الإصحَاحُ
الْعَاشِرُ
Chapter 10
10:1 In the hundred and sixtieth year
Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais:
for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there, 2 Now when
king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and
went forth against him to fight. 3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto
Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him. 4 For said he, Let us first
make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us: 5 Else he will
remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren
and his people. 6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host,
and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that
the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.
7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read
the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the
tower: 8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him
authority to gather together an host. 9 Whereupon they of the tower delivered
their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.
10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem,
and began to build and repair the city. 11 And he commanded the workmen to
build the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for
fortification; and they did so.
12 Then the strangers, that were in the
fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away; 13 Insomuch as every man left his
place, and went into his own country. 14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that
had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their
place of refuge.
15 Now when king Alexander had heard what
promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the
battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains
that they had endured, 16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now
therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it
unto him, according to these words, saying, 18 King Alexander to his brother
Jonathan sendeth greeting: 19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of
great power, and meet to be our friend. 20 Wherefore now this day we ordain
thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king’s friend;
(and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require
thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us. 21 So in the seventh month
of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put
on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.
22 Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was
very sorry, and said, 23 What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in
making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself? 24 I also will write unto
them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may
have their aid. 25 He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius
unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting: 26 Whereas ye have kept covenants
with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our
enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad. 27 Wherefore now continue ye still
to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye do in
our behalf, 28 And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29 And now do I free you, and for your sake
I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from
crown taxes, 30 And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the
third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it
from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Judea, nor
of the three governments which are added thereunto out of the country of
Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.
31 Let Jerusalem also be holy and free,
with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes. 32 And as for the
tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and give the high
priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.
33 Moreover I freely set at liberty every
one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any
part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of
their cattle. 34 Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new
moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days
after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my
realm. 35 Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of
them in any matter.
36 I will further, that there be enrolled
among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay
shall be given, as belongeth to all king’s forces. 37 And of them some shall be
placed in the king’s strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the
affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and I will that their overseers and
governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as
the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.
38 And concerning the three governments
that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea,
that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority
than the high priest’s.
39 As for Ptolemais, and the land
pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for
the necessary expenses of the sanctuary. 40 Moreover I give every year fifteen
thousand shekels of silver out of the king’s accounts from the places
appertaining. 41 And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in
former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the temple.
42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels
of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year
by year, even those things shall be released, because they appertain to the
priests that minister. 43 And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem,
or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for any
other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm. 44
For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expenses
shall be given of the king’s accounts. 45 Yea, and for the building of the
walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expenses shall be
given out of the king’s accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.
46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard
these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because they
remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them
very sore. 47 But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the
first that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate with
him always.
48 Then gathered king Alexander great
forces, and camped over against Demetrius. 49 And after the two kings had
joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and
prevailed against them. 50 And he continued the battle very sore until the sun
went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.
51 Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to
Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect: 52 Forasmuch as I am come
again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have gotten
the dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country; 53 For after
I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so
that we sit in the throne of his kingdom: 54 Now therefore let us make a league
of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife: and I will be thy son
in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.
55 Then Ptolemee the king gave answer,
saying, Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy
fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom. 56 And now will I do to
thee, as thou hast written: meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one
another; for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.
57 So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his
daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and
second year: 58 Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter
Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory, as the
manner of kings is.
59 Now king Alexander had written unto
Jonathan, that he should come and meet him. 60 Who thereupon went honourably to
Ptolemais, where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and
gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.
61 At that time certain pestilent fellows
of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse
him: but the king would not hear them. 62 Yea more than that, the king commanded
to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so. 63 And he
made him sit by himself, and said into his princes, Go with him into the midst
of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any
matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause.
64 Now when his accusers saw that he was
honoured according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all
away. 65 So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and
made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion. 66 Afterward Jonathan returned
to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67 Furthermore in the; hundred threescore
and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of
his fathers: 68 Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and
returned into Antioch.
69 Then Demetrius made Apollonius the
governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host, and
camped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying, 70 Thou alone
liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and
reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?
71 Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine
own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the
matter together: for with me is the power of the cities. 72 Ask and learn who I
am, and the rest that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is
not able to stand before our face; for thy fathers have twice been put to
flight in their own land. 73 Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the
horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint,
nor place to flee unto.
74 So when Jonathan heard these words of
Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out
of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him. 75 And he
pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city,
because Apollonius had a garrison there.
76 Then Jonathan laid siege unto it:
whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa. 77
Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen, with a great
host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew
him forth into the plain. because he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he
put his trust.
78 Then Jonathan followed after him to
Azotus, where the armies joined battle. 79 Now Apollonius had left a thousand
horsemen in ambush. 80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind
him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from
morning till evening.
81 But the people stood still, as Jonathan
had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired. 82 Then brought
Simon forth his host, and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were
spent) who were discomfited by him, and fled. 83 The horsemen also, being
scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol’s
temple, for safety.
84 But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the
cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with
them that were fled into it, he burned with fire. 85 Thus there were burned and
slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men. 86 And from thence Jonathan
removed his host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came
forth, and met him with great pomp. 87 After this returned Jonathan and his
host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.
88 Now when king Alexander heard these
things, he honoured Jonathan yet more. 89 And sent him a buckle of gold, as the
use is to be given to such as are of the king’s blood: he gave him also Accaron
with the borders thereof in possession.
