1 et audivit Simon quod congregavit Tryfon exercitum copiosum
ut veniret in terram Iuda et adtereret eam
2 videns quia in tremore populus est et timore
ascendit Hierusalem et congregavit populum
3 et adhortans dixit
vos scitis quanta ego et fratres mei et domus patris mei
fecimus pro legibus et pro sanctis proelia
et angustias quales vidimus
4 horum gratia perierunt fratres mei omnes propter Israhel
et relictus sum ego solus
5 et nunc non mihi contingat parcere animae meae
in omni tempore tribulationis
non enim melior sum fratribus meis
6 vindicabo itaque gentem meam et sancta
natosque vestros et uxores
quia congregatae sunt universae gentes
conterere nos inimicitiae gratis
7 et accensus est spiritus populi simul ut audivit sermones istos
8 et responderunt voce magna dicentes
tu es dux noster loco Iudae et Ionathae fratris tui
9 pugna proelium nostrum
et omnia quaecumque dixeris nobis faciemus
10 et congregans omnes viros bellatores
adceleravit consummare omnes muros Hierusalem
et munivit eam in gyro
11 et misit Ionathan filium Absalomi
et cum eo exercitum novum in Ioppen
et eiectis his qui erant in ea mansit illic ipse
12 et movit Tryfon a Ptolomaida cum exercitu multo
ut veniret in terram Iuda
et Ionatha cum eo in custodia
13 Simon autem adplicuit in Addus contra faciem campi
14 et ut cognovit Tryfon
quia surrexit Simon in loco Ionathae fratris sui
misit ad eum legatos
15 dicens
pro argento quod debebat frater tuus Ionathas
in ratione regis
detinuimus eum
16 et nunc mitte argenti talenta centum
et duos filios eius obsides ut non dimissus fugiat a nobis
et remittemus eum
17 et cognovit Simon quia cum dolo loquitur secum
iussit tamen dari argentum et pueros
ne inimicitiam magnam sumeret ad Israhel populum dicentem
18 quia non misit argentum et pueros propterea periit
19 et mentitus est et non dimisit Ionathan
20 et post haec venit Tryfon intra regionem
ut contereret eam
et gyraverunt per viam quae ducit Ador
et Simon et castra eius ambulabant in omnem locum quocumque ibant
21 qui autem in arce erant miserunt ad Tryfonem legatos
ut festinaret venire per desertum et mitteret illis
alimonias
22 et paravit Tryfon omnem equitatum ut veniret illa nocte
erat autem nix valde multa et non venit in Galaditin
23 et cum adpropiasset Baschama
occidit Ionathan et filios eius
24 et convertit Tryfon et abiit in terram suam
25 et misit Simon et accepit ossa Ionathae fratris sui
et sepelivit ea in Modin civitate patrum eius
26 et planxerunt eum omnis Israhel planctu magno
et luxerunt eum dies multos
27 et aedificavit Simon
super sepulchrum patris sui et fratrum suorum
aedificium altum visu lapide polito retro et ante
28 et statuit septem pyromidas
unam contra unam patri et matri et quattuor fratribus
29 et his circumposuit columnas magnas
et super columnas arma ad memoriam aeternam
et iuxta arma naves sculptas
quae viderentur ab omnibus navigantibus mare
30 hoc est sepulchrum quod fecit in Modin usque in hunc diem
31 Tryfon autem cum iter faceret cum Antiocho rege adulescente
dolo occidit eum
32 et regnavit loco eius
et inposuit sibi diadema Asiae
et fecit plagam magnam in terra
33 et aedificavit Simon praesidia Iudaeae
muniens ea turribus excelsis et muris magnis et portis et seris
et posuit alimenta in munitionibus
34 et elegit Simon viros et misit ad Demetrium regem
ut faceret remissionem regioni
quia actus omnes Tryfonis per direptionem fuerant gesti
35 et Demetrius rex ad verba ista respondit
et scripsit epistulam talem
36 rex Demetrius Simoni summo sacerdoti et amico regum
et senioribus et genti Iudaeorum salutem
37 coronam auream et baen quam misistis
suscepimus
et parati sumus facere vobiscum pacem magnam
et scribere praepositis regis remittere vobis quae indulsimus
38 quaecumque enim constituimus vobis constant
munitiones quas aedificastis sint vobis
39 remittimus quoque ignorantias et peccata usque in hodiernum diem
et coronam quam debebatis
et si quid aliud erat tributarium Hierusalem
iam non sit tributarium
40 et si qui in vobis apti sunt conscribi
inter nostros conscribantur et sit inter nos pax
41 anno centesimo septuagesimo
ablatum est iugum gentium ab Israhel
42 et coepit populus Israhel scribere in tabulis et gestis publicis
anno primo sub Simone sacerdote magno duce et
principe Iudaeorum
43 in illis diebus Simon adplicuit ad Gazam
et circumdedit eam castris
et fecit machinas et adplicuit ad civitatem
et percussit turrem unam et conprehendit
44 et qui eruperunt erant intra machinam in
civitate
et factus est motus magnus in civitate
45 et ascenderunt qui erant in civitate cum uxoribus et filiis
supra murum scissis tunicis suis
et clamaverunt voce magna postulantes a Simone dextras sibi dari
46 et dixerunt non nobis reddas secundum malitias nostras
sed secundum misericordias tuas
47 et flexus Simon non debellavit eos eiecit tamen eos de civitate
et emundavit aedes in quibus fuerant simulacra
et tunc intravit in ea cum hymnis benedicens Dominum
48 et eiecta ex ea omni inmunditia
conlocavit in ea viros qui legem facerent et munivit eam
et fecit sibi habitationem
49 qui autem erant in arce Hierusalem
prohibebantur egredi et ingredi in regionem
et emere ac vendere
et esurierunt valde et multi ex eis fame perierunt
50 et clamaverunt ad Simonem ut dextras acciperent et dedit illis
et eiecit eos inde et mundavit arcem a contaminationibus
51 et intraverunt in ea tertia et vicesima
secundi mensis
anno centesimo septuagesimo primo
cum laude et ramis palmarum
et cinyris et cymbalis et nablis et hymnis et canticis
quia contritus est inimicus magnus ex Israhel
52 et constituit ut omnibus annis agerentur dies hii cum laetitia
