1. Makkabeler 12

¹Yonatan, zamanın kendisinden yana olduğunu görünce, Romalılarla olan dostluk ilişkilerini kurmak ve pekiştirmek amacıyla seçkin adamlar belirleyip onları Roma'ya gönderdi.

²Aynı amaç doğrultusunda Spartalılara ve diğer bölgelere de mektuplar yolladı.

³Elçiler Roma'ya ulaşıp senato meclisine girdiler ve şöyle dediler: "Başkâhin Yonatan ve Yahudi ulusu, onlarla olan dostluk ve ittifak ilişkilerini önceden olduğu gibi yenilemek amacıyla bizi size gönderdi."

⁴Romalılar da Yahudi topraklarına esenlik içinde dönebilmeleri için geçecekleri her yerdeki yerel yöneticilere hitaben onlara eşlik edilmesini buyuran resmi mektuplar verdiler.

⁵Yonatan'ın Spartalılara yazdığı mektubun resmi sureti şudur:

⁶"Başkâhin Yonatan, ulusun yaşlılar meclisi, kâhinler ve Yahudi halkının geri kalanı, kardeşleri olan Spartalılara selam eder.

⁷Geçmişte, sizde krallık yapan Areios'tan başkâhinimiz Onias'a, ekteki surette de sunulduğu gibi, kardeşimiz olduğunuza dair mektuplar gönderilmişti.

⁸Onias kendisine gönderilen elçiyi onurla karşılamış, ittifak ve dostluk beyanlarını içeren mektupları kabul etmişti.

⁹Bizim ise elimizdeki kutsal kitapların sunduğu teselliye sahip olduğumuz için bu tür belgelere ihtiyacımız olmasa da,

¹⁰aradan uzun zaman geçtiği ve bize yabancılaşmamanız için sizinle olan kardeşlik ve dostluk bağlarımızı yenilemek üzere elçiler göndermeyi uygun bulduk; çünkü bize mektup göndermenizden bu yana birçok dönem geçti.

¹¹Bizler her zaman, bayramlarımızda ve diğer belirlenmiş günlerde sunduğumuz kurbanlarda ve dualarımızda, kardeşlerimizi anmanın doğru ve yaraşır olduğu üzere, sizi durmaksızın anıyoruz.

¹²Sizin sahip olduğunuz şan ve görkemden ötürü büyük sevinç duyuyoruz.

¹³Bize gelince, çevremizdeki kralların bize savaş açması yüzünden birçok sıkıntı ve amansız savaşla kuşatıldık.

¹⁴Bu savaşlar sırasında sizi ve diğer müttefiklerimiz ile dostlarımızı rahatsız etmek ve size yük olmak istemedik.

¹⁵Çünkü göklerden gelen ve bize yardım eden ilahi güce sahibiz; böylece düşmanlarımızdan kurtulduk ve düşmanlarımız boyun eğdirilip alçaltıldı.

¹⁶Bu nedenle, Roma ile olan önceki dostluk ve ittifakımızı yenilemek üzere Antiohos oğlu Numenios ile Yason oğlu Antipatros'u seçip Romalılara gönderdik.

¹⁷Onlara size de uğramalarını, sizi selamlamalarını ve kardeşliğimiz ile ilişkilerimizin yenilenmesine dair mektuplarımızı size iletmelerini buyurduk.

¹⁸Şimdi bu mektubumuza karşılık bir yanıt yazarsanız çok iyi etmiş olursunuz."

¹⁹Onias'a gönderilen mektubun sureti de şudur:

²⁰"Spartalıların Kralı Areios'tan başkâhin Onias'a selam.

²¹Belgelerde yapılan araştırmada, Spartalılar ile Yahudilerin kardeş oldukları ve İbrahim'in soyundan geldikleri bulunmuştur.

²²Bunu öğrendiğimize göre, esenliğiniz hakkında bize yazarsanız çok iyi etmiş olursunuz.

²³Biz de size şöyle yazıyoruz: Sürülerinizi ve mallarınızı kendi malımız sayıyoruz, bizimkiler de sizindir. Elçilerimize bunları size bu şekilde bildirmelerini buyurduk."

²⁴Yonatan, Demetrios'un komutanlarının kendisiyle savaşmak üzere eskisinden daha büyük bir orduyla geri döndüğünü duydu.

²⁵Bunun üzerine Yeruşalim'den ayrılıp onlarla Hamat bölgesinde karşılaştı; çünkü onların kendi topraklarına girmelerine ve istila etmelerine fırsat vermek istemiyordu.

