 chapters 11 through 16 of First Maccabees, King James Version. The sleeper Vox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 11 The king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieeth upon the seashore, in many ships, and went about through deceits to get Alexander's kingdom, and joined it to his own. 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 to do so, because he was his brother-in-law. Now, as Ptolemy entered into the cities, he said in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it. And when he had come near Azotus, they showed 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. Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the intent that he might blame him, but the king held his peace. Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp and chopa, where they saluted one another and lodged. Afterward, Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called El Uthuras, returned again to Jerusalem. King Ptolemy, therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea under Seleucia, upon the sea coast imagined wicked councils against Alexander, whereupon he sent ambassadors unto King Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my daughter, whom Alexander hath, and now shall reign in my father's kingdom. For I repent that I give my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me, thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom. Wherefore, he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known. Then Ptolemy entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia and of Egypt. In the mean season was King Alexander in Seleucia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him. But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him, whereupon King Ptolemy brought forth his host, and met him with mighty power, and put him to flight. So Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be defeated, but King Ptolemy was exalted. Whereas Abdel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemy. King Ptolemy also died the third day after, and they that were in the stronghold were slain one of another. By this means Demetrius reigned in the 103 score and seventh year. At the same time, Jonathan gathered together him that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem, and he made many engines of war against it. Then came ungodly persons who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told them that Jonathan besieged the tower. Whereof when he heard he was angry, immediately removing, he came to Ptolemyus, and wrote unto Jonathan that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak to him at Ptolemyus in great haste. 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. And he took silver, and gold, and raiments, and diverse presence besides, and went to Ptolemyus unto the king, where he found favor in his sight. And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him, yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends. And confirming him in the high priesthood, and in all the honors that he had before, and gave him pre-evidence among his chief friends. 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 300 talents. So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner. King Demetrios, unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting. We send you here a copy of the letter, which we did write unto our cousin, Lastenus, concerning you, that ye might see it. King Demetrios, unto his father, Lastenus, sendeth greeting. 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 towards us. Wherefore, we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Ephraim, and Lydia, and Rameth them, 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, a foretime out of the fruits of the earth and trees. And as for other things that belong unto us, of ties and customs pertaining unto us, as also the salt pits and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief. Nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth forever. Now therefore, see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mounts in a conspicuous place. After this, when King Demetrios 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 aisles of the heathen, wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him. Moreover, there was one triphon that had been of Alexander's part before, who, seeing that all the hosts murmured against Demetrios, went to Sinalke the Arabian that brought up Antiochus, the young son of Alexander, and lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father's stead. He told him therefore that all that Demetrios had done and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season. In the meantime, Jonathan sent unto King Demetrios that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the fortresses, for they fought against Israel. So Demetrios sent unto Jonathan saying, I will not only do this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honor thee and thy nation if opportunities serve. Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help me, for all my forces are gone for me. Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antioch. When they came to the king, the king was very glad of their coming. How be it they that were of the city gathered themselves together in the midst of the city to the number of one hundred and twenty thousand men and would have slain the king, wherefore the king fled into the court. But they of the city kept the passages of the city and began to fight. When the king called 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 one hundred thousand. Also they set fire on the city and got many spoils that day and delivered the king. 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, Grant us peace and let the Jews cease from assaulting us in the city. With that they cast away their weapons and made peace. And the Jews were honored 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. So King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom and the land was quiet before him. Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spoke and estranged himself from Jonathan. Neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he received of him, but troubled him very sore. After this returned Trifon and with him the young child Antiochus who reigned and was crowned. Then they are gathered unto him all the men of war whom Demetrius had put away and they fought against Demetrius who turned his back and fled. Moreover Trifon took the elephants and won Antioch. At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan saying, I confirm thee and the high priesthood and I appoint thee ruler over the four governments and to be one of the king's friends. Upon this he sent him gold 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. His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called the Ladder of Tyrus under the borders of Egypt. 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 honorably. From once he went to Gaza but they of Gaza shut him out. Wherefore he laid siege unto it and burned the shrubs thereof with fire and spoiled them. 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. Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius's princes were come to Cades which is in Galilee with a great power purposing to remove him out of the country he went to meet them and left Simon his brother in the country. Then Simon encamped against Beshura and fought against it a long season and shut it up. But they desired to have peace with him and he granted them and put them out from tents and took the city and set a garrison in it. As for Jonathan and his host they pitched at the water of Ganesar. From once betimes in the morning they got them to the plain of Nassaur. 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. So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined the battle all that were of Jonathan's side fled in so much as there was not one of them left except Metathias the son of Absalom and Judas the son of Calphi the captains of the host. Then Jonathan rents his clothes and cast earth upon his head and prayed afterwards turning again to battle. He put them to flight and so they ran away. 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. So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men put Jonathan returned to Jerusalem chapter 12. Now when Jonathan saw that time served him he chose certain men and sent them to Rome for to confirm and renew the friendship they had with them. He sent Lotters also to the Laceodemonians and to the other places for the same purpose. So they went unto Rome and entered into the Senate and said, Jonathan the High Priest and the people of the Jews sent us unto you to the end that ye should renew the friendship which ye had with them in league as in former time. Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably. And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Laceodemonians. Jonathan the High Priest and the elders of the nation and the priests and the other of the Jews unto the Laceodemonians their brethren sent greetings. There were letters sent in times past unto Oneis the High Priest from Darius who reigned then among you to signify that ye are our brethren. As the copy here underwritten does specify at which time Oneis and treated the ambassador that was sent honorably and received the letters wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship lest we should become strangers unto you altogether for there is a long time past since ye sent unto us. We therefore at all times without ceasing both in our feasts and other convenient days do remember you and the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers. As reason is and as it become us to think upon our brethren and we are right glad of your honor as for ourselves we have had great troubles and wars on every side for as much as the kings that are round about us have fought against us albeit we would not be troublesome unto you nor to others of our confederates and friends in these wars for we have help from heaven that succoureth us. So as we are delivered from our enemies and our enemies are brought under foot for this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater his son of Jason and sent them unto the Romans to renew the amity that we had with them in the former league. We commanded also to go unto you and to salute and deliver you our letters according to the renewing of our brotherhood wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto and this is the copy of the letters which Oni air sent arias king of the lasodemonians to onias the high priest greeting it is found in writing that the lasodemonians and Jews are brethren and that they are of the stock of Abraham. Now therefore since this has come to our knowledge ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity we do not write back again to you that your cattle and goods are ours and ours are yours. We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise. Now when Jonathan heard that Demebius's princes were come to fight against him a greater host than a four he removed from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Amethias for he gave them no respite to enter his country. He sent spies also unto their tents who came again and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season. Wherefore so soon as the sun was down Jonathan commanded his men to watch and be in arms that all the night long they might be ready to fight. Also he sent forth sentinels round about the host but when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle they feared and trembled in their hearts and they kindled fires in their camp albeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning for they saw the lights burning then Jonathan pursued after them but overtook them not for they were gone over the river El Utherus. Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians who were called sabbatines and smote them and took their spoil and removing tents he came to Damascus and so passed through all the country Simon also went and passed through the country unto Ascalon and the holds there adjoining from whence he turned aside to Jopah and Wonet for he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius's part wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it. After this came Jonathan home again and calling the elders of the people together he consulted with them about building strongholds in Judea and making the walls of Jerusalem higher and raising a great mount between the tower and the city fortress separated from the city so that it might be alone that men might neither sell nor buy in it. Upon this they came together to build up the city for as much as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down and they repaired that which was called Cephasina. Simon also set up Adida in Cephala he made it strong with gates and bars. Now Trifon went about to get the kingdom of Asia and to kill Antiochus the king that he might set the crown upon his own head albeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him so that he would fight against him wherefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan that he might kill him so he removed and came to Bethsan then Jonathan went to meet him with 40,000 men chosen for battle and came to Bethsan Now when Trifon saw Jonathan came with so great a force he durst not stretch his hand against him but received him honorably and commended him unto all his friends and gave him gifts and commended his men of war to be obedient unto him as to himself Then to Jonathan also he said why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble seeing there is no war betwixt us therefore send them home now and choose a few men to wait on thee and come thou with me to Ptolemaeus for I will give it to thee and the rest of the strongholds and forces and all that have any charge as for me I will return and departs for this is the cause of my coming So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him and sent away his host who went into the land of Judea and with himself he retained but 3,000 men of whom he sent 2,000 into Galilee and 1,000 went with him Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemaeus they of Ptolemaeus shut the gates and took him and all them that came with him they slew with the sword then sent Trifon and host of footmen and horsemen to Galilee and into the great plain to destroy all Jonathan's company and when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were taken in slain they encouraged one another and when close together prepared to fight they therefore that followed upon them perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives turned back again whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably and there they bewelled Jonathan and them that were with him so afraid wherefor all Israel made great lamentation then all the Pethon that were round about then sought to destroy them for they said they have no captain or any to help them now therefore let us make war upon them and take away the memorial from among men Chapter 13 Now when Simon heard that Trifon had gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea and destroy it and saw that the people was in great trembling in fear he went to Jerusalem and gathered the people together and gave them exhortation saying ye 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 the troubles which we have seen by reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake and I am left alone now therefore be it far from me that I should spare my own life in any time of trouble for I am no better than my brethren doubtless I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and our wives and our children for all the heathen are gathering to destroy us of very malice now as soon as the people heard these words their spirit revived and they answered with a loud voice saying thou shalt be our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan my brother fight thou our battles and whatsoever thou commandest us that will we do so then he gathered together all the men of war and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem and he fortified it round about also he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom and with him a great power to Jopah who casting out them that were therein remained there in it so Trifon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to invade the land of Judea and Jonathan was with him in ward but Simon pitched his tents at Adidia over against the plain Trifon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan and meant to join battle with him he sent messengers unto him saying where as we have Jonathan my brother and hold it is for money that he is owing unto the king's treasure concerning the business that was committed unto him wherefore now send in hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from us and we will let him go here upon Simon albeit he perceived that they spoke deceitfully unto him yet sent he the money and the children less per adventure he should procure to himself great hatred of the people who might have said because I sent him not the money and the children therefore is Jonathan dead so he sent them the children and the hundred talents albeit Trifon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go and after this came Trifon to invade the land and destroy it going round about by the way that leadeth unto Ador but Simon and his host marched against him in every place wheresoever he went now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Trifon to the end that he should hasten his coming unto them by the wilderness and send them vitals wherefore Trifon made ready with all his horsemen to come that night but there fell a very great snow by reason whereof he came not so he departed and came into the country of Galad and when he came to Baskama he slew Jonathan who was buried there afterwards Trifon returned and went into his own land then sent Simon and took the bones of Jonathan his brother and Modin the city of his fathers and all Israel made great lamentation for him and bewailed him many days Simon also built a monument upon the sepulcher of his father and his brethren and raised it aloft to the sites with hewn stones behind and before moreover he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother and his four brethren and in these he made cunning devices about the which he set great pillars and upon the pillars he made all the armor for perpetual memory and by the armor ships carved that they might be seen of all that sail on the sea this is the sepulcher which he made at Modin and it standeth yet until this day Trifon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus and slew him and he reigned in his stead and crowned himself king of Asia and brought a great calamity upon the land then Simon built up the strongholds in Judea and fenced them