2001 Translation

1

The Rise of the Greeks

¹After Alexander (Philip’s son, the Macedonian) came from the land of Kittim and defeated Darius (the king of Persia and Media), he became ruler, starting with Greece.

²He fought many wars, captured fortresses, and killed kings. ³He marched to the ends of the earth and took valuable goods from many nations. His rule brought peace to the land, and he became very powerful, his heart filled with pride. ⁴He gathered [a] very powerful army and ruled over lands, nations, and oppressive governments, and they all paid him tribute.

⁵After this, he became bedridden, knowing he was about to die… ⁶He called his important officers, who had been with him since their youth, and while he was still alive, he divided his kingdom among them. ⁷Alexander reigned for twelve years, and then he died.

⁸His officers became rulers, each in their own territory. ⁹After his death, they all crowned themselves, and their sons ruled after them for many years. They caused much suffering on the earth.

Judeans Corrupted by Greek Culture

¹⁰Well, their lineage produced [a] sinful descendant, Antiochus Epiphanes, the son of King Antiochus ([the one] who had been [a] hostage in Rome). He began to rule in the 137^th year of the Greek kingdom.

¹¹During those days, lawless men appeared in Israel and convinced many people, saying:

‘Let’s go and make [an] alliance with the nations around us, because ever since we separated from them, we’ve faced many troubles.’

¹²They thought this proposal was a good idea. ¹³So, some of the people eagerly approached the king, and he gave them permission to follow the customs of the other races. ¹⁴They built [a] gymnasium in JeruSalem according to non-Jewish customs. ¹⁵They even reversed their circumcision and abandoned the Sacred Agreement. They teamed up with the other races and became determined to do bad things.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes Invades Egypt and Israel

¹⁶Antiochus had established his rule, and he decided to conquer the land of Egypt, planning to rule both kingdoms. ¹⁷He invaded Egypt with [a] massive force, including chariots, elephants, cavalry, and [a] large fleet. ¹⁸He fought against Ptolemy, king of Egypt. Ptolemy was defeated and fled, and many were wounded. ¹⁹Antiochus captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt and took its plunder.

²⁰In the 143^rd year, after his victory in Egypt, Antiochus returned. He marched against Israel and JeruSalem with [a] massive force.

²¹He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took:

• The golden altar
• The lampstand for the light, and all its vessels
• ²²The table for the showbread
• The libation bowls
• The cups
• The golden censers
• The veil
• The crowns
• And the golden ornament on the front of the temple; he stripped everything.

²³He also took the silver and gold, the valuable vessels, and the hidden treasures he found. ²⁴After taking everything, he returned to his own land. He carried out a great slaughter and spoke very arrogantly.

²⁵Well, extreme mourning began throughout all Israel’s towns. ²⁶Rulers and elders groaned; virgins and young men suffered, and the women lost their beauty. ²⁷Every bridegroom began to mourn; the bride in her room was in mourning. ²⁸The land trembled for its people, and the whole house of Jacob was covered with shame.

The Tax Collector Comes to JeruSalem

²⁹Two years after that, the king sent [a] chief tax official to Judah’s cities, and he came to JeruSalem with [a] massive force. ³⁰He spoke to them peacefully, but he was being deceptive and they trusted him.

Then he suddenly attacked the city! [He] attacked it fiercely, and killed many Israelites. ³¹He plundered the city’s goods, burned it down, and tore down its houses and surrounding walls. ³²He kidnapped women and children, and cattle were taken as spoils.

³³They then rebuilt David’s City with [a] great and strong wall and strong towers, and it became their stronghold. ³⁴They stationed [a] sinful nation there, men who broke the law, and they made it their secure base. ³⁵They stored up weapons and food, and after gathering plunder from JeruSalem, they stored it there.

It became [an] enormous snare, ³⁶[like a permanent] ambush against the [temple] sanctuary, and [a] constant wicked threat to Israel.

³⁷They spilled the blood of innocent people around the [temple] sanctuary and defiled it. ³⁸JeruSalem’s population fled because of them, and it became inhabited by strangers. It became [a] foreign place to its own people, and its own children abandoned it.

³⁹Its sanctuary was left desolate like [a] wilderness; its festivals turned into mourning; its Sabbaths became objects of scorn; and its honor turned into contempt.

⁴⁰Its dishonor became just as large as its former glory, and its splendor turned into mourning.

The King Tries to Abolish Judaism

⁴¹Then the king wrote to his entire kingdom that everyone should become one people, ⁴²and that each person should give up their own customs. All the other races obeyed the king’s command. ⁴³Even many IsraElites willingly served him; they sacrificed to idols and disregarded the Sabbath.

⁴⁴The king also sent scrolls by messengers to JeruSalem and Judah’s cities, ordering them to follow foreign customs in the land, specifically:

• ⁴⁵To stop burnt offerings, sacrifices, and drink offerings in the [temple] sanctuary, and to no longer practice Sabbaths and festivals
• ⁴⁶To defile the [temple] sanctuary and holy people
• ⁴⁷To build altars, sacred groves, and idols [to other gods], and to sacrifice pigs and [other] unclean animals
• ⁴⁸To leave their sons uncircumcised, and to make themselves detestable with every kind of impurity and profanity

⁴⁹[This was all] so that they would forget the Law [of Moses] and change all the statutes.

⁵⁰As for anyone who wouldn’t obey the king’s command, he would die!

⁵¹The king wrote all these things to his kingdom, and he appointed officials to oversee all the people. He also ordered Judah’s cities to offer sacrifices, city by city.

⁵²Many of the people (everyone who abandoned the Law) joined in with them and did evil things in the land. ⁵³They forced the Israelites to hide in any place they could find refuge.

⁵⁴Then, on Chislev 15^th, in the 145^th year, they built [an] ‘abomination of desolation’ on the altar [in the temple sanctuary].

They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah, ⁵⁵and offered incense at the doors of houses and in the streets.

⁵⁶They also tore up and burned any of the books of [the Mosaic] Law they found. ⁵⁷If [a] book of the Sacred Agreement was found with anyone, or if anyone followed the [Mosaic] Law, the king’s decree ordered his execution!

⁵⁸They used their power to persecute the Israelites, especially those found in the cities, month after month.

⁵⁹On the 25^th day of the month, they sacrificed on the altar that was on [top of] the altar [in the temple]. ⁶⁰They executed, as commanded, the women who had circumcised their children, ⁶¹and they hung the infants around their mothers’ necks, along with their families and those who had performed the circumcisions. ⁶²Many in Israel were hanged.

Yet, many remained resolute not to eat forbidden food. ⁶³They chose to die rather than be defiled by eating forbidden food or profane the Sacred Agreement, and so they died.

⁶⁴Yes, this is how Israel experienced immense suffering.

2

Introducing Mattathias

¹In those days, Mattathias (son of John, son of Simeon), a priest from Joarim’s family, left JeruSalem and settled in Modein.

²He had five sons:

• John, who was called Gaddis
• Simon, who was called Thassis
• Judas, who was called Maccabaeus
• Eleazar, who was called Avaran
• Jonathan, who was called Sapphous

⁶When Mattathias saw the blasphemies happening in Judah and JeruSalem, he exclaimed:

⁷‘How awful for me!

‘Why was I born to see my people destroyed and the holy city ruined?

‘Why must I sit here while it’s given to enemies, and the holy place to strangers?

⁸‘Her temple was disgraced, like [a] man who was once glorious; ⁹its beautiful treasures have been taken away… Her babies have been killed in her streets, her young men by the enemy’s sword.

¹⁰‘What nation hasn’t taken over her lands and plundered her wealth? ¹¹All her splendor has been stripped away; she’s no longer free, she’s a slave!

¹²‘Look! Our holy things, our beauty, and our glory have been destroyed, and nations have defiled them.

¹³‘Why should we go on living?’

¹⁴Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned deeply.

The King’s Envoy Comes to Mattathias’ Hometown

¹⁵The king’s envoys, who were forcing people to abandon their faith, came to the city of Modein to compel them to offer sacrifices [to pagan gods]. ¹⁶Many from Israel approached them, and Mattathias and his sons assembled.

¹⁷Well, the king’s envoys addressed Mattathias, saying:

‘You’re a prominent and great leader in this city, well-established with sons and brothers…

¹⁸‘So, step forward first and obey the king’s command, just as all the nations, the rulers of Judah, and those remaining in JeruSalem have done. Then we’ll consider you and your family among the king’s friends, and you and your sons will receive honor, silver, gold, and many gifts!’

¹⁹However, Mattathias shouted back:

‘Even if all the nations under the king’s rule obey him, and even if everyone abandons their ancestors’ way of worship to follow his commands, ²⁰I and my sons, and my brothers, will live by our fathers’ Sacred Agreement!

²¹‘We would never abandon the [Mosaic] Law and its statutes!

²²‘We won’t listen to the king’s law, nor will we deviate from our worship in any way!’

²³As he finished speaking these words, a Jewish man publicly came forward to offer incense on the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command… ²⁴When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; he trembled deep inside, but he was filled with righteous anger…

Running forward, he killed the man right there on the altar!

²⁵At the same time, he also killed the king’s officer who was forcing the sacrifices, and he pulled the altar down! ²⁶So he showed his zeal for the [Mosaic] Law, just as Phinehas did to Zimri (son of Salu).

²⁷Then Mattathias cried out loudly in the city, saying:

‘Everyone who is zealous for the Law and upholds the Sacred Agreement, follow me!’

²⁸Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind everything they owned in the city.

Other Faithful Jews Flee to the Wilderness

²⁹Then, many who wanted to live righteously and justly went into the wilderness to settle there, ³⁰yes they, their sons, their wives, and their cattle [all went], because these troubles weighed heavily on them.

³¹Well, news reached the king’s soldiers and the troops stationed in JeruSalem, David’s city, that men who had ignored the king’s command had gone into hiding in the wilderness. ³²Many pursued them, and once they’d overtaken them, they set up [a] camp against them and prepared for battle on the Sabbath day.

³³They said to them:

‘How long will you resist?!

‘Come out now and obey the king’s command, and you’ll live!’

³⁴But they replied:

‘We won’t come out! Nor will we obey the king’s command to profane the Sabbath day.’

³⁵So the enemy quickly attacked them. ³⁶But they didn’t respond; they didn’t throw a single stone at them, nor did they block their hiding places, ³⁷saying:

‘Let us all die as innocent people. Heaven and earth are our witnesses that you’re unjustly destroying us!’

³⁸So the enemy attacked them in battle on the Sabbath, and they died — they, their wives, their children, and their cattle — about 1,000 people.

Mattathias and His Friends Form an Army

³⁹When Mattathias and his friends learned of this, they mourned deeply for them.

⁴⁰One man said to his neighbor:

‘If we all act like our brothers did, and don’t fight against the nations for our lives and our laws, they’ll soon wipe us out from the earth.’

⁴¹So on that day they made a decision, saying:

‘If anyone comes to us to fight on the Sabbath day, we’ll fight against him, so that we don’t all die just like our brothers died in their hiding places.’

⁴²Then a strong group of Hasideans from Israel joined them — everyone who willingly devoted himself to the [Mosaic] Law. ⁴³Everyone who was fleeing from the troubles joined them, and they became a strong support.

⁴⁴They formed an army, and in their anger, they struck down sinners and lawless men in their wrath. The rest fled to other nations for safety.

⁴⁵Mattathias and his sons went around and pulled down the [pagan] altars. ⁴⁶They forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys they found within the borders of Israel.

⁴⁷Yes, they went after the arrogant ones — and their efforts succeeded! ⁴⁸They rescued the [Mosaic] Law from the force of the other races and the king, and they didn’t let the wicked triumph.

Mattathias’ Final Words to His Sons

⁴⁹As Mattathias’ dying days drew near, he said to his sons:

⁴⁹‘Now there’s arrogance and rebuke, a time of destruction and fierce anger… ⁵⁰So now, my children, be devoted to the [Mosaic] Law, and give your lives for our fathers’ Sacred Agreement.

⁵¹Remember the deeds of our ancestors throughout their generations, and you’ll receive great glory and eternal renown. ⁵²Wasn’t Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was counted as righteousness for him?

⁵³‘Joseph, during his time of trouble, obeyed the command and became Egypt’s ruler.

⁵⁴‘Phinehas, our father, by his strong devotion, received the Sacred Agreement of [a] holy priesthood.

⁵⁵‘Joshua, by obeying the word, became a judge in Israel.

⁵⁶‘Caleb, by testifying before the assembly, received land as his inheritance.

⁵⁷‘David, by his mercy, inherited an eternal kingdom’s throne.

⁵⁸‘EliJah, by his strong devotion for the [Mosaic] Law, was taken to heaven.

⁵⁹‘HananiAh, AzariAh, and MishaEl, by believing, were saved from the flame.

⁶⁰‘Daniel, because of his integrity, was rescued from the lions’ mouths.

⁶¹‘So, remember throughout the generations that all who hope in him won’t be disappointed! ⁶²So don’t be afraid of [a] sinful man’s words, for his glory will become like dung and worms. ⁶³He may be admired today, but he’ll [soon] disappear, return to dust, and his plans will fail. ⁶⁴You, my children, be strong and courageous in the [Mosaic] Law, for you’ll gain honor through it!

⁶⁵‘Look, your brother Simon — I know that he is [a] wise counselor; listen to him always, and he’ll guide you like a father.

⁶⁶‘Judas Maccabaeus has been very strong since his youth; he’ll be your army commander, and you’ll fight against the nations! ⁶⁷Gather all who follow the [Mosaic] Law, and get justice for your people. ⁶⁸Give the other races what they deserve, and firmly obey the [Mosaic] Law’s commands.’

