The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 45: 1 Machabees

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11:43. Now, therefore, thou shalt do well if thou send me men to help
me: for all my army is gone from me.

11:44. And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and
they came to the king, and the king was very glad of their coming.

11:45. And they that were of the city assembled themselves together, to
the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have killed
the king.

11:46. And the king fled into the palace: and they of the city kept the
passages of the city, and began to fight.

11:47. And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and they came to
him all at once, and they all dispersed themselves through the city.

11:48. And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men, and they set
fire to the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king.

11:49. And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had got the city
as they would: and they were discouraged in their mind, and cried to the
king, making supplication, and saying:

1:50. Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us, and the
city.

11:51. And they threw down their arms, and made peace, and the Jews were
glorified in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in
his realm, and were renowned throughout the kingdom, and returned to
Jerusalem with many spoils.

11:52. So king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom: and the land
was quiet before him.

11:53. And he falsified all whatsoever he had said, and alienated
himself from Jonathan, and did not reward him according to the benefits
he had received from him, but gave him great trouble.

11:54. And after this Tryphon returned, and with him Antiochus, the
young boy, who was made king, and put on the diadem.

11:55. And there assembled unto him all the hands which Demetrius had
sent away, and they fought against Demetrius who turned his back and
fled.

11:56. And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself master of
Antioch. 11:57. And young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying: I
confirm thee in the high priesthood, and I appoint thee ruler over the
four cities, and to be one of the king's friends.

11:58. And he sent him vessels of gold for his service, and he gave him
leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a
golden buckle:

11:59. And he made his brother, Simon, governor, from the borders of
Tyre even to the confines of Egypt.

11:60. Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond
the river, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him to
help him, and he came to Ascalon, and they met him hononrably out of the
city.

11:61. And he went from thence to Gaza: and they that were in Gaza shut
him out: and he besieged it, and burnt all the suburbs round about, and
took the spoils.

11:62. And the men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan, and he gave
them the right hand: and he took their sons for hostages, and sent them
to Jerusalem: and he went through the country, as far as Damascus.

11:63. And Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come
treacherously to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great army,
purposing to remove him from the affairs of the kingdom.

11:64. And he went against them: but left his brother, Simon, in the
country.

11:65. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted it many days,
and shut them up.

11:66. And they desired him to make peace, and he granted it them: and
he cast them out from thence, and took the city, and placed a garrison
in it.

11:67. And Jonathan and his army encamped by the water of Genesar, and
before it was light they were ready in the plain of Asor.

11:68. And behold the army of the strangers met him in the plain, and
they laid an ambush for him in the mountains: but he went out against
them.

11:69. And they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined
battle.

11:70. And all that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none was left of
them, but Mathathias, the son of Absalom, and Judas, the son of Calphi,
chief captain of the army.

11:71. And Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon his head, and
prayed.

11:72. And Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he put them to
flight, and they fought.

11:73. And they of his part that fled saw this, and they turned again to
him, and they all with him pursued the enemies, even to Cades, to their
own camp, and they came even thither.

11:74. And there fell of the aliens in that day three thousand men: and
Jonathan returned to Jernsalem.

1 Machabees Chapter 12

Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The forces
of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made prisoner by
Tryphon.

12:1. 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:

12:2. And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places,
according to the same form.

12:3. 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.

12:4. And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to
conduct them into the land of Juda with peace. 12:5. And this is a copy
of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

12:6. 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.

12:7. 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.

12:8. And Onias received the ambassador with honour and received the
letters, wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.

12:9. We, though we needed none of these things having for our comfort
the holy books that are in our hands,

12:10. Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and
friendship, lest we should become stranger to you altogether: for there
is a long time passed since you sent to us.

12:11. 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.

12:12. And we rejoice at yonr glory.

12:13. But we have had many troubles and wars on every side; and the
kings that are round about us have fought against us.

12:14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our
allies and friends, in these wars.

12:15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and
our enemies are humbled.

12:16. 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.

12:17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and salute you, and
to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

12:18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.

12:19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:

12:20. Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, greeting.

12:21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews,
that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.

12:22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write
to us of your prosperity.

12:23. 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.

12:24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again
with a greater army than before to fight against him.

12:25. 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.

12:26. 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.

12:27. 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.

12:28. 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.

12:29. But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the
morning: for they saw the lights burning.

12:30. And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they
had passed the river Eleutherus.

12:31. And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called Zabadeans:
and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.

12:32. And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all
that country.

12:33. 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,

12:34. (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.

12:35. And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the
people; and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,

12:36. 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.

12:37. 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:

12:38. And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up
gates and bars.

12:39. 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:

12:40. 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.

12:41. And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen
for battle, and came to Bethsan.

12:42. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he
durst not stretch forth his hand against him.

12:43. 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.

12:44. And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people,
whereas we have no war?

12:45. 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.

12:46. And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his
army, and they departed into the land of Juda:

12:47. But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two
thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

12:48. 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.

12:49. Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the
great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's company.

12:50. 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.

12:51. Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for
their lives, returned back.

12:52. 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.

12:53. Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to
destroy them. For they said:

12:54. 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 Machabees Chapter 13

Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is
slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he taketh Gaza, and
the castle of Jerusalem.

