{N}ALEXANDER{/}

{1}1{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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, {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.).
[=]_{R}_{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 {R}_{I}13_{/}and some eagerly went 
to the king. The king authorized them to adopt the customs of the 
pagan nations. {R}_{I}14_{/}With his permission, they built a gymnasium 
in Jerusalem in the pagan style. [=]_{R}_{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.

{N}ANTIOCHUS DESPOILS THE TEMPLE{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}When Antiochus felt confident of his power, he decided 
to seize Egypt and rule over the two nations. {R}_{I}17_{/}He entered 
Egypt with a strong army, with chariots of war, elephants, horses 
and a great fleet {R}_{I}18_{/}and attacked Ptolemy, king of Egypt. 
Ptolemy had to retreat and was defeated, and many of his men died. 
{R}_{I}19_{/}The victors seized the fortified cities of Egypt and 
plundered the land. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}21_{/}He arrogantly broke into the sanctuary and removed the 
golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its 
accessories, {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}28_{/}The earth quaked, in sorrow for its inhabitants, and all the 
people of Jacob were humiliated.
[=]_{R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.

{N}RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}41_{/}Antiochus issued a decree to his whole kingdom. 
{R}_{I}42_{/}All the peoples of his empire had to renounce their 
particular customs and become one people. {R}_{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. {R}_{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, {R}_{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 
{R}_{I}49_{/}in order to forget the Law and change all their customs. 
{R}_{I}50_{/}The decree finally declared: "Anyone who does not fulfill 
the king's order shall die."
{R}_{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. 
[=]_{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}56_{/}There wicked men tore up the books of the Law they found and 
burned them. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{I}63_{/}They preferred 
to die rather than to make themselves unclean with those foods 
(prohibited by the Law) that violated the Holy Covenant. {R}_{I}64_{/}And 
Israel suffered a very great trial.

{N}MATTATHIAS UNLEASHES THE HOLY WAR{/}

{1}2{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In those days Mattathias, son of Simon, a priest of the 
family of Yoarib, left Jerusalem and went to settle in Modein. 
{R}_{I}2_{/}He had five sons: John, known as Gaddi, {R}_{I}3_{/}Simon called 
Thassi, {I}4_{/}Judas called Maccabeus, {R}_{I}5_{/}Eleazar called Avaran, 
and Jonathan called Apphus. 
{R}_{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?
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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, {R}_{I}20_{/}I, 
my sons and my family will remain faithful to the Covenant of our 
fathers. {R}_{I}21_{/}May God preserve us from abandoning the Law and its 
precepts. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}In doing this 
he showed his zeal for the Law, as Phinehas had done with Zimri, 
son of Salu.
{R}_{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.
[\u0095]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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." {R}_{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." {R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}48_{/}They defended the Law against 
foreigners and their kings, and subdued the renegades.

{N}MATTATHIAS' DEATH{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}52_{/}Remember Abraham who proved himself faithful in the hour of 
trial, and how God held him to be a righteous man. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}55_{/}Joshua became head of Israel because he 
carried out God's command. {R}_{I}56_{/}Caleb received his inheritance in 
this land because he had proclaimed the truth before the assembly. 
{R}_{I}57_{/}And David was given a lasting kingdom because of his 
devotion. {R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{I}60_{/}Daniel was 
rescued from the lion's mouth because of his righteousness. 
{R}_{I}61_{/}Consider, then, that in any generation those who trust in 
God are never defeated.
{R}_{I}62_{/}Do not fear the threats of an impious man, for his glory 
shall end in dung and worms. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}64_{/}Have courage, 
my sons, and remain steadfast in the Law for in this you will 
receive glory.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}67_{/}Now, call all those who fulfill the Law to join you and 
defend our people. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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.

{N}JUDAS MACCABEUS{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_{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.
{R}_{I}7_{/}Many kings feared him, while the people of Israel rejoiced in 
his deeds.
His memory shall be blessed forever. {R}_{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.

{N}FIRST SUCCESSES{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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." {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}26_{/}The fame of his name 
reached the king, and the pagan nations recounted his battles.

{N}ANTIOCHUS PREPARES FOR WAR{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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, {R}_{I}33_{/}and with the responsibility of 
educating the king's son, Antiochus, until his return. {R}_{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, {R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}36_{/}Then he was to have foreigners settle throughout the Jewish 
territory and distribute the land to them by lot.
{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}Lysias chose from among the Friends of the King, Ptolemy 
the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor and Gorgias - all influential men. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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!"
{R}_{I}44_{/}The whole community assembled to prepare for war, and they 
prayed and asked God for mercy and compassion.
{R}_{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.