⁶⁹Then he blest them and passed away, joining his ancestors. ⁷⁰He died in the 146^th year. His sons buried him in his ancestors’ tombs in Modein, and all Israel mourned him deeply.

3

Judas Maccabaeus Takes Over

¹Then his son Judas (known as Maccabaeus) took his place. ²All his brothers helped him, along with everyone loyal to his father. They fought Israel’s war enthusiastically!

³He brought great honor to his people. He put on a breastplate as if he were a giant and equipped himself with his battle weapons. He fought battles, defending his camp with his sword. ⁴He acted like a lion, and like a lion cub roaring for its prey!

⁵He pursued the lawless, hunting them down, and he destroyed those who oppressed his people. ⁶The lawless were terrified of him, and all evildoers were thrown into disarray!

He achieved success and deliverance. ⁷He greatly troubled many kings, but his actions brought joy to the people of Jacob. His memory will be a blessing until the age. ⁸He went through Judah’s cities and completely destroyed the ungodly people there.

In this way, he averted wrath from Israel. ⁹His reputation spread everywhere, and he gathered those who were lost.

The Battle of the Ascent of Lebonah

¹⁰[The military commander] Apollonius assembled forces from various nations, along with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel.

¹¹When Judas [Maccabaeus] learned of this, he went out to confront him, attacked him, and killed him. Many were wounded, and the rest fled. ¹²They took their equipment, and Judas took Apollonius’s sword… He used it in battle for the rest of his life!

The Battle of Beth-horon

¹³Seron, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas [Maccabaeus] had gathered a strong and loyal group of men, prepared for war.

¹⁴He said:

‘I’ll make a name for myself and gain honor in the kingdom! I’ll go to war against Judas, his followers, and anyone who defies the king’s orders!’

¹⁵So he assembled a powerful army of ungodly men to help him. He went up with them to get revenge on the sons of Israel.

¹⁶He approached the climb at Beth-Horon. Judas went out to confront him with only a small force. ¹⁷When they saw the army coming, they said to Judas:

‘How can we, being so few, fight against such a large army? Also, we’re weak because we haven’t eaten today.’

¹⁸Judas replied:

‘It’s easy for many to be defeated by a few. You see, from Heaven’s perspective, it doesn’t matter whether victory comes from many or from few… ¹⁹Victory in war doesn’t depend on the army’s size; strength comes from Heaven!

²⁰‘They’re attacking us with great arrogance and lawlessness to destroy us, our wives, and our children, and to plunder us…

²¹‘But we’re fighting for our lives and our laws!

²²‘He himself will crush them right before our eyes. Don’t be afraid of them.’

²³As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly attacked [the enemy]! Seron and his army were utterly defeated by him.

²⁴[The Jews] pursued them down the slope of Beth-Horon as far as the plain. About 800 of Seron’s men were killed, and the rest fled to the land of Philistia.

²⁵Then Judas and his brothers became widely feared, and terror struck the surrounding nations. ²⁶His fame reached the king, and every nation talked about Judas’s campaigns!

Antiochus Plans Revenge

²⁷When King Antiochus heard these reports, he was enraged!

So he mobilized all the forces of his kingdom, an extremely strong army. ²⁸He opened his treasury and paid his troops for a year, ordering them to be prepared for any eventuality for a year. ²⁹But he saw that the silver in his treasuries was running out. The taxes from the land were meager because of the conflict, and [by the] devastation he had caused by abolishing the ancient laws.

³⁰He worried he would no longer have the funds, as he had previously, to cover his expenses and the extravagant gifts he was accustomed to giving. ³¹This deeply troubled him within himself, and he decided to go to Persia to collect taxes from those lands and accumulate a large amount of silver.

³²So he left Lysias (a prominent man of royal descent) in charge of the king’s affairs from the Euphrates River to the borders of Egypt, ³³and to raise his son Antiochus until he returned. ³⁴He entrusted him with half of the forces and the elephants. He gave him detailed instructions on everything he wanted done, especially concerning the people of Judea and JeruSalem:

• ³⁵To send an army against them
• To destroy and eliminate Israel’s power and JeruSalem’s remaining people
• To eradicate their memory from the land
• ³⁶To settle foreigners throughout their entire territory
• And to divide their land by lot.

³⁷The king took the remaining half of the forces and departed from Antioch, his royal city, in the 147^th year. He crossed the Euphrates River and marched through the upper provinces.

³⁸Lysias chose:

• Ptolemy (son of Dorymenes)
• Nicanor
• And Gorgias

These were influential men among the king’s friends. ³⁹He sent with them 40,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry to go to the land of Judah and destroy it, as the king had ordered…

⁴⁰They set out with all their forces and, upon arrival, camped near Emmaus in the plain. ⁴¹Merchants from the country heard about this and came to the camp, bringing large amounts of silver and gold, and even children. They intended to buy the sons of Israel as slaves. Forces from Syria and other foreign lands also joined them.

Judas and His Brothers Prepare for War

⁴²Well, Judas and his brothers saw that trouble was brewing and that [enemy] forces were about to encamp within their territory. They understood the king’s commands, which were to utterly destroy their people.

⁴³So they said to each other:

‘Let’s restore our people from their ruined state, and our holy places too!’

⁴⁴The assembly convened to prepare for war, and to pray and seek mercy and compassion.

⁴⁵Now, JeruSalem was deserted, like a wilderness. No one entered or left her gates. The sanctuary was desecrated, and foreigners occupied the citadel, turning it into a residence for non-Jews.

Joy vanished from Jacob, and the music of flute and lyre ceased.

⁴⁶So [Judas’ men] gathered and arrived at Mizpah, opposite JeruSalem, because Mizpah had traditionally been a place of prayer for Israel. ⁴⁷On that day, they fasted. They dressed in sackcloth with ashes on their heads and ripped their clothes.

⁴⁸Then they spread out the book of the [Mosaic] Law [to read it] (unlike the other races who would try to find answers from their idols). ⁴⁹They also brought out:

• The priestly robes
• The firstfruits
• And the tithes

They also presented the Nazirites who had fulfilled their vows.

⁵⁰Then they cried out to Heaven, saying:

‘What should we do with these, and where should we take them?

⁵¹‘Your sacred objects have been desecrated and defiled, and Your priests are in mourning and humiliation!

⁵²‘Look, the nations have gathered against us to destroy us. You know what they’re plotting against us!

⁵³‘How can we resist them unless You help us?’

⁵⁴Then they blew the trumpets and shouted loudly.

⁵⁵After this, Judas appointed leaders for the people:

• Commanders of thousands
• Commanders of hundreds
• Commanders of fifties
• Commanders of tens

⁵⁶He told those who were building houses, getting married, planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, to return, each to their own home, according to the [Mosaic] Law. ⁵⁷The army then departed and camped south of Emmaus.

⁵⁸Judas said:

‘Get armed and be brave!

‘Be prepared by morning to fight against these nations who’ve gathered against us to destroy us and our holy places.

⁵⁹‘It’s better for us to die in battle than to witness the troubles afflicting our nation and our holy places.

⁶⁰‘Whatever Heaven wills, that will be done!’

4

The Battle of Emmaus

¹Gorgias took 5,000 men and 1,000 elite cavalry. His army left during the night… ²They planned to launch a surprise attack on the Judean camp. Men from the citadel guided them.

³When Judas heard this, he and his brave men went to attack the king’s forces at Emmaus, ⁴while those forces were still spread out from their main camp. ⁵Gorgias arrived at Judas’s camp that night but found no one there. So, he searched for them in the mountains, thinking they’d fled from him.

⁶At daybreak, Judas appeared in the plain with 3,000 men. However, they didn’t have the shields and the [type of] sword they would’ve preferred. ⁷They saw a powerful camp of non-Jews, heavily armored, with cavalry surrounding it. These were experienced warriors!

⁸So Judas told his men:

‘Don’t be afraid of their large numbers, and don’t be intimidated by their fierce attack!

⁹‘Remember how our ancestors were rescued at the Red Sea when Pharaoh pursued them with his mighty army! ¹⁰Now, let’s call out to Heaven…

‘If he’s willing to help us, he’ll remember the Sacred Agreement with our ancestors and crush this army right before our eyes today.

¹¹‘Then all the other races will know that there’s one who redeems and saves Israel!’

¹²The foreigners looked up and saw them standing opposite. ¹³They marched out of their camp to fight, and Judas’s men blew their trumpets…

¹⁴They began fighting, and the other races were defeated, fleeing into the plain! ¹⁵Everyone who remained behind was killed by the sword… The Judeans chased them as far as Gazara, and through the plains of Judea, Azotus, and Jamnia, killing about 3,000 men.

¹⁶Then Judas and his forces returned from chasing them.

¹⁷He told the people:

‘Don’t be eager for the spoils yet, because another battle is waiting for us!

¹⁸‘Gorgias and his forces are in the mountains nearby… So instead, stand firm against our enemies and fight them. After that, you can boldly take the spoils!’

¹⁹While Judas was still speaking, a group of men appeared, looking down from the mountain. ²⁰He saw that they’d been defeated, and that their camp was on fire; the visible smoke clearly showed what had happened. ²¹Those who saw this were greatly dismayed. Also seeing Judas’s camp in the plain, ready for battle, ²²they all fled into foreign lands!

²³Judas then returned to collect the spoils from the camp. He took a lot of gold and silver, along with:

• Hyacinth fabrics
• Purple fabrics
• Sea-purple fabrics
• And other valuable treasures

²⁴When they returned, they sang hymns and praised Heaven, saying:

‘For his mercy endures into the age.’ [Psalm 136:1]

²⁵On that day, Israel achieved a great victory.

²⁶The foreigners who survived [the battle, eventually] arrived and reported everything that had happened to Lysias. ²⁷When he heard it all, he was confused and disheartened, because the outcome for Israel wasn’t what he’d wished, nor had the king’s commands been fulfilled.

The Battle of Beth-Zur

²⁸So, the following year, Lysias gathered 60,000 chosen men and 5,000 cavalry to wage war against [the Jews]. ²⁹They entered Idumea and camped at Beth-Zur. But Judas met them there with 10,000 men.

³⁰Seeing the strong enemy camp, Judas prayed:

‘Praised are You, O Savior of Israel!

‘You crushed the strong man’s power through Your servant David, and You delivered the foreigners’ camp into the hands of JoNathan, son of Saul, and his armor-bearer.

³¹‘Now, deliver this army into Your people Israel’s hands, and let them be shamed by their infantry and cavalry.

³²‘Strike them with fear!

‘Melt away their confident strength!

‘And let them be shattered by their defeat!

³³‘Yes, strike them down with the sword of those who love You, so that everyone who’s seen Your Name may praise You in hymns!’

³⁴Well, they fought, and about 5,000 men from Lysias’s army were killed, falling before the Judeans!

³⁵When Lysias saw his own forces defeated, and how courageous Judas’s men had become (ready to either live or die nobly), he withdrew to Antioch [in Syria]. There, he began to gather foreign troops, intending to return to Judea with an even larger army.

³⁶Judas and his brothers then said:

‘Look! Our enemies have been crushed. Let’s go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.’

³⁷So the entire army gathered and went up to Mount Zion. ³⁸They found their sanctuary desolate, with:

• The altar desecrated
• The gates burned down
• Plants growing in the courts, like [a] thicket or on [a] mountain
• The priests’ rooms torn down

³⁹[Upon seeing this,] they ripped their clothes, mourned deeply, and put ashes on their heads. ⁴⁰They fell face down on the ground, blew the trumpets for signals, and called out to Heaven.

The Rededication of the Temple

⁴¹Then Judas commanded men to fight against those in the citadel until he could purify the sanctuary. ⁴²He selected blameless priests who were devoted to the Law. ⁴³They purified the sanctuary and carried the defiled stones to an unclean place.

⁴⁴They discussed what to do with the desecrated altar of burnt offering. ⁴⁵They decided it would be best to tear it down, so it wouldn’t be a lasting disgrace to them, since the non-Jews had defiled it. So they tore down the altar. ⁴⁶They stored the stones on the Temple Mount in a suitable place, until [a] prophet appeared to give guidance about them.

⁴⁷Then, following the [Mosaic] Law, they took uncut stones and built a new altar, like the former one. ⁴⁸They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the Temple, and he completed the courts.

⁴⁹They made new sacred vessels and brought into the Temple:

• The lampstand
• The altar of burnt offerings
• The incense altar
• And the table

⁵⁰They offered incense on the altar and lit the lamps on the lampstand, which lit up the Temple. ⁵¹They placed the loaves on the table and hung the curtains. So, they completed all the work they had started.

⁵²Early in the morning on the 25^th day of the 9^th month (Chislev) in the 148^th year, ⁵³they rose and offered sacrifice according to the [Mosaic] Law on the new altar of burnt offerings they’d built.

⁵⁴Yes, it was rededicated at the very same time and on the very same day that the non-Jews had desecrated it, with songs, lyres, harps, and cymbals. ⁵⁵All the people fell face down, bowed down, and praised Heaven, praising the one who had given them success.

⁵⁶They celebrated the rededication of the altar for 8 days, offering burnt offerings with joy and sacrificing peace offerings and thank offerings. ⁵⁷He also rededicated the gates and the priests’ rooms, fitting them with doors. ⁵⁸There was tremendous joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed.

Establishment of Hanukkah

⁵⁹Judas, his brothers, and the entire assembly of Israel decreed that the rededication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy every year for 8 days, starting on Chislev 25^th.

⁶⁰At that time, they also built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion, so that the other races might never again come and trample it down as they had before. ⁶¹They stationed a garrison there to guard it, and they fortified Beth-Zur as well, so that the people would have [a] stronghold facing Idumea.

5

Judas and His Brothers Defend Judea

¹Well, when the neighboring nations heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary rededicated like before, they became extremely angry! ²They plotted to wipe out Jacob’s descendants living among them.

