1 Maccabees 11
11
1And #ch. 10.51.the king of Egypt gathered together great forces, #See Josh. 11.4.as the sand which is by the sea shore, and many ships, and sought to make himself master of Alexander's kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom. 2And he went forth into Syria with words of peace, and they of the cities opened unto him, and met him; for king Alexander's commandment was that they should meet him, because he was his father in law. 3Now as he entered into the cities of #See ch. 5.15.Ptolemais, he set his forces for a garrison in each city. 4But when he came near to #See ch. 4.15.Azotus, they shewed him the temple of #See Judg. 16.23.Dagon #Cp. ch. 10.84.burned with fire, and #See ch. 4.15.Azotus and the suburbs thereof pulled down, and the bodies cast abroad, and them that had been burned, whom he burned in the war, for they had made heaps of them in his way. 5And they told the king what things Jonathan had done, that they might cast blame on him: and the king held his peace. 6And Jonathan met the king with pomp at #See ch. 10.75.Joppa, and they saluted one another, and they slept there. 7And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called #ch. 12.30.Eleutherus, and returned to Jerusalem. 8But #ch. 10.51.king Ptolemy became master of the cities upon the sea coast, unto #Acts 13.4.Seleucia which is by the sea, and he devised evil devices concerning Alexander. 9And he sent ambassadors unto king #See ch. 10.67.Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a covenant with one another, and I will give thee my daughter #Cp. ch. 10.58.whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign over thy father's kingdom; 10For I have repented that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me. 11And he cast blame on him, because he coveted his kingdom. 12And taking his daughter from him, he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity was openly seen. 13And Ptolemy entered into #See ch. 3.37.Antioch, and put on himself the diadem of #See ch. 8.6.Asia; and he put two diadems upon his head, the diadem of Egypt and that of Asia. 14But king Alexander was in #See Judith 2.21.Cilicia at that season, because they of those parts were in revolt. 15And Alexander heard of it, and he came against him in war: and Ptolemy led forth his host, and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight. 16And Alexander fled into Arabia, that he might be sheltered there; but king Ptolemy was exalted. 17And #Cp. ver. 39.Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it to Ptolemy. 18And king Ptolemy died the third day after, and they that were in his strongholds were slain by them that were in the strongholds. 19#Cp. 2 Mac. 1.7.And Demetrius reigned in #11.19 circa B. C. 146.the hundred and threescore and seventh year.
20In those days #Cp. ver. 7.Jonathan gathered together them of Judæa, to take #See ch. 1.33.the citadel that was at Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it. 21And certain that hated their own nation, #See ch. 1.11.men that transgressed the law, went unto the king, and reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. 22And he heard, and was angered; but when he heard it, he set forth immediately, and came to #See ch. 5.15.Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at #See ch. 5.15.Ptolemais with all speed. 23But when Jonathan heard this, he commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and of the priests, and put himself in peril, 24And #Cp. ch. 10.60.taking silver and gold and raiment and divers presents besides, went to #See ch. 5.15.Ptolemais unto the king. And he found favour in his sight. 25And #See ch. 1.11.certain lawless men of them that were of the nation made complaints against him, 26And the king did unto him even as his predecessors had done unto him, and exalted him in the sight of all his #See ch. 2.18.Friends, 27And #ver. 57. ch. 10.20 & 14.38.confirmed to him the high priesthood, and all the other honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his #See ch. 10.65.Chief Friends. 28And Jonathan requested of the king, that he would make Judæa #Cp. ver. 35 & ch. 10.29.free from tribute, and #ch. 10.30, 38.the three #11.28 Gr. toparchies.provinces, and the country of Samaria; and promised him three hundred talents. 29And the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan concerning all these things after this manner:
30King Demetrius unto #Cp. ch. 10.18.his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, greeting: 31The copy of the letter which we wrote unto Lasthenes our kinsman concerning you, we have written also unto you, that ye may see it. 32King Demetrius unto Lasthenes #Cp. Gen. 45.8 & 2 Kin. 2.12.his father, greeting: 33We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and observe what is just toward us, because of their good will toward us. 34We have confirmed therefore unto them the borders of Judæa, and also #See ver. 28.the three governments of Aphærema and #Acts 9.32.Lydda and #1 Sam. 1.1.Ramathaim ( these were added unto Judæa from the country of Samaria), and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the king's dues which the king received of them yearly aforetime #ch. 10.30.from the produce of the earth and the fruits of trees. 35And as for the other things that pertain unto us from henceforth, of #ch. 10.31.the tenths and the tolls that pertain unto us, and #ch. 10.29.the saltpits, and #ch. 10.29.the crowns that pertain unto us, all these we will bestow upon them. 36And not one of these things shall be annulled from this time forth and for ever. 37Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given unto Jonathan, and let it be set up on the holy mount in a meet and conspicuous place.
