
ALEXANDER{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Everything began 
with the conquests of 
Alexander the first, son 
of Philip, the 
Macedonian. Setting out 
from Greece, he killed 
Darius, king of the 
Persians and the Medes. 
Being already King of 
Greece, he took the 
throne of Darius. 
{I}2_{/}After fighting 
many battles, conquering 
strongholds and putting 
to death the kings of 
those nations, {I}3_{/}he 
reached the ends of the 
earth and plundered 
several nations. And when 
the world became quiet 
and subject to his power, 
he became proud. 
{I}4_{/}He gathered a 
strong army, ruled over 
provinces and nations, 
and rulers paid him 
taxes. {I}5_{/}But he 
fell sick, and knowing he 
was going to die, 
{I}6_{/}he summoned his 
generals and the noblemen 
who had been brought up 
with him from his youth; 
and while still alive, he 
divided his kingdom among 
them. {I}7_{/}Alexander 
had reigned for twelve 
years when he died.
{I}8_{/}His generals 
assumed power, each one 
in the region assigned to 
him. {I}9_{/}And 
immediately after 
Alexander's death, they 
made themselves kings and 
their sons after them, 
filling the earth with 
evil for many years. 
{I}10_{/}From their 
descendants there came a 
godless offshoot, 
Antiochus Epiphanes, son 
of King Antiochus, who 
had been held as hostage 
in Rome. He became king 
in the one hundred and 
thirty-seventh year of 
the Greek era, (175 
B.C.).
{I}11_{/}It was then that 
some rebels emerged from 
Israel, who succeeded in 
winning over many people. 
They said, "Let us renew 
contact with the peoples 
around us for we have had 
endured many misfortunes 
since we separated from 
them."
{I}12_{/}This proposal 
was well-received 
{I}13_{/}and some eagerly 
went to the king. The 
king authorized them to 
adopt the customs of the 
pagan nations. 
{I}14_{/}With his 
permission, they built a 
gymnasium in Jerusalem in 
the pagan style. 
{I}15_{/}And as they 
wanted to be like the 
pagans in everything, 
they made artificial 
foreskins for themselves 
and abandoned the Holy 
Covenant, sinning as they 
pleased.
ANTIOCHUS DESPOILS THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{I}16_{/}When Antiochus 
felt confident of his 
power, he decided to 
seize Egypt and rule over 
the two nations. 
{I}17_{/}He entered Egypt 
with a strong army, with 
chariots of war, 
elephants, horses and a 
great fleet {I}18_{/}and 
attacked Ptolemy, king of 
Egypt. Ptolemy had to 
retreat and was defeated, 
and many of his men died. 
{I}19_{/}The victors 
seized the fortified 
cities of Egypt and 
plundered the land. 
{I}20_{/}In the year one 
hundred and forty-three 
(169 B.C.), when 
Antiochus returned after 
defeating Egypt, he 
passed through Israel and 
went up to Jerusalem with 
a strong army.
{I}21_{/}He arrogantly 
broke into the sanctuary 
and removed the golden 
altar, the lampstand for 
the light with all its 
accessories, {I}22_{/}the 
table for the bread of 
offering, the libation 
vessels, the cups, the 
golden censers, the 
curtains and the crowns, 
and stripped away all the 
decorations, the golden 
moldings that used to 
cover the Temple 
entrance. {I}23_{/}He 
also took possession of 
the silver, gold, 
valuable objects and all 
the hidden treasures he 
could find. {I}24_{/}He 
took everything with him 
and left for his country, 
after shedding much blood 
and making arrogant 
statements.
{I}25_{/}There was great 
mourning throughout the 
land of Israel: 
{I}26_{/}The leaders and 
the elders groaned, young 
men and maidens lost 
courage, and women grew 
pale; 
{I}27_{/}bridegrooms sang 
lamentations, and the 
young bride wept in her 
marriage-bed. 
{I}28_{/}The earth 
quaked, in sorrow for its 
inhabitants, and all the 
people of Jacob were 
humiliated.
{I}29_{/}After two years, 
the king sent to the 
cities of Judah the chief 
tax collector and he came 
to Jerusalem with a 
strong army. {I}30_{/}He 
spoke to the people with 
words of peace in order 
to deceive them. But when 
he had gained their 
confidence, he suddenly 
fell on the city and 
dealt it a terrible blow, 
killing many Israelites. 
{I}31_{/}He plundered the 
city, burning and 
destroying the palaces 
and the surrounding 
walls.
{I}32_{/}He took women 
and children captive and 
seized the livestock. 
{I}33_{/}Then they 
rebuilt the city of David 
with a high and solid 
wall protected by strong 
towers, and this became 
their fortress. 
{I}34_{/}There they set 
evil men and apostates 
who defended it. 
{I}35_{/}They stored up 
weapons and provisions, 
and everything they 
looted in the city, 
posing a constant threat. 
{I}36_{/}It became an 
ambush for the sanctuary, 
a grave and constant 
threat to Israel. 
{I}37_{/}They shed 
innocent blood around the 
sanctuary and defiled the 
sanctuary itself.
{I}38_{/}The inhabitants 
of Jerusalem fled because 
of them. She became a 
colony of strangers, and 
was a stranger to her 
children who abandoned 
her. {I}39_{/}Her 
sanctuary became empty as 
the desert, her feasts 
became days of mourning, 
her Sabbaths were 
ridiculed, and her fame 
became an object of 
contempt. {I}40_{/}As her 
glory had been great, so 
now was her dishonor, for 
her greatness was turned 
into grief.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION{/}

{I}41_{/}Antiochus issued 
a decree to his whole 
kingdom. {I}42_{/}All the 
peoples of his empire had 
to renounce their 
particular customs and 
become one people. 
{I}43_{/}All the pagan 
nations obeyed and 
respected the king's 
decree, and even in 
Israel many accepted the 
imposed cult. They 
offered sacrifices to 
idols and no longer 
respected the Sabbath. 
{I}44_{/}The King sent 
messengers to Jerusalem 
and the cities of Judea 
to carry the decree which 
imposed strange customs. 
{I}45_{/}In accordance 
with it, burnt offerings, 
sacrifices and other 
offerings in the 
sanctuary were 
suppressed. It also 
ordered that Sabbaths and 
sacred feasts be like 
ordinary days. 
{I}46_{/}The sanctuary 
and its ministers were no 
longer to be regarded 
sacred, {I}47_{/}instead, 
altars, sacred enclosures 
and temples were to be 
dedicated to idols. They 
were to offer pigs and 
unclean animals in 
sacrifice, {I}48_{/}and 
not perform on their sons 
the rite of circumcision. 
To sum up, they were to 
defile themselves by all 
kinds of impurity and 
profanity {I}49_{/}in 
order to forget the Law 
and change all their 
customs. {I}50_{/}The 
decree finally declared: 
"Anyone who does not 
fulfill the king's order 
shall die."
{I}51_{/}The king 
published this obligation 
throughout the province 
and inspectors appointed 
by him went around the 
land of Judea. They saw 
to it that sacrifices 
were offered in all 
cities. {I}52_{/}Many 
Israelites joined them, 
abandoned the Law and 
committed countless evils 
{I}53_{/}obliging the 
true Israelites to find 
places of refuge to hide 
themselves.
{I}54_{/}On the fifteenth 
day of the month of 
Chislev, in the year one 
hundred and forty-five, 
Antiochus erected the 
"abominable idol of the 
invaders" on the altar of 
the temple. Pagan altars 
were built throughout the 
whole land of Judea; 
{I}55_{/}incense was 
offered at the doors of 
their houses and in the 
squares. {I}56_{/}There 
wicked men tore up the 
books of the Law they 
found and burned them. 
{I}57_{/}They killed 
anyone they caught in 
possession of the book of 
the Covenant and who 
fulfilled the precepts of 
the Law, as the royal 
decree had ordered. 
{I}58_{/}And being men in 
power, they pursued the 
Israelite rebels they 
found month after month 
in the cities. 
{I}59_{/}On the twenty-
fifth day of every month, 
they offered their 
sacrifices on the new 
altar they had built upon 
the altar of the Temple.
{I}60_{/}The women who, 
in defiance of the 
decree, had the rite of 
circumcision performed on 
their children, were put 
to death with their 
babies hung around their 
necks. {I}61_{/}Their 
families and all who had 
taken part in the 
circumcision were also 
put to death.
{I}62_{/}But in spite of 
all this, many Israelites 
still remained firm and 
determined not to eat 
unclean food. 
{I}63_{/}They preferred 
to die rather than to 
make themselves unclean 
with those foods 
(prohibited by the Law) 
that violated the Holy 
Covenant. {I}64_{/}And 
Israel suffered a very 
great trial.
MATTATHIAS UNLEASHES THE 
HOLY WAR{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}In those days 
Mattathias, son of Simon, 
a priest of the family of 
Yoarib, left Jerusalem 
and went to settle in 
Modein. {I}2_{/}He had 
five sons: John, known as 
Gaddi, {I}3_{/}Simon 
called Thassi, 
{I}4_{/}Judas called 
Maccabeus, 
{I}5_{/}Eleazar called 
Avaran, and Jonathan 
called Apphus. 
{I}6_{/}Mattathias saw 
the blasphemies committed 
in Judah and Jerusalem, 
{I}7_{/}so he said: 
"Alas! Was I born just to 
witness the ruin of my 
people and the 
destruction of the holy 
city? Shall I sit by 
while she is in the hands 
of her enemies and her 
sanctuary in the power of 
foreigners?
{I}8_{/}Her temple has 
become like a dishonored 
man, {I}9_{/}the precious 
objects that were her 
glory have been carried 
off as booty, her babies 
have been murdered in the 
squares, and her young 
men killed by the sword 
of the enemy. 
{I}10_{/}What nation has 
not received part of her 
treasures and taken 
possession of her spoils? 
{I}11_{/}She has been 
stripped of all her 
adornments and from the 
freedom that was hers, 
she has gone into 
slavery. {I}12_{/}Our 
beautiful sanctuary that 
was our pride has been 
laid waste and profaned 
by pagans. {I}13_{/}What 
is there to live for?"
{I}14_{/}Mattathias and 
his sons tore their 
clothes, put on sackcloth 
and went into deep 
mourning. {I}15_{/}In the 
meantime, the king's 
representatives, who were 
forcing the Jews to give 
up their religion came to 
Modein to organize a 
sacred gathering.
{I}16_{/}While many 
Israelites went to them, 
Mattathias and his sons 
drew apart.
{I}17_{/}The 
representatives of the 
king addressed 
Mattathias, and said to 
him: "You are one of the 
leaders of this city, an 
important and well-known 
man, and your many 
children and relatives 
follow you. {I}18_{/}Come 
now and be the first to 
fulfill the king's order, 
as the men of Judah have 
already done, and the 
survivors in Jerusalem as 
well. You and your sons 
will be named Friends of 
the King and the king 
will send you gold, 
silver and many other 
gifts."
{I}19_{/}But Mattathias 
answered in a loud voice: 
"Even if all the nations 
included in the kingdom 
should abandon the 
religion of their fathers 
and submit to the order 
of King Antiochus, 
{I}20_{/}I, my sons and 
my family will remain 
faithful to the Covenant 
of our fathers. 
{I}21_{/}May God preserve 
us from abandoning the 
Law and its precepts. 
{I}22_{/}We will not obey 
the orders of the king 
nor turn aside from our 
religion either to the 
right or to the left."
{I}23_{/}When he finished 
speaking these words, a 
Jew came forward in the 
sight of everyone to 
offer incense on the 
altar that was built in 
Modein according to the 
king's decree. 
{I}24_{/}When Mattathias 
saw him, he was fired 
with zeal, his heart was 
stirred, and giving vent 
to his righteous anger, 
he threw himself on the 
Jew and cut the man's 
throat on the altar. 
{I}25_{/}At the same 
time, he killed the 
king's representative who 
was forcing the people to 
offer sacrifice, and then 
tore down the altar. 
{I}26_{/}In doing this he 
showed his zeal for the 
Law, as Phinehas had done 
with Zimri, son of Salu.
{I}27_{/}Mattathias then 
began to proclaim loudly 
in the city: "Everyone 
who is zealous for the 
Law and supports the 
Covenant, come out and 
follow me!" 
{I}28_{/}Immediately he 
and his sons fled to the 
mountains and left behind 
all they had in the city.
{I}29_{/}Many Jews who 
looked for justice and 
wanted to be faithful to 
the Law went into the 
desert; {I}30_{/}they 
took with them their 
children, wives and 
livestock because life 
had become unbearable for 
them.
{I}31_{/}Then the king's 
representatives and the 
authority in the city of 
David, in Jerusalem, were 
informed that some men 
had disobeyed the king's 
order and had gone to 
hide in the caves in the 
desert.
{I}32_{/}A strong force 
of the king pursued and 
overtook them. They 
surrounded them and 
prepared themselves for 
an attack. It was the day 
of the Sabbath. 
{I}33_{/}And they said to 
the Jews: "Enough of 
this! Come out and obey 
the king's order if you 
wish to save your lives." 
{I}34_{/}But they 
answered: "We will 
neither come out nor obey 
the king's order to 
violate the day of the 
Sabbath."
{I}35_{/}So they attacked 
them at once, 
{I}36_{/}but the Jews did 
not defend them-selves, 
nor did they try to close 
the entrance of their 
place of refuge. 
{I}37_{/}They said: "We 
shall die with a clear 
conscience but heaven and 
earth will remember that 
we were murdered." 
{I}38_{/}The king's men 
attacked them on that 
Sabbath, and they all 
died - men, women and 
children - a total of 
more than a thousand, not 
counting the livestock.
{I}39_{/}When Mattathias 
and his friends came to 
know what happened, they 
went into deep mourning. 
{I}40_{/}They said to one 
another: "We cannot do as 
our brothers have done; 
we shall fight against 
the pagans to defend our 
life and our customs; 
otherwise, they will 
quickly destroy us." 
{I}41_{/}On that day, 
they resolved to defend 
themselves against anyone 
who attacked them on the 
day of the Sabbath, and 
not let themselves be 
killed, as had happened 
with their people in the 
hiding place.
{I}42_{/}At that time, a 
group of Hasideans (the 
Devout), valiant 
Israelites who devoted 
themselves sincerely to 
the Law, joined them. 
{I}43_{/}All those who 
wanted to escape from 
oppression joined them, 
and in this way they grew 
strong. {I}44_{/}They 
succeeded in forming an 
army; then they began to 
pour their anger and 
indignation onto the 
sinners and renegades. 
These men had to flee to 
other lands for safety. 
{I}45_{/}Mattathias and 
his friends made 
expeditions during which 
they destroyed the 
altars, {I}46_{/}imposed 
by force the rite of 
circumcision on the 
children they found 
uncircumcised, 
{I}47_{/}and pursued all 
the arrogant. The 
undertaking prospered in 
their hands. 
{I}48_{/}They defended 
the Law against 
foreigners and their 
kings, and subdued the 
renegades.
MATTATHIAS' DEATH{/}

{I}49_{/}When Mattathias 
neared his death, he said 
to his sons: "Now the 
insolent and the violent 
are in power; it is a 
time of upheaval in which 
God releases his anger. 
{I}50_{/}So, my sons, be 
zealous for the Law and 
risk your lives defending 
the Covenant of our 
fathers. 
{I}51_{/}Remember the 
deeds our fathers 
fulfilled in their time, 
that you too may have 
fame and glory.
{I}52_{/}Remember Abraham 
who proved himself 
faithful in the hour of 
trial, and how God held 
him to be a righteous 
man. {I}53_{/}Joseph, at 
the time of his 
misfortune observed the 
commandment of God and so 
became the lord of Egypt. 
{I}54_{/}Phinehas, our 
father, because of his 
great zeal received the 
priesthood for himself 
and for his sons forever. 
{I}55_{/}Joshua became 
head of Israel because he 
carried out God's 
command. {I}56_{/}Caleb 
received his inheritance 
in this land because he 
had proclaimed the truth 
before the assembly. 
{I}57_{/}And David was 
given a lasting kingdom 
because of his devotion. 
{I}58_{/}Elijah because 
of his zeal for the Law 
was taken up into heaven. 
{I}59_{/}Hananiah, 
Azariah and Mishael were 
saved from the flames 
because of their faith. 
{I}60_{/}Daniel was 
rescued from the lion's 
mouth because of his 
righteousness. 
{I}61_{/}Consider, then, 
that in any generation 
those who trust in God 
are never defeated.
{I}62_{/}Do not fear the 
threats of an impious 
man, for his glory shall 
end in dung and worms. 
{I}63_{/}Today he is 
exalted, but tomorrow he 
shall perish; he shall 
return to dust from where 
he came, and nothing 
shall remain of his 
plans. {I}64_{/}Have 
courage, my sons, and 
remain steadfast in the 
Law for in this you will 
receive glory.
{I}65_{/}I know that 
among you, Simon is a man 
of sound judgment; listen 
to him and he shall take 
your father's place. 
{I}66_{/}Judas Maccabeus 
has been valiant from his 
youth: let him be your 
general and conduct the 
war against foreigners.
{I}67_{/}Now, call all 
those who fulfill the Law 
to join you and defend 
our people. 
{I}68_{/}Retaliate 
against the pagans and 
fulfill the ordinance of 
the Law."
{I}69_{/}Mattathias 
blessed them and then 
went to join his fathers. 
{I}70_{/}He died in the 
year one hundred and 
forty-six and they buried 
him in the tomb of his 
fathers at Modein; and 
all Israel mourned him 
deeply.
JUDAS MACCABEUS{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Mattathias' son, 
Judas Maccabeus, 
succeeded him. 
{I}2_{/}His brothers and 
all who had followed his 
father gave him their 
support and they 
continued the war with 
determination.
{I}3_{/}Judas made the 
name of his people more 
famous. He put on his 
breastplate and girded 
himself with the armor of 
war like a giant; he 
fought many battles and 
protected his camp with 
his sword.
{I}4_{/}He was like a 
lion when he attacked, 
like a lion's whelp 
roaring over its prey.
{I}5_{/}He pursued the 
renegades in their secret 
places and consigned to 
the flames those who 
troubled his people.
{I}6_{/}All the renegades 
feared him, all evildoers 
were confounded, and 
liberation was 
accomplished through him.
{I}7_{/}Many kings feared 
him, while the people of 
Israel rejoiced in his 
deeds.
His memory shall be 
blessed forever. 
{I}8_{/}He went through 
the cities of Judah 
utterly destroying the 
impious and saved Israel 
in their trial.
{I}9_{/}His fame 
resounded to the ends of 
the earth for having 
gathered those about to 
perish.
FIRST SUCCESSES{/}