{N}THE JEWS GATHER AT MIZPAH{/}

[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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? 
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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."

{N}BATTLE OF EMMAUS{/}

{1}4{/}

[\u0095]_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}9_{/}Remember how our 
ancestors were saved at the Red Sea when Pharaoh's army pursued 
them. [=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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, {R}_{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, 
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}And on their return, they 
sang and praised heaven: For he is good, and his mercy is eternal.
{R}_{I}25_{/}That day was a great victory for Israel. {R}_{I}26_{/}The pagans 
who had escaped went to Lysias and told him what had happened. 
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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."
{R}_{I}34_{/}Both sides attacked, and five thousand men from the army of 
Lysias fell dead. {R}_{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.

{N}JUDAS PURIFIES THE TEMPLE{/}

[\u0095]_{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." {R}_{I}37_{/}And all the army assembled and went up to Mount 
Zion. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}42_{/}He chose blameless 
priests who showed great zeal for the Law {R}_{I}43_{/}and had them 
purify the temple and bring the stones of the abominable altar of 
the pagans to an unclean place.
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}49_{/}They made new sacred vessels and brought in the lampstand, 
the altar of incense and the table. {R}_{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.) {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
[=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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.

{N}JUDAS GOES TO RESCUE THE SCATTERED JEWS{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{I}2_{/}They determined to destroy the descendants 
of Jacob who lived among them; so they began killing and driving 
away the Jews.
{R}_{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; [=]_{R}_{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."
{R}_{I}14_{/}They were reading this letter when other messengers arrived 
from Galilee tearing their garments as they gave this message: 
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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, {R}_{I}19_{/}and gave them this order: "Remain 
at the head of the people, but do not attack the pagans until we 
return."
{R}_{I}20_{/}Three thousand men were assigned to Simon for the campaign 
in Galilee, and eight thousand men to Judas for Gilead. 
[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Simon left for Galilee and defeated the pagans in many 
encounters, {R}_{I}22_{/}and pursued them to the gates of Ptolemais. 
About three thousand of the pagans fell, and Simon seized their 
spoils. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}53_{/}Throughout the journey Judas kept on encouraging his people 
and rallying those who fell behind, until they reached the land of 
Judah. [=]_{R}_{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.

{N}JOSEPH AND AZARIAH ARE DEFEATED{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}55_{/}While Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and 
their brother Simon was encamped in Galilee opposite Ptolemais, 
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}60_{/}Joseph and Azariah were defeated and pursued as far as 
the borders of Judea, and about two thousand Israelites fell that 
day. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}62_{/}They 
did not belong to those to whom the deliverance of Israel had been 
entrusted.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}66_{/}Then he left for the land 
of the Philistines, passing through Marisa. {R}_{I}67_{/}That day some 
priests who wanted to be valiant fell because they imprudently 
attacked the enemy. {R}_{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.

{N}LAST DAYS OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES{/}

{1}6{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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 {R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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." {R}_{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.). {R}_{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. 

{N}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 {R}_{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.
{R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.

{N}BATTLE OF BETH-ZECHARIAH{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}32_{/}Then Judas ceased fighting at the Citadel and encamped 
at Beth-zechariah opposite the camp of the king. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}42_{/}Nevertheless Judas and his army advanced to give battle; and 
about six hundred men of the king's army fell. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}47_{/}The Jews, however, aware of the tremendous force of the 
king's army and their bravery, retreated before them. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}50_{/}The king seized Beth-zur and stationed a 
garrison there to guard it.
{R}_{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.

{N}THE KING GRANTS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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, {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{I}60_{/}These words pleased the king and the generals, {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}2_{/}As soon as he entered the kingdom of his fathers, the army 
arrested Antiochus and Lysias to hand them over to him. {R}_{I}3_{/}When 
Demetrius heard this, he said: "I do not want to see their faces." 
{R}_{I}4_{/}So the army executed them and Demetrius took the throne.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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."

