1st Maccabees Chapter 12

Jonathan’s relationship with Rome and Sparta

12:1 Now when Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here saw that time favored him, he chose some men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.
12:2 He also sent letters  to the Spartans, and to other places, for the same purpose.
12:3 So they went to Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us to you, to the end y’all should renew the friendship and league, like y’all had with them in the past.
12:4 On this the Romans gave them letters for the governors of each place that they should bring them peaceably to the land of Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here .
12:5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here wrote to the Spartans:
12:6 Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews send greetings, to the Spartans their brothers:
12:7 There were letters sent in times past to Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned among you then , to signify that y’all are our brothers, as the copy  attached here does specify.
12:8 At which time Onias petitioned the ambassador that was sent honorably, and received the letters, in which proclamation was made of the league and friendship.
12:9 For that reason we also, although we need none of these things, having the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,
12:10 Have however attempted to send to you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since y’all sent to us.
12:11 For that reason we at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other appropriate days, do remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becomes us to think on our brothers:
12:12 And we are right glad of your honor.
12:13 As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, in view of the fact that the kings that are around us have fought against us.
12:14 However we would not be unsettling to you, or to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:
12:15 For we have support from Heaven that assisted us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.
12:16 For this reason we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former league.
12:17 We ordered them also to go to you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
12:18 For that reason now y’all will do well to give us an answer to it.
12:19 And this is the copy of the letters that Oniares sent.
12:20 Areus king of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greeting:
12:21 It is found in writing, that the Spartans and Jews are brothers, and that they are of the stock of Abrahamאַבְרָהָם
/ˈeɪbrəhæm, -həm/; ‎‎, Modern: ʾAvraham, As recounted in the Torah, his name was originally Avram which means “High Father” – “av” (אב) “father”, “ram” (רם) “high” – with the “ha” (ה) added in mark of his covenant with God. For more info click here:
12:22 Now for that reason, since this is come to our knowledge, y’all will do well to write to us of your prosperity.
12:23 We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours We do command for that reason our ambassadors to make report to you on this wise.

Jonathan in Coele-Syria.

12:24 Now when Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here heard that Demebius’ princes had come to fight against him with a greater army than before,
12:25 He left Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathis: for he gave them no pause to enter his country.
12:26 He also sent spies to their tents, who came back, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night time.
12:27 For that reason as soon as the sun went down, Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here commanded his men to watch, and to be armed, that all night long so they might be ready to fight: also he sent out sentinels around the army.
12:28 But when the adversaries heard that Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they lit fires in their camp.
12:29 However Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and his company didn’t know it until morning: because they saw the light from the fires.
12:30 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here pursued after them, but didn’t overtake them : because they had gone over the river Eleutherus.
12:31 For that reason Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and attacked them, and took their plunder.
12:32 Then leaving there, he went to Damascus, and so crossed through the whole country,

Simon in Philista

12:33 At the same Simonשִׁמְעוֹן הַתַּסִּי
Šīməʿōn haTassī; died 135 BC The name “Thassi” has a connotation of “the Wise”, a title which can also mean “the Director”, “the Guide”, “the Man of Counsel”, and “the Zealous”. This Simon is also sometimes distinguished as Simon the Hasmonean, Simon Maccabee, or (from Latin) Simon Maccabeus. For more info click here also went out, and passed through the country to Ascalon, and the adjacent towns, from where he turned to Joppa, and won it.
12:34 Because he had heard that they would deliver the hold to them that took Demetrius’ side; for that reason he stationed a garrison there to guard it.

Building work in Jerusalem

12:35 After this Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here came home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here,
12:36 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 be prevented from selling or buying in it.
12:37 Upon this they came together to build up the city, in view of the fact that as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side had fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha.
12:38 Simonשִׁמְעוֹן הַתַּסִּי
Šīməʿōn haTassī; died 135 BC The name “Thassi” has a connotation of “the Wise”, a title which can also mean “the Director”, “the Guide”, “the Man of Counsel”, and “the Zealous”. This Simon is also sometimes distinguished as Simon the Hasmonean, Simon Maccabee, or (from Latin) Simon Maccabeus. For more info click here also restore Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.

Jonathan falls into the hands of his enemies

12:39 Now Tryphon went about to rule the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.
12:40 However he was worried that Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here wouldn’t permit him, and that he would fight against him; for that reason he sought a way to apprehend Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here, that he might kill him. So he left, and came to Bethsan.
12:41 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bethsan.
12:42 Now when Tryphon saw Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here came with so great a force, he dare not stretch his hand against him;
12:43 But received him honorably, and recommended him to all his friends, and gave him gifts, and ordered his men of war to be as obedient to him, as to himself.
12:44 To Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here also he said, Why have you brought all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war between us?
12:45 For that reason send them home again now, and choose a few men to wait on you, and come with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it you, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all that have any responsibility: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the why I came.
12:46 So Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here believing him did as he told him, and sent away his army, who went to the land of Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here.
12:47 But he retained three thousand men with himself, of whom he sent two thousand to Galileeהַגָּלִיל
/ˈɡælɪliː/ romanized: hagGālīl Galilee refers to all of the area north of the Mount Carmel-Mount Gilboa ridge and south of the east–west section of the Litani River. It extends from the Israeli coastal plain and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea with Acre in the west, to the Jordan Rift Valley to the east; and from the Litani in the north plus a piece bordering on the Golan Heights all the way to Dan at the base of Mount Hermon in the northeast, to Mount Carmel and Mount Gilboa in the south. For more info click here, and one thousand went with him.
12:48 Now as soon as Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and confined him, and all of them that came with him they killed with the sword.
12:49 Then sent Tryphon an army of infantry and cavalry to Galileeהַגָּלִיל
/ˈɡælɪliː/ romanized: hagGālīl Galilee refers to all of the area north of the Mount Carmel-Mount Gilboa ridge and south of the east–west section of the Litani River. It extends from the Israeli coastal plain and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea with Acre in the west, to the Jordan Rift Valley to the east; and from the Litani in the north plus a piece bordering on the Golan Heights all the way to Dan at the base of Mount Hermon in the northeast, to Mount Carmel and Mount Gilboa in the south. For more info click here, and to the great plain, to destroy all Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here‘s company.
12:50 But when they found out that Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and those that were with him were confined and killed, they encouraged one another; and got close together, prepared to fight.
12:51 For that reason those that followed them, realizing that they were ready to fight for their lives, retreated.
12:52 On which they all came into the land of Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here peaceably, and there they mourned Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here, and those that were with him, and they were very afraid; for that reason all Israel made great lamentation.
12:53 Then all the heathen that were around then sought to destroy them: for said they, They have no general, or any to support them: now for that reason let us make war on them, and take away their recollection from among men.