38And king Demetrius saw that #ver. 52. Cp. ch. 1.3.the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except #Cp. ver. 68.the foreign forces, #Cp. ch. 10.67.which he had raised from #See ch. 6.29.the isles of the Gentiles: and all the forces of his fathers hated him. 39Now #ver. 54, 56. ch. 12.39, 42, 49 & 13.1, 12, al.Tryphon was of those who aforetime had been of Alexander's part, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrius, and he went to Imalcue #Cp. ver. 16.the Arabian, who was nourishing up #ver. 54.Antiochus the young child of Alexander, 40And pressed sore upon him that he should deliver him unto him, that he might reign in his father's stead: and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred wherewith his forces hated him; and #Cp. ver. 54, 56.he abode there many days.
41And Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he should cast out of Jerusalem #See ver. 20-22.them of the citadel, and them #See ch. 9.50-52 & 10.12-14.that were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually. 42And Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for thee and thy nation, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if I find fair occasion. 43Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men who shall fight for me; #Cp. ver. 38.for all my forces are revolted. 44And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men unto #ver. 13. See ch. 3.37.Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king was glad at their coming. 45And they of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and they were minded to slay the king. 46And the king fled into the court of the palace, and they of the city seized the passages of the city, and began to fight. 47And the king called the Jews to help him, and they were gathered together unto him all at once, and they dispersed themselves in the city, and slew that day to the number of a hundred thousand. 48And they set the city on fire, and gat many spoils that day, and saved the king. 49And they of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves masters of the city as they would, and they waxed faint in their hearts, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying, 50#ver. 62, 66. ch. 6.58.Give us thy right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city. 51And they cast away their arms, and made peace; and the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all that were in his kingdom; and they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils. 52And king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and #ver. 38.the land was quiet before him. 53And he lied in all that he spake, and estranged himself from Jonathan, and recompensed him not according to the benefits with which he had recompensed him, and afflicted him exceedingly.
54Now after this #See ver. 39.Tryphon #Cp. ver. 40.returned, and with him #ver. 39.the young child Antiochus; and he reigned, and put on a diadem. 55And there were gathered unto him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away with disgrace, and they fought against him, and he fled and was put to the rout. 56And #See ver. 39.Tryphon took the elephants, and became master of #See ver. 44.Antioch. 57And the young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, #See ver. 27.I confirm unto thee the high priesthood, and appoint thee over #Cp. ver. 28, 34 & ch. 10.38.the four governments, and to be one of the king's #See ch. 2.18.Friends. 58And he sent unto him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him leave #Cp. 1 Esd. 3.6.to drink in golden vessels, and #See ch. 10.20.to be clothed in purple, and to have #ch. 10.89 & 14.44.a golden buckle. 59And his brother #See ch. 9.19.Simon he made captain from the Ladder of #2 Mac. 4.18.Tyre unto the borders of Egypt. 60And Jonathan went forth, and took his journey beyond the river and through the cities; and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to be his confederates. And he came to #See ch. 10.86.Ascalon, and they of the city met him honourably. 61And he departed thence to #Josh. 13.3 & 15.47. Judg. 16.1, al.Gaza, and they of Gaza shut him out; and he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them. 62And they of #Josh. 13.3 & 15.47. Judg. 16.1, al.Gaza made request unto Jonathan, and he #ver. 50, 66.gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem; and he passed through the country as far as #ch. 12.32.Damascus.
63And #Cp. ch. 12.24.Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to #Josh. 20.7. Tob. 1.2.Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great host, purposing to remove him from his office; 64And he went to meet them, but Simon his brother he left in the country. 65And Simon encamped against #See ch. 4.29.Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and shut it up: 66And they made request to him that he would #ver. 50, 66.give them his right hand, and he gave it to them; and he put them out from thence, and #Cp. ch. 14.7.took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it. 67And Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of #See Luke 5.1.Gennesareth, and early in the morning they gat them to the plain of #Josh. 11.1 & 19.36. Judg. 4.2, al.Hazor. 68And, behold, an army of #Cp. ver. 38.strangers met him in the plain, and #Cp. ch. 9.40.they laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but themselves met him face to face. 69But they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined battle; and all they that were of Jonathan's side fled: 70Not one of them was left, except Mattathias the son of #ch. 13.11. Cp. 2 Mac. 11.17.Absalom, and Judas the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces. 71And Jonathan #ch. 2.14.rent his clothes, and #ch. 3.47.put earth upon his head, and prayed. 72And he turned again unto them in battle, and put them to the rout, and they fled. 73And they of his side that fled saw it, and returned unto him, and pursued with him unto #See ver. 63.Kedesh unto their camp, and they encamped there. 74And there fell of #Cp. ver. 38.the strangers on that day about three thousand men: and Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.
Currently Selected:
1 Maccabees 11: RV1895
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society