{I}10_{/}Apollonius also 
gathered together men 
from the pagans and a 
good number of Samaritans 
to fight Israel. 
{I}11_{/}When Judas 
learned of this, he went 
out to meet him in 
battle; he defeated and 
killed him. Many of the 
enemy fell and the rest 
fled. {I}12_{/}They 
seized the plunder and 
Judas took the sword of 
Apollonius, and from then 
on he always used it in 
battle.
{I}13_{/}Seron, the 
commander of the Syrian 
army, learned that Judas 
had gathered many men and 
that the whole community 
of believers was at his 
side. {I}14_{/}He 
thought: "This is now the 
opportunity for me to 
make myself famous and 
become an important man 
in the kingdom. I will go 
to fight Judas and his 
men who do not obey the 
king's order." 
{I}15_{/}So he did, and a 
strong army of pagans 
went up with him to help 
him take vengeance on the 
children of Israel.
{I}16_{/}As Seron 
approached the slope of 
Beth-horon, Judas went 
out to confront him with 
a small company of 
warriors. {I}17_{/}But on 
seeing the enemy 
advancing against them, 
Judas' men said to him, 
"How can we, few as we 
are, fight against so 
many? And besides, we 
feel weak for we have not 
eaten anything today."
{I}18_{/}But Judas 
declared: "A multitude 
shall easily fall into 
the hands of a few, for 
Heaven can win over 
equally well with the 
help of many or of few. 
{I}19_{/}Victory does not 
depend on the number of 
those who fight, but on 
Heaven which gives us 
strength. {I}20_{/}They 
come against us, moved by 
their pride and 
lawlessness, to seize us 
and take possession of 
our wives and children 
and to take everything 
away from us. 
{I}21_{/}But we are 
fighting for our lives 
and our laws. 
{I}22_{/}God will crush 
them before us; so do not 
be afraid."
{I}23_{/}As soon as he 
finished speaking, he 
suddenly rushed against 
the enemies. Seron and 
his army were defeated. 
{I}24_{/}They pursued 
them down the slope of 
Beth-horon to the plain. 
And about eight hundred 
of Seron's men fell and 
the rest escaped to the 
land of the Philistines.
{I}25_{/}With this, 
fright and fear of Judas 
and his brothers seized 
the pagans who lived 
around them. {I}26_{/}The 
fame of his name reached 
the king, and the pagan 
nations recounted his 
battles.
ANTIOCHUS PREPARES FOR 
WAR{/}

{I}27_{/}When this news 
reached King Antiochus, 
he was furious, so he 
ordered all the forces of 
his kingdom to assemble, 
for he had a powerful 
army. {I}28_{/}He opened 
his treasury and paid the 
troops a year's salary, 
ordering them to be 
prepared for any 
eventuality. {I}29_{/}But 
he found that the money 
in the treasury had run 
short, for the taxes of 
the provinces had 
decreased due to 
dissension and disaster, 
which he himself had 
caused in the land by 
changing the laws that 
were in force from the 
earliest days. 
{I}30_{/}He feared that, 
as before, he would not 
have enough funds for his 
expenses and for the 
gifts he used to give 
more lavishly than 
preceding kings. 
{I}31_{/}So great was his 
need that he decided to 
go to Persia to collect 
the taxes from those 
provinces and raise 
considerable funds.
{I}32_{/}Then he left 
Lysias, a nobleman from 
the royal family, in 
charge of the affairs of 
government, from the 
river Euphrates to the 
Egyptian frontier, 
{I}33_{/}and with the 
responsibility of 
educating the king's son, 
Antiochus, until his 
return. {I}34_{/}And he 
turned over to Lysias 
half of his troops with 
the elephants and gave 
him instructions about 
his policies. On matters 
dealing with the 
inhabitants of Judea and 
Jerusalem, 
{I}35_{/}Lysias was to 
send an army to destroy 
and crush the defenders 
of Israel and all who 
remained in Jerusalem and 
to wipe out even the 
memory of them. 
{I}36_{/}Then he was to 
have foreigners settle 
throughout the Jewish 
territory and distribute 
the land to them by lot.
{I}37_{/}The king took 
with him the remaining 
half of the army and set 
out from Antioch, the 
capital of the kingdom, 
in the year one hundred 
and forty-seven. He 
crossed the river 
Euphrates and went 
through the upper 
provinces.
{I}38_{/}Lysias chose 
from among the Friends of 
the King, Ptolemy the son 
of Dorymenes, Nicanor and 
Gorgias - all influential 
men. {I}39_{/}With them, 
he dispatched forty 
thousand infantry and 
seven thousand cavalry to 
the Judean province to 
destroy it as the king 
had ordered. 
{I}40_{/}They marched out 
with their troops and 
encamped on the plain 
near Emmaus. {I}41_{/}The 
merchants of the region 
heard of their arrival, 
so they went to the camp 
with large amounts of 
silver, gold and fetters, 
proposing to buy the 
Israelites as slaves. The 
Syrian army and those 
from the province of the 
Philistines also joined 
the troops.
{I}42_{/}Judas and his 
brothers understood that 
the situation was 
becoming worse, because 
the enemy had encamped in 
their territory. So when 
they learned of the 
king's order to destroy 
and crush the people, 
{I}43_{/}they said, "Let 
us uplift our people from 
their miserable situation 
and fight for them and 
for the Holy Place!"
{I}44_{/}The whole 
community assembled to 
prepare for war, and they 
prayed and asked God for 
mercy and compassion.
{I}45_{/}Like a desert, 
Jerusalem was left 
without inhabitants. None 
of her children went in 
or out. The temple was 
profaned, and foreigners 
lived in the city which 
had become a dwelling 
place for the pagans. 
There was no more 
rejoicing for Jacob, no 
flute or zither was 
heard.
THE JEWS GATHER AT 
MIZPAH{/}

{I}46_{/}So they gathered 
and went to Mizpah 
opposite Jerusalem 
because Mizpah had been a 
place of prayer for 
Israel. {I}47_{/}They 
fasted that day, put on 
sackcloth, sprinkled 
ashes on their heads and 
tore their garments. 
{I}48_{/}They opened the 
Book of the Law to look 
for an answer to their 
questions, just as the 
pagans consulted the 
images of their idols. 
{I}49_{/}They brought the 
vestments of the priests, 
the first-fruits and the 
tithes, and they brought 
in the Nazirites who had 
completed the days of 
their consecration; 
{I}50_{/}they cried aloud 
to Heaven and said: "What 
shall we do with this 
people, and where shall 
we take them? 
{I}51_{/}For your 
sanctuary has been 
trampled on and profaned, 
your priests are in 
mourning and are 
humiliated. {I}52_{/}And 
now the pagans have 
gathered together to 
destroy us. You know what 
they are plotting against 
us. {I}53_{/}How can we 
resist them, if you do 
not come to help us?" 
{I}54_{/}Then they 
sounded the trumpets and 
made a great outcry.
{I}55_{/}After this, 
Judas appointed officials 
to lead his people: 
leaders of a thousand 
men, leaders of a 
hundred, of fifty, and of 
ten. {I}56_{/}Then he 
told those who were 
building houses, those 
about to marry, those who 
were planting vineyards, 
and those who were 
afraid, to return to 
their homes, as the Law 
allowed. {I}57_{/}Next 
the army marched out and 
encamped to the south of 
Emmaus. {I}58_{/}Judas 
told them: "Prepare your 
weapons; be valiant and 
be ready to fight in the 
morning against those 
foreigners who have 
joined forces to crush us 
and remove our Holy Place 
from this land. 
{I}59_{/}It is better to 
die fighting than to live 
and see the misery of our 
nation and of the Holy 
Place. {I}60_{/}May 
Heaven's will be done in 
everything."
BATTLE OF EMMAUS{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Gorgias took with 
him five thousand 
infantry and a thousand 
picked cavalry, and moved 
out by night {I}2_{/}to 
fall upon the Jews and 
take them by surprise. He 
had asked men from the 
Citadel to guide his 
troops. {I}3_{/}But Judas 
learned of this, so he 
went out with his men to 
attack the king's army in 
Emmaus {I}4_{/}while the 
enemy troops were still 
dispersed outside the 
camp. {I}5_{/}Gorgias 
arrived at the camp of 
the Jews by night but 
found no one there. He 
then began to search for 
them in the mountains, 
for he thought: "They are 
running away from us."
{I}6_{/}But at daybreak, 
Judas appeared in the 
plain with three thousand 
men who had not the armor 
or swords they would have 
liked. {I}7_{/}They saw 
the camp of the pagans 
with its strong 
fortifications and the 
calvary surrounding it - 
all trained men in war. 
{I}8_{/}Judas said to his 
men: "Do not fear the 
number of the enemy or be 
afraid of their attack. 
{I}9_{/}Remember how our 
ancestors were saved at 
the Red Sea when 
Pharaoh's army pursued 
them. {I}10_{/}Cry out to 
God, for if he so wishes 
he will remember his 
Covenant and destroy that 
army before us this very 
day. {I}11_{/}And all the 
nations will know that 
Someone saves and 
liberates Israel."
{I}12_{/}The pagans 
looked up and saw the 
Jews coming down against 
them, {I}13_{/}so they 
came out of their camp to 
face them in battle. 
Judas had the trumpets 
sounded {I}14_{/}and his 
men attacked. The pagans 
were defeated and fled to 
the plain, {I}15_{/}but 
all the rear guard fell 
by the sword. They 
pursued them to Gazara, 
to the plains of Idumea, 
of Azot and Jamnia and 
killed about three 
thousand of the enemy.
{I}16_{/}When Judas and 
his army stopped chasing 
them, {I}17_{/}he said to 
the men with him: "Do not 
think of the booty now, 
for another battle awaits 
us. {I}18_{/}Gorgias with 
his army is in the hills 
close by. Remain ready to 
fight them, and 
afterwards you can gather 
the plunder with nothing 
to worry about." 
{I}19_{/}He had barely 
finished speaking when an 
army detachment appeared 
on the hillside. 
{I}20_{/}These men saw 
that their own troops had 
fled and their camp had 
been destroyed, for the 
smoke that rose up from 
the camp was enough to 
tell them this. 
{I}21_{/}So they were 
terrified. And when they 
saw the army of Judas 
drawn up on the plain 
ready for battle, 
{I}22_{/}they fled to the 
land of the Philistines.
{I}23_{/}So Judas and his 
men returned to plunder 
the camp. They carried 
off valuable booty. 
{I}24_{/}And on their 
return, they sang and 
praised heaven: For he is 
good, and his mercy is 
eternal.
{I}25_{/}That day was a 
great victory for Israel. 
{I}26_{/}The pagans who 
had escaped went to 
Lysias and told him what 
had happened. 
{I}27_{/}When he heard 
this, he was dismayed and 
depressed because things 
in Israel had not gone as 
expected, and he had not 
carried out the king's 
command.
{I}28_{/}The following 
year, he organized an 
army of sixty thousand 
men and five thousand 
cavalry to confront the 
Jews. {I}29_{/}They 
advanced into Idumea and 
encamped at Bethzur. 
Judas came out with ten 
thousand men to meet them 
in battle. {I}30_{/}When 
he saw their military 
strength, he prayed, 
"Blessed are you, Savior 
of Israel, who broke the 
warrior's strength by the 
hand of your servant 
David, and handed over 
the camp of the 
Philistines to the power 
of Jonathan, son of Saul, 
and to his armor-bearer.
{I}31_{/}In the same way, 
give this army into the 
hands of your people 
Israel, and let the 
confidence they place in 
their power and in their 
horses be destroyed. 
{I}32_{/}Fill them with 
fear; shatter their 
confidence in their own 
strength. May they be 
defeated and recover no 
more. {I}33_{/}Deliver 
them to the sword of your 
faithful people so that 
all who know you may 
praise your name."
{I}34_{/}Both sides 
attacked, and five 
thousand men from the 
army of Lysias fell dead. 
{I}35_{/}Lysias saw that 
his army was 
disheartened, while Judas 
and his men grew bolder 
and were ready to live or 
to die nobly. So he 
retreated to Antioch, 
where he recruited 
mercenaries to strengthen 
his army, for he planned 
to return to Judea.
JUDAS PURIFIES THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{I}36_{/}Then Judas and 
his brothers said: "Our 
enemies are defeated, so 
let us go up and purify 
the Holy Place and 
consecrate it again." 
{I}37_{/}And all the army 
assembled and went up to 
Mount Zion. 
{I}38_{/}There they found 
the sanctuary abandoned, 
the altar profaned, the 
gates burned, bushes 
growing in the courtyard 
as in a forest or on a 
mountain, and the rooms 
destroyed. {I}39_{/}They 
tore their garments and 
wept bitterly. Some 
sprinkled ashes on their 
heads, {I}40_{/}while 
others prostrated 
themselves on the ground. 
They sounded the trumpets 
and cried aloud to 
Heaven.
{I}41_{/}Then Judas chose 
men to fight against the 
defenders of the Citadel 
until he had purified the 
temple. {I}42_{/}He chose 
blameless priests who 
showed great zeal for the 
Law {I}43_{/}and had them 
purify the temple and 
bring the stones of the 
abominable altar of the 
pagans to an unclean 
place.
{I}44_{/}They held a 
council to decide on what 
should be done with the 
altar of the holocausts 
which had been defiled. 
{I}45_{/}And they decided 
to destroy it, so that 
shame brought about by 
the pagans might not 
remain with it. 
{I}46_{/}They deposited 
the stones of the said 
altar in a convenient 
place on the temple hill 
until a prophet should 
appear to settle the 
matter.
{I}47_{/}Then they took 
uncut stones as the Law 
prescribed, and built a 
new altar like the former 
one. {I}48_{/}They 
repaired the sanctuary, 
and the interior of the 
house, and consecrated 
the courts.
{I}49_{/}They made new 
sacred vessels and 
brought in the lampstand, 
the altar of incense and 
the table. {I}50_{/}They 
burned incense on the 
altar, and lit the lamps 
on the lampstand, and 
these began to shine in 
the temple. {I}51_{/}They 
placed the bread on the 
table and hung up the 
curtains - bringing to 
completion all that had 
been decided.
{I}52_{/}On the twenty-
fifth day of the month of 
Chislev, in the year one 
hundred and forty-eight 
(164 B.C.) {I}53_{/}they 
arose at dawn and offered 
the sacrifice prescribed 
by the Law on the new 
altar of holocausts which 
they had built. 
{I}54_{/}It was precisely 
at that same time and 
date that the pagans had 
profaned it before; but 
now they consecrated it 
with songs accompanied by 
zithers, harps and 
cymbals. {I}55_{/}All the 
people fell prostrate and 
blessed Heaven that had 
given them happiness and 
success.
{I}56_{/}They celebrated 
the consecration of the 
altar for eight days, 
joyfully offering 
holocausts and 
celebrating sacrifices of 
thanksgiving and praise. 
{I}57_{/}The front of the 
temple was adorned with 
crowns of gold and 
shields; the gates and 
the rooms had been 
restored and fitted with 
doors.
{I}58_{/}There was no end 
to the celebration among 
the people, and so the 
profanation of the temple 
by the pagans was 
forgotten. 
{I}59_{/}Finally, Judas, 
his brothers and the 
whole assembly of Israel 
agreed to celebrate the 
anniversary of the 
consecration of the altar 
annually for eight days, 
from the twenty-fifth of 
the month of Chislev, in 
high festivity.
{I}60_{/}At that time, 
they built around Mount 
Zion high walls and 
strong towers to prevent 
the pagans from coming in 
to occupy it as they had 
done before. 
{I}61_{/}Judas stationed 
a garrison there to 
defend it. He also 
fortified Bethzur so that 
the people might have a 
fortress against Idumea.
JUDAS GOES TO RESCUE THE 
SCATTERED JEWS{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}When the pagans 
who lived around them 
learned that the altar 
had been rebuilt and the 
temple restored as 
before, they became very 
angry. {I}2_{/}They 
determined to destroy the 
descendants of Jacob who 
lived among them; so they 
began killing and driving 
away the Jews.
{I}3_{/}That is why Judas 
declared war against the 
sons of Esau in Idumea 
and in the province of 
Akrabattene, for they 
surrounded Israel. He 
dealt them a mortal blow 
- he humbled them and 
looted them. {I}4_{/}Then 
he remembered the 
wickedness of the gangs 
of Baean who were a 
plague and a permanent 
source of trouble for the 
Jews with their ambushes 
on the roads. {I}5_{/}So 
Judas, after blockading 
and besieging them in 
their towers, took an 
oath to exterminate them; 
he then burned the towers 
with all who were inside.
{I}6_{/}From there he 
crossed over to the land 
of the Ammonites where he 
encountered a large and 
well-organized army under 
the command of Timotheus. 
{I}7_{/}He engaged them 
in many encounters, 
defeated them and crushed 
them. {I}8_{/}He attacked 
and captured the city of 
Yazer with its 
neighboring villages and 
then returned to Judea.
{I}9_{/}The pagans of 
Gilead gathered together 
to destroy the Israelites 
who lived in their 
territory. But the 
Israelites took refuge in 
the fortress of Dathema, 
{I}10_{/}and sent a 
letter to Judas and his 
brothers which said, "The 
pagans around us have 
joined forces to crush us 
{I}11_{/}and are now 
preparing to storm the 
fortress where we have 
taken refuge. Timothy is 
their leader. 
{I}12_{/}Come at once and 
rescue us from their 
hands since many among us 
have already died; 
{I}13_{/}all our brothers 
living in the land of 
Tobias have been 
murdered, their women and 
children taken captives; 
about a thousand men have 
been killed."
{I}14_{/}They were 
reading this letter when 
other messengers arrived 
from Galilee tearing 
their garments as they 
gave this message: 
{I}15_{/}"The people of 
Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon 
and the whole of heathen 
Galilee have united to 
destroy us!"
{I}16_{/}When Judas and 
his men heard this news, 
they summoned a great 
assembly to determine 
what could be done for 
their brothers and 
sisters in distress who 
were fighting for their 
lives. {I}17_{/}Judas 
said to his brother 
Simon: "Choose your men; 
go and free our brothers 
in Galilee; I and my 
brother Jonathan will go 
to Gilead."
{I}18_{/}He left the rest 
of the troops under the 
command of Joseph the son 
of Zechariah, and 
Azariah, a leader of the 
people, to defend the 
land of Judea, 
{I}19_{/}and gave them 
this order: "Remain at 
the head of the people, 
but do not attack the 
pagans until we return."
{I}20_{/}Three thousand 
men were assigned to 
Simon for the campaign in 
Galilee, and eight 
thousand men to Judas for 
Gilead. {I}21_{/}Simon 
left for Galilee and 
defeated the pagans in 
many encounters, 
{I}22_{/}and pursued them 
to the gates of 
Ptolemais. About three 
thousand of the pagans 
fell, and Simon seized 
their spoils. 
{I}23_{/}Then he took 
away with him the Jews 
who were in Galilee and 
Arbatta as well as their 
women and children, and 
all they had, and brought 
them into Judea with 
great rejoicing.
{I}24_{/}Meanwhile, Judas 
Maccabeus and his brother 
Jonathan crossed the 
Jordan and journeyed 
through the desert for 
three days. 
{I}25_{/}There they 
encountered the Nabateans 
who received them in a 
friendly way and told 
them all that had 
happened to their 
brothers in the region of 
Gilead. {I}26_{/}They 
gave them the news that 
many Jews were imprisoned 
in Alema, Chaspho, Maked 
and Carnaim, all large 
and fortified towns in 
the vicinity of Bozrah 
and Bosor. {I}27_{/}They 
also related that Jews 
were also blockaded in 
other cities of Gilead, 
and that the pagans had 
decided to attack their 
strongholds on the 
following day intending 
to destroy all of them in 
one day.
{I}28_{/}Judas quickly 
turned off with his army 
by the desert road to 
Bozrah; he occupied the 
city, put all the men to 
the sword, seized the 
booty and then burned the 
city. {I}29__{/}He left 
the place at night and 
advanced until they 
reached the fortress. 
{I}30_{/}At dawn, the 
Jews looked up and saw an 
innumerable army carrying 
ladders and engines of 
war to attack and capture 
the fortress.
{I}31_{/}Judas saw that 
the attack had begun; 
from the city an uproar 
rose up to heaven with 
shouts and trumpet blast. 
{I}32_{/}He said to his 
men: "Let us now fight 
for our brothers." 
{I}33_{/}Then he divided 
his troops into three 
groups, and attacked the 
enemy from behind, 
sounding the trumpets and 
praying out loud. 
{I}34_{/}When the army of 
Timothy recognized that 
it was Maccabeus, they 
began to escape, but 
Judas dealt them a heavy 
blow, and about five 
thousand of the enemy 
fell that day.
{I}35_{/}From there, 
Judas went to Alema; he 
attacked and occupied the 
city, killed all the men 
and seized the booty, and 
then he burned the city. 
{I}36_{/}From there, he 
captured Chaspho, Maked 
and Bosor and the 
remaining towns of 
Gilead.
{I}37_{/}After these 
events, Timothy gathered 
a new army and encamped 
opposite Raphon, at the 
other side of the stream. 
{I}38_{/}Judas sent men 
to explore the camp and 
they brought back the 
following information: 
"All the pagans of this 
region have joined forces 
under Timothy, forming a 
powerful army. 
{I}39_{/}They have also 
hired Arab mercenaries as 
auxiliaries, and they are 
now encamped at the other 
side of the stream, ready 
to attack you." So Judas 
set out to confront them 
in battle.
{I}40_{/}Timothy saw that 
Judas was approaching the 
stream with his army, so 
he said to the captains 
of his troops, "If he 
crosses first and 
advances against us, he 
shall attack us with such 
great force that we will 
not be able to withstand 
him. {I}41_{/}But if he 
hesitates and encamps at 
the other side of the 
river, then we shall 
cross over to attack and 
defeat him."

