1 Maccabees 12

Jonathan saw that the time was right for him, so he chose certain men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship the Jews had with the Romans.

1Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.

Note"Friendship" here is a formal term of ancient diplomacy, not personal warmth. A treaty of friendship and alliance between Rome and another people set out mutual obligations, and it had to be confirmed again by each new set of rulers, which is why envoys are sent to "renew" it.

2He also sent letters to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.

2He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.

NoteThe Lacedemonians are the Spartans. Lacedaemon was the territory in southern Greece of which Sparta was the chief city, and the two names were used interchangeably.

3So the men went to Rome, entered the senate house, and said, "Jonathan the high priest and the people of the Jews sent us to you, so that you would renew the friendship and the alliance you had with them, as in earlier times."

3So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.

NoteBy this date the high priesthood was a political office as well as a religious one. Jonathan had been appointed high priest by one of the rival Greek claimants to the Syrian throne, and he led the Jews as their ruler and general as well as presiding over the temple.

4In answer, the Romans gave them letters addressed to those in charge in every place, telling them to bring the men safely on their way to the land of Judea.

4Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.

NoteThese letters were passports of safe conduct, addressed to local officials along the route, instructing them to let the envoys travel unmolested.

5This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:

5And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:

6"Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the Jews, send greetings to their brothers the Lacedemonians.

6Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:

NoteThe "elders of the nation" were a standing council of leading men at Jerusalem, called in Greek the gerousia, which advised and acted with the high priest.

7In times past a letter was sent to Onias the high priest from Areus, who was ruling among you then, saying that you are our brothers, as the copy written below shows.

7There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.

NoteThe king's name is a problem in the text. The King James reads "Darius", but the Greek manuscripts and modern editions read Areus, a king of Sparta who reigned about 309 to 265 BC. The Onias named is the high priest of roughly that period. The letter quoted below is therefore presented as about a century and a half older than Jonathan's own letter.

8At that time Onias received the man who was sent with honor, and accepted the letter, in which the alliance and friendship were set out.

8At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.

9So we too, although we have no need of these things, since we have the holy books in our hands to encourage us,

9Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,

Note"The holy books" are the scriptures of Israel. The point of the sentence is diplomatic modesty: we are not approaching you out of need.

10have still tried to send to you, to renew our brotherhood and friendship, so that we do not become strangers to you altogether. A long time has passed since you last sent to us.

10Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.

11So at all times, without stopping, both at our feasts and on the other suitable days, we remember you in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as is right and as it is fitting for us to think of our brothers.

11We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren:

NoteThe sacrifices were those offered at the temple in Jerusalem. The "feasts" are the fixed festivals of the Jewish year, such as Passover and the Feast of Weeks; the "other suitable days" are new moons and similar appointed occasions.

12And we are very glad of your honor.

12And we are right glad of your honour.

Note"Honour" here means renown and good standing, the reputation Sparta enjoyed, rather than respect shown to someone.

13As for us, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, because the kings around us have fought against us.

13As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

14But we did not want to be a burden to you, or to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars,

14Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:

15because we have help from heaven that helps us, so that we are rescued from our enemies, and our enemies are brought down.

15For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.

NoteFirst Maccabees almost never uses the word God. "Heaven" stands in its place throughout the book, as a reverent way of naming him indirectly.

16For this reason we chose Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, and sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship we had with them and the earlier alliance.

16For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.

NoteNumenius and Antipater are the envoys of verse 1. Their fathers' names, Antiochus and Jason, are Greek, a sign of how far Greek naming had spread among prominent Jewish families.

17We also told them to go to you, to greet you, and to deliver our letter to you about the renewing of our brotherhood.

17We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

18So now you will do well to send us an answer to it."

18Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.

19And this is a copy of the letter that was sent to Onias:

19And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.

NoteThe King James prints the sender's name as "Oniares", which is not a person: it is a run-together of Onias and Areus produced by a copying error in the Greek manuscripts. Better readings give "the letter which they sent to Onias", and the letter that follows is from Areus.

