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.

Anno centesimo septuagesimo secundo, congregavit rex Demetrius exercitum suum, et abiit in Mediam ad contrahenda sibi auxilia, ut expugnaret Tryphonem.

The year following, what must Demetrius do but muster his army and betake himself to Media, where he would raise levies for the war against Tryphon?

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.

Et audivit Arsaces rex Persidis et Mediæ, quia intravit Demetrius confines suos: et misit unum de principibus suis ut comprehenderet eum vivum, et adduceret eum ad se.

When Arsaces, king of the Medes and Persians, had news of it, he gave orders to one of his chieftains, the invader must be taken alive and brought into his presence.

And he went and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody.

Et abiit, et percussit castra Demetrii: et comprehendit eum, et duxit eum ad Arsacem, et posuit eum in custodiam.

The order was obeyed; the Syrian king, routed and captured, was brought before Arsaces, who put him safely in prison.

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.

Et siluit omnis terra Juda omnibus diebus Simonis, et quæsivit bona genti suæ: et placuit illis potestas ejus et gloria ejus omnibus diebus.

Thus, during Simon’s days, the whole land of Juda was at peace. Ever his people’s good sought he, and ever by willing hearts was obeyed and honoured.

And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea.

Et cum omni gloria sua accepit Joppen in portum, et fecit introitum in insulis maris.

With great state he took possession of Joppe as a harbour, and so found access to the islands out at sea.

And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master of the country.

Et dilatavit fines gentis suæ, et obtinuit regionem.

How wide spread he the frontiers of Israel, how firmly held its possessions,

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.

Et congregavit captivitatem multam, et dominatus est Gazaræ, et Bethsuræ, et arci: et abstulit immunditias ex ea, et non erat qui resisteret ei.

captured how many of its foes! Gazara and Bethsura he won, ay, and the Citadel itself, ridding it of all defilement; there was no resisting his power.

And every man tilled his land with peace: and the land of Juda yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit.

Et unusquisque colebat terram suam cum pace: et terra Juda dabat fructus suos, et ligna camporum fructum suum.

In his day, every man farmed his own lands in security, soil of Juda yielded its crops, and the trees their fruit;

The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of the good things of the land, and the young men put on them glory, and the robes of war.

Seniores in plateis sedebant omnes, et de bonis terræ tractabant, et juvenes induebant se gloriam, et stolas belli.

sat old men in the market-place, busy over the common weal, and young men wore the livery of their glorious campaigning.

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.

Et civitatibus tribuebat alimonias, et constituebat eas ut essent vasa munitionis quoadusque nominatum est nomen gloriæ ejus usque ad extremum terræ.

Never a city but he furnished it with store of provisions; a bulwark each of them should be of sturdy defence. What wonder if the story of his renown was noised to the world’s end?

He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.

Fecit pacem super terram, et lætatus est Israël lætitia magna.

Such peaceful times brought he to his country, when all Israel kept high holiday,

And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and there was none to make them afraid.

Et sedit unusquisque sub vite sua, et sub ficulnea sua: et non erat qui eos terreret.

every man with his own vine and fig-tree for shade, and enemy was none to daunt them;

There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings were discomfited in those days.

Defecit impugnans eos super terram: reges contriti sunt in diebus illis.

domestic malice undone, foreign tyranny shattered all around!

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.

Et confirmavit omnes humiles populi sui, et legem exquisivit, et abstulit omnem iniquum et malum:

Among his own folk, what comfort he gave the friendless, how scrutinized the law, what short work made of traitor and malcontent;

He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the holy places.

sancta glorificavit, et multiplicavit vasa sanctorum.

how adorned the sanctuary, how increased the number of its treasures!

And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead: and they were very sorry.

Et auditum est Romæ quia defunctus esset Jonathas, et usque in Spartiatas: et contristati sunt valde.

To Rome, to Sparta itself, came tidings of Jonathan’s death, and was heard right sorrowfully.

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:

Ut audierunt autem quod Simon frater ejus factus esset summus sacerdos loco ejus, et ipse obtineret omnem regionem, et civitates in ea,

When they learned that his brother Simon had been made high priest instead, master now of the land and all its cities,

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.

scripserunt ad eum in tabulis æreis, ut renovarent amicitias et societatem quam fecerant cum Juda et cum Jonatha, fratribus ejus.

they wrote to him on tablets made of bronze, to renew the treaty of friendship they had with his brethren, Judas and Jonathan, before him;

And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.

Et lectæ sunt in conspectu ecclesiæ in Jerusalem. Et hoc exemplum epistolarum, quas Spartiatæ miserunt:

and their letters were read out before the whole assembly at Jerusalem. The Spartans wrote in these words following:

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.

Spartianorum principes et civitates, Simoni sacerdoti magno, et senioribus, et sacerdotibus, et reliquo populo Judæorum, fratribus, salutem.

The rulers and commonalty of Sparta, to the high priest Simon, the elders and priests and all the people of the Jews, greeting.