{I}42_{/}When Judas 
reached the banks of the 
stream, he assigned the 
officials of his men 
along the stream and 
ordered them: "Do not let 
anyone pitch his tent; 
all are to fight." 
{I}43_{/}Judas was the 
first to cross to the 
enemy, and all his men 
followed. They defeated 
all the pagans who threw 
down their weapons and 
took refuge in the sacred 
enclosure of Carnaim. 
{I}44_{/}But the Jews 
captured the city and 
burned the sacred 
enclosure with everyone 
inside. So Carnaim was 
crushed, and no one was 
able to withstand Judas.
{I}45_{/}Judas gathered 
together all the 
Israelites from the 
region of Gilead, small 
and great, their women 
and children and their 
belongings, an immense 
multitude, to take them 
into the land of Judea. 
{I}46_{/}They reached 
Ephron, a strong and 
important town, situated 
by the road. It was 
impossible to go around 
it either to the right or 
to the left, so they were 
forced to go through it, 
{I}47_{/}but the 
inhabitants entrenched 
themselves inside and 
blocked the entrance with 
stones. {I}48_{/}Judas 
sent them a message of 
peace saying: "Allow us 
to go through your land 
as we go back to ours; we 
will simply walk through 
and none of us will do 
you any harm." But they 
refused to open the gates 
to him.
{I}49_{/}So Judas gave 
orders to his army for 
everyone to take up his 
position where he was. 
{I}50_{/}The men of war 
took up their positions, 
and Judas attacked the 
city all day and night 
until it fell into his 
hands. {I}51_{/}He put 
all the male inhabitants 
to the sword, razed the 
city and took its 
plunder. {I}52_{/}Then 
they passed through the 
city over the bodies of 
the dead and came to the 
great plain after 
crossing the Jordan 
opposite Bethshan.
{I}53_{/}Throughout the 
journey Judas kept on 
encouraging his people 
and rallying those who 
fell behind, until they 
reached the land of 
Judah. {I}54_{/}They went 
up to Mount Zion joyfully 
and well contented, and 
they offered holocausts 
because they had returned 
safe and sound, without 
losing a single man.
JOSEPH AND AZARIAH ARE 
DEFEATED{/}

{I}55_{/}While Judas and 
Jonathan were in the land 
of Gilead, and their 
brother Simon was 
encamped in Galilee 
opposite Ptolemais, 
{I}56_{/}Zechariah's son 
Joseph and Azariah were 
in command of the army. 
When they heard of their 
exploits and how well 
they had done in battle, 
{I}57_{/}they said, "We 
also have to win renown, 
so let us go and fight 
the pagans who live 
around us."
{I}58_{/}So they gave 
orders to their army to 
march against Jamnia. 
{I}59_{/}But Gorgias came 
out of the city with his 
men and attacked them. 
{I}60_{/}Joseph and 
Azariah were defeated and 
pursued as far as the 
borders of Judea, and 
about two thousand 
Israelites fell that day. 
{I}61_{/}The people 
suffered this great 
defeat because the Jewish 
commanders did not listen 
to Judas and his 
brothers, thinking they 
themselves were capable 
of great deeds. 
{I}62_{/}They did not 
belong to those to whom 
the deliverance of Israel 
had been entrusted.
{I}63_{/}The valiant 
Judas and his brothers 
were greatly honored in 
Israel and became famous 
among the foreigners who 
heard of them, 
{I}64_{/}and many came to 
congratulate them.
{I}65_{/}Judas with his 
brothers went to the 
Negeb to fight the 
Edomites. He seized 
Hebron and its villages, 
demolished its walls and 
burned its defending 
towers. {I}66_{/}Then he 
left for the land of the 
Philistines, passing 
through Marisa. 
{I}67_{/}That day some 
priests who wanted to be 
valiant fell because they 
imprudently attacked the 
enemy. {I}68_{/}From 
there Judas turned 
towards Azotus in the 
land of the Philistines. 
He destroyed their 
altars, burned the 
statues of their gods, 
plundered the city and 
then returned to Judah.
LAST DAYS OF ANTIOCHUS 
EPIPHANES{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}When King 
Antiochus was making his 
way through the upper 
regions of Persia, he 
received news about 
Elymais, a city renowned 
for its wealth in silver 
and gold. {I}2_{/}They 
kept in the wealthy 
temple of their city 
golden armor, 
breastplates and weapons 
left there by the 
Macedonian king, 
Alexander the son of 
Philip, the first 
sovereign of the Greeks. 
{I}3_{/}So Antiochus went 
there but the inhabitants 
came out armed against 
him when they learned of 
his intention, so his 
attempt to take the city 
failed. {I}4_{/}He had to 
turn back, and he 
returned much embittered 
to Babylon.
{I}5_{/}While he was 
still in Persia, it was 
reported to him that the 
armies sent to Judea had 
been defeated. They told 
him {I}6_{/}that although 
Lysias had gone with a 
strong army, he had to 
flee before the Jews who 
had been strengthened 
with the weapons and the 
abundant booty taken from 
the neighboring armies. 
{I}7_{/}He heard too that 
the Jews had destroyed 
the abominable idol he 
had erected on the altar 
in Jerusalem, and had 
rebuilt the temple walls 
to the same height as 
before, and had also 
fortified the city of 
Beth-zur.
{I}8_{/}When he received 
this news, he was 
terrified and deeply 
upset. He fell sick and 
became greatly depressed 
because things had not 
turned out the way he had 
planned. {I}9_{/}So he 
remained overcome by this 
terrible anguish for many 
days. He felt that he was 
dying, {I}10_{/}so he 
called his friends and 
said to them, "Sleep has 
fled from my eyes and I 
am greatly crushed by my 
anxieties. {I}11_{/}And I 
keep on asking why such 
grief has come upon me - 
I who was generous and 
well-loved when in power 
- and now I am so 
discouraged.
{I}12_{/}Now I remember 
the evils I did in 
Jerusalem, the vessels of 
gold and silver that I 
stole, the inhabitants of 
Judea I ordered to be 
killed for no reason at 
all. {I}13_{/}I now know 
that because of this, 
these misfortunes have 
come upon me, and I am 
dying of grief in a 
strange land." 
{I}14_{/}The king then 
summoned Philip, one of 
his friends, and 
appointed him 
administrator of his 
whole kingdom. 
{I}15_{/}When he had 
entrusted him with the 
crown, robe and signet 
ring, with the charge of 
educating his son 
Antiochus and preparing 
him for the throne, 
{I}16_{/}Antiochus died 
there in the year one 
hundred and forty-nine 
({I}163{/} B.C.). 
{I}17_{/}As soon as 
Lysias learned of the 
king's death, he 
proclaimed his son 
Antiochus as his 
successor, for he himself 
had trained him from 
childhood and had named 
him Eupator. 
EXPEDITION OF ANTIOCHUS 
V{/}

{I}18_{/}The men from the 
Citadel were blockading 
the Israelites around the 
temple and did not let an 
opportunity pass of 
harming them on behalf of 
the pagans. 
{I}19_{/}Judas decided to 
wipe them out, 
{I}20_{/}so he gathered 
together all the people 
to besiege them. The 
troops assembled and laid 
siege to the Citadel in 
the year one hundred and 
fifty, building firing 
platforms and siege 
engines. {I}21_{/}But 
some of the besieged 
broke through the 
blockade and together 
with renegade Israelites 
{I}22_{/}went to tell the 
king, "How much longer 
will you wait to do us 
justice and avenge our 
brothers? {I}23_{/}We 
took the side of your 
father, we obeyed his 
orders and observed his 
laws. {I}24_{/}The result 
is that the Citadel is 
now besieged by our own 
people and we are treated 
as foreigners. All of us 
who were caught have been 
killed and they have 
seized our property. 
{I}25_{/}And they are 
fighting not only against 
us but in the neighboring 
lands as well.
{I}26_{/}Right now, they 
are encamped against the 
Citadel in Jerusalem to 
capture it, and they have 
fortified the temple and 
the city of Beth-zur. 
{I}27_{/}If you do not 
take the lead now, they 
will do greater things 
and then you will not be 
able to control them."
{I}28_{/}The king was 
enraged when he heard 
this news, and he 
summoned all his friends, 
the generals of the army 
and the commanders of the 
cavalry. {I}29_{/}From 
other kingdoms and 
islands of the sea, he 
recruited mercenary 
troops. {I}30_{/}His 
forces numbered a hundred 
thousand infantry, twenty 
thousand horsemen and 
thirty-two elephants 
trained for battle. 
{I}31_{/}They came 
through Idumea, besieged 
Beth-zur and attacked for 
days, using engines of 
war. But the besieged 
made a sortie and burned 
their engines and bravely 
kept up the resistance.
BATTLE OF BETH-
ZECHARIAH{/}

