1 Maccabees 12
Good News Translation
Alliances with Rome and Sparta
12 When Jonathan saw that things were working out to his advantage, he chose ambassadors and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew friendship with the Romans. 2 He also sent letters with a similar message to Sparta and other places. 3 The ambassadors went to Rome, where they were admitted to the Senate chamber, and reported that the High Priest Jonathan and the Jewish nation had sent them to renew the earlier ties of friendship and alliance with Rome. 4 The Romans provided them with letters to the authorities in each country through which they would pass, guaranteeing them safe conduct in their return to the land of Judea.
5 Here is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 Jonathan the High Priest, the national council of leaders, the priests, and the rest of the people of Judea, to our brothers in Sparta, greetings. 7 At an earlier time, your King Arius sent a letter to our High Priest Onias, stating that our two nations are related, as the attached copy shows. 8 Onias received your ambassador with full honors and acknowledged receipt of your letter, which declared our alliance and friendship. 9 And now, although we are not in need of such alliances, since we find our source of strength in the holy books we possess, 10 we have written to renew our ties of brotherhood and friendship with you. We do not wish to become total strangers, and it has now been many years since your last communication. 11 Throughout the years we have taken every opportunity, on our festival days and other suitable days, to remember you when we have offered our sacrifices and made our prayers, as it is fitting and proper for brothers to do. 12 We also are pleased that fame has come to you. 13 But we have had one series of troubles after another and have had to fight many wars, because we have been under constant attack by surrounding nations. 14 During this time of war, we did not wish to trouble you or our other allies and friends, 15 since we do have the help of the Lord, who has defeated our enemies and rescued us from them. 16 So we have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus together with Antipater son of Jason and sent them as ambassadors to Rome to renew our ties of friendship and alliance with the Romans. 17 We have also ordered them to go to you with our greetings and deliver this letter about the renewal of our ties of brotherhood. 18 And now we request an answer to this letter.
19 The following is a copy of the earlier letter:
20 King Arius of Sparta to Onias the High Priest, greetings. 21 We have found a document about the Spartans and the Jews indicating that we are related and that both of our nations are descended from Abraham. 22 Now that we have discovered this, please send us a report about your situation. 23 In reply, we will send you a letter indicating that we are willing to share our possessions, including cattle and property, if you will do the same. We have given orders to our ambassadors to give you a full report about these matters.
Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon
24 Jonathan learned that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with an even larger army than before. 25 Jonathan did not want to give them an opportunity to penetrate his own territory, so he left Jerusalem and went to meet them in the region of Hamath. 26 Jonathan sent spies into the enemy camp, who reported to him that the enemy forces were making plans to attack the Jews by night. 27 At sunset Jonathan ordered all his soldiers to be on the alert and to have their weapons ready for a surprise attack any time during the night. He also stationed guards all around the camp. 28 When the enemy soldiers learned that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were panic-stricken and fled, leaving their campfires burning. 29 Jonathan and his men saw the campfires but did not realize what had happened until the next morning. 30 Jonathan then set out after them, but he could not overtake them because they had already crossed the Eleutherus River. 31 Then Jonathan turned aside and attacked a tribe of Arabs called Zabadeans. He defeated them and plundered their possessions. 32 Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, inspecting the entire area along the way.
33 Meanwhile, Simon had also set out on a campaign and had advanced as far as Ascalon and the neighboring fortresses. Then he turned aside to Joppa 34 and stationed a detachment of soldiers there because he had heard that the people were planning to hand over the fortress of Joppa to the soldiers of Demetrius.
35 When Jonathan returned, he called the council of the leaders together and made plans with them to build fortresses in Judea, 36 to increase the height of the walls of Jerusalem, and to build a high wall to separate the fort from the city. This would isolate the fort, making it impossible for the enemy to buy or sell anything. 37 The people worked together to strengthen the city's defenses because a part of the east wall along the Kidron Valley had collapsed and the Chaphenatha section was in need of repair. 38 Simon also rebuilt the town of Adida in the foothills. He fortified it and constructed barred gates for it.