The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced at their coming.

Legati, qui missi sunt ad populum nostrum, nuntiaverunt nobis de vestra gloria, et honore, ac lætitia: et gavisi sumus in introitu eorum.

Welcome news your ambassadors have brought us, of fame and credit and prosperity you enjoy.

And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the people in this manner: Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with us.

Et scripsimus quæ ab eis erant dicta in conciliis populi, sic: Numenius Antiochi, et Antipater Jasonis filius, legati Judæorum, venerunt ad nos, renovantes nobiscum amicitiam pristinam.

And their errand stands recorded in our public annals; how Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason came on the Jews’ part to renew our old treaty of friendship with you;

And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to the people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to Simon the high priest.

Et placuit populo excipere viros gloriose, et ponere exemplum sermonum eorum in segregatis populi libris, ut sit ad memoriam populo Spartiatarum. Exemplum autem horum scripsimus Simoni magno sacerdoti.

how the people resolved to give them fair greeting, and to lay up a copy of their report in the public archives, that should preserve the memory of it among the Spartan people; and how an account of all this was sent to the high priest Simon.

And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of gold of the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with them. And when the people of Rome had heard

Post hæc autem misit Simon Numenium Romam, habentem clypeum aureum magnum, pondo mnarum mille, ad statuendam cum eis societatem. Cum autem audisset populus Romanus

Numenius was sent on a further mission to Rome, bearing a great target of gold, a thousand minas in weight, to renew the alliance there. And when all this reached the ears of the people …

These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and his sons?

sermones istos, dixerunt: Quam gratiarum actionem reddemus Simoni, et filiis ejus?

… Men began to ask, how they could shew their gratitude to Simon, and to his sons?

For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.

restituit enim ipse fratres suos, et expugnavit inimicos Israël ab eis, et statuerunt ei libertatem, et descripserunt in tabulis æreis, et posuerunt in titulis in monte Sion.

Here was one that had restored the fortunes of his race, and rid Israel of its foes. So they gave him exemption from public burdens, and inscribed their decree on tablets of bronze, fastened to pillars which were set up on mount Sion.

And this is a copy of the writing: The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third year under Simon the high priest at Asaramel,

Et hoc est exemplum scripturæ: Octavadecima die mensis Elul, anno centesimo septuagesimo secundo, anno tertio sub Simone sacerdote magno in Asaramel,

And thus the inscription ran: On this eighteenth day of Elul, in the hundred and seventy-second year of the Greek empire, the third of Simon’s high priesthood,

In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country,

in conventu magno sacerdotum, et populi, et principum gentis, et seniorum regionis, nota facta sunt hæc: quoniam frequenter facta sunt prælia in regione nostra,

there was a high assembly held at Saramel of priests and people, clan-chiefs and elders of the whole nation, that had before them these considerations following. All through the long wars of our country,

And Simon the son of Mathathias of the children of Jarib, and his brethren have put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: and have raised their nation to great glory.

Simon autem Mathathiæ filius, ex filiis Jarib, et fratres ejus, dederunt se periculo, et restiterunt adversariis gentis suæ, ut starent sancta ipsorum, et lex: et gloria magna glorificaverunt gentem suam.

Simon and his brethren, sons of Mattathias, of Jarib’s clan, put their lives in peril, and fought for law and sanctuary against the common enemy, much glory winning for their own nation.

And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their high priest, and he was laid to his people.

Et congregavit Jonathas gentem suam, et factus est illis sacerdos magnus, et appositus est ad populum suum.

When Jonathan, that had rallied the people and been their high priest, became a part of his race,

And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places.

Et voluerunt inimici eorum calcare et atterere regionem ipsorum, et extendere manus in sancta eorum.

enemies thought to invade the country and crush the power of it, violate its holy places;

Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them wages:

Tunc restitit Simon, et pugnavit pro gente sua, et erogavit pecunias multas, et armavit viros virtutis gentis suæ, et dedit illis stipendia:

and Simon it was withstood them. Champion of his people’s cause, much he spent to arm its warriors, and furnish them with pay.

And he fortified the cities of Judea, and Bethsura that lieth in the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and he placed there a garrison of Jews.

et munivit civitates Judææ, et Bethsuram, quæ erat in finibus Judææ, ubi erant arma hostium antea: et posuit illic præsidium viros Judæos.

Juda’s cities he fortified, and others besides; Bethsura on the frontiers, once a stronghold of the enemy, garrisoned now by Jews,

And he fortified Joppe which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for their reparation.

Et Joppen munivit, quæ erat ad mare, et Gazaram, quæ est in finibus Azoti, in qua hostes antea habitabant: et collocavit illic Judæos, et quæcumque apta erant ad correptionem eorum, posuit in eis.

Joppe on the sea-coast, and Gazara in the Azotus region; Gazara, too, once hostile, with Jewish troops manned he, and in each town made provision for repairs to be done.

