1 Makkabäer 15

1And king Antiochus the son of Demetrius sent letters from the isles of the sea to Simon the priest, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people:

2And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

3Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore it to its former estate: and I have chosen a great army, and have built ships of war.

4And I design to go through the country that I may take revenge of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities desolate in my realm.

5Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations which all the kings before me remitted to thee, and what other gifts soever they remitted to thee:

6And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy country:

7And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the armour that hath been made, and the fortresses which thou hast built, and which thou keepest in thy hands, let them remain to thee.

8And all that is due to the king, and what should be the king’s hereafter, from this present and for ever, is forgiven thee.

9And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will glorify thee, and thy nation, and the temple with great glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.

10In the year one hundred and seventy-four Antiochus entered into the land of this fathers, and all the forces assembled to him, so that few were left with Tryphon.

11And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled along by the sea coast and came to Dora.

12For he perceived that evils were gathered together upon him, and his troops had forsaken him.

13And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen:

14And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come in, or to go out.

15And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the contents whereof were these:

16Lucius the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting.

17The ambassadors of the Jews our friends came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon the high priest, and the people of the Jews.

18And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds.

19It hath seemed good therefore to us to write to the kings, and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them that fight against them.

20And it hath seemed good to us to received the shield of them.

21If therefore any pestilent men are fled out of their country to you, deliver them to Simon the high priest, that he may punish them according to their law.

22These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,

23And to all the countries; and to Lampsacus, and to the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samus, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.

24And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon the high priest, and to the people of the Jews.

25But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second time, assaulting it continually, and making engines: and shut up Tryphon, that he could not go out.

26And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid him, silver also, and gold, and abundance of furniture.

27And he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant that he had made with him before, and alienated himself from him.

28And he sent to him Athenobius one of his friends, to treat with him, saying: You hold Joppe, and Gazara, and the castle that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom:

29Their borders you have wasted, and you have made great havock in the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom.

30Now therefore deliver up the cities that you have taken, and the tributes of the places whereof you have gotten the dominion without the borders of Judea.

31But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the havock that you have made, and the tributes of the cities other five hundred talents: or else we will come and fight against you.

32So Athenobius the king’s friend came to Jerusalem, and saw the glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold, and silver, and his great equipage, and he was astonished, and told him the king’s words.

33And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have neither taken other men’s land, neither do we hold that which is other men’s: but the inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.

34But we having opportunity claim the inheritance of our fathers.

35And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and Gazara, they did great harm to the people, and to our country: yet for these we will give a hundred talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word:

36But returning in a rage to the king, made report to him of these words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen, and the king was exceeding angry.

37And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias.

38And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen.

39And he commanded him to march with his army towards Judea: and he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to fortify the gates of the city, and to war against the people. But the king himself pursued after Tryphon.

40And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, and to ravage Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and to kill, and to build Gedor.

41And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they might issue forth, and make incursions upon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.

1Et misit rex Antiochus filius Demetrii epistolas ab insulis maris Simoni sacerdoti, et principi gentis Judæorum, et universæ genti:

2et erant continentes hunc modum: Rex Antiochus Simoni sacerdoti magno, et genti Judæorum salutem.

3Quoniam quidem pestilentes obtinuerunt regnum patrum nostrorum, volo autem vendicare regnum, et restituere illud sicut erat antea: et electam feci multitudinem exercitus, et feci naves bellicas.

4Volo autem procedere per regionem ut ulciscar in eos, qui corruperunt regionem nostram, et qui desolaverunt civitates multas in regno meo.

5Nunc ergo statuo tibi omnes oblationes, quas remiserunt tibi ante me omnes reges, et quæcumque alia dona remiserunt tibi:

6et permitto tibi facere percussuram proprii numismatis in regione tua:

7Jerusalem autem sanctam esse, et liberam: et omnia arma, quæ fabricata sunt, et præsidia, quæ construxisti, quæ tenes, maneant tibi.

8Et omne debitum regis, et quæ futura sunt regi, ex hoc et in totum tempus remittuntur tibi.

9Cum autem obtinuerimus regnum nostrum, glorificabimus te, et gentem tuam, et templum, gloria magna, ita ut manifestetur gloria vestra in universa terra.

10Anno centesimo septuagesimo quarto exiit Antiochus in terram patrum suorum, et convenerunt ad eum omnes exercitus, ita ut pauci relicti essent cum Tryphone.

