The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

CHAP. X.

4 Demetrius desireth to haue peace with Ionathan 18 Ale∣xander also desireth peace with the Iewes. 48 Alexander maketh warre against 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 50 Demetrius is slaine 51 The friendship of Ptolemeus and Alexander.

1 IN the hundreth and thre score yere came Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epipha nes, and tōke Ptolemais, and they receiued him, and there he reigned.

2 Now when Demetrius the King heard it, he gathered an exceading great host, and went forthe against him to fight.

3 Also Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathan, with louing wordes, as thogh he wolde pre∣ferre him.

4 For he said, We wil firste make peace with hym, before he ioyne wyth Alexander a∣gainst vs.

5 Els he will remember all the euil that we ha∣ue done against him, and against his brethrē and his nacion.

6 And so he gaue Ionathan leaue to gather an host, and to prepare weapons, and to be con federate with him, and commanded the ho∣stages that were in the castell, to be deliuered vnto him.

7 ¶ Then came Ionathan to Ierusalém, and red the letters in the audience of all the people, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them that were in the castel.

8 Therefore they were sore afraied, because they heard that the King had giuen hym li∣cence to gather an armie.

9 So they that were of the castel, deliuered the hostages vnto Ionathan, who restored them to their parents.

10 Ionathan also dwelt at Ierusalem, and begā to buyld, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the citie.

11 And he commaunded the workemen to builde the walles, and the mount Sion roun∣de about with he wen stone, to sortifie it: and so they did.

12 Then the strangers that were in the castels which Bacchides had made fled.

13 So that euerie man left his place, and went into his owne countrey.

14 Onely at Beth-sura remained 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whi che had forsaken the Law and the comman∣dements: for it was their refuge.

15 ¶ Now when King Alexander had heard of the promises that Demetrius had made vnto Ionathan: and when it was tolde him of the battels and nobles actes, whiche he and his brethren had done, and of the paines that they had indured.

16 He said, Might we finde suche a man nowe therefore we will make hymour friend and confederate.

17 Vpon this he wrote a letter, and sent it vnto him, with these wordes, saying.

18 Kyng Alexander to his brother Ionathan, sendeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

19 We haue heard of thee, that thou art a very valiant man, and worthie to be our friend.

20 Wherefore this day we ordeine thee to be the hie Priest of thy nacion, and to be called the Kings friend: and he sent him a purple robe, and a“ crowne of golde, that thou“ maist consider what is for our profite, and kepe friendship towarde vs.

21 So in the seuenth moneth of the hundreth and thre score yere, vpon the seast daye of the tabernacles, Ionathan put on the holie garment, and gathered an hoste, and prepa∣red many weapons.

22 ¶ Which when Demetrius heard, he was marueilous sory, and said.

23 What haue we done, that Alexander hathe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs in getting the friendship of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for his strength?

24 Yet wil I write and exhorte them, and pro∣mes them dignities and rewardes, that they may helpe me.

25 Wherupon he wrote vnto them these wor∣des,

Kyng 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the nacions of the Iewes sendeth greting.

26 We haue heard that ye haue kept your co∣uenant towarde vs, and continued in our fri∣endship, and haue not ioyned with our ene∣mies, whereof we are glad.

27 Now therefore remaine stil, and kepe fideli tie towarde vs, and we will recompense you for the good things that ye haue done for vs

28 And will release you of many charges, and giue you rewardes.

29 And now I discharge for your sake all the Iewes from tributes, and fre you from the cu stomes of salte, and the crowne taxes, and from the thirde parte of the sede.

30 And from the halfe of the frute of the trees whiche is mine owne duetie, I so release thē that from this day forth, none shal take any thing of the land of Iuda, or of the thre go∣uernements which are added there unto as of Samaria and of Galile,a from this day for∣the for euermore.

31 Ierusalem also with all thyngs belongyng thereto, shalbe holie and fre from the ten∣thes and tributes.

32 Also I release the power of the castel which is at Ierusalém, ād giue it vnto the hie Priest, that he may set in it suche men, as he shal chu se to kepe it.