And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he meant to bring his nation, made him their prince, and high priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice, and faith, which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to advance his people.

Et vidit populus actum Simonis, et gloriam quam cogitabat facere genti suæ, et posuerunt eum ducem suum, et principem sacerdotum, eo quod ipse fecerat hæc omnia, et justitiam, et fidem, quam conservavit genti suæ, et exquisivit omni modo exaltare populum suum.

The people, seeing him so loyal a lover of his country’s renown, made him their ruler and high priest; no less was due to such exploits, public service so faithfully done, such constant ambition for his people’s honour.

And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem in the castle, out of which they issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and did much evil to its purity.

Et in diebus ejus prosperatum est in manibus ejus, ut tollerentur gentes de regione ipsorum, et qui in civitate David erant, in Jerusalem in arce, de qua procedebant, et contaminabant omnia quæ in circuitu sanctorum sunt, et inferebant plagam magnam castitati:

In his days it was, and by his means, the land was rid at last of Gentile intruders; not least the garrison of David’s own Keep at Jerusalem, that by their sallying out profaned the sacred precincts, and much defiled their purity;

And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and of the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem.

et collocavit in ea viros Judæos ad tutamentum regionis, et civitatis, et exaltavit muros Jerusalem.

a Jewish garrison he set there, to guard both city and country-side, and built Jerusalem walls yet higher.

And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood.

Et rex Demetrius statuit illi summum sacerdotium.

High priesthood of his, king Demetrius must needs acknowledge,

According to these things he made him his friend, and glorified him with great glory.

Secundum hæc fecit eum amicum suum, et glorificavit eum gloria magna.

bestowing on him the title of king’s friend, and loading him with honours. What could he do else?

For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews their friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had received Simon’s ambassadors with honour:

Audivit enim quod appellati sunt Judæi a Romanis amici, et socii, et fratres, et quia susceperunt legatos Simonis gloriose,

Here was Rome itself greeting the Jewish folk as allies, good friends, and kinsmen, welcoming the envoys of Simon with civic state.

And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented that he should be their prince, and high priest for ever, till there should arise a faithful prophet:

et quia Judæi et sacerdotes eorum consenserunt eum esse ducem suum, et summum sacerdotem in æternum, donec surgat propheta fidelis:

Here were the Jews, priests and people both, agreed that he should rule them, granting him the high priesthood by right inalienable, until true prophet they should have once more.

And that he should be chief over them, and that he should have the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint rulers over their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the strong holds.

et ut sit super eos dux, et ut cura esset illi pro sanctis, et ut constitueret præpositos super opera eorum, et super regionem, et super arma, et super præsidia:

Their ruler he should be, and guardian of their temple; appoint officer and magistrate, master of ordnance and captain of garrison,

And that he should have care of the holy places: and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name: and that he should be clothed with purple, and gold:

et cura sit illi de sanctis: et ut audiatur ab omnibus, et scribantur in nomine ejus omnes conscriptiones in regione: et ut operiatur purpura et auro:

and have charge of the sanctuary besides. Him all must obey, in his name deeds be drawn up, all the country through; of purple and gold should be his vesture.

And that it should not be lawful for any of the people, or of the priests, to disannul any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to call together an assembly in the country without him: or to be clothed with purple, or to wear a buckle of gold:

et ne liceat ulli ex populo et ex sacerdotibus irritum facere aliquid horum, et contradicere his quæ ab eo dicuntur, aut convocare conventum in regione sine ipso, et vestiri purpura, et uti fibula aurea:

Of the rest, both priests and people, none should retrench these privileges, nor gainsay Simon’s will, nor convoke assembly in the country without him; garment of purple, buckle of gold none should wear;

And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void any of these things shall be punished.

qui autem fecerit extra hæc, aut irritum fecerit aliquid horum, reus erit.

nor any man defy or void this edict, but at his peril.

And it pleased all the people to establish Simon, and to do according to these words.

Et complacuit omni populo statuere Simonem, et facere secundum verba ista.

The people’s pleasure it was to ennoble Simon after this sort;

And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to execute the office of the high priesthood, and to be captain, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be chief over all.

Et suscepit Simon, et placuit ei ut summo sacerdotio fungeretur, et esset dux et princeps gentis Judæorum, et sacerdotum, et præesset omnibus.

and Simon, he would not say them nay; high priest, and of priests and people leader, governor and champion, he would be henceforward.

And they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the sanctuary, in a conspicuous place:

Et scripturam istam dixerunt ponere in tabulis æreis, et ponere eas in peribolo sanctorum, in loco celebri:

So they had the decree inscribed on tablets of bronze, and set up plain to view in the temple precincts;

And that a copy thereof should be put in the treasury, that Simon and his sons may have it.

exemplum autem eorum ponere in ærario, ut habeat Simon, et filii ejus.

and a copy of it they put by in the treasury, in the safe keeping of Simon and his heirs.