11Et insecutus est eum Antiochus rex, et venit Doram fugiens per maritimam:

12sciebat enim quod congregata sunt mala in eum, et reliquit eum exercitus:

13et applicuit Antiochus super Doram cum centum viginti millibus virorum belligeratorum, et octo millibus equitum:

14et circuivit civitatem, et naves a mari accesserunt: et vexabant civitatem a terra et mari, et neminem sinebant ingredi vel egredi.

15Venit autem Numenius, et qui cum eo fuerant, ab urbe Roma, habentes epistolas regibus et regionibus scriptas, in quibus continebantur hæc:

16Lucius consul Romanorum, Ptolemæo regi salutem.

17Legati Judæorum venerunt ad nos amici nostri, renovantes pristinam amicitiam et societatem, missi a Simone principe sacerdotum et populo Judæorum.

18Attulerunt autem et clypeum aureum mnarum mille.

19Placuit itaque nobis scribere regibus et regionibus, ut non inferant illis mala, neque impugnent eos, et civitates eorum, et regiones eorum: et ut non ferant auxilium pugnantibus adversus eos.

20Visum autem est nobis accipere ab eis clypeum.

21Si qui ergo pestilentes refugerunt de regione ipsorum ad vos, tradite eos Simoni principi sacerdotum, ut vindicet in eos secundum legem suam.

22Hæc eadem scripta sunt Demetrio regi, et Attalo, et Ariarathi, et Arsaci,

23et in omnes regiones: et Lampsaco, et Spartiatis, et in Delum, et in Myndum, et in Sicyonem, et in Cariam, et in Samum, et in Pamphyliam, et in Lyciam, et in Alicarnassum, et in Coo, et in Siden, et in Aradon, et in Rhodum, et in Phaselidem, et in Gortynam, et Gnidum, et Cyprum, et Cyrenen.

24Exemplum autem eorum scripserunt Simoni principi sacerdotum, et populo Judæorum.

25Antiochus autem rex applicuit castra in Doram secundo, admovens ei semper manus, et machinas faciens: et conclusit Tryphonem, ne procederet:

26et misit ad eum Simon duo millia virorum electorum in auxilium, et argentum, et aurum, et vasa copiosa:

27et noluit ea accipere, sed rupit omnia, quæ pactus est cum eo antea, et alienavit se ab eo.

28Et misit ad eum Athenobium unum de amicis suis, ut tractaret cum ipso, dicens: Vos tenetis Joppen, et Gazaram, et arcem, quæ est in Jerusalem, civitates regni mei:

29fines earum desolastis, et fecistis plagam magnam in terra, et dominati estis per loca multa in regno meo.

30Nunc ergo tradite civitates quas occupastis, et tributa locorum in quibus dominati estis extra fines Judææ:

31sin autem, date pro illis quingenta talenta argenti, et exterminii, quod exterminastis, et tributorum civitatum alia talenta quingenta: sin autem, veniemus, et expugnabimus vos.

32Et venit Athenobius amicus regis in Jerusalem, et vidit gloriam Simonis, et claritatem in auro, et argento, et apparatum copiosum: et obstupuit, et retulit ei verba regis.

33Et respondit ei Simon, et dixit ei: Neque alienam terram sumpsimus, neque aliena detinemus: sed hæreditatem patrum nostrorum, quæ injuste ab inimicis nostris aliquo tempore possessa est.

34Nos vero tempus habentes, vindicamus hæreditatem patrum nostrorum.

35Nam de Joppe et Gazara quæ expostulas, ipsi faciebant in populo plagam magnam, et in regione nostra: horum damus talenta centum. Et non respondit ei Athenobius verbum.

36Reversus autem cum ira ad regem, renuntiavit ei verba ista, et gloriam Simonis, et universa quæ vidit, et iratus est rex ira magna.

37Tryphon autem fugit navi in Orthosiada.

38Et constituit rex Cendebæum ducem maritimum, et exercitum peditum et equitum dedit illi.

39Et mandavit illi movere castra contra faciem Judææ: et mandavit ei ædificare Gedorem, et obstruere portas civitatis, et debellare populum. Rex autem persequebatur Typhonem.

40Et pervenit Cendebæus Jamniam, et cœpit irritare plebem, et conculcare Judæam, et captivare populum, et interficere, et ædificare Gedorem.