33 Moreuer I frely deliuer euerie one of the Iewes that were taken away prisoners out of the land of Iuda through out all my real∣me, and euerie one of them shalbe free from tributes, yea, euen their catel.

34 And all the feasts, and Sabbaths, and new moones, and the dayes appointed and the thredaies before the feast, and the thre daies after the feast, shalbe daies of fredome and li bertie for all the Iewes in my realme.

35 So that (in them) no man shal haue power to do any thing, or to vexe any of them in any maner of cause.

36 Also thirtie thousand of the Iewes shalbe writen vp in the Kings hoste, and haue their wages payeth them as apperteineth to all them that are of the Kings armie: and of thē shalbe ordeyne certeine to kepe the Kings strong holdes.

37 And some of them shalbe set ouer the Kings moste secret affaires, and their gouernours and their princes shalbe of them selues, and they shal liue after their owne lawes, as the King hathe commanded in the land of Iuda.

38 And the thre gouernements that are added vnto Iudea from the countrey of Samaria shalbe ioyned vnto Iudea, and they shalbe as vnder one, and obey none other power, but the hie Priest.

39 And I giue Ptolemais and the borders ther∣of vnto the Sanctuarie at Ierusalém, for the necessarie expenses of the holie things.

40 Moreouer, I will giue euerie yere fiftene thousād sicles of siluer of the Kings reuenu∣es out of the places apperteining vnto me.

41 And all the ouerplus whiche they haue not paied for thyngs due, as they did in the for∣mer yeres, from hence for the they shal giue it towarde the workes of the Temple.

42 And besides this, the fiue thousand sicles of siluer which they receiued yerely of the ac∣counte appointed for the intertein emēt of the Sanctuarie, these yeres passed, euē these things shalbe released because they apper∣teine to the Priests that minister.

43 Item, whosoeuer they be that flee vnto the Temple at Ierusalém, or within the liberties therof, and are indetted to the King for any maner of thing, they shalbe pardoned, and all that they haue in my realme.

44 For the buylding also and repayring of the workes of the Sanctuarie, expenses shal be giuen of the Kings reuenues.

45 And for the makyng of the walles of Ieru∣salém, and fortifying it rounde about that the holdes in Iudea may be buylt vp, shall also the costes be giuen out of the Kings re∣uenues.

46 ¶ But whē Ionathan and the people heard these wordes, they gaue no credit vnto thē, nether receiued them: for they remembred the great wickednes that he had done in Is∣raél, and how sore he had vexed them.

47 Wherefore they agreed vnto Alexander: for he was the first that had intreated of true peace with them, and so were confederat with him alway.

48 Then gathered King Alexander a great ho∣ste, and camped ouer against Demetrius.

49 So the two Kings ioyned battel, but Deme trius hoste fled, and Alexander pursued him, and preuailed against them.

50 So that sore battel continued till the sunne went downe, and Demetrius was slayne the same day.

51 ¶Then Alexander sent ambassadours vnto Ptolemeus the Kyng of Egypt with these wordes, saying.

52 For so muche as I am come agayne to my realme, ād am set in the throne of my fathers and haue gotten the dominion, and haue de∣stroied Demetrius, and enioye my countrey.

53 Seing that I haue euen giuen him the bat∣tel, and he and his armie is discōfited by me, and I sit in the throne of his kingdome.

54 Let vs now make friendship together, and giue me now thy daughter to wife: so shal I be thy sonne in law, ād giue thee rewardes, ād vnto her things according to thy dignitie

55 Then Ptolemeus the King gaue answer, say ing, happie be the day, wherein thou art co∣me againe vnto the lande of thy fathers, and sittest in the throne of their kingdome.

56 Now therefore wil I fulfil thy writings but mete me at Ptolemais that we mayse one an other, and that I may make thee my sonne in law, according to thy desire.

57 So Ptolemeus went out of Egypt with hys daughter Cleopatra, and came vnto Ptole∣mais in the hūdreth threscore and two yere.

58 Where King Alexāder met him, ād he gaue

vnto him his daughter Cleopatrus, and ma∣ried them at Ptolemais with great glorie, as the maner of Kingsis.

