ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 12

LXX	NEW JERUSALEM
1 και ειδεν ιωναθαν οτι ο καιρος αυτω συνεργει και επελεξατο ανδρας και απεστειλεν εις ρωμην στησαι και ανανεωσασθαι την προς αυτους φιλιαν	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.
2 και προς σπαρτιατας και τοπους ετερους απεστειλεν επιστολας κατα τα αυτα	2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.
3 και επορευθησαν εις ρωμην και εισηλθον εις το βουλευτηριον και ειπον ιωναθαν ο αρχιερευς και το εθνος των ιουδαιων απεστειλεν ημας ανανεωσασθαι την φιλιαν εαυτοις και την συμμαχιαν κατα το προτερον	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.'
4 και εδωκαν επιστολας αυτοις προς αυτους κατα τοπον οπως προπεμπωσιν αυτους εις γην ιουδα μετ' ειρηνης	4 The Senate gave them letters to the authorities of each place, to procure their safe conduct toJudaea.
5 και τουτο το αντιγραφον των επιστολων ων εγραψεν ιωναθαν τοις σπαρτιαταις	5 The fol owing is the copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 ιωναθαν αρχιερευς και η γερουσια του εθνους και οι ιερεις και ο λοιπος δημος των ιουδαιων σπαρτιαταις τοις αδελφοις χαιρειν	6 'Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the rest of the Jewish people to theSpartans their brothers, greetings.
7 ετι προτερον απεσταλησαν επιστολαι προς ονιαν τον αρχιερεα παρα αρειου του βασιλευοντος εν υμιν οτι εστε αδελφοι ημων ως το αντιγραφον υποκειται	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.
8 και επεδεξατο ο ονιας τον ανδρα τον απεσταλμενον ενδοξως και ελαβεν τας επιστολας εν αις διεσαφειτο περι συμμαχιας και φιλιας	8 Onias received the envoy with honour, and accepted the letter, in which a clear declaration was made of friendship and al iance.
9 ημεις ουν απροσδεεις τουτων οντες παρακλησιν εχοντες τα βιβλια τα αγια τα εν ταις χερσιν ημων	9 For our part, though we have no need of these, having the consolation of the holy books in ourpossession,
10 επειραθημεν αποστειλαι την προς υμας αδελφοτητα και φιλιαν ανανεωσασθαι προς το μη εξαλλοτριωθηναι υμων πολλοι γαρ καιροι διηλθον αφ' ου απεστειλατε προς ημας	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.
11 ημεις ουν εν παντι καιρω αδιαλειπτως εν τε ταις εορταις και ταις λοιπαις καθηκουσαις ημεραις μιμνησκομεθα υμων εφ' ων προσφερομεν θυσιων και εν ταις προσευχαις ως δεον εστιν και πρεπον μνημονευειν αδελφων	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.
12 ευφραινομεθα δε επι τη δοξη υμων	12 We rejoice in your renown.
13 ημας δε εκυκλωσαν πολλαι θλιψεις και πολεμοι πολλοι και επολεμησαν ημας οι βασιλεις οι κυκλω ημων	13 'We ourselves, however, have had many trials and many wars, the neighbouring kings making waron us.
14 ουκ ηβουλομεθα ουν παρενοχλησαι υμιν και τοις λοιποις συμμαχοις και φιλοις ημων εν τοις πολεμοις τουτοις	14 We were unwil ing to trouble you or our other al ies and friends during these wars,
15 εχομεν γαρ την εξ ουρανου βοηθειαν βοηθουσαν ημιν και ερρυσθημεν απο των εχθρων και εταπεινωθησαν οι εχθροι ημων	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.
16 επελεξαμεν ουν νουμηνιον αντιοχου και αντιπατρον ιασονος και απεσταλκαμεν προς ρωμαιους ανανεωσασθαι την προς αυτους φιλιαν και συμμαχιαν την προτερον	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,
17 ενετειλαμεθα ουν αυτοις και προς υμας πορευθηναι και ασπασασθαι υμας και αποδουναι υμιν τας παρ' ημων επιστολας περι της ανανεωσεως και της αδελφοτητος ημων	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;
18 και νυν καλως ποιησετε αντιφωνησαντες ημιν προς ταυτα	18 we shal be grateful for an answer to it.'
19 και τουτο το αντιγραφον των επιστολων ων απεστειλαν ονια	19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias:
20 αρειος βασιλευς σπαρτιατων ονια ιερει μεγαλω χαιρειν	20 'Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings.
