1 Maccabees 15

Antiochus, the son of King Demetrius, sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and ruler of the Jews, and to all the people.

1Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince of the Jews, and to all the people;

NoteAntiochus son of Demetrius is Antiochus VII, called Sidetes, the younger brother of Demetrius II. Demetrius had been captured by the Parthians, and Antiochus was pressing his claim to the throne from outside the kingdom. The "isles of the sea" are the Greek islands of the Aegean, where he was living. The King James "prince" translates a Greek title meaning head of the nation, an administrative office under the king, not a royal rank.

2This is what it said: "King Antiochus, to Simon the high priest and ruler of his nation, and to the people of the Jews: greetings.

2The contents whereof were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high priest and prince of his nation, and to the people of the Jews, greeting:

3Certain troublemakers have seized the kingdom that belonged to our fathers, but my purpose is to claim it back, so that I may restore it to what it was before. For that reason I have gathered a large force of foreign soldiers and have made warships ready.

3Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge it again, that I may restore it to the old estate, and to that end have gathered a multitude of foreign soldiers together, and prepared ships of war;

Note"The kingdom of our fathers" is the Seleucid empire, founded by one of Alexander the Great's generals and ruling Syria and the lands east of it. The "pestilent men" who have usurped it are Tryphon and his supporters. Tryphon had been a general who put a boy king on the throne, killed him, and took the crown himself.

4I also intend to go through the country, so that I may pay back those who have ruined it and left many cities in the kingdom empty.

4My meaning also being to go through the country, that I may be avenged of them that have destroyed it, and made many cities in the kingdom desolate:

5So now I confirm to you every payment that the kings before me released you from, and whatever other gifts they granted you.

5Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations which the kings before me granted thee, and whatsoever gifts besides they granted.

NoteThe King James "oblations" is misleading. These are not religious offerings but remissions of tribute: taxes that earlier kings had agreed not to collect from the Jews. Antiochus is confirming those exemptions.

6I also give you permission to make coins for your country with your own stamp on them.

6I give thee leave also to coin money for thy country with thine own stamp.

NoteThe right to strike coinage with your own stamp was one of the clearest public marks of an independent state. A king granting it was conceding a visible piece of his own authority.

7As for Jerusalem and the temple, let them be free. All the weapons you have made, and the strongholds you have built and now hold in your hands, are to remain yours.

7And as concerning Jerusalem and the sanctuary, let them be free; and all the armour that thou hast made, and fortresses that thou hast built, and keepest in thine hands, let them remain unto thee.

Note"Free" here is a technical term of Greek statecraft. A free city paid no tribute to the king and ran its own affairs rather than being administered by royal officials.

8Whatever is owed to the king now, or will be owed later, is canceled for you from this time on and forever.

8And if anything be, or shall be, owing to the king, let it be forgiven thee from this time forth for evermore.

9And when we have won our kingdom, we will honor you, your nation, and your temple with great honor, so that your honor will be known throughout the world."

9Furthermore, when we have obtained our kingdom, we will honour thee, and thy nation, and thy temple, with great honour, so that your honour shall be known throughout the world.

10In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year, Antiochus went into the land of his fathers. At that time all the troops joined him, so that few men were left with Tryphon.

10In the hundred threescore and fourteenth year went Antiochus into the land of his fathers: at which time all the forces came together unto him, so that few were left with Tryphon.

NoteDates in this book are counted from the founding of the Seleucid kingdom. The one hundred and seventy-fourth year is roughly 138 BC.

11King Antiochus chased him, and as he fled he came to Dora, which lies beside the sea.

11Wherefore being pursued by king Antiochus, he fled unto Dora, which lieth by the sea side:

NoteDora was a fortified harbor town on the Mediterranean coast, south of Mount Carmel and north of the later site of Caesarea.

12For he saw that troubles had come on him all at once, and that his own troops had abandoned him.

12For he saw that troubles came upon him all at once, and that his forces had forsaken him.

13Then Antiochus camped against Dora, and with him were one hundred and twenty thousand fighting men and eight thousand horsemen.

13Then camped Antiochus against Dora, having with him an hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen.

14He surrounded the city, and ships came up close to the town on the sea side. He pressed hard on the city by land and by sea, and he let no one go out or come in.

14And when he had compassed the city round about, and joined ships close to the town on the sea side, he vexed the city by land and by sea, neither suffered he any to go out or in.

