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

THE FIRST BOKE OF THE Maccabees.

CHAP. I.

1 The death of Alxāder the King of Macedonia. 11 Antio∣chus taketh the kingdome. 12 Many of the children, of Is rael make couenant with the Gentiles. 21 Antiochus sub dueth Egypt and Ierusalem vnto his dominion. 50 An∣tiochus setteth vp idoles.

1 AFfter that Alexander the Macedoniā, the sōne of Philippe, wēt forthe of the land of Chettiim, & slew Da∣rius King of the Per∣siās and Medes, & rei gned for him, as he had before in Grecia

2 He toke great war∣res in hand, and wan strōg holdes, and slewe the Kings of the earth.

3 So went he thorow to the ends of the world and toke spoiles of many naciōs, in so much that the worlde stode in awe of him: therefo re his heart was puffed vp and was hawtie.

4 Now when he had gathered a mightie strōg hoste,

5 And had reigned ouer regiōs, naciōs & king domes, they became tributaries vnto him.

6 After these things he fel sicke, and knewe that he shulde dye.

7 Then he called for the chief of his seruātes, which had bene broght vp with him of chil dren, and parted his kingdome among thē, while he was yet aliue.

8 So Alexander had reigned twelue yeres whē he dyed.

9 And his seruants reigned euerie one in his roume.

10 And they all caused thē selues to be crowned after his death, and so did their childrē after thē many yeres, & muche wickednes increa∣sed in the worlde.

11 For out of these came the wicked roote, (euen) Antiochus“ 1.1 Epiphanes the sonne of King Antiochus, which had bene an hosta∣ge at Rome, and he reigned in the hundreth and seuē and thirtieth yere of the kingdome of the Grekes.

12 In those dayes went there out of Israel wic ked men, which entyced many, saying, Let vs go, & make a couenant with the heathē, that are rounde about vs: sor since we depar ted frō them, we haue had muche sorowe.

13 So this deuice pleased them wel.

14 And certeine of the people were readie, & went to the King which gaue thē licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen.* 1.2

15 Thē set they vp a place of exercise at Ierusa∣lē, according to the facions of the heathen,

16 And made thēa 1.3 selues vncircumsed, & for∣soke the holy couenant, & ioyned thē selues to the heathen, & were solde to do mischief.

17 So whē Antiochus kingdome was set in or∣der, he wēt about to reigne ouer Egypt, that he might haue the dominiō of two realmes.

18 Therefore he entred into Egypt with a migh tie companie, with charets, and elephantes, and with horsement, and with a great nauie,

19 And moued warre against Ptolemeus King of Egypt: but Ptolemeus was afraid of him, & fled, and manie were wounded to death.

20 Thus (Antiochus) wanne many strong cities in the land of Egypt, and toke away the spoi les of the land of Egypt.

21 And after that Antiochus had smittē Egypt he turned againe in the hundreth, fortie & thre yere,

22 And wentvp towarde Israel and Ierusalém with a mightie people.

23 And entred proudly into the Sanctuarie, and toke away the golden altar, and the candle∣sticke for the light, and all the instruments thereof, and the table of the shewbread, and the powring vessels, and the bowles, and the golden basins, and the vaile, and the crownes and the golden apparel, which was before the Temple, and brake all in pieces.

24 He toke also the siluer and golde, and the precious iewels, and he toke the secret trea∣sures that he founde, and whē he had taken away all, he departed into his owne land,

25 After he had murthered many men, and spo ken verie proudely.

26 Therefore there was a great lamentacion in euerie place of Israél.

27 For the princes and the Elders mourned: the yong women, and the yong men were made feble, and the beautie of the women was changed.

28 Euerie bridegrome toke him to mourning and she that sate in the mariage chāber, was in heauines.

29 The land also was moued for the inhabitāts thereof for all the house of Iacob was coue∣red with confusion.

30 After two yeres the King sent his chief taxe master into the cities of Iuda, which came to Ierusalém with a great multitude.

31 Who spake peaceable wordes vnto them in disceite, and they gaue credit vnto him.

32 Then he fell suddenly vpon the citie, and smote it with a great plague, and destroied muche people of Israél.

33 And when he had spoiled the citie, he set fy∣re on it, casting downe the houses thereof, & walles thereof on euerie side.

34 The women and their children toke they captiuitie, and led away the cattel.

35 Then fortified they the citie of Dauid with a great and thicke wall, and with mightie towres, and made it a strong holde for them.

36 Moreouer they set wicked people there, and vngodlie persones, and fortified them selues therein.

37 And they stored it with weapons & vitailes

and gathered the spoile of Ierusalém, & laied it vp there.

38 Thus became they a sore snare and were in ambushment for the Sanctuarie, and were wicked enemies euermore vnto Israél.

39 For thei shed innocent blood on euerie side of the Sanctuarie and defiled the Sāctuarie,

40 In so muche that the citizens of Ierusalém fled away because of them, and it became an habitacion of strangers, being desolate of them whome she had borne: for her owne children did leaue her.

41 Her Sāctuarie was left waste as a wildernes: her holie daies were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproche, and her honour broght to naught.

42 As her glorie had bene great, so was her dis∣honour, and her excellencie was turned into sorowe.

43 Also the King wrote vnto all his kingdome* 1.4 that all the people shulde be as one, and that euerie man shulde leaue his lawes.

44 And all the heathen agreed to the comman dement of the King.

45 Yea, many of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consented to his religion, offring vnto idoles, and defiling the Sabbath.

46 So the King sent letters by the messengers vnto Ierusalém, and to the cities of Iuda, that they shulde followe the strange lawes of the countrey,

47 And that they shulde forbid the burnt of∣frings and sacrifices, and the offrings in the* 1.5 Sanctuarie,

48 And that they shulde defile the Sabbaths and the feasts,

49 And pollute the Sanctuarie and the holie men,

50 And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set vp altars, and groues, and chap∣pels of idoles, and offer vp swines flesh, and vncleane beasts,

51 And that they shulde leaue their children vncircumcised, and defile their soules with vnclennes, and pollute themselues, that they might forget the Law, and change all the or∣dinances,

52 And that whosoeuer wolde not do accor∣ding to the commandement of the Kings, shulde suffer death.

53 In like maner wrote he thorow out all his kingdomes, & set ouer seers ouer all the peo∣ple, (forto compell thē to do these things)

54 And he commanded the cities of Iuda to do sacrifice, citie by citie.

55 Then went many of the people vnto them by heapes, euery one that forsoke the Law, and so they committed euil in the land.

56 And they droue the Israelites into secret places, euen whereso euer they colde slee for succour.

57 The fiftenth day of Casleu, in the hundreth and fiue and fortieth yere, they set vp the abo minacion of desolacion vpon the altar, and thei buylded altars thorow out the cities of Iuda on euerie side.

58 And before the dores of the houses, and in the stretes they burnt incense.

59 And the bokes of the Law, which they founde, they burnt in the fyre, and cutte in pieces.

60 Whosoeuer had a boke of the Testament founde by him, or whosoeuer consented vn∣to the Law, the Kings commandement was, that they shulde put him to death by their autoritie,

61 And they executed these things euerie mo∣neth vpon the people of Israel that were fo∣unde in the cities.

62 And in the fiue & twentieth day of the mo∣neth, they did sacrifice vpon the altar, which was in the stead of the altar of sacrifices.

63 And according to the commādement, they put certeine womē to death, which had cau∣sed their children to be circumcised,

64 And they hanged vp the children at their neckes, & they spoiled their houses, & slewe the circumcisers of them.

65 Yet were there many in Israél, which were of courage, and determined in them selues, that they wolde not eat vncleane things,

66 But chose rather to suffer death, then to be defiled with those meats: so because thei wolde not breake the holie couenant, they were put to death.

67 And this“ 1.6 tyrannie was verie sore vpon the people of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

CHAP. II.

1 The mourning of Mattathias and his sonnes for the de∣struction of the holy citie. 19 They refuse to do sacrifice vnto idoles. 24 The zeale of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the Law of God. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 They are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and wil not sight againe because of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 day. 49 Mattathias dying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his sonnes to sticke by the worde of God, after the exam∣ple of the fathers.

1 IN those dayes stode vp Mattathias the* 1.7 Priest, (the sonne) of Ioannes, (the sonne) of Simeon, of the sonnes of Ioarib of Ierusa lem, and dwelt in Modin.

2 And he had fiue sonnes, Ioanan called Gad∣dis.

3 Simon called Thassi,

4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which was called Maccabeus,

5 Eleazar called“ 1.8 Abaron, and Ionathā, whose name was Apphus.

6 Now he sawe the blasphemies, which were committed in Iuda and Ierusalém:

7 And he said, Wo is me: wherefore was I bor ne, to se this destruction of my people, and the destruction of the holy citie, and thus to sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is deliuered into the hands of the enemies,

8 And the Sanctuarie (is) in the hands of stran gers: her Temple is, as a man that hathe no re 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

9 Her glorious vessels are caryed away into ca ptiuitie: her infants are slayne in the stretes, and her yong men are fallen by the sworde of the enemies.

10 What people is it, that hathe not some pos∣session in (her) kingdome, or hathe not 〈◊〉〈◊〉

of her spoyles?

11 All her glorie is taken away: of a fre woman she is become an handmaid.

12 Beholde, our Sanctuarie and our beautie, & honor is desolate, and the Gentiles haue de∣filed it.

13 What helpeth it vs then to liue anie longer?

14 And Mattathias rent his clothes, he, ād his sonnes, and put sacke cloth vpon them, and mourned verie sore.

15 ¶ Then came men from the King to the ci∣tie of Modin to compell them to forsake God, and to sacrifice.

16 Somanie of the Israelites consented vnto them: but Mattathias and his sonnes assem∣bled together.

17 Then spake the commissioners of the King and said vnto Mattathias, Thou art the chief and an honorable man, and great in this citie and hast many children and brethren.

18 Come thou therefore first, and fulfil the Kings commandement, as all the heathen haue done, and also the men of Iuda, and su∣che as remaine at Ierusalem: so shalt thou & thy familie be in the Kings fauour and thou and thy children shalbe enriched with siluer and golde, and with manie rewards.

19 Then Mattathias answered and said with a loude voyce, Thogh all nacions that are vn∣der the Kings dominion, obey him, and fall away cuerie man from the religion of their fathers, and consent to his commandemēts,

20 Yet wil I and my sonnes, and my brethren, walke in the couenant of our fathers.

21 God be merciful vnto vs, that we forsake not the Law and the ordinances.

22 We wil not hearken vnto the Kings wor∣des to transgresse our religion, nether on the right side, nor on the left.

23 And whē he had left of speaking the sewor des, there came one of the Iewes, in the sight of all to sacrifice vpon the altar which was at Modin, according to the Kings commande ment.

24 Now when Mattathias sawe it, he was so in flamed with zeale, that his raines shoke, and his wrath was kindled according to the ordi nance (of the Law:) therefore he ran vnto him, and killed him by the altar:

25 And at the same time he slewe the Kings commissioner, that compelled him to do sa∣crifice, and destroied the altar.

26 Thus bare he a zeale to the Law of God, ** 1.9 (doing,) as Phinees did vnto Zambrithe son ne of Salom.

27 ¶ Then cryed Mattathias with a loude voy ce in the citie, (saying,) Who soeuer is zea∣lous of the Law, and wil stand by the couenāt let him come forthe after me.

28 So he, and his sonnes fled into the mountai nes, and left all that thei had in the citie.

29 Then manie that“ 1.10 soght after iustice and iudgement,

30 Went downe into the wildernes to dwell there, bothe they, and their children, and their wiues, and their cattel: for the afflictiō: in creased sore vpon them.

31 ¶ Now when it was tolde vnto the Kings seruants, and to the garisons, which were in Ierusalem in the citie of Dauid, that mē had broken the Kings commādement, and were gone downe into the secret places in the wil dernes,

32 Then many pursued after them: and hauing ouer taken them, thei camped against them, and set the battel in array against them on the Sabbath day,

33 And said vnto them, Let this now be sufficiēt come forthe and do according to the com∣mandement of the King, and ye shalliue.

34 But they answered, We wil not go forthe, nether wil we do the Kings commandement to defile the Sabbath day.

35 Then they gaue them the battel.

36 But the other answered them nothing, ne∣ther cast anie one stone at them not stopped the priue places,

37 But said, We wil dye all in our innocencie: the heauen and earth shal testifie for vs, that ye destroy vs wrongfully.

38 Thus thei gaue thē the battel vpon the Sab∣bath, and slewe bothe men and cattel, their wiues and their children to the nomber of a thousand people.

39 ¶ When Mattathias and his friends vnder∣stode this, thei mourned for them greatly,

40 And said one to another, If we all do as our brethrē haue done, and fight not against the heathen for our liues, and for our Lawes, thē shal thei incontinently destroy vs out of the earth.

41 Therefore they concluded at the same time saying, Whosoeuer shal come to make battel with vs vpon the Sabbath daye, we wil fight against him, that we dye not all, as our bre∣thren that were murthered in the secret places.

42 Then came vnto them the assemblie of the Asideans, which were of the strongest men of Israél, all suche as were wel minded toward the Law.

43 And all they that were fled for persecucion ioyned them selues vnto them, and were an helpe vnto them.

44 So they gathered a power, and smote the wicked men in their wrath, and thevngodlie in their angre: but the rest fled vnto the hea∣then, and escaped.

45 Then Mattathias and his friends wēt about and destroyed the altars,

46 And circumcised the children by force that were vn circumcised, as manie as they foūde within the coasts of Israél,

47 And they pursued after the proude men & this acte prospered in their hands.

48 So they recouered the Law of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of Kings, and gaue not place to the wicked.

49 Now when the time drewe nere, that Mat∣tathias shulde dye, he said vnto his sonnes,

Now is pride and persecucion increased, & the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignacion.

50 Now therefore, my sonnes, be ye zealous of the Law, and giue your liues for the co∣uenant of our fathers.

51 Call to remembrance what actes our Fa∣thers did in their time: so shall ye receyue great honour and an euerlasting name.

52 * Was not Abraham founde faithful in tē∣tacion,* 1.11 and it was imputed vnto hym for righteousnes?

53 * Ioseph in the time of his trouble kept the* 1.12 commandement, and was made the Lord of Egypt.

54 * Phinees our father, because he was zea∣lous* 1.13 and feruent, obteined the couenāt of* 1.14 the euerlasting priesthode.

