Before Book 46 2 Machabees
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
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 leapt 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 for 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.
1 Machabees Chapter 14
Demetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes under the government of Simon.
14:1. In the year one hundred and seventy-two king Demetrius assembled his army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against Tryphon.
14:2. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take him alive, and bring him to him.
14:3. And he went, and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody.
14:4. And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and he sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased them well all his days.
14:5. And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea.
14:6. And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master of the country.
14:7. And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away all uncleanness out of it, and there was none that resisted him.
14:8. And every man tilled his land with peace, and the land of Juda yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit.
14:9. The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of the good things of the land, and the youug men put on them glory, and the robes of war.
14:10. And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory was renowned even to the end of the earth.
14:11. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.
14:12. And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and there was none to make them afraid.
14:13. There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings were discomfited in those days.
14:14. And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man.
14:15. He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the holy places.
14:16. And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead: and they were very sorry.
14:17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, was made high priest in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the cities therein:
14:18. They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and alliance which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his brethren.
14:19. And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.
14:20. The princes and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the high priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, their brethren, greeting.
14:21. The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced at their coming.