1 Maccabees
13:1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to
invade the land of Judea, and destroy it,
13:2 And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to
Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,
13:3 And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what great things
I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have done for the laws and
the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have seen.
13:4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, and I am
left alone.
13:5 Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare mine own life in
any time of trouble: for I am no better than my brethren.
13:6 Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our wives, and
our children: for all the heathen are gathered to destroy us of very
malice.
13:7 Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived.
13:8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be our leader
instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother.
13:9 Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever, thou commandest us, that will we
do.
13:10 So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to
finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
13:11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom, and with him a great power, to
Joppa: who casting out them that were therein remained there in it.
13:12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to invade the land
of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward.
13:13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain.
13:14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother
Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers unto
him, saying,
13:15 Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother in hold, it is for money that he is
owing unto the king's treasure, concerning the business that was
committed unto him.
13:16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for
hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we
will let him go.
13:17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spake deceitfully unto him
yet sent he the money and the children, lest peradventure he should
procure to himself great hatred of the people:
13:18 Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the children,
therefore is Jonathan dead.
13:19 So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon
dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go.
13:20 And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it, going
round about by the way that leadeth unto Adora: but Simon and his host
marched against him in every place, wheresoever he went.
13:21 Now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Tryphon, to the end
that he should hasten his coming unto them by the wilderness, and send
them victuals.
13:22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but
there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he
departed, and came into the country of Galaad.
13:23 And when he came near to Bascama he slew Jonathan, who was buried there.
13:24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land.
13:25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried
them in Modin, the city of his fathers.
13:26 And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him many
days.
13:27 Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his
brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind and
before.
13:28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father,
and his mother, and his four brethren.
13:29 And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set great
pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armour for a perpetual
memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be seen of all
that sail on the sea.
13:30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet unto
this day.
13:31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew
him.
13:32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia, and
brought a great calamity upon the land.
13:33 Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced them about
with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars, and laid up
victuals therein.
13:34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he
should give the land an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to
spoil.
13:35 Unto whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner:
13:36 King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, as also
unto the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
13:37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which ye sent unto us, we have
received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yea, and
to write unto our officers, to confirm the immunities which we have
granted.
13:38 And whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and the
strong holds, which ye have builded, shall be your own.
13:39 As for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it,
and the crown tax also, which ye owe us: and if there were any other
tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid.
13:40 And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be
enrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us.
13:41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred
and seventieth year.
13:42 Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and
contracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and
leader of the Jews.
13:43 In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about; he
made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, and battered a
certain tower, and took it.
13:44 And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon there
was a great uproar in the city:
13:45 Insomuch as the people of the city rent their clothes, and climbed upon
the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice,
beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
13:46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but
according to thy mercy.
13:47 So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against them, but
put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols
were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.
13:48 Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there as
would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built
therein a dwellingplace for himself.
13:49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that they could
neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor sell:
wherefore they were in great distress for want of victuals, and a great
number of them perished through famine.
13:50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them: which
thing he granted them; and when he had put them out from thence, he
cleansed the tower from pollutions:
13:51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in
the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of
palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and
songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.
13:52 He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness.
Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger
than it was, and there he dwelt himself with his company.
13:53 And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made him
captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in Gazera.
