The Word Am I

The First Book of Maccabees

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 13 -

Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he takes Gaza, and the castle of Jerusalem.

1
Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.
2
And seeing that the people was in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people:
3
And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:
4
By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.
5
And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.
6
I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.
7
And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words.
8
And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan thy brother.
9
Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.
10
So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
11
And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.
12
And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.
13
But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.
14
And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,
15
Saying: We have detained thy brother Jonathan for the money that he owed in the king’s account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.
16
But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will release him.
17
Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the money, and the children to be sent: lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:
18
Because he sent not the money, and the children, therefore is he lost.
19
So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.
20
And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.
21
And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and sent them victuals.
22
And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of Galaad.
23
And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.
24
And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.
25
And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.
26
And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.
27
And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:
28
And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brethren:
29
And round about these he set great pillars: and upon the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea.
30
This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin even unto this day.
31
But Tryphon when he was upon a journey with the young king Antiochus, treacherously slew him.
32
And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.
33
And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.
34
And Simon chose men and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an immunity to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
35
And king Demetrius in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:
36
King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
37
The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the king’s chief officers to release you the things that we have released.
38
For all that we have decreed in your favour, shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.
39
And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.
40
And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
41
In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.
42
And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and public records, The first year under Simon the high priest, the great captain and prince of the Jews.
43
In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and took it.
44
And they that were within the engine leaped into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.
45
And they that were in the city went up with their wives and children upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
46
And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.
47
And Simon being moved, did not destroy them: but yet he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord.
48
And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.
49
But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through famine.
50
And they cried to Simon form peace, and he granted it to them: and he cast them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.
51
And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.
52
And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.
53
And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.
54
And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.

Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he takes Gaza, and the castle of Jerusalem.

1
Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a mighty army to come into the land of Judah and destroy it utterly.
2
He saw that the people were trembling in great fear. So he went up to Jerusalem and gathered the people together.
3
He encouraged them, and said to them, “You yourselves know all the things that I, my kindred, and my father’s house have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we have seen.
4
Because of this, all my brothers have perished for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.
5
Now be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction, for I am not better than my kindred.
6
However, I will take vengeance for my nation, for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children, because all the Gentiles have gathered out of hatred to destroy us.”
7
The spirit of the people revived as soon as they heard these words.
8
They answered with a loud voice, saying, “You are our leader in the place of Judas and Jonathan your brothers.
9
Fight our battles, and we will do all that you tell us to do.”
10
He gathered together all the men of war, and hurried to finish the walls of Jerusalem. He fortified it all around.
11
He sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great army, to Joppa. He threw out those who were in it, and lived there.
12
Tryphon left Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard.
13
But Simon encamped at Adida, near the plain.
14
Tryphon knew that Simon had risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, so he sent ambassadors to him, saying,
15
“It is for money which Jonathan your brother owed to the king’s treasury, by reason of the offices which he had, that we are detaining him.
16
Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages, so that when he is released he may not revolt against us, and we will release him.”
17
Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, but he sent to get the money and the children, lest perhaps he would arouse great hostility among the people,
18
who might say, “Because I didn’t send him the money and the children, he perished.”
19
So he sent the children and the hundred talents, but Tryphon lied, and didn’t release Jonathan.
20
After this, Tryphon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he went around by the way that leads to Adora. Simon and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went.
21
Now the people of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors, urging him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food.
22
So Tryphon prepared all his cavalry to come, but on that night a very heavy snow fell, and he didn’t come because of the snow. He marched off and went into the land of Gilead.
23
When he came near to Bascama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there.
24
Then Tryphon turned back, and went away into his own land.
25
Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers.
26
All Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days.
27
Simon built a monument on the tomb of his father and his kindred, and raised it high so that it could be seen, with polished stone on the front and back.
28
He also set up seven pyramids, one near another, for his father, his mother, and his four brothers.
29
For these, he made an elaborate setting, erecting great pillars around them, and upon the pillars he made suits of armor for a perpetual memorial, and beside the suits of armor, he carved ships, so that they could be seen by all who sail on the sea.
30
This is the tomb which he made at Modin. It remains to this day.
31
Now Tryphon deceived the young King Antiochus and killed him,
32
and reigned in his place. He put on himself the crown of Asia and brought a great calamity upon the land.
33
Simon built up the strongholds of Judea, and walled them all around with high towers, great walls, gates, and bars; and he stored food in the strongholds.
34
Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius with a request that he grant the country an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder.
35
King Demetrius sent to him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter to him, as follows:
36
“King Demetrius to Simon the high priest and friend(a) of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greetings.
37
The golden crown and the palm branch, which you sent, we have received. We are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers to release you from tribute.
38
Whatever things we confirmed to you, they are confirmed. The strongholds, which you have built, let them be your own.
39
As for any oversights and faults committed to this day, we forgive them, and the crown tax which you owed us. If there were any other tax collected in Jerusalem, let it be collected no longer.
40
If any among you are qualified to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.”
41
In the one hundred seventieth year,(b) the yoke of the Gentiles was taken away from Israel.
42
The people began to write in their instruments and contracts, “In the first year of Simon, the great high priest and captain and leader of the Jews.”
43
In those days Simon encamped against(c) Gazara, and surrounded it with troops. He made a seige engine, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and captured it.
44
Those who were in the engine leaped out into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city.
45
The people of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, asking Simon to give them(d) his right hand.
46
They said, “Don’t deal with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.”
47
So Simon was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them; but he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses where the idols were, and then entered into it with singing and giving praise.
48
He removed all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it men who would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built a dwelling place for himself in it.
49
But the people of the citadel in Jerusalem were hindered from going out and from going into the country, and from buying and selling. So they were very hungry, and a great number of them perished from famine.
50
Then they cried out to Simon, that he should give them his right hand; and he gave it to them; but he expelled them from there, and he cleansed the citadel from its pollutions.
51
He entered into it on the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventy-first year,(e) with praise and palm branches, with harps, with cymbals, and with stringed instruments, with hymns, and with songs, because a great enemy had been destroyed out of Israel.
52
Simon ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. He made the hill of the temple that was by the citadel stronger than before, and he lived there with his men.
53
Simon saw that his son John was a man, so he made him leader of all his forces; and he lived in Gazara.

Footnotes

(a)13:36 See 1 Maccabees 2:18 .
(b)13:41 circa B.C. 143.
(c)13:43 See 1 Maccabees 13:53 (compare 1 Maccabees 13:48 ); 1 Maccabees 14:7 34; 15:28; 16:1: also Josephus. All the authorities read Gazain this verse.
(d)13:45 Gr. right hands.
(e)13:51 circa B.C. 142.