So, they started killing and destroying [Jewish] people [living within their territory].

³Judas fought against Esau’s sons in Akrabattene, Judea, because they were harassing Israel. He soundly defeated them, brought them under control, and took their possessions.

⁴He also remembered the evil deeds of the Baanites, who had trapped and hindered the people by ambushing them on the roads. ⁵He cornered them in their towers, attacked them, and completely destroyed them. Then he burned their towers, along with everyone inside.

⁶Next, he marched against the Ammonites. There, he encountered a large and powerful army led by [a general named] Timothy. ⁷He fought many battles against them. They were utterly defeated, and he struck them down. ⁸He then captured [the city of] Jazah and its surrounding villages, and returned to Judea.

⁹Meanwhile, the nations in Gilead gathered against the Israelites living on their borders, intending to destroy them. The Israelites fled to Dathema, a strongly fortified city. ¹⁰They sent a letter to Judas and his brothers, which said:

‘The nations around us have gathered to destroy us, ¹¹and they’re preparing to come and capture the stronghold where we’ve taken refuge, and Timothy is leading their army.

¹²So, please come quickly and rescue us from them, because many of our people have already died! ¹³All our brothers in the Tobian lands were killed; their wives, children, and belongings have been captured, and about 1,000 men were killed there.’

¹⁴Even as this letter was still being read, suddenly, other messengers arrived from Galilee wearing torn clothes. They reported similar news, ¹⁵saying:

‘A force has gathered against them from Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon, and all of Gentile Galilee, to completely destroy us.’

¹⁶When Judas and the people heard these reports, a large meeting was called to decide what to do for their brothers who were in trouble and under attack.

¹⁷Judas said to his brother Simon:

‘Pick some men for yourself, and go and rescue your brothers in Galilee. My brother JoNathan and I will go to Gilead.’

¹⁸So he left Joseph (son of ZachariAs) and AzariAs to lead the people with the rest of the army in Judea and guard the land; ¹⁹and he commanded them, saying:

‘You’re responsible for these people. Don’t fight the nations until we return!’

²⁰Simon received 3,000 men to go to Galilee, and Judas was given 8,000 men for Gilead.

Simon’s Campaign in Galilee

²¹Simon went to Galilee and fought many battles against the nations… And the nations were utterly defeated! ²²He chased them all the way to Ptolemais and its cities. About 3,000 enemy soldiers died, and he took their plunder. ²³He gathered them from Galilee and Arbatta — their wives, children, and all their belongings — and led them back to Judea joyfully.

Judas Defeats Neighbouring Nations

²⁴Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and traveled for 3 days through the wilderness. ²⁵They met the Nabataeans, who greeted them peacefully and told them everything that had happened to their brothers in Gilead.

²⁶They explained that many of them were trapped in:

• Bosorra
• Bosor
• Alama
• Casphor
• Maked
• Carnaim

All these cities were strong and well-defended. ²⁷In the other cities of Gilead, they were also trapped. The enemy planned to lay siege to the strongholds the next day, to capture and destroy all of them in a single day.

²⁸Judas and his army suddenly turned back into the wilderness toward Bosor. He captured the city, killed every male, took all their plunder, and set it on fire.

²⁹He left there by night and marched toward the stronghold. ³⁰At dawn, they looked up and saw a countless crowd carrying ladders and siege engines to capture the stronghold. The enemy was already attacking them. ³¹Judas saw that the battle had begun. The cries from the city, along with trumpets and loud shouts, rose up to heaven!

³²He said to his army’s men:

‘Fight today for our brothers!’

³³He advanced in three groups from behind the enemy, blew the trumpets, and cried out in prayer.

³⁴Well, Timothy’s army recognized Maccabeus, and they fled from him! He severely defeated them, and about 8,000 of their men died that day.

³⁵He then turned aside to Maapha and attacked it. He captured it, killed every male inside, took its plunder, and burned it down. ³⁶From there he left and captured Casphoth, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of Gilead.

³⁷After this, Timothy assembled another army and camped opposite Raphon, across the wadi. ³⁸Judas sent scouts to investigate the camp.

They reported to him, saying:

‘All the nations around you have gathered with them, forming a very large force. ³⁹Arabs have been hired to help them, and they’re camped across the wadi, ready to come and fight you.’

So Judas went to meet them.

⁴⁰As Judas and his army approached the wadi, Timothy said to his force’s commanders:

‘If he crosses over to us first, we won’t be able to stand against him, because he’ll surely overpower us. ⁴¹But if he gets scared and camps on the other side of the river, then we’ll cross over and attack him.’

⁴²When Judas approached the wadi, he placed the people’s scribes by it and commanded them, saying:

‘Don’t let anyone fall behind; everyone must go into battle!’

⁴³He crossed over to them first, with all his men following him. All the nations were utterly defeated. They threw down their weapons and fled into the temple at Carnaim. ⁴⁴Then, Carnaim was defeated and couldn’t stand against Judas anymore. They captured the city and burned the temple, along with everyone inside.

The Jews from Gilead return to Judea

⁴⁵Judas then gathered all the Israelites in Gilead — from the youngest to the oldest, along with their wives, children, and belongings — forming a very large group to bring them to the land of Judah.

⁴⁶The [entire group] came to the entrance of Ephron, a large city that was very strongly defended. There was no way to go around it, either to the right or to the left; they had to go through its center. ⁴⁷However, the city’s inhabitants refused to let them in and blocked the gates with stones.

⁴⁸Judas sent a peaceful message to them, saying:

‘Let us pass through your land to go to our own land. No one will harm you; we’ll simply walk through.’

But they refused to open the gates to him.

⁴⁹Judas then ordered an announcement to be made in the camp:

Everyone should set up camp where they [currently] were. ⁵⁰The men camped around the city and fought against it all that day and all through the night, until the city was captured. ⁵¹He killed every male, leveled it to the ground, took the city’s plunder, and marched through the city over the bodies of the dead.

⁵²They then crossed the Jordan into the large plain opposite Beth Shan. ⁵³Judas continued gathering those who fell behind and encouraging the people throughout the journey, until he came to the land of Judah.

⁵⁴They went up Mount Zion with joy and gladness, and offered burnt offerings, because not a single one of them had died until their peaceful return.

Meanwhile, Joseph and Azarias Stupidly Go to Battle

⁵⁵While Judas and JoNathan were in Gilead, and their brother Simon was in Galilee near Ptolemais, ⁵⁶Joseph (son of ZachariAs) and Azarias, the army’s commanders, heard about the brave actions and battles they had fought.

⁵⁷They said:

‘Let’s make a name for ourselves too, and go and fight against the surrounding nations.’

⁵⁸They gave orders to their troops and marched against Jamnia. ⁵⁹Well, Gorgias and his men came out from the city to meet them in battle. ⁶⁰Joseph and Azarias were defeated and chased as far as the borders of Judea! About 2,000 Israelite men died that day.

⁶¹A great defeat occurred among the people because they hadn’t obeyed Judas and his brothers, thinking they could act bravely on their own. ⁶²But they weren’t from the family line of those men through whom salvation had been given to Israel.

Judas and his brothers Other Actions

⁶³Judas and his brothers were greatly honored by all Israel and all the nations where their name was heard; ⁶⁴people gathered to them, praising them!

⁶⁵Judas and his brothers went out and fought against Esau’s sons in the land to the south. He attacked Hebron and its nearby villages, tore down its defenses, and burned its towers all around.

⁶⁶He then left to go to the land of the Philistines and passed through Samaria. ⁶⁷On that day, some priests died in battle. They had wanted to act bravely, but went out to battle rashly.

⁶⁸Judas then turned aside to Azotus, a Philistine city. He tore down their altars, burned their carved idols, plundered the cities, and returned to Judea.

6

Antiochus IV Epiphanes Travels to Persia

¹King Antiochus was traveling through the upper provinces when he heard about Elymais, a city in Persia known for its vast wealth in silver and gold… ²Its temple was incredibly wealthy. It contained golden coverings, breastplates, and weapons that Philip’s son Alexander (the Macedonian king who was the first to rule the Greeks) had left there.

³Well, he arrived and attempted to capture and plunder the city, but he was unsuccessful because the residents discovered his plan. ⁴They resisted him, and he fled, returning to Babylon in great despair.

King Antiochus Reacts to the News of His Defeat

⁵While in Persia, a messenger arrived with news that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been utterly defeated. ⁶Lysias had initially advanced with a large army but was forced to retreat. The Jews had won, using weapons they had captured from the defeated armies.

⁷Also, they had destroyed the detestable thing he had built on the altar in JeruSalem, and they had built high walls around the [temple] sanctuary, restoring it to its previous state, and also around his city, Beth-Zur.

⁸When the king heard this news, he was utterly shocked and deeply disturbed! He collapsed onto his couch, falling ill from grief, because nothing had gone according to his plans.

⁹He stayed there for many days, as his profound sorrow intensified, and he began to realize his death was near.

¹⁰He called all his friends and said to them:

‘I can’t sleep, and this worry has broken my heart.

¹¹‘I said to my heart:

‘What terrible trouble and chaos have I fallen into? I was once good and well-regarded during my reign.’

¹²‘But now I remember the wicked things I did in JeruSalem… I seized all the silver and gold treasures from it, and I sent troops to destroy the people of Judah without cause.

¹³‘I know that because of these actions, these troubles have come upon me. And now, I’m dying from profound sorrow in a foreign land.’

¹⁴So he called Philip, one of his friends, and appointed him to oversee his entire kingdom. ¹⁵He gave him the diadem, his royal robe, and his ring, and instructed him to bring up his son Antiochus to become king.

¹⁶King Antiochus died there in the 149^th year.

Antiochus V Eupator Takes Over

¹⁷When Lysias learned that the king had died, he appointed Antiochus, the king’s son whom he had raised from a young age, to succeed him as ruler, and named him Eupator.

Judas Attacks the Citadel

¹⁸Meanwhile, [the enemies who were still holed up] in the citadel were restricting the Israelites’ access to the holy places, constantly stirring up trouble and aiding the non-Jews.

¹⁹So, Judas [Maccabeus] decided to eliminate them. He gathered all the people to besiege them ²⁰in the 150^th year. He built missile launchers and siege machines against them.

²¹[However,] some of the ungodly Israelites managed to escape the siege and joined the enemy.

²²They went to the king and said:

‘How long will you neglect to bring justice and avenge our brothers?

²³‘We were willing to serve your father, to obey his decrees, and to follow his commands. ²⁴Because of this, our own people turned against us!

‘In fact, whenever they found one of us, he was killed, and our property was plundered. ²⁵They didn’t just attack us, but also our entire territory.

‘And look! Today they’ve camped against the citadel in JeruSalem, intending to capture it and the sanctuary. They’ve also fortified Beth-Zur’s defenses.

²⁷‘If you don’t act swiftly to preempt them, they’ll do even worse things, and you won’t be able to stop them!’

²⁸When the king heard this, he became furious! He gathered all his friends, the commanders of his army, and his charioteers. ²⁹Mercenary troops also came to him from other kings and from the islands in the sea. ³⁰His forces included:

• 100,000 infantry
• 20,000 cavalry
• 32 war elephants

³¹They marched through Idumea and camped at Beth-Zur. They fought there for many days while building siege machines. The defenders came out and set fire to the machines, fighting bravely.

³²Judas, meanwhile, left the citadel and camped at Beth-Zachariah, opposite the king’s camp.

The War Elephants

³³Early the next morning, the king swiftly moved his camp along the road to Beth-Zachariah. His army was arranged for battle, and they blew their trumpets.

³⁴To prepare the elephants for battle, they showed them grape juice and mulberries. ³⁵They placed the elephants among the battle lines, stationing 1,000 men, wearing chainmail armor and bronze helmets, on each elephant.

Additionally, 500 elite cavalry were assigned to each elephant. ³⁶These cavalry rode ahead of the elephants, and they accompanied it wherever it went, never leaving its side. ³⁷Strong, covered wooden towers, equipped with various weapons, were mounted on each elephant.

Each tower held 32 men who fought from them, along with the Indian elephant driver.

³⁸The rest of the cavalry he positioned on both sides of the army, brandishing their weapons and guarding the battle lines.

³⁹When the sun shone on their golden shields, the mountains gleamed brightly from their reflection, like fiery torches. ⁴⁰Part of the king’s army was positioned on the high mountains, and some in the valleys.

They advanced steadily and in an orderly fashion. ⁴¹All who heard the sound of their immense numbers, the marching of the multitude, and the clashing of arms were shaken, for the army was exceptionally large and powerful.

The Battle of Beth-Zachariah

⁴²Judas and his camp approached to engage in battle, and 600 men were killed from the king’s army.

⁴³EleAzar, called Savaran, saw one of the elephants adorned with royal armor… It was larger than all the other elephants, and it appeared the king was riding it. ⁴⁴He sacrificed himself to save his people and to gain an age-long name!

⁴⁵He bravely charged into the middle of the battle line, slaying men on all sides, and they scattered before him. ⁴⁶He crept under the elephant, stabbed it from below, killing it! The elephant fell to the ground on top of him, and he died there.

⁴⁷Seeing the strength of the king’s army and its relentless attacks, the Jews retreated.

The King Beseiges the Sanctuary

⁴⁸From the king’s camp, troops advanced towards JeruSalem to confront them, and the king himself camped in Judea, at Mount Zion.

⁴⁹He then spoke to the people of Beth-Zur. They came out of the city because they had no food or provisions to withstand a siege, since it was a sabbatical year for the land. ⁵⁰The king captured Beth-Zur and stationed a military unit to guard it.

⁵¹He then laid siege to the sanctuary for many days, setting up:

• Missile launchers
• Siege machines
• Fire-throwers
• Stone-throwers
• And scorpions (machines for shooting darts) and slings.

