Open English Translation 1 MAC Chapter 15

15 Antiokos (Antiochus) son of Demetrios the king sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Shim’on the priest and[fn] governor of the Yehudim, and to all the nation. 2 Its contents follow:

“King Antiokos to Shim’on the chief priest and[fn] governor, and to the nation of the Yehudim, greetings. 3 Whereas certain troublemakers have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, but my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as it was before; and moreover I’ve raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared warships; 4 moreover I plan to land in the country, that I may punish those who’ve destroyed our country, and those who’ve made many cities in the kingdom desolate; 5 now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions which the kings who were before me remitted to you, and whatever gifts besides they remitted to you, 6 and I permit you to coin money for your country with your own stamp, 7 but that Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary should be free. All the weapons that you’ve prepared, and the fortresses that you’ve built, which you have in your possession, let them remain yours. 8 Every debt owed to the king, and the things that’ll be owed to the king from now on and forever, let them be remitted to you. 9 Moreover, when we’ve established our kingdom, we’ll glorify you and your nation and the temple with great glory, so that your glory will be made manifest in all the earth.

10 In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year,[fn] Antiokos went into the land of his fathers; and all the forces came together to him, so that there were few men with Trufon. 11 King Antiokos pursued him, and he came, as he fled, to Dor, which is by the sea; 12 for he knew that troubles had come on him all at once, and that his forces had deserted him. 13 Antiokos encamped against Dor, and with him one hundred and twenty thousand men of war and eight thousand cavalry. 14 He surrounded the city, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea. He harassed the city by land and sea, and permitted no one to go out or in.

15 Numenios and his company came from Romai, having letters to the kings and to the countries, in which were written these things:

16 “Lukios, consul of the Romaios, to King Ptolemaios (Ptolemy), greetings. 17 The Yehudim’ (Jews’) ambassadors came to us as our friends and allies, to renew the old friendship and alliance, being sent from Shim’on (Simon) the high priest, and from the people of the Yehudim. 18 Moreover they brought a shield of gold weighing one thousand minas.[fn] 19 It pleased us therefore to write to the kings and to the countries, that they shouldn’t seek their harm or fight against them, their cities, and their country, or be allies with those who fight against them. 20 Moreover, it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them. 21 If therefore any troublemakers have fled from their country to you, deliver them to Shim’on the high priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law.”

22 He wrote the same things to King Demetrios, to Atalos, to Ariarathes, to Arsakes, 23 to all the countries, to[fn] Sampsames, to the Spartans, to Delos, to Mundos, to Sikuon, to Karia, to Samos, to Pamfulia, to Lukia, to Halikarnasos, to Rodos, to Faselis, to Kos, to Side, to Arvad, Gortuna, Knidos, Kupros (Cyprus), and Kurainai (Cyrene). 24 They also wrote this copy to Shim’on the high priest.

25 But King Antiokos (Antiochus) encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war; and he shut up Trufon from going in or out. 26 Shim’on sent him two thousand chosen men to fight on his side, with silver, gold, and instruments of war in abundance. 27 He wouldn’t receive them, but nullified all the covenants which he’d made with him before, and was estranged from him. 28 He sent to him Athenobios, one of his friends,[fn] to confer with him, saying, “You hold possession of Yafo (Joppa), Gezer, and the citadel that’s in Yerushalem, cities of my kingdom. 29 You’ve devastated their territory, and done great harm in the land, and control of many places in my kingdom. 30 Now therefore hand over the cities which you’ve taken, and the tributes of the places which you’ve taken control of outside of the borders of Yehudah (Judea); 31 or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that you’ve done, and the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. Otherwise we’ll come and subdue you.”

32 Athenobios, the king’s friend,[fn] came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem). When he saw the glory of Shim’on, the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great attendance, he was amazed. He reported to him the king’s words. 33 Shim’on answered, and said to him, “We haven’t taken other men’s land nor do we have possession of that which belongs to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers. However, it’d been in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a while. 34 But we, having opportunity, firmly hold the inheritance of our fathers. 35 As for Yafo and Gezer, which you demand, they did great harm among the people throughout our country. We’ll give one hundred talents for them.”

Athenobios didn’t answer even one word, 36 but returned in a rage to the king, and reported to him these words, and Shim’on’s glory, and all that he’d seen; and the king was extremely angry. 37 Meanwhile, Trufon embarked on board a ship, and fled to Orthosia.

38 The king appointed Kendebaios chief captain of the sea coast, and gave him troops of infantry and cavalry. 39 He commanded him to encamp against Yehudah (Judea), and he commanded him to build up Kidron, and to fortify the gates, and that he should fight against the people; but the king pursued Trufon. 40 So Kendebaios came to Yavneh and began to provoke the people, and to invade Yehudah, and to take the people captive and kill them. 41 He built Kidron and stationed cavalry and infantry there, to the end that going out they might make raids on the highways of Yehudah, as the king had commanded him.