1 et anno centesimo sexagesimo
ascendit Alexander Antiochi filius qui cognominatus est Nobilis
et occupavit Ptolomaidam et receperunt eum et regnavit illic
2 et audivit Demetrius rex
et congregavit exercitum valde copiosum
et exivit obviam illi in proelium
3 et misit Demetrius ad Ionathan epistulam verbis
pacificis
ut magnificaret eum
4 dixit enim anticipemus pacem facere cum eo
priusquam faciat cum Alexandro adversus nos
5 recordabitur enim omnium quae fecimus
in eum
et in fratrem eius et in gentem eius
6 et dedit ei potestatem congregandi exercitum
et fabricare arma et esse ipsum socium eius
et obsides qui erant in arce iussit tradi ei
7 et venit Ionathas in Hierusalem
et legit epistulas in auditu omnis populi et eorum qui in arce erant
8 et timuerunt timore magno
quoniam audierunt quod dedit ei rex in potestatem
congregandi exercitum
9 et traditi sunt Ionathae obsides et reddidit eos parentibus suis
10 et habitavit Ionathas in Hierusalem
et coepit aedificare et innovare civitatem
11 et dixit facientibus opera
ut struerent muros et montem
Sion
in circuitu lapidibus quadratis ad munitionem
et ita fecerunt
12 et fugerunt alienigenae
qui erant in munitionibus quas aedificaverat Bacchides
13 et reliquit unusquisque locum suum et abiit in terram suam
14 tantum in Bethsuram remanserant aliqui
ex his qui reliquerant legem et praecepta Dei
erat enim haec eis ad refugium
15 et audivit Alexander rex promissa quae promisit Demetrius Ionathae
et narraverunt ei proelia et virtutes quas ipse fecit et fratres eius
et labores quos laboraverunt
16 et ait numquid inveniemus aliquem virum talem
et nunc faciemus eum amicum et socium nostrum
17 et scripsit epistulam et misit ei secundum haec verba dicens
18 rex Alexander fratri Ionathae salutem
19 audivimus de te quod vir potens viribus
et aptus es ut sis amicus noster
20 et nunc constituimus te hodie summum sacerdotem gentis tuae
et ut amicus regis voceris
et misit ei purpuram et coronam auream
ut quae nostra sunt sentias
et conserves amicitias ad nos
21 et induit se Ionathas stolam sanctam
septimo mense anno centesimo sexagesimo
in die sollemni scenophegiae
et congregavit exercitum et fecit arma copiosa
22 et audivit Demetrius verba ista et contristatus est
et ait
23 quid hoc fecimus quod praeoccupavit nos Alexander
adprehendere amicitiam Iudaeorum ad munimen sui
24 scribam et ego illi verba deprecatoria
et dignitates et dona ut sit mecum in adiutorio
25 et scripsit in haec verba
rex Demetrius genti Iudaeorum salutem
26 quoniam servastis ad nos pactum et mansistis in amicitia nostra
et non accessistis ad inimicos nostros
audivimus et gavisi sumus
27 et nunc perseverate adhuc conservare ad nos fidem
et retribuemus vobis bona pro his quae fecistis nobiscum
28 et remittemus vobis praestationes multas
et dabimus vobis donationes
29 et nunc absolvo vos et omnes Iudaeos a tributis
et pretia salis indulgeo et coronas remitto
et tertias seminis
30 et dimidiam partem
fructus ligni quod est portionis meae
relinquo vobis ex hodierno et deinceps
ne accipiatur a terra Iuda
et a tribus civitatibus quae additae sunt illi ex Samaria et Galilea
ex hodierna die et in totum tempus
31 et Hierusalem sit sancta et libera cum finibus suis
et decimae et tributa ipsius sint
32 remitto etiam potestatem arcis quae est in Hierusalem
et do eam summo sacerdoti
et constituat in ea viros quoscumque
ipse elegerit
qui custodiant eam
33 et omnem animam Iudaeorum quae captiva est a terra
Iuda
in omni regno meo relinquo liberam gratis
ut omnes a tributis resolvantur etiam pecorum suorum
34 et omnes dies sollemnes et sabbata et neomeniae et dies decreti
et tres dies ante diem sollemnem
et tres post diem sollemnem
sint omnes inmunitatis et remissionis
omnibus Iudaeis qui sunt in regno meo
35 et nemo potestatem agere aliquid habeat
et movere negotii adversus aliquem eorum in
omni causa
36 et ut adscribantur ex Iudaeis in exercitu
regis
ad triginta milia virorum
et dabuntur illis copiae ut oportet omnibus exercitibus regis
et ex ipsis ordinabuntur qui sint in munitionibus regis magni
37 et ex his constituentur supra negotia regni
quae aguntur ex fide
et principes sint ex eis
et ambulent legibus suis
sicut praecepit rex in terra Iuda
38 et tres civitates quae additae sunt Iudaeae ex regione
Samariae
cum Iudaea reputentur
ut sint sub uno
et non oboediant aliae potestati nisi summi sacerdotis
39 Ptolomaidam et confines eius
quas dedi donum sanctis qui sunt in Hierusalem
ad necessarios sumptus sanctorum
40 et ego singulis annis dabo quindecim milia
siclorum argenti
de rationibus regis quae me contingunt
41 et omne quod reliquum fuit
quod non reddiderant qui super negotia erant annis prioribus
ex hoc dabunt in opera domus
42 et super haec quinque milia siclorum argenti
quae accipiebant de sanctorum ratione per singulos annos
et haec ad sacerdotes pertineant qui ministerio funguntur
43 et quicumque fugerint in
templum quod est in Hierosolymis
et in omnibus finibus eius
obnoxios regi in omni negotio dimittatis
et universa quae sunt eis in regno meo libera habeant
44 et ad aedificanda vel restauranda opera sanctorum
sumptus dabuntur de ratione regis
45 et ad extruendos muros Hierusalem et communiendos in circuitu
sumptus dabuntur de ratione regis
et ad construendos muros in Iudaea
46 ut audivit autem Ionathas et populus sermones istos
non crediderunt eis nec receperunt eos
quia recordati sunt malitiae magnae quam fecerat in
Israhel
et tribulaverat eos valde
47 et conplacuit eis in Alexandrum
quia ipse fuerat eis princeps sermonum pacis
et ipsi auxilium ferebant omnibus diebus
48 et congregavit Alexander rex exercitum magnum
et admovit castra ad Demetrium
49 et commiserunt proelium reges
et fugit exercitus Alexandri
et insecutus est eum Demetrius
et incubuit super eos
50 et invaluit proelium nimis donec occidit sol
et cecidit Demetrius in illa die
51 et misit Alexander ad Ptolomeum regem Aegypti legatos
