Chapter 12
| 1 Καὶ εἶδεν Ἰωνάθαν ὅτι ὁ καιρὸς αὐτῷ συνεργεῖ, καὶ ἐπελέξατο ἄνδρας καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ῥώμην στῆσαι καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν. | 1 Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. |
| 2 καὶ πρὸς Σπαρτιάτας καὶ τόπους ἑτέρους ἀπέστειλεν ἐπιστολὰς κατὰ τὰ αὐτά. | 2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose. |
| 3 καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς Ῥώμην καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον καὶ εἶπον Ἰωνάθαν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ τὸ ἔθνος τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπέστειλεν ἡμᾶς ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν φιλίαν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ τὴν συμμαχίαν κατὰ τὸ πρότερον. | 3 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 ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time. |
| 4 καὶ ἔδωκαν ἐπιστολὰς αὐτοῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τόπον, ὅπως προπέμπωσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα μετ᾿ εἰρήνης. | 4 Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably. |
| 5 καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν, ὧν ἔγραψεν Ἰωνάθαν τοῖς Σπαρτιάταις | 5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians: |
| 6 Ἰωνάθαν ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ ἡ γερουσία τοῦ ἔθνους καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ ὁ λοιπὸς δῆμος τῶν Ἰουδαίων Σπαρτιάταις τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς χαίρειν. | 6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting: |
| 7 ἔτι πρότερον ἀπεστάλησαν ἐπιστολαὶ πρὸς Ὀνιὰν τὸν ἀρχιερέα παρὰ Ἄρειος τοῦ βασιλεύοντος ἐν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐστὲ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ὡς τὸ ἀντίγραφον ὑπόκειται. | 7 There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify. |
| 8 καὶ ἐπεδέξατο ὁ Ὀνίας τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἀπεσταλμένον ἐνδόξως καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰς ἐπιστολάς, ἐν αἷς διεσαφεῖτο περὶ συμμαχίας καὶ φιλίας. | 8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship. |
| 9 ἡμεῖς οὖν ἀπροσδεεῖς τούτων ὄντες παράκλησιν ἔχοντες τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια τὰ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν | 9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us, |
| 10 ἐπειράθημεν ἀποστεῖλαι τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀδελφότητα καὶ φιλίαν ἀνανεώσασθαι πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐξαλλοτριωθῆναι ὑμῶν· πολλοὶ γὰρ καιροὶ διῆλθον ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἀπεστείλατε πρὸς ἡμᾶς. | 10 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 passed since ye sent unto us. |
| 11 ἡμεῖς οὖν ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἀδιαλείπτως ἔν τε ταῖς ἑορταῖς καὶ ταῖς λοιπαῖς καθηκούσαις ἡμέραις μιμνῃσκόμεθα ὑμῶν ἐφ᾿ ὧν προσφέρομεν θυσιῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς, ὡς δέον ἐστὶν καὶ πρέπον μνημονεύειν ἀδελφῶν. | 11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren: |
| 12 εὐφραινόμεθα δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ δόξῃ ὑμῶν. | 12 And we are right glad of your honour. |
| 13 ἡμᾶς δὲ ἐκύκλωσαν πολλαὶ θλίψεις καὶ πόλεμοι πολλοί, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν ἡμᾶς οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν. | 13 As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us. |
| 14 οὐκ ἠβουλόμεθα οὖν παρενοχλῆσαι ὑμῖν καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς συμμάχοις καὶ φίλοις ἡμῶν ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις τούτοις· | 14 Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars: |
| 15 ἔχομεν γὰρ τὴν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ βοήθειαν βοηθοῦσαν ἡμῖν καὶ ἐρρύσθημεν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν, καὶ ἐταπεινώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν. | 15 For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot. |
| 16 ἐπελέξαμεν οὖν Νουμήνιον Ἀντιόχου καὶ Ἀντίπατρον Ἰάσονος καὶ ἀπεστάλκαμεν πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν καὶ συμμαχίαν τὴν πρότερον. | 16 For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league. |
| 17 ἐνετειλάμεθα οὖν αὐτοῖς καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς πορευθῆναι καὶ ἀσπάσασθαι ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀποδοῦναι ὑμῖν τὰς παρ᾿ ἡμῶν ἐπιστολὰς περὶ τῆς ἀνανεώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀδελφότητος ἡμῶν. | 17 We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood. |
| 18 καὶ νῦν καλῶς ποιήσετε ἀντιφωνήσαντες ἡμῖν πρὸς ταῦτα. | 18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto. |
| 19 καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν, ὧν ἀπέστειλαν Ὀνίᾳ | 19 And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent. |
| 20 Ἄρειος βασιλεὺς Σπαρτιατῶν Ὀνίᾳ ἱερεῖ μεγάλῳ χαίρειν. | 20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting: |
