Jonathan Renews Friendship with Rome and Sparta.

When Jonathan saw that the times were favorable, he selected men to send to Rome for the purpose of confirming and renewing the treaty of friendship with the Romans. He also sent letters to the same effect to Sparta and elsewhere.

       Upon reaching Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and said, "The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew their treaty of friendship and alliance with you." The Romans provided them with letters that requested the authorities in various locations to give the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah.

       This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: "Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans. Quite some time ago a letter was sent to Onias the high priest from Arius your king, stating that you are indeed our brothers, as the attached copy shows. Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and accepted the letter, on which was set forth a clear declaration of alliance and friendship. Although we have no need of such things, inasmuch as we have as a source of encouragement the sacred books in our possession, we have decided to request the renewal of our pact of family ties and friendship with you so that we may not become estranged from you, for a great many years have elapsed since you last contacted us.

       "We, for our part, remember you constantly in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers at our festivals and on other appointed days, for it is right and proper to remember brothers. We rejoice in your renown. We ourselves, however, have endured many trials and wars, and the kings in our vicinity have been attacking us. We did not want to bother you and our other allies and friends during these wars, inasmuch as we have the support of Heaven to help us. Therefore, we were delivered from our enemies, and they have been humbled. And so we have chosen Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew our former pact of friendship and alliance. We have also instructed them to visit you and greet you and deliver this letter about the renewal of our pact of family ties. Please send us a reply to this letter."

       This is a copy of the letter that was sent to Onias: "Arius, the king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest. A document has been uncovered that states that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers, both being descended from Abraham. And now that we have learned of this, we ask that you write to us with news of your welfare. We, on our part, affirm that your livestock and your possessions belong to us and that ours belong to you, and we are instructing our envoys to give you a promise to this effect."

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 12, VERSES 1 - 23

Jonathan Thwarts the Syrian Offensive.

When Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had returned to wage war against him with an even larger army than previously, he set forth from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, thereby giving them no opportunity to invade his own territory. He sent spies into their camp who returned and informed him that the enemy was preparing to attack the Jews that night. Therefore, at sunset Jonathan commanded his troops to remain awake and fully armed throughout the night, prepared for battle, and he stationed outposts all around the camp. When the enemy learned that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were terrified, and their courage failed them. After lighting fires in the camp, they then withdrew. However, Jonathan and his men were not aware of their withdrawal until morning, for they saw the fires burning. Although Jonathan pursued them, he was unable to overtake them, for they had crossed the River Eleutherus. And so, Jonathan turned aside to attack the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, and he thoroughly routed them and engaged in plunder. Then he moved on to Damascus, marching through that entire region.

       Simon also set out and advanced as far as Ashkelon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned toward Joppa and occupied it, for he had heard that its inhabitants intended to hand over this stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius, and he stationed a garrison there to guard it.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 12, VERSES 24 - 34

Jonathan Erects Fortifications in Jerusalem and Judea.

       When Jonathan returned, he convened the elders of the people and secured their agreement to build strongholds in Judea, to increase the height of the walls in Jerusalem, and to erect a high barrier between the citadel and the city so that the citadel would be isolated and its occupants would be unable to engage in commerce with the city. The people worked together to rebuild the city. Part of the wall above the valley to the east had collapsed, and the quarter called Chaphenatha was also repaired. Simon meanwhile rebuilt Adida in the Shephelah, and he strengthened its fortifications with gates and bars.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 12, VERSES 35 - 38

Jonathan Falls into the Hands of His Enemies.

Meanwhile, Trypho set his sights on becoming king of Asia, assuming the crown, and launching an attack on king Antiochus. However, he was afraid that Jonathan would not allow him to do this and might even resort to war to prevent him from doing so. Therefore, he set out and marched to Beth-shan, in the hope of seizing him and putting him to death. Jonathan marched out to confront him with forty thousand picked warriors and arrived at Beth-shan.

       When Trypho saw that Jonathan was confronting him with a large army, he was hesitant about launching an attack against him. Instead he received him with honor, commended him to all his Friends, and gave him gifts. He also ordered his Friends and all his soldiers to obey him as they would himself. Then he said to Jonathan, "Why have you put all your soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war? Send them back home after first choosing a few of them to remain with you, and journey with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and then I will depart for home. That was my purpose in coming here."

       Jonathan believed that he was being truthful and did as he had suggested. He dismissed his forces, and they returned to the land of Judah. However, he kept three thousand men with him, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee while one thousand accompanied him. But as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of the city closed the gates and seized him, and they slew with sword all those who had accompanied him.

       Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all of Jonathan's men. When these learned that Jonathan had been captured and his forces had been slaughtered, they encouraged one another and marched in close formation, ready for battle. Their pursuers, realizing that they were prepared to fight for their lives, turned back. Thus they all returned home safely to the land of Judah. They grieved over Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear, and all Israel was plunged into mourning.

       All the surrounding nations were determined to destroy them. "They have no leader or ally," they said. "Now let us attack them and wipe out every memory of them from all peoples."

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 12, VERSES 39 - 53

Simon Becomes Leader of Israel.