{I}32_{/}Then Judas 
ceased fighting at the 
Citadel and encamped at 
Beth-zechariah opposite 
the camp of the king. 
{I}33_{/}Early in the 
morning the king rose and 
his army boldly advanced 
along the road to Beth-
zechariah. The troops 
prepared for battle and 
sounded the trumpets.
{I}34_{/}They showed 
juice of grapes and 
mulberries to the 
elephants to arouse them 
for battle, {I}35_{/}and 
distributed them among 
the battalions: one 
thousand men in coat of 
mail and bronze helmet 
lined up at the side of 
each elephant. {I}36_{/}A 
cavalry of five hundred 
picked horsemen went 
before each elephant and 
accompanied it with the 
order not to separate 
from it. {I}37_{/}A 
strong wooden tower was 
fixed to each elephant by 
means of leather straps, 
and four warriors 
including the driver were 
on the tower.
{I}38_{/}The rest of the 
cavalry were stationed on 
the right and left flanks 
of the army to harass the 
enemy and protect the 
battalions. {I}39_{/}When 
the sun shone on the 
shields of gold and 
bronze, the mountains 
glittered and gleamed 
like flames of fire. 
{I}40_{/}One part of the 
king's army was deployed 
up in the mountains and 
the other on the plain. 
All advanced confidently 
and in good order. 
{I}41_{/}The Jews 
trembled when they heard 
the great noise of this 
vast multitude, the 
marching of that mass and 
the clanking of their 
weapons. It was indeed an 
army extremely numerous 
and powerful.
{I}42_{/}Nevertheless 
Judas and his army 
advanced to give battle; 
and about six hundred men 
of the king's army fell. 
{I}43_{/}Eleazar, called 
Avaran, saw one of the 
beasts protected with 
armor which excelled all 
the others, so he 
supposed that it must be 
the king's. {I}44_{/}He 
then sacrificed himself 
to save his people and 
win eternal renown for 
himself. {I}45_{/}He 
boldly charged towards 
the animal right into the 
midst of the battalion, 
killing men right and 
left, scattering the 
enemy before him on both 
sides. {I}46_{/}He 
reached the elephant, 
darted in under it, and 
stabbed it in the belly. 
The elephant collapsed on 
top of him and he died on 
the spot. 
{I}47_{/}The Jews, 
however, aware of the 
tremendous force of the 
king's army and their 
bravery, retreated before 
them. {I}48_{/}The king's 
troops went up to 
Jerusalem to overtake 
them, and the king 
encamped in Judea and 
around Mount Zion. 
{I}49_{/}He made peace 
with the people of Beth-
zur who evacuated the 
city since they had no 
food to continue the 
resistance, for that year 
was a year of rest for 
the land. {I}50_{/}The 
king seized Beth-zur and 
stationed a garrison 
there to guard it.
{I}51_{/}He encamped 
before the temple for a 
long time and set up 
firing platforms, 
crossbows, engines, fire-
throwers, catapults, 
scorpions to discharge 
arrows, and slingers. 
{I}52_{/}The defenders 
also constructed engines 
as their attackers had 
done and they fought for 
a long time. {I}53_{/}But 
they had no food in 
storage, as it was the 
seventh year and because 
the Israelites who came 
to Judea from the pagan 
lands had consumed the 
last of their reserves. 
{I}54_{/}So, few men were 
left in the temple 
because of the famine; 
the others had dispersed.
THE KING GRANTS RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM{/}

{I}55_{/}Meanwhile 
Philip, to whom King 
Antiochus during his life 
had entrusted the 
education of his son 
Antiochus to prepare him 
for the throne, 
{I}56_{/}had returned 
from Persia and Media 
with the army that had 
accompanied the king to 
those regions, and was 
planning to seize power. 
{I}57_{/}This is why 
Lysias hastily gave 
orders to depart, saying 
to the king, the generals 
of the army and the 
soldiers, "We are losing 
strength every day, we 
are short of food and the 
place we are besieging is 
well fortified; we are 
moreover diverting our 
attention from the 
affairs of the kingdom. 
{I}58_{/}Let us, then, 
offer the hand of 
friendship to these men, 
and make peace with them 
and with their nation. 
{I}59_{/}Let us permit 
them to live according to 
their customs as before, 
since all this came to be 
because we suppressed 
their laws, and they have 
risen in defense of 
them."
{I}60_{/}These words 
pleased the king and the 
generals, {I}61_{/}so the 
king sent messengers to 
make peace with the Jews, 
and the Jews accepted it.
When the king and the 
generals had committed 
themselves with an oath, 
the Jews came out of the 
fortress. {I}62_{/}The 
king went up to Mount 
Zion and when he saw the 
defenses, he broke his 
oath and ordered the 
surrounding wall to be 
demolished. {I}63_{/}Then 
he hurriedly left and 
returned to Antioch where 
he found Philip already 
in control of the city. 
So he fought him and took 
the city by force.
{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}In the year one 
hundred and fifty-one, 
Demetrius the son of 
Seleucus escaped from 
Rome. He sailed with a 
few men to a port of the 
kingdom where he arrived 
and proclaimed himself 
king. {I}2_{/}As soon as 
he entered the kingdom of 
his fathers, the army 
arrested Antiochus and 
Lysias to hand them over 
to him. {I}3_{/}When 
Demetrius heard this, he 
said: "I do not want to 
see their faces." 
{I}4_{/}So the army 
executed them and 
Demetrius took the 
throne.
{I}5_{/}At once all the 
Israelites without law or 
religion came to him. 
They were led by Alcimus, 
a man who sought the 
office of chief priest 
for himself. {I}6_{/}And 
they began accusing their 
own people before the 
king, "Judas and his 
brothers have murdered 
all your friends and have 
driven us away from our 
land. {I}7_{/}Send one of 
your trustworthy Friends, 
to see the havoc they 
have caused us and our 
province which belongs to 
the king. Let him punish 
all who support them."
EXPEDITION OF BACCHIDES 
AND NICANOR{/}

{I}8_{/}The king chose 
Bacchides, one of his 
Friends and a 
distinguished man of the 
kingdom, the governor of 
the western province of 
the Euphrates. {I}9_{/}He 
also sent with him 
Alcimus whom he had 
appointed chief priest, 
and ordered them to 
punish the Israelites.
{I}10_{/}They set out 
with a large army. On 
reaching Judea, they sent 
messengers to Judas and 
his brothers with 
treacherous proposals of 
peace. {I}11_{/}But the 
Jews who knew that they 
came with a powerful 
army, did not trust them.
{I}12_{/}However, a 
commission of teachers of 
the Law met with Alcimus 
and Bacchides to seek a 
satisfactory solution. 
{I}13_{/}These men from 
the group of the 
Hasideans, the first to 
seek peace in Israel, 
{I}14_{/}reasoned like 
this: "A man in the line 
of Aaron has come with 
the army, he will surely 
deal with us in 
fairness." 
{I}15_{/}Bacchides, 
moreover, sent them a 
friendly message and 
assured them under oath: 
"We do not wish any harm 
to you and your friends." 
{I}16_{/}They believed 
him. But he arrested 
sixty of them and 
executed them the same 
day, according to the 
word of the Scripture: 
{I}17_{/}Around 
Jerusalem, they have 
scattered the dead bodies 
of your saints; they have 
shed their blood, and 
there was no one to bury 
them.
{I}18_{/}All the people 
were terrified and feared 
them. They said, "There 
is no justice or truth in 
these people who have 
violated the agreement 
they made with an oath."
{I}19_{/}Bacchides left 
Jerusalem and encamped at 
Beth-zur. From there, he 
ordered the arrest of 
many prominent men who 
had deserted to him as 
well as some of the 
people. And he had them 
thrown into a deep pit.
{I}20_{/}Then he placed 
the province in the hands 
of Alcimus, leaving him 
with an army to help him 
and he returned to the 
king. {I}21_{/}Alcimus 
struggled to have the 
Israelites recognize him 
as chief priest, 
{I}22_{/}and all who 
disturbed the peace of 
the people joined him. 
They became masters of 
the land of Judea and did 
great harm to the 
Israelites.
{I}23_{/}Judas saw that 
Alcimus and his men were 
an even greater menace to 
Israel than the pagans 
had been. {I}24_{/}So he 
went throughout the 
territory of Judea to do 
justice to those traitors 
and to prevent them from 
going about the country.
{I}25_{/}Alcimus realized 
that Judas and his men 
were of greater strength 
and that he could not 
resist them, so he 
returned to the king and 
accused them of serious 
crimes. {I}26_{/}The king 
then sent Nicanor, one of 
his more illustrious 
generals and a known 
enemy of Israel, with the 
mission to utterly 
destroy this people.
{I}27_{/}Nicanor reached 
Jerusalem with a large 
army; he sent Judas and 
his brothers false 
messages of friendship 
saying to them, 
{I}28_{/}"Let us not 
begin as enemies once 
more; I will come with a 
few men to meet you face 
to face in friendship."
{I}29_{/}He inded came to 
Judas and they greeted 
each other peaceably, but 
the enemy was prepared to 
seize him. {I}30_{/}Judas 
was told that Nicanor had 
come to him 
treacherously, so he 
withdrew from Nicanor, 
and would not see him 
again. {I}31_{/}When 
Nicanor saw that his 
plans had been 
discovered, he went out 
to look for Judas, and 
this time to fight him. 
He found him near 
Capharsalama. 
{I}32_{/}About five 
hundred of Nicanor's men 
fell and the rest fled to 
the city of David.
NICANOR IS DEFEATED{/}

{I}33_{/}After these 
events, Nicanor went up 
to Mount Zion and some of 
the priests and elders 
came out of the temple to 
greet him peacefully and 
show him the sacrifice 
they offered for the 
king. {I}34_{/}But he 
mocked them, he scorned 
and insulted them 
{I}35_{/}and angrily 
swore this oath: "If you 
do not deliver Judas into 
my hands immediately, as 
soon as I have destroyed 
him, I will return and 
burn this temple." And he 
went away furious.
{I}36_{/}The priests 
entered the temple, and 
they stood weeping before 
the altar and the 
sanctuary. They said, 
{I}37_{/}"You, Lord, 
chose this House that 
your name may be invoked 
in it, that it may be a 
house of prayer and 
petition for your people. 
{I}38_{/}Take vengeance 
on this man and on his 
army; let them die by the 
sword. Remember their 
insults and do not delay 
in punishing them."
{I}39_{/}Nicanor left 
Jerusalem and encamped in 
Beth-horon where the 
Syrian army joined him. 
{I}40_{/}Meanwhile, Judas 
encamped in Adasa with 
three thousand men and 
prayed: {I}41_{/}"Lord, 
when the messengers of 
the king of Assyria 
insulted you, your angel 
came and killed one 
hundred and eighty-five 
thousand of his men. 
{I}42_{/}So now, crush 
this army before us, so 
that all the rest may 
know that this Nicanor 
has blasphemed against 
your temple. Judge him 
according to his 
wickedness."
{I}43_{/}The two armies 
met in battle on the 
thirteenth of the month 
Adar. Nicanor's army was 
defeated and he himself 
was one of the first to 
fall in the battle. 
{I}44_{/}When his troops 
saw that he was dead, 
they threw down their 
weapons and fled. 
{I}45_{/}The Jews pursued 
them a day's journey from 
Adasa to the entrance of 
Gazara, sounding the 
trumpets as they followed 
them. {I}46_{/}The people 
came out from all the 
neighboring villages of 
Judea and surrounded the 
fugitives, forcing them 
to return to defend their 
lives. So all fell by the 
sword, not even one of 
them was left.
{I}47_{/}Then the Jews 
seized the plunder and 
booty; they cut off 
Nicanor's head and the 
right hand he had so 
arrogantly stretched out, 
and they displayed them 
at the entrance to 
Jerusalem within sight of 
all. {I}48_{/}The people 
were elated and 
{I}49_{/}celebrated their 
victory annually on the 
thirteenth of the month 
Adar.
{I}50_{/}The land of 
Judah enjoyed peace for a 
short time.
ALLIANCE WITH THE 
ROMANS{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}In the meantime, 
Judas was informed about 
the Romans. He was told 
that the Romans were 
valiant in war and that 
they showed goodwill 
towards all who sided 
with them; that they 
offered friendship to all 
who approached them, 
{I}2_{/}and were a strong 
ally in war.
He was told of their wars 
and of their exploits 
among the Gauls whom they 
conquered and forced to 
pay taxes, {I}3_{/}and of 
all they had done in 
Spain to gain possession 
of the silver and gold 
mines, {I}4_{/}and how 
they had conquered that 
land by dint of 
intelligence and 
perseverance, despite its 
great distance from their 
own land. He also learned 
how they had defeated the 
kings who came from the 
ends of the earth to 
attack them, how they 
managed to conquer and 
crush them. There were 
others who paid them an 
annual tax.
{I}5_{/}They had defeated 
and subjected Philip and 
Perseus, the kings of 
Macedonia and others who 
opposed them. 
{I}6_{/}They had 
vanquished Antiochus the 
Great, king of Asia, who 
went to fight the Romans 
with one hundred and 
twenty elephants, 
cavalry, chariots and a 
very strong army. But he 
was defeated {I}7_{/}and 
fell into their hands. He 
and his successors were 
forced to pay an enormous 
amount in tax, to 
surrender hostages, and 
to cede some of their 
best provinces 
{I}8_{/}like India, Media 
and Lydia which 
afterwards the Romans 
gave to King Eumenes. 
{I}9_{/}The Greeks had 
planned to come and 
destroy the Romans, 
{I}10_{/}but hearing of 
it, the Romans sent a 
single general against 
them. They killed a great 
number of Greeks, took 
their women and children, 
destroyed their 
fortresses and enslaved 
them to this day.
{I}11_{/}In the same way, 
they also destroyed and 
subdued other countries 
and islands, as well as 
others who opposed them. 
{I}12_{/}But they have 
usually remained faithful 
to their allies and to 
those who relied on them.
The Romans were really 
powerful. They conquered 
kingdoms far and near, 
and all who heard their 
name feared them. 
{I}13_{/}They appointed 
as kings those who were 
to their liking and 
deposed those who were 
not.
{I}14_{/}But in spite of 
all this, not one of them 
had himself crowned or 
dressed as a king in 
order to be exalted. 
{I}15_{/}They had created 
a senate and three 
hundred and twenty men 
deliberated on daily 
matters relating to the 
good of the people and 
the maintenance of order. 
{I}16_{/}Every year they 
would choose one man to 
rule over them and govern 
the empire, and all 
obeyed him without envy 
or jealousy.
{I}17_{/}So Judas sent 
Eupolemus the son of 
John, and Jason the son 
of Eleazar to Rome, 
entrusting them with the 
mission to make a 
covenant of friendship 
with the Romans. 
{I}18_{/}Since the Greeks 
treated the Israelites as 
slaves, Judas hoped to 
liberate them from 
oppression in this way.
{I}19_{/}The envoys from 
Judas went to Rome, where 
they arrived after a long 
journey. When they 
entered the Senate they 
addressed the assembly: 
{I}20_{/}"Judas 
Maccabeus, his brothers 
and the people of Israel 
have sent us to you to 
conclude a covenant of 
peace with you and to be 
numbered among your 
allies and friends." 
{I}21_{/}The Romans 
approved this proposal, 
{I}22_{/}and this is the 
copy of the letter they 
wrote on bronze tablets 
which they sent to 
Jerusalem as a memorial 
of peace and alliance:
{I}23_{/}"May all go well 
with the Romans and the 
Jewish people at sea and 
on land forever, may both 
sword and enemy be far 
from them! {I}24_{/}If 
war comes first to the 
Romans, or to any of 
their allies in any part 
of its empire, 
{I}25_{/}the Jewish 
nation shall enter the 
war wholeheartedly, as 
circumstances permit. 
{I}26_{/}The Jewish 
nation will not receive 
from them wheat or 
weapons, or money, or 
ships as Rome has 
decided. They must 
fulfill their obligations 
without recompense.
{I}27_{/}In the same way, 
if the Jewish nation is 
attacked, the Romans 
shall fight at her side 
with all zeal as 
circumstances may allow. 
{I}28_{/}The Roman allies 
will not receive wheat or 
weapons, or money, or 
ships as Rome has 
decided, but the Romans 
shall fulfill their 
obligations without 
deception. {I}29_{/}On 
these terms the Romans 
conclude their alliance 
with the Jewish nation.
{I}30_{/}If after these 
terms have taken effect, 
either party should wish 
to add or delete 
anything, the said party 
shall do so in common 
agreement with the other 
party, then what has been 
added or deleted shall be 
binding.
{I}31_{/}And concerning 
the harm King Demetrius 
does to the Jews, we have 
written to him as 
follows, "Why do you lay 
such a heavy yoke upon 
the Jews, our friends and 
allies? {I}32_{/}If they 
complain about you again, 
we shall defend their 
rights and attack you by 
sea and land."
DEATH OF JUDAS 
MACCABEUS{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}When Demetrius 
was informed of the death 
of Nicanor and the defeat 
of his army, he sent 
Bacchides and Alcimus 
back to Judea with the 
best troops of his army. 
{I}2_{/}They took the 
road to Galilee and 
besieged the city of 
Mesaloth in the Arbela 
region. They captured it 
and killed many. 
{I}3_{/}In the first 
month of the year one 
hundred and fifty-two, 
they encamped before 
Jerusalem. {I}4_{/}From 
there twenty thousand 
infantry and two thousand 
cavalry set out for 
Berea. {I}5_{/}Judas had 
his camp in Elasa with 
three thousand picked 
men. {I}6_{/}When they 
saw the huge number of 
enemies, they were 
terrified. Many slipped 
out of the camp, and only 
eight hundred men were 
left. {I}7_{/}Judas saw 
the dispersal of his army 
and this crushed his 
spirit. The battle was 
imminent but he had no 
time to group them 
together. {I}8_{/}Yet in 
spite of being dismayed, 
he did his best to 
encourage those who 
remained with him: "Let 
us fight our enemies. We 
may yet be able to defeat 
them."
{I}9_{/}They tried to 
dissuade him, "We cannot 
do anything now but save 
ourselves. We can come 
back later with our 
brothers and fight. But 
now we are too few." 
{I}10_{/}But Judas 
answered them, "God 
forbid that I should run 
away from them. If our 
time has come, then let 
us die as valiant men for 
our brothers, without 
tarnishing our glory."
{I}11_{/}The army of 
Bacchides marched out of 
their camp while the Jews 
remained in their place 
to engage them in battle. 
The cavalry was divided 
into two wings. In the 
first line, the veterans 
in war advanced, and the 
archers and slingers 
followed. 
{I}12_{/}Bacchides was on 
the right wing. At the 
sound of the trumpets, 
they advanced on both 
sides. The Jews also 
sounded the trumpets. 
{I}13_{/}And the earth 
trembled with the noise 
of the armies, and a 
battle began which lasted 
the whole day.
{I}14_{/}Judas saw that 
Bacchides and the main 
strength of his army was 
on the right. The most 
courageous of the 
Israelites went with him, 
{I}15_{/}and they 
defeated the right wing 
of the enemy, pursuing 
them up to the hills. 
{I}16_{/}But when those 
on the left wing saw the 
right wing being 
defeated, they attacked 
Judas and his men from 
the rear. {I}17_{/}They 
fought bitterly and many 
fell on both sides. 
{I}18_{/}Judas also fell, 
and the rest fled.
{I}19_{/}Jonathan and 
Simon took their brother 
and buried him in the 
tomb of their fathers at 
Modein. {I}20_{/}All the 
people of Israel mourned 
and wept for him for many 
days, repeating this 
lamentation: 
{I}21_{/}"How the hero 
has fallen, he who saved 
Israel."
{I}22_{/}The other deeds 
of Judas, his battles, 
exploits and heroism were 
not written for they were 
many.
JONATHAN SUCCEEDS 
JUDAS{/}

