FIRST MACCABEES

12.37–13.33

...they should not take, nor buy, nor sell. ^37 And they gathered to rebuild the city. A portion of the wall by the ravine of the torrents on the east side had fallen, in the area called Phanima original: "Phanima," likely referring to the Chaphonatha wall. ^38 And Simon began to rebuild Adida in the foothills original: "Apigha," referring to the Shephelah or coastal lowlands; he fortified it, secured it with gates, and strengthened it with bars.

26 ^39 Now Trypho A general of the Seleucid Empire who sought to seize the throne from the young King Antiochus VI sought to reign over the regions of Asia, to wear the crown, and to lay hands upon King Antiochus. ^40 But he was afraid that Jonathan would not allow it and might wage war against him; therefore, he sought a way to seize and destroy him. He set out and came to the regions of Beth-shan. ^41 Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand chosen men prepared for war, and he reached Beth-shan. ^42 When Trypho saw that Jonathan had arrived with such a vast army, he was afraid to lay hands on him. ^43 Instead, he received him with great honor, commended him to all his friends, gave him gifts, and commanded his own troops to obey Jonathan. ^44 He began to speak with Jonathan, saying, "Why have you troubled so many troops when there was no cause for war between us? ^45 Now, dismiss your forces to their own places and choose for yourself a few men to accompany you. Then come with me to the city of Ptolemais Modern-day Akko, a major Mediterranean port, and I will deliver it and the other strongholds into your hands, along with the remaining forces and officials, and then I will depart; for this is the very reason I have come." ^46 Jonathan believed him and did as he was commanded; he dismissed his troops to their own places in the land of Judea. ^47 He kept with him about three thousand men, leaving two thousand of them in the land of Galilee, while one thousand accompanied him. ^48 But as soon as Jonathan entered the city of Ptolemais, the citizens shut the gates and captured him, and they put to the sword everyone who had entered with him. ^49 Then Trypho sent troops and cavalry against Jonathan's forces in Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy them all. ^50 But when they learned that Jonathan had been captured and that all those with him had perished, they encouraged one another and marched out in a solid formation, ready for battle. ^51 When the soldiers pursuing them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they hesitated, turned back, and left them. ^52 Thus they all reached the land of Judea in peace. They mourned and wept for Jonathan and his troops and were in great fear. All Israel went into mourning and wept for Jonathan. ^53 Then all the Gentiles surrounding them sought to destroy them, for they said: ^54 "They have no leader or ruler over them to wage war with us. Now, let us attack them and erase their memory from the earth."

13

And Simon heard that Trypho had gathered a vast army to invade the land of Judea and destroy it. ^2 He saw that the people were in great dread and fear. So he went up to Jerusalem and gathered the people together. ^3 He encouraged them, saying: "You yourselves know how much I, my brothers, and my father's house have done for the sake of the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles we have fought and the hardships we have endured. ^4 For the sake of Israel, all my brothers have perished, and I alone am left. ^5 Far be it from me to spare my own life in any time of distress, for I am no better than my brothers. ^6 Rather, I will be strengthened to seek vengeance for my nation, for the sanctuary, and for your wives and children; for behold, all the nations have gathered to destroy our memory from the earth." ^7 When the people heard these words, their spirits were revived and comforted. ^8 They answered and spoke with a loud voice, saying: "You are our leader in place of Judas and your brother Jonathan. ^9 Fight our battles, and we will obey whatever you say." ^10 So he gathered all the men of war and hurried to complete the walls of Jerusalem. ^11 He sent Jonathan the son of Absalom with a large force to the city of Joppa Modern Jaffa; he drove out the inhabitants and remained there to guard it. ^12 After this, Trypho left the city of Ptolemais with a large army to enter the land of Judea, bringing Jonathan with him under guard. ^13 Simon encamped at Adida original: "Dida" facing the plain. ^14 Trypho realized that Simon had risen up in place of his brother Jonathan and was prepared for battle, so he sent envoys to him, saying: ^15 "We are holding Jonathan because of the silver he owed the royal treasury. ^16 Now, send one hundred talents A talent was a massive unit of weight for currency, roughly 75 pounds of silver of silver and two of his sons as hostages, so that once he is released, he will not rebel against us." ^17 Simon knew that he was speaking deceitfully, but he sent the silver and the children anyway, lest the people become hostile toward him, ^18 and say, "Because he was greedy for the silver and did not send the children, the man perished." ^19 So he sent the children and the hundred talents; yet Trypho lied and did not release Jonathan. ^20 After this, Trypho came into the regions of the country to invade and destroy it, and they bypassed the road to Adora. But Simon and his army moved against him wherever he went. ^21 Those in the citadel The Akra, a Syrian-held fortress in Jerusalem sent messengers to Trypho, urging him to come to them through the wilderness and bring them provisions. ^22 Trypho prepared his cavalry to go that night, but there was a very heavy snowfall, and because of it, he could not enter. He set out instead for the regions of Gilead. ^23 When he approached Bascama, he killed Jonathan there, and he was buried there. ^24 Then Trypho turned back and went to his own land. ^25 Simon sent and took the bones of his brother Jonathan and buried him in Modein, the city of his ancestors. ^26 All Israel mourned him with great lamentation for many days. ^27 And there, Simon built a monument over the tomb of his father and his brothers; he made it high and visible, with polished stone on all sides. ^28 He erected seven pyramids, one facing the other, for his father, his mother, and his brothers. ^29 He surrounded them with high, decorated columns and inscribed on them suits of armor as an everlasting memorial; and beside the armor, he carved ships, so that they might be seen by those who sail the sea. ^30 This is the tomb he built in Modein, which stands to this day.

27 ^31 Now Trypho acted treacherously toward the young King Antiochus and killed him. ^32 He reigned in his place and wore the crown of Asia, causing great ruin in the land. ^33 But Simon rebuilt the strongholds of Judea, raised them up with walls, erected towers, and secured them with gates and bars; and he fortified the strongholds of Ju—

36 Some: "And the city on high." or "And of the city on high." 38 Voskan: "Adida in Apigha." 41 Some: "Choosing select armor." 42 Many: "He hesitated to stretch out his hand." 44 Some: "In the midst of the battle of war." 45 Some: "Take for yourself a few men... for for this reason I have come." Missing in the copy: "and I will give it to you in." 48 One copy: "And they took all to the sword." 49 Some: "And in the great plain, so that they." 51 Some: "Those who had gone up against them." 54 Voskan: "A head and a ruler over." 13.2 Voskan adds: "That the people in dread and fear... and he himself having come to Jerusalem gathered the people." 3 Some: "Whatever work he does." Many: "We endured hardship... of the laws and this city." 4 Voskan: "All my brothers." 5 Some: "To spare my life." Voskan: "Than my brothers." 6 Some: "Your wives and children." 8 Some: "And of Jonathan your brother." 10 Some: "The walls of Jerusalem." 13 He had camped in the regions of Dida facing the plain. 15 Voskan: "Which Jonathan owed." 17 Some: "He spoke with him... will be between the people and him." 20 Other: "In whichever direction he went." 22 Other: "He set out and came." 23 Some: "He approached Bakama." 25 Some: "And Simon sent and lifted from there." 27 Some: "Work of cut stone upon cut stone." 28 Voskan: "Towers face to face." 29 Some: "With likeness; so they may be visible... through the sea by ships." 30 Some: "Until this day."