{N}EXPEDITION OF BACCHIDES AND NICANOR{/}

[=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}12_{/}However, a commission of teachers of the Law met with 
Alcimus and Bacchides to seek a satisfactory solution. {R}_{I}13_{/}These 
men from the group of the Hasideans, the first to seek peace in 
Israel, {R}_{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: [=]_{R}_{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."
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}32_{/}About five hundred of Nicanor's men fell and the rest fled 
to the city of David.

{N}NICANOR IS DEFEATED{/}

[=]_{R}_{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 {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{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."
[=]_{R}_{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: [=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{I}44_{/}When his troops saw that he was 
dead, they threw down their weapons and fled. {R}_{I}45_{/}The Jews 
pursued them a day's journey from Adasa to the entrance of Gazara, 
sounding the trumpets as they followed them. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}50_{/}The land of Judah enjoyed peace for a short time.

{N}ALLIANCE WITH THE ROMANS{/}

{1}8{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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, {R}_{I}3_{/}and of all they 
had done in Spain to gain possession of the silver and gold mines, 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}5_{/}They had defeated and subjected Philip and Perseus, the kings 
of Macedonia and others who opposed them. {R}_{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 {R}_{I}8_{/}like India, Media and Lydia which afterwards the 
Romans gave to King Eumenes. {R}_{I}9_{/}The Greeks had planned to come 
and destroy the Romans, {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}13_{/}They 
appointed as kings those who were to their liking and deposed 
those who were not.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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: {R}_{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." {R}_{I}21_{/}The 
Romans approved this proposal, [=]_{R}_{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:
{R}_{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! {R}_{I}24_{/}If war comes first to the Romans, or to any of their 
allies in any part of its empire, {R}_{I}25_{/}the Jewish nation shall 
enter the war wholeheartedly, as circumstances permit. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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? {R}_{I}32_{/}If they complain 
about you again, we shall defend their rights and attack you by 
sea and land."

{N}DEATH OF JUDAS MACCABEUS{/}

{1}9{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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. {R}_{I}2_{/}They took the road to 
Galilee and besieged the city of Mesaloth in the Arbela region. 
They captured it and killed many. {R}_{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. {R}_{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." {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}19_{/}Jonathan and Simon took their brother and buried him in the 
tomb of their fathers at Modein. {R}_{I}20_{/}All the people of Israel 
mourned and wept for him for many days, repeating this 
lamentation: {R}_{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.

{N}JONATHAN SUCCEEDS JUDAS{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}It was a terrible trial for Israel such as had 
never been experienced since the disappearance of the prophets.
{R}_{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, {R}_{I}31_{/}Jonathan accepted the leadership and succeeded 
his brother Judas.
{R}_{I}32_{/}When Bacchides heard of this, he planned to kill Jonathan. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}34_{/}Bacchides found this out on the 
sabbath day, and with all his army he crossed the Jordan.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
[=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}Having avenged the death of their brother, the 
Israelites went back to the marshes of the Jordan.
Let us return to Bacchides. {R}_{I}43_{/}He arrived with a strong army on 
the sabbath day at the banks of the Jordan. {R}_{I}44_{/}So Jonathan said 
to his men, "Courage! Let us fight for our lives, for today things 
are going to be serious. {R}_{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."
{R}_{I}47_{/}And the battle began. Jonathan stretched out his arm to 
strike Bacchides, but he eluded him and withdrew. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}53_{/}He took the sons of the 
leaders of the land as hostages and imprisoned them in the Citadel 
of Jerusalem.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}57_{/}Because of his death, Bacchides returned to the king and the 
land had peace for two years.

{N}THE SIEGE OF BETHBASI{/}

{R}_{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, {R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}61_{/}Instead the supporters of Jonathan arrested fifty Jewish 
leaders of this conspiracy and had them executed.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}70_{/}When Jonathan learned this, he sent messengers 
to him to make a treaty of peace and to exchange prisoners.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.