{I}23_{/}After the death 
of Judas, the renegades 
reappeared throughout the 
territory of Israel and 
the evildoers took 
courage. {I}24_{/}At the 
same time, there was a 
severe famine, and the 
country went over to 
their side. 
{I}25_{/}Bacchides chose 
renegade men and made 
them masters of the land. 
{I}26_{/}These men traced 
and searched out all the 
friends and supporters of 
Judas and brought them 
before Bacchides who 
punished and humiliated 
them in a thousand ways. 
{I}27_{/}It was a 
terrible trial for Israel 
such as had never been 
experienced since the 
disappearance of the 
prophets.
{I}28_{/}So the friends 
of Judas came together 
and said to Jonathan, 
{I}29_{/}"Since your 
brother Judas died, we 
haven't found anyone like 
him to head the 
resistance against the 
enemy, against Bacchides 
and all the enemies of 
our nation. {I}30_{/}So 
we now choose you to take 
his place, to be our head 
and lead us in our wars." 
So from that day on, 
{I}31_{/}Jonathan 
accepted the leadership 
and succeeded his brother 
Judas.
{I}32_{/}When Bacchides 
heard of this, he planned 
to kill Jonathan. 
{I}33_{/}But Jonathan was 
informed of the plot and 
fled to the desert of 
Tekoa, together with his 
brother Simon and his 
followers. They encamped 
by the lake Asphar. 
{I}34_{/}Bacchides found 
this out on the sabbath 
day, and with all his 
army he crossed the 
Jordan.
{I}35_{/}Jonathan had 
sent his brother John, 
representative of the 
people, to ask their 
friends the Nabatean to 
store for them their 
large amount of baggage. 
{I}36_{/}But the tribe of 
Yambri and the people of 
Medeba captured John and 
took all he had with him, 
then departed with the 
booty. {I}37_{/}After 
this had happened, 
Jonathan and his brother 
Simon were told that the 
Yambrites were 
celebrating a solemn 
wedding and were 
escorting the bride, a 
daughter of one of the 
magnates, from Nadabath 
with great pomp.
{I}38_{/}Both remembered 
the murder of their 
brother John, so they 
went up and hid under 
cover of the mountain. 
{I}39_{/}At a certain 
moment they heard a 
confusion of sounds; then 
they saw a great deal of 
baggage. The bride groom, 
his friends and brothers 
came straight to them 
with tambourines, musical 
instruments and many 
weapons. {I}40_{/}Then 
the Jews rushed down on 
them from their ambush 
and killed them. There 
were many casualties and 
others fled to the 
mountain. Finally the 
Jews seized all the 
plunder. {I}41_{/}So the 
wedding turned to 
mourning and the music to 
lamentation. 
{I}42_{/}Having avenged 
the death of their 
brother, the Israelites 
went back to the marshes 
of the Jordan.
Let us return to 
Bacchides. {I}43_{/}He 
arrived with a strong 
army on the sabbath day 
at the banks of the 
Jordan. {I}44_{/}So 
Jonathan said to his men, 
"Courage! Let us fight 
for our lives, for today 
things are going to be 
serious. {I}45_{/}Dangers 
surround us - we have the 
waters of the Jordan on 
this side, the marshes 
and the thickets on the 
other side - there is no 
place to turn. 
{I}46_{/}So cry out to 
Heaven for deliverance 
from our enemies."
{I}47_{/}And the battle 
began. Jonathan stretched 
out his arm to strike 
Bacchides, but he eluded 
him and withdrew. 
{I}48_{/}So Jonathan and 
his men leapt into the 
Jordan, swimming to the 
other side; but their 
enemies did not follow 
them. {I}49_{/}On that 
day, about a thousand of 
Bacchides' men fell.
{I}50_{/}Bacchides 
returned to Jerusalem. 
Then he began to build 
fortified cities in Judea 
- the strongholds of 
Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-
horon, Bethel, Timnath, 
Pharathon and Tephon - 
with high walls and 
barred gates, 
{I}51_{/}and a garrison 
stationed in each of them 
to harass the Israelites. 
{I}52_{/}He also 
fortified the cities of 
Beth-zur, Gazara and the 
Citadel, and placed 
troops in each of them 
with supplies of 
provisions. {I}53_{/}He 
took the sons of the 
leaders of the land as 
hostages and imprisoned 
them in the Citadel of 
Jerusalem.
{I}54_{/}In the year one 
hundred and fifty-three, 
(159 B.C.) in the second 
month, Alcimus ordered 
the demolition of the 
wall of the inner court 
of the temple. This meant 
no less than destroying 
the work of the prophets. 
{I}55_{/}Alcimus did in 
fact begin the demolition 
but soon after suffered a 
stroke, so the work was 
suspended. Alcimus was no 
longer able to speak, not 
even to rule over his 
household. {I}56_{/}After 
a while, he died in great 
agony. {I}57_{/}Because 
of his death, Bacchides 
returned to the king and 
the land had peace for 
two years.
THE SIEGE OF BETHBASI{/}

{I}58_{/}Then all the 
renegades agreed on a 
plan: "Jonathan and his 
people now live in peace 
without any fear at all. 
Let us bring Bacchides 
back; he can arrest them 
all in one night." 
{I}59_{/}They went to 
Bacchides, and when they 
had convinced him, 
{I}60_{/}he set out with 
a large contingent. He 
secretly sent letters to 
his supporters in Judea 
instructing them to seize 
Jonathan and his men. But 
their plot was found out 
and their plan foiled. 
{I}61_{/}Instead the 
supporters of Jonathan 
arrested fifty Jewish 
leaders of this 
conspiracy and had them 
executed.
{I}62_{/}Jonathan and 
Simon then withdrew with 
their men to Bethbasi in 
the desert; they rebuilt 
the ruins and fortified 
it. {I}63_{/}When 
Bacchides heard this, he 
assembled all his men and 
notified his adherents in 
Judea. {I}64_{/}He went 
to attack Bethbasi, 
besieged it for many days 
and built engines of war. 
{I}65_{/}Then Jonathan 
left his brother Simon in 
the city and went out 
into the countryside with 
a handful of men. 
{I}66_{/}He defeated 
Odomera and his brothers 
and the people of 
Phasiron in their camp. 
{I}67_{/}Then they turned 
back and began to attack 
the troops who had laid 
siege to the city. 
Meanwhile, Simon and his 
men went out of the city 
and burned the engines. 
{I}68_{/}They attacked 
Bacchides who was 
defeated and dismayed by 
the failure of his 
expedition. {I}69_{/}He 
was greatly enraged 
against the renegades who 
had advised him to return 
to the Jewish country; he 
executed many of them, 
and decided to return to 
his own land. 
{I}70_{/}When Jonathan 
learned this, he sent 
messengers to him to make 
a treaty of peace and to 
exchange prisoners.
{I}71_{/}Bacchides 
accepted his terms. For 
Bacchides' part, he 
fulfilled his promises 
and swore that henceforth 
and until the day of his 
death, he would never 
harm him in any way. 
{I}72_{/}He turned over 
to Jonathan the prisoners 
taken earlier in Judea. 
Then he returned to his 
own country and never 
came back again to the 
territory of Judea. 
{I}73_{/}So there was 
peace in Israel, and 
Jonathan resided in 
Michmash where he began 
to govern the land, and 
the renegades disappeared 
from Israel.
WAR BETWEEN ALEXANDER 
BALAS AND DEMETRIUS{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}In the year one 
hundred and sixty (152 
B.C.), Alexander 
Epiphanes, son of 
Antiochus, sailed for 
Ptolemais and occupied 
it. He was well received 
and he began to reign. 
{I}2_{/}When Demetrius 
heard this, he assembled 
a very large army and 
marched out to fight him. 
{I}3_{/}At the same time, 
he sent a letter of 
friendship to Jonathan 
and offered him vast 
power, {I}4_{/}for 
Demetrius thought: "Let 
us make the first move in 
making peace with him 
before he makes peace 
with Alexander against 
us, {I}5_{/}remembering 
all the wrongs we have 
done to him, his brothers 
and his nation."
{I}6_{/}So Demetrius 
authorized Jonathan to 
organize an army and 
manufacture arms; he 
named him his ally and 
ordered the release of 
the hostages who were in 
the Citadel of Jerusalem. 
{I}7_{/}Jonathan went at 
once to Jerusalem and 
read the letter before 
all the people and those 
in the Citadel. 
{I}8_{/}They were afraid 
when they heard that the 
king had authorized 
Jonathan to organize a 
great army, {I}9_{/}and 
they released the 
hostages to Jonathan who 
handed them back to their 
families. 
{I}10_{/}Jonathan resided 
in Jerusalem and began 
rebuilding and restoring 
the city. {I}11_{/}He 
commanded the builders to 
build the walls and the 
defenses of Mount Zion 
with hewn stones. And 
they did so.
{I}12_{/}Then all the 
foreigners who stayed in 
the fortresses built by 
Bacchides began to flee, 
{I}13_{/}each of them 
abandoning his post and 
returning to his own 
land. {I}14_{/}Only at 
Beth-zur did some who had 
abandoned the Law and the 
precepts remain, since 
this was like a place of 
refuge.
{I}15_{/}King Alexander 
was informed of the 
promises Demetrius had 
made to Jonathan; he was 
also given an account of 
the battles and exploits 
of Jonathan and his 
brothers and the trials 
they had endured. 
{I}16_{/}So Alexander 
declared: "Shall we ever 
find another man like 
him? Let us make him our 
ally and friend." 
{I}17_{/}And he wrote him 
a letter: {I}18_{/}"King 
Alexander to our brother 
Jonathan, peace. 
{I}19_{/}We have heard of 
you, that you are a 
valiant man and most 
worthy of our friendship. 
{I}20_{/}Therefore, we 
now appoint you High 
Priest of your nation and 
bestow on you the title 
Friend of the King (he 
also sent him a purple 
robe and a golden crown). 
So we invite you to watch 
over our interests and 
maintain friendly 
relations with us."
{I}21_{/}This is why in 
the seventh month of the 
year one hundred and 
sixty (152 B.C.), on the 
occasion of the feast of 
Tabernacles, Jonathan put 
on the sacred vestments. 
He also recruited troops 
and manufactured a great 
quantity of arms.
{I}22_{/}When Demetrius 
heard what had happened, 
he was greatly displeased 
and said, {I}23_{/}"What 
have we done that 
Alexander is ahead of us 
in gaining the friendship 
of the Jews? {I}24_{/}I 
will also write them kind 
words and promise them 
honor and gifts to win 
them to my side." 
{I}25_{/}So he wrote to 
the Jews:
"King Demetrius greets 
the Jewish nation. 
{I}26_{/}You have kept 
your agreement with us 
and have remained our 
friends, and have not 
joined our enemies. We 
have heard of it and so 
we rejoice. 
{I}27_{/}Therefore, 
continue to be faithful 
and we will grant you 
privileges in return for 
all you do on our behalf. 
{I}28_{/}I will free the 
Jews from many taxes and 
grant them royal 
privileges and 
exemptions. {I}29_{/}From 
now on and forever, I now 
free all Jews from 
payment of tribute, salt 
dues and crown levies. 
{I}30_{/}I give up from 
this day and henceforth 
the third of the harvest 
and half of the fruit of 
the trees which I have 
the right to exact from 
the region of Judea and 
the three districts 
annexed to it from 
Samaria and Galilee. 
{I}31_{/}From this day on 
and for all time, 
Jerusalem shall be a Holy 
City and be free with all 
its territory, with the 
right to collect tithes 
and tributes. {I}32_{/}I 
also give up control of 
the Citadel of Jerusalem 
and turn it over to the 
High Priest that he may 
choose the men he wants 
to defend it. {I}33_{/}I 
grant freedom without 
ransom to all the 
captives taken from Judea 
into any part of my 
kingdom. I free everyone 
from the taxes they owe 
me for their livestock.
{I}34_{/}All feasts, 
sabbaths, new moons, 
special days and the 
three holy days before 
and after a feast shall 
be days of exemption for 
all the Jews in my 
kingdom. {I}35_{/}No one 
shall have the right to 
pursue or molest them for 
any motive whatsoever. 
{I}36_{/}I also decree 
that they be accepted 
into the king's army to 
the number of thirty 
thousand Jews who shall 
receive the same salary 
as the rest of the king's 
forces. {I}37_{/}Some of 
them shall be stationed 
at the king's fortresses, 
and positions of trust 
shall be given to some of 
them; their officers 
shall be chosen from 
among themselves and they 
will live according to 
their laws as the king 
has prescribed in the 
land of Judea.
{I}38_{/}The three 
districts of Samaria 
annexed to Judea shall be 
considered part of Jewish 
territory; to avoid any 
conflict of power, these 
shall be subject to no 
authority other than that 
of the High Priest. 
{I}39_{/}I give the city 
of Ptolemais and its 
territory as a gift to 
the temple of Jerusalem 
to cover the expenses of 
public worship. 
{I}40_{/}Henceforth, I 
will give fifteen 
thousand pieces of silver 
annually for the 
maintenance of the temple 
which shall be taken from 
the royal revenues from 
appropriate places. 
{I}41_{/}Moreover, I give 
all that should have been 
paid to me by the 
administrators in 
previous years.
{I}42_{/}In addition, I 
also remit the five 
thousand pieces of silver 
levied every year from 
the tributes to the 
temple, and give them to 
the priests in charge of 
public worship. 
{I}43_{/}Anyone who takes 
refuge in the temple of 
Jerusalem or in any of 
its enclosures because of 
his debt on royal taxes 
or because of any other 
debt, shall not be 
disturbed and his 
possessions anywhere in 
my kingdom shall be duly 
protected.
{I}44_{/}Finally, the 
cost of rebuilding or 
restoring the sanctuary 
shall be passed on to the 
king's account, 
{I}45_{/}as well as the 
expenses of 
reconstructing the walls 
of Jerusalem, the 
fortification of its 
defenses and the 
construction of the walls 
in the cities of Judea."
{I}46_{/}When Jonathan 
and the people heard such 
proposals, they did not 
believe or accept them, 
for they remembered the 
great wrongs Demetrius 
had done to Israel and 
the ill-treatment to 
which he had subjected 
them. {I}47_{/}They 
decided in favor of 
Alexander, for he was the 
first to propose peace, 
and they became his 
faithful allies. 
{I}48_{/}King Alexander 
assembled a great army 
and encamped opposite 
Demetrius. {I}49_{/}The 
two kings met in battle 
and the army of Demetrius 
was routed. Alexander 
pursued him until 
Demetrius was defeated. 
{I}50_{/}The battle 
lasted until sunset, and 
on that day Demetrius 
died.
{I}51_{/}Then Alexander 
sent messengers to 
Ptolemy the king of Egypt 
with the following 
message: {I}52_{/}"I am 
now again in my kingdom 
and have assumed power 
after defeating Demetrius 
and all his army. 
{I}53_{/}Now I occupy the 
throne of my fathers as 
master of all the land. 
Let us be friends. 
{I}54_{/}Give me your 
daughter in marriage, and 
I will become your son-
in-law, and I will give 
you, and her, gifts 
worthy of you."
{I}55_{/}King Ptolemy 
replied as follows: 
"Blessed be the day when 
you returned to the land 
of your fathers and 
ascended to their throne! 
{I}56_{/}I will without 
delay do for you as you 
have proposed. But meet 
me in Ptolemais. There we 
shall see one another and 
I will receive you as my 
son-in-law as you have 
requested."
{I}57_{/}Ptolemy left 
Egypt with his daughter 
Cleopatra in the year one 
hundred and sixty-two, 
and arrived at Ptolemais. 
{I}58_{/}Alexander went 
to meet him, and Ptolemy 
gave him his daughter 
Cleopatra, and celebrated 
her wedding with great 
splendor as kings do.
POLITICAL LIABILITY OF 
JONATHAN{/}

