1 Maccabees Chapter 11

From BibleWiki

1: And 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. edit

2: Whereupon 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. edit

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

4: And 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. edit

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

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

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

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

9: Whereupon 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: edit

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

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

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

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

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

15: But 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. edit

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

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

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

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

20: At 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. edit

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

22: Whereof 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. edit

23: Nevertheless 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; edit

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

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

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

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

28: Then 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. edit

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

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

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

32: King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting: edit

33: We 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. edit

34: Wherefore 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. edit

35: And 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. edit

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

37: Now 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. edit

38: After 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. edit

39: Moreover 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, edit

40: And 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. edit

41: In 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. edit

42: So 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. edit

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

44: Upon 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. edit

45: Howbeit 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. edit

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

47: Then 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. edit

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

49: So 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, edit

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

51: With 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. edit

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

53: Nevertheless 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. edit

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

55: Then 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. edit

56: Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch. edit

57: At 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. edit

58: Upon 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. edit

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

60: Then 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. edit

61: From 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. edit

62: Afterward, 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. edit

63: Now 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, edit

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

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

66: But 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. edit

67: As 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. edit

68: And, 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. edit

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

70: Insomuch 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. edit

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

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

73: Now 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. edit

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