59 ¶Then wrote King Alexander vnto Iona∣than, that he shulde come and mete him.

60 So he went honorably vnto Ptolemais, and there he met the two Kings, and gaue them great presents of siluer and golde, & to their friends, and founde fauour in their sight.

61 And there assembled certeine pestilent fe∣lowes of Israel, & wicked men to accuse him but the King wolde not heare them,

62 And the King commanded that they shulde take of the garments of Ionathan, & clothe him in purple: and so they did: and the King appointed him to sit by him,

63 And said vnto his princes, Go with him into the middes of the citie, and make a procla∣macion, that no man complaine against him of anie matter, and that no man trouble him for anie maner of cause.

64 So when his accusers sawe his honour ac∣cording as it was proclaimed, & that he was clothed in purple, they fled all away.

65 And the King preferred him to honour, and wrote him among his chief friends, & made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.

66 Thus Ionathan returned to Ierusalem with peace and gladnes.

67 ¶In the hundreth, thre score & fiue yere ca me Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius from Creta into his fathers land.

68 Whereof when King Alexander heard, he was verie sorie, and returned vnto Antio∣chia.

69 The Demetrius appointed Apollonius the gouernour of Celosyria, who gathered a great hoste, and camped in Iamnia, and sent vnto Ionathan the hie Priest, saying,

70 Darest thou, being but alone, lift vp thy self against vs? and I am laughed at, & reproched, because of thee: now therefore why doest thou vant thy self against vs in the mountai∣nes?

71 Now then if thou trust in thine owne strength, come downe to vs into the plaine field & there let vs trye the matter together: for I haue the strength of cities.

72 Aske and learne who I am, and they shal ta∣ke my parte: and they shal tell thee that your fote is notable to stand before our face: for thy fathers haue benet wise chased in their owne land.

73 And now how wilt thou be able to abide so great an hoste of horsemen and fotemen in the plaine, where is nether stone, norrocke, nor place to flee vnto?

74 When Ionathan heard the wordes of Apol lonius, he was moued in his minde: wherefo∣re he closeten thousand men, and went out of Ierusalem, and Simō his brother met him for to helpe him.

75 And he pitched his tents at Ioppe: but they shut him out of the citie: for Apollonius ga∣rison was in Ioppe.

76 Then they foght against it, and they that were in the citie, for verie feare let him in so Ionathan wan Ioppe.

77 Apollonius hearing of this, toke thre thou∣sand horsemen with a great hoste (of fote) men and went to warde Azotus, as thogh he wolde go forwarde, & came immediatly into the plaine field, because he had so manie hor semen, and put his trust in them.

78 So Ionathan followed vpon him to Azotus, and the armie skirmished with his arriere bande.

79 For Apollonius had left a thousand horse∣men behinde them in ambush.

80 And Ionathan knewe that there was an am bushment behinde him, and thogh they had compassed in his hoste, and shot dartes at the people from the morning to the euening,

81 Yet the people stode stil, as Ionathan had cō manded them, til their horses were wearie.

82 Then broght Simon forthe his hoste, and set thē against the bāde: but the horses were wearie, aud he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, and they fled: so the horsemen were scattered in the field,

83 And they fled to Azotus, and came into the temple of Dagon their Idole, that thei might there saue them 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

84 But Ionathan set fyre vpon Azotus and all the cities rounde about it, & toke their spoi∣les, and burnt with fyre the temple of Dagon with all them that were fled into it.

85 Thus were slayne & burnt about eight thou sand men.

86 So Ionathan remoued the hoste from then∣ce, and camped by Ascalon, where the men of the citie came forthe, and met him with great honour.

87 After this went Ionath an and his hoste agai ne to Ierusalem with great spoiles.

88 And whē King Alexāder heard these things he began to do Ionathan more honour,

89 And sent him a colar of golde, as the vse is to be giuen vnto suche as are of the Kings blood: he gaue him also Accaron, with the borders thereof in possession.

Notes

• Iosep. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. Chap. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “

  Or, take on: 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Ioseph. Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chap 3.
• a

  And of the coū trey beyonde Ior den, as Iosephus 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Ioseph. Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chap. 5.