1st Maccabees Chapter 15

Letter of Antiochus VII and siege of Dora

15:1 Then Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea to 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 the priest and prince of the Jews, and to all the people;
15:2 The contents of which were these: King Antiochus to 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 the high priest and prince of his nation, and to the people of the Jews, greeting:
15:3 In view of the fact that some irritating men have seized the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge it again, that I may restore it to the old estate, and to that end have gathered a multitude of foreign soldiers together, and prepared ships of war;
15:4 My meaning also being to go through the country, that I may be avenged of those that have destroyed it, and made many cities in the kingdom desolate:
15:5 Now for that reason I confirm to you all the oblations which the kings before me granted you, and whatever gifts besides they granted.
15:6 I give you permission also to coin money for your country with your own stamp.
15:7 And as concerning Jerusalem and the sanctuary, let them be free; and all the armor that you have made, and fortresses that you have built, and keep in your hands, let them remain to you.
15:8 And if anything be, or shall be, owing to the king, let it be forgiven you from this time forward forever.
15:9 Then, when we have obtained our kingdom, we will honor you, and your nation, and your temple, with great honor, so that your honor shall be known throughout the world.
15:10 In the hundred seventy-fourth year Antiochus went into the land of his fathers: at which time all the forces came together to him, so that few were left with Tryphon.
15:11 For that reason being pursued by king Antiochus, he escaped to Dora, which lies by the sea side:
15:12 Because he saw that troubles came on him all at once, and that his forces had deserted him.
15:13 Then Antiochus camped against Dora, having with him a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen.
15:14 And when he had surrounded the city, and joined ships close to the town on the sea side, he irritated the city by land and by sea, he didn’t permit any to go out or in.

The Ambassadors return from Rome to Judea, The league with Rome

15:15 Meanwhile came Numenius and his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these things:
15:16 Lucius, ambassador of the Romans to king Ptolemee, greeting:
15:17 The Jews’ ambassadors, our friends and confederates, came to us to renew the old friendship and league, being sent by 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 the high priest, and by the Jewish people:
15:18 And they brought a shield of gold of a thousand pound.
15:19 We thought it good for that reason to write to the kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, or fight against them, their cities, or countries, or yet aid their enemies against them.
15:20 It seemed also good to us to receive the shield from them.
15:21 If for that reason if there are any irritating fellows, that have escaped from their country to you, deliver them to 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 the high priest, that he may punish them according to their own law.
15:22 The same things wrote he likewise to Demetrius the king, and Attalus, to Ariarathes, and Arsaces,
15:23 And to all the countries and to Sampsames, and the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Rhodus, and Aradus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.
15:24 And a copy of this they wrote to 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 the high priest.

Antiochus VII besieging Dora, become hostile to Simon and sends him a reprimand

15:25 So Antiochus the king camped against Dora the second day, assaulting it continually, and making siege-engines, by which means he blockaded Tryphon, that he could neither go out or in.
15:26 At that time 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 sent him two thousand chosen men to aid him; silver also, and gold, and much armor.
15:27 Even so he wouldn’t receive them, but broke all the covenants which he had made with him before, and became strange to him.
15:28 Furthermore he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to commune with him, and say, y’all withhold Joppa and Gaza; with the tower that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.
15:29 The borders of it y’all have wasted, and done great hurt in the land, and got the dominion of many places within my kingdom.
15:30 Now for that reason deliver the cities which y’all have taken, and the tributes of the places, of which y’all have gotten dominion outside the borders of Judea:
15:31 Or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that y’all have done, and the tributes of the cities, other five hundred talents: if not, we will come and fight against you
15:32 So Athenobius the king’s friend came to Jerusalem: and when he saw the glory of 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, and the cupboard of gold and silver plate, and his great attendance, he was astonished, and told him the king’s message.
15:33 Then 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 answered, and said to him, We have neither taken other men’s land, or hold that which belongs to others, but the inheritance of our fathers, which our enemies had wrongfully in possession a certain time.
15:34 for this reason we, having opportunity, hold the inheritance of our fathers.
15:35 And because you demanded Joppa and Gaza, although they did great harm to the people in our country, yet will we give you a hundred talentsThe Biblical weight of a talent is equal to approximately 34 kilograms or 74.96lbs for them. To this Athenobius answered him not a word;

Cendebaues, governor of the coastal region, harasses Judea

15:36 But returned in a rage to the king, and made report to him of these speeches, and of the glory of 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, and of all that he had seen: on which the king was exceedingly angry.
15:37 In the meanwhile Tryphon escaped by ship to Orthosias.
15:38 Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen,
15:39 And ordered him to remove his army toward Judea; also he ordered him to build up Cedron, and to fortify the gates, and to war against the people; but as for the king himself, he pursued Tryphon.
15:40 So Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people and to invade Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and kill them.
15:41 And when he had built up Cedrou, he stationed horsemen there, and an army of footmen, to the end that spreading out they might raid upon the roads of Judea, as the king had ordered him.