55 * Iesus for fulfilling the worde, was made* 1.15 the gouernour of Israel.

56 * Caleb, because he bare witnes before* 1.16 the congregacion, receiued the heritage* 1.17 of the land.

57 * Dauid, because of hys mercie obteyned* 1.18 the throne of the kingdome for euermore

58 * Elias, because he was zealous and feruēt* 1.19 in the Law, was taken vp euen vnto heauē.* 1.20

59 * Ananias, Azarias, and Misael by theyr faith were deliuered out of the flame.

60 * Daniel, because of his innocencie, was* 1.21 deliuered from the mouth of the lyons.

61 And thus ye maye consider thorowe out all ages, that whosoeuer put their truste in him, shal not want strength.

62 Feare not ye then the wordes of a sinfull mā: for his glorie is but dongue & wormes.

63 To day is he set vp, and to morow he shall not be found: for he is turned into his dust, and his purpose perisheth.

64 Wherefore, my sonnes, take good hearts, and shewe your selues men for the Law: for by it shal you obteine glorie.

65 And beholde, I knowe that your brother Simon is a man of counsell: gyue eare vnto him alway: he shalbe a father vnto you.

66 And Iudas Maccabeus hathe bene migh∣tie and strong, euen from his youth vp: let him be your captaine and fight you the battel for the people.

67 Thus shal ye bring vnto you all those that obserue the Law, and shal aduenge the in∣iuries of your people.

68 Recompense fully the heathen, and giue your selues to the commandement of the Law.

69 So he blessed them, and was laied with his fathers.

70 And dyed in the hundreth, fortye and six yere, and his sonnes buryed him in his Fa∣thers sepulchre at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentacion for him.

CHAP. III.

1 Iudas is made ruler ouer the Iewes. 11 He killeth Apol∣lonius and Seron the princes of Syria. 44 The considen∣ce of Iudas towarde God. 55 Iudas determineth to fight against Lysias, whome Antiochus had made captaine o∣uer his hoste.

1 THen Iudas his sonne, called Maccabe∣us, rose vp in his place.

2 And all his brethren helped him, and all they that helde with his father, and foght with courage the battel of Israel.

3 So he gate his people great honour: he put on a brestplate as a gyant, and armed him self, and set the battel in array, and de∣fended the campe with the sworde.

4 In his actes he was like a lyon, and as a lyons whelpe roaring after the pray.

5 For he pursued the wicked, and soght thē out, and burnt vp those that vexed his peo∣ple,

6 So that the wicked fled for feare of him, & all the workers of iniquitie were put to trouble: & saluacion prospered in his hand.

7 And he grieued diuers Kings, but Iacob reioyced by his actes, and his memorial is blessed for euer.

8 He went also thorowe the cities of Iuda, and destroyed the wicked out of them, and turned away the wrath from Israel.

9 So was he renoumed vnto the ends of the earth, & he assembled together those that were readie to perish.

10 ¶ Buta 1.22 Apollonius gathered the Genti∣les, and a great hoste out of Samaria, to fight against Israel.

11 Whiche when Iudas perceiued, he went forthe to mete him, and smote him, and slue him so that many fel downe slaine, and the rest fled.

12 So Iudas toke their spoiles, and toke also Apollonius sworde, and foght with it all his life long.

13 ¶ Now whē Seron a prince of the armie of Syria, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Iudas had gathered vnto him the congregacion, and Churche of the faithfull, and went forthe to the warre,

14 He said, I will get me a name, and will be glorious in the realme: for I will go sight with Iudas, & thē that are with him, which haue despised the Kings commandement.

15 So he made him readie to go vp, and there went with him a mightie hoste of the vn∣godlie to helpe him, and to be aduenged of the children of Israel.

16 And whē he came nere to the going vp of Bethoron, Iudas went forthe to met him with a smale companie.

17 But when they sawe the armie coming a∣gainst them, they said to Iudas, How are we able, being so fewe, to fight agaīst so great a multitude, and so strong, seyng we be so wearie, and haue fasted all this day?

18 Then said Iudas, It is an easie thing for many to be shut vp in the hands of fewe, & there is no difference before (the God) of heauen, to deliuer by a great multitude, or by a smale companie.

19 For the victorie of the battel stādeth not in the multitude of the hoste, but the strēgth

cometh from heauen.

20 They come against vs with a cruel and proude multitude, to destroye vs, and our 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and our children, and to robbe vs.

21 But we do fight for our liues, and for our Lawes,

22 And God him self wil destroie thē before our face: therefore be not yet afraied of them.

23 And whē he had left of speaking, he lept suddenly vpon them: so was Seron and his hoste destroied before him.

24 And they pursued them from the going downe of Bethhorō vnto the plaine: where there were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eyght hundreth men of them, and the residue fled into the lande of the Philistims.

25 Then the feare and terrour of Iudas & his brethren fel vpon the nacios round about,

26 So that his fame came vnto the King: for all the Gentiles colde tell of the warres of Iudas.

27 ¶ But when King Antiochus heard these tidings, he was angrie in his minde: where∣fore he sent forthe, and gathered all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his realme a very strong armie,

28 And opened his treasurie, and gaue hys hoste a yeres wages in hand, commanding thē to be readie for a yere for all occasions.

29 Neuertheles, when he sawe that the mo∣ney of his treasures failed, & that the tribu tes in the countrey were smale, because of the dissencion, and plagues that he had broght vpon the land, in taking a way the lawes which had bene of olde time,

30 He feared lest he shulde not haue now at the secōde time, as at the first, for the char∣ges and gifts that he had giuen with a libe∣ral hād afore for in liberalitie he farre pas∣sed the other Kings that were before him.

31 Wherefore he was heauie in his minde, and thoght to go into Persia, for to take tribu∣tes of the countreis, and to gather muche money.

32 So he left Lysias a noble man and of the Kings blood to ouerse the Kings busines, from the riuer of Euphrates vnto the bor∣ders of Egypt,

33 And to bring vp his sonne Antiochus, till he came againe.

34 Moreouer, he gaue him halfe of his hoste and elephātes, and gaue him the charge of all things that he wolde haue done,

35 And concerning those which dwelt in Iu∣da and Ierusalem, that he shulde send an armie against them, to destroye and roote out the power of Israel and the remnāt of Ierusalem, and to put out their memorial from that place,

36 And to set straungers for to inhabite all their quarters, and parte their land among them.

37 And the King toke the halfe of the hoste that remained, and departed from Antio∣chia his royal citie, in the yere an hundreth fortie and seuen, and passed the riuer Eu∣phrates, and went thorow the hie coun∣treis.

38 Then Lysias chose Ptolomeus the sonne of Doriminus, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, mightie men, and the Kings friends,

39 And sent with them fortie thousand fote men, and seuen thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Iuda, and to destroie it, as the King commanded.

40 So they went forthe with all their power and came and pitched by() 1.23 Emmaus in the plaine countrey.

41 Now when the marchāts of the countrey heard the rumour of them, they toke verye muche siluer and golde, and seruants, and came into the campe to bye the childrē of Israel for sclaues, and the strength of Syria and of strange nacions ioyned with them.

42 ¶ Now when Iudas and his brethren sawe that trouble increased, and that the hoste drewe nere vnto their borders, considering the Kings wordes, whereby he had com∣manded to destroy the people, and vtterly abolish them,

43 They said one to another, Let vs redresse the decay of our people, and let vs fight for our people, and for our Sanctuarie.

44 Then the congregacion were sone ready gathered to fight, and to praye, and to de∣sire mercie and compassion.

45 As for Ierusalem, it was not inhabited but was as a wildernes. There went none that was borne in it, in or out at it, and the San∣ctuarie was troden downe, and the straun∣gers kept the forteresse, and it was the habitacion of the heathen: and the mirth of Iacob was taken a way: the pipe and the harpe ceased.

46 So they gathered them selues together, and came to Maspha before Ierusalem: for in Maspha was the place where they praied afore time in Israel.

47 And they fasted that day, and put sacke∣cloth vpon them, and cast ashes vpon their heads, and rent their clothes,

48 And opened the boke of the Law, wherein the heathen soght to paint the lickenes of their idoles,

49 And broght the Priests garments, and the first frutes, and the tithes, and set there the Nazarites, which accomplished their daies.

50 And thei cryed with a loude voyce, toward heauē, saying, What shal we do with these? and whether shal we carye them away?

51 For thy Sanctuarie is troden downe & de∣filed, and thy Priests are in heauines, and broght downe.

52 And behold, the heathen are come against vs to destroie vs: thou knowest what things they imagine against vs.

53 How can we stand before them, excepte thou helpe vs?

54 Then they blewe the trumpets, and cryed with a loude voyce.

55 And after this Iudas ordeyned captaines ouer the people, euē captaines ouer thou∣sands, and captaines ouer hundreths, and captaines ouer fifties, and captaines ouer ten.

56 And they commanded them that buylded houses, or maried wiues, or planted viney∣ardes, or were feareful, that thei shulde re∣turne euerie one to his owne house, accor∣ding * to the Law.* 1.24

57 So the hoste remoued, and pitched vppon* 1.25 the Southside of Emmaus.

58 And Iudas said, Arme your selues, and be valiant men, & be readie against the mor∣ning to fight with these naciōs, which are gathered together against vs, to destroye vs and our Sanctuarie.

59 For it is better for vs to dye in battell, thē to se the calamities of our people and of our Sanctuarie.

60 Neuertheles as the wil (of God) is in hea∣uen, so be it.

CHAP. IIII.

1 Iudas goeth against Gorgias which lieth in wait. 14 He putteth Gorgias and his hoste to flight. 28 Lysias inua∣deth Iudea. 29 But Iudas driueth him out. 43 Iudas purifieth the Temple and dedicateth the altar.

1 THen toke Gorgias fiue thousand (fote)* 1.26 men, and a thousand of the best horse∣men, and departed out of the campe by night,

2 To inuade the campe of the Iewes, and to slaye them suddenly: and the men of the forteresse were his guides.

3 Now when Iudas heard it, he remoued, and they that were valiantmen to smite the Kings armie which was at Emmaus,

4 Whiles yet the armie was dispersed frome the campe.

5 In the meane seasō came Gorgias by night into Iudas campe: and when he founde no man there, he soght thē in the mountaines: for said he, They flee from vs.

6 But assone as it was day, Iudas shewed him selfe in the field with thre thousand men, whiche had nether harnes nor swordes to their mindes.

7 And thei sawe that the armies of the hea∣then were strong and wel armed, and their horsemen about them, and that these were experte men of warre.

8 Then said Iudas to the men that were with him, Feare ye not their multitude, nether be afraied of their assalt.

9 Remember, how our fathers were deliue∣red* 1.27 * in the red Sea, when Pharao pursued them with an armie.

10 Therefore now let vs crye vnto heauen, and the Lord will haue mercie vpon vs, & remember the couenant of our fathers, & will destroie this hoste before our face this day:

11 So shal all the heathen knowe, that there is one, which deliuereth and saueth Israel.

12 Then the strangers lift vp theireyes, and sawe them coming against them.

13 And they went out of their tentes into the battel, and they that were with Iudas, blew the trumpets.

14 So they ioyned together, and the heathē were discomfited and fled by the plaine.

15 But the hinmoste of them fel by the swor∣de, and they pursued them vnto“ 1.28 Gazeron and into the plaines of Idumea, and of Azo tus, and of Iamnia, so that there were slaine of them about thre thousand men.

16 So Iudas turned againe with his hoste frō pursuing them.

17 And said vnto the people, Be not griedie of the spoiles: for there is a battel before vs.

18 And Gorgias and the armie is here by vs in the mountaine: but stand ye now fast against your enemies, and ouer come them: then may ye safely take the spoiles.

19 As Iudas was speaking these wordes the∣re appeared one parte which loked from the mountaines,

20 But when (Gorgias) sawe that his were fled and that Iudas soldiers burnt the tentes: [for the smoke that was sene, declared what was done.]

21 When they sawe these things, they were sore afraied, and when they sawe also that Iudas and his hoste were in the field readie to set them selues in array,

22 They fled euerie one into the land of stran gers.

23 So Iudas turned againe to spoile the ten∣tes, where he gate muche golde and siluer, and precious stones, and purple of the sea, and great riches.

24 Thus they went home, and sang psalmes, & praised towarde the heauen: for he is gra∣cious, and his mercie endureth for euer,

25 And so Israél had a great victorie in that day.

26 ¶ Now all the strangers that escaped, ca∣me, and tolde Lysias all the things that we re done.

27 Who when he heard these things, was sore afraied, and discouraged, because suche things came not vpon Israél as he wolde, nether suche things as the King had com¦manded him, came to passe.

28 Therefore the next yere following, gathe∣red Lysias thre score thousande chosen (fote) men, and fiue thousande horsemen to fight against Ierusalém.

29 So they came in to“ 1.29 Idumea, and pitched their tentes at“ 1.30 Beth-sura, where Iudas ca∣me against them with ten thousand men:

30 And when he sawe that mightie armie, he praied and said, Blessed be thou, ô Sauiour of Israel, * which did est destroie the assalte* 1.31 of the mightie man by the hand of thy ser∣uant* 1.32 Dauid, * and gauest the hoste of the strangers into the hand of Ionathan, the sonne of Saul, and of his armour bearer.

31 Shut vp this armie in the hand of thy peo∣ple

of Israel, and let them be confounded with their power, and with their horsemē.

32 Make them afraied, and cōsume their bol∣denes and strength, that they may be asto∣nished at their destruction.

33 Cast them downe by the sworde of them that loue thee: thē shal all thei that knowe thy Name, praise thee with songs.

34 So they ioyned together, and there were slaine of Lysias hoste, fiue thousand men, & they fell before them.

35 Then Lysias, seing hys armie put to flight and the manlines of Iudas soldiers, & that they were readie, either to liue or dye va∣liantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathe∣red strangers, and when he had furnished his armie, he thoght againe [being prepa∣red] to come against Iudea.

36 Then said Iudas and his brethren, Behold, our ennemyes are discomfited: let vs now go vp to clense, and to repaire the Sāctua∣rie.

37 So all the hoste gathered them together, and went vp into the mountaine of Sion.

38 Now when they sawe the Sanctuarie layed waste, and the altar defiled, and the dores burnt vp, and the shrubbes growing in the courtes, as in a forest, or as on one of the mountaines, and that the Priests chambers were broken downe,

39 They rent their clothes, and made greate lamentation, and cast ashes vppon theyr heads,

40 And fel downe to the ground on their fa∣ces, and blewe an alarme with the trūpets, and cryed towarde heauen.

41 Then Iudas commaunded certeine of the mē to fight against those which were in the castel, til he had clensed the Sanctuarie.