53 et munivit montem templi qui erat secus arcem
et habitavit ibi ipse et qui cum eo erant
54 et vidit Simon Iohannem filium suum
quod vir esset
et posuit eum ducem virtutum universarum
et habitavit Gazaris
1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it,
2 And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,
3 And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father’s house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have seen.
4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.
5 Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare mine own life in any time of trouble: for I am no better than my brethren.
6 Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered to destroy us of very malice.
7 Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived.
8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother.
9 Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever, thou commandest us, that will we do.
10 So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom, and with him a great power, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein remained there in it.
12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to invade the land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward.
13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain.
14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers unto him, saying,
15 Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother in hold, it is for money that he is owing unto the king’s treasure, concerning the business that was committed unto him.
16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will let him go.
17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spake deceitfully unto him yet sent he the money and the children, lest peradventure he should procure to himself great hatred of the people:
18 Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Jonathan dead.
19 So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go.
20 And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it, going round about by the way that leadeth unto Adora: but Simon and his host marched against him in every place, wheresoever he went.
21 Now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Tryphon, to the end that he should hasten his coming unto them by the wilderness, and send them victuals.
22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad.
23 And when he came near to Bascama he slew Jonathan, who was buried there.
24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land.
25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.
26 And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him many days.
27 Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind and before.
28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren.
29 And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set great pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armour for a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be seen of all that sail on the sea.
30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet unto this day.
31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew him.
32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.
33 Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars, and laid up victuals therein.
34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the land an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
35 Unto whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner:
36 King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, as also unto the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which ye sent unto us, we have received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yea, and to write unto our officers, to confirm the immunities which we have granted.
38 And whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and the strong holds, which ye have builded, shall be your own.
39 As for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax also, which ye owe us: and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid.
40 And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be enrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us.
41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred and seventieth year.
42 Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews.
43 In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about; he made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, and battered a certain tower, and took it.
44 And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon there was a great uproar in the city:
45 Insomuch as the people of the city rent their clothes, and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.
47 So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.
48 Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built therein a dwellingplace for himself.
49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that they could neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor sell: wherefore they were in great distress for want of victuals, and a great number of them perished through famine.
50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them: which thing he granted them; and when he had put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions:
51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.
52 He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger than it was, and there he dwelt himself with his company.
53 And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made him captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in Gazera.