⁵²The defenders also built their own machines to counter the enemy’s, and they fought for many days… ⁵³However, there was no food in the sanctuary because it was the seventh year, and those who had been saved and gathered in Judea from other lands had consumed all the remaining provisions.

⁵⁴Only a few men remained in the holy places, as famine had overcome them, and everyone dispersed to their own homes.

An Internal Rebellion Forces Peace

⁵⁵Lysias heard that Philip (whom King Antiochus had appointed while still alive to raise his son Antiochus to become king) ⁵⁶had returned from Persia and Media with the king’s troops who had gone with him, and he was attempting to seize control of the kingdom. ⁵⁷This made them eager to depart and urged them on.

So Lysias said to the king, the army commanders, and the men:

‘We’re losing ground daily, and our food supply is dwindling; the place we’re attacking is well-defended, and the kingdom’s affairs are urgent.

⁵⁸‘Therefore, let’s now propose a ceasefire to these men and make peace with them and their entire nation. ⁵⁹Let’s allow them to live according to their own laws, as they did before.

‘After all, they only became furious and did all this because we abolished their laws.’

⁶⁰This proposal pleased the king and his officials, so he sent envoys to them to negotiate peace, and they accepted. ⁶¹The king and his officials swore an oath to them agreeing to these terms.

⁶²The king then emerged from his fortress and entered Mount Zion. When he saw the strong defenses of the place, he broke the oath he had sworn and ordered its wall demolished.

⁶³They departed quickly, and he returned to Antioch, where he found Philip in command of the city. He fought against Philip and seized the city by force.

7

The King’s Cousin Returns from Roman Capture

¹In the [1]51^st year, [the king’s cousin] Demetrius (son of Seleucus) left Rome. He arrived with a small group of men in [a] coastal city and started to rule there.

²As he entered his ancestors’ royal palace, his forces captured [King] Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him. ³When [Demetrius] learned about the situation, he said:

‘Don’t let me see their faces!’

⁴So his forces killed [King Antiochus and Lysias], and Demetrius took his place on his royal throne.

Ungodly Jews Approach the New King

⁵Then all the lawless and ungodly men from Israel came to him. Alcimus, who wanted to be high priest, led them.

⁶They made accusations against the people to the king, saying:

‘Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends and driven us from our land! ⁷So, send [a] man you trust. Let him go and see all the destruction that Judas has caused us and the king’s country.

‘Judas has punished them and everyone who helped them!’

⁸The king chose Bacchides, one of his friends. Now, Bacchides ruled in Trans-Euphrates, was a powerful figure in the kingdom, and was loyal to the king.

⁹So he sent Bacchides and Alcimus, the ungodly man. They appointed Alcimus as to the priesthood, and Bacchides was ordered to take revenge on the Israelites.

Bacchides Comes to JeruSalem

¹⁰Bacchides left and arrived in the land of Judah with a large force. He sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with peaceful words, but his intentions were treacherous.

¹¹However, Judas and his brothers ignored their words, because they saw that Bacchides had come with a large force.

¹²[Meanwhile,] an assembly of scribes gathered before Alcimus and Bacchides, seeking justice. ¹³The Hasideans were the first among the Israelites to seek peace from them, ¹⁴saying [among themselves]:

‘[A] priest, [a] descendant of Aaron, has come with the forces, and he won’t harm us!’

¹⁵[Well, at first] he spoke peaceful words to them and swore to them, saying:

‘We won’t try to harm you or your friends.’

¹⁶So they trusted him… But then he captured and killed 60 of their men on that very day!

Just as he wrote:

‘They poured out the flesh of Your holy ones and their blood around JeruSalem, and there was no one to bury them.’ [Psalm 79:3]

¹⁸All the people were terrified, because they said:

‘There’s no truth or justice among them!’

They had truly broken the agreement and the oath they had sworn.

¹⁹Bacchides then left JeruSalem and set up camp in Beth-Zeth. He sent men to capture many of the deserters who had been with him, as well as some of the people, and he sacrificed them in the Great Well.

²⁰He put Alcimus in charge of the country and left a force with him to help him. Then Bacchides returned to the king.

Judas Opposes Alcimus

²¹Alcimus then fought to be made high priest, ²²and every troublemaker for their own people gathered to him. They took control of Judah’s land and severely harmed Israel.

²³Judas saw all the evil that Alcimus and his companions had done to the Israelites, which was worse than what even the other races had done. ²⁴So he went throughout all the borders of Judea and the surrounding regions, taking revenge on the men and the deserters; stopping them from [taking further control of] the country.

²⁵When Alcimus saw that Judas and his companions had become strong, and he realized he couldn’t stand against them, he returned to the king and accused them of many wicked deeds.

General Nicanor’s Attack

²⁶The king sent Nicanor, one of his glorious commanders, who hated Israel and was hostile towards them. He ordered him to destroy the people.

²⁷So Nicanor came to JeruSalem with a large force. He sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with peaceful words, but his intentions were treacherous, saying:

‘Let’s not have a battle between us. I’ll come with only a few men so I can see you face to face in peace.’

²⁹So he came to Judas, and they greeted each other peacefully. But the enemies were ready to capture Judas. ³⁰Judas, however, learned about the plot — hat Nicanor had come to him with treachery, so he became alarmed and didn’t want to see him anymore.

³¹Nicanor realized his plan had been exposed, so he went out to meet Judas near Capharsalama [in battle]. ³²About 5,000 of Nicanor’s men were killed, and the rest fled into David’s City.

³³After this, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion.

Priests from the holy places and the people’s elders came out to greet him peacefully and to show him the burnt offering that was being offered for the king. ³⁴But he sneered at them, mocked them, defiled them, and spoke arrogantly.

³⁵He swore in anger, saying:

‘Unless Judas’s camp is handed over to me now, if I return safely, I’ll burn this house down!’

Then he left in a rage!

³⁶The priests entered and stood before the altar and the temple.

They wept and said [to God]:

‘You chose this house for Your name to be called upon it, to be a house of prayer and earnest plea for Your people.

³⁸‘Take revenge on this man and his camp; let them die by the sword! Remember their blasphemies, and don’t let them have a place to live!’

³⁹Well, Nicanor had left JeruSalem and set up camp in Beth-Horon, where a Syrian force joined him. ⁴⁰[Meanwhile,] Judas set up camp in Adasa with 3,000 men.

Then Judas prayed and said:

⁴¹‘When the king’s men blasphemed, Your messenger went out and killed 185,000 of them. [2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36]

⁴²‘In the same way, crush this army before us today! Let the survivors know that he spoke wickedly against Your holy things, and judge him as he deserves for his wickedness!’

The Battle of Adasa

⁴³The armies met in battle on Adar 13^th. Nicanor’s army was crushed, and he himself was the first to die in the battle!

⁴⁴When his army saw that Nicanor had died, they threw down their weapons and fled. ⁴⁵[The Judeans] pursued them for a full day’s journey from Adasa until they reached Gazara, blowing the signal trumpets behind them. ⁴⁶Men came out from all Judea’s surrounding villages and cut them off. The fleeing soldiers turned back [to attack] their pursuers, but they were all killed by the sword; not a single one was left!

⁴⁷[The Judeans] took the spoils and the plunder, cut off Nicanor’s head and his right hand (which he had arrogantly stretched out) and brought them to display near JeruSalem. ⁴⁸The people were incredibly happy; they celebrated a great, wonderful day.

⁴⁹They decided that this day, Adar 13^th, should be celebrated every year.

⁵⁰And Judah’s land had peace for a few days.

8

Judas Learns About the Romans

¹Judas heard about the Romans: they were very powerful, friendly to all their allies, and made friends with anyone who sought their help.

²They also told him about their wars and the brave actions they performed against the Galatians, whom they had defeated and forced to pay tribute. ³They described what they had acheived in Spain, how they had taken control of the silver and gold mines there, ⁴and conquered the entire region through careful planning and persistence, despite its great distance.

They had also defeated kings who had attacked them from distant lands, crushing them completely, with the survivors paying them tribute every year. ⁵They had also defeated and subdued [King] Philip [of Macedon] and King Perseus of the Kittians, and everyone who had rebelled against them.

⁶They even crushed the King of Asia, Antiochus the Great, who had attacked them with 120 elephants, horsemen, chariots, and a huge army. ⁷They captured him alive and forced him and his future rulers to pay a large tribute, hand over hostages, and agree to specific conditions. ⁸They took from him the land of India, Media, Lydia, and some of his finest lands, which they then gave to King Eumenes [of Pergamon].

⁹They also learned that when the Greeks planned to attack and destroy them, ¹⁰the Romans discovered this and sent a general to fight them. A battle ensued, and many Greeks were wounded and killed.

The Romans:

• Captured their women and children
• Plundered their possessions
• Conquered their land
• Tore down their strongholds
• And enslaved them

They remain enslaved even now!

¹¹All other kingdoms and islands that had ever rebelled against them were destroyed and brought under their control. ¹²Yet, they maintained friendships with their allies and those who relied on them. They conquered kingdoms both near and far, and everyone who heard of them feared them. ¹³They grant kingship to whomever they decide to help, and remove anyone they desire from power.

Thus, they grew immensely powerful.

¹⁴Despite all their power, none of them wore a crown or dressed in purple robes to display their greatness. ¹⁵They established a senate for themselves, where 320 senators convened daily. They always deliberated on what was best for the people to maintain order.

¹⁶They elect one man to govern them for a year and rule over their entire land, and everyone obeys him; there is no envy or jealousy among them.

Judas Sends Envoys to Rome

¹⁷So, Judas chose Eupolemus (son of John) from Accos, and Jason (son of EleAzar), sending them to Rome to establish a friendship and [an] alliance with them, ¹⁸and to alleviate their burden, as they saw that the Greek kingdom was enslaving Israel.

¹⁹They traveled to Rome — a very long journey — and entered the Senate chamber, stating:

²⁰‘Judas Maccabeus, his brothers, and the Jewish people have sent us to you to establish [an] alliance and peace with you, and to be recorded as your allies and friends.’

²¹The Romans accepted their proposal.

²²This is the copy of the document they wrote on bronze tablets and sent to JeruSalem to serve as [a] lasting reminder of their peace and alliance:

²³‘May the Romans and the Jewish nation prosper on land and sea into the age.

‘May they remain free from war and enemies. ²⁴If war breaks out for Rome or for any of their allies anywhere within their territory, ²⁵the Jewish nation will fully ally with them from [a] full heart, as required.

²⁶‘They will not provide or supply Rome’s enemies with grain, weapons, silver, or ships, as Rome has determined. They will adhere to these terms without receiving anything in return.

²⁷‘Similarly, if war breaks out for the Jewish nation, the Romans will fully ally with them from [their] soul, as required. ²⁸Grain, weapons, or silver will not be provided to the enemies of the Jews, as Rome has determined. They will adhere to these rules faithfully.’

²⁹These were the terms the Romans established with the Jewish people in this manner. ³⁰If, after this agreement, either party decides to add or remove anything, they may do so independently, and whatever they add or remove will be binding.

³¹[The Romans futher said:]

‘Also, concerning the injustices that King Demetrius is committing against them, we have written to him, stating:

‘Why have you placed such a heavy burden on our Jewish friends and allies? ³²Therefore, if they continue to complain about you, we will intervene on their behalf and fight you by sea and by land.’

9

Bacchides and Alcimus Attack Judah Again

¹Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his forces had fought [and lost]. So, he decided to send Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah a second time, bringing his army’s right wing with them.

²They marched towards Gilgal and camped at Messaloth, which is in Arbela. They captured it, and he ended many lives there. ³In the first month of the 152^nd year, they camped near JeruSalem. ⁴From there, they left and went to Berea with 20,000 men and 2,000 horses.

⁵Judas was camped at Elasa with 3,000 chosen men. ⁶When they saw the huge enemy army, they were very afraid. Many left the camp, and only 800 men remained!

⁷Judas saw that his army had abandoned him, and the war was closing in on him. His mind was deeply troubled, because he had no time to muster them up [for battle].

⁸Feeling discouraged, he said to those who remained:

‘Let’s get up and attack our opponents, to see if we can possibly fight them!’

⁹But they tried to talk him out of it, saying:

‘We definitely can’t do it! We should just save our lives for now. Let’s return to our brothers, and then we can fight them, because there are too few of us.’

¹⁰Judas replied:

‘I would never do such a thing and flee from them!

‘Our time has come…

‘Let’s die bravely for the sake of our brothers, and let’s not dishonor ourselves.’

The Battle of Elasa

¹¹So, the army marched out of the camp and got into formation to fight them. The cavalry was divided into two parts, and the slingers and archers went ahead of the main army, along with all the brave warriors. ¹²Bacchides led the right wing.

The armies moved closer from both sides, and they blew their trumpets… Judas’s men also blew their trumpets.

¹³The earth shook from the noise of their armies, and the battle continued fiercely from morning until evening. ¹⁴Judas saw that Bacchides and the strongest part of the enemy were on the right flank, so all the men brave in heart gathered around him.

¹⁵They defeated the enemy’s right wing, and Judas pursued them as far as Mount Azotus!

¹⁶When the enemy’s left wing saw that their right wing was defeated, they turned and attacked Judas and his men from behind. ¹⁷The fighting became intense, and many were wounded on both sides.

¹⁸Judas died, and the rest fled.

¹⁹Jonathan and Simon recovered their brother Judas’s body and buried him in his family’s tomb in Modein. ²⁰They wept for him there, and all Israel mourned him deeply. They grieved for many days and said:

²¹‘Oh, how the mighty hero has died, who saved Israel!’ [2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27]

²²The rest of Judas’s acts, his wars, his brave actions, and his greatness are not recorded, because there were so many of them.