42 So he chose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that were vndefiled, suche as delited in the Law,

43 And they clensed the Sāctuarie, and bare out the defiled stones into an vncleane place,

44 And consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offrings, which was polluted.

45 So they thoght it was best to destroye it, lest it shulde be a reproche vnto them, be∣cause the heathen had defiled it: therefore they destroyed the altar,

46 And layed vp the stones vpon the moun∣taine of the Temple in a conuenient place, til there shulde come a Prophet, to shewe what shulde be done with them.

47 So they toke whole stones according to the Law, & buylded a new altar according to the former,

48 And made vp the Sanctuarie, & the things that were within the Temple, & the courts and all things.

49 Thei made also new holie vessels, & broght into the Temple the cādel sticke, and the altar of burnt offrings, and of incense and the table.

50 And they burnt in cense vpon the altar, & lighted the lampes which were vpon the candelsticke, that they might burnt in the Temple.

51 Thei set also the shewbread vpon the ta∣ble, & changed vp the vailes, & finished all the workes that they had begon to make

52 And vpon the fiue and twentieth day of the ninth moneth, which is called the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Chaslu, in the hundreth and eight and fortieth yere they rose vp be times in the morning.

53 And offred sacrifice according to the Law vpon the new altar of burnt offrings, that they had made.

54 According to the time, and according to the day, that heathen had defiled it, in the same day was it made new with songs, and harpes, and lutes, and cymbales.

55 And all the people fel vpō aheir faces, wor shipping and praising towarde the heauē him that had giuen them good successe.

56 So they kept the dedication of the altar eight daies, offring burnt offrings with gladnes, and offred sacrifices of deliuerā ce and praise.

57 And decte the fore fronte of the Temple with crownes of golde and shields, and de∣dicated the gates and chambers, & hanged dores vpon them.

58 Thus there was very great gladnes among the people, & the reproche of the heathen was put away.

59 So Iudas and his brethren with the whole congregacion of Israél ordeined that the daies of dedicacion of the altar shulde be kept in their season from yere to yere, by the space of eight daies, from the fiue and twentie day of the moneth Chasleu, with mirth and gladnes.

60 And as the same time buylded they vp mount Sion with hie walles and strong towers rounde about, lest the Gentiles shulde come, and treade it downe, as they had done afore.

61 Therefore they set a garison there to ke∣pe it, and fortified Beth-sura to kepe it that the people might haue a defense against Idumea.

CHAP. V.

3 Iudas vanquished the heathen that go about to destroie Israel, and is holpen of his brethren Simon and Ioua∣than. 50 He ouerthroweth the citie of Ephron, because they denyed him passage thorowe it.

1 NOw when the nacions rounde about heard, that the altar was buylded, and the Sanctuarie renued, as a fore, they were sore grieued.

2 Therefore they thoght to destroye thege neracion of Iacob that was among thē, & beganne to slaye and destroy the people.

3 Then Iudas foght against the children of Esau in Idumea at“ 1.33 Arrabathene, because they besieged the Israelites, and he smote them with a great plague, and droue them to straites, and toke their spoiles.

4 He thoght also vpō the malice of the chil∣dren of Bean, which had bene a snare and an hinderance vnto the people, when they laye in waite for them in the hie way.

5 Wherefore he shut them vp in towers, and besieged them, and destroied them vtterly, and burnt their towers with fyre, with all that were in them.

6 Afterward, went he against the children of Ammō, where he founde a mightie pow∣er, and a great multitude with Timotheus their captaine.

7 So he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 battels with them, but they were destroyed before him, and so he discomfited them,

8 And toke Gazer with the townes thereof, and so turned againe into Iudea.

9 ¶ Then the heathen that were in Galaad, gathered them together against the Israe∣lites that were in their quarters, to slaye thē: but thei fled to the castel of Dathemā,

10 And sent letters to Iudas, and to his bre∣thren, saying, The heathen that are aboute vs, are gathered against vs, to destroye vs,

11 And they make them readye for to come, and to take the forte resse, whereunto we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Timotheus is captaine of their hoste.

12 Come now therefore, and deliuer vs out of their hands: for manie of vs are slaine:

13 And all our brethrē that were at Tubin, are slaine, and they haue taken away their wi∣ues, and their children, and their goods, & destroyed there almoste a thousand men.

14 While these letters were yet a reading, be∣holde, there came other messengers frome Galile with their clothes rent, which tolde the same tidings,

15 And said, that they of Ptolemais, & of Ty∣rus, and of Sidon, and of all Galile of the Gentiles were gathered against them to destroye them.

16 When Iudas, and the people heard these wordes, a great Congregaciō came toge∣ther, to consulte what they mighte do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and whome they besieged.

17 Then said Iudas to Simon his brother, Chuse thee out men, and go & deliuer thy brethrē in Galile, & I and my brother Iona∣than, wil go into the countrey of Galaad.

18 ¶ So he left Iosephus the sonne of Zacha∣rias, & Azarias to be captaines of the peo∣ple, and to kepe the remnant of the hoste in Iudea,

19 And commanded them saying, Take the ouersight of this people, & make no warre against the heathē, vntil we come againe.

20 And vnto Simon were giuen thre thousād men to go into Galile, and to Iudas eyght thousand men for the countrey of Galaad.

21 Then went Simon into Galile, & gaue di∣uers battels to the heathen, and the heathē were discomfited by him.

22 And he pursued them vnto the gates of Ptolemais: and there were slaine of the hea∣then almoste thre thousand mē: so he toke their spoiles.

23 Thus they rescued them that were in Ga∣lile and in Arbatis with their wiues, & their children, and all that they had, and broght them into Iudea with great ioye.

24 ¶ Iudas Maccabeus also, and his brother Ionathan went ouer Iorden, and trauailed thre dayes iourney in the wildernes,

25 Where thei met with the Nabathites, who receiued them louingly, and tolde thē eue∣rie thing that was done vnto their brethrē in the countrey of Galaad,

26 And how that manie of them were besie∣ged in Bosorra, and Bosor, in Alemis,“ 1.34 Chas bon, Maged and Carnaim [all these Cities are strong, and great.]

27 And that they were kept in other cities of Galaad, and tomorow they are appointed to bring their hoste vnto these fortes, and to take them, and to destroye them all in one day.

28 So Iudas and his hoste turned in all hast by the way of the wildernes towarde Bosorra, and wan the citie, and slewe all the males with the edge of the sworde, and toke all their spoyle, and set fyre vpon (the citie.)

29 And in the night he remoued from thence, and went towarde the forteresse.

30 And betimes in the morning when they loked vp, beholde, there was an innumera∣ble people bearing ladders, & instruments of warre, to take the forte, and had assalted them.

31 When Iudas sawe that the battel was be∣gon, and that the crye of the citie went vp to heauen with trumpets, & a great sound,

32 Thē he said vnto the armie. Fight this day for your brethren.

33 So he went for the behinde thē with thre companies, and they biew the trumpets, & cryed with prayer.

34 Then the hoste of Timotheus knew, that it was Maccabeus, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fled from him, and he smote them with a great slaughter, so that there was killed of them the same day, almoste eight thousand men.

35 ¶ Then departed Iudas vnto Maspha, and laid siege vnto it, and wanne it, and slew all the males thereof, and spoiled it, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fyre vpon it.

36 From thence went he and toke Chasbon, Maged, and Bosor, and the other Cities in Galaad.

37 After these things gathered Timotheus another hoste, and he camped before Ra∣phon beyonde the flood.

38 Now Iudas had sent to espie the hoste, and they broght him worde againe, saying, All the heathen that be rounde about vs, are gathered vnto him, and the hoste is verye great,

39 And he hathe hyred the Arabians to helpe

them, and they haue pitched their tentes beyonde the flood, and are readye to come and fight against thee. So Iudas wēt to met them.

40 Then Timotheus said vnto the captaine of his hoste, When Iudas and his hoste co∣me nere the flood, if he passe ouer first vnto vs, we shal not be able to withstand him: for he wil be to strong for vs.

41 But if he be afraid, and campe beyond the flood, we will go ouer vnto him, and shall preuaile against him.

42 Now when Iudas came nere to the flood, he caused the gouernours of the people to remaine by the flood, and commanded thē, saying, Suffernone to pitche a tent, but let euerie man come to the battel.

43 So he went first ouer to warde them, & all people after him and all the heathen were discomfited before him, and cast away their weapons, and fled into the Temple that was at Carnaim.

44 Whiche citie Iudas wanne, and burnt the temple with all that were in it: so was Car∣naim subdued, and myght not withstand Iudas.

45 ¶Then Iudas gathered all the Israelites that were in the countrey of Galaad, from the least vnto the moste, with their wiues & their children, and their baggage, a verye great hoste, to come into the land of Iuda.

46 So they came vnto Ephron, which was a great citie by the way, and strongly defen∣sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thei colde not passe, nether at the right hand nor at the left, but must go thorowe it.

47 But they that were in the citie, shut them selues in, and stopped vp the gates with stones: and Iudas sent vnto them with pea∣ceable wordes, saying,

48 Let vs passe thorowe your lande, that we may go into our owne countrey, and none shal hurt you: we wil but onely go thorow on fote: but they wolde not open vnto him.

49 Wherefore Iudas commanded a procla∣macion to be made thorowe out the hoste, that euerie man shulde assalt it according to his standing.

50 So the valiant men set vpon it, and assal∣ted the citie all that day, and all that night and the Citie was gyuen ouer into hys hands:

51 Who slewe all the males with the edge of the sworde, and destroyed it, and toke the spoile there of, and went thoro we the citie ouer them that were slaine.

52 Thē wēt they ouer Iorden into the great plaine before Bethsan.

53 And Iudas gathered together those that were behinde, and gaue the people good exhortation all the waye thorowe, till they were come into the land of Iuda.

54 Thus they went vp withioye, and gladnes vnto mount Sion, where they offred burnt offrynges, because there were none of them slaine, but came home againe in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

55 ¶Now whiles Iudas and Ionathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simō their brother in Galile before Ptolemais,

56 Ioseph the sonne of Zacharias, and Aza∣rias the captaines, hearing of the valiant actes, and battels which they had achiued, said,

57 Let vs get vs a name also, and go fight a∣gainst the heathen that are rounde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs.

58 So they gaue their hoste a commandement and went to warde Iamnia.

59 But Gorgias and his men came out of the citie to fight against them.

60 And Ioseph and Azarias were put to flight and pursued vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the borders of Iudea: and there were slaine that daye of the peo∣ple of Israel aboute two thousand men: so that there was a great ouerthrowe among the people of Israel,

61 Because they were not obedient vnto Iu∣das, & his brethren, but thoght to do some valiant thing.

62 Also they came not of the stocke of these men, by whose hands, deliuerance was giuē to Israel.

63 But the man Iudas, and hys brethrē were greatly commēded in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoeuer theyr name was heard of.

64 And the people came vnto them, bidding them welcome.

65 Afterwarde went Iudas forthe with hys* 1.35 brethren, and foght against the chyldren of Esau in the lād toward the South, where he wanne Hebron, and the townes therof, and he destroyed the castel therof, & burnt the towres thereof round about.

66 Then remoued he to go into the lande of the“ 1.36 strangers, and went thorow Samaria.

67 At the same time were the Priests of the ci∣ties slaine in the battell, whiche wold shewe their valiantnes, and went forth to battel without counsel: and when Iudas came to Azotus in the strāgers lād, he brake downe their altars, & burnt with fyre the images of their Gods, and toke away the spoiles of the cities, and came againe into the land of Iuda.

CHAP. VI.

1 Antiochus, willing to take the citie of Elimais, is dryuen away of the citizens. 8 He falleth into sickenes, & dyeth. 17 His sonne Antiochus is made King. 34 The maner to prouoke elephantes to fight. 43 Eleazarus valiant acte. 49 The siege of Sion,

1 NOw when Kyng Antiochus trauailed* 1.37 thorow the high countreis, he heard that Elimais in the countrey of Persia was a citie greatly renoumed for riches!, siluer and golde.

2 And that there was in it a verie riche tem∣ple, where as were couerings of gold, coat

armoures, and harnes, which Alexandre King of Macedonia the sonne of Philippe [that reigned first in Grecia] had left there

3 Wherefore he went about to take the citie and to spoile it, but he was not able:for the citizens were warned of the matter,

4 And rose vp against him in battel, and he fled and departed thence with great heaui nes, and came againe into Babylon.

5 Moreouer, there came one which broght him tidings in the countrey of Persia, that the armies that went against the land of Iu da, were driuen a way.

6 And that Lysias, which went forthe first with a great power, was driuen away of the Iewes, and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and diuers spoyles which thei had gottē of the armies whome they had destroyed.

7 And that they had pulled downe the abo∣minacion, which he had set vp vpon the al∣tar at Ierusalém, and fen sed the Sanctuarie with high walles, as it was a fore, and Beth sura his citie,

8 So when the King had heard these wordes he was astonished, and sore moued: there∣fore he laid him downe vpon his bed, and fel sicke for verie sorowe, because it was not come to passe, as he had thoght,

9 And there continued he manie dayes: for his grief was euer more and more, so that he sawe he must nedes dye.

10 Therefore he sent for all his friends, and said vnto them, The slepe is gone from mi∣ne eyes, & mine heart faileth for verie care.

11 And I thinke with my self, Into what a duer sitie am I come? and into what floods of mi serie am I fallen now, where as a fore time I was in prosperitie, and greatly set by, by reason of my power?

12 And now do I remember the euils that I ha ue done at Ierusalém for I toke all the ves sels of golde and of siluer that were init, & sent to destroye the inhabitants of Iuda without cause.

13 I knowe that these troubles are come vp on me for the same cause, and beholde, I must dye with great sorowe in a strange land.

14 Then called he for Philippe, one of his friends, whome he made ruler of all his realme.

15 And gaue him the crowne, and his robe, & the ring, that he shulde instruct his sonne Antiochus, and bring him vp, til he might reine him self.

16 So King Antiochus dyed there in the hun∣dreth, and fortie and ninth yere.

17 ¶When Lysias knewe, that the King was dead, he ordeined Antiochus his* 1.38 sonne [whome he had broght vp] to rei∣gne* 1.39 in his fathers stead, and called him Eu pator.