41Et collocavit illic equites et exercitum, ut egressi perambularent viam Judææ, sicut constituit ei rex.

1And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent letters from the islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and leader of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people.

2And these continued in this way: “King Antiochus to Simon, the great priest, and to the people of the Jews: greetings.

3Since certain pestilent persons have obtained the kingdom of our fathers, it is my will, then, to vindicate the kingdom and to restore it, just as it was before. And so, I have chosen a great army, and I have built ships of war.

4Furthermore, I intend to pass through the region, so that I may take revenge on those who have corrupted our country and who have desolated many cities in my kingdom.

5Now, therefore, I confirm to you all the oblations that all the kings before me have remitted to you, and whatever other gifts they remitted to you.

6And I permit you to make a striking of your own coins for your country.

7Moreover, let Jerusalem be holy and free. And all the weapons that have been made, and the fortresses that you have constructed, or that you hold, let them remain with you.

8And all that is owed to the king, and what should belong to the king in the future, from this time and for all time, is remitted to you.

9Yet, when we have obtained our kingdom, we will glorify you, and your nation, and the temple with great glory, so much so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.”

10In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year, Antiochus went into the land of his fathers, and all the armies came over to him, so that few were left with Trypho.

11And king Antiochus followed him as he fled along the sea coast and came to Dora.

12For he knew that evils had gathered together upon him, and that his troops had forsaken him.

13And Antiochus took up a position above Dora, with one hundred and twenty thousand men of warfare and eight thousand horsemen.

14And he encircled the city, and the ships drew near by sea. And they assailed the city by land and by sea, and they permitted no one to go in or out.

15But Numenius, and those who had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings and the regions, in which was contained these things:

16“Lucius, consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemy: greetings.

17The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, having been sent from Simon, the leader of the priests and the people of the Jews.

18And they also brought a shield of gold of over a thousand pounds.

19And so, it was pleasing to us to write to the kings and the regions, that they should do no harm to them, nor fight against them, and their cities, and their regions, and that they should bear no assistance to those fighting against them.

20And it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them.

21If, therefore, those who are pestilent have taken refuge with you from their region, hand them over to Simon, the leader of the priests, so that he may give a verdict to them according to their law.”

22These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,

23and to all the regions, and to Lampsacus and to the Spartans, and to Delos, and Myndos, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.

24Moreover, they wrote a copy of these things to Simon, the leader of the priests and the people of the Jews.

25But king Antiochus positioned his camp near Dora a second time, moving his hand against it continually, and making machines of war. And he enclosed Trypho, lest he escape.

26And Simon sent two thousand chosen men to him as auxiliaries, and silver, and gold, and an abundance of equipment.

27And he was not willing to receive them, but he broke all of the pact that he made with him before, and he alienated himself from him.

28And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to deal with him, saying: “You hold Joppa and Gazara, and the stronghold that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom.

29You have desolated their parts, and you have caused a great scourging in the land, and you have become ruler throughout many places in my kingdom.

30Now, therefore, hand over the cities that you occupy, and the tributes of the places where you have become ruler beyond the borders of Judea.

31But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the destruction that you have caused, and for the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. But if not, we will come and fight against you.”

32So Athenobius, the friend of the king, came to Jerusalem and saw the glory of Simon, and his splendor in gold and silver, and his abundance of equipment, and he was astonished. And he repeated the words of the king to him.

33And Simon responded to him, and he said to him: “We have not taken foreign land, nor do we hold anything foreign, but we hold the inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.

34In truth, since we have the opportunity, we claim the inheritance of our fathers.

35And as to Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they brought a great scourging on the people and our country. For these, we will give one hundred talents.” And Athenobius did not respond a word to him.

36But, returning with anger to the king, he reported to him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all that he had seen. And the king became angry with a great anger.

37But Trypho fled by ship to Orthosia.

38And the king appointed Cendebeus as commander of the seacoast, and he gave him an army of foot soldiers and horsemen.

39And he commanded him to move with his camp against the face of Judea. And he commanded him to build up Kedron, and to barricade the gates of the city, and to make war against the people. But the king pursued Trypho.

40And Cendebeus passed through to Jamnia, and he began to provoke the populace, and to trample Judea, and to take the people captive, and to execute, and to build up Kedron.

41And he stationed horsemen and an army there, so that they could go out and travel through the ways of Judea, as the king appointed him to do.