Primus Machabaeorum 12

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Et vidit Jonathas quia tempus eum juvat, et elegit viros, et misit eos Romam statuere et renovare cum eis amicitiam :	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 et ad Spartiatas, et ad alia loca misit epistolas secundum eamdem formam :	2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.
3 et abierunt Romam, et intraverunt curiam, et dixerunt : Jonathas summus sacerdos, et gens Judæorum miserunt nos, ut renovaremus amicitiam et societatem secundum pristinum.	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 Et dederunt illis epistolas ad ipsos per loca, ut deducerent eos in terram Juda cum pace.	4 The Senate gave them letters to the authorities of each place, to procure their safe conduct toJudaea.
5 Et hoc est exemplum epistolarum, quas scripsit Jonathas Spartiatis :	5 The fol owing is the copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 Jonathas summus sacerdos, et seniores gentis, et sacerdotes, et reliquus populus Judæorum, Spartiatis fratribus salutem.	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 Jampridem missæ erant epistolæ ad Oniam summum sacerdotem ab Ario, qui regnabat apud vos, quoniam estis fratres nostri, sicut rescriptum continet, quod subjectum est.	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 Et suscepit Onias virum, qui missus fuerat, cum honore : et accepit epistolas, in quibus significabatur de societate et amicitia.	8 Onias received the envoy with honour, and accepted the letter, in which a clear declaration was made of friendship and al iance.
9 Nos cum nullo horum indigeremus, habentes solatio sanctos libros, qui sunt in manibus nostris,	9 For our part, though we have no need of these, having the consolation of the holy books in ourpossession,
10 maluimus mittere ad vos renovare fraternitatem et amicitiam, ne forte alieni efficiamur a vobis : multa enim tempora transierunt, ex quo misistis ad nos.	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 Nos ergo in omni tempore sine intermissione in diebus solemnibus, et ceteris, quibus oportet, memores sumus vestri in sacrificiis quæ offerimus, et in observationibus, sicut fas est, et decet meminisse fratrum.	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 Lætamur itaque de gloria vestra.	12 We rejoice in your renown.
13 Nos autem circumdederunt multæ tribulationes, et multa prælia, et impugnaverunt nos reges qui sunt in circuitu nostro.	13 'We ourselves, however, have had many trials and many wars, the neighbouring kings making waron us.
14 Noluimus ergo vobis molesti esse, neque ceteris sociis et amicis nostris in his præliis :	14 We were unwil ing to trouble you or our other al ies and friends during these wars,
15 habuimus enim de cælo auxilium, et liberati sumus nos, et humiliati sunt inimici nostri.	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 Elegimus itaque Numenium Antiochi filium, et Antipatrem Jasonis filium, et misimus ad Romanos renovare cum eis amicitiam et societatem pristinam.	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 Mandavimus itaque eis ut veniant etiam ad vos, et salutent vos, et reddant vobis epistolas nostras de innovatione fraternitatis nostræ.	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 Et nunc benefacietis respondentes nobis ad hæc.	18 we shal be grateful for an answer to it.'
19 Et hoc est rescriptum epistolarum quod miserat Oniæ :	19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias:
20 Arius rex Spartiatarum Oniæ sacerdoti magno salutem.	20 'Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings.
21 Inventum est in scriptura de Spartiatis, et Judæis, quoniam sunt fratres, et quod sunt de genere Abraham.	21 'It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and ofthe race of Abraham.
22 Et nunc ex quo hæc cognovimus, benefacitis scribentes nobis de pace vestra.	22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you wil send us news of yourwelfare.
23 Sed et nos rescripsimus vobis : Pecora nostra, et possessiones nostræ, vestræ sunt : et vestræ, nostræ : mandavimus itaque hæc nuntiari vobis.	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 Et audivit Jonathas quoniam regressi sunt principes Demetrii cum exercitu multo supra quam prius, pugnare adversus eum :	24 Jonathan learned that Demetrius' generals had returned with a larger army than before to make waron him.
25 et exiit ab Jerusalem, et occurrit eis in Amathite regione : non enim dederat eis spatium ut ingrederentur regionem ejus.	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 Et misit speculatores in castra eorum : et reversi renuntiaverunt quod constituunt supervenire illis nocte.	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 Cum occidisset autem sol, præcepit Jonathas suis vigilare, et esse in armis paratos ad pugnam tota nocte : et posuit custodes per circuitum castrorum.	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 Et audierunt adversarii quod paratus est Jonathas cum suis in bello : et timuerunt, et formidaverunt in corde suo : et accenderunt focos in castris suis.	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 Jonathas autem, et qui cum eo erant, non cognoverunt usque mane : videbant autem luminaria ardentia,	29 Jonathan and his men, watching the glow of the fires, were unaware of their withdrawal untilmorning,
30 et secutus est eos Jonathas, et non comprehendit eos : transierant enim flumen Eleutherum.	30 and although Jonathan pursued them, he failed to overtake them, for they had already crossed theriver Eleutherus.