18 Now they that were in the castle (at Ieru∣salém) kept in the Israelites rounde about the Sanctuarie, & soght alwaies their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen.

19 Therefore Iudas thoght no destroy them and called all the people together to besie ge them.

20 So they came together, and besieged thē in the hundreth and fiftie yere, and made instruments to shoote and other engins of warre.

21 But certeine of them that were besieged gate forthe, [vnto whome some vngodlie men of Israél ioyned them selues.]

22 And they went vnto the King, saying, How long wilt thou cease from executing iudge ment, and aduenge our brethren?

23 We haue bene readie to serue thy father & to go forowarde in those things, that he appointed, & to obey his commandements

24 Therefore they of our nacions fel from vs for this cause, and wheresoeuer they foun deanie of vs, they slewe them, and spoyled our inheritance.

25 And thei haue not onely laied hand vpon vs, but vpon all about their borders.

26 And beholde, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this day are they besieging the castle at Ierusalem to take it, and haue fortified the Sanctuarie, and Beth-sura.

27 And if thou doest not preuent them quic∣kely, thei wil do greater things then these and thou shalt not be able to ouercome them.

28 When the King heard this, he was verie an grie, and called all his friēds, the captai nes of his armie, and his horsemen,

29 And bādes that were hired, came vnto him from the Kings, that were confederate, & from theyles of the sea.

30 So the nomber of his armie was and hun∣dreth thousand fote men, and twentie thou sand horsemen, and two and thirtie elephā tes exercised in battel.

31 These came through Idumea & drewe nere to Beth-sura, and besieged it a long season, and made engins of warre: but thei came out, and burnt them with fyre, and foght valiantly.

32 Then departed Iudas from the castle, and remoued the hoste towarde Beth-zacarias ouer against the Kings campe.

33 So the King arose verie earely, and broght the armie and his power towarde the way of Beth-zacarias, where the armies set them selues inarray to the battel, and blewe the trumpets.

34 And to prouoke the elephātes for to fight thei shewed them the blood of grapes and mulberies.

35 And they set the beasts according to the ranges: so that by euerie elephant there sto de a thousand men armed with coates of mailes and helmets of brasse vpon their heads, and vnto euerie beastwere or deined fiue hundreth horsemen of the best,

36 Which were readie at all times wheresoe∣uer the beast was: and whet hersoeuer

the beast went, they went also, and depar∣ted not from him.

37 And vpon them were strong towres of wood that couered euerie beast, which were fastened thereon with instruments, and vpon euerie one was two and thirtie men, that foght in them, and the Indian that ruled him.

38 They set also the remnant of the horsemen vpon bothe the sides in two wings of the hoste to stirre them vp, and to kepe them in the valleis.

39 And when the sunne shone vpon the gol∣den shields, the mountaines glistered there with, and gaue light as lampes of fyre,

40 Thus parte of the Kings armie was spred vpō the hie mountaines, and parte beneth so they marched forowarde warely and in order.

41 And all they that heard the noyce of their multitude, and the marching of the com∣panie, and the ratteling of the harneswere a stonished: for the armie was verie great and mightie.

42 Then Iudas and his hoste entred into the battel, and thei slewe six hundreth men of the Kings armie.

43 ¶ Now when Eleazar (the sonne) of“ 1.40 Aba∣ron, sawe one of the elephātes armed with royal harnes, and was more excellent then all the other beasts, he thoght that the King shulde be vpon him.

44 Wherefore he ieoparded him self to deli∣uer his people, and to get him a perpetual name.

45 And ranne boldely vnto him through the middes of the hoste, slaying on the right hand, and on the left, so that thei departed away on bothe sides.

46 So went he to the elephantes fete, and ga∣te him vnder him, and slewe him: then fel the elephant downe vpon him, and there he dyed.

47 But (the other,) seing the power of the King and the fiercenes of his armie, depar ted from them,

48 ¶ And the Kings armie went vp to mete them towarde Ierusalém, and the King pit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his tents in Iudea towarde moūt Sion

49 Moreouer, the King toke truce with thē that were in Beth-sura: but whē they came out of the citie, because, they had no vitai∣les there, and were shut vp therein, and the land had rested.

50 The King toke Beth-sura, and set there a garison to kepe it.

51 And besieged the Sanctuarie many dayes, and made instruments to shoote, and other engins of warre, and instruments to cast fyre and stones, and pieces to cast dartes & slings.

52 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thei also made engins against their en∣gins,* 1.41 and foght a long season.

53 But in the garners there were no vitailes: for it was the seuenth yere, and then they that were in Iudea, and were deliuered frō the Gentiles had eatē vp the residue of the store.

54 So that in the Sanctuarie were fewe men left: for the famine came so vpon thē, that they were scattered euerie man to his owne place.

55 ¶ Now when Lysias heard that Philippe [whome Antiochus the King, whiles he li∣ued, had ordeined to bring vp Antiochus his sonne, that he might be King.]

56 Was come againe out of Persia, and Me∣dia, and the Kings hoste with him, & thoght to take vnto him the rule of things.

57 He (and his) hasted, and were stirred forwar de by them in the castel to go and tell the King, and the captaines of the hoste, and to others (saying) We decrease dayly, and our vitailes are but smale: & the place that we laye siege vnto is strong, and the affai∣res of the realme depende vpon vs.

58 Now therefore let vs“ 1.42 agre with these men, and take truce with them, and withall their nacion.

59 And grante them to liue after their Law, as they did a fore, for they be grieued, and do all these things, because we haue broken their Lawes.

60 So the King and the princes were content and sent vnto them to make peace, & they receiued it.

61 Whē the King & the princes had made an othe vnto them, they came vpon this out of the forteresse.

62 And the King went vp to mount Sion: but when he sawe that the place was wel defen sed: he brake his othe that he had made, & commanded to breake downe the wall rounde about.

63 Then departed he in all haste, and returned vnto Antiochia where he founde Philippe hauing dominion of the citie: so he foght against him, and toke the citie by force.

CHAP. VII.

1 Demetrius reigned, after he had killed Antiochus and Lysias 5 He troubleth the children of Israel thorowe the counsel of certeine wicked persones. 37 The praier of the Priests against Nicanor. 41 Iudas killeth Nicanor, after he had made his praier.* 1.43

1 IN the hundreth and one fiftieth yere, de parted Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus from Rome, and came vp with a fewe men vnto a citie of the sea coast and reigned there.

2 And when he came into the possession of his fathers kingdome, his soldiers toke Antiochus and Lysias, and broght them vn to him.

3 But when it was tolde him, he said, Shewe me not their faces.

4 So thei put them to death. Now when De∣metrius was set vpon the throne of his kingdome.

5 There came vnto him all the wicked and

vngodlie men of Israél, whose captaine was Alcimus, that wolde haue bene the hie Priest.

6 These men accused the people vnto the King, saying, Iudas and his brethren haue slayne all thy friends, and driuen vs out of our owne land.

7 Wherefore send now some man, whome thou trustest, that he maye go and se all the destruction, which he hathe done vnto vs, and to the Kings land, and let him punish them with all their partakers.

8 Then the King chose Bacchides a friend of his, which was a great man in the real me and ruled beyonde the flood, and was faith ful vnto the King, and sent him,

6 And that wicked Alcimus, whome he ma∣de hie Priest, and commanded him to be ad uenged of the children of Israél.

10 So they departed, and came with a great hoste into the land of Iuda, and sent messen gers to Iudas and his brethren, deceitfully with peaceable wordes.

11 But they deleued not their saying: for thei sawe that they were come with a great hoste.

12 Then a companie of the gouernours assem bled vnto Alcimus & Bacchides to intreat of reasonable points.

13 And the“ 1.44 Asideans were the first that re∣quired peace among the children of Israel

14 For said they, He that is a Priest of the se∣de of Aaron, is come with this armie: there fore he wil not hurt vs.

15 Then he spake vnto them peaceably, and swore vnto them, and said, We wil do you no harme, nether your friends:

16 And they beleued him: but he toke of thē thre score men, and slewe them in one day according to the wordes that were writen

17 * Thei haue (cast) the bodies of thy Saintes* 1.45 and their blood rounde about Ierusalem, and there was no man that wolde burye them.

18 So there came a feare and trembling a∣mong all the people: for they said, There is net her trueth nor righteousnes in them: for they haue broken the appointment & othe that they made.

19 Thē Bacchides remoued from Ierusalém and pitched his tente at“ 1.46 Beth-zecha, whe re he sent sorthe and toke manie of the mē that forsaken him, and certeine of the peo ple whome he slewe (and cast) into the great pit.

20 Then cōmitted he the countrey vnto Alci mus, & left men of warre with him to helpe him: so Bacchides went vnto the King.

21 Thus Alcimus stroue for the priest hode.

22 And all suche as troubled the people re∣sorted vnto him in somuche, that they ob∣teined the land of Iuda, & did muche hurt in Israél.

23 Now when Iudas sawe all the mischief, that Alcimus and his companie had done amōg the Israelites more then the heathē.

24 He went forthe rounde about all the bor ders of Iudea, and punished those, that we∣re fallen away, so that they came no more abroade in the countrey.

25 But when Alcimus sawe that Iudas & his people had goten the vpper hand, and kne we that he was not able to abide them, he went againe to the King, and accused thē of wicked things.

26 Then the King sent Nicanor one of his* 1.47 chief princes, which hated Israel deadly, & commanded him, that he shulde destroye the people.

27 ¶So Nicanor came to Ierusalem with a great hoste, and sent vnto Iudas, and his brethren deceirfully with friendlie wor∣des, saying,

28 Let there be no warre betwene me, and you: I wil come with fewe men, to se how ye do, friendly.

29 So he came vnto Iudas, and they saluted one another peaceably: but the enemies were prepared to take away Iudas.

30 Neuertheles, it was tolde Iudas, that he ca∣me vnto him vnder disceit: therefore he feared him, and wolde not se his face no more.

31 When Nicanor perceiued that his coun∣sel was bewrayed, he went out to fight a∣gainst Iudas beside“ 1.48 Carphasalama.

32 Where there were slaine of Nicanors ho∣ste about fiue thousand men: so they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the citie of Dauid.

33 Afterthis came Nicanor vp vnto mount Sion, and some of the Priests with the El∣ders of the people went forthe of the San ctuarie to salute him peaceably, & to shew him the burnt offring that was offered for the King.

34 But he laughed at them, and mocked thē and counted them prophane, and spake proudly.

35 And swore in his wrath, saying, If Iudas & his hoste be not deliuered now into mine hands, if euer I come againe in safetie, I wil burnt vp this house. With that, went he out in great anger.

36 Then the Priests came in, and stode be∣fore the altar in the Temple, weping, and saying.

37 For so muche as thou, (o Lord,) hast cho∣sen this House, that thy Name might be cal led vpon therein, and that it shulde be an house of prayer, and peticion for thy peo∣ple.

38 Be aduenged of this man and his hoste, & let them beslaine by the sworde remember their blasphemies, and suffre them not to continue.

39 ¶When Nicanor was gone from Ierusa∣lém, he pitched his tent at Beth-horon and there an hoste met him out of Syria.

40 And Iudas pitched in“ 1.49 Adasa with thre thousand men where Iudas prayed, saying.

41 (O Lord,)* because the messēgers of King* 1.50 Sēn acherib blasphemed thee, thine Angel* 1.51 * 1.52 went for the, and slewe an hundreth, foure* 1.53 score, and fiue thousand of them.* 1.54

42 So destroye thou this hoste before vs to day, that all other may knowe that he ha∣the spokē wickedly against thy Sanctuarie & punish him according to his malice.

43 So the armies ioyned together in battel, the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar: but Nicanors hoste was discōfited, and he him self was first slaine in the battel.

44 Now when his armie sawe that Nicanor was slaine, they cast away their weapons and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

45 But they pursued after then a dayes iour∣ney from Adasa vnto Gasera, blowing an alarme with the trumpets after them.

46 So they came for the of all the townes of Iudea rounde about, and rushed vpon thē, and threwe them from one to another, so that they all fel by the sworde, & there was not one of them lefte.

47 Then they toke the spoyles, and the pray and smote of Nicanors head, and his right hand, which he helde vp so proudly: and broght it with them, and hanged them vp afore Ierusalem.

48 So the people reioyced greatly, and kept that day as a day of great gladnes.

49 And they ordeined, to kepe yerely that day on the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar.

50 Thus the land of Iuda was in resta litle while.

CHAP. VIII.

1 Iudas considering the power and policie of the Romains, maketh peace with them. 22 The conditions of mu∣tual friendship sent to the Iewes.

1 IVdas heard also the fame of the Romains* 1.55 that thei were mightie, and valiant, and agreable to all things that were required of them, and made peace with all that came vnto them.

2 And that they were men of great power, and they tolde him of their battels, & their worthie actes, which they did among the“ 1.56 Galatians whome they had conquered & made to paye tribute,

3 And what they had done in the countrey of Spaine: how that they had wonne there the mines of siluer and golde.

4 And that by their counsel, and gentle be∣hauiour they were rulers in euerie place, thogh the place was farre from them, and that they had discomfited, and giuen great ouer throwes to the Kings that came against them, from the vttermost parte of the earth & that others gaue thē tribute euerie yere

5 How they had also discomfited by battel Philippe and Perses Kings of the“ 1.57 Macedo nians, and others, that rose against them, and how they ouer came them.

6 And how great Antiochus King of Asia that came against thē in battel, hauing an hundreth and twentie elephāts, with horse men: and charrets, and a verie great armie, was discomfited by them.

7 And how they toke him aliue, and ordei∣ned him, with suche as shulde reigne after him, to paye a great tribute, & to giue ho∣stages, and a separate porcion.

8 Euen the countrey of India, and Media, and Lydia, and of his best coūtreys, which they toke of him and gaue them to King Eumenes.

9 Againe when it was tolde them that the Greciās were comming to destroye them,

10 They sent against thē a captaine, which gaue them battel, and slewe manie of thē, and toke manie prisoners with their wiues and children, and spoyled them, & conque∣red their land, and destroyed their strong holdes, and subdued thē to be their bond∣men vnto this day:

11 Moreouer, how they destroyed, & broght into subiection other kingdomes and yles, whosoeuer had withstand them.

12 But that thei kept amitie with their owne friends, and those that stayed vpon them: finally, that conquered kingdomes, bothe farre and nere, in so muche that whosoeuer heard of their renoume, was afrayed of thē.