secundum haec verba dicens
52 quoniam ingressus sum in regnum meum
et sedi in sede patrum meorum et obtinui principatum
et contrivi Demetrium et possedi regionem nostram
53 et commisi cum eo pugnam
et contritus est ipse et castra eius a nobis
et sedimus in sede regni eius
54 et nunc statuamus ad invicem amicitiam
et da mihi filiam tuam uxorem et ero gener tuus
et ipsi dignitatem
55 et respondit Ptolomeus rex dicens
felix dies in qua reversus es ad terram patrum tuorum
et sedisti in sede regni eorum
56 et nunc faciam tibi quae scripsisti
sed occurre Ptolomaidae
ut videamus nos invicem
et spondeam tibi sicut dixisti
57 et exiit Ptolomeus de Aegypto
ipse et Cleopatra filia eius et venit Ptolomaidae
anno centesimo sexagesimo secundo
58 et occurrit ei Alexander rex
et dedit ei Cleopatram filiam suam
et fecit nuptias eius Ptolomaidae sicut reges in magna gloria
59 et scripsit rex Alexander Ionathae ut veniret obviam sibi
60 et abiit cum gloria Ptolomaidem
et occurrit ibi duobus regibus
et dedit illis argentum multum et aurum et dona
et invenit gratiam in conspectu eorum
61 et convenerunt adversus eum viri pestilentes ex Israhel
viri iniqui interpellantes adversus eum
et non intendit ad eos rex
62 et iussit expoliari Ionathan vestimentis
suis
et induit eum purpura
et ita fecerunt
et conlocavit eum rex sedere secum
63 dixitque principibus
exite cum eo in medio civitatis et praedicate
ut nemo interpellet adversus eum de ullo negotio
nec quisquam ei molestus sit de ulla ratione
64 et factum est
ut viderunt qui interpellabant gloriam eius quae praedicabatur
et opertum eum purpura
fugerunt omnes
65 et magnificavit eum rex et scripsit eum inter primos amicos
et posuit eum ducem et participem principatus
66 et reversus est Ionathan in Hierusalem cum pace
et laetitia
67 in anno centesimo sexagesimo quinto
venit Demetrius filius Demetrii a Creta in terram patrum suorum
68 et audivit Alexander rex et contristatus est valde
et reversus est Antiochiam
69 et constituit Demetrius Apollonium
qui praeerat Coelesyriae
et congregavit exercitum magnum et accessit ad Iamniam
et misit ad Ionathan summum sacerdotem
70 dicens
tu solus resistis nobis
ego autem factus sum in derisum et in obprobrium
propterea quia tu potestatem exerces in montibus
71 nunc ergo si confidis in virtutibus tuis
descende ad nos in campum
et conparemus illic invicem quia mecum est virtus bellorum
72 interroga et disce qui sim ego
et ceteri qui auxilio sunt mihi qui et dicunt
quia non potest stare pes vester ante faciem nostram
quia bis in fugam conversi sunt patres tui in terra sua
73 et nunc quomodo poteris sustinere equitatum exercitum
tantum
in campo ubi non est lapis neque saxum neque locus fugiendi
74 ut audivit autem Ionathas sermones Apollonii motus est animo
et elegit decem milia virorum et exiit ab Hierusalem
et concurrit ei Simon frater eius in adiutorium
75 et adplicuerunt castra in Ioppen
et exclusit eum a civitate
quia custodia Apollonii Ioppe erat
et obpugnavit eam
76 et exterriti qui erant intra civitatem aperuerunt ei
et obtinuit Ionathas Ioppen
77 et audivit Apollonius
et admovit tria milia equitum et exercitum multum
78 et abiit Azotum tamquam iter faciens
et statim exiit in campum
eo quod haberet multitudinem equitum et confideret
in eis
et insecutus est eum Ionathas in Azotum
et proelium commiserunt
79 et reliquit Apollonius in castris mille equites post eos occulte
80 et cognovit Ionathas quoniam sunt insidiae post se
et circuierunt castra eius
a mane usque ad vesperam
81 populus autem stabat sicut praecepit Ionathas
et laboraverunt equi eorum
82 et eiecit Simon exercitum suum et commisit contra legionem
equites enim fatigati erant
et contriti sunt ab eo et fugerunt
83 et qui dispersi sunt in campum fugerunt in Azotum
et intraverunt in Bethdagon idolum suum ut se liberarent
84 et succendit Ionathas Azotum et civitates quae erant in circuitu eius
et accepit spolia eorum
et templum Dagon et eos qui fugerunt in illud succendit igni
85 et fuerunt qui ceciderunt gladio cum his qui succensi sunt
fere octo milia virorum
86 et movit inde Ionathas castra et adplicuit ea Ascalona
et exierunt de civitate obviam illi in magna gloria
87 et reversus est Ionathas in Hierusalem
cum suis habentibus spolia multa
88 et factum est ut audivit Alexander rex sermones istos
addidit adhuc glorificare Ionathan
89 et misit ei fibulam auream
sicuti est consuetudo dari cognatis regum
et dedit ei Accaron et omnes fines eius in possessionem
1 In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there,
2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.
3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.
4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.
6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.
7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower:
8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.
9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.
11 And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for fortification; and they did so.
12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;
13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.
14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.
15 Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,
16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,
18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:
19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king’s friend; (and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.
21 So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.
22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,
23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
24 I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.
25 He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
26 Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.