²⁶Onların ordugahına casuslar gönderdi; casuslar geri dönüp düşmanın geceleyin kendilerine saldırmak üzere bu şekilde savaş düzeni aldığını bildirdiler.

²⁷Güneş batınca Yonatan adamlarına uyanık kalmalarını, silahlarını kuşanmalarını ve gece boyunca savaşa hazır olmalarını buyurdu; ordugahın çevresine de nöbetçiler yerleştirdi.

²⁸Düşmanlar, Yonatan ve adamlarının savaşa hazır olduğunu duyunca korkuya kapıldılar, yürekleri dehşetle eridi ve ordugahlarında ateşler yakıp kaçtılar.

²⁹Ancak Yonatan ve adamları sabaha kadar onların kaçtığını anlamadılar, çünkü yanan ateşlerin ışıklarını görüyorlardı.

³⁰Yonatan onların peşine düştüyse de yetişemedi, çünkü Elefteros Irmağı'nı geçmişlerdi.

³¹Bunun üzerine Yonatan, Zabadeyalılar olarak bilinen Araplara yöneldi, onları bozguna uğratıp mallarını yağmaladı.

³²Oradan ayrılıp Şam'a geldi ve tüm bölgeyi boydan boya geçti.

³³Şimon da yola çıkıp Aşkelon'a ve yakınındaki kalelere kadar ilerledi; sonra Yafa'ya yönelip burayı önceden ele geçirdi.

³⁴Çünkü Yafa halkının kaleyi Demetrios'un adamlarına teslim etmek istediğini duymuştu; bu yüzden kaleyi korumak için oraya bir muhafız birliği yerleştirdi.

³⁵Yonatan geri dönünce halkın ileri gelenlerini meclis halinde topladı ve onlarla birlikte Yahudiye'de kaleler inşa etmeye karar verdi.

³⁶Yeruşalim surlarını yükseltmeyi ve kaleyle kent arasına büyük bir set çekerek kaleyi kentten ayırmayı kararlaştırdılar; böylece kale tamamen soyutlanacak, içindekiler ne bir şey alabilecek ne de satabilecekti.

³⁷Kenti onarmak için toplandılar; doğudaki vadinin suruna yaklaştılar ve Hafanata denilen kısmı onardılar.

³⁸Şimon da Şefela bölgesindeki Adida'yı inşa edip güçlendirdi, kapılarını ve sürgülerini taktı.

³⁹Bu sırada Trifon, Asya krallık tacını giymek ve Kral Antiohos'a el kaldırıp tahta geçmek istiyordu.

⁴⁰Ancak Yonatan'ın buna izin vermeyeceğinden ve kendisine savaş açacağından korkuyordu. Bu yüzden Yonatan'ı ele geçirip ortadan kaldırmanın yollarını aradı ve yola çıkıp Beyt-Şan'a geldi.

⁴¹Yonatan da savaşa hazır seçkin kırk bin adamla birlikte onu karşılamak üzere yola çıktı ve Beyt-Şan'a geldi.

⁴²Trifon, Yonatan'ın büyük bir orduyla geldiğini görünce ona el kaldırmaya ve saldırmaya cesaret edemedi.

⁴³Onu onurla karşıladı, tüm dostlarına takdim etti, ona hediyeler verdi ve kendi askerlerine Yonatan'ın buyruklarına kendisininkiler gibi uymalarını emretti.

⁴⁴Yonatan'a şöyle dedi: "Aramızda bir savaş durumu olmadığı halde neden bu kadar insanı yordun?

⁴⁵Şimdi onları evlerine gönder; yanında kalacak birkaç adam seç ve benimle Ptolemais'e gel. Orayı, diğer kaleleri, geri kalan orduları ve tüm görevlileri sana teslim edeceğim. Sonra ben de geri döneceğim, çünkü buraya gelişimin nedeni budur."

⁴⁶Yonatan ona güvendi ve dediği gibi yaptı; ordusunu geri gönderdi, onlar da Yahudi topraklarına döndüler.

⁴⁷Yanında sadece üç bin adam bıraktı; bunların iki binini Celile'de bıraktı, bin kişi ise onunla birlikte gitti.

⁴⁸Yonatan Ptolemais'e girer girmez, kent halkı kapıları kapattı ve onu yakaladı; onunla birlikte içeri girenlerin hepsini de kılıçtan geçirdiler.

⁴⁹Trifon, Yonatan'ın yanındaki tüm adamları yok etmek için Celile'ye ve büyük ovaya piyadeler ve atlılar gönderdi.

⁵⁰Ancak oradakiler Yonatan'ın yakalandığını, kendisiyle birlikte gidenlerin yok olduğunu öğrenince birbirlerini yüreklendirdiler ve savaşa hazır bir şekilde omuz omuza yürüyüşe geçtiler.

