1Mac 11:1 And the king of Egypt gathered
together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many
ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it
to his own.
1Mac 11:2 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 so to do, because he was his brother in law.
1Mac 11:3 Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of
them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
1Mac 11:4 And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed 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.
1Mac 11:5 Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the
intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.
1Mac 11:6 Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where they
saluted one another, and lodged.
1Mac 11:7 Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river
called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem.
1Mac 11:8 King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities
by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels
against Alexander.
1Mac 11:9 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 thou shalt reign in thy father's kingdom:
1Mac 11:10 For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to
slay me.
1Mac 11:11 Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.
1Mac 11:12 Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to
Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.
1Mac 11:13 Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon
his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt.
1Mac 11:14 In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because those
that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.
1Mac 11:15 But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him:
whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty
power, and put him to flight.
1Mac 11:16 So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king
Ptolemee was exalted:
1Mac 11:17 For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it
unto Ptolemee.
1Mac 11:18 King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that were
in the strong holds were slain one of another.
1Mac 11:19 By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and
seventh year.
1Mac 11:20 At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in
Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of
war against it.
1Mac 11:21 Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto
the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower,
1Mac 11:22 Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he
came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not lay siege to
the tower, but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste.
1Mac 11:23 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;
1Mac 11:24 And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents
besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found favour in his
sight.
1Mac 11:25 And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints
against him,
1Mac 11:26 Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before,
and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
1Mac 11:27 And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours
that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.
1Mac 11:28 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 three hundred talents.
1Mac 11:29 So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all
these things after this manner:
1Mac 11:30 King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of
the Jews, sendeth greeting:
1Mac 11:31 We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our
cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.
1Mac 11:32 King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:
1Mac 11:33 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 toward
us.
1Mac 11:34 Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with
the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, 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 aforetime out of the fruits of the
earth and of trees.
1Mac 11:35 And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and
customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which
are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.
1Mac 11:36 And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for
ever.
1Mac 11:37 Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let
it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous
place.
1Mac 11:38 After this, when king Demetrius 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 isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces
of his fathers hated him.
1Mac 11:39 Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part
afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to
Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,
1Mac 11:40 And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that
he might reign in his father's stead: he told him therefore all that
Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and
there he remained a long season.
1Mac 11:41 In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he would
cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also in the fortresses:
for they fought against Israel.
1Mac 11:42 So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this
for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if
opportunity serve.
1Mac 11:43 Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help me;
for all my forces are gone from me.
1Mac 11:44 Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto
Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of their
coming.
1Mac 11:45 Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together
into the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred and twenty thousand
men, and would have slain the king.
1Mac 11:46 Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept
the passages of the city, and began to fight.
1Mac 11:47 Then the king called to 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 an hundred thousand.
1Mac 11:48 Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day, and
delivered the king.
1Mac 11:49 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,
1Mac 11:50 Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the
city.
1Mac 11:51 With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the
Jews were honoured 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.
1Mac 11:52 So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land
was quiet before him.
1Mac 11:53 Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and
estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him according to the
benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.
1Mac 11:54 After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child
Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
1Mac 11:55 Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius
had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and
fled.
1Mac 11:56 Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.
1Mac 11:57 At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I
confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the four
governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
1Mac 11:58 Upon this he sent him golden 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.
1Mac 11:59 His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The
ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt.
1Mac 11:60 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 honourably.
1Mac 11:61 From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out;
wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire,
and spoiled them.
1Mac 11:62 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.
1Mac 11:63 Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to
Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him out
of the country,
1Mac 11:64 He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country.
1Mac 11:65 Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long
season, and shut it up:
1Mac 11:66 But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them,
and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in
it.
1Mac 11:67 As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of
Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of
Nasor.
1Mac 11:68 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.
1Mac 11:69 So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and
joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side fled;
1Mac 11:70 Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the
son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host.
1Mac 11:71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and
prayed.
1Mac 11:72 Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so
they ran away.
1Mac 11:73 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.
1Mac 11:74 So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand
men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.