13 For whome they wolde helpe to their kingdomes, those reigned, & whome they wolde, they put downe: thus were thei in moste high autoritie.

14 Yet for all this that none of them ware a crowne, nether was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.

15 But that thei had ordeined them selues a counsel, wherein thre hundreth and twētie men consulted daiely, and prouided for the commune affaires, to gouerne them wel.

16 And that they committed their gouerne∣ment to one man euerie yere, who did rule ouer all their countrey, to whome euerie man was obedient: and there was nether ha tred nor enuie among them.

17 ¶ Then Iudas chose Eupolemus the son∣ne of Iohn, (the sonne) of Accus, and Iason, the sonne of Eleazar, and sent them vnto Rome to make friendship, & mutual felow∣ship with them,

18 That they might take from them the yo∣ke [for they sawe that the kingdome of the Grecians wolde kepe Israel in bondage.]

19 So they went vnto Rome, which was a ve∣rie great iourney, & came into the“ 1.58 Senat where they spake and said.

20 Iudas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Iewes hathe sent vs vnto you, to make a bonde of friendship, and pea ce with you, and ye to register vs as your partakers and friends.

21 And the matter pleased them.

22 And this is the copie of the epistle that they wrote in tables of brasse and sent to Ierusalém, that they might haue by them a memorial of the peace, and mutual felow∣ship.

23 Good successe to the Romaines, and to the people of the Iewes, by sea, and by land for euer, and the sworde, and enemie be from them.

24 If there come first anie warre vpon the Ro∣maines, or anie of their friends throughout all their dominion.

25 The people of the Iewes shal helpe them, as the time shalbe appointed, with all their heart.

26 Also“ 1.59 they shal giue nothing to them that come to fight for thē, nor serue them with wheat nor weapons, nor monei, nor ship∣pes as it pleaseth the Romaines, but“ 1.60 they shal kepe their couenātes without taking anie thing of them.

27 Likewise also ifwarre come first against the nacion of the Iewes, the Romains shal hel pe them with a good wil, according as the time shalbe appointed them.

28 Nether shal wheat be giuen vnto thē, that take their parte, nor weapons, nor money nor shippes, as it pleaseth the Romains, who wil kepe these couenants without de ceite.

29 According to these articles the Romains made the bonde with the people of the Iewes.

30 If after these pointes the one partie, or the other wil ade or diminish, they may do it, at their pleasures, and whatsoeuer they shal adde, or take away, shalbe ratified.

31 And as touching the euil that Demetrius hathe done vnto the Iewes, we haue writ∣ten vnto him, saying, Wherefore laiest thou thine heauie yoke vpon our friends, and confederates the Iewes?

32 If therefore they complaine anie more a∣gainst thee, we wil do them iustice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.

CHAP. IX.

1 After the death of Nicanor Demetrius sendeth his armie against Iudas. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iudas in slaine. 31 Ionathan is put in the stead of his brother. 47 The battel betwene Iona∣than and Bacchides. 55 Alcimus is smitten with the palsie and dyeth. 68 He cometh vpon Ionathan by the coun∣sel of certeine wicked persones, and is ouercome. 70 The truce of Ionathan with Bacchides.

1 IN the meane season whē Demetrius had heard how Nicanor, and his hoste had gi∣uen* 1.61 the battel, he sent Bacchides, and Alci∣mus* 1.62 againe into Iudea, & his“ 1.63 chief strēgth with them.

2 So they went for the by the way that is to∣warde Galgala, and pitched their tentes before Mesaloth which is in Arbelis, and wanne it and shewe muche people.

3 And in the first moneth of the hundreth, fiftie and two yere, they layed their siege against Ierusalém.

4 But they raised their campe, and came to Berea, with twentie thousand (fote) men two thousand horsemen.

5 Now Iudas had pitched his tent at“ 1.64 Eleasa and thre thousand chosen men with him.

6 And when they sawe, that the multitude of the armie was great, they were sore afrai de, and manie conueied them selues out of the hoste, so that there abode no mo of thē, but eight hundreth men.

7 When Iudas sawe that his hoste failest him and that he must nedes fight, he was sore troubled in minde that he had no time to gather them together, and was discoura∣ged.

8 Neuertheles, he said vnto them that remai∣ned, Let vs rise, and go vp against our ene∣mies, if peraduenture we may be able to fight with them.

9 But they wolde haue staied him saying, We are not able: but let vs rather faue our liues turne backe now, seing our brethren are departed: for shal we fight against thē, that are so fewe?

10 Thē Iudas said, God forbid, that we shulde do this thing, to He from them: if our time become, let vs dye manfully for our bre∣thren, and let vs not staine our honour.

11 Then the hoste remoued out of the tentes, and stode against them, who had deuided their horsemen in to two troupes, and they that threwe with slings, and the archers marched in the forewarde, and they that foght in the forewarde, were all valiant men.

12 And Bacchides was in the right wing So the armie drewe nere on bothesides, and blewe the trumpets.

13 They of Iudas side blew the trumpets also, and the earth shoke at the noyce of the ar mies: and the battel continued from mor∣ning to night.

14 And when Iudas sawe that Bacchides and the strength of his armie was on the right side, he toke with him all the hardie men.

15 And brake the right wing, and followed vpon them vnto mount Azotus.

16 Now when they which were of the left wing, sawe that the right wing was discom¦fited, they followed Iudas behinde, and thē that were with him hard at the heles.

17 Thē was there a fore battel: for many were slaine of bothe the parties,

18 Iudas also himself was killed, and the rem∣nant fled.

19 So Ionathan and Simon toke Iudas their brother, and buryed him in his father sepul chre in the citie of Modin.

20 And all the Israelites wept for him, & mour ned greatly for him, and lamented many daies, saying.

21 How is the valiantman fallen which deli∣uered Israel!

22 Concerning the otherthings of Iudas bo the the battels and the valiant actes that he did, and of his worthines, they are not writen for they were very many.

23 ¶ Now after the death of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wicked* 1.65 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came vp in all the coastes of Israel, &* 1.66 〈◊〉〈◊〉 arose all suche as gaue them selues

to iniquitie,

24 In those daies was there a very great fami∣ne in the land, and all the countrey gaue ouer them selues with them.

25 And Bacchides did chuse wicked men, and made them lords in the land.

26 These soght out, and made searche for Iu∣das friends, and broght them vnto Bacchi des, which aduenged him self vpon them, and mocked them.

27 And there came so great trouble in Israél, as was not since the time that no Prophet was sene among them.

28 Then came all Iudas friends together, and said vnto Ionathan.

29 Seing thy brother Iudas is dead, and there is none like him to go forthe against our enemies, euen against Bacchides, and“ 1.67 a∣gainst them of our naciō that are enemies vnto vs.

30 Therefore, this day we chuse thee that thou maist be our prince and captaine in his place to order our battel.

31 So Ionathan toke the gouernance vpon him at the same time, and druled in stead of his brother Iudas.

32 But when Bacchides knewe it: he soght for to slay him.

33 Then Ionathan and Simon his brother, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that, fled into the wildernes of Thecua with all their companie, and pit∣ched their tentes by the water poole of Asphar.

34 Which when Bacchides vnderstode, he ca∣me ouer Iorden with all his hoste vpon the Sabbath day.

35 [Now had Ionathan sent his brother (Iohn) a captaine of the people, to pray his friēds the Nabathites, that they wold kepe their baggage which was muche.

36 But the children of“ 1.68 Ambri came out of Me daba, and toke Iohn, and all that he had, and when they had takē it, went their way

37 After this came worde vnto Ionathan, and to Simon his brother, that the children of Ambrimade a great mariage, and broght the bride from“ 1.69 Medaba with great pom∣pe: for she was daughter to one of the no∣blest princes of Canaan.

38 Therefore they remembred Iohn their bro ther, and went vp, and hid them selues vn∣der the couert of the mountaine.

39 So they lift vp their eyes, and loked, and be holde, there was a great noyce, and muche 〈◊〉〈◊〉: then the bridegrome came forthe, and his friends and his brethren met them with tymbrels, and instrumēts of mu sike, and manie weapons.

40 Then Ionathans men that lay in ambushe rose vp against them, and slewe manie of them, and the remnant fled into the moun∣taines so that they toke all their spoiles

41 Thus the mariage was turned to mour∣ning, and the noyce of their melodie into lamentacion.

42 And so when they had aduenged the blood of their brother, they are turned againe vnto Iorden.

43 When Bacchides heard this, he came vnto the border of Iorden with a great power vpon the Sabbath day.]

44 Then Ionathan said vnto his companie, Let vs rise now, and fight against our ene∣mies, for it is not to day as intime past.

45 Beholde, the battel is before vs, and behin de vs, and the water of Iorden on this side and that side, and the marise, and forest, so that there is no place for vs to turne a side.

46 Wherefore crye now vnto heauen that ye may be deliuered from the power of your enemies: so they ioyned battel.

47 Then Ionathan stretched out his hand to smite Bacchides: but he turned aside from him and reculed.

48 Then Ionathan, and they that were with him, leapt into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and swimmed ouer vnto the further bāke, but the otherwolde not passe through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after them.

49 So in that day were slaine of Bacchides si∣de about a thousand men.

50 Then he turned to againe to Ierusalém, and buylt vp the strong cities in Iuda, as the ca 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Iericho, and Emmaus, and Bethoron and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoui, & Tepho, with high walles, with gates, and with barres.

51 And set garisons in them, that they might vse their malice vpon Israel.

52 He fortified also the citie Beth-sura, and Gazara, and the castel, and set a garison in them with prouision of vitailes.

53 He toke also the chiefest mens sonnes in the countrey for hostages, and put them in the castel at Ierusalém to be kept.

54 ¶ Afterwarde in the hundreth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and thre yere, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moneth, Alcimus commanded, that the walles of the inner court of the Sanctuarie shuld be destroied and he pulled downe the monumēts of the Prophetes, and began to destroy them.

55 But at the same time Alcimus was plagued, and his enterprises 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hindred, and his mouth was stopped for he was smitten with a palsie, and colde no more speake, nor giue order concerning his house.

56 Thus dyed Alcimus with a great torment at the same time.

57 And when Bacchides sawe, that Alcimus was dead, he turned againe to the King, & so the land of Iuda was in rest two yeres.

58 Then all the vngodlie men helde a counsel saying, Beholde, Ionathan and his compa∣nie dwell at ease, and without care: where∣fore let vs bring Bacchides hither, and he wil take them all in one night.

59 So they went and consulted with him.

60 Who arose and came with a great hoste: and sent letters priuely to his adherentes which were in Iudea, to take Ionathan, & those that were with him: but they colde

not, for their counsel was knowen vnto thē.

61 And“ 1.70 they toke fiftie men of the countrey, which were the chief workers of thys wic∣kednes, and slewe them.

62 ¶ Thē Ionathan and Simon with their com¦panie departed vnto“ 1.71 Beth-basin whiche is in the wildernes, ād repaired the decay ther∣of, and made it strong.

63 When Bacchides knewe this, he gathered all his hoste, and sent worde to thē that were of Iudea.

64 Thē came he and laid siege to Beth-basin, and foght against it a long season, and made instruments of warre.

65 But Ionathan had left his brother Simon in the citie, and went forthe into the coun∣trey, and came with a certeine nomber.

66 And slewe“ 1.72 Odomeras and his brethren ād the children of Phasiron in their tentes: so he began to slay, and increased in power.

67 Simon also and hys companie went out of the citie, and burnt vp the instrumentes of warre.

68 And foght against Bacchides, and discom∣fited hym, and vexed hym sore, so that hys counsel and iorney was in vaine.

69 Wherefore he was very wroth at the wic∣ked mē, that gaue him counsel to come into the countrey, and slewe many of thē, and pur posed to returne into his owne countrey.

70 Whereof when Ionathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadours ours vnto him, to intreat of peace with him, and that the prisoners shuld be deliuered.

71 Whiche thing he accepted, and did accor∣dyng to his desire, and made an othe, that he wolde neuer do hym harme all the dayes of his life.

72 So he restored vnto him the prisoners that he had taken afore time out of the land of Iu da, and so returned, and went into his owne lande, nether did he come any more into their borders.

73 Thus the sworde ceased from Israél, and Io nathan dwelt at Machmas, and began there to gouerne the people, and destroyed the vn godlie men out of Israél.

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* 1.73 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“ 1.74 crowne of golde, that thou“ 1.75 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* 1.76 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 1.77 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* 1.78 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.

CHAP. XI.

3 The dissension betwene Ptolemeus and Alexander his sō ne in law. 17 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death of Alexander. 19 Demetrius rei∣gneth alter the death of Ptolemeus. 22 Sion is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ed of Ionathan, 42 Demetrius seing that no man resisted him, sendeth his armie againe. 54 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moueth An∣tiochus against Demetrius.* 1.79

1 ANd the King of Egypt gathered a great hoste, like the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that lyeth vpon the sea shote, and manie ships, and went about through deceit to obteine the kingdome of Alexander, and to ioyne it vnto his owne realme.

2 Vpon this he went into Syria with friendlie wordes, and was let into the cities, and men came forthe to mete him: for King Alexan∣der had commanded them to mete him, be cause he was his father in Law.

3 Now when he entred into the citie of Ptole∣mais, he lefte bands and garisons in euerie citie.

4 And when he came nere to Azotus, they shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus, and the suburbes there of that were destroyed, and the bodies cast abroad, & them that he had burnt in the bat tel: for they had made heapes of them by the way where he shulde passe.

5 And thei tolde the King what Ionathan had done, to the intent they might get him euil wil: but the King helde his peace.

6 And Ionathan met the King with great ho∣nour at Ioppe, where they saluted one ano∣ther, and laye there.

7 So when Ionathan had gone with the King vnto the water that was called Eleutherus, he turned againe to Ierusalem.

8 So King Ptolemeus gate the dominion of the cities by the sea vnto Seleucia vpon the sea coast, imagining wicked counsels against A∣lexander,

9 ¶ And sent ambassadours vnto King Deme∣trius, saying, Come, let vs make a league bet∣wene vs, and I wil giue thee my daughter, which Alexander hathe, and thou shalt rei∣gne in thy fathers kingdome.

10 For I repēt that I gaue Alexander my daugh ter: for he goeth about to slaye me.

11 Thus he sclandered Alexander, as one that shulde desire his realme.

12 And he toke his daughter from him, & gaue her vnto Demetrius, and forsoke Alexander, so that their hatred was openly knowen.

