Open English Translation 1 MAC Chapter 11

11 Then the king of Mitsrayim (Egypt) gathered together great forces, as the sand which is by the sea shore, and many ships, and tried to make himself master of Alexandros’s (Alexander’s) kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom. 2 He went out into Aram (Syria) with words of peace, and the people of the cities opened their gates to him and met him; for King Alexandros’s command was that they should meet him, because he was his father-in-law. 3 Now as he entered into the cities of Ptolemais, he set his forces for a garrison in each city.

4 But when he came near to Azotos, they showed him Dagon’s temple burnt with fire, and Azotos and its pasture lands destroyed, and the bodies thrown out, and those who’d been burnt, whom he burnt in the war, for they’d made heaps of them in his way. 5 They told the king what Yonatan had done, that they might throw blame on him; but the king kept silent. 6 Yonatan met the king with pomp at Yafo (Joppa), and they greeted one another, and they slept there. 7 Yonatan went with the king as far as the river that’s called Eleutherus, then returned to Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

8 But King Ptolemaios (Ptolemy) took control of the cities along the sea coast, to Seleukeia which is by the sea, and he devised evil plans about Alexandros. 9 He sent ambassadors to King Demetrios, saying, “Come! Let’s make a covenant with one another, and I’ll give you my daughter whom Alexandros has, and you’ll reign over your father’s kingdom; 10 for I regret that I gave my daughter to him, for he tried to kill me. 11 He accused him, because he coveted his kingdom. 12 Taking his daughter from him, he gave her to Demetrios, and was estranged from Alexandros, and their enmity was openly seen.

13 Ptolemaios entered into Antiokeia, and put on himself Asia’s crown. He put two crowns on his head, the crown of Mitsrayim (Egypt) and that of Asia. 14 But King Alexandros was in Kilikia at that time, because the people of that region were in revolt. 15 When Alexandros heard of it, he came against him in war. Ptolemaios marched out and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight. 16 Alexandros fled into Arav, that he might be sheltered there; but King Ptolemaios was triumphant. 17 Zavdiyel the Aravi took off Alexandros’s head, and sent it to Ptolemaios. 18 King Ptolemaios died the third day after, and those who were in his fortresses were slain by the inhabitants of the fortresses. 19 Demetrios became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year.[fn]

20 In those days Yonatan (Jonathan) gathered together the Yehudim (Jews) to take the citadel that was at Yerushalem (Jerusalem). He made many engines of war to use against it. 21 Some lawless men who hated their own nation went to the king and reported to him that Yonatan was besieging the citadel. 22 He heard, and was angry, but when he heard it, he set out immediately, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Yonatan, that he shouldn’t besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed.

23 But when Yonatan heard that, he gave orders to continue the siege. He chose some of the elders of Yisrael (Israel) and of the priests, and put himself in peril 24 by taking silver, gold, clothing, and various other presents, and went to Ptolemais to the king. Then he found favour in his sight. 25 Some lawless men of those who were of the nation made complaints against him, 26 and the king did to him even as his predecessors had done to him, and honoured him in the sight of all his[fn] friends, 27 and confirmed to him the high priesthood, and all the other honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his[fn] chief friends. 28 And Yonatan requested of the king that he’d make Yehudah (Judea) free from tribute, along with the three[fn] provinces and Shomron (Samaria), and promised him three hundred talents. 29 The king consented, and wrote letters to Yonatan about all these things as follows:

30 “King Demetrios to his brother Yonatan, and to the nation of the Yehudim (Jews), greetings. 31 The copy of the letter which we wrote to Lasthenes our kinsman about you, we’ve written also to you, that you may see it. 32 ‘King Demetrios to Lasthenes his father, greetings. 33 We’ve determined to do good to the nation of the Yehudim, who are our friends, and observe what’s just towards us, because of their good will towards us. 34 We’ve confirmed therefore to them the borders of Yehudah, and also the three governments of Aphaerema, Lod, and Ramatayim (these were added to Yehudah from Shomron), and all their territory to them, for all who do sacrifice in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), instead of the king’s dues which the king received of them yearly before from the produce of the earth and the fruits of trees. 35 As for the other payments to us from now on, of the one-tenth contributions and the taxes that pertain to us, and the salt pits, and the crown taxes due to us, all these we’ll give back to them. 36 Not one of these grants will be annulled from this time forth and forever. 37 Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given to Yonatan, and let it be set up on the holy mountain in a suitable and conspicuous place.’ ”