{N}WAR BETWEEN ALEXANDER BALAS AND DEMETRIUS{/}

{1}10{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{I}2_{/}When Demetrius 
heard this, he assembled a very large army and marched out to 
fight him. {R}_{I}3_{/}At the same time, he sent a letter of friendship 
to Jonathan and offered him vast power, {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}7_{/}Jonathan 
went at once to Jerusalem and read the letter before all the 
people and those in the Citadel. {R}_{I}8_{/}They were afraid when they 
heard that the king had authorized Jonathan to organize a great 
army, [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}and they released the hostages to Jonathan who 
handed them back to their families. {R}_{I}10_{/}Jonathan resided in 
Jerusalem and began rebuilding and restoring the city. 
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
[\u0095]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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: {R}_{I}18_{/}"King Alexander to our brother Jonathan, 
peace. {R}_{I}19_{/}We have heard of you, that you are a valiant man and 
most worthy of our friendship. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}22_{/}When Demetrius heard what had happened, he was greatly 
displeased and said, {R}_{I}23_{/}"What have we done that Alexander is 
ahead of us in gaining the friendship of the Jews? {R}_{I}24_{/}I will 
also write them kind words and promise them honor and gifts to win 
them to my side." {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{I}44_{/}Finally, the cost of rebuilding or restoring the 
sanctuary shall be passed on to the king's account, {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}47_{/}They decided in favor of Alexander, for he 
was the first to propose peace, and they became his faithful 
allies. {R}_{I}48_{/}King Alexander assembled a great army and encamped 
opposite Demetrius. {R}_{I}49_{/}The two kings met in battle and the army 
of Demetrius was routed. Alexander pursued him until Demetrius was 
defeated. {R}_{I}50_{/}The battle lasted until sunset, and on that day 
Demetrius died.
{R}_{I}51_{/}Then Alexander sent messengers to Ptolemy the king of Egypt 
with the following message: {R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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! {R}_{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."
{R}_{I}57_{/}Ptolemy left Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra in the year 
one hundred and sixty-two, and arrived at Ptolemais. 
{R}_{I}58_{/}Alexander went to meet him, and Ptolemy gave him his 
daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her wedding with great splendor 
as kings do.

{N}POLITICAL LIABILITY OF JONATHAN{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}59_{/}King Alexander also wrote to Jonathan to come and meet 
him. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}61_{/}The renegades, the pest of 
Israel, gathered together to accuse Jonathan, but the king paid no 
attention to them. {R}_{I}62_{/}The king even gave orders that Jonathan 
remove his garment and be clothed in purple and it was done. 
{R}_{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." {R}_{I}64_{/}When his accusers saw the 
public honor given to Jonathan and that he was clothed in purple, 
they all fled. {R}_{I}65_{/}The king did him great honor and enrolled him 
among his first Friends, and appointed him general and governor. 
{R}_{I}66_{/}So Jonathan returned to Jerusalem happy and secure.
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}68_{/}When King Alexander heard of it, he was so greatly 
disturbed that he returned to Antioch. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}78_{/}Jonathan pursued him towards Azotus and 
they began to fight. {R}_{I}79_{/}Apollonius had left a thousand picked 
horsemen hidden behind Jonathan, {R}_{I}80_{/}but Jonathan was informed 
of the ambush.
The horsemen surrounded Jonathan's men and shot their arrows from 
morning till evening. {R}_{I}81_{/}But the Israelites faced them as 
Jonathan had commanded until the horses of the enemy tired. Once 
the cavalry were exhausted, {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}85_{/}There 
were about eight thousand men who either fell by the sword or were 
burned to death. {R}_{I}86_{/}Jonathan then left for Askalon where the 
inhabitants received him with great honor. {R}_{I}87_{/}From there, 
Jonathan and his men returned to Jerusalem laden with booty.
{R}_{I}88_{/}When King Alexander heard what had happened, he bestowed new 
honors on Jonathan. {R}_{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{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{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, {R}_{I}3_{/}because Ptolemy was his father-in-law. But as 
soon as Ptolemy entered the cities, he stationed garrisons in 
them. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}5_{/}They recounted to King Ptolemy everything Jonathan had done. 
They were hoping that the king would disapprove, but he said 
nothing. {R}_{I}6_{/}Jonathan went with great pomp to Joppa to meet the 
king. They greeted each other and spent the night there. {R}_{I}7_{/}On 
the following day, Jonathan accompanied the king as far as the 
Eleutherus river, and then returned to Jerusalem. {R}_{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. {R}_{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." {R}_{I}11_{/}He accused Alexander because he 
wanted to take his kingdom. {R}_{I}12_{/}Ptolemy took his daughter away 
and gave her to Demetrius. In this way, his enmity towards 
Alexander became public. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}14_{/}At that time, Alexander was in Cilicia trying to quell a 
rebellion. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}18_{/}But after three days, Ptolemy died, 
and immediately the Egyptian soldiers who guarded the fortified 
cities were killed by the local inhabitants. {R}_{I}19_{/}In this way, 
Demetrius became king in the year one hundred and sixty-seven (167 
B.C.).
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}21_{/}But some wicked men who were 
traitors to their country, informed the king. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}26_{/}But the king in the presence of all his Friends treated 
Jonathan as kings before had treated him. {R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{I}29_{/}The king agreed and wrote to Jonathan 
regarding the matter in these terms: {R}_{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: {R}_{I}32_{/}King Demetrius 
greets his kinsman Lasthenes. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}37_{/}Have a 
copy of this decree made and delivered to Jonathan to be displayed 
on the Holy Mountain in a conspicuous place."
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{I}44_{/}Jonathan sent off three thousand valiant men to Antioch; 
they presented themselves before the king, and this made him very 
happy. {R}_{I}45_{/}About a hundred and twenty thousand rebel inhabitants 
gathered at the center of the city intending to do away with the 
king. {R}_{I}46_{/}Demetrius took refuge in the palace while the 
residents occupied the streets of the city and began to attack. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}48_{/}They burned the 
city, seized a great deal of plunder, and saved the king. 
{R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}52_{/}But when Demetrius felt secure on his throne and the 
land was in peace, {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}54_{/}After this Trypho came back with Antiochus who was still a 
boy. He was proclaimed and crowned king, {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}59_{/}He also appointed Jonathan's brother 
Simon as general from the Ladder of Tyre to the frontiers of 
Egypt.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}64_{/}Leaving his brother Simon in Judea, he went out to meet them 
in battle. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}74_{/}About 
three thousand pagans perished that day. Then Jonathan returned to 
Jerusalem.

