1 Maccabees 11

Then the king of Egypt gathered a great army, as many as the sand on the seashore, and many ships. By trickery he set out to take Alexander's kingdom and add it to his own.

1And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander’s kingdom, and join it to his own.

NoteThe king of Egypt is Ptolemy VI. Alexander is Alexander Balas, who had taken the Seleucid throne in Syria with Ptolemy's backing and had married Ptolemy's daughter. The Seleucid kings ruled Syria and the lands east of it from Antioch, and Judea lay between the two kingdoms.

2He marched into Syria with words of peace, and the people of the cities opened their gates to him and came out to meet him. King Alexander had ordered them to do this, because Ptolemy was his father-in-law.

2Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law.

NoteThe King James reads "Spain" here, following a corrupt line in the Greek manuscripts it used. The word in the better copies is Syria, which is where everything that follows takes place. In the same verse the King James says "brother in law" where the Greek says father-in-law: it was Ptolemy's daughter who was married to Alexander.

3As Ptolemy entered the cities, he placed a body of soldiers in each one to hold it.

3Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.

4When he came near Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon burned down, and Azotus and the open land around it destroyed, and the bodies thrown out. They showed him those he had burned in the battle, for they had piled them in heaps along the road he would travel.

4And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass.

NoteAzotus is the old Philistine city of Ashdod, on the coastal plain. Dagon was the god worshiped there, and Jonathan had burned his temple in the fighting reported in the previous chapter. Leaving the dead unburied along the king's route was a way of laying a public charge against Jonathan.

5They told the king everything Jonathan had done, so that blame would fall on him. But the king said nothing.

5Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.

6Jonathan met the king with great ceremony at Joppa. They greeted each other, and they spent the night there.

6Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where they saluted one another, and lodged.

NoteJoppa is the port on the coast, modern Jaffa, the natural harbor for Jerusalem.

7Afterward Jonathan went with the king as far as the river called Eleutherus, and then returned to Jerusalem.

7Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.

NoteThe Eleutherus was a river on the coast north of Tripolis, commonly treated as the line between Syria proper and the territory to the south. Jonathan escorts the king to the edge of his own region and no further.

8So King Ptolemy gained control of the cities along the sea as far as Seleucia on the coast, and he made evil plans against Alexander.

8King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.

NoteSeleucia here is Seleucia Pieria, the fortified port that served Antioch, the Seleucid capital. Holding it and the coast road meant holding the approach to Alexander's seat of power.

9He sent messengers to King Demetrius, saying, "Come, let us make an agreement with each other. I will give you my daughter, the one Alexander has, and you will rule your father's kingdom.

9Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father’s kingdom:

NoteDemetrius II was the son of Demetrius I, the king Alexander Balas had overthrown and killed. "Your father's kingdom" means the Seleucid throne he claimed by inheritance.

10For I am sorry that I gave my daughter to him, because he tried to kill me."

10For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.

11He made these charges against him because he wanted his kingdom.

11Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.

12So he took his daughter away from him and gave her to Demetrius. He broke with Alexander, and the hatred between them was out in the open.

12Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.

13Ptolemy entered Antioch and put two crowns on his head, the crown of Asia and the crown of Egypt.

13Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.

NoteGreek writers called the Seleucid kingdom "Asia." Wearing two crowns at once was a public claim to rule both Egypt and Syria.

14At that time King Alexander was in Cilicia, because the people living in that region had rebelled against him.

14In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.

NoteCilicia is the region on the southern coast of Asia Minor, at the northwestern edge of Seleucid territory.

15When Alexander heard of this, he came to make war on him. King Ptolemy brought out his army, met him with a strong force, and drove him off in flight.

15But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him: whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.

16So Alexander fled into Arabia to find shelter there, but King Ptolemy was triumphant.

16So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king Ptolemee was exalted:

17Zabdiel the Arabian cut off Alexander's head and sent it to Ptolemy.

17For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander’s head, and sent it unto Ptolemee.

18King Ptolemy died three days later, and those who were in his strongholds were killed by the people of the strongholds.