| 21 εὑρέθη ἐν γραφῇ περί τε τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν καὶ Ἰουδαίων ὅτι εἰσὶν ἀδελφοὶ καὶ ὅτι εἰσὶν ἐκ γένους Ἁβραάμ. | 21 It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham: |
| 22 καὶ νῦν ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἔγνωμεν ταῦτα, καλῶς ποιήσετε γράφοντες ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ὑμῶν, | 22 Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity. |
| 23 καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀντιγράφομεν ὑμῖν τὰ κτήνη ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ ὕπαρξις ὑμῶν ἡμῖν ἐστιν, καὶ τὰ ἡμῶν ὑμῖν ἐστιν. ἐντελλόμεθα οὖν ὅπως ἀπαγγείλωσιν ὑμῖν κατὰ ταῦτα. | 23 We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our’s, and our’s are your’s We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise. |
| 24 καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰωνάθαν ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ ἄρχοντες Δημητρίου μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς ὑπὲρ τὸ πρότερον τοῦ πολεμῆσαι πρὸς αὐτόν. | 24 Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore, |
| 25 καὶ ἀπῆρεν ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν Ἁμαθῖτιν χώραν· οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀνοχὴν τοῦ ἐμβατεῦσαι εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ. | 25 He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no respite to enter his country. |
| 26 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν κατασκόπους εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ ὅτι οὕτως τάσσονται ἐπιπεσεῖν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν νύκτα. | 26 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. |
| 27 ὡς δὲ ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, ἐπέταξεν Ἰωνάθαν τοῖς παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ γρηγορεῖν καὶ εἶναι ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις ἑτοιμάζεσθαι εἰς πόλεμον δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς καὶ ἐξέβαλεν προφύλακας κύκλῳ τῆς παρεμβολῆς. | 27 Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to fight: also he sent forth sentinels round about the host. |
| 28 καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ὑπεναντίοι ὅτι ἡτοίμασται Ἰωνάθαν καὶ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν καὶ ἔπτηξαν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέκαυσαν πυρὰς ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ αὐτῶν. | 28 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. |
| 29 Ἰωνάθαν δὲ καὶ οἱ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕως πρωί, ἔβλεπον γὰρ τὰ φῶτα καιόμενα. | 29 Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning. |
| 30 καὶ κατεδίωξεν Ἰωνάθαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ κατέλαβεν αὐτούς, διέβησαν γὰρ τὸν Ἐλεύθερὸν ποταμόν. | 30 Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus. |
| 31 καὶ ἐξέκλινεν Ἰωνάθαν ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας τοὺς καλουμένους Ζαβαδαίους καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν. | 31 Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils. |
| 32 καὶ ἀναζεύξας ἦλθεν εἰς Δαμασκὸν καὶ διώδευσεν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ χώρᾳ. | 32 And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country, |
| 33 καὶ Σίμων ἐξῆλθεν καὶ διώδευσεν ἕως Ἀσκαλῶνος καὶ τὰ πλησίον ὀχυρώματα καὶ ἐξέκλινεν εἰς Ἰόππην καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτήν· | 33 Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Ascalon, and the holds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to Joppa, and won it. |
| 34 ἤκουσεν γὰρ ὅτι βούλονται τὸ ὀχύρωμα παραδοῦναι τοῖς παρὰ Δημητρίου· καὶ ἔθετο ἐκεῖ φρουράν, ὅπως φυλάσσωσιν αὐτήν. | 34 For he had heard that they would deliver the hold unto them that took Demetrius’ part; wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it. |
| 35 καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωνάθαν καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασεν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐβουλεύετο μετ᾿ αὐτῶν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι ὀχυρώματα ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ | 35 After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judea, |
| 36 καὶ προσυψῶσαι τὰ τείχη Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ὑψῶσαι ὕψος μέγα ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς ἄκρας καὶ τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸ διαχωρίζειν αὐτὴν τῆς πόλεως, ἵνα ᾖ αὕτη κατὰ μόνας, ὅπως μήτε ἀγοράζωσιν μήτε πωλῶσιν. | 36 And making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it. |
| 37 καὶ συνήχθησαν τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἔπεσεν τοῦ τείχους τοῦ χειμάρρου τοῦ ἐξ ἀπηλιώτου, καὶ ἐπεσκεύασεν τὸ καλούμενον Χαφεναθὰ. | 37 Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha. |
| 38 καὶ Σίμων ᾠκοδόμησεν τὴν Ἁδιδὰ ἐν τῇ Σεφηλὰ καὶ ὠχύρωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπέστησεν θύρας καὶ μοχλούς. | 38 Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars. |