Trypho Captures Jonathan
39 Then Trypho plotted a rebellion against King Antiochus so that he could make himself king of Syria. 40 He was afraid, however, that Jonathan would not agree to this and would go to war against him to prevent it. So Trypho got his army ready and went to Beth Shan in the hope of capturing Jonathan and putting him to death. 41 But Jonathan also came to Beth Shan with 40,000 well-trained soldiers. 42 When Trypho saw how large an army Jonathan had brought with him, he was afraid to take action. 43 So he received Jonathan with all honors, presented him to all his advisers, gave him gifts, and ordered his advisers and soldiers to obey Jonathan as they would him. 44 He asked Jonathan,
Why have you put these soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war? 45 Why don't you send them home? Choose a few men to stay with you, and then accompany me to Ptolemais. I will hand the city over to you, as well as the rest of the fortresses, the troops, and all the officials. Then I will turn around and leave. In fact, that's why I am here.
46 Jonathan believed him, and following his advice, sent his soldiers back to Judea. 47 He took 3,000 men with him, but left 2,000 of them in Galilee, while only 1,000 accompanied him the rest of the way. 48 But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of the city locked the gates, arrested him, and killed everyone who had come with him.
49 Trypho sent infantry and cavalry units to Galilee and Jezreel Valley to kill the rest of Jonathan's soldiers. 50 The Jewish troops thought that Jonathan had been captured and killed, along with all those who had accompanied him, so they encouraged one another and marched out in battle formation. 51 When the approaching enemy forces saw that the Jews were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back. 52 Then the Jewish soldiers returned to Judea safely, but terribly afraid. The whole nation was in deep mourning, assuming that Jonathan and all his men had been killed. 53 All the surrounding nations now tried to destroy them. They thought that the Jews had no leaders or allies and that the time was ripe to annihilate them and put an end to their history.
1 Maccabees 12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Alliances with Rome and Sparta
12 Now when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with them.(A) 2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.(B) 3 So they went to Rome and entered the senate chamber and said, “The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former friendship and alliance with them.”(C) 4 And the Romans[a] gave them letters to the people in every place, asking them to provide for the envoys[b] safe conduct to the land of Judah.
5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 “The high priest Jonathan, the council of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to their brothers the Spartans, greetings.(D) 7 Already in time past a letter was sent to the high priest Onias from Arius, who was king among you, stating that you are our brothers, as the appended copy shows.(E) 8 Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which contained a clear declaration of alliance and friendship.(F) 9 Therefore, though we have no need of these things, since we have as encouragement the holy books that are in our hands,(G) 10 we have undertaken to send to renew our family ties and friendship with you, so that we may not become estranged from you, for considerable time has passed since you sent your letter to us. 11 We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both at our festivals and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices that we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brothers. 12 And we rejoice in your glory. 13 But as for ourselves, many trials and many wars have encircled us; the kings around us have waged war against us. 14 We were unwilling to trouble you and our other allies and friends with these wars, 15 for we have the help that comes from heaven for our aid, so we were delivered from our enemies, and our enemies were humbled.(H) 16 We therefore have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason and have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.(I) 17 We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our family ties. 18 And now please send us a reply to this.”
