Open English Translation 1 MAC Chapter 13

13 Shim’on (Simon) heard that Trufon had gathered together a mighty army to come into Yehudah and destroy it utterly. 2 He saw that the people were trembling in great fear. So he went up to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and gathered the people together. 3 He encouraged them, and said to them, “You yourselves know all the things that I, my kindred, and my father’s house have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and the distresses which we’ve seen. 4 Because of that, all my brothers have perished for Yisrael’s sake, and I’m left alone. 5 Now be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of affliction, for I’m not better than my kindred. 6 However, I’ll take vengeance for my nation, for the sanctuary, and for our wives and children, because all the Gentiles have gathered out of hatred to destroy us.”

7 The people’s spirit revived as soon as they heard those words. 8 They answered with a loud voice, saying, “You’re our leader in the place of Yehudah and Yonatan (Jonathan) your brothers. 9 Fight our battles, and we’ll do all that you tell us to do.”

10 He gathered together all the men of war, and hurried to finish Yerushalem’s (Jerusalem’s) walls. He fortified it all around. 11 He sent Yonatan the son of Avshalom (Absalom), and with him a great army, to Yafo (Joppa). He threw out those who were in it, and lived there.

12 Trufon left Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into Yehudah, and Yonatan was with him under guard. 13 But Shim’on encamped at Hadid, near the plain. 14 Trufon knew that Shim’on had risen up in the place of his brother Yonatan, and meant to join battle with him, so he sent ambassadors to him, saying, 15 “It’s for money which Yonatan your brother owed to the king’s treasury, because of the offices which he had, that we’re detaining him. 16 Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages, so that when he’s released he may not revolt against us, and we’ll release him.”

17 Shim’on (Simon) knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, but he sent to get the money and the children, to avoid arousing great hostility among the people, 18 who might say, “Because I didn’t send him the money and the children, he perished.” 19 So he sent the children and the hundred talents, but Trufon lied, and didn’t release Yonatan.

20 After that, Trufon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he went around by the way that leads to Adorayim. Shim’on and his army marched near him to every place, wherever he went. 21 Now the people of the citadel sent to Trufon ambassadors, urging him to come to them through the wilderness, and to send them food. 22 So Trufon prepared all his cavalry to come, but on that night a very heavy snow fell, and he didn’t come because of the snow. He marched off and went into Gilead. 23 When he came near to Bascama, he killed Yonatan, and he was buried there. 24 Then Trufon turned back, and went away into his own land.

25 Shim’on sent, and took the bones of Yonatan his brother, and buried him at Modi’in, the city of his fathers. 26 All Yisrael (Israel) made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days. 27 Shim’on built a monument on the tomb of his father and his kindred, and raised it high so that it could be seen, with polished stone on the front and back. 28 He also set up seven pyramids, one near another, for his father, his mother, and his four brothers. 29 Because these, he made an elaborate setting, erecting great pillars around them, and on the pillars he made suits of armour for a perpetual memorial, and beside the suits of armour, he carved ships, so that they could be seen by all who sail on the sea. 30 This is the tomb which he made at Modi’in. It remains to this day.

31 Now Trufon deceived the young King Antiokos (Antiochus) and killed him, 32 and reigned in his place. He put on himself the crown of Asia and brought a great calamity on the land. 33 Shim’on built up the fortresses of Yehudah (Judea), and walled them all around with high towers, great walls, gates, and bars; and he stored food in the fortresses. 34 Shim’on chose men, and sent to King Demetrios with a request that he grant the country an immunity, because all that Trufon did was to plunder. 35 King Demetrios sent to him according to these words, and answered him, and wrote a letter to him, as follows:

36 “King Demetrios to Shim’on the high priest and friend[fn] of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Yehudim (Jews), greetings. 37 The golden crown and the palm branch, which you sent, we’ve received. We’re ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers to release you from tribute. 38 Whatever things we confirmed to you, they’re confirmed. The fortresses, which you’ve built, let them be your own. 39 As for any oversights and faults committed to this day, we forgive them, and the crown tax which you owed us. If there were any other tax collected in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), let it be collected no longer. 40 If any among you’re qualified to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.”

41 In the one hundred seventieth year,[fn] the yoke of the Gentiles was taken away from Yisrael (Israel). 42 The people began to write in their instruments and contracts, “In the first year of Shim’on, the great high priest and captain and leader of the Yehudim.”

43 In those days Shim’on encamped against[fn] Gezer, and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege engine, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and captured it. 44 Those who were in the engine leapt out into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city. 45 The people of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, asking Shim’on to give them[fn] his right hand. 46 They said, “Don’t deal with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.” 47 So Shim’on was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them; but he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses where the idols were, and then entered into it with singing and giving praise. 48 He removed all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it men who’d keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built a residence for himself in it.

49 But the people of the citadel in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) were hindered from going out and from going into the country, and from buying and selling. So they were very hungry, and a great number of them perished from famine. 50 Then they cried out to Shim’on, that he should give them his right hand; and he gave it to them; but he expelled them from there, and he cleansed the citadel from its pollutions. 51 He entered into it on the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred and seventy-first year,[fn] with praise and palm branches, with harps, with cymbals, and with stringed instruments, with hymns, and with songs, because a great enemy had been destroyed out of Yisrael (Israel). 52 Shim’on ordained that they should keep that day every year with gladness. He made the hill of the temple that was by the citadel stronger than before, and he lived there with his men. 53 Shim’on saw that his son Yohan (John) was a man, so he made him leader of all his forces; and he lived in Gezer.