13:1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great
army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.

13:2. And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear, he went up to
Jerusalem, and assembled the people,

13:3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my
brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the
sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:

13:4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for
Israel's sake, and I am left alone.

13:5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble:
for I am not better than my brethren.

13:6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children,
and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out
of mere malice.

13:7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard
these words:

13:8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader
in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brother:

13:9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say
to us.

13:10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish
all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.

13:11. And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with him a new
army, into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself
remained there.

13:12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade
the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.

13:13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.

13:14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place
of his brother, Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he
sent messengers to him,

13:15. Saying: We have detained thy brother, Jonathan, for the money
that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he
had the management of.

13:16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for
hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and
we will release him.

13:17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him; nevertheless, he
ordered the money and the children to be sent, lest he should bring upon
himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:

13:18. Because he sent not the money and the children therefore is he
lost.

13:19. So he sent the children and the hundred talents and he lied, and
did not let Jonathan go.

13:20. And after this, Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy
it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and
his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.

Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went...
That is, whithersoever Tryphon and his horsemen went in order to oppose
them.

13:21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon,
that he should make haste to come through the desert, and send them
victuals.

13:22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night; but
there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of
Galaad.

13:23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons
there.

13:24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.

13:25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his brother, and
buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.

13:26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they
mourned for him many days.

13:27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his
brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone, behind and
before:

13:28. And he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his
father, and his mother, and his four brethren:

13:29. And round about these he set great pillars; and upon the pillars,
arms, for a perpetual memory; and by the arms, ships carved, which might
be seen by all that sailed on the sea.

13:30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin, even unto this day.

13:31. But Tryphon, when he was upon a journey with the young king,
Antiochus, treacherously slew him.

13:32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and
brought great evils upon the land.

13:33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them
with high towers, and great walls, and gates and bars: and he stored up
victuals in the fortresses.

13:34. And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that
he should grant an immunity to the land; for all that Tryphon did, was
to spoil.

13:35. And king Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote a letter in
this manner:

13:36. King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, and friend of kings,
and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

13:37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received:
and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the
king's chief officers to release you the things that we have released.

13:38. For all that we have decreed in your favour shall stand in force.
The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.

13:39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we
forgive it: and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were
taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.

13:40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be
enrolled, and let there be peace between us.

13:41. In the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles was
taken off from Israel.

13:42. And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and
public records, The first year under Simon, the high priest, the great
captain, and prince of the Jews.

13:43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and
he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and
took it.

13:44. And they that were within the engine leapt into the city: and
there was a great uproar in the city.

13:45. And they that were in the city went up, with their wives and
children, upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a
loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.

13:46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but
according to thy mercy.

13:47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them but yet he cast them
out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols,
and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord:

13:48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men
that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his
habitation.

13:49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from
going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and
they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through
famine.

13:50. And they cried to Simon for peace, and he granted it to them: and
he cast them out from thence and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.

13:51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the
second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with
thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and
psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was
destroyed out of Israel.

13:52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with
gladness.

13:53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the
castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.

13:54. And Simon saw that John, his son, was a valiant man for war: and
he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.

1 Machabees Chapter 14

Demetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes under the
government of Simon.

14:1. In the year one hundred and seventy-two king Demetrius assembled
his army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against
Tryphon.

14:2. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius
was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take
him alive, and bring him to him.

14:3. And he went, and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, and
brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody.

14:4. And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and he
sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased them
well all his days.

14:5. And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an
entrance to the isles of the sea.

14:6. And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master
of the country.

14:7. And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the
dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away
all uncleanness out of it, and there was none that resisted him.

14:8. And every man tilled his land with peace, and the land of Juda
yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit.

14:9. The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of
the good things of the land, and the youug men put on them glory, and
the robes of war.

14:10. And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that
they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory
was renowned even to the end of the earth.

14:11. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.

14:12. And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and
there was none to make them afraid.

14:13. There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings were
discomfited in those days.

14:14. And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought
low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man.

14:15. He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the
holy places.

14:16. And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was
dead: and they were very sorry.

14:17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, was made high priest
in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the cities
therein:

14:18. They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and
alliance which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his brethren.

14:19. And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is
the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.

14:20. The princes and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the high
priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the people
of the Jews, their brethren, greeting.

14:21. The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of
your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced at their coming.

14:22. And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the
people, in this manner: Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater,
the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the
former friendship with us.

14:23. And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to
put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to the
people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to Simon, the
high priest.

14:24. And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield
of gold, of the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with
them. And when the people of Rome had heard

14:25. These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and
his sons:

14:26. For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight
the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and
registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.

14:27. And this is a copy of the writing. The eighteenth day of the
month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third
year under Simon, the high priest, at Asaramel,

14:28. In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the
princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things
were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country,

14:29. And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the children of Jarib, and
his brethren, have put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies of
their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: and
have raised their nation to great glory.

14:30. And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their
high priest, and he was laid to his people.

14:31. And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their
country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places.

14:32. Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much
of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them
wages.

14:33. And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura that lieth in
the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and he
placed there a garrison of Jews.

14:34. And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, which
bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed
Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for their
reparation.

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