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

Et audivit Simon quod congregavit Tryphon exercitum copiosum ut veniret in terram Juda, et attereret eam.

And what did Simon, when he heard that Tryphon had levied a strong force, for Juda’s invasion and overthrow?

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

Videns quia in tremore populus est, et in timore, ascendit Jerusalem, et congregavit populum:

Here was all the people in a great taking of fear; so he made his way to Jerusalem and there gathered them to meet him.

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:

et adhortans dixit: Vos scitis quanta ego, et fratres mei, et domus patris mei, fecimus pro legibus et pro sanctis, prælia, et angustias quales vidimus:

And thus, to put heart into them, he spoke: Need is none to tell you what battles we have fought, what dangers endured, I and my brethren and all my father’s kin, law and sanctuary to defend.

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

horum gratia perierunt fratres mei omnes propter Israël, et relictus sum ego solus.

In that cause, and for the love of Israel, my brothers have died, one and all, till I only am left;

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

Et nunc non mihi contingat parcere animæ meæ in omni tempore tribulationis: non enim melior sum fratribus meis.

never be it said of me, in the hour of peril I held life dear, more precious than theirs!

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.

Vindicabo itaque gentem meam, et sancta, natos quoque nostros, et uxores: quia congregatæ sunt universæ gentes conterere nos inimicitiæ gratia.

Nay, come the whole world against us, to glut its malice with our ruin, race and sanctuary, wives and children of ours shall find me their champion yet.

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

Et accensus est spiritus populi simul ut audivit sermones istos:

At these words, the spirit of the whole people revived;

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

et responderunt voce magna, dicentes: Tu es dux noster loco Judæ, et Jonathæ fratris tui:

loud came their answer, Brother of Judas and Jonathan, thine to lead us now!

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

pugna prælium nostrum: et omnia, quæcumque dixeris nobis, faciemus.

Thine to sustain our cause; and never word of thine shall go unheeded!

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

Et congregans omnes viros bellatores, acceleravit consummare universos muros Jerusalem, et munivit eam in gyro.

Thereupon, he summoned all the fighting men together, and pressed on to have the walls of Jerusalem finished, till it was fortified all about;

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.

Et misit Jonathan filium Absalomi, et cum eo exercitum novum in Joppen, et ejectis his qui erant in ea, remansit illic ipse.

and he sent Jonathan, son of Absalom, to Joppe, at the head of a force newly raised; the garrison was disbanded, and a new captain held it now.

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

Et movit Tryphon a Ptolemaida cum exercitu multo, ut veniret in terram Juda, et Jonathas cum eo in custodia.

Meanwhile, Tryphon had left Ptolemais, with a great army at his heels, marching on Juda; and with him went Jonathan, his prisoner.

But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.

Simon autem applicuit in Addus contra faciem campi.

He found Simon encamped at Addus, that looks out over the plain;

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,

Et ut cognovit Tryphon quia surrexit Simon loco fratris sui Jonathæ, et quia commissurus esset cum eo prælium, misit ad eum legatos,

here was Jonathan’s brother Simon taking his place, and offering battle. Envoys were sent out to make his excuses:

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.

dicens: Pro argento, quod debebat frater tuus Jonathas in ratione regis propter negotia quæ habuit, detinuimus eum.

Hold we the person of thy brother Jonathan, it is because he is in default to the royal treasury over his dealings with it.

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.

Et nunc mitte argenti talenta centum, et duos filios ejus obsides, ut non dimissus fugiat a nobis, et remittemus eum.

Thou hast but to send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons, to be surety he will not play us false when we release him, and he is a free man.

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:

Et cognovit Simon quia cum dolo loqueretur secum: jussit tamen dari argentum et pueros, ne inimicitiam magnam sumeret ad populum Israël, dicentem:

Well Simon knew it was treacherously spoken; yet he gave orders, both money and hostages should be surrendered. A bitter grudge Israel’s people would bear him, if they had cause to say,

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

Quia non misit ei argentum, et pueros, propterea periit.

For want of money paid over and surety given, Jonathan must die!

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

Et misit pueros, et centum talenta: et mentitus est, et non dimisit Jonathan.

Sent they were, the boys and the money both, but all was treachery; Jonathan never came back.

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.

