The Prestige of Rome.

Judas heard of the reputation of the Romans--how they were mighty men who favored all who joined themselves to them and made an alliance with all who came to them and were strong and powerful. He had also been told of the battles they had fought and of the brave deeds that they had performed against the people of Gaul as they conquered them and forced them to pay tribute, and what they had done in the province of Spain, seizing the silver and gold mines there and by their planning and persistence gaining control of the entire country even though it was considerably distant from their own. They also had subdued kings who had come against them from the ends of the earth, crushing them and inflicting heavy losses on them, while the rest paid tribute to them every year.

       Philip and Perseus, the king of the Macedonians, and the others who had engaged in battle against them had been crushed by them and subjugated. They had also defeated Antiochus the Great, the king of Asia, who had attacked them with one hundred and twenty elephants, and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. They had taken him alive and imposed terms of surrender that obligated him and his successors to pay a substantial annual tribute, give hostages, and surrender portions of his best provinces--the countries of India, Media, and Lydia--which they took from him and gave to King Eumenes. When the Greeks devised a plan to attack and destroy them, the Romans got wind of it and sent against them a single general. In the ensuing battle many of the Greeks were wounded and fell, and the Romans took captive their wives and children, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them, a status that they endure even to the present day. All of the other kingdoms and islands that opposed them they destroyed and subjugated.

       However, with their friends and those who depended on them for protection, they maintained strong ties of friendship. They had subdued kings far and near, and all who heard of their reputation were terrified of them. Those whom they wished to help ascend to a throne became kings; those whom they wished to depose were overthrown. As a result, they were greatly exalted. Yet for all this not one of them ever put on a crown or wore purple as an emblem of authority. They had built a senate house where each day three hundred and twenty senators deliberated on how best to achieve the well-being of the people. They entrusted one man each year to rule over them and their dominions; all obeyed this one man without any envy or jealousy.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 8, VERSES 1 - 16

Alliance with Rome.

Therefore, Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to make a treaty of friendship and alliance, in the hope that in this way they would escape the yoke, for they could clearly see that the kingdom of the Greeks was reducing Israel to a state of slavery. Following a very lengthy journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and spoke these words: "Judas Maccabees and his brothers and the Jewish people have sent us to conclude a treaty of alliance and peace with you and to enroll ourselves as your allies and friends." This proposal pleased the Romans, and this is a copy of their reply, which they inscribed on tablets of bronze and sent to Jerusalem, where it would remain in the possession of the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:

       "May good fortune attend the Romans and the Jewish nation at sea and on land forever. May sword and foe be far from them. But if war should be instigated against Rome or any of her allies throughout her dominions, the Jewish nation shall provide them with their wholehearted support as the occasion shall demand. To the enemy that instigates that war they shall not give or provide grain, arms, money, or ships. Thus have the Romans decreed, and they shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense. In the same way, if war should be instigated against the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall provide them with their wholehearted support as the occasion shall demand. To the enemy that instigates that war they shall not give grain, arms, money, or ships. Thus have the Romans decreed, and they shall fulfill their obligations without any breach of faith. In these terms the Romans have made a treaty with the Jewish people. Subsequently, if both parties should decide to make any addition or deletion, they shall have the authority to do so, and any such addition or deletion that they make shall be deemed valid.

       "Concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius is perpetrating against the Jewish people, we have written to him as follows: 'Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews? If they have any further complaint to make against you, we shall uphold their rights and make war on you by land and sea.' "

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 8, VERSES 17 - 32

The Heroic Death of Judas.

When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah for a second time, and with them the right wing of his army. They took the road to Galilee and, besieging Mesaloth in Arbela, they captured it and killed many people. In the first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two they encamped outside Jerusalem, and from there they marched to Berea with twenty thousand foot soldiers and two thousand cavalry.

       Judas meanwhile had encamped at Elasa with three thousand picked men. When his men saw the immense number of the enemy forces, they were greatly terrified, and many slipped away from the camp, until only eight hundred men remained.

       When Judas realized that the battle was imminent and that his army was melting away, he became despondent, for he had no time to redeploy them. But despite being disheartened, he said to those who remained, "Let us rise up and advance against the enemy. We may have sufficient strength to defeat them." His men tried to dissuade him, saying, "We do not have the necessary strength. Let us save our own lives now and return to fight them when our kindred have joined up with us. Right now we are too few." But Judas replied, "Far be it from us to do such a thing as to flee from them. If our time has come, let us die bravely for our kindred and leave no stain upon our honor."