31 Et divertit Jonathas ad Arabas, qui vocantur Zabadæi : et percussit eos, et accepit spolia eorum.	31 So Jonathan wheeled round on the Arabs cal ed Zabadaeans, beat them and plundered them;
32 Et junxit, et venit Damascum, et perambulabat omnem regionem illam.	32 then, breaking camp, he went to Damascus, thus crossing the whole province.
33 Simon autem exiit, et venit usque ad Ascalonem, et ad proxima præsidia : et declinavit in Joppen, et occupavit eam	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 (audivit enim quod vellent præsidium tradere partibus Demetrii), et posuit ibi custodes ut custodirent eam.	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 Et reversus est Jonathas, et convocavit seniores populi, et cogitavit cum eis ædificare præsidia in Judæa,	35 Jonathan, on his return, cal ed a meeting of the elders of the people and decided with them to buildfortresses in Judaea
36 et ædificare muros in Jerusalem, et exaltare altitudinem magnam inter medium arcis et civitatis, ut separaret eam a civitate, ut esset ipsa singulariter, et neque emant, neque vendant.	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 Et convenerunt ut ædificarent civitatem : et cecidit murus qui erat super torrentem ab ortu solis, et reparavit eum, qui vocatur Caphetetha :	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 et Simon ædificavit Adiada in Sephela, et munivit eam, et imposuit portas et seras.	38 Simon, meanwhile, rebuilt Adida in the lowlands, fortifying it, and erecting gates with bolts.
39 Et cum cogitasset Tryphon regnare Asiæ, et assumere diadema, et extendere manum in Antiochum regem :	39 Trypho's ambition was to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and overpower King Antiochus.
40 timens ne forte non permitteret eum Jonathas, sed pugnaret adversus eum, quærebat comprehendere eum, et occidere. Et exsurgens abiit in Bethsan.	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 Et exivit Jonathas obviam illi cum quadraginta millibus virorum electorum in prælium, et venit Bethsan.	41 Jonathan went out to intercept him, with forty thousand picked men in battle order, and arrived atBeth-Shean.
42 Et vidit Tryphon quia venit Jonathas cum exercitu multo ut extenderet in eum manus : timuit,	42 When Trypho saw him there with a large force, he hesitated to make any move against him.
43 et excepit eum cum honore, et commendavit eum omnibus amicis suis, et dedit ei munera : et præcepit exercitibus suis ut obedirent ei, sicut sibi.	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 Et dixit Jonathæ : Ut quid vexasti universum populum, cum bellum nobis non sit ?	44 He said to Jonathan, 'Why have you given all these people so much trouble, when there is no threatof war between us?
45 et nunc remitte eos in domos suas : elige autem tibi viros paucos, qui tecum sint, et veni mecum Ptolemaidam, et tradam eam tibi, et reliqua præsidia, et exercitum, et universos præpositos negotii : et conversus abibo : propterea enim veni.	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 Et credidit ei, et fecit sicut dixit : et dimisit exercitum, et abierunt in terram Juda.	46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he dismissed his forces, who went back to Judaea.
47 Retinuit autem secum tria millia virorum : ex quibus remisit in Galilæam duo millia : mille autem venerunt cum eo.	47 With him he retained three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousandaccompanied him.
48 Ut autem intravit Ptolemaidam Jonathas, clauserunt portas civitatis Ptolemenses, et comprehenderunt eum : et omnes qui cum eo intraverant, gladio interfecerunt.	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 Et misit Tryphon exercitum et equites in Galilæam et in campum magnum, ut perderent omnes socios Jonathæ.	49 Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's supporters.
50 At illi cum cognovissent quia comprehensus est Jonathas, et periit, et omnes qui cum eo erant, hortati sunt semetipsos, et exierunt parati in prælium.	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 Et videntes hi qui insecuti fuerant, quia pro anima res est illis, reversi sunt :	51 and when their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back.
52 illi autem venerunt omnes cum pace in terram Juda. Et planxerunt Jonathan, et eos qui cum ipso fuerant, valde : et luxit Israël luctu magno.	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 Et quæsierunt omnes gentes quæ erant in circuitu eorum conterere eos : dixerunt enim :	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.'
54 Non habent principem et adjuvantem : nunc ergo expugnemus illos, et tollamus de hominibus memoriam eorum.