38 When King Demetrios saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, he sent away all his troops, each man to his own place, except the foreign troops, which he’d raised from the islands of the Gentiles. So all the troops of his fathers hated him. 39 Now Trufon was one of those who previously had been on Alexandros’s (Alexander’s) side, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrios. So he went to Imalcue the Aravi, who was raising up Antiokos (Antiochus) the young child of Alexandros, 40 and urgently insisted to him that he should deliver him to him, that he might reign in his father’s place. He told him all that Demetrios had done, and the hatred with which his forces hated him; and he stayed there many days.

41 Now Yonatan sent to King Demetrios, that he should remove the troops of the citadel from Yerushalem, and the troops who were in the fortresses; for they fought against Yisrael (Israel) continually. 42 Demetrios sent to Yonatan, saying, “I won’t only do this for you and your nation, but I’ll greatly honour you and your nation, if I find an opportunity. 43 Now therefore you’ll do well if you send me men who’ll fight for me; for all my forces have revolted.” 44 So Yonatan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antiokeia. They came to the king, and the king was glad at their coming.

45 The people of the city gathered themselves together into the middle of the city, to the number of one hundred and twenty thousand men, and they wanted to kill the king. 46 The king fled into the palace courtyard, and the people of the city seized the main streets of the city and began to fight. 47 The king called the Yehudim (Jews) to help him, and they were gathered together to him all at once, and they dispersed themselves in the city, and killed that day about one hundred thousand. 48 They set the city on fire, and seized many spoils that day, and saved the king. 49 The people of the city saw that the Yehudim had taken control of the city as they pleased, and they became faint in their hearts, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying, 50 “Give us your right hand, and let the Yehudim cease from fighting against us and the city.” 51 They threw away their weapons and made peace. The Yehudim were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all who were in his kingdom. Then they returned to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), having much plunder. 52 So King Demetrios sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him. 53 He lied in all that he spoke, and estranged himself from Yonatan (Jonathan), and didn’t repay him according to the benefits with which he had repaid him, and treated him very harshly.

54 Now after that, Trufon returned, and with him the young child Antiokos (Antiochus), who reigned and put on a crown. 55 All the forces which Demetrios had sent away with disgrace were gathered to him, and they fought against him, and he fled and was routed. 56 Trufon took the elephants, and took control of Antiokeia. 57 The young Antiokos wrote to Yonatan, saying, “I confirm to you the high priesthood, and appoint you over the four districts, and to be one of the king’s[fn] friends.” 58 He sent to him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him permission to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle. 59 He made his brother Shim’on (Simon) governor from the Ladder of Tsor (Tyre) to the borders of Mitsrayim (Egypt).

60 Yonatan went out and took his journey beyond the river and through the cities. All the forces of Aram (Syria) gathered themselves to him to be his allies. He came to Ashkelon, and the people of the city met him honourably. 61 He departed from there to Azah (Gaza), and Azah’s people shut him out. So he besieged it and burnt its pasture lands with fire, and plundered them. 62 Azah’s people pleaded with Yonatan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Yerushalem (Jerusalem). Then he passed through the country as far as Damesek (Damascus).

63 Then Yonatan heard that Demetrios’ princes had come to Kedesh, which is in Galil, with a great army, intending to remove him from his office. 64 He went to meet them, but he left Shim’on his brother in the country. 65 Shim’on encamped against Beyt-Tsur, and fought against it many days, and hemmed it in. 66 They asked him to give them his right hand, and he gave it to them. He removed them from there, took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.

67 Yonatan and his army encamped at the water of Gennaisaret, and early in the morning they marched to the Hatsor plain. 68 Listen, an army of foreigners met him in the plain. They laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but they themselves met him face to face. 69 But those who lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle. All those who were on Yonatan’s side fled. 70 Not one of them was left, except Matityah (Mattathias) the son of Avshalom (Absalom), and Yehudah (Judas) the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces. 71 Yonatan tore his clothes, put dirt on his head, and prayed. 72 He turned again to them in battle, and routed them, and they fled. 73 When the men on his side who’d fled saw that, they returned to him and pursued with him to Kedesh to their camp, and they encamped there. 74 About three thousand men of the foreigners fell on that day. Then Yonatan returned to Yerushalem (Jerusalem).