{I}59_{/}King Alexander 
also wrote to Jonathan to 
come and meet him. 
{I}60_{/}So Jonathan went 
to Ptolemais with great 
pomp and met the two 
kings. Then he gave them 
and their Friends much 
silver and gold and many 
other gifts. {I}61_{/}The 
renegades, the pest of 
Israel, gathered together 
to accuse Jonathan, but 
the king paid no 
attention to them. 
{I}62_{/}The king even 
gave orders that Jonathan 
remove his garment and be 
clothed in purple and it 
was done. {I}63_{/}The 
king also seated him by 
his side, and said to his 
captains: "Go with him 
into the center of the 
city and proclaim that no 
one is to accuse Jonathan 
under any pretext, and no 
one is to molest him for 
any reason." 
{I}64_{/}When his 
accusers saw the public 
honor given to Jonathan 
and that he was clothed 
in purple, they all fled. 
{I}65_{/}The king did him 
great honor and enrolled 
him among his first 
Friends, and appointed 
him general and governor. 
{I}66_{/}So Jonathan 
returned to Jerusalem 
happy and secure.
{I}67_{/}In the year one 
hundred and sixty-five 
(147 B.C.), Demetrius the 
son of Demetrius, 
returned from Crete to 
the land of his fathers. 
{I}68_{/}When King 
Alexander heard of it, he 
was so greatly disturbed 
that he returned to 
Antioch. 
{I}69_{/}Demetrius took 
his general Apollonius, 
the governor of Coele-
Syria, who assembled a 
large force. He encamped 
at Jamnia and sent the 
following message to 
Jonathan, the high 
priest:
{I}70_{/}"Are you the 
only one who resists our 
authority? And am I to be 
ridiculed because of you? 
Why do you stand against 
our authority in your 
mountains? {I}71_{/}If 
you have confidence in 
your forces, come down to 
the plain and let us 
measure each other's 
strength there, for I 
have with me the army of 
the cities.
{I}72_{/}Inquire and find 
out who I am and who are 
those who support me. Men 
will tell you that you 
cannot resist us, for 
your fathers were twice 
defeated on their own 
land. {I}73_{/}Nor will 
you be able to withstand 
the cavalry and so great 
an army on the plain, 
where there are no stones 
or rocks offering a 
refuge."
{I}74_{/}When Jonathan 
heard Apollonius' 
message, he was greatly 
aroused. So he left 
Jerusalem with ten 
thousand picked men, and 
his brother Simon came to 
his help. {I}75_{/}They 
encamped near Joppa, but 
the inhabitants of the 
city closed the gates to 
them, as Apollonius had a 
garrison there. 
{I}76_{/}So Jonathan gave 
the order to attack. The 
people in the city were 
so afraid that they 
opened the gates to him, 
and Jonathan occupied 
Joppa. {I}77_{/}When 
Apollonius learned of it, 
he mobilized three 
thousand cavalry and a 
large army. Then he set 
out towards Azotus, 
pretending to march 
through the land, but in 
fact his troops were 
spreading out in the 
direction of the plain, 
since he had a great 
number of cavalry on 
which he relied. 
{I}78_{/}Jonathan pursued 
him towards Azotus and 
they began to fight. 
{I}79_{/}Apollonius had 
left a thousand picked 
horsemen hidden behind 
Jonathan, {I}80_{/}but 
Jonathan was informed of 
the ambush.
The horsemen surrounded 
Jonathan's men and shot 
their arrows from morning 
till evening. 
{I}81_{/}But the 
Israelites faced them as 
Jonathan had commanded 
until the horses of the 
enemy tired. Once the 
cavalry were exhausted, 
{I}82_{/}Simon and his 
men advanced and attacked 
the infantry. The enemy 
was defeated and fled.
{I}83_{/}The cavalry 
scattered over the plain 
and those who fled went 
to Azotus, where they 
entered the temple of 
Dagon, their idol, to 
save their lives. 
{I}84_{/}But Jonathan set 
fire to Azotus and the 
surrounding towns, and 
plundered them. He also 
burned down the temple of 
Dagon with all who had 
taken refuge in it. 
{I}85_{/}There were about 
eight thousand men who 
either fell by the sword 
or were burned to death. 
{I}86_{/}Jonathan then 
left for Askalon where 
the inhabitants received 
him with great honor. 
{I}87_{/}From there, 
Jonathan and his men 
returned to Jerusalem 
laden with booty.
{I}88_{/}When King 
Alexander heard what had 
happened, he bestowed new 
honors on Jonathan. 
{I}89_{/}He sent him a 
golden brooch which is 
usually given to the 
kinsmen of kings. He also 
gave him Ekron and all 
its territory as his 
possession.
{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}But the king of 
Egypt assembled an army 
as numerous as the sands 
of the seashore, with 
many ships, for he 
intended to trick 
Alexander, take his 
kingdom and add it to his 
own. {I}2_{/}He went to 
Syria with words of 
peace, and the 
inhabitants of the cities 
opened their gates to 
him. They came out to 
meet him, as Alexander 
had ordered, 
{I}3_{/}because Ptolemy 
was his father-in-law. 
But as soon as Ptolemy 
entered the cities, he 
stationed garrisons in 
them. {I}4_{/}When he 
reached Azotus, he was 
shown the burnt temple of 
Dagon, Azotus and its 
surroundings in ruins, 
the scattered corpses 
that had been abandoned, 
and the charred remains 
of those whom Jonathan 
burned to death in the 
battle, piled in heaps 
along the king's way.
{I}5_{/}They recounted to 
King Ptolemy everything 
Jonathan had done. They 
were hoping that the king 
would disapprove, but he 
said nothing. 
{I}6_{/}Jonathan went 
with great pomp to Joppa 
to meet the king. They 
greeted each other and 
spent the night there. 
{I}7_{/}On the following 
day, Jonathan accompanied 
the king as far as the 
Eleutherus river, and 
then returned to 
Jerusalem. {I}8_{/}King 
Ptolemy for his part 
seized the coastal cities 
as far as Deleucia by the 
sea, for he had made 
plans against King 
Alexander. {I}9_{/}He 
sent this message to 
Demetrius: "Come and let 
us forge an alliance. I 
will give you my daughter 
who was married to 
Alexander, and you will 
reign on the throne of 
your fathers. 
{I}10_{/}The fact is I 
now regret having given 
him my daughter, for he 
has tried to kill me." 
{I}11_{/}He accused 
Alexander because he 
wanted to take his 
kingdom. {I}12_{/}Ptolemy 
took his daughter away 
and gave her to 
Demetrius. In this way, 
his enmity towards 
Alexander became public. 
{I}13_{/}Ptolemy then 
entered Antioch and took 
for himself the crown of 
Asia. So he held two 
kingdoms: the kingdom of 
Egypt and the kingdom of 
Asia.
{I}14_{/}At that time, 
Alexander was in Cilicia 
trying to quell a 
rebellion. {I}15_{/}When 
he heard what had 
happened, he returned to 
fight Ptolemy. Ptolemy 
went out to meet him in 
battle with a strong 
army, and Alexander was 
defeated. {I}16_{/}As he 
fled to Arabia and sought 
refuge there, 
{I}17_{/}Zabdiel the Arab 
cut his head off and sent 
it to Ptolemy. 
{I}18_{/}But after three 
days, Ptolemy died, and 
immediately the Egyptian 
soldiers who guarded the 
fortified cities were 
killed by the local 
inhabitants. {I}19_{/}In 
this way, Demetrius 
became king in the year 
one hundred and sixty-
seven (167 B.C.).
{I}20_{/}In those days, 
Jonathan assembled the 
Jewish army to attack the 
Citadel in Jerusalem 
which was occupied by the 
Syrians, and he prepared 
many siege engines. 
{I}21_{/}But some wicked 
men who were traitors to 
their country, informed 
the king. {I}22_{/}When 
the king heard of it, he 
became angry and 
immediately set out for 
Ptolemias. From there he 
wrote to Jonathan telling 
him to stop the siege and 
to come to see him as 
soon as possible. 
{I}23_{/}Jonathan 
received the message, but 
he ordered the siege to 
continue. Then he decided 
to risk himself, and went 
to see the king with the 
elders and priests of 
Israel. {I}24_{/}Bringing 
gold, silver, fine 
garments and other 
presents, they went 
before the king in 
Ptolemias and won him 
over. {I}25_{/}Some 
traitors accused them. 
{I}26_{/}But the king in 
the presence of all his 
Friends treated Jonathan 
as kings before had 
treated him. {I}27_{/}He 
confirmed Jonathan's 
office as high priest 
with all the privileges 
he already had. And he 
numbered him among his 
first Friends.
{I}28_{/}Jonathan asked 
the king to exempt Judea 
and the three districts 
of Samaria from taxes, 
and promised him three 
hundred talents in 
return. {I}29_{/}The king 
agreed and wrote to 
Jonathan regarding the 
matter in these terms: 
{I}30_{/}"King Demetrius 
to Jonathan, to his 
brothers and to the whole 
Jewish nation, peace. 
{I}31_{/}We are sending 
you a copy of the letter 
we have written to our 
kinsman Lasthenes that 
you may know: 
{I}32_{/}King Demetrius 
greets his kinsman 
Lasthenes. 
{I}33_{/}Because of their 
fidelity to us, we have 
decided to grant favors 
to the Jewish nation, who 
are our friends and who 
fulfill their obligations 
to us. We wish to reward 
their fidelity. 
{I}34_{/}We confirm the 
possession of the 
territory of Judea and 
the three regions of 
Aphairema, Kydda and 
Ramathaim which have been 
annexed to Judea from 
Samaria, with all their 
dependencies. And to all 
who go up to Jerusalem to 
offer sacrifice, we grant 
exemption from the tax 
the king formerly 
received from them 
annually until now, from 
the produce of the soil 
and from the fruit of the 
trees.
{I}35_{/}In the same way, 
they shall also be exempt 
from the other taxes due 
to us, especially from 
the taxes on the produce 
of the salt mines, and 
the gold crowns they 
formerly offered us. 
{I}36_{/}None of these 
privileges shall ever be 
annulled. {I}37_{/}Have a 
copy of this decree made 
and delivered to Jonathan 
to be displayed on the 
Holy Mountain in a 
conspicuous place."
{I}38_{/}King Demetrius 
was able to place the 
kingdom under his rule 
and no one dared oppose 
him, so he dismissed his 
army, sent all the men 
back to their homes, 
except the foreign troops 
he had recruited from the 
islands of the pagans. 
And this drew the hatred 
of all the troops who had 
served his fathers. 
{I}39_{/}Then Trypho, one 
of Alexander's former 
supporters, took 
advantage of the army's 
discontent with 
Demetrius. He went to 
Iamleku the Arab who was 
in charge of the 
education of Antiochus, 
the son of Alexander. 
{I}40_{/}Trypho persuaded 
him to hand the boy over 
to him in order to 
restore Antiochus to the 
throne of his father. He 
told him of all the 
decisions of Demetrius 
and the resentment of his 
soldiers towards him. And 
Trypho spent a long time 
there.
{I}41_{/}Meanwhile, 
Jonathan asked King 
Demetrius to withdraw the 
troops from the Citadel 
in Jerusalem and to call 
back the garrisons from 
the fortresses, since 
they were always fighting 
Israel. 
{I}42_{/}Demetrius 
answered him, "Not only 
will I do this for you 
and for your people, but 
as soon as I have the 
occasion to do so. 
{I}43_{/}For the present, 
you would do well to send 
me reinforcements, for 
all my soldiers have 
deserted me."
{I}44_{/}Jonathan sent 
off three thousand 
valiant men to Antioch; 
they presented themselves 
before the king, and this 
made him very happy. 
{I}45_{/}About a hundred 
and twenty thousand rebel 
inhabitants gathered at 
the center of the city 
intending to do away with 
the king. 
{I}46_{/}Demetrius took 
refuge in the palace 
while the residents 
occupied the streets of 
the city and began to 
attack. {I}47_{/}The king 
then called on the Jews 
to help him, and the Jews 
rallied round him. Then 
they spread out through 
the city and killed a 
hundred thousand men on 
that day. {I}48_{/}They 
burned the city, seized a 
great deal of plunder, 
and saved the king. 
{I}49_{/}The Jews took 
control of the city. And 
the inhabitants were so 
discouraged that they 
begged the king, 
{I}50_{/}"Forgive us and 
stop the Jews from 
maltreating us and the 
city."
{I}51_{/}They threw down 
their arms and made 
peace. With this, the 
Jews merited the 
admiration of the king 
and they became famous 
throughout the kingdom. 
Then they returned to 
Jerusalem laden with 
booty. {I}52_{/}But when 
Demetrius felt secure on 
his throne and the land 
was in peace, {I}53_{/}he 
forgot his promises and 
changed his attitude 
towards Jonathan. He did 
not treat him with the 
same kindness as he had 
done before, but began to 
treat him very harshly.
{I}54_{/}After this 
Trypho came back with 
Antiochus who was still a 
boy. He was proclaimed 
and crowned king, 
{I}55_{/}and the troops 
discharged by Demetrius 
rallied to him and fought 
against Demetrius who had 
to flee. {I}56_{/}Trypho 
seized the elephants and 
occupied Antioch.
{I}57_{/}Then the young 
Antiochus sent Jonathan 
this letter: "I confirm 
your office as High 
Priest and make you 
governor of four 
districts, and I include 
you among the Friends of 
the King." {I}58_{/}He 
sent him a service of 
gold plate, and granted 
him the right to drink 
from gold vessels and to 
be clothed in purple and 
wear the golden brooch. 
{I}59_{/}He also 
appointed Jonathan's 
brother Simon as general 
from the Ladder of Tyre 
to the frontiers of 
Egypt.
{I}60_{/}Jonathan then 
began to make rounds of 
the region and the cities 
on the western side of 
the Euphrates. The whole 
Syrian army came to his 
aid. He came to Askalon 
and the inhabitants of 
that city went out to 
receive him with full 
honors. {I}61_{/}From 
there he went to Gaza, 
but the people there 
closed their gates on 
him. So Jonathan laid 
siege to it and burned 
the suburbs of the city, 
plundering everything. 
{I}62_{/}Then the people 
of Gaza sought peace, and 
he made peace with them. 
But he took the sons of 
their elders as hostages 
and sent them away to 
Jerusalem. Then he 
traveled through the 
province until he reached 
Damascus. 
{I}63_{/}Jonathan then 
received news that the 
generals of Demetrius 
were in Kadesh of Galilee 
with a great army and 
planned to capture him. 
{I}64_{/}Leaving his 
brother Simon in Judea, 
he went out to meet them 
in battle. {I}65_{/}Simon 
encamped against Beth-zur 
and laid siege to it for 
many days. {I}66_{/}The 
inhabitants sued for 
peace, which he granted 
them. But he expelled 
them from the city and 
occupied it, and 
stationed a garrison 
there.
{I}67_{/}Meanwhile, 
Jonathan encamped with 
his army by the waters of 
Gennesaret; then early in 
the morning, they went to 
the plain of Hazor. 
{I}68_{/}The army of the 
pagans went out to 
confront them on the 
plain, after laying an 
ambush for him in the 
mountains. {I}69_{/}As 
they advanced directly 
towards the Jews, the men 
in ambush broke cover and 
began to attack. 
{I}70_{/}The men of 
Jonathan's side fled. And 
only Mattathias, the son 
of Absalom, and Judas, 
the son of Chalphi, the 
leaders of his army 
remained with him. 
{I}71_{/}At this, 
Jonathan tore his 
garments, put dust on his 
head, and prayed. 
{I}72_{/}Then he faced 
his attackers, defeated 
them and put them to 
flight.
{I}73_{/}So the troops 
who had abandoned him 
came back to his side, 
and together they pursued 
the enemies as far as 
Kadesh where the enemy 
camp was, and there they, 
too, pitched camp. 
{I}74_{/}About three 
thousand pagans perished 
that day. Then Jonathan 
returned to Jerusalem.
JONATHAN RENEWS THE 
ALLIANCES WITH THE 
SPARTANS AND ROMANS{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}Jonathan saw that 
circumstances were to his 
advantage. So he chose 
men and sent them to Rome 
to confirm and renew the 
alliance of friendship 
with the Romans. 
{I}2_{/}He also sent 
letters to the Spartans 
and to other places for 
this same purpose. 
{I}3_{/}Those who went to 
Rome entered the Senate 
and delivered this 
message: "The High Priest 
Jonathan and the Jewish 
nation have sent us to 
renew with you the 
friendship and alliance 
that formerly united us." 
{I}4_{/}The Senate gave 
them letters of 
recommendation to the 
authorities of each 
region, enabling them to 
journey safely back to 
the land of Judah.
{I}5_{/}This is a copy of 
the letter Jonathan wrote 
to the Spartans: 
{I}6_{/}"Jonathan, High 
Priest, the senate of the 
nation, the priests and 
the whole country of the 
Jews, to the people of 
Sparta, their brothers: 
peace. {I}7_{/}In the 
past, our high priest 
Onias received from 
Areios, your king, a 
letter stating that you 
are indeed our brothers, 
as the enclosed copy 
attests. {I}8_{/}Onias 
received the envoy with 
great honor and accepted 
the letter which clearly 
spoke of friendship and 
alliance.
{I}9_{/}Though we are not 
in need, for we have our 
consolation in our Sacred 
Books, {I}10_{/}we have 
decided to send 
ambassadors to you to 
renew our fraternal bonds 
and friendship in order 
not to become strangers 
to you, for it has been a 
long time since you wrote 
us.
{I}11_{/}For our part, we 
constantly remember you 
in all circumstances, on 
special days, in the 
sacrifices we offer, as 
well as in our prayers; 
for it is but right and 
proper to remember our 
brothers {I}12_{/}and 
greatly rejoice at your 
prosperity and fame. 
{I}13_{/}For our part, we 
have been involved in 
many trials, in misery 
and wars, for neighboring 
kings have attacked us. 
{I}14_{/}However, we did 
not want to be a burden 
to you or to the rest of 
our allies and friends 
during these wars, 
{I}15_{/}for our help 
comes from Heaven. 
Finally we have been 
freed from our enemies 
who have been humbled.
{I}16_{/}So we have 
chosen Numenius, son of 
Antiochus, and Antipater, 
son of Jason, and sent 
them to the Romans to 
renew our former 
friendship and alliance 
with them. {I}17_{/}We 
have also ordered them to 
go to you, greet you and 
deliver this letter to 
you on our behalf, with 
which we wish to renew 
our alliance. 
{I}18__{/}We shall be 
glad to receive a 
favorable response."
{I}19_{/}This is a copy 
of the letter which Onias 
had received: 
{I}20_{/}"Areios, king of 
the Spartans, to Onias 
the High Priest. 
{I}21_{/}We have found in 
one of our documents that 
the Spartans and the Jews 
are brothers, for both 
are of the race of 
Abraham. {I}22_{/}Now 
that we have come to know 
this, we shall be 
grateful if you send us 
news of your welfare. 
{I}23_{/}And we say this 
to you: our livestock and 
our possessions are 
yours, and similarly all 
that are yours are ours. 
This is what we have 
instructed our envoys to 
say to you."
{I}24_{/}Jonathan learned 
that the generals of 
Demetrius had come to 
attack him with a larger 
army than before. 
{I}25_{/}So he left 
Jerusalem at once and 
went to face them in the 
country of Hamath, so as 
not to give them time to 
invade his own land. 
{I}26_{/}He sent spies to 
their camp, and on their 
return, they told him 
that the enemy planned to 
attack them during the 
night.