Et post hæc venit Tryphon intra regionem, ut contereret eam: et gyraverunt per viam quæ ducit Ador: et Simon et castra ejus ambulabant in omnem locum quocumque ibant.

And now Tryphon invaded Juda, bent on its undoing; his troops must fetch a compass by the road that leads round to Ador, and, march they where they would, Simon and his army were at their heels.

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

Qui autem in arce erant, miserunt ad Tryphonem legatos, ut festinaret venire per desertum, et mitteret illis alimonias.

Word came to Tryphon from the defenders of Jerusalem citadel, he should make his way across the desert without more ado, and bring them supplies;

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.

Et paravit Tryphon omnem equitatum, ut veniret illa nocte: erat autem nix multa valde, et non venit in Galaaditim.

and that same night he had all his cavalry in readiness for the march, but there was a great fall of snow, and come he might not … into the country of Galaad.

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

Et cum appropinquasset Bascaman, occidit Jonathan et filios ejus illic.

When he reached Bascaman, then and there he put Jonathan and his sons to death;

And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.

Et convertit Tryphon, et abiit in terram suam.

and with that, he turned about, and went back to his own country.

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

Et misit Simon, et accepit ossa Jonathæ fratris sui, et sepelivit ea in Modin civitate patrum ejus.

There lay the bones of Simon’s brother Jonathan, till he sent to fetch them, and gave them burial at Modin, the city of his fathers.

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

Et planxerunt eum omnis Israël planctu magno, et luxerunt eum dies multos.

Loud lament all Israel made for him, and long they bemoaned him.

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:

Et ædificavit Simon super sepulchrum patris sui et fratrum suorum ædificium altum visu, lapide polito retro et ante.

Over the graves of his father and his brethren Simon raised a towering monument, of dressed stone behind and before;

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

Et statuit septem pyramidas, unam contra unam, patri et matri, et quatuor fratribus:

then, with father and mother and his four brethren in mind, he built seven pyramids, in rows;

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.

et his circumposuit columnas magnas: et super columnas arma, ad memoriam æternam: et juxta arma naves sculptas, quæ viderentur ab omnibus navigantibus mare:

and all about were great columns, carved with armour and ships; an abiding memorial, and a land mark to mariners at sea.

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

hoc est sepulchrum, quod fecit in Modin usque in hunc diem.

Such was the tomb he raised at Modin, and it may be seen to this day.

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

Tryphon autem cum iter faceret cum Antiocho rege adolescente, dolo occidit eum:

Meanwhile, as they were journeying together, Tryphon murdered the young king Antiochus by artifice,

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

et regnavit loco ejus, et imposuit sibi diadema Asiæ, et fecit plagam magnam in terra.

and succeeded to his throne, wearing the crown of all Asia; great mischief it was he did to his country.

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.

Et ædificavit Simon præsidia Judææ, muniens ea turribus excelsis, et muris magnis, et portis, et seris: et posuit alimenta in munitionibus.

All the fortresses of Judaea Simon repaired, building them up with high tower and stout wall, with bolt and bar; and never a garrison but had provisions laid up in store.

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.

Et elegit Simon viros, et misit ad Demetrium regem ut faceret remissionem regioni: quia actus omnes Tryphonis per direptionem fuerant gesti.

Then he chose out envoys and sent them to king Demetrius, praying that the land might enjoy immunity after the tyrannous actions of Tryphon.

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

Et Demetrius rex ad verba ista respondit ei, et scripsit epistolam talem:

When king Demetrius answered the request, he wrote in these terms following.

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

Rex Demetrius Simoni summo sacerdoti et amico regum, et senioribus, et genti Judæorum, salutem.

King Demetrius to the high priest Simon, the friend of kings, and to all the elders and people of the Jews, greeting.

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.

Coronam auream, et bahem, quam misistis, suscepimus: et parati sumus facere vobiscum pacem magnam, et scribere præpositis regis remittere vobis quæ indulsimus.

Crown of gold and robe of scarlet you sent us were faithfully delivered. Great favour we mean to shew you, by sending word to the king’s officers to respect the remissions granted you.

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

Quæcumque enim constituimus, vobis constant: munitiones, quas ædificastis, vobis sint:

The decrees we made concerning you are yet in force; and, for the strongholds you have built, they shall be yours.