18King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another.

19In this way Demetrius became king in the year one hundred sixty-seven.

19By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year.

NoteDates in this book are counted from the founding of the Seleucid kingdom, reckoned from 312 or 311 BC. Year 167 is therefore about 145 BC.

20At that same time Jonathan gathered the men of Judea to take the fortress that was in Jerusalem, and he built many war machines to use against it.

20At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.

NoteThe fortress, called the Akra, was the citadel in Jerusalem, garrisoned by Seleucid soldiers and by Jews who supported them. It overlooked the temple and had held out since 168 BC, so that the Jewish leadership governed the city with a hostile foreign garrison inside it.

21Then some lawless men who hated their own nation went to the king and told him that Jonathan was laying siege to the fortress.

21Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,

Note"Lawless men who hated their own nation" is this book's standing phrase for Jews who backed the Seleucid kings and took up Greek ways. It describes a political party as the writer sees it, not a general category of wrongdoer.

22When the king heard this he was angry. He set out at once and came to Ptolemais, and he wrote to Jonathan telling him not to lay siege to the fortress, but to come and speak with him at Ptolemais without delay.

22Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste.

NotePtolemais is the coastal city of Acco, modern Acre, north of Mount Carmel. It served as the Seleucid kings' base when they came south.

23But when Jonathan heard this, he gave orders for the siege to continue. He chose some of the elders of Israel and some of the priests, and he put himself in danger.

23Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;

24He took silver and gold, clothing, and various other gifts, and went to the king at Ptolemais. And he found favor with him.

24And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found favour in his sight.

25Some lawless men from his own nation made complaints against him,

25And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him,

26yet the king treated him as the kings before him had done, and raised him high in front of all his friends.

26Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,

Note"Friend of the king" was a formal rank at the Seleucid court, with grades: friends, honored friends, and first or chief friends. It was a title the king conferred, carrying standing and privileges, not a statement about personal affection.

27He confirmed him as high priest and in all the honors he had held before, and gave him first place among his chief friends.

27And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.

NoteThe high priest presided over the temple in Jerusalem, and by this period he was also the political head of the Jewish people. Under Seleucid rule the office was in the king's gift, which is why a foreign king could confirm a man in it or remove him.

28Then Jonathan asked the king to free Judea from tribute, along with the three districts and the country of Samaria, and he promised him three hundred talents.

28Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.

NoteTribute is the annual payment a subject territory owed the crown. The three districts are named in verse 34. A talent was a large weight of silver, roughly seventy-five pounds or thirty-four kilograms, so three hundred talents was an enormous sum, offered as a lump payment in place of the recurring taxes.

29The king agreed, and wrote letters to Jonathan about all these things, in these words:

29So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:

30"King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews: greetings.

30King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:

NoteIn royal correspondence "brother" was a courtesy address marking near equal rank. The letter is a diplomatic document, and its forms of address are titles rather than statements of kinship.

31We are sending you here a copy of the letter we wrote about you to Lasthenes our kinsman, so that you may read it.

31We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.

NoteThe King James "cousin" translates a Seleucid court title, kinsman, one of the graded ranks a king granted to senior officials. Lasthenes was Demetrius' chief minister.

32'King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father: greetings.

32King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:

Note"Father" was a still higher court title than kinsman. The same man is addressed by the higher rank in the letter written directly to him.

33We have decided to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends and deal justly with us, because of their good will toward us.

33We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.

34So we have confirmed to them the borders of Judea, together with the three districts of Apherema, Lydda, and Ramathem, which were added to Judea from the country of Samaria, and everything that belongs to them. This is for all who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, in place of the payments the king used to receive from them each year from the crops of the ground and the fruit of trees.

34Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.

NoteApherema (Ephraim), Lydda (Lod), and Ramathem (Ramathaim) were administrative districts in the south of Samaria, now transferred to Judea's jurisdiction. The payments released were the royal share of the harvest and of orchard produce, taken in kind each year.