15Meanwhile Numenius and the men with him came from Rome, carrying letters to the kings and countries. This is what was written in them:

15In the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these things:

NoteNumenius had been sent to Rome as Simon's envoy; that mission is described in chapter 14. He returns carrying not a treaty text but circular letters from Rome to the other powers of the region.

16"Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemee: greetings.

16Lucius, consul of the Romans unto king Ptolemee, greeting:

NoteA consul was one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman republic, elected for a single year and holding the highest civil and military authority. "Ptolemee" is Ptolemy, the family name borne by every Greek king of Egypt; the one addressed here is Ptolemy VIII.

17The ambassadors of the Jews, who are our friends and allies, came to us to renew the old friendship and alliance. They were sent by Simon the high priest and by the people of the Jews.

17The Jews’ ambassadors, our friends and confederates, came unto us to renew the old friendship and league, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews:

Note"Friends and confederates" is a formal Roman diplomatic category rather than a compliment. It named a recognized standing relationship with Rome and carried the specific protections set out in the rest of the letter.

18They also brought a gold shield weighing a thousand pounds.

18And they brought a shield of gold of a thousand pound.

NoteThe Greek gives the weight in minas, a Greek unit of a little over a pound. A thousand of them is a very large mass of gold, and a shield of that weight was a ceremonial gift for display, not a usable piece of armor.

19So we thought it good to write to the kings and countries, telling them to do the Jews no harm, not to fight against them or their cities or their lands, and not to help their enemies against them.

19We thought it good therefore to write unto the kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or countries, nor yet aid their enemies against them.

20It also seemed good to us to accept the shield from them.

20It seemed also good to us to receive the shield of them.

21So if any troublemakers have run away from their own country to you, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their own law."

21If therefore there be any pestilent fellows, that have fled from their country unto you, deliver them unto Simon the high priest, that he may punish them according to their own law.

NoteThis is an extradition clause. Rome is asked to hand back Jews who had opposed Simon and fled abroad, and to accept that Jewish law, administered by the high priest, is the law under which they will be tried.

22He wrote the same things to King Demetrius, and to Attalus, to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,

22The same things wrote he likewise unto Demetrius the king, and Attalus, to Ariarathes, and Arsaces,

NoteDemetrius II was Antiochus VII's elder brother and the reigning Seleucid king, though at this point a prisoner of the Parthians. Attalus is Attalus II, king of Pergamum in western Asia Minor. Ariarathes is Ariarathes V of Cappadocia in central Asia Minor. Arsaces is the throne name taken by every Parthian king, here Mithridates I.

23and to all the countries, and to Sampsames, and the Lacedemonians (the Spartans), and to Delus, Myndus, Sicyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, Halicarnassus, Rhodus, Phaselis, Cos, Side, Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene.

23And to all the countries and to Sampsames, and the Lacedemonians, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and Aradus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.

NoteThese are the kings, city states and islands of the eastern Mediterranean, most of them in the Aegean or along the coast of Asia Minor. Rome is circulating one letter to every power in the region at once, and many of these places had Jewish communities living in them. The King James list names Aradus twice and drops Phaselis; the rendering follows the Greek.

24They also wrote a copy of this to Simon the high priest.

24And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.

25King Antiochus camped against Dora on the second day, attacking it without stopping and building siege machines. In this way he shut Tryphon in, so that he could not go out or come in.

25So Antiochus the king camped against Dora the second day, assaulting it continually, and making engines, by which means he shut up Tryphon, that he could neither go out nor in.

NoteSiege engines were wooden towers, battering rams and catapults, usually built on the spot from local timber and used to break through or climb over a city's walls.

26At that time Simon sent him two thousand picked men to help him, and silver and gold and a large supply of weapons.

26At that time Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to aid him; silver also, and gold, and much armour.

27But Antiochus would not accept them. He broke all the agreements he had made with him before, and he turned cold toward him.

27Nevertheless he would not receive them, but brake all the covenants which he had made with him afore, and became strange unto him.

28He also sent Athenobius, one of his friends, to talk with Simon and say, "You are holding Joppa and Gazera, and the stronghold in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom.

28Furthermore he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his friends, to commune with him, and say, Ye withhold Joppa and Gazera; with the tower that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.

NoteJoppa is the port on the coast, modern Jaffa. Gazera is Gezer, a fortress town inland that guarded the road up toward Jerusalem. Simon had taken both. "The tower that is in Jerusalem" is the citadel the Greeks called the Akra, which had held a royal garrison overlooking the temple until Simon captured it; the word means a fortified stronghold, not a single tower.