JoNathan and Simon Take Over Leadership

²³After Judas’s death, the lawless people reappeared all over Israel, and everyone who did wrong gained power. ²⁴In those days, there was [a] very severe famine, and the people of the country joined [these lawless ones].

²⁵Bacchides chose the ungodly men and made them rulers of the land. ²⁶They searched hard for Judas’s friends and brought them to Bacchides, who executed them, and they were publicly humiliated. ²⁷There was great suffering in Israel, the worst in the entire time since the prophets disappeared.

²⁸Then all Judas’ friends gathered and said to JoNathan:

²⁹‘Since your brother Judas has died, there’s no one left like him to lead us against our enemies, against Bacchides and our nation’s other enemies.

³⁰Therefore, today, we’ve chosen you to be our ruler and leader in his place, to fight our battles!’

³¹JoNathan agreed to lead at that time, and he took the place of Judas, his brother.

³²Well, Bacchides found out about this and tried to kill him.

³³JoNathan, his brother Simon, and all their men also found out. So, they fled into the wilderness of Tekoa and camped by the Well of Asphal. ³⁴Bacchides found out where they were on the Sabbath day, and he himself came with all his army across the Jordan.

³⁵JoNathan had sent his brother John to guide the people, and he had asked his Nabataean friends to store a large amount of their supplies for them. ³⁶But the sons of Jambri came out from [the city of] Medaba, seized John and all his possessions, and took them away.

³⁷After this, they reported to JoNathan and his brother Simon that the sons of Jambri were having [a] big wedding feast and were bringing the bride from Nadabath, who was the daughter of one of Canaan’s great nobles, with [a] large group of attendants.

³⁸They remembered their brother John, so they went up and hid in the mountain’s shelter. ³⁹They looked up and saw [a] lot of activity and many supplies. The bridegroom came out with his friends and brothers to meet them, with drums, musical instruments, and many weapons.

⁴⁰JoNathan’s men came out of ambush and attacked them, killing many. The rest fled to the mountain. They took all their belongings. ⁴¹The wedding became mourning, and their festive music became wailing.

⁴²They avenged their brother’s death and returned to the Jordan [region’s] mountains.

Bacchides Attacks

⁴³Bacchides heard about this and came to the banks of the Jordan on the Sabbath day with [a] large army. ⁴⁴JoNathan said to his brothers:

‘Let’s get up now and fight for our lives, because this isn’t like yesterday or the day before.

⁴⁵‘Look! We’re attacked from the front and behind. The Jordan River is on both sides, with marshes and thick bushes, and there’s no way to escape.

⁴⁶‘Therefore, pray to Heaven, so we may be saved from our enemies.’

⁴⁷The battle began, and JoNathan reached out to strike Bacchides, but he moved away from him quickly. ⁴⁸JoNathan and his men jumped into the Jordan and swam to the other side. Bacchides’ forces didn’t follow them across the Jordan.

⁴⁹On that day, about 1,000 men were killed by Bacchides’ forces.

⁵⁰Bacchides’ forces returned to JeruSalem and strengthened cities in Judea:

• The fortress in Jericho
• Emmaus
• Beth-Horon
• BethEl
• Thamnata Pharathon
• Tephon

[They strengthened them] with high walls, gates, and strong bars. ⁵¹They placed troops in them to trouble Israel.

⁵²They also strengthened the city of Beth-Zur, Gazara, and the citadel [in JeruSalem], putting soldiers and food supplies in them. ⁵³They took the sons of the important men of the land as hostages and held them captive in the citadel in JeruSalem.

High Priest Alcimus Destroys the Sanctuary Wall

⁵⁴In the second month of the 153^rd year, [high priest] Alcimus ordered the wall of the sanctuary’s inner court torn down. He destroyed what the prophets had built and started tearing it down. ⁵⁵[However,] at that time, Alcimus was struck by illness, and his work stopped. His mouth was shut, and he was paralyzed. He couldn’t speak [a] word or give orders for his household anymore!

⁵⁶Alcimus died at that time in great pain.

⁵⁷When Bacchides saw that Alcimus had died, he went back to the king, and the land of Judah had peace for two years.

Bacchides and the Lawless Men Plot Against JoNathan

⁵⁸All the lawless ones plotted together, saying:

‘Look, JoNathan and his men are living peacefully and safely. Now, let’s call for Bacchides, and he’ll capture them all in one night!’

⁵⁹So, they went and talked to him.

⁶⁰Bacchides left with [a] large army and secretly sent messages to all his allies in Judea, telling them to capture JoNathan and his men. But they were unsuccessful, because JoNathan’s men found out about their plot. ⁶¹JoNathan’s men captured about 50 of the main wicked men from the country and killed them.

⁶²JoNathan, Simon, and their men retreated to BethBasi in the wilderness. JoNathan rebuilt its ruined sections and strengthened it.

⁶³Bacchides found out about this and gathered all his troops, also calling his allies from Judea… ⁶⁴He came and laid siege to BethBasi, fighting against it for many days and building siege machines.

⁶⁵JoNathan left his brother Simon in the city, while he himself went out into the country with [a] large force. ⁶⁶He attacked Odomera, his brothers, and the sons of Phasiron in their tents, and began to attack and push back the enemy forces.

⁶⁷Simon and his men came out of the city and burned the siege machines. ⁶⁸They fought Bacchides, and he was defeated by them — and very upset [about it], because his plan and his attack had failed. ⁶⁹He and his men were furious at the lawless men who had persuaded him to come into the country, and they killed many of them!

Bacchides then decided to return to his own land.

A Peace Agreement

⁷⁰JoNathan learned about this and sent representatives to [Bacchides] to discuss [a] peace agreement and to return their prisoners. ⁷¹Bacchides agreed and kept his word. He swore to JoNathan that he wouldn’t try to harm him for the rest of his life.

⁷²He returned the prisoners he had previously taken from the land of Judah. Then, he went back to his own land and never again decided to invade their land.

⁷³So, fighting stopped in Israel, and JoNathan settled in Michmash. JoNathan began to rule the people and removed the ungodly people from Israel.

10

Alexander Takes Control of Ptolemais

¹In the 160^th year, Antiochus Epiphanes’s son, Alexander, arrived and took control of [the city of] Ptolemais. The people welcomed him, and he began to rule there.

²[However,] when [King] Demetrius heard this, he gathered a very large army and marched out to fight Alexander.

³Demetrius, however, first sent letters trying to make peace with Jonathan, seeking to give him more power.

He [privately] commented:

⁴‘Let’s quickly make peace with them, before he makes an alliance with Alexander against us. ⁵He’ll remember all the wrongs we’ve done against him, his brothers, and his nation.’

He gave JoNathan permission to raise an army and prepare weapons, and to be his friend and helper. He also promised to give him the hostages held in the citadel.

⁷JoNathan arrived in JeruSalem and read the letters aloud so everyone, including those from the citadel, could hear. ⁸They were very afraid when they heard that the king had given them permission to raise an army. ⁹The people in the citadel gave the hostages to JoNathan, and he returned them to their parents.

¹⁰JoNathan then made JeruSalem his home and began to rebuild the city. ¹¹He told the workers to build the walls and to strengthen Mount Zion all around with squared stones, and they did it.

¹²The foreigners who were in the forts that Bacchides had built, fled. ¹³Each one left his position and returned to his own land. ¹⁴Only in [the city of] Beth-Zur did some of those who had abandoned the Law and its rules remain, as it was a safe place for them.

Alexander Tries to Make JoNathan His Ally

¹⁵King Alexander heard about all the promises Demetrius had sent to JoNathan, and they told him about the wars and the brave things that JoNathan and his brothers had accomplished, and the difficulties they had endured.

Alexander commented:

¹⁶‘Can we find a man like this? So, let’s make him our friend and ally!’

He then wrote and sent him a letter with the following words:

¹⁸‘King Alexander to his brother JoNathan: Greetings!

¹⁹‘We’ve heard that you’re a very strong man and a good person to be our friend.

²⁰‘Today, we make you the high priest of your nation and grant you the title ‘Friend of the King.’ We also send you a purple robe and a golden crown, expecting you to support us and stay our friend.’

²¹So, JoNathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the 160^th year, during the Festival of Temporary Structures. He then gathered an army and prepared many weapons.

Demetrius Again Tries to Make JoNathan His Ally

²²When Demetrius heard these words, he was greatly distressed and said:

²³‘What a mistake we’ve made!

²³‘Alexander has outsmarted us by getting the Jews to be his friends and support him. ²⁴I’ll also write to them, offering appealing words, high status, and gifts, so that they may join me as allies.’

So he sent them a message with the following terms:

²⁵‘King Demetrius to the Jews’ nation: Greetings!

²⁶‘Since you have kept your agreements with us, stayed loyal to our friendship, and have not sided with our enemies, we’ve heard this and are pleased. ²⁷Now, continue to maintain your loyalty to us, and we will reward you generously for your cooperation. ²⁸We will grant you many exemptions and give you gifts.

²⁹‘I now release you and all the Jews from tribute payments, the salt tax, and the crown taxes.

³⁰‘Furthermore, I remit from today onward the third of the sown produce and half of the fruit from the trees that would normally be due to me. This remission applies to Judah’s land, and to the three districts added to it from Samaria and Galilee, from this day forward and into the age.

³¹‘Let JeruSalem be holy and free, along with its borders, from tithes and tolls!

³²‘I also relinquish my authority over the citadel in JeruSalem and grant the high priest the right to appoint men of his own choosing to guard it.

³³‘Every Jewish person taken captive from Judah’s land into any part of my kingdom, I release as a gift, granting them freedom.

‘Furthermore, let all be exempt from taxes on their cattle.

³⁴‘All festivals, Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed days, as well as the three days before and three days after any feast, shall be days of exemption and release for all Jews throughout my kingdom. ³⁵No one shall have the authority to exact tribute or trouble any of them in any matter.

³⁶‘Let 30,000 men from among the Jews be enrolled into the king’s forces, and they shall receive pay, as is customary for all the king’s forces.

³⁷‘Some of them shall be appointed to the king’s great strongholds, and from these, trustworthy men shall be appointed to positions of responsibility within the kingdom. Their officers and commanders shall be chosen from among themselves, and they shall live according to their own laws, just as the king has commanded for Judah’s land.

³⁸‘The three districts that were added to Judea from Samaria’s territory shall be fully incorporated into Judea, so that they are considered one unified territory and are subject to no other authority but that of the high priest.

³⁹‘Ptolemais and its dependent territories I have given as a gift to the holy ones in JeruSalem, for the necessary expenses of the [temple] sanctuary. ⁴⁰I also grant 15,000 shekels of silver annually from the king’s revenues, from the appropriate places. ⁴¹Any surplus funds that were not previously paid from the revenues, as in former years, shall now be given for the work of the temple.

⁴²‘Furthermore, the 5,000 shekels of silver that were formerly collected annually from the temple’s revenues are now remitted, as they belong to the priests who minister there.

⁴³‘Anyone who flees to the temple in JeruSalem or within its borders, owing royal debts or for any other matter, shall be released, and all their possessions throughout my kingdom shall be theirs.

⁴⁴‘As for the building and restoration of the sacred works, the expenses shall be paid from the king’s treasury.

⁴⁵‘Also, for the building of the walls of JeruSalem and their fortification all around, the expense shall be paid from the king’s treasury, as well as for the building of walls throughout Judea.’

⁴⁶However, when JoNathan and the people heard these words, they neither believed them nor accepted them, because they remembered the great wickedness Demetrius had inflicted upon Israel, and how severely he had oppressed them!

⁴⁷They were pleased with Alexander, because he had initiated peaceful overtures to them, and they remained his allies throughout his reign.

Alexander and Demetrius Fight

⁴⁸King Alexander assembled a large army and encamped opposite Demetrius. ⁴⁹The two kings engaged in battle.

Demetrius’s army fled, and Alexander pursued him and gained a decisive victory. ⁵⁰He pressed the battle hard until sunset, and Demetrius was killed that day.

Alexander Creates an Alliance with Egypt

⁵¹Alexander then sent envoys to Ptolemy, King of Egypt, with the following message:

⁵²‘Now that I’ve returned to my kingdom, I have ascended my father’s throne, taken control of the realm, crushed Demetrius, and gained control of our land. ⁵³I fought him in battle and we crushed both him and his army; we have taken the throne of his kingdom.

⁵⁴‘Therefore, let’s establish friendship between us. Now, give me your daughter as a wife, and I will become your son-in-law, and I will give you and her gifts worthy of you.’

⁵⁵King Ptolemy replied:

‘It’s a good day that you’ve returned to your fathers’ land and have ascended their kingdom’s throne!

⁵⁶‘I’ll now do as you’ve written, but come to Ptolemais, so that we may meet in person, and I’ll become your son-in-law, just as you said.’

Alexander Marries Cleopatra

⁵⁷Ptolemy himself, with his daughter Cleopatra, departed from Egypt and arrived in Ptolemais in the 162^nd year. ⁵⁸King Alexander met him there, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter, Cleopatra.

Alexander celebrated her marriage in Ptolemais with great splendor, as is customary for kings.

⁵⁹King Alexander then wrote to JoNathan, inviting him to meet him. ⁶⁰JoNathan went to Ptolemais with great honor and met the two kings. He presented them and their friends with much silver and gold and many gifts, and found loving kindness in their eyes.

⁶¹However, some troublesome and lawless men from Israel gathered to bring accusations against him, but the king paid no attention to them. ⁶²Instead, the king gave orders that JoNathan be stripped of his garments and clothed in purple, and this was done!

The king seated him beside himself and said to his rulers:

⁶³‘Go out with him into the center of the city and proclaim that no one is to bring any accusation against this man, nor is anyone to trouble him in any way.’

⁶⁴When those who had come to accuse him saw the honor bestowed upon him, just as the king had proclaimed, and saw him clothed in fine linen, they all fled!