⁵¹Peşlerindekiler, onların canlarını korumak için savaşmaya kararlı olduklarını görünce geri döndüler.

⁵²Böylece hepsi esenlik içinde Yahudi topraklarına ulaştılar. Yonatan ve yanındakiler için yas tuttular ve büyük bir korkuya kapıldılar; tüm İsrail derin bir yasa boğuldu.

⁵³Çevrelerindeki tüm uluslar onları yok etmek istiyordu. Şöyle diyorlardı: "Artık başlarında bir önder ve onlara yardım edecek kimse yok; şimdi onlara savaş açalım ve anılarını insanlar arasından silelim."

¹ΚΑΙ εἶδεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὅτι ὁ καιρὸς αὐτῷ συνεργεῖ, καὶ ἐπέλεξεν ἄνδρας καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ῥώμην στῆσαι καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν.

²καὶ πρὸς Σπαρτιάτας καὶ τόπους ἑτέρους ἀπέστειλεν ἐπιστολὰς κατὰ τὰ αὐτά.

³καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς Ῥώμην καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον καὶ εἶπον· ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ τὸ ἔθνος τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ἀπέστειλεν ἡμᾶς ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν φιλίαν αὐτοῖς καὶ τὴν συμμαχίαν κατὰ τὸ πρότερον.

⁴καὶ ἔδωκαν ἐπιστολὰς αὐτοῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τόπον, ὅπως προπέμπωσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα μετ᾿ εἰρήνης.

⁵Καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν ὧν ἔγραψεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῖς Σπαρτιάταις·

⁶«᾿Ιωνάθαν ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ ἡ γερουσία τοῦ ἔθνους καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ ὁ λοιπὸς δῆμος τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων Σπαρτιάταις τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς χαίρειν.

⁷ἔτι πρότερον ἀπεστάλησαν ἐπιστολαὶ πρὸς ᾿Ονίαν τὸν ἀρχιερέα παρὰ Δαρείου τοῦ βασιλεύοντος ἐν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐστὲ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ὡς τὸ ἀντίγραφον ὑπόκειται.

⁸καὶ ἐπεδέξατο ᾿Ονίας τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἀπεσταλμένον ἐνδόξως καὶ ἔλαβε τὰς ἐπιστολάς, ἐν αἷς διεσαφεῖτο περὶ συμμαχίας καὶ φιλίας.

⁹καὶ ἡμεῖς οὖν ἀπροσδεεῖς τούτων ὄντες, παράκλησιν ἔχοντες τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια τὰ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν,

¹⁰ἐπειράθημεν ἀποστεῖλαι τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀδελφότητα καὶ φιλίαν ἀνανεώσασθαι πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐξαλλοτριωθῆναι ὑμῶν· πολλοὶ γὰρ καιροὶ διῆλθον ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἀπεστείλατε πρὸς ἡμᾶς.

¹¹ἡμεῖς οὖν ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἀδιαλείπτως ἔν τε ταῖς ἑορταῖς καὶ ταῖς λοιπαῖς καθηκούσαις ἡμέραις μιμνησκόμεθα ὑμῶν ἐφ᾿ ὧν προσφέρομεν θυσιῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς, ὡς δέον ἐστὶ καὶ πρέπον μνημονεύειν ἀδελφῶν·

¹²εὐφραινόμεθα δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ δόξῃ ὑμῶν.

¹³ἡμᾶς δὲ ἐκύκλωσαν πολλαὶ θλίψεις καὶ πόλεμοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν ἡμᾶς οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν.

¹⁴καὶ οὐκ ἠβουλόμεθα οὖν παρενοχλεῖν ὑμῖν καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς συμμάχοις καὶ φίλοις ἡμῶν ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις τούτοις·

¹⁵ἔχομεν γὰρ τὴν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ βοήθειαν βοηθοῦσαν ἡμῖν καὶ ἐρρύσθημεν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐταπεινώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν.

¹⁶ἐπελέξαμεν οὖν Νουμήνιον ᾿Αντιόχου καὶ ᾿Αντίπατρον ᾿Ιάσωνος καὶ ἀπεστάλκαμεν πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν καὶ συμμαχίαν τὴν προτέραν.

¹⁷ἐνετειλάμεθα οὖν αὐτοῖς καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς πορευθῆναι καὶ ἀσπάσασθαι ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀποδοῦναι ὑμῖν τὰς παρ᾿ ἡμῶν ἐπιστολὰς περὶ τῆς ἀνανεώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀδελφότητος ἡμῶν.