about with high towers and great walls and gates and bars and laid up vittles therein moreover Simon chose men and sent to King Demetrius to the end that he should give the lands an immunity because all that Trifon did was to spoil unto whom King Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest and friend of kings as also unto the elders and nation of the Jews sendeth greeting the golden crown and the scarlet robe which he sent unto us we have received and we are ready to make a steadfast peace with you and to write unto our officers to confirm the immunities which we have granted and whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand fast and the strongholds which ye have builded shall be your own as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day we forgive it and the crown tax also which ye owe us and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem it shall no more be paid and look who are meet among you to be in our court let them be enrolled and let there be peace between us thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the 170th year then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts in the first year of Simon the high priest the governor and leader of the Jews in those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about he made also an engine of war and set it by the city and battered a certain tower and took it and they that were in the engine leaped into the city whereupon there was a great uproar in the city as the people of the city rent their clothes and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children and cried out with a loud voice besieging Simon to grant them peace and they said deal not with us according to our wickedness but according to thy mercy so Simon was appeased toward them and fought no more against them but put them out of the city and cleansed the houses where in the idols were and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving yea he put all cleanness 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 they also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so straight and they could neither come forth nor go into the country nor buy nor sell wherefore they were in great distress for want of vitals and a great number of them perished through famine and cried they to Simon besieging him to be at one with them which thing he granted them and when he had put them out from tents he cleansed the tower from pollutions and entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month and the hundred seventieth and first year with thanksgiving and branches of palm trees and with harps and symbols and with vials and hymns and songs because there was destroyed by a great enemy out of Israel he ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger than it was and there he dwelt himself with his company and when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man he made him captain of all the hosts and he dwelt in Gaza chapter fourteen now in the hundred three score and twelfth year king Demetrios gathered his forces together and went into media to get him help to fight against Trifon but when Arsasus the king of Persia and media heard that Demetrios was entered within his borders he sent one of his princes to take him alive who went and smote the host of Demetrios and took him and brought him to Arsasus by whom he was put in ward as for the land of Judea that was quiet all the days of Simon for he sought the good of his nation in such wise as that evermore his authority and honor pleased them well and as he was honorable in all his acts so in this that he took Jopa for in Haven and made an entrance to the aisles of the sea and enlarged the bounds of his nation and recovered the country and gathered together a great number of captives and had dominion of Ghazra and Beshura with the which he took all uncleanness neither was there any that resisted him then did they till their ground in peace and the earth gave her increase and the trees of the field their fruit the ancient men sat all in the streets communing together of good things and the young men put on glorious in war like apparel he provided vitals for the city and set them all manner of munition so that his honorable name was renounced onto the end of the world he made peace in the land and Israel rejoiced with great joy for every man sat under his vine and his fig tree and there was none to fray them neither was there any left in the land to fight against them yea the kings themselves were overthrown in those days moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low the law he searched out and every contemmer of the law and the wicked person he took away he beautified the sanctuary and multiplied vessels of the temple now when it was heard at Rome and as far as Sparta that Jonathan was dead they were very sorry and as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his stead and ruled the country and the cities therein they wrote unto him and tables of brass to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren which writing were read before the congregation at Jerusalem and this is the copy of the letters that the Lassidimonians sent the rulers of the Lassidimonians with the city unto Simon the high priest and the elders and priests and residue of the people of the Jews our brethren send greetings the ambassadors that were sent unto our people certified us of your glory and honor wherefore we were glad of their coming and did register the things that would take in the council of the people in this manner Nomanias son of Antiochus and Antipatter son of Jason the Jews ambassadors came unto us to renew the friendship they had with us and it pleased the people to entertain the men honorably and to put the copy of their ambassage in public records to the end the people of the Lassidimonians might have a memorial thereof or we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest after this Simon sent Nomanias to Rome with a great shield of gold of a thousand proud weights to confirm the league with them whereof when the people heard they said what thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons for he and his brethren and the house of his father have established Israel and chased away in fights from them and confirmed their liberty so then they wrote it in