19 This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias:(J) 20 “King Arius of the Spartans, to the high priest Onias, greetings.(K) 21 It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brothers and are of the family of Abraham.(L) 22 And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare; 23 we on our part write to you that your livestock and your property belong to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys[c] report to you accordingly.”(M)
Further Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon
24 Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned with a larger force than before to wage war against him.(N) 25 So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country. 26 He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that the enemy[d] were being drawn up in formation to attack the Jews[e] by night. 27 So when the sun had set, Jonathan commanded his troops to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle, and he stationed outposts around the camp. 28 When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his troops were prepared for battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart, so they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew.[f] 29 But Jonathan and his troops did not know it until morning, for they saw the fires burning. 30 Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus River.(O) 31 So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, and he crushed them and plundered them. 32 Then he broke camp and went to Damascus and marched through all that region.(P)
33 Simon also went out and marched through the country as far as Askalon and the neighboring strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and took it by surprise,(Q) 34 for he had heard that they were ready to hand over the stronghold to those whom Demetrius had sent. And he stationed a garrison there to guard it.(R)
35 When Jonathan returned he convened the elders of the people and planned with them to build strongholds in Judea,(S) 36 to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a high barrier between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, in order to isolate it so that its garrison[g] could neither buy nor sell.(T) 37 So they gathered together to rebuild the city; part of the wall on the valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha. 38 Simon also built Adida in the Shephelah; he fortified it and installed gates with bolts.(U)
Trypho Captures Jonathan
39 Then Trypho attempted to become king in Asia and put on the crown and to raise his hand against King Antiochus.(V) 40 He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do so but might make war on him, so he kept seeking to seize and kill him, and he marched out and came to Beth-shan. 41 Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand picked warriors, and he came to Beth-shan. 42 When Trypho saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to raise his hand against him.(W) 43 So he received him with honor and commended him to all his Friends, and he gave him gifts and commanded his Friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself.(X) 44 Then he said to Jonathan, “Why have you put all these people to so much trouble when we are not at war? 45 Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to stay with you and come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you, as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and will turn around and go home. For that is why I am here.”(Y)
46 Jonathan[h] trusted him and did as he said; he sent away the troops, and they returned to the land of Judah. 47 He kept with himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee, while one thousand accompanied him. 48 But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates and seized him, and they killed with the sword all who had entered with him.(Z)
49 Then Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan’s soldiers.(AA) 50 But they realized that Jonathan had been seized and had perished along with his men, and they encouraged one another and kept marching in close formation, ready for battle.(AB) 51 When their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back. 52 So they all reached the land of Judah safely, and they mourned for Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear, and all Israel mourned deeply.(AC) 53 All the nations around them tried to destroy them, for they said, “They have no leader or helper. Now, therefore, let us make war on them and blot out the memory of them from humankind.”(AD)
1 Maccabees 12
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
12 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 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 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 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 letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
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 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 ambassador with honour: and received the letters wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.
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 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 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 And we rejoice at your glory.
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 But we would not be troublesome to you, nor the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.
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 them to the Romans to renew with them the former amity and alliance.
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 to give us an answer hereto.
19 And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:
20 Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greeting.
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 this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.
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 Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.
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 came back and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.
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 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 Jonathan and they that were with him knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30 And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.
31 And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.
32 And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.
33 Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of 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 Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people, and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,
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 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 set up gates and bars.
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 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 Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.
42 Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him,
43 But received him with honour, 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 Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?
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 Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:
47 But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.
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 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 Jonathan and all that were with him were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.
51 Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.
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 Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:
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.
1 Maccabees 12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 12
Alliances with Rome and Sparta. 1 When Jonathan saw that the time was right, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with the Romans.(A) 2 He also sent letters to the Spartans and other places to the same effect.
3 After reaching Rome, the men entered the senate chamber and said, “The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew the friendship and alliance of earlier times with them.” 4 The Romans gave them letters addressed to authorities in various places, with the request to provide them with safe conduct to the land of Judah.
5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 “Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans. 7 Long ago a letter was sent[a] to the high priest Onias from Arius, who then reigned over you, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy shows.(B) 8 Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which spoke clearly of alliance and friendship. 9 Though we have no need of these things, since we have for our encouragement the holy books that are in our possession,[b](C) 10 we have ventured to send word to you for the renewal of brotherhood and friendship, lest we become strangers to you; a long time has passed since you sent your message to us. 11 We, on our part, have unceasingly remembered you in the sacrifices and prayers that we offer on our feasts and other appropriate days, as it is right and proper to remember brothers. 12 We likewise rejoice in your renown. 13 But many tribulations and many wars have beset us, and the kings around us have attacked us. 14 We did not wish to be troublesome to you and to the rest of our allies and friends in these wars. 15 For we have the help of Heaven for our support, and we have been saved from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled. 16 So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the friendship and alliance of earlier times.(D) 17 We have also ordered them to come to you and greet you, and to deliver to you our letter concerning the renewal of our brotherhood. 18 Therefore kindly send us an answer on this matter.”