       Then the army of Bacchides marched out from the camp and was arrayed in battle position. The cavalry was divided into two squadrons. The slingers and the archers went ahead of the army, and the most skilled warriors were in the front line. Bacchides was on the right wing. The phalanx, flanked by the two squadrons, advanced to the sound of the trumpets, and the men with Judas also blew their trumpets. The earth shook with the noise of the armies, and the battle raged from morning until evening. Observing that Bacchides and the main strength of his army were on the right, Judas, with his most valiant men at his side, drove back the right wing and pursued them as far as Mount Azotus. But when those on the left wing observed that the right wing had been crushed, they reversed direction and closely followed Judas and his men, attacking them from the rear. The battle was fought desperately, and many on both sides fell. Judas was among those who fell, and the rest fled.

       Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the tomb of their ancestors at Modein. All Israel wept over him with great mourning for many days, saying, "How tragically the mighty one has fallen, the savior of Israel!" The rest of the acts of Judas, the battles that he waged, the valorous deeds that he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded, for they were very numerous.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 1 - 22

Jonathan Succeeds Judas.

After the death of Judas, the renegades came out of hiding in all parts of Israel, and all the evildoers reappeared. In those days there was a severe famine, and the country went over to their side. Bacchides chose godless men to be in charge of the country. These searched out and hunted down the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, who took his revenge on them and mocked them. There was great distress in Israel, the likes of which had not been since the days when the prophets ceased to appear among them.

       Then all the friends of Judas assembled and said to Jonathan, "Since the death of your brother Judas there has been no one like him to lead us against our enemies and Bacchides, as well as against those of our own nation who are hostile to us. Therefore, today we have chosen you to take his place as our ruler and our leader, and to fight our battle." Thereupon Jonathan accepted the leadership in the place of his brother Judas.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 23 - 31

Jonathn and Simon Retaliate.

When Bacchides learned of this, he made plans to kill Jonathan, but Jonathan and his brother Simon and all who were with him heard about it, and they took refuge in the wilderness of Tekoa, where they encamped by the waters of the pool of Asphar. Bacchides learned of this on the Sabbath day, and he crossed the Jordan with his entire army.

       Jonathan sent his brother to act as leader of the multitude and to ask the Nabateans, with whom he was friendly, for permission to store with them the great quantity of baggage that they had brought with them. However, the sons of Jambri made a sortie from Medeba, captured John, and carried off the baggage. Some time afterward the news was reported to Jonathan and his brother Simon: "The sons of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and with a large retinue they are escorting from Nadabath the daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan." Remembering how their brother John had been slain, they went up and hid themselves under the cover of a mountain.

       As they kept watch, they observed a tumultuous procession come into sight carrying a great amount of baggage. The bridegroom came forth, escorted by his fully armed friends and his kindred, to welcome the bridal party with tambourines and musicians. The Jews sprang on them from their place of ambush and began to slay them. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled toward the mountain; and the Jews gathered up all their spoil. Thus the wedding was turned into mourning and the sound of their music into lamentation. Having thereby gained revenge for the blood of their brother, the Jews returned to the marshes of the Jordan.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 32 - 42

"Let Us . . . Fight for Our Lives."

When Bacchides heard of this, he came with a huge force to the banks of the Jordan on the Sabbath. Then Jonathan said to those with him, "Let us get up now and fight for our lives, for today things have changed considerably from the way they used to be. In front of us the battle awaits; behind us are the waters of the Jordan on one side and marshland and thickets on the other. There is no way out. Cry out to Heaven that you may be saved from our enemies." Once the battle had begun, Jonathan raised his arm to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides managed to elude him and escaped to the rear. Jonathan then leapt into the Jordan and swam across to the other side with his men. However, the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan. On that day Bacchides lost about one thousand men.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 43 - 49

Bacchides Builds Strongholds.

After returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea with high walls, gates, and bars: the fortress in Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, and he stationed a garrison in each to harass Israel. He also fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara, and the citadel, and in them he placed soldiers and stores of provisions. He took the sons of the leading men of the country as hostages and placed them under guard in the citadel at Jerusalem.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 50 - 53

Alcimus Dies Paralyzed.