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.

remittimus quoque ignorantias et peccata usque in hodiernum diem, et coronam quam debebatis: et si quid aliud erat tributarium in Jerusalem, jam non sit tributarium.

Fault of yours in the past, witting or unwitting, is condoned; coronation tax you owed, and all other tribute that was due from Jerusalem, is due no longer.

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

Et si qui ex vobis apti sunt conscribi inter nostros, conscribantur, et sit inter nos pax.

Fit be they for such enrolment, Jews shall be enrolled in our armies, and ever between us and you let there be peace!

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

Anno centesimo septuagesimo, ablatum est jugum gentium ab Israël.

Thus, in the hundred and seventieth year, Israel was free of the Gentile yoke at last;

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.

Et cœpit populus Israël scribere in tabulis, et gestis publicis, anno primo sub Simone summo sacerdote, magno duce, et principe Judæorum.

and this style the people began to use, were it private bond or public instrument they indited, In the first year of Simon’s high priesthood, chief paramount and governor of the Jews.

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.

In diebus illis applicuit Simon ad Gazam, et circumdedit eam castris, et fecit machinas, et applicuit ad civitatem, et percussit turrem unam, et comprehendit eam.

Then it was that Simon marched on Gaza, and beleaguered it with his army; built engines, and forced an entry into one of the towers.

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

Et eruperant qui erant intra machinam in civitatem, et factus est motus magnus in civitate.

Out into the streets they sallied, that manned the engine, and there was a fine commotion in the city;

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.

Et ascenderunt qui erant in civitate cum uxoribus et filiis supra murum, scissis tunicis suis, et clamaverunt voce magna, postulantes a Simone dextras sibi dari,

here were the townsfolk, with their wives and children, mounting the walls with their garments rent about them, and crying aloud, Simon should give them quarter;

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

et dixerunt: Non nobis reddas secundum malitias nostras, sed secundum misericordias tuas.

great were their fault, greater still his clemency!

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.

Et flexus Simon, non debellavit eos: ejecit tamen eos de civitate, et mundavit ædes in quibus fuerant simulacra, et tunc intravit in eam cum hymnis benedicens Dominum:

At that, Simon relented; harry them to the death he would not, but he drove them out of the city, and cleansed all the houses where idols had stood; then, with singing of psalms and giving of thanks, he made his entry;

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.

et ejecta ab ea omni immunditia, collocavit in ea viros qui legem facerent: et munivit eam, et fecit sibi habitationem.

and now all defilement must be put away, and such citizens it must have as did what the law commanded. After that, he fortified it, and made his own dwelling there.

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.

Qui autem erant in arce Jerusalem, prohibebantur egredi et ingredi regionem, et emere ac vendere: et esurierunt valde, et multi ex eis fame perierunt,

And what of the Gentiles that were left in Jerusalem citadel? Enter Jewish territory or leave it they might not, buy or sell they might not, so that they were hard put to it for food, and many died of famine.

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.

et clamaverunt ad Simonem ut dextras acciperent: et dedit illis: et ejecit eos inde, et mundavit arcem a contaminationibus:

At last they cried out to Simon, he should give them quarter, and give them quarter he did, but drove them out, and cleansed the citadel of its pollution.

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.

et intraverunt in eam tertia et vigesima die secundi mensis, anno centesimo septuagesimo primo, cum laude, et ramis palmarum, et cinyris, et cymbalis, et nablis, et hymnis, et canticis, quia contritus est inimicus magnus ex Israël.

On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the hundred and seventy-first year, in came the Jewish folk singing praise and bearing palm-branches, with music of harp, and cymbals, and zither, and chanting of psalms; of such ill neighbours Israel was now rid.

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

Et constituit ut omnibus annis agerentur dies hi cum lætitia.

Every year, Simon proclaimed, holiday should be kept at this time;

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

Et munivit montem templi, qui erat secus arcem, et habitavit ibi ipse, et qui cum eo erant.

and he fortified that part of the temple mountain which was close by the citadel; here he dwelt, and his followers with him.

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.

Et vidit Simon Joannem filium suum, quod fortis prælii vir esset: et posuit eum ducem virtutum universarum: et habitavit in Gazaris.

And now here was his son John grown into a brave warrior; him Simon put at the head of the whole army, with his quarters at Gazara.