27 Wherefore now continue ye still to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye do in our behalf,
28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29 And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,
30 And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three governments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.
31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.
32 And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and give the high priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.
33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their cattle.
34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.
35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 I will further, that there be enrolled among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay shall be given, as belongeth to all king’s forces.
37 And of them some shall be placed in the king’s strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and I will that their overseers and governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.
38 And concerning the three governments that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority than the high priest’s.
39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expences of the sanctuary.
40 Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king’s accounts from the places appertaining.
41 And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the temple.
42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year by year, even those things shall be released, because they appertain to the priests that minister.
43 And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm.
44 For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expences shall be given of the king’s accounts.
45 Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expences shall be given out of the king’s accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.
46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them very sore.
47 But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the first that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate with him always.
48 Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.
49 And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.
50 And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.
51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:
52 Forasmuch as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have gotten the dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country;
53 For after I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so that we sit in the throne of his kingdom:
54 Now therefore let us make a league of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife: and I will be thy son in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.
55 Then Ptolemee the king gave answer, saying, Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom.
56 And now will I do to thee, as thou hast written: meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.
57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:
58 Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory, as the manner of kings is.
59 Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.
60 Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.
61 At that time certain pestilent fellows of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: but the king would not hear them.
62 Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.
63 And he made him sit by himself, and said unto his princes, Go with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause.
64 Now when his accusers saw that he was honored according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.
65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
66 Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 Furthermore in the hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:
68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.
69 Then Demetrius made Apollonius the governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host, and camped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,
70 Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?
71 Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together: for with me is the power of the cities.
72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to stand before our face; for thy fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.
73 Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.
74 So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him.
75 And he pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.
76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77 Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen, with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew him forth into the plain. because he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.
78 Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.
79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.
80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from morning till evening.
81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired.
82 Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were discomfited by him, and fled.
83 The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol’s temple, for safety.
84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.
85 Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.
86 And from thence Jonathan removed his host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came forth, and met him with great pomp.
87 After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 Now when king Alexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.
89 And sent him a buckle of gold, as the use is to be given to such as are of the king’s blood: he gave him also Accaron with the borders thereof in possession.