⁶⁵The king further honored him and enrolled him among his chief friends, and appointed him as general and governor of a district. ⁶⁶JoNathan returned to JeruSalem in peace and with great joy.

Demetrius’ Son Returns to Syria

⁶⁷In the 165^th year, Demetrius’ son, [also called] Demetrius, came from Crete to the land of his ancestors. ⁶⁸When King Alexander heard this, he was greatly distressed and returned to Antioch.

⁶⁹Demetrius appointed Apollonius as governor of Coele-Syria. Apollonius assembled a large army and encamped at Jamnia.

He then sent a message to JoNathan the high priest, saying:

⁷⁰‘You alone defy us, and I have become an object of ridicule and scorn because of you. Why do you presume to hold sway over us in the mountains?

⁷¹‘Therefore, if you are confident in your forces, come down to us into the plain, and let us meet in battle there, for I have the support of the cities’ armies.

⁷²‘Ask and learn who I am, and who are the others who assist us. They will tell you:

‘You cannot stand your ground against us, for twice your fathers were put to flight in their own land.’

⁷³‘And now, you won’t be able to withstand such cavalry and forces in the plain, where there’s no stone or pebble, nor anywhere to flee!’

⁷⁴When JoNathan heard Apollonius’s words, he was stirred in mind. He selected 10,000 men and marched out of JeruSalem, and his brother Simon met him to offer assistance.

The Battle of Azotus

⁷⁵He encamped against Joppa, but the people of the city shut him out because Apollonius had a garrison there. So JoNathan attacked the city. ⁷⁶Fearing for their lives, the people of the city opened the gates, and JoNathan took control of Joppa.

⁷⁷When Apollonius heard this, he assembled 3,000 cavalry and a large army and marched towards Azotus, seemingly passing through, but at the same time he advanced into the plain, confident in his large cavalry force.

⁷⁸JoNathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies clashed in battle. ⁷⁹Apollonius had secretly left 1,000 cavalry behind them in ambush. ⁸⁰JoNathan knew there was an ambush behind him. Apollonius’s forces surrounded JoNathan’s army and shot darts at the people from morning until evening. ⁸¹But JoNathan’s men held their ground as he commanded, and the enemy’s horses grew weary.

⁸²Then Simon led his force forward and attacked the enemy phalanx, for their cavalry was exhausted. They were crushed by him and fled. ⁸³The cavalry scattered across the plain and fled to Azotus, entering their idol Dagon’s temple for safety.

⁸⁴JoNathan then burned Azotus and the surrounding cities and took their spoils. He also burned Dagon’s temple and its sanctuary. ⁸⁵The number killed with the sword, along with those burned, came to a total of [about] 8,000 men.

⁸⁶JoNathan departed from there and encamped at Ashkelon. The city’s residents came out to meet him with great honor. ⁸⁷JoNathan returned with his men, carrying lots of the spoils [of war].

⁸⁸Well, when King Alexander heard these reports, he resolved to honor JoNathan even more. ⁸⁹He sent him a golden brooch, such as is customarily given to members of the royal family, and granted him ownership of Accaron and all its surrounding territory.

11

Egypt Plans to Attack Alexander’s Kingdom

¹King [Ptolemy] of Egypt gathered [a] huge army, as vast as the sand on the seashore, along with many ships. He planned to take the [Syrian] kingdom of [his son-in-law] Alexander by trickery and to incorporate it into his own.

²He entered Syria peacefully, and the cities opened their gates to him, with their people coming out to meet him. This was because King Alexander had ordered them to welcome him, because he was, after all, his father-in-law. ³When he entered the cities of Ptolemais, he stationed his troops in each one as garrisons.

⁴When he reached Azotus, they showed him the burned temple of Dagon. Azotus itself and the surrounding areas were also in ruins. They also pointed out the bodies of those whom [Jewish high priest] Jonathan had burned during the war, as their corpses were piled in heaps along his path.

⁵They told the king what JoNathan had done, hoping to discredit him — but the king said nothing.

⁶JoNathan then met King [Ptolemy] in Joppa with great ceremony… They greeted each other and spent the night there. ⁷JoNathan traveled with the king up to the river called Eleutherus, then he returned to JeruSalem.

⁸King Ptolemy took control of the coastal cities all the way to Seleucia-by-the-Sea. Throughout this time, he was plotting evil against [King] Alexander.

⁹Then he sent messengers to [Alexander’s rival] King Demetrius, suggesting:

‘Let’s make [an] agreement between us! I’ll give you my daughter, who’s currently with Alexander, and you can rule your father’s kingdom!

¹⁰‘I regret giving him my daughter, because he tried to kill me.’

¹¹He also accused [King] Alexander of trying to seize the [Egyptian] kingdom of Ptolemy. ¹²So, Ptolemy took his daughter from Alexander and gave her to Demetrius.

Alexander’s attitude changed, and they became openly hostile toward each other.

Ptolemy Crowns Himself in Antioch

¹³Ptolemy then entered Antioch and crowned himself [as king of Syria] with the crown of Asia. So, he wore two crowns: Asia’s and Egypt’s.

¹⁴At that time, King Alexander was in Cilicia, because the people there were rebelling. ¹⁵When Alexander heard this, he marched to battle Ptolemy. But Ptolemy led out his forces and met him with overwhelming force, forcing him to flee ¹⁶into Arabia, hoping to find safety there… Meanwhile, King Ptolemy’s power grew stronger.

¹⁷Then, Zabdius the Arab cut off Alexander’s head and sent it to Ptolemy!

¹⁸However, three days later, King Ptolemy himself died! Further, his men in the strongholds were killed by others inside the strongholds.

Demetrius Becomes King of Syria

¹⁹[Alexander’s rival] Demetrius then began to rule [Syria] in the 167^th year.

²⁰During those days, [high priest] JoNathan gathered the people of Judea to attack the citadel in JeruSalem. They built many siege machines to attack it. ²¹However, some lawless individuals who hated their own nation went to the king and told him that JoNathan was attacking the citadel. ²²When the king heard this, he was furious!

As soon as he heard, he immediately broke camp and came to [the city of] Ptolemais. He wrote to JoNathan, ordering him to stop the attack and to come meet him in Ptolemais without delay.

²³When JoNathan heard this, he ordered the attack to continue anyway. Then he selected some of Israel’s elders and priests, and took the risk of going.

²⁴Taking silver, gold, clothing, and many other gifts, he went to the king in Ptolemais and gained his favor. ²⁵Some lawless individuals from his own nation, however, continued to accuse him. ²⁶But the king treated him as previous kings had, and he honored JoNathan in front of all his friends. ²⁷He confirmed JoNathan as high priest and restored all the other honors he previously held. He also appointed him as one of the king’s closest advisors.

²⁸JoNathan then asked the king to make Judea, the three toparchies, and Samaria exempt from tribute. In return, they promised him 300 talents.

²⁹The king was pleased with this, and he wrote letters to JoNathan regarding all these matters, as follows:

³⁰‘King Demetrius to his brother JoNathan and to the Jewish nation: Greetings!

³¹‘Here’s a copy of the letter we wrote to our relative Lasthenes concerning you. We’ve also written it to you, so you can see it:

³²‘King Demetrius to Lasthenes, Father: Greetings!

³³‘To the Jewish nation, our friends, who support our rightful claims:

‘We’ve decided to grant them favors because of their goodwill toward us. ³⁴Therefore, we’ve confirmed for them the borders of Judea, along with the three districts of Apharema, Lydda, and Ramathaim (which were added to Judea from Samaria).

‘All revenues from these, which previously went to the king annually from the land’s produce and its fruits, are now to belong to those who perform sacrifices in JeruSalem.

³⁵‘Also, all other revenues owed to us from now on, including tithes, taxes, the income from the salt lakes, and the crown taxes, we will grant them entirely. ³⁶None of these concessions will ever be taken back, from this time forward, permanently!

³⁷‘So now, make [a] copy of these provisions. It should be given to JoNathan and placed on the holy mountain in [a] suitable, prominent location.’

³⁸King Demetrius saw that the land was at peace under his rule and that no one was resisting him. So he dismissed all his forces, sending every man home, except for the foreign mercenaries he had hired from the foreign islands… As a result, all the forces he had inherited from previous rulers began to hate him.

Tryphon Plans to Take Over Antioch

³⁹Now Tryphon, who had previously served [King] Alexander, saw that all the forces were very unhappy with [King] Demetrius. So he went to Sinmalcue the Arab, who was raising Alexander’s young son, Antiochus.

⁴⁰Tryphon tried to persuade Sinmalcue to hand the boy over to him, so that Antiochus could rule in his father’s place. They told Sinmalcue everything Demetrius had done, and how his own forces now despised him. Tryphon stayed there for many days.

JoNathan Removes the Garrisons from Jerusalem

⁴¹JoNathan sent a message to King Demetrius, asking him to remove the garrison from the citadel in JeruSalem and from the other strongholds, because they were constantly harassing Israel.

⁴²Demetrius replied to JoNathan, saying:

⁴²‘Not only will I grant these things to you and your nation, but I’ll also honor you and your nation greatly, if I get the chance.

⁴³‘Therefore, I ask that you send me men to fight alongside me, because all my forces have rebelled.’

⁴⁴So JoNathan sent 3,000 strong and capable men to Antioch. When they arrived, the king was very pleased by their arrival.

JoNathan’s Men Defend Demetrius and Capture Antioch

⁴⁵Meanwhile, the citizens of Antioch gathered in the center of the city, a force of 120,000 men, and they planned to kill the king! ⁴⁶The king fled into the palace courtyard, but the citizens seized control of the city’s passages and began to attack… ⁴⁷The king called upon the Jews for help, and they all rallied to him. They spread out through the city and on that day killed 10,000 men inside it.

⁴⁸They set the city ablaze and looted extensively that day, saving the king. ⁴⁹When the citizens saw that the Jews had taken control of the city as they pleased, they lost their will to fight and cried out to the king, pleading:

⁵⁰‘Grant us peace, and make the Jews stop fighting us and attacking the city!’

⁵¹The citizens threw down their weapons and agreed to peace. The Jews were greatly honored by the king and before everyone in his kingdom; they then returned to JeruSalem, carrying a great deal of plunder.

⁵²King Demetrius then took his place on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was at peace under his rule. ⁵³However, he broke all his promises and alienated JoNathan. He didn’t return the favors JoNathan had shown him, and instead severely oppressed him.

Tryphon Returns with Antiochus and Takes Over

⁵⁴After these events, Tryphon returned with [Alexander’s son] Antiochus, [a] younger boy. Antiochus then began to rule and was crowned [king of Syria].

⁵⁵All the forces that [King] Demetrius had dismissed gathered in support of Antiochus, and fought against Demetrius, who was then forced to flee. ⁵⁶Tryphon captured the war elephants and took control of [the Syrian capital of] Antioch.

⁵⁷Antiochus the younger wrote to JoNathan, saying:

⁵⁷‘I confirm you as high priest, appoint you over the four districts, and declare you to be one of the king’s closest advisors.’

⁵⁸He also sent him golden vessels and [gave him a] special rank that granted him the privilege of drinking from golden cups, wearing purple, and having [a] golden brooch.

⁵⁹He also appointed JoNathan’s brother Simon as [a military] general, [having authority] from the Ladder of Tyre all the way to the borders of Egypt.

JoNathan Travels Through the Land

⁶⁰JoNathan then set out, traveling through the region [east] beyond the river and visiting the cities. All the forces of Syria rallied to him as allies.

He came [back west] to [the city of] Ashkelon, and the people of the city received him with great honor. ⁶¹From there he went [south] to [the city of] Gaza, but the Gazans shut their gates against him. So he attacked the city, burned the surrounding areas, and plundered them.

⁶²The Gazans then pleaded with JoNathan, and he made peace with them. He took their rulers’ sons as hostages and sent them to JeruSalem. JoNathan then traveled through the country up [north] to Damascus.

JoNathan Confronts Demetrius’s Commanders

⁶³JoNathan heard that [deposed King] Demetrius’s commanders were in Kadesh in Galilee with [a] large force, planning to depose him. ⁶⁴He went to confront them, leaving his brother Simon in the country.

⁶⁵Simon camped at Beth-Zur, and he besieged it for many days, attacking it. ⁶⁶[The inhabitants] asked to make peace with them, and he agreed. He then expelled them from the city, took control of it, and placed [a] garrison there.

⁶⁷JoNathan and his forces camped by Gennesar’s Waters.

Early the next morning, they advanced into the plain of Nasor. ⁶⁸Suddenly, [a] camp of foreigners encountered him in the plain! They had set [an] ambush for him in the mountains, while their main force came from the opposite direction… ⁶⁹The ambushers rose up from their positions and joined the fight.

All of JoNathan’s men fled; ⁷⁰not [a] single man was left, except Mattathias (son of Absalom) and Judas (son of Chalphi), who were commanders of the forces.

⁷¹JoNathan tore his clothes, put dust on his head, and prayed… ⁷²He then returned to fight them, defeated them, and they fled! ⁷³When those who had fled saw this, they returned to [join] him and pursued the enemy alongside him all the way up to their camp at Kadesh; [then] they set up camp there [themselves].

⁷⁴On that day, about 3,000 foreigners died.

JoNathan then returned to JeruSalem.

12

JoNathan Sends Envoy to Rome

¹[High priest] Jonathan realized it was an opportune time for him. So, he selected men and sent them to Rome to re-establish and renew their friendship with the Romans. ²He also sent similar letters to the [Greek] Spartans and to other places.

³When they arrived in Rome, they went into the Senate and announced:

‘JoNathan, the high priest, and the Jewish nation have sent us to you to renew the friendship and agreement that we had before.’