35As for the other payments owed to us, the tenth part and the taxes that belong to us, and the salt pits, and the crown taxes due to us, we release them from all of these for their relief.

35And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.

NoteThe tenth part is the tithe. The salt pits, worked chiefly at the Dead Sea, were a royal monopoly leased out for revenue. The crown tax began as a golden crown presented to a king on his accession or after a victory and had hardened into a regular money levy.

36None of these grants shall be taken back from this time on, forever.

36And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.

37So now see to it that you make a copy of these things, and have it given to Jonathan and set up on the holy mountain in a place where all can see it.'"

37Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.

NoteThe holy mountain is the temple hill in Jerusalem. Grants of this kind were cut in bronze or stone and posted in a public place so that anyone could check the terms, which is why the placement is specified.

38After this, when King Demetrius saw that the land was quiet under him and that no one resisted him, he sent all his troops away, each man to his own place, except the foreign troops he had gathered from the islands of other nations. So all the soldiers who had served his fathers hated him.

38After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.

NoteThe "islands of other nations" are the Greek islands and coastlands, the usual recruiting ground for mercenaries. "The soldiers who had served his fathers" are the standing troops inherited from earlier Seleucid kings, discharged here without the pay and plunder a campaign would have brought them.

39Now there was a man named Tryphon, who had earlier been on Alexander's side. Seeing that the whole army was grumbling against Demetrius, he went to Simalcue the Arabian, who was raising Antiochus, the young son of Alexander,

39Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander’s part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,

NoteTryphon is Diodotus, an officer who later took that name as a royal title. The Arab chieftain's name appears as Simalcue, Imalkue, or Iamblichus in different manuscripts. Fostering a royal child was a way of holding a claimant to the throne in reserve.

40and he pressed him hard to hand this young Antiochus over to him, so that he might be king in his father's place. He told him all that Demetrius had done, and how his soldiers hated him. And he stayed there a long time.

40And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father’s stead: he told him therefore all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.

41Meanwhile Jonathan sent word to King Demetrius asking him to remove from Jerusalem the men in the fortress, and those in the other strongholds as well, for they kept fighting against Israel.

41In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel.

42So Demetrius sent word to Jonathan, saying, "I will not only do this for you and your people, I will give you and your nation great honor, when I have the chance.

42So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if opportunity serve.

43So now you will do well to send me men to fight for me, for all my forces have deserted me."

43Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.

44At this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men to Antioch. When they came to the king, he was very glad they had come.

44Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of their coming.

45But the people of the city gathered together in the middle of the city, a hundred and twenty thousand men, and they wanted to kill the king.

45Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king.

NoteThe figures here and in verse 47 are far larger than Antioch could have held. Round numbers on this scale are a convention of ancient battle reporting rather than a count.

46So the king fled into the palace court, and the people of the city took control of the streets of the city and began to fight.

46Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.

47Then the king called the Jews to help him. They all came to him at once, spread out through the city, and killed about a hundred thousand people in the city that day.

47Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came unto him all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand.

48They also set fire to the city, took a great deal of plunder that day, and saved the king.

48Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day, and delivered the king.

49When the people of the city saw that the Jews had taken the city as they pleased, their courage failed them. They cried out to the king, begging him and saying,

49So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,

50"Make peace with us, and make the Jews stop attacking us and the city."

50Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the city.

NoteThe Greek idiom is "give us your right hand." Extending the right hand was the formal gesture of a sworn pledge, and the same idiom lies behind "made peace" in verses 62 and 66.

51So they threw down their weapons and made peace. The Jews were honored in the sight of the king and of everyone in his kingdom, and they returned to Jerusalem with much plunder.

51With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to Jerusalem, having great spoils.

52So King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet under him.

52So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.

53But he lied in everything he said. He turned away from Jonathan and did not repay him for the good he had received from him, and he treated him very harshly.

53Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.

54After this Tryphon came back, and with him the young boy Antiochus, who became king and was crowned.

54After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.

55Then all the soldiers whom Demetrius had sent away gathered to him, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.

55Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.