13 Then Ptolemeus came to Autiochia, where he set two crownes vpon his owne head, of Asia and of Egypt.

14 In the meane season was King Alexander in Cilicia for they that dwelt in those places had rebelled against him:

15 But when Alexāder heard it, he came to war re against him, and Ptolemeus broght for the his hoste, and met him with a mightie power and put him to flight.

16 Then fled Alexander into Arabia, there to be defended: so Ptolemeus was exalted.

17 And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexan∣ders head, & sent it vnto Ptolemeus.

18 But the third dáy after King Ptolemeus dyed and thei that were in the holdes, were slayne one of another.

19 And Demetrius reigned in the hūdreth, thre score and seuenth yere.

20 ¶ At the same time gathered Ionathan them that were in Iudea, to laye siege vnto the ca∣stle, which was at Ierusalem, and they made manie instruments of warre against it.

21 Thē went there certeine vn godlie persones [which hated their owne people] vnto King (Demetrius,) and tolde him that Ionathan besieged the castle.

22 So when he heard it, he was angrie, and im∣mediatly came vnto Ptolemais, and wrote vn to Ionathan, that he shulde laye nomore siege vnto it, but that he shulde mete him & spea∣ke with him at Ptolemais in all haste.

23 Neuertheles when Ionathan heard this, he commanded to besiege it: he chose also cer∣teine of the Elders of Israel, and the Priest, & put him self in danger,

24 And toke with him siluer and golde, and ap parel, and diuerse presents, and went to Ptole mais vnto the King, and founde fauour in his sight.

25 And thogh certeine vngodlie men of his owne nacion had made complaintes vpon him,

26 Yet the King intreated him as his predeces∣sers had done, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,

27 And confirmed him in the hie priesthode with all the honorable things, that he had a∣fore, and made him his chief friend.

28 Ionathā also desired the King, that he wold make Iudea fre with the thre gouernements and the countrey of Samaria, and (Ionathan) promised him thre hundreth talents.

29 Where unto the King consented & gaue Io∣nathan writing of the same, conteining these wordes,

30 KING DEMETRIVS vnto his bro∣ther Ionathan, and to the naciō of the Iewes sendeth greting.

31 We sēd you here a copie of the letter, which we did write vnto our cousin Lasthenes con∣cerning you, that ye shulde se it.

32 King Demetrius vnto Lasthenes his father sendeth greting.

33 For the faithfulnes that our friends the na∣cion of the Iewes kepe vnto vs, and for their good wil towardes vs we are ditermined to do them good.

34 Wherefore we assigne to thē the coasts of Iudea with the thre gouernements Aphere∣ma, and Lydda, and Ramathe [which are ad∣ded vnto Iudea from the countrey of Sama∣ria] and all that apperteineth to all them that sacrifice in Ierusalem: bothe concerning the paiments which the King toke yerely afore time, bothe for the frutes of the earth, & for the frutes of the trees.

35 As for the other things apperteining vnto vs of the tenths & tributes, which were due vnto vs, and the customes of salte, & crowne taxes, which were payed vnto vs, we dischar∣ge them of all from hence for the.

36 And nothing hereof shalbe reuoked from this time for the and foreuer.

37 Therefore se that ye make a copie of these things, and deliuer it vnto Ionathan, that it may be set vp vpon the holy mount in an opē place.

38 After this when Demetrius the King sawe that his land was in rest, and that no resistan ce was made against him, he sent away all his hoste, euerie man to his owne place, except certeine bandes of strangers, whome he broght from the yles of the heathen: where fore all his fathers hoste hated him.

39 Nowe was there one Tryphon, that had bene of Alexanders parte afore, which whē he sawe that all the hoste murmured against Demetrius, he went to“ 1.80 Simalcue the Ara∣bian, that broght vp Antiochus the sonne of Alexander.

40 And lay sore vpon him, to deliuer him this yong Antiochus, that he might reigne in his fathers stead: he tolde hym also what great euill Demetrius had done, and how his men of warre hated hym, and he remained there along season.

41 Also Ionathan sent vnto King Demetrius to driue them out whiche were in the castel at Ierusalém, and those that were in the for∣teresses: for they foght against Israél.

42 So Demetrius sent vnto Ionathan, saying, I will not onely do these thyngs for thee and thy nacion, but if opportunie serue, I wil ho nour thee and thy nacion.

43 Now therefore thou shalt do me a pleasu∣re, if thou wilt send me men to helpe me: for all mine armie is gone from me.

44 So Ionathan sent him thre thousand strong men vnto Antiochia, and they came vnto the King: wherefore the King was verie glad at their comming.

45 ¶ But they that were of the citie, euen an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dreth, and twentie thousand men, gathered them together in the middes of the citie, ād wolde haue slaine the King.

46 But the King sled into the palace, and the ci tizens kept the stretes of the citie, and be∣ganne to fight.

47 Then the King called to the Iewes for hel∣pe, which came to him altogether, and went abroade through the citie.

48 And slewe the same day an hundreth thou∣sand, and set fyre vpon the citie, ād toke ma ny spoiles in that day, & deliuered the King.

49 So when the citizens sawe that the Iewes had gotten the vpper hand of the citie, and that they them selues were disappointed of their purpose, they made their supplication vnto the King, saying.

50 “ 1.81 Grant vs 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and let the Iewes cease frō vexing vs and the citie.

51 So they cast away their weapons, and made peace, and the Iewes were greatly honored before the King, and before all that were in his realme, and they came againe to Ierusa∣lém with great pray.

52 Then King Demetrius sate in the throne of his kingdome, and had peace in his land.

53 Neuertheles he dissembled in all that euer he spake, and withdrewe hym self from Io∣nathan, nether did he rewarde hym accor∣dyng to the benefites whiche he had done for him, but troubled him verie sore.

54 ¶ After returned Tryphon with the yong childe Antiochus, whiche regned, and was crowned.

55 Then there gathered vnto hym all the men of warre, whome Demetrius had scattered, and they foght against him, who fled and tur ned his backe.

56 So Tryphon toke the“ 1.82 beasts, and wan An∣tiochia.

57 And yong Antiochus wrote vnto Iona∣than, saying, I appoint thee to the chief Priest, aud make thee ruler ouer the foure gouernements, that thou maist be a friend of the Kings.

58 Vpon this he sent him golden vessels to be serued in, and gaue hym leaue to drynke in golde, and to weare purple, and to haue a colar of golde.

59 He made hys brother Simon also captaine from the coastes of Tyrus vnto the borders of Egypt.

60 Then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 went forthe and passed through the cities beyonde the flood, and all the mē of warre of Syria gathered vnto him for to helpe hym: so he came vnto Ascalon, ād they of the citie receiued him honorably

61 And from thence went he vnto Gaza: but they of Gaza shut hym out: wherefore be laid siege vnto it: and burned the suburbes there of with fyre, and spoiled them.

62 Then they of Gaza made supplication vnto lonathan, and he made peace with them, and toke of the sonnes of the chief men for hostages, and sent them to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and went through the countrey vnto Damascus.

63 And when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heard that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 princes were come into Cades, whiche is in Galile, with a great host, purposing to driue him out of the countrey.

64 He came against them, and left Simon hys brother in the countrey.

65 And Simon besieged Beth-sura, and foght against it along season, and shut it vp.

66 So they desired to haue peace with him, whi che he granted them, and afterwarde put them out from thence, and toke the citie, ād set a garison in it.

67 Then Ionathan with his hoste came to the water of Genesar, and betimes in the mor∣ning came to the plaine of Azor.

68 And beholde the hostes of the“ 1.83 strangers met him in the plaine, and had layed ambush ments for him in the mountaines.

69 So that when they came against them, the ambushment rose out of their places and skirmished.

70 So that al that were of Ionathans side, fled: and there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the sonne of“ 1.84 Absalomus, and Iudas the sonne of Calphi the captaines of the hoste.

71 Then Ionathan rent hys clothes, and caste earth vpon his head, and prayed.

72 And turned againe to them to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and put them to flight, so that they flcd away.

73 Nowe when hys owne men that were fled, sawe this, they turned againe vnto him, and helped him to followe after all vnto their ten tes at Cades, and there they camped.

74 So there were slaine of the strangers the sa me day about thre thousand men, and Iona∣than

turned againe to Ierusalém.

CHAP. XII.

1 Ionathan sendeth ambassadours to Rome. 2 And to the people of Sparta, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their couenant of friendship 20 Ionathan putteth to flight the princes of Demetrius. 40 Tryphon taketh Ionathan by disceite.* 1.85

1 IOnathā now seing that the time was mete* 1.86 for him, chose certeine men, and sent them vnto Rome, to establishe and renew the fri∣endship with them.

2 He sent letters also vnto“ 1.87 the Spartians and to other places, for the same purpose.

3 So they went vnto Rome, and entred into the Senate, and said, Ionathan the hie Priest ād the nation of the Iewes sent vs vnto you, for to renewe friendship with you, and the bonde of loue, as in times past.

4 So the (Romaines) gaue them fre pasports, that men shulde lead them home, into the land of Iuda peaceably.

5 ¶ AND THIS is the copie of the letters that Ionathan wrote vnto the Spartians.

6 Ionathan the hie Priest with the Elders of the nacion, ād the Priests, and the rest of the people of the Iewes, send gretyng vnto the Spartians their brethren.

7 Heretofore were letters sent vnto Onias the* 1.88 hie Priest, from“ 1.89 Arius, which then reigned* 1.90 among you, that ye wolde be our brethren, as the copie here vnder writen specifieth.

8 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Onias intreated the ambassadour hono rably, ād receiued the letters: wherein there was mencion made of the bonde of loue ād friendship.

9 But as for vs, we nede no suche writings: for we haue the holy bokes in our handes for comfort.

10 Neuertheles we thoghtit good to send vn∣to you, for the renewing of the brotherhod and friendship, lest we shulde be strange vn∣to you: for it is long since the time that ye sent vnto vs.

11 Wherefore we remember you at all seasons continually, and in the feastes and other dayes appointed when we offre sacrifices and prayers, as it is mete and conuenient to thinke vpon our brethren.

12 And we reioyce at your prosperous estate.

13 And thogh we haue bene enuironned with great troubles and warres, so that the kings rounde about vs haue foght against vs.

14 Yet wold we not be grieuous vnto you, nor to other of our confederates and friends in these warres.

15 For we haue had helpe from heauen, that hath soccoured vs, ād we are deliuered from our enemies, and our enemies are subdued.

16 Yet haue we chosen Numenius (the sonne) of Antiochus, and Antipater (the sonne) of Iason, and sent them vnto the Romaines, for to renewe the former friendship with them, and league.

17 We commanded them also to go vnto you, and to salute you, and to deliuer you our let∣ters, concernyng the renewing of our bro∣therhode.

18 And now ye shal do vs a pleasure to giue vs an answer of these things.

19 ¶ And this was the copie of the letters whi∣che Arius the King of Sparta sēt vnto Onias.

20 THE KING of the Spartians vnto Oni∣as the hie Priest sendeth greting.

21 It is founde in writing, that the Spartians and Iewes are brethren, and come out of the generacion of Abraham.

22 And nowe for somuche as this is come to our knowledge, ye shal do well, to write vn∣to vs of your prosperitie.

23 As for vs, we haue writen vnto you, that your cattel and goods are ours, and ours are yours: these things haue we commanded to be shewed vnto you.

24 ¶ Now when Ionathan heard, that Deme∣trius princes were come to fight against him with a greater hoste then afore.

25 He went from Ierusalém, and met them in the land of Hamath: for he gaue them not space to come into his owne countrey.

26 And he sent spies vnto their tentes, which came againe, and tolde him, that they were appointed to come vpon him in the night.

27 Wherfore, when the sunne was gone down Ionathan cōmanded his men to watche, and to be in armes ready to fight all the night, ād sent watchmen rounde about the hoste.

28 But when the aduersaries heard that Iona∣than was ready with hys men to the battel, they feared, and trembled in their heartes, and kyndled fyres in their tentes, and fled away.

29 Neuertheles Ionathan and hys companie knewe it not till the morning: or they sawe the fyres burning.

30 Then Ionathan followed vpon them, but he cold not ouertake them: for they were gone ouer the flood Eleutherus.

31 So Ionathan turned to the Arabians, whi∣che were called Zabedei, and slewe them, and toke their spoile.

32 He proceded further also, and came vnto Damascus, ād were through al the coūtrey.

33 But Simon his brother went for the, ād came to Ascalon and to the nexte holdes, depar∣ting vnto Ioppe, and wanne it.

34 For he heard that they wolde deliuer the holde to them that toke Demetrius parte: wherefore he set a garison there to kepe it.

35 ¶ After this came Ionathan home, and cal∣led the Elders of the people together, and deuised with them for to buyld vp the strōg holdes in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

36 And to make the walles of Ierusalém hier, and to make a great mount betwixt the ca∣stel and the citie, for to separate it from the citie, that it might be alone, and that men shulde nether bye, nor sel in it.

37 So they came together to buylde vp the ci∣tie: for parte of the wall vpō the breke of the East side was fallen downe, and they repai∣red it, and called it Caphenatha.

38 Simon also set vp Adida in Sephela, & made it strong with gates and barres.

39 ¶ In the meane time Tryphon purposed to* 1.91 reigne in Asia, and to be crowned when he* 1.92 had slaine the King Antiochus.

40 But he was afraied that Ionathan wolde not suffer him, but fight against him: where∣fore he went about to take Ionathan, and to kil him: so he departed, and came vnto Bethsan.

41 Then went Ionathan for the against him to the battel with fortie thousand chosen men and came vnto Bethsan.

42 But when Tryphon sawe that Ionathan came with so great an hoste, he durst not lay hand vpon him,

43 But receiued him honorably, and commen ded him vnto all his friends, and gaue him re∣wardes, and commanded his men of warre to be as obedient vnto him as to him self,

44 And said vnto Ionathā, Why hast thou cau∣sed this people, to take suche trauail, seing there is no warre betwene vs?

45 Therefore send them now home againe, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 certeine men to wait vpon thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais: for I wil gi∣ue it thee, with the other strong holdes, and the other garisons, and all them that haue the charge of the commune affaires: so wil I returne, and departe: for this is the cause of my comming.

46 Ionathan beleued him, and did as he said, & sent away his hoste, which went into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Iuda.