tables of brass which they set upon altars in Mount Zion and this is the copy of the writing the eighteenth day of the month of Elul in the hundred three score in twelfth year being the third year of Simon the high priest at Saramel in the great congregation of the priests and people and rulers of the nation and elders of the country for as much as often times there have been wars in the country wherein for the maintenance of their sanctuary and law Simon the son of Matatias of the prosperity of Jerob together with his brethren put themselves in jeopardy and resisting the enemies of their nation did their nation great honor for after that Jonathan having gathered his nation together and being their high priest was added to his people and made their country that they might destroy it and lay hands on the sanctuary at which time Simon rose up and fought for his nation and spent much of his own substance and armed the valiant men of his nation and gave them wages and fortified the cities of Judah together with Peshawar that lie upon the borders of Judah where the armor of the enemies had been before but he set a garrison of Jews there which lie upon the sea in Ghazra that border upon Azotus where the enemies had dwelt before but he placed Jews there and furnished them with all things convenient for reparation thereof the people therefore sang the acts of Simon and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation made him their governor and chief priest because he had done all these things and for the justice and faith of his nation and for that he sought by all means to exalt his people or in his time things prospered in his hands so that the heathen were taken out of their country and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem who had made themselves a tower out of which they issued and polluted all about the sanctuary and did much hurt in the holy place but he placed Jews therein and fortified it and raised up the walls of Jerusalem King Demetrios also confirmed him and the high priesthood according to those things and made him one of his friends and honored him with great honor for he had heard say that the Romans had called the Jews their friends and confederates and brethren and that they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honorably also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest forever until there should arise a faithful prophet moreover that he should be their captain and should take charge of the sanctuary to set them over their works and over the country and over the armor and over the fortresses that I say he should take charge of the sanctuary besides this that he should be obeyed of every man and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name and that he should be clothed in purple and wear gold also that it should be lawful for the people or priests to break any of these things or to gainsay his words or to gather an assembly in the country without him or to be clothed in purple or wear a buckle of gold and whosoever should do otherwise or break any of these things he should be punished thus it liked all the people to deal with Simon and to do as hath been said then Simon accepted hereof and was well pleased to be high priest and captain of the Jews and priests and to defend them all so they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass and that they should be set up within the compass of the sanctuary in a conspicuous place also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the treasury to the end that Simon and his sons might have them Chapter 15 moreover Antiochus the son of Demetrius the king sent letters to Simon the priest and the prince of the Jews and to all the people the contents whereof were these king Antiochus to Simon the high priest and prince of his nation and to the people of the Jews greeting for in as much as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers and my purpose is to challenge it again that I may restore it to the old estates and to that end have gathered a multitude of foreign soldiers together and prepared ships of war by meaning also being to go through the country that I may be avenged of them that have destroyed it and made many cities in the kingdom desolate now therefore I confirm unto thee all the ablations which the kings before me granted thee and whatsoever gifts besides they granted I give thee also to coin money for thy country with thine own stamp and as concerning Jerusalem and the sanctuary let it them be free and all the armor that thou hast made and fortresses that thou hast built and keepest in thine hands let them remain unto thee and if anything be or shall be owing to the king let it be forgiven thee from this time forth and forevermore furthermore when we have obtained our kingdom we will honor thee and thy nation and thy temple with great honor so that your honor shall be known throughout the world when the war and fourteenth year went a tyachus into the land of his fathers at which time all the forces came together unto him so that few were left with trifon wherefore being pursued by king and tyachus he fled into Dora which lieth by the seaside for he saw that troubles came upon him all at once and that his forces had forsaken him then camped him tyachus against Dora having with him 1,000 men of war and 8,000 horsemen and when he had compassed the city round about and joined ships close to the town on the seaside he vexed the city by land and by sea neither suffered he any to go out or in and the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome having letters to the kings and countries wherein were written these things Lucius the council of the Romans unto the king Helome, greeting the Jews ambassadors, our friends and confederates came unto us to renew the old friendship and league being sent from Simon the high priest and from the people of the Jews and they brought a shield of gold of 1,000 we thought it good therefore to write unto the kings and countries that they should do them no harm nor fight against them their cities or countries nor yet aid their enemies against them it seemed also good to us to receive the shield of them if therefore there be any pestilent fellows that have fled from your country unto you deliver them unto Simon the high priest that he may punish them according to their