20"Areus king of the Lacedemonians, to Onias the high priest, greetings.

20Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:

21It is found in writing that the Lacedemonians and the Jews are brothers, and that they come from the family of Abraham.

21It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

NoteClaims of shared ancestry between distant peoples were a normal instrument of Greek diplomacy; cities regularly argued from a common legendary forefather to establish formal ties. The claim recorded here, that the Spartans descend from Abraham, is made in the letter and is not explained further in the book.

22So now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us about how you are doing.

22Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.

23We on our side write back to you that your livestock and your goods are ours, and ours are yours. So we order our messengers to report to you in this way."

23We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our’s, and our’s are your’s We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.

Note"Your livestock and your goods are ours, and ours are yours" is a set formula of alliance, declaring the two peoples to be a single interest for purposes of the treaty. It is not a transfer of property.

24Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius' commanders had come to fight against him with a larger army than before,

24Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius’ princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,

NoteDemetrius is Demetrius II, one of two rivals for the Syrian throne. Jonathan had abandoned him for the boy king Antiochus VI and his backer Tryphon, so Demetrius' generals are now hostile.

25so he marched out from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Amathis, for he gave them no chance to enter his own country.

25He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country.

NoteAmathis is Hamath, on the Orontes river in Syria, far to the north of Judea. Marching that distance was the point: Jonathan intercepted the invading force before it could reach his own territory.

26He also sent spies to their tents, who came back and told him that the enemy had arranged to attack them during the night.

26He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.

27So as soon as the sun went down, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch and to stay armed, so that they would be ready to fight all night long. He also posted sentries all around the camp.

27Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to fight: also he sent forth centinels round about the host.

28But when the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were afraid, and their hearts shook, and they lit fires in their camp.

28But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.

NoteLighting the campfires and then slipping away in the dark was a standard ruse. The fires made the camp look occupied all night.

29Jonathan and his men did not know about it until morning, because they saw the fires burning.

29Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.

NoteThe sense is that they did not discover the enemy had gone, because the burning fires convinced them the camp was still there.

30Then Jonathan chased after them, but he did not catch them, because they had crossed the river Eleutherus.

30Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

NoteThe Eleutherus ran west into the sea north of Tripolis and was commonly treated as the boundary between Phoenicia and Syria proper. Once across it the retreating army was outside the territory Jonathan could safely operate in.

31So Jonathan turned aside to the Arabians who are called Zabadeans, and struck them, and took what they had as plunder.

31Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.

NoteThe Zabadeans were an Arab people living in the hills between Damascus and the Lebanon range. "Took what they had as plunder" means goods and livestock seized in the raid, the ordinary way an army of this period paid itself.

32Moving on from there, he came to Damascus, and so traveled through the whole country.

32And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country,

33Simon also went out and traveled through the country as far as Ascalon and the strongholds near it. From there he turned aside to Joppa and took it,

33Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Ascalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to Joppa, and won it.

NoteAscalon and Joppa are the coastal cities of Ashkelon and Jaffa. Joppa mattered out of all proportion to its size: it was the only usable harbor within reach of Judea, and holding it gave the Jews access to the sea.

34for he had heard that they meant to hand the stronghold over to the people on Demetrius' side. So he put a group of soldiers there to hold it.

34For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius’ part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it.

35After this Jonathan came home again, and he called the elders of the people together and talked with them about building strongholds in Judea,

35After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judea,

36and about making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and about raising a great mound between the citadel and the city, to cut it off from the city, so that it would stand alone and no one there could buy or sell.

36And making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.

NoteThe "citadel" is the Akra, a fortress inside Jerusalem manned by a Seleucid garrison and their Jewish supporters. It had held out for years in the middle of the city. The mound was to wall it off from the streets so its defenders could not reach the markets, which is what "no one there could buy or sell" means: a blockade by starvation rather than an assault.