19 This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias: 20 (E)“Arius, king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest. 21 A document has been found stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers and that they are of the family of Abraham. 22 Now that we have learned this, kindly write to us about your welfare. 23 We, for our part, declare to you that your animals and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours. We have, therefore, given orders that you should be told of this.”
More Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon. 24 Then Jonathan heard that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with a stronger army than before. 25 So he set out from Jerusalem and met them in the territory of Hamath,[c] giving them no opportunity to enter his province. 26 The spies he had sent into their camp came back and reported to him that the enemy were preparing to attack them that night. 27 Therefore, when the sun set, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch, with their weapons at the ready for battle, throughout the night; and he set outposts around the camp. 28 When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, their hearts sank with fear and dread. They lighted fires in their camp and then withdrew. 29 But because Jonathan and his men were watching the campfires burning, they did not know until the morning what had happened. 30 Then Jonathan pursued them, but he could not overtake them, for they had crossed the river Eleutherus. 31 So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabians who are called Zabadeans, and he struck them down and plundered them. 32 Then he broke camp, marched on toward Damascus and traveled through the whole region.
33 Simon also set out and traveled as far as Askalon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned to Joppa and took it by surprise, 34 for he heard that its people intended to hand over the stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius. He left a garrison there to guard it.
35 When Jonathan returned, he assembled the elders of the people, and with them he made plans for building strongholds in Judea, 36 for making the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and for erecting a high barrier between the citadel and the city, to separate it from the city and isolate it, so that its garrison could neither buy nor sell. 37 The people therefore gathered together to build up the city, for part of the wall of the eastern valley had collapsed. And Jonathan repaired the quarter called Chaphenatha. 38 Simon likewise built up Adida in the Shephelah, and fortified it by installing gates and bars.
Capture of Jonathan. 39 Then Trypho sought to become king of Asia, assume the diadem, and do violence to King Antiochus.(F) 40 But he was afraid that Jonathan would not permit him, but would fight against him. Looking for a way to seize and kill him, he set out and came to Beth-shan. 41 Jonathan marched out to meet him with forty thousand picked fighting men and came to Beth-shan. 42 But when Trypho saw that Jonathan had arrived with a large army he was afraid to do him violence. 43 Instead, he received him with honor, introduced him to all his friends, and gave him presents. He also ordered his friends and soldiers to obey him as they would himself. 44 Then he said to Jonathan: “Why have you put all these people to so much trouble when we are not at war? 45 Now pick out a few men to stay with you, send the rest to their homes, and then come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with other strongholds and the remaining troops, as well as all the officials; then I will turn back and go home. That is why I came here.”
46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said. He dismissed his troops, and they returned to the land of Judah. 47 But he kept with him three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee while one thousand accompanied him. 48 Then as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates and seized him; all who had entered with him, they killed with the sword.(G)
49 Then Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry to Galilee and the Great Plain[d] to destroy all Jonathan’s men. 50 These, upon learning that Jonathan had been captured and killed along with his companions, encouraged one another and went out in close formation, ready to fight. 51 As their pursuers saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back. 52 Thus all Jonathan’s men came safely into the land of Judah. They mourned Jonathan and those who were with him. They were in great fear, and all Israel fell into deep mourning. 53 All the nations round about sought to crush them. They said, “Now that they have no leader or helper, let us make war on them and wipe out their memory from the earth.”(H)
Footnotes
- 12:7 Long ago a letter was sent: i.e., a century and a half before. Onias: Onias I, high priest from 323 to 300 or 290 B.C. Arius: Arius I, king from 309 to 265 B.C.
- 12:9 The holy books…in our possession: a reference to “the law, the prophets and other books,” as mentioned in the Prologue to Sirach.
- 12:25 Territory of Hamath: the Seleucid territory of Upper Syria northeast of Coelesyria and separated from it by the Eleutherus River. The latter territory was under the command of Jonathan (11:59–60).
- 12:49 The Great Plain: of Beth-shan (v. 41), where Jonathan’s disbanded troops remained.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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