1 Maccabees 12
Letters to Sparta, and a Trap at Ptolemais
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The Embassy to Rome and Sparta
12:1Jonathan saw that circumstances favored him. He chose men and sent them to Rome to establish and renew their friendship.
12:2He also sent letters to the Spartans and other places for the same purpose.
12:3They went to Rome, entered the council chamber, and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew their friendship and alliance as before.”
12:4They gave them letters to the authorities in each place so that they might escort them peacefully to the land of Judah.
The Letter to the Spartans
12:5This is the copy of the letters Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
12:6“Jonathan the high priest, the council of elders of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people, to the Spartans their brothers, greetings.
12:7In former times letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Areus, who reigned among you, stating that you are our brothers, as the copy below shows.
12:8Onias received the envoy with honor and accepted the letters, in which alliance and friendship were declared.
12:9Although we have no need of these things, since we have as encouragement the holy books that are in our hands,
12:10we have undertaken to send to renew brotherhood and friendship with you, so that we may not become estranged from you. For many seasons have passed since you sent to us.
12:11We therefore remember you continually at every season, at the festivals and the other appointed days, in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and fitting to remember brothers.
12:12We rejoice in your glory.
12:13But many afflictions and many wars have surrounded us, and the kings around us have made war on us.
12:14We did not wish to trouble you or our other allies and friends in these wars,
12:15for we have help from Heaven helping us; we were rescued from our enemies, and our enemies were humbled.
12:16We have therefore chosen Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason and sent them to the Romans to renew the former friendship and alliance with them.
12:17We have also commanded them to go to you, greet you, and deliver our letters concerning the renewal of our brotherhood.
12:18Now you will do well to answer us concerning these matters.”
The Letter of Areus to Onias
12:19This is the copy of the letters they sent to Onias:
12:20“Areus king of the Spartans to Onias the great priest, greetings.
12:21It has been found in a writing concerning the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers and are of the lineage of Abraham.
12:22Now that we have learned these things, you will do well to write to us concerning your welfare.
12:23We in turn write to you: your livestock and your property are ours, and ours are yours. We therefore command that they report to you accordingly.”
Jonathan Meets the Commanders of Demetrius
12:24Jonathan heard that Demetrius’s commanders had returned with a force larger than before to fight him.
12:25He set out from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to enter his country.
12:26He sent spies into their camp. They returned and reported to him that they were arranging to fall upon them that night.
12:27When the sun went down, Jonathan commanded his men to keep watch and remain under arms, ready for battle all night. He posted sentries around the camp.
12:28The adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle. They were afraid and their hearts trembled, and they kindled fires in their camp.
12:29Jonathan and his men did not know until morning, for they could see the lights burning.
12:30Jonathan pursued them but did not overtake them, because they had crossed the Eleutherus River.
12:31Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs called Zabadeans, struck them, and took their spoils.
12:32He set out, came to Damascus, and passed through the whole region.
12:33Simon went out and traveled as far as Ascalon and the nearby strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and seized it,
12:34for he had heard that they wished to hand over the stronghold to Demetrius’s men. He placed a garrison there to guard it.
The Building of the Walls
12:35Jonathan returned, assembled the elders of the people, and deliberated with them about building strongholds in Judea
12:36and raising Jerusalem’s walls higher, and building a great barrier between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, so that it might stand alone and its people could neither buy nor sell.
12:37They gathered to rebuild the city. Part of the wall by the stream on the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha.
12:38Simon rebuilt Adida in the Shephelah, fortified it, and fitted it with doors and bars.
The Treachery of Tryphon
12:39Tryphon sought to reign over Asia, put on the diadem, and stretch out his hand against King Antiochus.
12:40He feared that Jonathan might not permit him and might fight against him. He sought to seize and destroy him, and set out and came to Beth-shan.
12:41Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand picked men for battle, and came to Beth-shan.
12:42Tryphon saw that he had come with a large force and feared to stretch out his hands against him.
12:43He received him with honor, introduced him to all his Friends, gave him gifts, and commanded his Friends and forces to obey him as they obeyed himself.
12:44He said to Jonathan, “Why have you wearied all these people when no war threatens us?
12:45Now send them to their homes, choose a few men to remain with you, and come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you, along with the other strongholds, the remaining forces, and all who are in charge of affairs. Then I will turn and go away, for this is why I have come.”
12:46Jonathan trusted him and did as he said. He sent away the forces, and they departed to the land of Judah.
12:47He kept three thousand men with himself, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousand accompanied him.
Jonathan Seized at Ptolemais
12:48When Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais shut the gates and seized him. They killed with the sword everyone who had entered with him.
12:49Tryphon sent forces and cavalry into Galilee and the great plain to destroy all Jonathan’s men.
12:50They learned that he had been captured and had perished, along with those with him. They encouraged one another and marched in close formation, ready for battle.
12:51Their pursuers saw that they were fighting for their lives and turned back.
12:52They all came safely into the land of Judah, mourned Jonathan and those with him, and were exceedingly afraid. All Israel mourned with great mourning.
12:53All the nations around them sought to crush them, for they said, “They have no ruler or helper. Now let us fight them and remove their memory from among humankind.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.