21 ευρεθη εν γραφη περι τε των σπαρτιατων και ιουδαιων οτι εισιν αδελφοι και οτι εισιν εκ γενους αβρααμ	21 'It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and ofthe race of Abraham.
22 και νυν αφ' ου εγνωμεν ταυτα καλως ποιησετε γραφοντες ημιν περι της ειρηνης υμων	22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you wil send us news of yourwelfare.
23 και ημεις δε αντιγραφομεν υμιν τα κτηνη υμων και η υπαρξις υμων ημιν εστιν και τα ημων υμιν εστιν εντελλομεθα ουν οπως απαγγειλωσιν υμιν κατα ταυτα	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.'
24 και ηκουσεν ιωναθαν οτι επεστρεψαν οι αρχοντες δημητριου μετα δυναμεως πολλης υπερ το προτερον του πολεμησαι προς αυτον	24 Jonathan learned that Demetrius' generals had returned with a larger army than before to make waron him.
25 και απηρεν εξ ιερουσαλημ και απηντησεν αυτοις εις την αμαθιτιν χωραν ου γαρ εδωκεν αυτοις ανοχην του εμβατευσαι εις την χωραν αυτου	25 He therefore left Jerusalem and went to engage them in the area of Hamath, not giving them thetime to invade his own territory.
26 και απεστειλεν κατασκοπους εις την παρεμβολην αυτων και επεστρεψαν και απηγγειλαν αυτω οτι ουτως τασσονται επιπεσειν επ' αυτους την νυκτα	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.
27 ως δε εδυ ο ηλιος επεταξεν ιωναθαν τοις παρ' αυτου γρηγορειν και ειναι επι τοις οπλοις ετοιμαζεσθαι εις πολεμον δι' ολης της νυκτος και εξεβαλεν προφυλακας κυκλω της παρεμβολης	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.
28 και ηκουσαν οι υπεναντιοι οτι ητοιμασται ιωναθαν και οι παρ' αυτου εις πολεμον και εφοβηθησαν και επτηξαν τη καρδια αυτων και ανεκαυσαν πυρας εν τη παρεμβολη αυτων	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.
29 ιωναθαν δε και οι παρ' αυτου ουκ εγνωσαν εως πρωι εβλεπον γαρ τα φωτα καιομενα	29 Jonathan and his men, watching the glow of the fires, were unaware of their withdrawal untilmorning,
30 και κατεδιωξεν ιωναθαν οπισω αυτων και ου κατελαβεν αυτους διεβησαν γαρ τον ελευθερον ποταμον	30 and although Jonathan pursued them, he failed to overtake them, for they had already crossed theriver Eleutherus.
31 και εξεκλινεν ιωναθαν επι τους αραβας τους καλουμενους ζαβαδαιους και επαταξεν αυτους και ελαβεν τα σκυλα αυτων	31 So Jonathan wheeled round on the Arabs cal ed Zabadaeans, beat them and plundered them;
32 και αναζευξας ηλθεν εις δαμασκον και διωδευσεν εν παση τη χωρα	32 then, breaking camp, he went to Damascus, thus crossing the whole province.
33 και σιμων εξηλθεν και διωδευσεν εως ασκαλωνος και τα πλησιον οχυρωματα και εξεκλινεν εις ιοππην και προκατελαβετο αυτην	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,
34 ηκουσεν γαρ οτι βουλονται το οχυρωμα παραδουναι τοις παρα δημητριου και εθετο εκει φρουραν οπως φυλασσωσιν αυτην	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.
35 και επεστρεψεν ιωναθαν και εξεκκλησιασεν τους πρεσβυτερους του λαου και εβουλευετο μετ' αυτων του οικοδομησαι οχυρωματα εν τη ιουδαια	35 Jonathan, on his return, cal ed a meeting of the elders of the people and decided with them to buildfortresses in Judaea
36 και προσυψωσαι τα τειχη ιερουσαλημ και υψωσαι υψος μεγα ανα μεσον της ακρας και της πολεως εις το διαχωριζειν αυτην της πολεως ινα η αυτη κατα μονας οπως μητε αγοραζωσιν μητε πωλωσιν	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.
37 και συνηχθησαν του οικοδομειν την πολιν και επεσεν του τειχους του χειμαρρου του εξ απηλιωτου και επεσκευασεν το καλουμενον χαφεναθα	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.
