1 Maccabees 12

12And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner. And they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: ‘Jonathan the high-priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time.’ And they gave them letters unto ⁽the governors⁽ of every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace. And this is the copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: ‘Jonathan the high-priest, and the Council of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, unto their brethren the Spartans, greeting! Even before this time were letters sent unto Onias the high-priest from Areios, who was reigning among you, ⁽to the effect⁽ that ye are our brethren, as the copy ⁽here⁽ underwritten showeth. And Onias treated honourably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship. Therefore we also—albeit we need none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books which are in our hands—have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for long time is passed since ye sent unto us. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both at our feasts, and on other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be mindful of brethren; and, moreover, we are glad for your glory. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have fought against us. We were not minded, however, to be troublesome to you, or to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars; for we have the help that is from heaven to help us,and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humiliated. We chose, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent ⁽them⁽ unto the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy. We commanded them, therefore, to go also unto you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing ⁽of friendship⁽ and of our brotherhood. And now ye shall do well if ye give us an answer thereto.’ And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias: ‘Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the chief priest, greeting! It hath been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham; and now, since these things have come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity. And we, moreover, do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command, therefore, that they make report unto you on this wise.’

And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were returned to fight against him with a greater force than afore, so he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to set foot in his country. And he sent spies into their camp; and they returned, and reported unto him that in such and such a way they had planned to fall upon him by night. But as 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 for battle; and he sent forth sentinels ⁽and placed them⁽ round about the camp. But ⁽when⁽ the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were afraid and trembled in their heart; and they kindled fires in their camp, and departed. But Jonathan and his men knew it not till morning; for they saw the fires burning. And Jonathan pursued after them, but did not overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus. And Jonathan turned aside ⁽and fought⁽ against the Arabians, who are called Gabadaeans, and smote them, and took their spoils. And he set out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.

And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Askalon, and the strongholds that were near unto it. And he turned aside to Joppa, and took possession of it, for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold unto the men of Demetrius; and he placed a garrison there to keep it.

And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judaea, and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, so that it might be isolated, that they ⁽within it⁽ might neither buy nor ⁽they without⁽ sell. And they were gathered together to build ⁽the city⁽; and ⁽a part of⁽ the wall by the brook that is on the east side had fallen down, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha. And Simon also built Adida in the plain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king. And he was afraid lest haply Jonathan should not suffer him ⁽to do so⁽, and lest he should fight against him; so he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. And he removed, and came to Bethshan. And Jonathan came forthto meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan. And ⁽when⁽ Tryphon saw that he came with a great host, he was afraid to stretch forth his hand against him; and he received him honourably, and commended him unto all his Friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his Friends and his forces to be obedient unto him, as unto himself. And he said unto Jonathan: ‘Why hast thou put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war betwixt us? And now, send them away to their homes, but choose for thyself a few men who shall be with thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to thee, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the ⁽king’s⁽ officers; then I will return and depart; for, for this cause did I come.’ And he trusted him and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah. But he reserved to himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee, but one thousand went with him. But when Jonathan had entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and took him; and all they that had come with him they slew with the sword. And Tryphon sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men. And they perceived that he was taken and had perished, and they that were with him; nevertheless they encouraged one another, and went on their way close together, ready for war. And ⁽when⁽ they that were following ⁽upon them⁽ saw that they were ready ⁽to fight⁽ for their lives, they turned back again. And they all came in peace to the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid. And all Israel mourned with a great mourning. And all the Gentiles that were round about them sought to destroy them utterly, for they said: ‘They have not a man ⁽that is⁽ leader and ⁽who will⁽ help ⁽them⁽; now therefore let us fight against them, and take away their memorial from among men.’