¹⁸καὶ νῦν καλῶς ποιήσετε ἀντιφωνήσοντες ἡμῖν πρὸς ταῦτα».

¹⁹Καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν, ὧν ἀπέστειλαν ᾿Ονίᾳ·

²⁰«῎Αρειος βασιλεὺς Σπαρτιατῶν ᾿Ονίᾳ ἱερεῖ μεγάλῳ χαίρειν.

²¹εὑρέθη ἐν γραφῇ περί τε τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν καὶ ᾿Ιουδαίων, ὅτι εἰσὶν ἀδελφοὶ καὶ ὅτι εἰσὶν ἐκ γένους ῾Αβραάμ.

²²καὶ νῦν ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἔγνωμεν ταῦτα, καλῶς ποιήσετε γράφοντες ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ὑμῶν,

²³καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀντιγράφομεν ὑμῖν τὰ κτήνη ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ ὕπαρξις ὑμῶν ἡμῖν ἐστι, καὶ τὰ ἡμῶν ὑμῖν ἐστιν. ἐντελλόμεθα οὖν ὅπως ἀπαγγείλωσιν ὑμῖν κατὰ ταῦτα».

²⁴Καὶ ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ ἄρχοντες Δημητρίου μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς ὑπὲρ τὸ πρότερον τοῦ πολεμῆσαι πρὸς αὐτόν.

²⁵καὶ ἀπῇρεν ἐξ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ᾿Αμαθῖτιν χώραν· οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀνοχὴν ἐμβατεῦσαι εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ.

²⁶καὶ ἀπέστειλε κατασκόπους εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ, ὅτι οὕτω τάσσονται ἐπιπεσεῖν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν νύκτα.

²⁷ὡς δὲ ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, ἐπέταξεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῖς παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ γρηγορεῖν καὶ εἶναι ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις καὶ ἑτοιμάζεσθαι εἰς πόλεμον δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ ἐξέβαλε προφύλακας κύκλῳ τῆς παρεμβολῆς.

²⁸καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ὑπεναντίοι ὅτι ἡτοίμασται ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν καὶ ἔπτηξαν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέκαυσαν πυρὰς ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ αὐτῶν.

²⁹᾿Ιωνάθαν δὲ καὶ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕως πρωΐ, ἔβλεπον γὰρ τὰ φῶτα καιόμενα.

³⁰καὶ κατεδίωξεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ κατέλαβεν αὐτούς, διέβησαν γὰρ τὸν ᾿Ελεύθερον ποταμόν.

³¹καὶ ἐξέκλινεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐπὶ τοὺς ῎Αραβας τοὺς καλουμένους Ζαβαδαίους καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν.

³²καὶ ἀναζεύξας ἦλθεν εἰς Δαμασκὸν καὶ διώδευσεν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ χώρᾳ.

³³καὶ Σίμων ἐξῆλθε καὶ διώδευσεν ἕως ᾿Ασκάλωνος καὶ τῶν πλησίον ὀχυρωμάτων, καὶ ἐξέκλινεν εἰς ᾿Ιόππην καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτήν·

³⁴ἤκουσεν γὰρ ὅτι βούλονται τὸ ὀχύρωμα παραδοῦναι τοῖς παρὰ Δημητρίου· καὶ ἔθετο ἐκεῖ φρουράν, ὅπως φυλάσσωσιν αὐτήν.

³⁵καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασε τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο μετ᾿ αὐτῶν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι ὀχυρώματα ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ

³⁶καὶ προσυψῶσαι τὰ τείχη ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ὑψῶσαι ὕψος μέγα ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς ἄκρας καὶ τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸ διαχωρίζειν αὐτὴν τῆς πόλεως, ἵνα ᾖ αὕτη κατὰ μόνας, ὅπως μήτε ἀγοράζωσι μήτε πωλῶσι.

³⁷καὶ συνήχθησαν τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἤγγισε τοῦ τείχους τοῦ χειμάρρου τοῦ ἐξ ἀπηλιώτου, καὶ ἐπεσκεύασαν τὸ καλούμενον Χαφεναθά.

³⁸καὶ Σίμων ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν ᾿Αδιδὰ ἐν τῇ Σεφήλᾳ καὶ ὠχύρωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπέστησε θύρας καὶ μοχλούς.

³⁹Καὶ ἐζήτησε Τρύφων βασιλεῦσαι τῆς ᾿Ασίας καὶ περιθέσθαι τὸ διάδημα καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρα ἐπὶ ᾿Αντίοχον τὸν βασιλέα.