47 And reteined but thre thousand with him, where of he sent two thousand into Galile, and one thousand went with him self.

48 Now assone as Ionathan entred into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is shut the gates, and toke him, and slewe all them with the sworde that came in with him.

49 Then sent Tryphon an hoste of fotemen, & horsemē into Galile, & into the great plai∣ne, to destroye all Ionathans companie.

50 But when they knewe that Ionathan was taken, and flaine, & those that were with him they incouraged one another, and came for∣the against them readie to the battel.

51 But when thei which followed vpon them, sa we that it was a matter of life, they turned backe againe.

52 By this meanes all they came into the land of Iuda peaceably, and bewailed Ionathan and them that were with him, and feared greatly, and all Israel made great lamenta∣cion.

53 For all the heathē that were rounde about them soght to destroye them.

54 For they said, No we haue they no captai∣ne, nor anie man to helpe them therefore let vs now fight against them, & roote out their memorie from amōg men.

CHAP. XIII.

1 After Ionathan was taken, Simon is chosen captaine. 17. Tryphon, taking his children, and money for the redem∣ption of Ionathan, killeth him and his children. 31 Try∣phon killeth Antiochus, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the rea me. 36 De metrius taketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 43 Simon winneth Gaz 50 He possesseth the tower of Sion. 53 He maketh his sō∣ne Iohn captaine.

1 NOw when Simon heard that Tryphō ga∣thered* 1.93 a great hoste to come into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.94 of Iuda, and to destroye it,

2 And sawe that the people was in great trem∣bling and feare, he came vp to Ierusalem, and gathered the people together.

3 And gaue them exhortaciō, saying, Ye know what great things I, and my brethren, and my fathers house haue done for the Law, & the Sanctuarie, and the battels, & troubles that we haue sene.

4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slaine for Israels sake, and I am left alone.

5 Now therefore God forbide, that I shulde spare mine owne life in anie time of trouble for I am not better then my brethren.

6 But I wil aduenge my nacion, and the San∣ctuarie, and our wiues, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered together to de∣stroy vs of very malice.

7 In hearing these wordes the hearts of the people were kindled,

8 So that they cryed with a loude voyce, say∣ing, Thou shalt be our captaine instead of lu das and Ionathan thy brethren.

9 Fight thou our battels, and whatsoeuer thou commandest vs, we wil do it.

10 ¶ So he gathered all the men of warre, ma∣king haste to finish the walles of Ierusalem, and fortified it rounde about.

11 Then sent he Ionathan the sonne of Absalo∣nius with a great hoste vnto Ioppe, which droue them out that were therein, & remai∣ned there him self.

12 Tryphō also remoued, from Ptolemais with a great armie, to come into the lād of Iuda, & Ionathan was with him as 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

13 And Simon pitched his tentes at“ 1.95 Addidis vpon the open plaine.

14 But when Tryphon knewe that Simō stode vp in stead of his brother Ionathan, and that he wolde fight against him, he sent messēgers vnto him, saying,

15 Where as we haue kept Ionathan thy bro∣ther, it is for money that he is owing in the Kings account concerning the busines that he had in hand.

16 Wherefore send now an hūdreth talents of siluer, and his two sonnes for hostages, that when he is letten forthe, he wil not turne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs, and we wil send him againe.

17 Neuertheles Simon knewe that he dissem∣bled in his wordes, yet commanded he the money & children to be deliuered vnto him lest he shulde be in greater hatred of the peo ple of Israel.

18 Who might haue said, Because he sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Ionathan dead.

19 So he sent the children and an hundreth 〈◊〉〈◊〉

lents: but he dissembled, and wolde not let Ionathan go.

20 ¶ Afterwarde came Tryphon into the land to destroye it, and wentrounde about by the way, that leadeth vnto Adora: but where so∣euer they went, thether went Simon and his hoste.

21 Now they that were in the castel, sent mes∣sengers vnto Tryphon, that he shulde make haste to come by the wildernes, and to send them vitailes.

22 So Tryphon made readie all his horsemen: but the same night fell a very great snowe, so that he came not, because of the snowe: but he remoued and went into the countrey of Galaad.

23 And when he came nere to Bascama, he slew Ionathan and he was buryed there.

24 So Tryphon returned, & wēt into his owne land.

25 ¶ Then sent Simon to take the bones of Io∣nathan his brother, and they buryed him in Modin his fathers cities.

26 And all Israel be wailed him with great lamē tacion, and mourned for him verie long.

27 And Simon made vpon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, a buylding high to loke vnto, of he wenstone behinde and be fore,

28 And set vp seuen pillers vpon it, one against another, for his father, his mother, and foure brethren,

29 And set great pillers round about them, and set armes vpon the pillers for a perpetuall me morie, and carued shippes beside the armes, that they might be sene of men sailing in the sea.

30 This sepulchre which he made at Modin, standeth yet vnto this day.* 1.96 * 1.97

31 ¶Now as Tryphon went forthe with the yong King Antiochus, he slewe him traiter∣ously,

32 And reigned in his stead, and crowned him self King of Asia, and broght a great plague vpon the land.

33 Simon also buylte vp the castels of Iudea, & compassed them about with high towers, & great walles, euen with towers, and gates and barres, and laid vp vitailes in the strong holdes.

34 Moreouer Simon chose certeine men and sent them to King Demetrius, that he wolde discharge the land: for all Tryphons doings were robberies.

35 Whereupon Demetrius the King answe∣red him, and wrote vnto him after this ma∣ner,

36 DEMETRIVS the King vnto Simon the high Priest, and the friend of Kings, and to the Elders and to the nation of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sendeth greting.

37 The goldē crowne, and“ 1.98 precious stone that ye sent vnto vs, haue we receiued, and are readie to make a stedfast peace with you, & to write vnto the officers, to release you of the things wherein we made you fre.

38 So the things that we haue granted you, shalbe stable: the strong holdes which ye ha ue buylded, shalbe your owne.

39 Also we forgiue the ouersights, and fautes committed vnto this day, and the crowne ta∣xe that ye ought vs: and where as was anie other tribute in Ierusalem, it shalbe now no tribute.

40 And they that are mete amōg you to be wri ten with our men, let them be writen vp, that there may be peace betwene vs.

41 Thus the yoke of the heathē was takē frō Israel in the hundreth, and seuentie yere,

42 And the people of Israel began to write in their letters, and publike instruments, IN THE FIRST yere of Simon, the high & chief Priest, gouernour, and prince of the Iewes.

43 In those dayes Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it rounde about, where he set vp an engine of warre, and approched nere the citie, and betatowre, and toke it.

44 So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that were in the engine, leapt into the citie, and there was great trouble in the citie,

45 In so muche that the people of the citie rent their clothes, and climed vp vpon the walles with their wiues, and childrē, & cryed with a loude voyce, beseching Simon to grāt them peace, saying,

46 Deale not with vs according to our wicked nes, but according to thy mercie.

47 Then Simon pitied them, and wolde fight no more against them, but put them out of the citie, and clensed the houses wherein the idoles were, and so entred thereunto with psalmes and thankesgiuing.

48 So when he had cast all the filthines out, he set suche men in it as kept the Law, and for∣tified it, and buylded there a dwelling place for himself.

49 Now, when they in the castel at Ierusalém were kept, that they colde not come forthe nor go into the countrey, nether bye nor sel, they were very hungrie, and manie of them were famished to death,

50 In so muche that they besoght Simon to make peace with them: which he granted them, and put them out frō thence, and clen∣sed the castel from filthines.

51 And vpon the thre, and twentie day of the seconde moneth in the hundreth, seuentie & one yere, they entred into it with thanke es∣giuing, and brāches of palme trees, and with violes, and with psalmes, and songs, because the great enemie of Israel was ouercome.

52 And he ordeined that the same day shulde be kept euerie yere with gladnes.

53 And he fortified the mount of the Temple that was beside the castel where he dwelt him self with his companie.

54 Simon also seing that Iohn his sonne was now a man, he made him captaine of all the hostes, and caused him to dwell in Gazaris.

CHAP. XIIII.

1 Demetrius is ouercome of Arsaces. 11 Simon being ca∣ptaine there is great quietnes in Israel. 18 The couenant of friendship with the Romains, and with the people of Sparta is renewed.

1 IN the hundreth, seuentie and two yere ga thered King Demetrius his hoste, and de∣parted vnto Media, to get him helpe for to fight against Tryphon.

2 But when Arsaces the King of Persia & Me∣dia heard, that Demetrius was entred with in his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him aliue,

3 So he went, and ouercame the armie of De∣metrius, and toke him, and broght him to Ar saces, which kept him in warde.

4 Thus all the lād (of Iuda) was in rest, so long as Simon liued: for he soght the welth of his nacion: therefore were they glad to ha∣ue him for their ruler, and to do him worship alway.

Simon also wanne the citie of Ioppe to his great honour to be an hauen towne, & made it an entrance vnto the yles of the sea.

6 He enlarged also the borders of his people, and conquered the countreis.

7 He gathered vp manie of their people that were prisoners, and he had the dominion of Gazaris, and Beth-sura, and the castel, which he clensed from filthines, and there was no man that resisted him,

8 So that euerie man tilled his grounde in pea ce, and the land gaue her frutes, & the trees gaue their frute.

9 The Elders 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the open places, and con sulted altogether for the commune welth, & the yong men were honorably clothed and armed.

10 He prouided vitailes for the cities, and all kinde of munition, so that his glorious fame was renoumed vnto the end of the worlde.

11 He made peace thorow out the land, and Is rael had perfite mirth and ioye.

12 For euerie man sate vnder his vine, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 trees, and there was no man to fray them.

13 There was none in the land to fight against them: for then the Kings were ouercome.

14 He helped all those that were in aduersitie among his people: he was diligent to se the Law kept, and he toke away the vngodlie, and wicked.

15 He beautified the Sanctuarie, and encreased the vessels of the Temple.

16 When the Romains heard, and the Spar∣tians had knowledge, that Ionathā was dead they were very sorie.

17 But when they heard, that Simon his bro∣ther was made high Priest in his steade, and how he had wonne the land againe with the cities in it,

18 They wrote vnto him in tables of brasse, to renewe the friendship, and bonde of loue, which they had made with Iudas and Iona∣than his brethren.

19 Which writings were red before the con∣gregacion at Ierusalém, and this is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the letters that the Spartians sent.

20 THE SENATORS and citie of Spar ta vnto Simon the great Priest, and to the El∣ders, and to the Priest, and to the residue of the people of the Iewes their brethren send greting.

21 When your ambassadours that were sent vnto our people, certified vs of your glorie & honour, we were glad of their comming.

22 And haue registred their ambassage in the publike recordes in this maner, Numenius (the sonne) of Antiochus, and Antipater (the sonne) of Iason the Iewes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ca∣me vnto vs, to renewe amitie with vs.

23 And it pleased the people, that the men shulde be honorably intreated, and that the copie of their ambassage shulde be registred in the publike recordes, that it might befor a memorial vnto the people of Sparta: and a copie of the same was sent to Simō the chief Priest.

24 After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of golde of a thousand pounde weight, to confirme the friendship with them.

25 Which when the people vnderstode, thei said, What thankes shal we recōpense againe vnto Simon and his children?

26 For he and his brethren, and the house of his father haue stablished Israel, & ouercome their enemies, and haue confirmed the liber tie thereof: therefore they wrote this in ta∣bles of brasse, and set it vpon pillers in mount Sion:

27 The copie of the writing is this, In the* 1.99 eight and twentie day of the moneth * Elul in the hūdreth, seuentie and two yere, in the thirde yere of Simon the high Priest.

28 In“ 1.100 Saramel in the great congregacion of the Priests, and of the people, and of the go∣uernours of the nacion, and of the Elders of the countrei, we wolde fignifie vnto you, that manie battels haue bene foghten in our countrey.

29 Wherein Simon the sonne of Mattathias come of the children of 〈◊〉〈◊〉] and his bre∣thren put them selues in danger, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the enemies of their nacion, that their San∣ctuarie, and Law might be mainteined, & did their nacion great honour.

30 For Ionathan gathered his nacion together and became their high Priest, and is laid with his people.

31 After that wolde their enemies haue inuaded their countrey, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their land, and lay their hands on their Sanctuarie.

32 Then Simō resisted them, and foght for his naciō, and spent muche of his owne substan∣ce, and armed the valiant men of his nacion, and gaue them wages.

33 He fortified also the cities of Iudea, and Beth sura that lyeth vpon the borders of Iudea [where the ordinance of their enemies lay some time] & set there a garison óf the Iewes

34 And he fortified Ioppe, which lyeth vpon the sea, and Gazara that bordreth vpon Azo tus [where the enemies dwelt afore] and there he placed Iewes, & furnished thē with things necessarie for the reparation thereof.

35 Now when the people sawe the faithfulnes of Simon, and to what glorie he thoght to bring his nacion vnto, they made him their gouernour, and the chief Priest, because he had done all these things, and for the vp∣rightnes, and fidelitie that he had kept to his nacion, and that soght by all meanes to exalte his people.

36 For in his time they prospered wel by him, so that the heathen were taken out of their countrey, and they also which were in the ci tie of Dauid at Ierusalem, where they had made them a castel, out of the which they wēt, & defiled all things that were about the Sanctuarie, and did great hurt vnto religion.

37 And he set Iewes in it, and fortified it, for the assurance of the land, and citie, and raised vp the walles of Ierusalém.

38 And King Demetrius confirmed him in his high priesthode for these causes,

39 And made him one of his friends, and gaue him great honour.

40 For it was reported that the Romains cal∣led the Iewes their friends, and confedera∣tes, and that they honorably receiued Simōs ambassadours,

41 And that the Iewes, and Priests consented, that Simon shulde be their prince, and high Priest perpetually, til God raised vp the true Prophet,

42 And that he shulde be their captaine, and haue the charge of the Sanctuarie, and so set mē ouer the workes, and ouer the countrey and ouer the weapons, and ouer the forteres ses, and that shulde make prouision for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 things,

43 And that shulde be obeyed of euery man, and that all the writings in the countrey shulde be made in his name, & that he shulde be clothed in purple, and we are golde,

44 And that it shulde not be lawful for anie of the people or Priests to breake anie of these things, or to withstand his wordes, or to call anie congregacion in the countrey without him, or be clothed in purple, or weare a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of gold:

45 And if anie did contrarie to these things or brake anie of them, he shulde be punished.

46 So it pleased all the people to agre that it shulde be done to Simon according vnto these wordes.

47 Simon also accepted it, and was content to be the high Priest, and the captaine, and the prince of the Iewes, and of the Priests, and to be the chief of all.

