1 Maccabees 13

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1Mac 13:1 
Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a 
great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it, 
 
1Mac 13:2 
And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he 
went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together, 
 
1Mac 13:3 
And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what 
great things I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have 
done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and 
troubles which we have seen. 
 
1Mac 13:4 
By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's 
sake, and I am left alone. 
 
1Mac 13:5 
Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare mine own 
life in any time of trouble: for I am no better than my 
brethren. 
 
1Mac 13:6 
Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our 
wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered to 
destroy us of very malice. 
 
1Mac 13:7 
Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit 
revived. 
 
1Mac 13:8 
And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be 
our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother. 
 
1Mac 13:9 
Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever, thou commandest us, 
that will we do. 
 
1Mac 13:10 
So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made 
haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it 
round about. 
 
1Mac 13:11 
Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom, and with him a 
great power, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein 
remained there in it. 
 
1Mac 13:12 
So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to 
invade the land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward. 
 
1Mac 13:13 
But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain. 
 
1Mac 13:14 
Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his 
brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent 
messengers unto him, saying, 
 
1Mac 13:15 
Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother in hold, it is for money 
that he is owing unto the king's treasure, concerning the 
business that was committed unto him. 
 
1Mac 13:16 
Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of 
his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not 
revolt from us, and we will let him go. 
 
1Mac 13:17 
Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spake 
deceitfully unto him yet sent he the money and the children, 
lest peradventure he should procure to himself great hatred of 
the people: 
 
1Mac 13:18 
Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the 
children, therefore is Jonathan dead. 
 
1Mac 13:19 
So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit 
Tryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go. 
 
1Mac 13:20 
And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy 
it, going round about by the way that leadeth unto Adora: but 
Simon and his host marched against him in every place, 
wheresoever he went. 
 
1Mac 13:21 
Now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Tryphon, 
to the end that he should hasten his coming unto them by the 
wilderness, and send them victuals. 
 
1Mac 13:22 
Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that 
night: but there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he 
came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad. 
 
1Mac 13:23 
And when he came near to Bascama he slew Jonathan, who was 
buried there. 
 
1Mac 13:24 
Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land. 
 
1Mac 13:25 
Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, 
and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers. 
 
1Mac 13:26 
And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed 
him many days. 
 
1Mac 13:27 
Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father 
and his brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn 
stone behind and before. 
 
1Mac 13:28 
Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for 
his father, and his mother, and his four brethren. 
 
1Mac 13:29 
And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set 
great pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armour for 
a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they 
might be seen of all that sail on the sea. 
 
1Mac 13:30 
This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth 
yet unto this day. 
 
1Mac 13:31 
Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, 
and slew him. 
 
1Mac 13:32 
And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of 
Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land. 
 
1Mac 13:33 
Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced 
them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and 
bars, and laid up victuals therein. 
 
1Mac 13:34 
Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the 
end he should give the land an immunity, because all that 
Tryphon did was to spoil. 
 
1Mac 13:35 
Unto whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this 
manner: 
 
1Mac 13:36 
King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of 
kings, as also unto the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth 
greeting: 
 
1Mac 13:37 
The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which ye sent unto 
us, we have received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace 
with you, yea, and to write unto our officers, to confirm the 
immunities which we have granted. 
 
1Mac 13:38 
And whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand; 
and the strong holds, which ye have builded, shall be your own. 
 
1Mac 13:39 
As for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we 
forgive it, and the crown tax also, which ye owe us: and if 
there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more 
be paid. 
 
1Mac 13:40 
And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then 
be enrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us. 
 
1Mac 13:41 
Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in 
the hundred and seventieth year. 
 
1Mac 13:42 
Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments 
and contracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the 
governor and leader of the Jews. 
 
1Mac 13:43 
In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round 
about; he made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, 
and battered a certain tower, and took it. 
 
1Mac 13:44 
And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; 
whereupon there was a great uproar in the city: 
 
1Mac 13:45 
Insomuch as the people of the city rent their clothes, and 
climbed upon the walls with their wives and children, and cried 
with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace. 
 
1Mac 13:46 
And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, 
but according to thy mercy. 
 
1Mac 13:47 
So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against 
them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses 
wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and 
thanksgiving. 
 
1Mac 13:48 
Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men 
there as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was 
before, and built therein a dwellingplace for himself. 
 
1Mac 13:49 
They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that 
they could neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, 
nor sell: wherefore they were in great distress for want of 
victuals, and a great number of them perished through famine. 
 
1Mac 13:50 
Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with 
them: which thing he granted them; and when he had put them out 
from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions: 
 
1Mac 13:51 
And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second 
month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, 
and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and 
with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a 
great enemy out of Israel. 
 
1Mac 13:52 
He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with 
gladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower 
he made stronger than it was, and there he dwelt himself with 
his company. 
 
1Mac 13:53 
And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he 
made him captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in Gazera. 
 

13:1 Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.

13:2 And seeing that the people was in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people:

13:3 And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:

13:4 By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.

13:5 And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.

13:6 I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.

13:7 And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words.

13:8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan thy brother.

13:9 Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.

13:10 So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.

13:11 And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.

13:12 And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.

13:13 But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.

13:14 And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,

13:15 Saying: We have detained thy brother Jonathan for the money that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.

13:16 But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will release him.

13:17 Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the money, and the children to be sent: lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:

13:18 Because he sent not the money, and the children, therefore is he lost.

13:19 So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.

13:20 And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.

13:21 And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and sent them victuals.

13:22 And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of Galaad.

13:23 And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.

13:24 And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.

13:25 And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.

13:26 And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.

13:27 And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:

13:28 And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brethren:

13:29 And round about these he set great pillars: and upon the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea.

13:30 This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin even unto this day.

13:31 But Tryphon when he was upon a journey with the young king Antiochus, treacherously slew him.

13:32 And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.

13:33 And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.

13:34 And Simon chose men and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an immunity to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.

13:35 And king Demetrius in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:

13:36 King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

13:37 The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have released.

13:38 For all that we have decreed in your favour, shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.

13:39 And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.

13:40 And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.

13:41 In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.

13:42 And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and public records, The first year under Simon the high priest, the great captain and prince of the Jews.

13:43 In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and took it.

13:44 And they that were within the engine leaped into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.

13:45 And they that were in the city went up with their wives and children upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.

13:46 And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.

13:47 And Simon being moved, did not destroy them: but yet he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord.

13:48 And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.

13:49 But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through famine.

13:50 And they cried to Simon form peace, and he granted it to them: and he cast them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.

13:51 And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.

13:52 And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.

13:53 And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.

13:54 And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.