⁴⁰καὶ ἐφοβήθη μήποτε οὐκ ἐάσῃ αὐτὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ μήποτε πολεμήσῃ πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἐζήτει πόρον τοῦ συλλαβεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπάρας ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν.

⁴¹καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτῷ ἐν τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάσιν ἀνδρῶν ἐπιλελεγμέναις εἰς παράταξιν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν.

⁴²καὶ εἶδε Τρύφων ὅτι πάρεστιν ᾿Ιωνάθαν μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς, καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρας ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν εὐλαβήθη,

⁴³καὶ ἐπεδέξατο αὐτὸν ἐνδόξως καὶ συνέστησεν αὐτὸν πᾶσι τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ δόματα καὶ ἐπέταξε ταῖς δυνάμεσιν αὐτοῦ ὑπακούειν αὐτῷ ὡς ἑαυτῷ.

⁴⁴καὶ εἶπε τῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν· ἱνατί ἔκοψας πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, πολέμου μὴ ἐνεστηκότος ἡμῖν;

⁴⁵καὶ νῦν ἀπόστειλον αὐτοὺς εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν, ἐπίλεξαι δὲ σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας ὀλίγους, οἵτινες ἔσονται μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ δεῦρο μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ παραδώσω σοι αὐτὴν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ὀχυρώματα καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις τὰς λοιπὰς καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν χρειῶν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας ἀπελεύσομαι· τούτου γὰρ χάριν πάρειμι.

⁴⁶καὶ ἐμπιστεύσας αὐτῷ ἐποίησε καθὼς εἶπε, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε τὰς δυνάμεις, καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα.

⁴⁷κατέλιπε δὲ μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ ἄνδρας τρισχιλίους, ὧν δισχιλίους ἀφῆκεν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, χίλιοι δὲ συνῆλθον αὐτῷ.

⁴⁸ὡς δὲ εἰσῆλθεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, ἀπέκλεισαν οἱ Πτολεμαεῖς τὰς πύλας καὶ συνέλαβον αὐτόν, καὶ πάντας τοὺς εἰσελθόντας μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ.

⁴⁹καὶ ἀπέστειλε Τρύφων δυνάμεις καὶ ἵππον εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ τὸ πεδίον τὸ μέγα τοῦ ἀπολέσαι πάντας τοὺς παρὰ ᾿Ιωνάθαν.

⁵⁰καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι συνελήφθη ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ἀπόλωλε καὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ παρεκάλεσαν ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἐπορεύοντο συνεστραμμένοι ἕτοιμοι εἰς πόλεμον.

⁵¹καὶ εἶδον οἱ διώκοντες ὅτι περὶ ψυχῆς αὐτοῖς ἐστι, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν.

⁵²καὶ ἦλθον πάντες μετ᾿ εἰρήνης εἰς γῆν ᾿Ιούδα καὶ ἐπένθησαν τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ τοὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα· καὶ ἐπένθησε πᾶς ᾿Ισραὴλ πένθος μέγα.

⁵³καὶ ἐζήτησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἐκτρίψαι αὐτούς· εἶπαν γάρ· οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἄρχοντα καὶ βοηθοῦντα· νῦν οὖν πολεμήσωμεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐξάρωμεν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν.

¹Now 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.

²He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.

³So 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.

⁴Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.

⁵And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:

⁶Jonathan 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:

⁷There 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.

⁸At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.

⁹Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,

¹⁰Have 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.

¹¹We 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:

¹²And we are right glad of your honour.

¹³As 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.

¹⁴Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:

¹⁵For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.

¹⁶For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.

¹⁷We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

¹⁸Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.

¹⁹And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.

²⁰Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:

²¹It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

²²Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.

²³We 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.

²⁴Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,

²⁵He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country.

²⁶He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.

²⁷Wherefore 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 sentinels round about the host.

²⁸But 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.

²⁹Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.

³⁰Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

³¹Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.

³²And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country,

³³Simon 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.

³⁴For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius’ part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.

³⁵After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judea,

³⁶And 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.

³⁷Upon 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.

³⁸Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.

³⁹Now 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.

⁴⁰Howbeit 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.

⁴¹Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.

⁴²Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him;

⁴³But 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.

⁴⁴Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us?

⁴⁵Therefore 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.

⁴⁶So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.

⁴⁷And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

⁴⁸Now 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.

⁴⁹Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company.

⁵⁰But 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.

⁵¹They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.

⁵²Whereupon 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.

⁵³Then 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.