1 And Jonathas saw that the time helped him, he chose men & sent them to Rome, to establish and to renew amity with them:
1 And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with them:
2 and to the Spartiates, & to other places he sent epistles according to the same tenure.
2 And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places, according to the same form.
3 And they went to Rome, and entered into the court, and said: Jonathas the high priest, and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew the amity and society according as before.
3 And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance, as it was before.
4 And they gave them epistles unto them by place and place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.
4 And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.
5 And this is a copy of the epistles which Jonathas wrote to the Spartiates:
5 And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 Jonathas the high Priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the Priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartiates their brethren greeting.
6 Jonathan, the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.
7 Long ago were epistles sent to Onias the high-Priest from Arius who reigned with you, that you are our brethren, as the writing containeth, that here beneath followeth.
7 There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest, from Arius, who reigned then among you to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8 And Onias received the man that was sent with honour: and he received the epistles, wherein there was signification of the society and amity.
8 And Onias received the ambassador with honor and received the letters, wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.
9 We whereas we needed none of these, having for our comfort the holy books, that are in our hands,
9 We, though we needed none of these things having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,
10 chose rather to send unto you to renew the fraternity, lest perhaps we be made aliens from you: for much time is passed, since you sent to us.
10 Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.
11 We therefore at all time without intermission in the solemn days, and the rest wherein we should, are mindful of you in the sacrifices, that we offer, and in the observances, as it is meet, and becometh to remember brethren.
11 We, therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet and becoming to remember brethren.
12 We rejoice therefore of your glory.
12 And we rejoice at your glory.
13 But many tribulations have compassed us, and many battles, and the kings that are round about us, have impugned us.
13 But we have had many troubles and wars on every side; and the kings that are round about us have fought against us.
14 We therefore would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest our fellows & friends in these battles.
14 But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars.
15 For we have had aid from heaven, and we are delivered, and our enemies are humbled.
15 For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.
16 We have chosen therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent to the Romans to renew with them the old amity and society.
16 We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew with them the former amity and alliance.
17 We therefore have commanded them that they come unto you also, and salute you, and deliver you our epistles, concerning the renewing of our fraternity.
17 And we have commanded them to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18 And now you shall do well in answering us to these things.
18 And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.
19 And this is the rescript of the epistles, which he had sent to Onias:
19 And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:
20 Arius the king of the Spartians to Onias the grand Priest greeting.
20 Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, greeting:
21 It is found in scripture of the Spartians, and the Jews, that they are brethren, & that they are of the stock of Abraham.
21 It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.
22 And now since we understood these things, you do well in writing to us of your peace.
22 And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23 Yea and we have written again to you, Our cattle, and our possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We therefore have commanded that these things be told you.
23 And we also have written back to you, That our cattle, and our possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We, therefore, have commanded that these things should be told you.
24 And Jonathas heard that the princes of Demetrius were come again with a great army more than before to fight against him.
24 Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.
25 And he went out from Jerusalem, & met them in the country of Amathis: for he gave them not space to enter into his country.
25 So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.
26 And he sent spies into their camp, and they returning reported that they appointed to come upon them in the night.
26 And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.
27 And when the sun was set, Jonathas commanded his men to watch, and to be in armour ready to fight all night, and he set watchmen round about the camp.
27 And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels round about the camp.
28 And the adversaries heard that Jonathas with his company was prepared to battle: & they feared & were afraid in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.
28 And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle: and they were struck with fear and dread in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.
29 But Jonathas, & they that were with him, knew it not till the morning, and they saw light burning,
29 But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30 and Jonathas followed them, & overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.
30 And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.
31 And Jonathas turned aside to the Arabians, that were called Zabadeans, & he struck them, & took the spoils of them.
31 And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.
32 And he joined, & came to Damascus, & walked through all that country.
32 And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.
33 But Simon went forth, and came even to Ascalon, and to the next holds, and he declined into Joppe, and took it.
33 Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighboring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of it,
34 (For he heard that they would deliver the hold to Demetrius' part) and he put a garrison there to keep it.
34 (For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them that took part with Demetrius) and he put a garrison there to keep it.
35 And Jonathas returned, and called together the ancients of the people, & he consulted with them to build fortresses in Jurie,
35 And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people; and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,
36 & to build the walls in Jerusalem, and to rear a mount of a great height between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that it might be alone, and they might neither buy nor sell:
36 And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell.
37 And they came together to build the city: and the wall fell that was upon the torrent toward the rising of the sun, and he repaired it, which is called Caphetetha:
37 And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that was upon the brook, towards the east, was broken down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:
38 and Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and hanged on gates & locks.
38 And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up gates and bars.
39 And when Tryphon had purposed to reign over Asia, and to take the crown, and to extend his hand against Antiochus the king:
39 Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus:
40 fearing lest perhaps Jonathas would not permit him, but would fight against him, he sought to take him and to kill him. And rising up he went into Bethsan.
40 Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.
41 And Jonathas went forth to meet him with forty thousand chosen men into battle, and came to Bethsan.
41 And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.
42 And Tryphon saw that Jonathas came with a great army, to extend his hands upon him: and he feared:
42 Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him.
43 and received him with honour, & commanded him to all his friends, and gave him gifts: and he commanded his hosts to obey him, as himself.
43 But received him with honor, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.
44 And he said to Jonathas: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?
44 And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?
45 And now send them back to their houses, but choose thee a few men, that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolomais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the other holds, and the army, and all the overseers of the affairs, and returning I will depart: for therefore I came.
45 Now, therefore, send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming.
46 And Jonathas believed him, and did as he said: and dismissed his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:
46 And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:
47 but he retained with him three thousand men: of whom he sent back two thousand into Galilee, and a thousand came with him.
47 But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.
48 But as Jonathas entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and they took him, and all that had entered with him they slew with the sword.
48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that came in with him they slew with the sword.
49 And Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain to destroy all Jonathas' fellows.
49 Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company.
50 But they when they understood that Jonathas was taken, & was perished, and all that were with him, they encouraged themselves, and went forth ready to battle.
50 But they, when they understood that Jonathan, and all that were with him, were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.
51 And these that had pursued, seeing that the matter stood upon their life, they returned.
51 Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.
52 But they came all with peace into the land of Juda. And they lamented Jonathas, & them that were with him exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great mourning.
52 Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda and they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great lamentation.
53 And all the heathen that were round about them, sought to destroy them, for they said:
53 Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:
54 They have no prince, and helper: now therefore let us expugn them, and take away from men the memory of them.
54 They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore, let us make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst men.