{N}JONATHAN RENEWS THE ALLIANCES WITH THE SPARTANS AND ROMANS{/}

{1}12{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{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." 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}5_{/}This is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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: 
{R}_{I}20_{/}"Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias the High Priest. 
{R}_{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."
{R}_{I}24_{/}Jonathan learned that the generals of Demetrius had come to 
attack him with a larger army than before. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.

{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}29_{/}But neither 
Jonathan nor his army knew of their withdrawal until morning, for 
they saw the fires burning the whole night. {R}_{I}30_{/}Jonathan pursued 
them but was not able to catch up with them, for they had crossed 
the Eleutherus river.
{R}_{I}31_{/}So Jonathan went back against the Arabs called Zabadeans, 
defeated them and plundered them. {R}_{I}32_{/}After breaking camp, he 
went to Damascus and traveled throughout the region. Meanwhile, 
{R}_{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, {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}35_{/}On returning, Jonathan summoned the elders of the people. 
The assembly decided to build fortresses in Judea, [=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{I}38_{/}Simon rebuilt Adida in the 
Shephelah, fortified it and erected barred gates in it.
{R}_{I}39_{/}Trypho wanted to reign in Asia, and to do away with King 
Antiochus in order to be king himself. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}41_{/}At once 
Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men, and he, 
too, came to Bethshan.

{N}JONATHAN IS TAKEN BY DECEIT{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}42_{/}When Trypho saw that Jonathan had come with a large 
army, he was afraid to begin the assault. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}44_{/}Then he asked Jonathan, "Why have you 
bothered to come with so many men? Are we perhaps enemies? 
{R}_{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."
{R}_{I}46_{/}Jonathan believed him and did as Trypho had asked him. He 
dismissed his men who then returned to the land of Judea, 
{R}_{I}47_{/}and three thousand men remained with him. Of these, he left 
two thousand in Galilee and only a thousand accompanied him. 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}49_{/}Trypho sent troops and cavalry to Galilee and to the Great 
Plain to wipe out all of Jonathan's men. {R}_{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. {R}_{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."