own law the same things wrote he likewise unto Demetrius the king and Etalus, to Aureaeth and Arsas and to all the countries and to Somsoms and the Leodemonians and to Delias and Mendus and Sychion and Caria and Samos and Pamphylia and Lycia and Halecarnassus and Rhodes and Ardus and Kos and Syde and Aradus and Gortyna and Snedus and Cyprus so they wrote to Simon the high priest so Antiochus the king camped against Dora the second day assaulting it continually and making engines by which means he shut up Trifon that he could neither go out nor in at that time Simon sent him 2,000 chosen men to aid him silver also and gold and much armor nevertheless he would not receive them but break all the covenants which he had made with him and became strange unto him furthermore he sent unto him Anotheobius one of his friends to commune with him and say Eewithhol Jopa and Gazara with the tower that is in Jerusalem which are cities of my realm the borders thereof ye have wasted and done great hurt in the land and got the dominion of many places within my kingdom now therefore deliver the cities which ye have taken and the tributes of many places whereof ye have gotten dominion without the borders of Judea or else give me for them 500 talents of silver and for the harm that ye have done and the tributes of the cities other 500 talents if not we will come and fight against you so Anotheobius the king's friend came to Jerusalem and when he saw the glory of Simon and the cupboard of gold and silver and his great attendance he was astonished and told him the king's message then answered Simon and said unto him we have neither taken other men's land nor holden that which appertaineth to others but the inheritance of our fathers which our enemies had wrongfully in possession a certain time wherefore we having opportunity hold the inheritance of our fathers and whereas thou demandest Jopa and Gazara albeit they did great harm unto the people in our country yet will we give the 100 talents for them he wrote to Anotheobius answered him not a word but returned in a rage to the king and made a report unto him of these speeches and of the glory of Simon and of all that he had seen whereupon the king was exceeding Roth in the meantime fled Trifon by ship unto Athosias and the king made Sandabius captain of the sea coast and gave him and host of footmen and horsemen and commanded him to remove his host towards Judea also he commanded him to build up Cedron and fortify the gates and to war against the people but as for the king himself he pursued Trifon so Sandabius came to Gemnia and began to provoke the people and to invade Judea and to take the people prisoners and he had built up Cedru and set horsemen there and in host of footmen to the end that issuing out they may make inroads upon the ways of Judea as the king commanded him chapter 16 then came John from Gazira and told Simon his father what Sandabius had done wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons Judas and John and said unto them I and my brethren and my father's house have ever from my youth until this day fought against the enemies of Israel and the things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered Israel oftentimes but now I am old and ye by God's mercy are of a sufficient age be instead of me and my brother and go and fight for our nation and help from heaven be with you so he chose out of the country 20,000 men of war with horsemen he went out against Sandabius and rested that night at Modin and when they rose in the morning and went into the plain behold a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them albeit there was a waterbrook betwixt them so he and his people pitched over against them and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the waterbrook he went first over himself then seeing him pass through after him that done he divided his men and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen for the enemies horsemen were very many then sounded they with the holy trumpets whereupon Sandabius and his host were put to flight so that many of them were slain and the remnant got them to the stronghold at that time was Judas John's brother wounded and still followed after them until he came to Cedron which Sandabius had built so they fled even unto the towers in the field of Azotus wherefore he burned it with fire so that there were slain of them about two thousand men afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemaus the son of Abubus made captain the sonence of silver and gold for he was the high priest son in law wherefore his heart being lifted up he thought to get the country to himself and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country and taking care of the good ordering of them at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons Mathedias and Judas in the hundred three score and seventeenth year in the eleventh month called Sabat where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold called Docus which he had built made them a great banquet albeit he had hid men there so when Simon and his sons had drunk largely Ptolemy and his men rose up and took their weapons and came upon Simon into the banqueting place and slew them and his two sons and certain of his servants in which doing he committed a great treachery and recompensed evil for good then Ptolemy wrote these things and sent to the king that he should send him and host to aid him and he would deliver him the country and cities he sent others also to Gazorah to kill John and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him that he might give them silver and gold and rewards and others he sent to take Jerusalem and the mountain of the temple now one had run before to Gazorah and told John and his father and brethren were slain and Ptolemy had sent to slay the also hereof when he heard he was sore astonished so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him and slew them for he knew that they sought to make him away and concerning the rest of the acts of John and his wars and the worthy deeds which he did and the building of walls which he made and his doings behold these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood from the time he was made high priest after his father End of chapters 11-16 End of 1st Maccabees King James Version