56Tryphon also captured the elephants and took control of Antioch.

56Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.

NoteWar elephants were the heaviest weapon in a Seleucid army and a royal asset kept under the king's own control. Taking them was both a military gain and a visible transfer of power.

57At that time the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, "I confirm you as high priest, and I appoint you ruler over the four districts, and make you one of the king's friends."

57At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king’s friends.

NoteThe four districts are the three named in verse 34 plus one more, most likely Ekron, which had been granted to Jonathan earlier.

58With this he sent him gold dishes for his table, and gave him the right to drink from gold cups, to wear purple, and to wear a gold buckle.

58Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.

NoteGold table service, purple cloth, and a gold buckle for fastening a cloak were regulated marks of rank at the Seleucid court. They could not be assumed at will; the king granted the right to use them, and the grant itself was the honor.

59He also made his brother Simon governor from the place called the Ladder of Tyre to the border of Egypt.

59His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.

NoteThe Ladder of Tyre is a steep headland where the hills run down to the sea south of Tyre, a recognized boundary point on the coast road.

60Then Jonathan set out and traveled through the cities beyond the river, and all the forces of Syria gathered to him to be his allies. When he came to Ascalon, the people of the city met him with honor.

60Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably.

Note"Beyond the river" was the old administrative name for the lands west of the Euphrates. Which stretch of territory is meant here is not clear from the text. Ascalon is one of the old Philistine cities on the coast.

61From there he went to Gaza, but the people of Gaza shut him out. So he laid siege to it, burned the open land around it with fire, and plundered it.

61From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.

NoteGaza is the southernmost of the old Philistine coastal cities, on the route into Egypt. The "open land" is the farmland and pasture belonging to the city outside its walls.

62Afterward the people of Gaza begged Jonathan, and he made peace with them. He took the sons of their leading men as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem, and he traveled on through the country as far as Damascus.

62Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country unto Damascus.

NoteTaking the sons of leading families as hostages was standard practice in making terms. The boys guaranteed their fathers' good behavior and were usually treated as guests rather than prisoners.

63Then Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a large army, meaning to remove him from his position.

63Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him out of the country,

NoteCades is Kedesh, a fortified town in upper Galilee in territory loyal to Demetrius. The Greek phrase translated "remove him out of the country" can also mean remove him from his office; the text does not settle which is meant.

64He went to meet them, and left his brother Simon behind in the country.

64He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country.

65Simon camped against Bethsura and fought against it a long time, and shut it in.

65Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:

NoteBethsura is Beth-zur, a fortress about eighteen miles south of Jerusalem guarding the road to Hebron. It had been held by a Seleucid garrison.

66But they asked him for peace, and he granted it. Then he put them out of that place, took the city, and set a body of soldiers in it to hold it.

66But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in it.

67Jonathan and his army camped by the water of Gennesar, and early in the morning they marched from there to the plain of Nasor.

67As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor.

NoteThe water of Gennesar is the Sea of Galilee. The plain of Nasor is the plain by Hazor, north of the lake.

68And there an army of foreigners met them in the plain. They had set men in ambush for him in the hills, while they themselves came at him face to face.

68And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him.

Note"Strangers" in the King James means Gentiles, non-Jews; here it is the foreign troops serving Demetrius' commanders.

69When the men in ambush rose from their places and joined the battle, everyone on Jonathan's side fled.

69So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan’s side fled;

70Not one of them was left, except Mattathias son of Absalom and Judas son of Calphi, the commanders of the army.

70Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.

71Then Jonathan tore his clothes, put dirt on his head, and prayed.

71Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.

NoteTearing one's clothes and throwing dirt on the head were the recognized public gestures of grief and extreme distress, performed openly so that others would see them.

72Afterward he turned back to the battle, drove them off, and they ran away.

72Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.

73When his own men who had fled saw this, they came back to him and joined him in chasing them to Cades, as far as their own camp, and they camped there.

73Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto their own tents, and there they camped.

74So about three thousand of the foreigners were killed that day. Then Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.

74So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.