{N}SIMON SUCCEEDS JONATHAN{/}

{1}13{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Simon heard that Trypho had assembled a great army to invade 
Judea and devastate it. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}4_{/}All my brothers died for 
Israel and now I alone am left. {R}_{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 {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}12_{/}Meanwhile, Trypho left Ptolemais with a large army to invade 
Judea, taking Jonathan with him as prisoner. {R}_{I}13_{/}Simon encamped 
in Adida facing the plain. {R}_{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: {R}_{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."
{R}_{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: {R}_{I}18_{/}"They killed 
Jonathan because Simon refused to send Trypho the money and the 
boys." {R}_{I}19_{/}He therefore sent the boys and the hundred talents, 
but Trypho broke his word and did not set Jonathan free.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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, {R}_{I}23_{/}and when he approached Baskama he killed Jonathan 
and buried him there. {I}24_{/}Then Trypho returned to his own land. 
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{I}26_{/}All Israel deeply mourned and wept for Jonathan for many 
days.
{R}_{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. 
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}31_{/}Trypho treated the young King Antiochus in bad faith, and 
put him to death. {R}_{I}32_{/}He then made himself king in his place, 
put on the crown of Asia and caused great havoc in the country.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}35_{/}King Demetrius 
responded favorably to his request and wrote to him as follows,
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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."
{R}_{I}41_{/}So, in the year one hundred and seventy (142 B.C.), Israel 
became free from the yoke of the pagans. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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." {R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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.

{N}SIMON RULES VICTORIOUSLY OVER JUDAH{/}

{1}14{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}3_{/}The general went and 
defeated the army of Demetrius, seized him and brought him to 
Arsaces, who put him in prison.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}13_{/}There 
was no one in the land to fight them, for the kings had been 
defeated. [=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}He raised up the humble among his people, he 
observed the Law and cleared out the renegades and the wicked. 
{R}_{I}15_{/}He restored the splendor of the Temple and increased the 
number of its sacred vessels.
{R}_{I}16_{/}When the news of Jonathan's death reached Rome and Sparta, 
these people, too, were deeply grieved. {R}_{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, {R}_{I}18_{/}they 
wrote to him on bronze sheets to renew the alliance and friendship 
they had made with his brothers Judas and Jonathan.
{R}_{I}19_{/}The letter was read in Jerusalem before the whole assembly. 
{R}_{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. [=]_{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}25_{/}When the people came to know these events, they said, "What 
favor can we do for Simon and his sons? {R}_{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." {R}_{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, 
{R}_{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:
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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, {R}_{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.

{N}SIMON: HIGH PRIEST AND DICTATOR{/}

[=]_{R}_{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.
{R}_{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.
{R}_{I}46_{/}All the people agreed to grant Simon the right to act in 
accordance with these provisions. {R}_{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, 
{R}_{I}49_{/}and that copies be deposited in the Temple treasury and made 
available to Simon and his sons."

{1}15{/}

{R}_{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, {R}_{I}2_{/}the following letter: "King Antiochus to 
Simon, high priest and leader, and to the Jewish nation: peace!
{R}_{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 {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}8_{/}From this 
day on, I cancel all debts to the king and everything you may owe 
in the future. {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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.
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}Then Numenius and his companions arrived from Rome, 
carrying letters addressed to the kings and to the nations in the 
following terms: {R}_{I}16_{/}"Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King 
Ptolemy: peace! {R}_{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. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{I}24_{/}They also sent copies of 
these letters to the High Priest Simon.

{N}WAR WITH THE SYRIANS RENEWED{/}

{R}_{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. {R}_{I}26_{/}Simon sent him two thousand picked men to help 
him in the fight, with silver, gold and plenty of equipment. 
{R}_{I}27_{/}But Antiochus did not accept them; instead, he annulled the 
concessions he had granted to Simon and declared him his enemy. 
{R}_{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. {R}_{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."
{R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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, {R}_{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. {R}_{I}38_{/}The king 
appointed Cendebeus as general and gave him part of the troops and 
the horsemen. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}40_{/}Cendebeus arrived at 
Jamnia and began to disturb the people. He invaded Judea, 
imprisoned some people and put them to death. {R}_{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.

{N}SIMON IS MURDERED{/}

{1}16{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}At that time, John went up from Gazara to relate to his 
father what Cendebeus was doing. {R}_{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, {R}_{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. {R}_{I}9_{/}Judas, the brother of John, fell wounded, but John 
pursued the enemies until Cendebeus reached Kedron which he had 
fortified. {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}11_{/}Ptolemy, son of Abubos, had become general in command of the 
plain of Jericho. He had much silver and gold, {R}_{I}12_{/}besides being 
the High Priest's son-in-law. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{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.
{R}_{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. {R}_{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. {R}_{I}20_{/}He then sent others 
to seize Jerusalem and the Temple hill.
{R}_{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." {R}_{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.
{R}_{I}23_{/}The rest of the deeds of John, his battles, his exploits, 
the walls he built and all his other achievements {R}_{I}24_{/}are 
written in the annals of his pontificate from the day he succeeded 
his father as High Priest.