{I}27_{/}So, at sunset, 
Jonathan ordered his men 
to keep watch throughout 
the night with their 
weapons at hand, ready to 
fight. And he posted 
guards around the camp. 
{I}28_{/}When the enemies 
learned that Jonathan was 
keeping watch with his 
troops and ready for 
battle, they were afraid 
and discouraged; for this 
reason, they kindled 
fires in their camp and 
fled. {I}29_{/}But 
neither Jonathan nor his 
army knew of their 
withdrawal until morning, 
for they saw the fires 
burning the whole night. 
{I}30_{/}Jonathan pursued 
them but was not able to 
catch up with them, for 
they had crossed the 
Eleutherus river.
{I}31_{/}So Jonathan went 
back against the Arabs 
called Zabadeans, 
defeated them and 
plundered them. 
{I}32_{/}After breaking 
camp, he went to Damascus 
and traveled throughout 
the region. Meanwhile, 
{I}33_{/}Simon had also 
set out and gone as far 
as Askalon and the 
neighboring fortresses. 
He then proceeded to 
Joppa and occupied it, 
{I}34_{/}for he had heard 
that the inhabitants of 
that city planned to hand 
the Citadel over to the 
supporters of Demetrius. 
And he stationed a 
garrison there to hold 
it.
{I}35_{/}On returning, 
Jonathan summoned the 
elders of the people. The 
assembly decided to build 
fortresses in Judea, 
{I}36_{/}to make the 
walls of Jerusalem still 
higher, and to erect a 
barrier between the 
Citadel and the city, to 
separate it from the city 
and to isolate it and 
prevent its defenders 
from going out to buy or 
sell. {I}37_{/}They also 
held an assembly to 
rebuild the city. Part of 
the wall over a rushing 
stream had fallen and 
they built up a new wall 
they called Chapthenatha. 
{I}38_{/}Simon rebuilt 
Adida in the Shephelah, 
fortified it and erected 
barred gates in it.
{I}39_{/}Trypho wanted to 
reign in Asia, and to do 
away with King Antiochus 
in order to be king 
himself. {I}40_{/}But he 
feared that Jonathan 
might not allow him to do 
so, and might even come 
to attack him. He set out 
and came to Bethshan. 
{I}41_{/}At once Jonathan 
went out to meet him with 
forty thousand men, and 
he, too, came to 
Bethshan.
JONATHAN IS TAKEN BY 
DECEIT{/}

{I}42_{/}When Trypho saw 
that Jonathan had come 
with a large army, he was 
afraid to begin the 
assault. {I}43_{/}So he 
received Jonathan with 
honor, presented him to 
all his Friends, gave him 
gifts, and instructed his 
Friends and his troops to 
obey Jonathan as they 
obeyed him. {I}44_{/}Then 
he asked Jonathan, "Why 
have you bothered to come 
with so many men? Are we 
perhaps enemies? 
{I}45_{/}Send them back 
to their homes and remain 
here with some of them. 
Then you will come with 
me to the city of 
Ptolemais because I wish 
to hand it over to you, 
as well as the other 
fortresses and to place 
the rest of the troops 
and their officers at 
your disposal. Then, I 
will return home, for I 
have come only for this."
{I}46_{/}Jonathan 
believed him and did as 
Trypho had asked him. He 
dismissed his men who 
then returned to the land 
of Judea, {I}47_{/}and 
three thousand men 
remained with him. Of 
these, he left two 
thousand in Galilee and 
only a thousand 
accompanied him. 
{I}48_{/}But as soon as 
they had entered 
Ptolemais, the 
inhabitants closed the 
gates. They seized him 
and killed all who had 
come with him.
{I}49_{/}Trypho sent 
troops and cavalry to 
Galilee and to the Great 
Plain to wipe out all of 
Jonathan's men. 
{I}50_{/}On receiving the 
news that Jonathan and 
his companions had been 
seized and killed, his 
soldiers encouraged one 
another and prepared to 
face their pursuers. 
{I}51_{/}When their enemy 
saw them ready to fight 
for their lives, they 
turned back. {I}52_{/}So 
the men of Jonathan 
reached the land of Judea 
safe and sound. They wept 
for Jonathan and his 
companions and they were 
discouraged. And all 
Israel was in mourning. 
{I}53_{/}Then all the 
neighboring nations 
planned to destroy them 
on seeing that they were 
now without leader or 
ally. And the pagans 
said: "This is now the 
opportunity to wipe out 
the remembrance of them 
from among men."
SIMON SUCCEEDS 
JONATHAN{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}Simon heard that 
Trypho had assembled a 
great army to invade 
Judea and devastate it. 
{I}2_{/}As the people 
were frightened and 
apprehensive, he went up 
to Jerusalem. 
{I}3_{/}There he called 
the people together and 
encouraged them with this 
exhortation: 
"All of you know what I, 
my brothers, and the 
family of my father have 
done for the laws and for 
the Holy Place. You also 
know the wars and the 
hardships we endured. 
{I}4_{/}All my brothers 
died for Israel and now I 
alone am left. 
{I}5_{/}God forbid that I 
should seek my own safety 
when things go wrong! For 
my life is not of more 
worth than the lives of 
my brothers. Now that all 
the nations have united 
in their hatred in order 
to destroy us, {I}6_{/}I 
will defend my nation and 
the Holy Place, your 
wives and your children."
{I}7_{/}All were 
encouraged with these 
words {I}8_{/}and they 
exclaimed in a loud 
voice: "Be our leader in 
place of Judas and your 
brother Jonathan. 
{I}9_{/}Lead us in the 
war and we will obey your 
commands."
{I}10_{/}So Simon 
assembled all the men 
able to fight and 
hastened to finish 
building the walls of 
Jerusalem, which was 
fortified on all sides. 
{I}11_{/}Then he sent 
Jonathan, son of Absalom, 
with a strong army to 
Joppa. They drove out 
those who occupied it and 
remained there.
{I}12_{/}Meanwhile, 
Trypho left Ptolemais 
with a large army to 
invade Judea, taking 
Jonathan with him as 
prisoner. {I}13_{/}Simon 
encamped in Adida facing 
the plain. {I}14_{/}But 
when Trypho learned that 
Simon had taken command 
in place of his brother 
Jonathan and was prepared 
to fight him, he sent 
some envoys to him with 
this message: 
{I}15_{/}"We have in our 
custody your brother 
Jonathan because of the 
money he owes to the 
royal treasury for the 
offices he held. 
{I}16_{/}So, send a 
hundred talents of silver 
and two of his sons as 
hostages lest he slip 
away when we release him, 
and come back against us. 
Then we shall let him 
go."
{I}17_{/}Simon knew that 
Trypho was deceiving him, 
but he still sent for the 
money and the boys so as 
not to draw upon himself 
the anger of the people 
of Israel who might say: 
{I}18_{/}"They killed 
Jonathan because Simon 
refused to send Trypho 
the money and the boys." 
{I}19_{/}He therefore 
sent the boys and the 
hundred talents, but 
Trypho broke his word and 
did not set Jonathan 
free.
{I}20_{/}After this, 
Trypho advanced to invade 
Judea and plunder it. He 
moved along the way to 
Adora, but Simon and his 
army kept confronting him 
wherever he went. 
{I}21_{/}Then the men in 
the Citadel sent 
messengers to Trypho 
urging him to come at 
once to their rescue by 
way of the desert and to 
bring them food. 
{I}22_{/}Trypho prepared 
his entire cavalry to go, 
but it snowed so heavily 
that night that he was 
not able to go. So he 
left for Gilead, 
{I}23_{/}and when he 
approached Baskama he 
killed Jonathan and 
buried him there. 
{I}24_{/}Then Trypho 
returned to his own land. 
{I}25_{/}Simon sent men 
to look for the remains 
of Jonathan, his brother, 
and he buried him in 
Modein, the city of their 
fathers. {I}26_{/}All 
Israel deeply mourned and 
wept for Jonathan for 
many days.
{I}27_{/}Simon built a 
monument over the tomb of 
his fathers and brothers, 
high enough to be seen 
even from afar, with the 
back and front covered 
with marble. {I}28_{/}He 
erected seven pyramids 
facing each other, for 
his father and mother and 
his four brothers. 
{I}29_{/}He surrounded 
the pyramids with great 
columns, and he had 
trophies of arms carved 
upon the columns as a 
lasting remembrance; and 
beside the armor, 
sculptured ships were to 
be seen by all who sailed 
the sea. {I}30_{/}This is 
the tomb he constructed 
in Modein and it is still 
there today.
{I}31_{/}Trypho treated 
the young King Antiochus 
in bad faith, and put him 
to death. {I}32_{/}He 
then made himself king in 
his place, put on the 
crown of Asia and caused 
great havoc in the 
country.
{I}33_{/}Now Simon 
rebuilt the fortresses of 
Judea, surrounded them 
with high towers and 
great walls with barred 
gates, and stored food in 
them.
{I}34_{/}Simon chose men 
whom he sent to King 
Demetrius in his attempt 
to obtain tax exemption 
for the region, on the 
grounds that all that 
Trypho did was to 
plunder. {I}35_{/}King 
Demetrius responded 
favorably to his request 
and wrote to him as 
follows,
{I}36_{/}"King Demetrius 
greets Simon, High Priest 
and Friend of the King, 
the elders and the Jewish 
nation. {I}37_{/}We have 
received the golden 
crowns and the palm you 
have sent us and we are 
disposed to make a 
lasting peace with you, 
and to write to the 
officials to grant you 
remission of your debts. 
{I}38_{/}All our 
concessions in your favor 
are definitive and the 
fortresses you have built 
are yours.
{I}39_{/}Moreover, we 
pardon all errors and 
offenses committed to 
this day, as well as the 
crown tax you owe. From 
now on, any other tax 
that used to be paid in 
Jerusalem shall no longer 
be collected. {I}40_{/}If 
any of your men are 
qualified to enlist in 
our army, they can do so. 
And let peace reign 
between us."
{I}41_{/}So, in the year 
one hundred and seventy 
(142 B.C.), Israel became 
free from the yoke of the 
pagans. {I}42_{/}They 
began to write in their 
documents and contracts, 
"In the first year of 
Simon, high priest, 
general and leader of the 
Jews."
{I}43_{/}In those days, 
Simon encamped against 
Gazard and surrounded it 
with his army. He 
constructed a mobile 
tower, brought it up to 
the city, attacked and 
occupied one tower. 
{I}44_{/}Then the men of 
the mobile tower entered 
the city, causing great 
dismay.
{I}45_{/}The inhabitants 
with their wives and 
children went up on the 
walls, tore their 
garments, cried out in a 
loud voice to Simon and 
sought peace. 
{I}46_{/}They said to 
him, "Treat us not as our 
wickedness deserves, but 
according to your mercy." 
{I}47_{/}Simon was 
reconciled with them and 
did not treat them 
according to the rigor of 
war. But he expelled them 
from the city and 
purified the houses where 
idols were kept. He then 
entered the city singing 
hymns of thanksgiving.
{I}48_{/}After cleansing 
it from all its impurity, 
he settled in it men who 
observed the Law. He 
fortified it and built a 
house there for himself.
{I}49_{/}The men who 
occupied the Citadel in 
Jerusalem could no longer 
come out or go into 
Jewish territory to buy 
or sell. So they were 
desperately in need of 
food, many of them dying 
of hunger. {I}50_{/}They 
begged Simon for peace, 
and he granted it to 
them. But he expelled 
them from there and 
cleansed the Citadel from 
all that reminded them of 
the presence of the 
pagans. {I}51_{/}On the 
twenty-third day of the 
second month of the year 
one hundred and seventy-
one (141 B.C.), the Jews 
entered it with songs and 
palm branches to the 
accompaniment of zithers, 
cymbals and harps, and 
with hymns and songs, for 
a great plague had been 
crushed and removed from 
Israel. {I}52_{/}Simon 
decreed that this day be 
celebrated as a day of 
annual rejoicing. He 
strengthened the 
fortifications of the 
Temple hill by the side 
of the military Citadel, 
and dwelt there with his 
men.
{I}53_{/}John, son of 
Simon, had come to 
manhood, so his father 
appointed him general in 
command of all the 
troops, and John lived in 
Gazara.
SIMON RULES VICTORIOUSLY 
OVER JUDAH{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}In the year one 
hundred and seventytwo, 
King Demetrius assembled 
his army and marched into 
Media to look for help in 
order to fight Trypho. 
{I}2_{/}Arsaces, king of 
Persia and Media, heard 
that Demetrius had 
entered his territory, so 
he sent one of his 
generals to capture him 
alive. {I}3_{/}The 
general went and defeated 
the army of Demetrius, 
seized him and brought 
him to Arsaces, who put 
him in prison.
{I}4_{/}Judea had peace 
as long as Simon lived. 
He worked for the well-
being of his country; his 
rule pleased the people, 
and he enjoyed much 
renown as long as he 
lived. {I}5_{/}To add to 
his glory, he took Joppa 
and made it a harbor, 
opening a way to 
communicate with the 
islands of the sea. 
{I}6_{/}He extended the 
frontiers of his land and 
was lord of his nation. 
{I}7_{/}He brought back 
many captives, conquered 
Gazard, Beth-zur and the 
Citadel and cast out 
everything pagan that was 
in it. No one was able to 
resist him.
{I}8_{/}The inhabitants 
tilled their fields in 
peace; the land gave its 
grain and the trees their 
fruit. {I}9_{/}The elders 
sat at ease in the 
squares and talked of 
their welfare, while the 
young men wore finery and 
armor. {I}10_{/}He 
supplied the cities with 
food and made them into 
strongholds, until his 
fame spread out to the 
ends of the earth. 
{I}11_{/}He established 
peace in the land and 
Israel knew great joy. 
{I}12_{/}Each one sat 
under the shade of his 
vine and his fig tree, 
with no one to disturb 
him. {I}13_{/}There was 
no one in the land to 
fight them, for the kings 
had been defeated. 
{I}14_{/}He raised up the 
humble among his people, 
he observed the Law and 
cleared out the renegades 
and the wicked. 
{I}15_{/}He restored the 
splendor of the Temple 
and increased the number 
of its sacred vessels.
{I}16_{/}When the news of 
Jonathan's death reached 
Rome and Sparta, these 
people, too, were deeply 
grieved. {I}17_{/}But as 
soon as they heard that 
his brother Simon had 
succeeded him as High 
Priest and was in command 
of the country and the 
cities in it, 
{I}18_{/}they wrote to 
him on bronze sheets to 
renew the alliance and 
friendship they had made 
with his brothers Judas 
and Jonathan.
{I}19_{/}The letter was 
read in Jerusalem before 
the whole assembly. 
{I}20_{/}This is a copy 
of the letter sent by the 
Spartans,
"The leaders and the 
people of Sparta to 
Simon, High Priest, and 
to the elders, to the 
priests and to all the 
Jewish people, their 
brothers: greetings. 
{I}21_{/}The envoys you 
sent to our people 
informed us of the 
successes and prosperity 
of your nation. We 
rejoiced at their coming. 
{I}22_{/}We have recorded 
their declaration in our 
public acts as follows: 
'Numenius, son of 
Antiochus, and Antipater, 
son of Jason, ambassadors 
of the Jews - have come 
to renew their 
relationship with us. 
{I}23_{/}It has been a 
pleasure for the people 
to receive them with 
honor and deposit a copy 
of their statement in the 
public archives as a 
remembrance for the 
people of Sparta.' And 
they made a copy of all 
this for the High Priest 
Simon."
{I}24_{/}After this, 
Simon sent Numenius to 
Rome with a large gold 
shield weighing a 
thousand minas to confirm 
their alliance with the 
Romans.
{I}25_{/}When the people 
came to know these 
events, they said, "What 
favor can we do for Simon 
and his sons? {I}26_{/}It 
was he and his brothers 
and the family of their 
fathers who strengthened 
the resistance; they have 
fought the enemies of 
Israel and restored its 
freedom." {I}27_{/}So 
they engraved an 
inscription on bronze 
sheets and set it up on 
pillars on Mount Zion. 
This is a copy of the 
text:
"On the eighteenth day of 
the month Elul, in the 
year one hundred and 
seventy-two, the third 
year of Simon, the High 
Priest, {I}28_{/}in the 
grand assembly of the 
priests of Israel, the 
leaders of the nation and 
the elders of the people, 
the following was 
proclaimed:
{I}29_{/}"During the 
frequent wars for freedom 
in our land, Simon, the 
son of Mattathias, a 
priest from the family of 
Joarib, and his brothers 
risked their lives and 
stood up against the 
enemies of their nation 
to preserve the Holy 
Place and the Law, and 
brought eternal glory to 
their nation. 
{I}30_{/}Jonathan rallied 
the nation, and became 
the High Priest, and then 
rested with his fathers. 
{I}31_{/}The enemies of 
the Jews then planned to 
invade their land in 
order to destroy their 
Holy Place. {I}32_{/}So 
Simon arose to fight for 
his nation. He spent much 
of his own wealth to 
procure arms and to pay 
the salary of the 
soldiers of his nation.
{I}33_{/}He fortified the 
cities of Judah and Beth-
zur on the frontiers of 
Judea, where the enemy 
arsenal had been and he 
stationed a Jewish 
garrison there. 
{I}34_{/}He also 
fortified Joppa by the 
sea, and Gazara on the 
borders of Azotus, which 
was formerly inhabited by 
enemies, and established 
Jewish colonies there, 
providing them with all 
they needed. {I}35_{/}The 
people saw Simon's faith 
and the glory he had 
resolved to win for his 
nation. They made him 
their commander and High 
Priest because of the 
services he rendered, the 
justice and faithfulness 
he showed to his nation, 
and because he sought in 
every way to increase the 
honor of his people.
{I}36_{/}In his days, the 
Jews managed to root out 
the pagans from their 
land, especially from the 
city of David, Jerusalem, 
where they had built a 
Citadel from which they 
went out to profane the 
surroundings of the 
temple and to violate its 
holiness. {I}37_{/}He 
settled Jewish soldiers 
in it and fortified it 
for the security of the 
region and the city, and 
built the walls of 
Jerusalem higher. 
{I}38_{/}And for this, 
King Demetrius confirmed 
him in his office as High 
Priest, {I}39_{/}made him 
one of his Friends and 
bestowed high honors on 
him, {I}40_{/}for he had 
heard that the Romans had 
considered the Jews their 
friends, allies and 
brothers, and had 
received Simon's envoy 
with honor.
SIMON: HIGH PRIEST AND 
DICTATOR{/}