When Simon heard that Trypho had assembled a large army to invade and destroy the land of Judah, and he saw that the people were trembling with fear, he went up to Jerusalem. Assembling the people, he exhorted them in these words: "You yourselves are fully aware of what I and my brothers and the house of my father have done for the laws and the sanctuary. You also know about the battles we have fought and the hardships we have endured. As a result, all of my brothers have perished for the sake of Israel, and I alone am left. Far be it from me, then, to give priority to my own life in any time of oppression, for I am not of any greater worth than my brothers. Rather, I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and your wives and children, for all the nations have united to destroy us because of their hatred for us."

       These words rekindled the spirit of the people, and they replied by shouting, "You are our leader in place of Judas and your brother Jonathan. Fight our battles, and we will do whatever you tell us." Therefore, Simon assembled all the fighting men and hurried to complete the walls of Jerusalem, fortifying it on every side. He sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, with a large force to Joppa; Jonathan drove out the people who were there and occupied the town.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 1 - 11

Simon Prevents Trypho from Invading Judah.

Then Trypho departed from Ptolemais with a large army to invade the land of Judah, bringing Jonathan with him under guard, while Simon encamped in Adida, opposite the plain. When Trypho learned that Simon had assumed the role of his brother Jonathan and that he was prepared to engage in battle with him, he sent envoys to say to him, "We are detaining your brother Jonathan because of the money that he owed to the royal treasury in connection with the offices he held. Send us a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages to ensure that when he is set free he will not revolt against us, and we will release him."

       Although Simon was positive that they were speaking deceitfully to him, he had the money and the boys brought to him, fearing to provoke great hostility among the people, who might say that Jonathan perished because Simon would not send Trypho the money and the boys. Therefore, he sent both the boys and the one hundred talents, but Trypho broke his word and refused to release Jonathan. Next, Trypho set out to invade and ravage the country. He made a detour along the road that leads to Adora, but Simon and his army kept marching opposite him every place he went.

       The men in the citadel sent messages to Trypho, urging him to come to their aid by way of the desert and to send them supplies. Trypho prepared his entire cavalry force to go, but that night it snowed so heavily that he was unable to proceed. Therefore, he withdrew into Gilead. When he drew near to Baskama, he had Jonathan put to death and buried him there. Then Trypho returned to his own country.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 12 - 24

Jonathan's Funeral.

       Simon sent for the body of his brother Jonathan and buried him in Modein, the city of his ancestors. There was great lamentation for him throughout Israel, and the mourning lasted for many days. Over the tomb of his father and brothers Simon erected a tall monument that was visible from a great distance, composed of polished stone back and front. He also erected seven pyramids, facing each other, for his father and mother and four brothers. For the pyramids he devised an elaborate setting of tall columns, surmounted by trophies of armor as a perpetual memorial, and next to the armor he placed carved ships that could be seen by all who sailed the sea. This tomb, which he built at Modein, remains to this day.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 25 - 30

A New Political Autonomy.

       Trypho next dealt treacherously with the young King Antiochus. He killed him and usurped his position as king, claiming the crown of Asia and inflicting great havoc on the country. Meanwhile, Simon rebuilt the strongholds of Judea, strengthening them with high towers, great walls, and bolted gates, and he stocked the strongholds with provisions. He also sent selected emissaries to King Demetrius with a request that he grant tax relief to the country, since Trypho had done little else except plunder the land. King Demetrius responded favorably to his request with the following letter:

       "King Demetrius sends greetings to Simon the high priest and the Friend of Kings, and to the elders and the Jewish people. We have received the gold crown and the palm branch that you sent, and we are willing to enter into a treaty of peace with you and to write to our officials with instructions to grant you an exemption from the payment of tribute. All of our previous guarantees to you remain in force, and the strongholds that you have built shall remain in your possession. We pardon any errors or offenses committed up to now, and we remit the crown tax that you owe. Moreover, any other tax that formerly was collected in Jerusalem is hereby canceled. If any of you are qualified to be enrolled in our service, let them be enrolled. Let there be peace between us."

       Thus in the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel, and the people began to write in their documents and contracts: "In the first year of Simon, the great high priest, commander and leader of the Jews."

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 31 - 42

Simon Captures Gazara.

       About that time, Simon besieged Gazara and surrounded it with troops. He constructed a siege-machine, and after he had brought it up to the town, he opened a breach in one of the towers and captured it. The men leapt from the siege-machine into the city, and a great tumult arose there. The men of the city, with their wives and children, mounted the walls with their garments torn, and they cried out loudly, imploring Simon to make peace with them. "Do not treat us as our wickedness deserves," they said, "but according to your mercy."

       Simon reached an agreement with them and did not destroy them. However, he expelled them from the city, and he purified the houses that contained idols. Then he entered the city with hymns and songs of praise. After removing everything from it that was unclean, he settled there people who observed the law. He also strengthened its fortifications and built a residence for himself.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 43 - 48

The Citadel Surrenders.

       The occupants of the citadel in Jerusalem were prevented from coming out and going into the countryside to buy and sell. Thus they were in a state of famine, and many of them died of starvation. Then they implored Simon to make peace with them, and he granted their request. Expelling them from the citadel, he cleansed it of its defilement. On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, the Jews entered the citadel with shouting and the waving of palm branches, to the accompaniment of lyres and cymbals and harps and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been destroyed. Simon decreed that this day should be observed each year with rejoicing. He also strengthened the fortifications of the temple hill alongside the citadel, and he took up residence there with his men. And since his son John had now reached manhood, he appointed him as commander of all the forces, with his residence in Gazara.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 49 - 53