48 And they commāded to set vp this writing in tables of brasse, and to fasten it to the wall that compassed the Sanctuarie in an open place.

49 And that a copie of the same shulde be lai∣ed vp in the treasurie, that Simon and his son nes might haue it.

CHAP. XV.

1 Antiochus maketh a couenant of friendship with Simon 11 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is pursued. 15 The Romains write lettres vnto Kings and nacions in the defence of the Iewes. 27 〈◊〉〈◊〉 refusing the helpe that Simon sent him, brea∣keth his couenant.

1 MOreouer King Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius sent lettres from the yles of the sea vnto Simon the Priest, and prince of the Iewes, and to all the nacion,

2 Conteining these wordes, ANTIOCHVS the King vnto Simon the great Priest, and to the nacion of the Iewes sendeth greting.

3 For so muche as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pestilent men haue vsurped the kingdome of our fathers, I am purposed to chalenge the realme againe, and to restore it to the olde estate: wherefore I haue gathered a great hoste, and prepared shippes of warre,

4 That I may go thorowe the countrey, and be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them, which haue destroied our countrey, and wasted manie cities in the realme.

5 Now therefore I do confirme vnto thee all the liberties, whereof all the Kings my pro∣genitours haue discharged thee, and all the paiments, where of they haue released thee.

6 And I giue thee leaue to coyne money of thine owne stampe within thy countrey,

7 And that Ierusalém, and the Sanctuarie be fre, and that all the weapons, that thou hast prepared, and the forteresses, which thou hast buylded, and kepest in thine hands, shal be thine.

8 And all that is due vnto the King, and all that shal be due vnto the King, I forgiue it thee, from this time for the for euermore.

9 And when we haue obteined our kingdo∣me, we wil giue thee, and thy nacion and the Temple great honour, so that your honor shalbe knowen thorowe out the worlde.

10 ¶ In the hundreth, seuentie and foure yere, went Antiochus into his fathers land, and all* 1.101 the bandes came together vnto him, so that* 1.102 fewe were left with Tryphon.

11 So the King Antiochus pursued him, but he fled and came to Dora, which lyeth by the seaside.

12 For he sawe that troubles were towarde him, and that the armie had forsaken him.

13 Then camped Antiochus against Dora with and hundreth and twentie thousand fighting men, and eight thousand horsemen.

14 So he compassed the citie about, and the shippes came by the sea. Thus they pressed the citie by land, and by sea, in so muche that thei suffered no man to go in nor out.

15 In the meane season came Numenius, & his companie from Rome, hauing lettres writē vnto the Kings and countreis, wherein were conteined these wordes,

16 LVCIVS THE Consul of Rome vnto King Ptolemeus sendeth greting.

17 The ambassadours of the Iewes are come vnto vs as our friends and confederates frō Simon the hie Priest, and from the people of the Iewes to renue friendship, and the bonde of loue,

18 Who haue broght a shield of golde weying a thousand pounde.

19 Wherefore we thoght it good to write vnto the Kings and countreis, that they shulde not go about to hurt them, nor to fight against them, nor their cities, nor their countreie, nether to mainteine their enemies against them.

20 And we were content to receiue of thē the shield.

21 If therefore there be anie pestilent felowes fled from their countrey vnto you, deliuer them vnto Simon the hie Priest, that he maye punish them according to their owne Law.

22 The same things were writen to Demetrius the King, and to Attalus, and to Arathes and to Arsaces,

23 And to all countreis, as“ 1.103 Sampsames, and to them of Sparta, and to Delus, and to Min∣dus and to Sicion, and to Caria, and to Sa∣mos, & to Pamphylia, and to Lycia, and to Ha licarnassus, and to Rhodus, and to Phaselis, and to Cos, and to Siden, and to Cortyna, and to Gnidon, and to Cyprus, and to Cy∣rene.

24 And they sent a copie of them to Simon the hie Priest.

25 ¶ So Antio chus the King cāped against Do∣ra the seconde time euer redie to take it, and made diuers engins of warre, and kepe Try∣phon in, that he colde nether go in nor out.

26 Thē Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to helpe him with siluer aud golde, and muche furniture.

27 Neuertheles, he wolde not receiue thē, but brake all the couenant, which he had made with him afore, and withdrewe him self frō him,

28 And sent vnto him Athenobius one of his friends to cōmune with him, saying, Ye with holde Ioppe, and Gazara with the castle that is at Ierusalem, the citie of my realme,

29 Whose borders ye haue destroyed & done great hurt in the land, and haue the gouerne ment of anie places of my kingdome.

30 Wherefore now deliuer the cities, which ye haue taken, with the tributes of the pla∣ces, that ye haue rule ouer without the bor∣ders of 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

31 Orels giue me for them fiue hundreth talēts of siluer, and for the harme that ye haue done and for the tributes of the places other fiue hundreth talents: if not, we wil come, & fight against you.

32 So Athenobius the Kings friend came to Ie∣rusalem, and when he sawe the honour of Si∣mon, and the cubbert of golde and siluer pla te, and so great preparacion, he was astoni∣shed, and tolde him the Kings message.

33 Then answered Simon, and said vnto him, We haue nether taken other mens lands, nor with holden that which apperteineth to others: but our fathers heritage, which our enemies had vnrighteously in possession a certeine time.

34 But when we had occasion, we recouered the in heritance of our fathers.

35 And whereas thou“ 1.104 requirest Ioppe and Gazara, they did great harme to our people, and through our countrey, yet wil we giue an hundreth talens for thē. But Athenobius answered him not one worde.

36 But turned againe angrie vnto the King, & tolde him all these wordes, and the dignitie of Simon, with all that he had sene: and the King was verie angrie.

37 ¶ in the meane time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tryphon by ship∣pe vnto Orthosias.

38 Then the King made Cendebeus captaine of the sea coast, and gaue him bandes of fote men and horsemen,

39 And commanded him to remoue the hoste towarde Iudea, and to buylde vp Cedron, & to fortifie the gates, and to warre against the people: but the King pursued Tryphon.

40 So Cendebeus came vnto Iamnia, and be∣gan to vexe the people, and to inuade Iudea and to take the people prisoners, and to slay them.

41 And he buyltevp Cedron, where he set hor∣semen and garisons, that they might make outrodes by the waies of Iudea, as the King had commanded him.

CHAP. XVI.

1 Cendebeus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 captaine of Antiochus hoste is put to flight by the sonnes of Simon. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prolemeus the sonne of Abobus killeth Simon and his two sonnes at a banketh, 23 Iohn killeth them that lye in waite for his life.

1 THen came Iohn vp from Gazara, & tolde* 1.105 Simon his father, what Cendebeus had* 1.106 done.

2 So Simon called two of his eldest sonnes, Iudas and Iohn, and said vnto them, I, & my brethren, and my fathers house, haue euer from our youth vnto this day foghtē against the enemies of Israel, and the matters haue had good successe vnder our hands, and we haue deliuered Israel often times.

3 But I am now olde, and ye by (Gods) mercie are of a sufficiét age be ye therefore in stead of me, and my brother, and go forthe & fight for our nacion, and the helpe of heauen be with you.

4 So he chose twentie thousand fighting men of the countrey with the horsemen, which went forthe against Cendebeus, and rested at Modin.

5 In the morning thei arose, and went into the plaine field: & beholde, a mightie great hoste came against them bothe of fotemen, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 semen: but there was a riuer bet wixt them.

6 And Iohn rāged his armie ouer against him and when he sawe that the people was afra∣yed to go ouer the riuer, he wēt ouer first him

self, and the men seing him, passed through after him.

7 Then he deuided his men, and set the horse∣men in the middes of the fotemen.

8 For their enemies horsemen were verie ma∣nie: but when they blewe the trumpets, Cē∣debeus fled with his hoste, whereof manie were slayne, and the remnant gate them to the forteresse.

9 Then was Iudas Iohns brother woūded: but Iohn followed after them, til he came to Ce∣dron, which (Cendeleus) had buylt.

10 Also thei fled vnto the towres, that were in the fields of Azotus, and those did (Iohn) bur ne with fyre: thus were there slaine two thou sand men of them: so he returned peaceably into the land of Iuda.

11 ¶ Now in the field of Iericho was Ptolemeus the sonne of Abubus made captaine, and he had abundance of siluer and golde.

12 [For he had maried the daughter of the hie Priest]

13 Therefore he waxed proude in his minde, and thoght to rule the land, & thoght to slay Simon and his sonnes by deceit.

14 Now as Simon went about thorowe the ci ties of the countrey, & studieth carefully for them, he came downe to Iericho with Matta thias, and Iudas his sonnes in the hundreth, seuentie and seuen yere, in the eleuenth mo∣neth, which is the moneth Sabat.

15 Then (the sonne) of Abubus receiued them by treason into a litle holde, called Dochus, which he had buylte, where he made them a great banket, and had hid men there.

16 So when Simon and his sonnes had made good chere, Ptolemeus stode vp with his mē, and toke their weapons, and entred in to Si∣mon in the banket house, & slewe him with his two sonnes, and certeine of his seruants.

17 Whereby he committed a great vilenie, and recompensed euil for good.

18 Then wrote Ptolemeus these things & sent to the King, that he might send him an hoste to helpe him, and so wolde deliuer him the countrey with the cities.

19 He sent other men also vnto Gazara, to take Iohn, and sent letters vnto the captaines to come to him, and he wolde giue them siluer and golde and rewardes,

20 And to Ierusalém he sent other to take it, and the mountaine of the Temple.

21 But one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before, and tolde Iohn an Ga∣zara, that his father, and his brethren were slaine, and that (Ptolemeus) had sent to slay him.

22 When he heard this, he was sore astonished and laid hāds of them that were come to slay him, and slewe them: for he knewe that they went about to kill him.

23 Concerning other things of Iohn, bothe of his warres, and of his noble actes [wherein he behaued him self manfully] of the buyl∣ding of walles which he made, and other of his dedes,

24 Beholde, they are writen in the chronicles of his priesthode, from the time, that he was made high Priest after his father.

Notes

• “ 1.1

  Or, noble.
• * 1.2

  Ioseph Antiq. 12, chap 6.
• a 1.3

  By drawing the shinne ouer the parte that was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Cels 7. chap. 25. Epiph. lib. de ponderib & mensur.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Chap. 6. & 7.
• * 1.5

  "Or, drinke of∣frings.
• “ 1.6

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Ioseph Antiq. 12. Chap. 7.
• “ 1.8

  Or, Anaran.
• * 1.9

  Nomb. 25. 7.
• “ 1.10

  Or, that liued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  Gene. 22. 9.
• * 1.12

  Gen. 41. 40.
• * 1.13

  Nomb. 23. 13.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 45. 28.
• * 1.15

  Iosh, 1. 2.
• * 1.16

  Nomb. 14. 6,
• * 1.17

  Iosh. 14. 13.
• * 1.18

  2. Sam 2. 4.
• * 1.19

  2. King. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.20

  Dan. 3. 6.
• * 1.21

  Dan. 6. 22,
• a 1.22

  VVho was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nour of Syria, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Antiq. 12, chap. 9.
• () 1.23

  Emmaus.
• * 1.24

  Deut. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.25

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.26

  ioseph lib. 12. chap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.27

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 14. 9.
• “ 1.28

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• “ 1.29

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.30

  Or 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.31

  1. Sam. 17. 50.
• * 1.32

  1. Sam. 14. 13.
• “ 1.33

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• “ 1.34

  Or, Chaspher.
• * 1.35

  Ioseph 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. chap. 11. & 12.
• “ 1.36

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.37

  Ioseph Antiq. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.38

  Ioseph Antiq〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.39

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, Chap. 14.
• “ 1.40

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.41

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Iewes.
• “ 1.42

  Or, giue 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.43

  Ioseph. Antiq.
• “ 1.44

  Or, Hasidims.
• * 1.45

  Psal. 79. 2.
• “ 1.46

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or. Bezeth.
• * 1.47

  Ioseph Anti, 12 chap. 10.
• “ 1.48

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.49

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.50

  2. King. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 35.
• * 1.51

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 21.
• * 1.52

  eccles. 48. 24.
• * 1.53

  isa. 37. 36.
• * 1.54

  2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19.
• * 1.55

  Ioseph Anti 〈◊〉〈◊〉, chap. 18,
• “ 1.56

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.57

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.58

  Or, counsel.
• “ 1.59

  Or, the Romains
• “ 1.60

  Or, the Iewes.
• * 1.61

  Ieseph. Anti.
• * 1.62

  12, Chap. 18.
• “ 1.63

  Or, the right bor 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.64

  Or, Laisa.
• * 1.65

  Ioseph Anti.
• * 1.66

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Chap. 1. &. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.67

  Or, against the enemies of our nacion.
• “ 1.68

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.69

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.70

  Or, Ionathan.
• “ 1.71

  Or, Bethbassen.
• “ 1.72

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.73

  Iosep. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. Chap. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.74

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.75

  Or, take on: 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.76

  Ioseph. Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chap 3.
• a 1.77

  And of the coū trey beyonde Ior den, as Iosephus 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.78

  Ioseph. Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chap. 5.
• * 1.79

  Ioseph Antiq. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. chap 7.
• “ 1.80

  Or, Emaleuel.
• “ 1.81

  Or, giue vs the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hand.
• “ 1.82

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• “ 1.83

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.84

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.85

  Ioseph. Antiq. 13.
• * 1.86

  chap. 8.
• “ 1.87

  Or, Lacedemo∣nians.
• * 1.88

  Ioseph. Antiq. 12.
• “ 1.89

  Or, Darius.
• * 1.90

  chap 5.
• * 1.91

  Ioseph Antiq. 13.
• * 1.92

  Chap. 9.
• * 1.93

  Ioseph Anti. 13.
• * 1.94

  chap. 9.
• “ 1.95

  Or, Addus.
• * 1.96

  Ioseph 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.97

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.
• “ 1.98

  Or, Colar, or, bā 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in Greke Baineu, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.99

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• “ 1.100

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.101

  Ioseph 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 13
• * 1.102

  Chap. 11.
• “ 1.103

  Or, Sampsace.
• “ 1.104

  Or, complainest concerning.
• * 1.105

  Ioseph Antiq 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.106

  Chap. 12.