{I}41_{/}The king also 
took into account that 
the Jews and the priests 
had agreed that Simon be 
their leader and High 
Priest until a prophet 
worthy of trust appeared.
{I}42_{/}They wanted him 
to be their general and 
take charge of the Holy 
Place, and to appoint men 
to supervise the works, 
to administer the 
country, the army and the 
fortresses.
{I}43_{/}They also wanted 
everyone to obey him, 
that all documents of the 
nation bear his name and 
that he be clothed in 
purple and wear golden 
ornaments.
{I}44_{/}None of the 
people or the priests 
shall be allowed to act 
contrary to these 
provisions or contradict 
his orders, or convene a 
public assembly without 
his consent, or be 
clothed in purple, or 
wear the golden brooch. 
{I}45_{/}Whoever opposes 
these decisions or 
violates any of these 
shall be liable to 
punishment.
{I}46_{/}All the people 
agreed to grant Simon the 
right to act in 
accordance with these 
provisions. {I}47_{/}And 
Simon accepted and agreed 
to assume the office of 
High Priest and to be the 
general and leader of the 
Jews and of the priests, 
and to preside over all.
{I}48_{/}They decided 
that this decree be 
engraved on bronze sheets 
and set up in a 
conspicuous place in the 
sacred enclosure, 
{I}49_{/}and that copies 
be deposited in the 
Temple treasury and made 
available to Simon and 
his sons."
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Antiochus, son of 
King Demetrius, sent from 
the islands of the sea to 
Simon, the High Priest 
and leader of the Jews, 
and to the whole nation, 
{I}2_{/}the following 
letter: "King Antiochus 
to Simon, high priest and 
leader, and to the Jewish 
nation: peace!
{I}3_{/}Since wicked men 
have seized the kingdom 
of our fathers, I now 
intend to recover it and 
to reestablish it as it 
was before. I have 
gathered a very large 
army and have equipped 
warships {I}4_{/}to make 
a landing in the country 
and take revenge on those 
who devastated our land 
and laid waste many 
cities in my kingdom. 
Now, therefore, {I}5_{/}I 
confirm in your regard 
all the tax exemptions 
and all other privileges 
granted you by my royal 
predecessors. {I}6_{/}I 
authorize you to mint 
your own coinage for your 
nation. {I}7_{/}I accept 
the autonomy of Jerusalem 
and the Holy Place; all 
the arms you have 
manufactured as well as 
the fortresses you have 
constructed and those you 
have occupied are yours. 
{I}8_{/}From this day on, 
I cancel all debts to the 
king and everything you 
may owe in the future. 
{I}9_{/}And when I have 
taken possession of my 
kingdom, I shall bestow 
great honors on you, your 
nation and on the Temple, 
making you famous 
throughout all the 
earth."
{I}10_{/}In the year one 
hundred and seventy-four, 
Antiochus marched out to 
the land of his fathers, 
and all the troops 
rallied to him, so that 
only a few remained with 
Trypho. 
{I}11_{/}Antiochus 
pursued him and Trypho 
took refuge in Dor on the 
coast. {I}12_{/}Trypho 
knew how critical the 
situation had become for 
him and that his army had 
deserted him. 
{I}13_{/}Antiochus 
encamped before Dor with 
a hundred and twenty 
thousand soldiers and 
eight thousand horsemen. 
{I}14_{/}And he 
surrounded the city while 
the ships attacked from 
the sea: the city was 
completely surrounded by 
land and sea, and no one 
could go in or come out.
{I}15_{/}Then Numenius 
and his companions 
arrived from Rome, 
carrying letters 
addressed to the kings 
and to the nations in the 
following terms: 
{I}16_{/}"Lucius, consul 
of the Romans, to King 
Ptolemy: peace! 
{I}17_{/}The Jewish 
people sent by the High 
Priest Simon and by the 
Jewish people have come 
to us as our friends and 
allies to renew our 
friendship and alliance 
of old.
{I}18_{/}They have 
brought us a gold shield 
weighing a thousand 
minas. {I}19_{/}It is our 
desire to write to the 
kings and the peoples 
that they should not harm 
the Israelites nor injure 
them or their cities or 
their land, nor ally 
themselves with their 
aggressors. {I}20_{/}We 
have accepted with 
pleasure the shield that 
the Jews sent us. 
{I}21_{/}Now, if some 
wicked Jews who have fled 
from their land are in 
your country, hand them 
over to the High Priest 
Simon that he may punish 
them according to their 
Law."
{I}22_{/}The same letter 
was sent to King 
Demetrius, to Attalus, 
Ariarathes and Arsaces, 
{I}23_{/}and to all the 
nations, to Sampsames, 
the Spartans, Delos, 
Myndos, Sicyon, Caria, 
Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, 
Halicarnassus, Rhodes, 
Phaselis, Cos, Side, 
Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, 
Cyprus and Cyrene. 
{I}24_{/}They also sent 
copies of these letters 
to the High Priest Simon.
WAR WITH THE SYRIANS 
RENEWED{/}

{I}25_{/}King Antiochus 
encamped before Dor, in 
the new district, 
continually sending his 
battalions against it and 
constructing siege 
engines. He kept Trypho 
shut in and prevented him 
from going out or in. 
{I}26_{/}Simon sent him 
two thousand picked men 
to help him in the fight, 
with silver, gold and 
plenty of equipment. 
{I}27_{/}But Antiochus 
did not accept them; 
instead, he annulled the 
concessions he had 
granted to Simon and 
declared him his enemy. 
{I}28_{/}He sent 
Athenobius, one of his 
Friends, to him in order 
to meet him and say to 
him: "You have occupied 
Joppa, Gazara and the 
Citadel of Judea which 
are cities of my kingdom. 
{I}29_{/}You have laid 
waste their territory and 
done great damage in the 
land, and have seized 
many towns in my kingdom.
{I}30_{/}Restore, then, 
the cities you have 
seized and the taxes of 
the places you now occupy 
beyond the borders of 
Judea. {I}31_{/}Or pay me 
five hundred talents of 
silver as compensation 
for the damage you have 
caused and another five 
hundred talents for the 
taxes of the cities. If 
not, then I shall declare 
war against you."
{I}32_{/}Athenobius, the 
Friend of the king, 
arrived in Jerusalem and 
when he saw the 
magnificence of Simon, 
his plates of gold and 
silver and the pomp that 
surrounded him, he was 
amazed. But he delivered 
the king's message. 
{I}33_{/}Simon answered 
him, "We have not 
occupied any foreign land 
nor seized any foreign 
property: this is the 
inheritance of our 
fathers. It was our 
enemies who seized this 
for some time, 
{I}34_{/}but now that we 
have a favorable 
opportunity, we are only 
recovering the 
inheritance of our 
fathers.
{I}35_{/}Joppa and 
Gazara, which you claim, 
did great harm to our 
people and laid waste our 
land; but we are prepared 
to give you a hundred 
talents for them."
Athenobius did not say 
anything, {I}36_{/}but 
went back to the king 
very angry and reported 
to him Simon's reply. He 
also told him of Simon's 
magnificence and 
everything he had seen. 
So the king became 
furious.
{I}37_{/}Meanwhile, 
Trypho fled to Orthosia 
on a ship. {I}38_{/}The 
king appointed Cendebeus 
as general and gave him 
part of the troops and 
the horsemen. {I}39_{/}He 
ordered him to encamp 
against Judea, rebuild 
Kedron and fortify its 
gates and make war on the 
people. The king then 
went on pursuing Trypho. 
{I}40_{/}Cendebeus 
arrived at Jamnia and 
began to disturb the 
people. He invaded Judea, 
imprisoned some people 
and put them to death. 
{I}41_{/}He fortified 
Kedron, stationed 
horsemen and troops there 
to make sorties and to 
patrol the roads to 
Judea, as the king had 
commanded him.
SIMON IS MURDERED{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}At that time, 
John went up from Gazara 
to relate to his father 
what Cendebeus was doing. 
{I}2_{/}So, Simon called 
his two elder sons, John 
and Judas, and said to 
them: "I and my brothers 
and the family of my 
father have fought the 
enemies of Israel from 
our youth until today. 
And many times, we were 
able to liberate Israel. 
{I}3_{/}But now I am old, 
while you - thanks be to 
Heaven - are already 
mature men. Take my place 
and my brother's, and go 
out to fight for our 
country. May Heaven's 
help be with you!"
{I}4_{/}Then he chose a 
thousand men and horsemen 
from the country whom he 
sent against Cendebeus. 
And they spent the night 
in Modein. {I}5_{/}They 
arose early in the 
morning and advanced into 
the plain and saw what a 
large army, both infantry 
and cavalry, was coming 
to meet them.
A stream lay between 
them, {I}6_{/}and John 
with his troops drew up 
against the enemies. His 
troops were afraid to 
cross the stream, so he 
crossed over first. On 
seeing this, his men 
crossed after him. 
{I}7_{/}He divided his 
army into two groups and 
set the horsemen in the 
center for the enemy's 
cavalry was very 
numerous.
{I}8_{/}They sounded the 
trumpets, and Cendebeus 
and his army were 
defeated. Many of them 
fell, and those who 
remained fled to the 
fortress. {I}9_{/}Judas, 
the brother of John, fell 
wounded, but John pursued 
the enemies until 
Cendebeus reached Kedron 
which he had fortified. 
{I}10_{/}The enemy fled 
as far as the towers in 
the fields of Azotus, but 
John burned these down. 
About two thousand of the 
enemy perished. And after 
this, John returned 
safely to Judea.
{I}11_{/}Ptolemy, son of 
Abubos, had become 
general in command of the 
plain of Jericho. He had 
much silver and gold, 
{I}12_{/}besides being 
the High Priest's son-in-
law. {I}13_{/}He became 
too ambitious and thought 
of becoming the leader of 
his nation. So he looked 
for ways to do away with 
Simon and his sons. 
{I}14_{/}Simon was then 
making the rounds of the 
cities of Judea and 
attending to their 
administration. In the 
eleventh month called 
Shebat, in the year one 
hundred and seventy-seven 
(134 B.C.), Simon came to 
Jericho with his two 
sons, Mattathias and 
Judas. {I}15_{/}The son 
of Abubos received them 
treacherously into the 
small fortress called 
Dock which he had built. 
He gave them a grand 
banquet, but had set men 
in hiding. {I}16_{/}When 
Simon and his sons were 
drunk, Ptolemy and his 
men reached for their 
weapons and rushed on 
Simon in the midst of the 
banquet. They killed him 
with his two sons and 
some of his servants. 
{I}17_{/}With this, 
Ptolemy committed a great 
act of treachery, 
repaying evil for good.
{I}18_{/}Ptolemy then 
made haste to send a 
letter to the king to 
inform him of what had 
happened, asking 
Antiochus to help him in 
handing over to him the 
cities and the country. 
{I}19_{/}He also sent 
other men to Gazara in 
order to kill John, and 
asked the commanders of 
the Jewish troops in a 
letter to defect to him, 
promising them silver, 
gold and gifts. 
{I}20_{/}He then sent 
others to seize Jerusalem 
and the Temple hill.
{I}21_{/}But a man ran 
and reached Gazara before 
them, informing John that 
his father and brothers 
had been killed. And he 
added, "He has also sent 
some people to kill you." 
{I}22_{/}John was shocked 
by the news. So he 
arrested the men who had 
been sent to kill him and 
put them to death, for he 
knew that they had come 
with this purpose.
{I}23_{/}The rest of the 
deeds of John, his 
battles, his exploits, 
the walls he built and 
all his other 
achievements {I}24_{/}are 
written in the annals of 
his pontificate from the 
day he succeeded his 
father as High Priest.