⁴The Romans gave them letters for various places, so they could be safely escorted back to the land of Judah.

JoNathan Writes to the Spartans

⁵Here is a copy of the letter JoNathan wrote to the Spartans:

⁶‘JoNathan, the nation’s high priest, along with the elders’ council, the priests, and all the rest of the Jewish people, to our brothers, the Spartans: Greetings.

⁷‘Previously, letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Areius, your king, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy confirms. ⁸Onias received the envoy honorably and accepted the letters, which clearly mentioned an agreement and friendship.

⁹‘Therefore, even though we don’t require these things ourselves (since we find comfort in our holy books) ¹⁰we’ve made an effort to send this message to renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, so we don’t become estranged.

‘It has been a long time since you last sent [a message] to us. ¹¹Therefore, continually, during our feasts and on other appropriate days, we remember you in our sacrifices and prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brothers. ¹²We’re also pleased by your good reputation.

¹³‘However, we’ve been surrounded by many troubles and wars, and the neighbouring kings have waged war against us. ¹⁴Therefore, we didn’t want to trouble you or our other allies and friends during these conflicts. ¹⁵For we’ve received help from heaven, which assisted us; we were rescued from our enemies, and our enemies were defeated!

¹⁶‘Therefore, we’ve selected Numenius (son of Antiochus) and Antipater (son of Jason), and sent them to the Romans to renew our previous friendship and agreement with them. ¹⁷We also told them to visit you and convey our greetings, and to deliver our letters concerning the renewal of our brotherhood.

¹⁸‘Now, it would be good for you to send us a reply about these things.’

¹⁹Here is a copy of the letter they sent to [King] Onias:

²⁰‘Areius, the King of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest: Greetings!

²¹‘A document has been discovered concerning both the Spartans and the Jews, stating that they are brothers and descendants of Abraham.

²²‘Now that we’ve learned this, it would be good for you to write to us to inform us of your well-being.

²³‘We also write to you in return: ‘Your livestock and your possessions are ours, and our possessions are yours.’ Therefore, we instruct them to report this to you as well.’

Jonanthan Confronts Demetrius’s Forces Again

²⁴JoNathan heard that Demetrius’s commanders had returned with a larger army than before, intending to fight him. ²⁵So he left JeruSalem and confronted them in the Hamathite country, because he wouldn’t let them to enter his territory without a fight.

²⁶He sent spies into their camp… They returned to report that the enemy was preparing to attack them during the night.

²⁷When the sun set, JoNathan ordered his men to remain vigilant and armed, preparing for battle throughout the night. He also established outposts around the camp. ²⁸When the opponents heard that JoNathan and his men were prepared for war, they became afraid and lost courage. So they then lit fires in their camp [and fled].

²⁹JoNathan and his men, however, didn’t realize [they had fled] until morning, because they saw the burning lights [during the night]. ³⁰He went in pursuit, but didn’t catch up to them, because they had already crossed the Eleutherus River.

³¹JoNathan then turned his attention to the Arabs known as Zabadaeans. He attacked them and took their possessions. ³²After that, he came to Damascus and traveled throughout the region.

Simon Secures Joppa

³³Meanwhile, Simon advanced as far as Ashkelon and the nearby strongholds. He then turned toward Joppa and captured it before anyone else could.

³⁴You see, he had heard that the inhabitants were planning to hand over the stronghold to Demetrius’s forces, so he stationed soldiers there to guard it.

JoNathan Builds Walls in JeruSalem

³⁵JoNathan returned and convened a meeting of the people’s elders. He consulted with them regarding the construction of fortifications in Judea, ³⁶and raising [the height of] JeruSalem’s walls.

They also planned to build [a] great wall between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, so that the citadel would be isolated, and its occupants couldn’t buy or sell anything.

³⁷They assembled to begin building. A section of the wall near the winter torrent on the east side had collapsed, and JoNathan repaired the area known as Chaphenatha. ³⁸Also, Simon built Hadida in the Shephelah, reinforcing its gates and bars.

Tryphon Plots to Kill JoNathan

³⁹Tryphon wanted to become king of Asia, to wear the diadem, and to seize King Antiochus. ⁴⁰He was concerned that JoNathan might not allow this to happen, and might even [need to] fight him. So he looked for a way to capture and kill JoNathan. With this intention, he left and came to Bethsa.

⁴¹JoNathan went out to confront him with 40,000 chosen men prepared for battle, and he arrived at Bethsa. ⁴²Tryphon saw that JoNathan was there with a large force, so he hesitated to attack him. ⁴³Instead, he received JoNathan honorably, introduced him to all his friends, gave him gifts, and instructed his friends and forces to obey him similarly.

⁴⁴Then he said to JoNathan:

‘Why have you brought all these people here, when we are not at war?

⁴⁵‘Now, send them back to their homes, but select a few men to accompany you. Come with me to Ptolemais, and I will hand the city over to you, along with the remaining strongholds, the many forces, and everyone responsible for administration.

‘Then I’ll depart and return [home], because this is why I am here.’

⁴⁶JoNathan trusted him and acted as he suggested. He sent the forces away, and they returned to the land of Judah. ⁴⁷However, he retained 3,000 men with him; about 2,000 he left in Galilee, while 1,000 came with him.

⁴⁸When JoNathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates, captured him, and killed everyone who had accompanied him. ⁴⁹Tryphon then sent soldiers and cavalry into the Great Plain of Galilee to destroy all of JoNathan’s men.

⁵⁰JoNathan’s men realized that he had been captured and [wrongly thought that he must have been] killed, along with those accompanying him. They encouraged one another and marched together, prepared for battle…

⁵¹The pursuers saw that JoNathan’s men were fighting for their lives, so they retreated ⁵²and all of JoNathan’s men returned safely to the land of Judah.

They mourned JoNathan and those who had accompanied him, and they were very afraid.

Yes, Israel mourned profoundly!

⁵³All the neighbouring nations attempted to wipe them out, because they said:

‘They don’t have [a] leader or [a] helper any longer. In that case, let’s now fight them and erase their memory from among humanity!’

13

Simon Steps Up

¹[Jonathan’s brother] Simon heard that Tryphon had assembled a large army to invade and destroy the land of Judah… ²He saw the people trembling with terror!

So, he went up to JeruSalem, brought them together, and encouraged them by saying:

³‘You all know what my brothers, my family, and I have done to protect our laws and holy places, and how we’ve faced wars and hardships…

⁴‘As a result, all my brothers died for Israel, and I am the only one left. ⁵I will never hesitate to risk my own life in times of trouble.

‘Even though I’m certainly not stronger than my brothers [were], ⁶I will nevertheless avenge my nation, our holy places, and our women and children, since all the nations have gathered to destroy us because they hate us!’

⁷His words really stirred up the spirit of his people.

⁸So they responded loudly, saying:

‘You’re our leader in place of Judas and your brother JoNathan! ⁹Lead us in battle, and we’ll do whatever you tell us!’

¹⁰So, he assembled all the fighting men and quickly finished building JeruSalem’s walls, strengthening the city’s defenses all around. ¹¹He also sent JoNathan (son of Absalom) with a powerful force to Joppa. They expelled the inhabitants and stayed there.

Tryphon Offers to Return JoNathan Who Is A Hostage

¹²Meanwhile, Tryphon left Ptolemais with a large army to enter the land of Judah, holding [Simon’s brother] JoNathan captive. ¹³But Simon camped at Adida, overlooking the plain. ¹⁴Tryphon realized Simon had taken over from his brother JoNathan and was getting ready for war against him.

So, he sent messengers to Simon, saying:

¹⁵‘We are holding your brother JoNathan [as a hostage] because of the money he owed the royal treasury for different costs!

¹⁶‘Now, send 100 talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, to ensure he won’t rebel against us if we release him. Then we will release him.’

¹⁷Simon knew they were trying to trick him. Even so, he sent the money and the children, fearing that if he didn’t, he might make the people very angry, ¹⁸(fearing the people would say, ‘He died because I didn’t send him the money and the children.’)

¹⁹So, he sent the children and the 100 talents. But Tryphon tricked him and did not release [his brother] JoNathan.

Tryphon Returns

²⁰Afterward, Tryphon came to invade and destroy the city [of JeruSalem]. He marched along the road to Adora, but Simon and his army marched alongside him, blocking his path wherever he went.

²¹Meanwhile, those in the citadel sent messengers, urging Tryphon to come to them by way of the desert and send them provisions. ²²Tryphon got all his cavalry ready to come, but that night there was a very heavy snowfall, which prevented him from coming. So, he departed and went into Gilead.

²³As he approached Bascama, he executed [Simon’s brother] JoNathan, and JoNathan was buried there.

²⁴Tryphon then went back to his own land.

Simon Builds a Monument for His Family

²⁵Simon sent for and retrieved the remains of his brother JoNathan, burying him in Modein, the city of his ancestors.

²⁶All Israel mourned him deeply and grieved for many days.

²⁷Simon built [a] monument over the tomb of his father and brothers, making it tall and out of polished stone, visible from all sides. ²⁸He set up seven pyramids, arranged to face each other, for his father, mother, and four brothers.

²⁹Around these, he placed large pillars. On the pillars, he crafted full sets of armor as an eternal memorial. Beside the armor, he carved ships, so that everyone sailing the sea could see them.

³⁰This is the tomb he built in Modein, which remains to this day.

Tryphon Betrays Young Antiochus

³¹Tryphon, however, betrayed King Antiochus the Younger and murdered him. ³²He then replaced him as ruler, took the crown of Asia, and caused great devastation throughout the land.

Simon Strengthens Judea’s Defenses and Establishes Independence

³³In response, Simon strengthened Judea’s defenses, building high towers, strong walls, gates, and bars around them. He also stocked these strongholds with supplies. ³⁴Simon also selected men to send to King Demetrius to ask for the land to be freed from tribute payments, because Tryphon’s actions had all been acts of plunder.

³⁵King Demetrius sent him a reply, agreeing to his request, and wrote him the following letter:

³⁶‘King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and the nation of the Jews, greetings!

³⁷‘We’ve received the golden crown and the palm branch you sent. We’re ready to grant you great peace and to write to our officials to exempt you from taxes. ³⁸All agreements we made with you remain valid, and the fortifications you’ve built will belong to you.

³⁹‘Also, we forgive you for any mistakes or offenses committed until now, and also the crown tax you owed. If anything else in JeruSalem was taxed, it will no longer be taxed.

⁴⁰‘And if any of your people are qualified to be appointed as our officials, they may be appointed, and let peace exist between us.’

⁴¹So, in the 170^th year, Israel was freed from the burden of [rule by] the other races. ⁴²The people of Israel started writing in their documents and contracts this:

‘In the 1^st year of Simon, the great high priest, general, and leader of the Jews.’

Simon Captures Gaza

⁴³In those days, Simon set up camp against Gaza, surrounding it with his forces. He built [a] siege engine, moved it against the city, attacked one tower, and captured it. ⁴⁴The men operating the siege engine then rushed into the city, creating a great uproar.

⁴⁵The city’s residents, along with their women and children, climbed onto the wall, tearing their clothes. They cried out loudly, begging Simon to offer them terms of surrender.

⁴⁶They said:

‘Don’t punish us for our wickedness, but show us your mercy.’

⁴⁷Simon made peace with them and didn’t fight them. [However,] he expelled them from the city, purified the houses that contained idols, and then entered the city with hymns and blessings.

⁴⁸He removed all impurities from it and settled men in it who observed the Law. He strengthened the city’s defenses even more and built his own residence there.

The Citadel in JeruSalem Surrenders

⁴⁹However, those in the citadel in JeruSalem were prevented from going out into the countryside to buy and sell, so they suffered from severe hunger, and many of them died of starvation. ⁵⁰They cried out to Simon, asking to surrender. He agreed to their request, expelled them from there, and purified the citadel of its defilements.

⁵¹On the 23^rd day of the 2^nd month in the 171^st year, he entered it with praise and palm branches, accompanied by:

• Lyres
• Cymbals
• Harps
• Hymns
• Songs

Yes, because a great enemy had been defeated in Israel. ⁵²He decreed that this day should be celebrated every year. He also strengthened the Temple Mount’s defenses even more, which was next to the citadel, and he and his men started living there.

Simon Appoints His Son as Commander

⁵³Simon saw that his son John [Hyrcanus] was [a] competent man, so he appointed him as commander of all the forces, and John then lived in [the city of] Gazara.

14

Demetrius Tries to Get Support from Media

¹In the 172^nd year, King Demetrius gathered his army and traveled to Media to gather support for his fight against Tryphon.

²[However,] when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, learned Demetrius was in his territory, he dispatched a commander to capture him alive… ³The commander then attacked Demetrius’s camp, captured him, brought him to Arsaces, and threw him in prison!

Simon’s Rule Brings Peace to the Land

⁴During Simon’s rule, the land enjoyed peace.

He dedicated himself to his nation’s well-being, and his leadership and good reputation consistently pleased them.

⁵Among his many achievements:

• He captured Joppa to serve as [a] harbor, providing access to the islands in the sea.
• ⁶He expanded his nation’s territory and took control of the land.
• ⁷He brought back many captives and gained control of Gazara, Beth-Zur, and the citadel [in JeruSalem]. He purified these locations, and no one could resist him.

⁸People farmed their land in peace; the land yielded its crops, and the trees in the plains produced their fruit. ⁹Older people gathered in the public squares, discussing positive matters, while young men wore splendid clothes and military uniforms.

¹⁰He provisioned the cities with food and strengthened their defenses, so his glorious name became known everywhere. ¹¹He established peace throughout the land, and Israel rejoiced immensely.

¹²Everyone…

‘…sat under their own vine and fig tree, with no one to frighten them.’ [Micah 4:4]

¹³Hostilities against them ceased throughout the land, and [enemy] kings were defeated during that time.