37So they came together to build up the city, since part of the wall toward the brook on the east side had fallen down, and they repaired the part called Caphenatha.

37Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha.

NoteThe brook on the east side is the Kidron ravine, which runs along the eastern side of Jerusalem. Caphenatha was a section of the wall or a quarter of the city; the name appears nowhere else and its location is not known.

38Simon also built up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong, with gates and bars.

38Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.

NoteSephela is the Shephelah, the belt of low hills between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands. Adida sat on a route from the coast up to Jerusalem. The "bars" are the heavy beams dropped across a city gate to hold it shut.

39Now Tryphon was trying to gain the kingdom of Asia, and to kill King Antiochus, so that he could put the crown on his own head.

39Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.

Note"The kingdom of Asia" means the Seleucid empire, the Greek kingdom ruled from Antioch that covered Syria and the lands east of it; it does not mean the continent. Antiochus VI was a child, and Tryphon, who had put him on the throne, governed in his name and now wanted the crown himself.

40But he was afraid that Jonathan would not allow it, and that he would fight against him. So he looked for a way to seize Jonathan and kill him. He set out and came to Bethsan.

40Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him; wherefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed, and came to Bethsan.

NoteBethsan is Beth-shan, called Scythopolis by the Greeks, at the eastern end of the Jezreel valley where the route from Galilee meets the Jordan.

41Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.

41Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.

42When Tryphon saw that Jonathan had come with so large a force, he did not dare to lift his hand against him.

42Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him;

43Instead he received him with honor, and spoke well of him to all his friends, and gave him gifts, and ordered his soldiers to obey Jonathan as they obeyed himself.

43But received him honourably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him, as to himself.

Note"His friends" is a court title, not a description. The Friends of the King were a formal rank of officials and advisers at a Hellenistic court.

44He also said to Jonathan, "Why have you put all these people to so much trouble, when there is no war between us?

44Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us?

45So send them home now, and choose a few men to stay with you, and come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you, along with the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces and all who hold any office. Then I will turn around and go away, for this is why I came."

45Therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of my coming.

NotePtolemais is the port city of Akko on the coast north of Mount Carmel, renamed after the Ptolemies of Egypt, who had held it earlier. "All who hold any office" means the royal officials of the district, whose posts Tryphon claims to be handing over along with the fortresses.

46So Jonathan believed him and did what he asked. He sent his army away, and they went off into the land of Judea.

46So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.

47He kept only three thousand men with him, and of these he sent two thousand into Galilee, while one thousand went with him.

47And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

48But as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais shut the gates and seized him, and they killed with the sword all who had come in with him.

48Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew with the sword.

49Then Tryphon sent an army of foot soldiers and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all of Jonathan's men.

49Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company.

NoteThe great plain is the plain of Jezreel, also called Esdraelon, the broad valley cutting across northern Israel. It was open ground where cavalry could be used, unlike the hills of Judea.

50But when those men learned that Jonathan and the ones with him had been seized and killed, they encouraged one another and moved forward in close formation, ready to fight.

50But when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another; and went close together, prepared to fight.

51So the ones chasing them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back.

51They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.

52Then they all came safely into the land of Judea, and there they wept for Jonathan and for the men who had been with him, and they were very afraid. So all Israel mourned deeply.

52Whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation.

Note"All Israel mourned deeply" refers to formal public mourning, a declared period of lament observed by the whole people, not simply private grief.

53Then all the nations around them tried to destroy them, for they said, "They have no commander, and no one to help them. So now let us make war on them, and wipe out the memory of them from among people."

53Then all the heathen that were round about then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from among men.

Note"Nations" here renders the King James "heathen", which in 1611 simply meant the non-Jewish peoples living round about, with no comment on what they believed. Wiping out "the memory of them from among people" means destroying them so completely that the name survives nowhere, the harshest threat available in this idiom.