1 Macc 13

1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to invade the landof Judea, and destroy it, 2 And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, andgathered the people together, 3 And gave them exhortation, saying, You⌃ 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 wehave seen. 4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, and I am left alone. 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. 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. 7 Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived. 8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, You shall be our leader instead of Judasand Jonathan your brother. 9 Fight you our battles, and whatever, you command us, that will we do. 10 So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls ofJerusalem, and he fortified it round about. 11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great power, to Joppa: who castingout them that were therein remained there in it. 12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great power to invade the land of Judea, andJonathan was with him in ward. 13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain. 14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meantto join battle with him, he sent messengers to him, saying, 15 Whereas we have Jonathan your brother in hold, it is for money that he is owing to theking's treasure, concerning the business that was committed to him. 16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, thatwhen he is at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will let him go. 17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spoke deceitfully to him yet sent he themoney and the children, lest perhaps he should procure to himself great hatred of the people: 18 Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the children, therefore isJonathan dead. 19 So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon dissembled neitherwould he let Jonathan go. 20 And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it, going round about bythe way that leads to Adora: but Simon and his host marched against him in every place, wherever he went. 21 Now they that were in the tower sent messengers to Tryphon, to the end that he shouldhasten his coming to them by the wilderness, and send them food. 22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a verygreat snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad. 23 And when he came near to Bascama he killed Jonathan, who was buried there. 24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land. 25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin,the city of his fathers. 26 And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him many days. 27 Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, and raisedit aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind and before. 28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father, and his mother,and his four brethren. 29 And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set great pillars, and uponthe pillars he made all their armor for a perpetual memory, and by the armor ships carved, that they mightbe seen of all that sail on the sea. 30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it stands yet to this day. 31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and killed him. 32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia, and brought a great calamityupon the land. 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 food therein. 34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the landan immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to spoil. 35 To whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner: 36 King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, as also to the elders andnation of the Jews, sends greeting: 37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which you⌃ sent to us, we have received: andwe are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers, to confirm the immunitieswhich we have granted. 38 And whatever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and the strong holds, whichyou⌃ have builded, shall be your own. 39 As for any oversight or fault committed to this day, we forgive it, and the crown taxalso, which you⌃ owe us: and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid. 40 And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be enrolled, and let therebe peace between us. 41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred and seventiesyear. 42 Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts, In the firstyear of Simon the high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews. 43 In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about; he made also anengine of war, and set it by the city, and battered a certain tower, and took it. 44 And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon there was a great uproarin the city: 45 Insomuch as the people of the city tore their clothes, and climbed upon the walls withtheir wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace. 46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to your mercy. 47 So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against them, but put them outof the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving. 48 Yes, 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 dwelling place for himself. 49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that they could neither comeforth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor sell: wherefore they were in great distress for lack of food,and a great number of them perished through famine. 50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them: which thing he grantedthem; and when he had put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions: 51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventyand 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. 52 He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness. Moreover thehill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger than it was, and there he lived himself withhis company. 53 And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made him captain of all thehosts; and he lived in Gazera.