In the year one hundred and fifty-three, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the demolition of the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary, thereby destroying the work of the prophets. However, he had only begun the work of demolition when he suffered a stroke. His mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, unable to utter a word or give commands concerning his house. Before much time had passed, he died in great agony. On learning that Alcimus was dead, Bacchides returned to the king, and the land of Judah was left in peace for two years.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 54 - 57

Bacchides Negotiates with Jonathan.

Then all the renegades gathered together in council. "Now is the time," they said, "with Jonathan and his people living in peace and security, for us to bring back Bacchides, and he will capture all of them in a single night." Therefore, they went and consulted with him. Bacchides set out with a large force, simultaneously sending letters secretly to all his allies in Judea that instructed them to seize Jonathan and his men. However, they were unable to do so because their plot became known, and Jonathan and his men arrested about fifty of the ringleaders in this treacherous plan and put them to death.

       Then Jonathan withdrew with Simon and his companions to Bethbasi in the desert. He rebuilt the fortifications that had been demolished and strengthened them. When Bacchides learned of this, he assembled his entire army and sent instructions to his supporters in Judea. Then he came and encamped opposite Bethbasi, and after constructing engines of war, he fought against it for many days.

       Leaving his brother Simon in the city, Jonathan went out into the country area accompanied by only a few men. He struck down Odomera and his kindred and the people of Phasiron in their encampment, all of whom had been preparing to set out to join in the battle. Meanwhile, Simon and his forces made a sortie from the town and set fire to the engines of war. Moving against Bacchides, they exerted such pressure that they inflicted a severe defeat upon him. Inasmuch as his plans for a military assault had been frustrated, Bacchides vented his anger on the renegades who had advised him to undertake this invasion. He slew many of them and then decided to return to his own land.

       When Jonathan learned of this, he sent envoys to negotiate terms of peace with him and obtain the release of the captives. Bacchides agreed to Jonathan's proposals and swore that he would never again try to cause him harm for the rest of his life. He handed over the prisoners he had previously taken captive from the land of Judah. Then he returned to his own land and never again came into their territory.

       Thus the sword ceased from Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash, from where he began to serve as judge for the people and to exile the renegades from Israel.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 9, VERSES 58 - 73

Jonathan Is Named High Priest.

In the year one hundred and sixty, Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, arrived by sea and occupied Ptolemais. The people there welcomed him, and he began to reign. When King Demetrius heard of this, he assembled a very large army and marched out to engage him in battle. Demetrius also sent a letter to Jonathan honoring him and expressing the desire for continued peace, for he thought to himself, "Let us move first to make peace with him before he makes peace with Alexander against us, recalling all the wrongs that we inflicted upon him and his brothers and his nation."

       So Demetrius gave Jonathan the authority to raise an army and to procure arms and to designate himself as an ally; and he also ordered the hostages in the citadel to be released to him. Thereupon Jonathan went to Jerusalem and read the letter to all the people and to those in the citadel. They were all greatly frightened when they heard that the king had given him authority to raise an army. They released the hostages to Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents.

       Jonathan then took up residence in Jerusalem and began to rebuild and restore the city. He ordered those entrusted with the work to build the walls and to encircle Mount Zion with squared stones for its fortification, and this task was accomplished.

       The foreigners who occupied the fortresses built by Bacchides abandoned them; all of them deserted their posts and fled to their own lands. Only in Beth-zur did some remain of those who had forsaken the law and the commandments, for it served as a place of refuge.

       King Alexander was informed of all the proposals made by Demetrius to Jonathan, and he was also told of the battles that Jonathan and his brothers had fought, of the heroic deeds that they had accomplished, and of the hardships that they had endured. His response was, "Shall we ever come across another man like him? Let us take steps to make him our friend and ally." He therefore wrote a letter to him in these words:

       "King Alexander sends greetings to his brother Jonathan. We have heard that you are a mighty warrior and worthy to be our friend. We have therefore appointed you today to be the high priest of your nation. You are also to have the title 'Friend of the King,' supporting our interests and maintaining friendly relations with us." In addition he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold.

       Jonathan put on the sacred vestments in the seventh month of the year one hundred and sixty, at the Feast of Booths. He also raised an army and procured a large supply of arms.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 10, VERSES 1 - 21