38 και σιμων ωκοδομησεν την αδιδα εν τη σεφηλα και ωχυρωσεν αυτην και επεστησεν θυρας και μοχλους	38 Simon, meanwhile, rebuilt Adida in the lowlands, fortifying it, and erecting gates with bolts.
39 και εζητησεν τρυφων βασιλευσαι της ασιας και περιθεσθαι το διαδημα και εκτειναι χειρα επ' αντιοχον τον βασιλεα	39 Trypho's ambition was to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and overpower King Antiochus.
40 και ευλαβηθη μηποτε ουκ εαση αυτον ιωναθαν και μηποτε πολεμηση προς αυτον και εζητει συλλαβειν αυτον του απολεσαι και απαρας ηλθεν εις βαιθσαν	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.
41 και εξηλθεν ιωναθαν εις απαντησιν αυτω εν τεσσαρακοντα χιλιασιν ανδρων επιλελεγμεναις εις παραταξιν και ηλθεν εις βαιθσαν	41 Jonathan went out to intercept him, with forty thousand picked men in battle order, and arrived atBeth-Shean.
42 και ειδεν τρυφων οτι ηλθεν μετα δυναμεως πολλης και εκτειναι χειρας επ' αυτον ευλαβηθη	42 When Trypho saw him there with a large force, he hesitated to make any move against him.
43 και επεδεξατο αυτον ενδοξως και συνεστησεν αυτον πασιν τοις φιλοις αυτου και εδωκεν αυτω δοματα και επεταξεν τοις φιλοις αυτου και ταις δυναμεσιν αυτου υπακουειν αυτου ως αυτου	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.
44 και ειπεν τω ιωναθαν ινα τι εκοπωσας παντα τον λαον τουτον πολεμου μη ενεστηκοτος ημιν	44 He said to Jonathan, 'Why have you given all these people so much trouble, when there is no threatof war between us?
45 και νυν αποστειλον αυτους εις τους οικους αυτων επιλεξαι δε σεαυτω ανδρας ολιγους οιτινες εσονται μετα σου και δευρο μετ' εμου εις πτολεμαιδα και παραδωσω σοι αυτην και τα λοιπα οχυρωματα και τας δυναμεις τας λοιπας και παντας τους επι των χρειων και επιστρεψας απελευσομαι τουτου γαρ χαριν παρειμι	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.'
46 και εμπιστευσας αυτω εποιησεν καθως ειπεν και εξαπεστειλεν τας δυναμεις και απηλθον εις γην ιουδα	46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he dismissed his forces, who went back to Judaea.
47 κατελιπεν δε μεθ' εαυτου ανδρας τρισχιλιους ων δισχιλιους αφηκεν εν τη γαλιλαια χιλιοι δε συνηλθον αυτω	47 With him he retained three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousandaccompanied him.
48 ως δε εισηλθεν ιωναθαν εις πτολεμαιδα απεκλεισαν οι πτολεμαεις τας πυλας και συνελαβον αυτον και παντας τους συνεισελθοντας μετ' αυτου απεκτειναν εν ρομφαια	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.
49 και απεστειλεν τρυφων δυναμεις και ιππον εις την γαλιλαιαν και το πεδιον το μεγα του απολεσαι παντας τους παρα ιωναθου	49 Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's supporters.
50 και επεγνωσαν οτι συνελημφθη και απολωλεν και οι μετ' αυτου και παρεκαλεσαν εαυτους και επορευοντο συνεστραμμενοι ετοιμοι εις πολεμον	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,
51 και ειδον οι διωκοντες οτι περι ψυχης αυτοις εστιν και επεστρεψαν	51 and when their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back.
52 και ηλθον παντες μετ' ειρηνης εις γην ιουδα και επενθησαν τον ιωναθαν και τους μετ' αυτου και εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα και επενθησεν πας ισραηλ πενθος μεγα	52 Al reached Judaea safe and sound, and there they lamented Jonathan and his companions, beingvery frightened indeed; al Israel was plunged into mourning.
53 και εζητησαν παντα τα εθνη τα κυκλω αυτων εκτριψαι αυτους ειπον γαρ ουκ εχουσιν αρχοντα και βοηθουντα νυν ουν πολεμησωμεν αυτους και εξαρωμεν εξ ανθρωπων το μνημοσυνον αυτων	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.'