¹⁴He supported all the humble among his people; he meticulously followed the Law and eliminated every lawless and wicked person.

¹⁵He honored the holy objects and increased the number of sacred vessels.

Support from Sparta

¹⁶News of JoNathan’s death reached Rome and even Sparta, causing them great sorrow. ¹⁷But when they learned that his brother Simon had replaced him as high priest and was governing the land and its cities, ¹⁸they wrote to him on bronze tablets to reaffirm the friendship and alliance they had established with his brothers, Judas and JoNathan.

¹⁹These letters were publicly read to an assembly in JeruSalem.

Here is a copy of the letters sent by the Spartans:

²⁰‘Greetings from the rulers of Sparta and the city of Sparta to Simon, the high priest, and to the elders, the priests, and the rest of our Jewish brothers!

²¹‘The ambassadors you sent to us informed us of your glory and honor, and we were pleased by their arrival. ²²We’ve recorded their statements in the public councils as follows:

‘Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater (son of Jason), ambassadors from the Jews, came to us to renew their friendship with us.’

²³‘The people were pleased to receive these men with honor and to place a copy of their statements in the public records, so the Spartan people would have [a] memorial. A copy of these matters was also sent to Simon the high priest.’

Support from Rome

²⁴Following this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with [a] large golden shield weighing 1,000 minas, to affirm their alliance.

When the people heard these words, they said:

²⁵‘What loving kindness can we bestow upon Simon and his sons? ²⁶Because he, his brothers, and his family have stood firm, fighting Israel’s enemies and securing their freedom!’

So this was inscribed on bronze tablets and erected on [a] pillar on Mount Zion. This is a copy of the inscription:

²⁷‘On the 18^th of Elul, in the 172^nd year, which marked Simon’s third year as high priest, ²⁸in SaraMel, at [a] large assembly of priests, the people, national rulers, and elders of the land, it was proclaimed to us that:

²⁹‘Since wars frequently occurred in the land, Simon, son of Mattathias, [a] descendant of Joarib, and his brothers bravely risked their lives and resisted their nation’s enemies, so their holy places and the Law could be preserved. They brought great glory to their nation.’

³⁰‘JoNathan united their nation, became their high priest, and subsequently died.’

³¹‘When their enemies sought to invade their land to destroy it and seize their holy objects, ³²Simon rose up and fought for his nation! He spent a great deal of his own money, armed his nation’s soldiers, and paid them.

³³‘He fortified the cities of Judea, including Beth-Zur on Judea’s borders, where the enemies’ previously stored their weapons, and he stationed [a] garrison of Jewish men there. ³⁴He also fortified Joppa by the sea and Gazara on Azotus’s borders, where enemies previously resided. He settled Jews there and provided everything necessary for their rebuilding.

³⁵‘The people recognized Simon’s faithfulness and the great things he planned to do for his nation. So, they appointed him as their leader and high priest because of all these accomplishments, and because of the righteousness and faithfulness he demonstrated to his nation, and because he consistently sought to uplift his people.

³⁶‘During his time, he achieved great prosperity. He successfully expelled foreign nations from their land, including those in David’s City in JeruSalem who had built [a] fortress for themselves. From this fortress, they would attack and defile the areas around the sanctuary, causing significant harm to its purity. ³⁷He settled Jewish men in it and strengthened its defenses to secure the land and the city, and he rebuilt JeruSalem’s walls.

³⁸‘King Demetrius also confirmed his high priesthood based on these actions, ³⁹and made him one of his friends, bestowing great honor upon him.

⁴⁰‘It was also known that the Romans called the Jews friends, allies, and brothers, and that they had received Simon’s ambassadors with honor.

⁴¹‘And [it’s also known that] the Jews and priests were pleased for Simon to serve as their leader and high priest into the age (until [a] faithful prophet appears) ⁴²and that he should:

• Serve as their general
• Be in charge of the holy objects
• Be able to appoint officials over their tasks, the land, the military, and the fortifications
• ⁴³Be in charge of the holy objects
• To be obeyed by everyone

[‘Additionally:]

• All documents in the land should be issued in his name
• [He should] wear purple and gold

⁴⁴‘Furthermore, it’s not lawful for anyone among the people or the priests to disregard any of these rules, or to speak against what he says, or to convene an assembly in the land without his permission, or to wear purple or [a] golden brooch.

⁴⁵‘Whoever acts contrary to these things or disregards any of these rules will be punished!’

⁴⁶All the people were pleased to grant Simon the authority to act as stated. ⁴⁷Simon accepted this and was pleased to serve as high priest, general, and ethnarch of the Jews and priests, and to lead everyone.

⁴⁸They decreed that this inscription should be placed on bronze tablets and erected in the sanctuary’s enclosure in [a] prominent place, ⁴⁹and that copies of them should be preserved in the treasury for Simon and his sons.

15

Antiochus VII Sidetes’ Letter to Simon

¹King Antiochus [VII Sidetes], the son of Demetrius [I Soter], sent letters from the islands to Simon, the Judeans’ priest and ethnarch, and to the whole nation.

²The message read:

‘King Antiochus [VII Sidetes] to Simon, the great priest and ethnarch, and to the Judeans’ nation, greetings!’

³‘Since some scoundrels have taken control of our fathers’ kingdom, I plan to take it back for myself, so I can bring it back to its original condition. I’ve hired many foreign troops and prepared warships!

⁴‘I want to go into the land to go after those who have corrupted our land and those who have ruined many cities in the kingdom… ⁵Therefore, I now confirm all the exemptions that the kings before me granted you, along with any others they might have given you:

• ⁶‘You’re allowed to mint your own coins in your land.
• ⁷‘JeruSalem and the holy places will be free.
• ‘All the weapons you’ve prepared and the fortifications you’ve built, which you currently control, will remain yours.
• ⁸‘All royal debts, both current and future, are now permanently forgiven for you into the age.

⁹‘Once we’ve established our kingdom, we’ll greatly honor you, your nation, and the temple, so your glory will be recognized throughout the entire earth.’

Antiochus’s Army Attacks Tryphon

¹⁰In the 174^th year, Antiochus marched into his fathers’ land. All the forces joined him, so only a few remained with Tryphon.

¹¹King Antiochus pursued him, and Tryphon fled to Dora, a city on the coast. ¹²Tryphon knew that things had gone badly for him, and his forces had deserted him.

¹³Antiochus then camped outside Dora with 120,000 warriors and 8,000 cavalry.

¹⁴He encircled the city, and his ships joined the siege from the sea. He attacked the city from both land and sea, allowing no one to enter or leave.

The Roman Consul’s Letter to Ptolemy

¹⁵Meanwhile, Numenius and his companions arrived back from Rome, carrying letters addressed to various kings and lands.

The letters read as follows:

¹⁶‘Lucius, the Romans’ Consul, to King Ptolemy, greetings!

¹⁷‘The Judeans’ ambassadors, our friends and allies, have come to us, sent by Simon the high priest and Judea’s people, to renew their long-standing friendship and alliance with us. ¹⁸They brought with them a golden shield weighing 5,000 minas.

¹⁹‘Therefore, we’ve decided to write to the kings and lands, telling them not to harm the Judeans, nor to wage war against them, their cities, or their lands, and not to ally with those who wage war against them.

²⁰‘We’ve also decided it was right to accept the shield from them. ²¹Therefore, if any scoundrels have escaped from their land and taken shelter with you, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so he can bring them to justice according to their law.’

²²He also wrote these same things to:

• King Demetrius [II Nicator]
• Attalus [II Philadelphus]
• Arathes [II]
• Arsaces [I of Parthia]

²³And [he further wrote] to all the lands, including:

• [Lampsacus]
• The Spartans
• Delos
• Myndus
• Sicyon
• Caria
• Samos
• Pamphylia
• Lycia
• Halicarnassus
• Cos
• Side
• Aradus
• Rhodes
• Phaselis
• Gortyna
• Cnidus
• Cyprus
• Cyrene

²⁴A copy of these letters was also sent to Simon the high priest.

Antiochus’s Second Campaign

²⁵King Antiochus, for the second time, camped outside Dora. He attacked the city relentlessly, using all available methods and siege engines, trapping Tryphon inside, preventing him from entering or leaving.

²⁶[High priest] Simon sent him 2,000 chosen men to help him, along with silver, gold, and plenty of supplies. ²⁷However, Antiochus refused to accept them. Instead, he canceled all the agreements he had previously made with Simon and became hostile toward him.

²⁸He then sent Athenobius, one of his friends, to deliver a message to Simon, saying:

‘You’re in control of Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel in JeruSalem, which are cities that belong to my kingdom! ²⁹You’ve ruined their territories, caused great damage to the land, and taken control of many places within my kingdom!

³⁰‘Therefore, hand over the cities you’ve seized, and the tribute from the places you’ve taken control of, especially those on the borders of Judea.

³¹‘Otherwise, pay 500 talents of silver as compensation, and another 500 talents for the destruction you’ve caused and for the tribute owed by the cities. If you refuse, we’ll come and wage war against you.’

³²Athenobius, the king’s friend, came to JeruSalem and was astonished by Simon’s splendor, which included a cup decorated with gold and silver and an impressive display of wealth. He then relayed the king’s demands to Simon and his people.

³³Simon replied to him:

‘We haven’t taken foreign land, nor have we taken foreign possessions. Instead, we’ve taken control of our fathers’ inheritance, which our enemies unjustly took from us in the past.

³⁴‘Now that we have the opportunity, we’re holding firmly to our and our fathers’ inheritance. ³⁵As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, these cities caused great harm to our people and our land. For these, we’ll pay 100 talents.’

Athenobius did not respond to his offer.

³⁶Athenobius returned to the king in a rage, reporting Simon’s words, describing his splendor, and reporting everything else he’d seen. The king became extremely angry!

Tryphon Flees, Cendebaeus Appointed

³⁷Meanwhile, Tryphon boarded a ship and fled to Orthosia.

³⁸The king then appointed Cendebaeus as the general of the coastal region and provided him with infantry and cavalry troops. ³⁹He commanded Cendebaeus to camp facing Judea, to rebuild Kedron, to strengthen the cities, and to wage war against the people.

The king himself, however, continued to pursue Tryphon.

⁴⁰Well, Cendebaeus arrived at Jamnia and began to provoke the people. [He was] invading Judea, taking captives, and committing murder! ⁴¹He rebuilt Kedron and stationed cavalry and other troops there to patrol the roads of Judea, just as the king had commanded him.

16

Simon Commissions His Sons

¹John [Hyrcanus] left Gazara and told his father Simon what Cendebaeus was doing.

Simon called his two elder sons, Judas and John, and said to them:

²‘I, my brothers, and my [whole] family have fought Israel’s battles since we were young, until now. We often succeeded in our efforts to rescue Israel.

³‘But now I’ve grown old. You, however, by [His] mercy, are strong and in your prime. Take over for me and your uncle; go and fight for our nation!

‘May help from heaven be with you!’

⁴Then he chose 20,000 warriors and cavalry from the land. They marched against Cendebaeus and camped in Modin.

John’s Battle with Cendebaeus

⁵Early the next morning, they moved onto the plain. Suddenly, they saw [a] large force of infantry and cavalry approaching them! [A wadi in a] winter torrent separated the two armies. ⁶John and his men camped facing the enemy. He saw his own troops hesitating to cross the wadi, so he crossed first. When his men saw him, they followed him across.

⁷Then he arranged his troops, positioning the cavalry among the infantry. The enemy’s cavalry, however, was very numerous. ⁸They blew the trumpets, and Cendebaeus’s forces were completely defeated. Many of his men were wounded or killed, while the rest fled to their fortress!

⁹Meanwhile, Judas, John’s brother, was wounded. John, however, pursued the enemy until they reached Kedron, a place Cendebaeus had built. ¹⁰They fled to the towers on Azotus’ plain, and John set the fortress ablaze.

About 1,000 men died there, and John returned safely to Judea.

Ptolemy’s Treachery

¹¹Meanwhile, [a man named] Ptolemy (son of Abub) had become the general of the plain of Jericho. He was very wealthy, owning much silver and gold, ¹²because he was the high priest’s son-in-law.

¹³His head filled with ambition, he wanted to take control of the land [of Judah]. So he started forming treacherous plans against Simon and his sons, with the intention of destroying them.

¹⁴Simon, meanwhile, was inspecting the cities throughout the land and managing their matters. In the 177^th year, in the 11^th month (Shebat), he went down to Jericho, accompanied by [his sons] Mattathias and Judas, as well as his other sons.

¹⁵Ptolemy (son of Abub) welcomed them to the small fortress called Dok, which he himself had built. He welcomed them with [a] great banquet, but he had hidden men there, with treacherous plans… ¹⁶When Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men stood up, grabbed their weapons, and stormed into the banquet hall!

They killed Simon, his sons, and some of his attendants. ¹⁷Thus, he committed [a] terrible betrayal, repaying good with evil.

Ptolemy Writes to King Antiochus

¹⁸Ptolemy then wrote to the king, reporting these events and requesting the king send him troops for assistance, so he could hand over their land and cities to him. ¹⁹He also sent other men to Gazara to kill John.

He also sent letters to the military commanders (chiliarchs), inviting them to join him and promising them silver, gold, and other gifts. ²⁰He also sent others to capture JeruSalem and the Temple Mount.

²¹However, someone raced ahead to inform John in Gazara that his father and brothers had been killed, and that Ptolemy had also dispatched men to kill him. ²²When John heard this, he was deeply shocked.

He immediately arrested the men who had come to kill him and executed them, knowing they intended to kill him.

²³The rest of John’s actions, his wars, his brave deeds, the walls he built, and all his other accomplishments, ²⁴these are recorded in the records of his high priesthood, from the time he became high priest after his father.