29You have laid waste the land around them and done great harm in the country, and you have taken control of many places inside my kingdom.

29The borders thereof ye have wasted, and done great hurt in the land, and got the dominion of many places within my kingdom.

30So now hand over the cities you have taken, and the tribute money from the places you have taken control of outside the borders of Judea.

30Now therefore deliver the cities which ye have taken, and the tributes of the places, whereof ye have gotten dominion without the borders of Judea:

NoteTribute was the fixed annual payment a subject town or district owed to the king. Antiochus is demanding both the towns themselves and the revenue Simon had been collecting from them.

31Or else give me five hundred talents of silver for them, and another five hundred talents for the harm you have done and for the tribute of the cities. If you will not, we will come and fight against you."

31Or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that ye have done, and the tributes of the cities, other five hundred talents: if not, we will come and fight against you

NoteA talent was a weight of silver, roughly seventy-five pounds. Five hundred talents is an enormous sum, the scale of payment demanded between kingdoms after a war.

32So Athenobius, the king's friend, came to Jerusalem. When he saw Simon's splendor, and the sideboard of gold and silver dishes, and the large number of servants attending him, he was amazed. Then he told him the king's message.

32So Athenobius the king’s friend came to Jerusalem: and when he saw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver plate, and his great attendance, he was astonished, and told him the king’s message.

Note"The king's friend" was a formal rank at the Seleucid court, roughly a member of the king's council, not a description of personal affection. The King James "cupboard" means a sideboard for displaying gold and silver dishes, not a closed cabinet; setting out such a display was a standard way of showing a visiting envoy how wealthy a ruler was.

33Simon answered him, "We have not taken other men's land, and we do not hold what belongs to others. What we hold is the inheritance of our fathers, which our enemies wrongfully had in their possession for a time.

33Then answered Simon, and said unto him, We have neither taken other men’s land, nor holden that which appertaineth to others, but the inheritance of our fathers, which our enemies had wrongfully in possession a certain time.

NoteSimon's argument is legal. He claims Joppa and Gezer lie within the land Israel held anciently, so taking them back is recovering property wrongfully held by others, not conquering foreign territory.

34Now that we have the chance, we are holding on to the inheritance of our fathers.

34Wherefore we, having opportunity, hold the inheritance of our fathers.

35As for Joppa and Gazera, which you demand, they did great harm to the people in our country. Even so, we will give you a hundred talents for them." Athenobius did not answer him a single word,

35And whereas thou demandest Joppa and Gazera, albeit they did great harm unto the people in our country, yet will we give thee an hundred talents for them. Hereunto Athenobius answered him not a word;

NoteA hundred talents is a fifth of what Antiochus demanded. Simon offers a payment for the two towns while refusing the claim that stands behind the demand.

36but he went back to the king in a rage. He reported these words to him, and told him about Simon's splendor and everything he had seen. The king became extremely angry.

36But returned in a rage to the king, and made report unto him of these speeches, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen: whereupon the king was exceeding wroth.

37Meanwhile Tryphon boarded a ship and fled to Orthosias.

37In the mean time fled Tryphon by ship unto Orthosias.

NoteOrthosias was a port on the Phoenician coast, north of Tripolis, in what is now Lebanon.

38Then the king made Cendebeus commander of the seacoast, and gave him an army of foot soldiers and horsemen.

38Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an host of footmen and horsemen,

Note"Captain of the sea coast" was a Seleucid provincial command covering the coastal strip of Phoenicia and Palestine. Putting a general there placed an army directly between Judea and the sea.

39He ordered him to move his army toward Judea. He also ordered him to rebuild Cedron, to make its gates strong, and to make war on the people. The king himself went after Tryphon.

39And commanded him to remove his host toward Judea; also he commanded him to build up Cedron, and to fortify the gates, and to war against the people; but as for the king himself, he pursued Tryphon.

NoteCedron, or Kidron, was a village on the edge of the coastal plain near Jamnia. It is not the Kidron valley beside Jerusalem.

40So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to stir up the people, and to invade Judea, and to take the people prisoner, and to kill them.

40So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people and to invade Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and slay them.

NoteJamnia, later called Yavneh, was a town in the plain between Judea and the sea, southwest of Joppa.

41When he had rebuilt Cedron, he stationed horsemen there, and an army of foot soldiers, so that they could go out and raid the roads of Judea, just as the king had ordered him.

41And when he had built up Cedrou, he set horsemen there, and an host of footmen, to the end that issuing out they might make outroads upon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.