| 39 καὶ ἐζήτησεν Τρύφων βασιλεῦσαι τῆς Ἀσίας καὶ περιθέσθαι τὸ διάδημα καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρα ἐπ᾿ Ἀντίοχον τὸν βασιλέα. | 39 Now Tryphon went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head. |
| 40 καὶ εὐλαβήθη μήποτε οὐκ ἐάσῃ αὐτὸν Ἰωνάθαν καὶ μήποτε πολεμήσῃ πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ ἐζήτει συλλαβεῖν αὐτὸν τοῦ ἀπολέσαι, καὶ ἀπάρας ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν. | 40 Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and 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. |
| 41 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἰωνάθαν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτῷ ἐν τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάσιν ἀνδρῶν ἐπιλελεγμέναις εἰς παράταξιν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν. | 41 Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan. |
| 42 καὶ εἶδεν Τρύφων ὅτι ἦλθεν μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς, καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρας ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν εὐλαβήθη. | 42 Now when Tryphon saw Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him; |
| 43 καὶ ἐπεδέξατο αὐτὸν ἐνδόξως καὶ συνέστησεν αὐτὸν πᾶσιν τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ δόματα καὶ ἐπέταξεν τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ ταῖς δυνάμεσιν αὐτοῦ ὑπακούειν αὐτοῦ ὡς αὐτοῦ. | 43 But received him honourably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him, as to himself. |
| 44 καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Ἰωνάθαν ἵνα τί ἐκόπωσας πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον πολέμου μὴ ἐνεστηκότος ἡμῖν; | 44 Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us? |
| 45 καὶ νῦν ἀπόστειλον αὐτοὺς εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν, ἐπίλεξαι δὲ σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας ὀλίγους, οἵτινες ἔσονται μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ δεῦρο μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εἰς Πτολεμαίδα, καὶ παραδώσω σοὶ αὐτὴν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ὀχυρώματα καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις τὰς λοιπὰς καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν χρειῶν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας ἀπελεύσομαι· τούτου γὰρ χάριν πάρειμι. | 45 Therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of my coming. |
| 46 καὶ ἐμπιστεύσας αὐτῷ ἐποίησεν καθὼς εἶπεν, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν τὰς δυνάμεις, καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα. | 46 So Jonathan believing him did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea. |
| 47 κατέλιπεν δὲ μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ ἄνδρας τρισχιλίους, ὧν δισχιλίους ἀφῆκεν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, χίλιοι δὲ συνῆλθον αὐτῷ. | 47 And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him. |
| 48 ὡς δὲ εἰσῆλθεν Ἰωνάθαν εἰς Πτολεμαίδα, ἀπέκλεισαν οἱ Πτολεμαεῖς τὰς πύλας καὶ συνέλαβον αὐτόν, καὶ πάντας τοὺς συνεισελθόντας μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ. | 48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all them that came with him they slew with the sword. |
| 49 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Τρύφων δυνάμεις καὶ ἵππον εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ τὸ πεδίον τὸ μέγα τοῦ ἀπολέσαι πάντας τοὺς παρὰ Ἰωνάθου. | 49 Then sent Tryphon an host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company. |
| 50 καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι συνελήμφθη καὶ ἀπόλωλεν καὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ παρεκάλεσαν ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἐπορεύοντο συνεστραμμένοι ἕτοιμοι εἰς πόλεμον. | 50 But when they knew that Jonathan and they that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another; and went close together, prepared to fight. |
| 51 καὶ εἶδον οἱ διώκοντες ὅτι περὶ ψυχῆς αὐτοῖς ἐστιν, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν. | 51 They therefore that followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again. |
| 52 καὶ ἦλθον πάντες μετ᾿ εἰρήνης εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα καὶ ἐπένθησαν τὸν Ἰωνάθαν καὶ τοὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα· καὶ ἐπένθησεν πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ πένθος μέγα. | 52 Whereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid; wherefore all Israel made great lamentation. |
| 53 καὶ ἐζήτησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἐκτρῖψαι αὐτούς· εἶπον γάρ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἄρχοντα καὶ βοηθοῦντα· νῦν οὖν πολεμήσωμεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐξάρωμεν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν. | 53 Then all the heathen that were round about then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from among men. |