathan, 'Why have you given all these people so much trouble, when there is no threatof war between us?	44 Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us?
45 Send them back home; pick yourself a few men as your bodyguard, and come with me to Ptolemais,which I am going to hand over to you, with the other fortresses and the remaining troops and al the officials;after which, I shal take the road for home. This was my purpose in coming here.'	45 Therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of my coming.
46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he dismissed his forces, who went back to Judaea.	46 So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.
47 With him he retained three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousandaccompanied him.	47 And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.
48 But as soon as Jonathan had entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates, seizedhim, and put al those who had entered with him to the sword.	48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew with the sword.
49 Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's supporters.	49 Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's company.
50 These, concluding that he had been taken and had perished with his companions, encouraged oneanother, marching with closed ranks and ready to give battle,	50 But when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another; and went close together, prepared to fight.
51 and when their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back.	51 They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.
52 Al reached Judaea safe and sound, and there they lamented Jonathan and his companions, beingvery frightened indeed; al Israel was plunged into mourning.	52 Whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation.
53 The surrounding nations were al now looking for ways of destroying them: 'They have no leader,'they said, 'no ally; we have only to attack them now, and we shall blot out their very memory from all peoples.'	53 Then all the heathen that were round about then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from among men.