CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY
HENRY COTTON, D.C.L.
ARCHDEACON OF CASHEL,
AND DECEASED STUDENT AT CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD
OXFORD, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. MDCCCXXXII.
TO
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS, VAN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, TO WHOSE VALUABLE LIBRARY I HAD THE MOST GENEROUS ACCESS, THE PRESENT PUBLICATION IS ENGRAVED, IN TESTIMONY OF RESPECT AND REGARD.
THE
SECOND BOOK
OF
MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS, VIZ. FROM 175 TO 135 BEFORE CHRIST
CHAPTER XIV.
B.C. 141
The good deeds of Simon. His fame. Renewal of the league by the Romans and Lacedaemonians.
Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year, king Demetrius gathered his forces together and went into Media a to get him help to fight against Tryphon. But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his princes, to take him alive: who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him in ward.
As for the land of Judah, that was quiet all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well. And in addition, to all his glory, he took Joppe for a haven and made it an entrance to the isles of the sea, and enlarged the bounds of his nation, and recovered the country. And gathered a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazara, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the which he
took all impurities; neither was there any who resisted him. Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit. The ancient men sat also in the streets, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel. He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner of munition b, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of the world. He made peace in the lands, and Israel rejoiced with great joy: for every man sat under his vine and his fig-tree, and there was none to fray them: neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days. Moreover, he strengthened all those of his people who were brought low: the law he searched out, and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away. He beautified the sanctuary and multiplied the vessels of the sanctuary. Now it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead; and they were very sorry. But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein: they wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren: which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letters which the Lacedaemonians sent: “The rulers of the Lacedaemonians, and the city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders and priests, and residue of the people
” of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting: The 21 ambassadors who were sent unto our people, certified us of your glory and honour: wherefore we were glad of their coming: and did the things which they spoke in the council of the people, in this manner: Numenius c son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews’ ambassadors, came unto us to renew the friendship which they had with us. And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to put the copy of their ambassage in the appointed records of the people: to the end the ” people of the Lacedaemonians might have a memorial thereof: furthermore, we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest. After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of gold of a thousand Minae d, to confirm the league with them. Whereof when the people heard, they said. What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons? For he and his brethren, and the house of his father, have established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from them, and confirmed their liberty. So then they wrote it in the tables of brass, which they set upon pillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy of the writing: “The eighteenth day of the month Elul e, in the hundred threescore and twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest: at Saramel f in the great congregation”
“of the priests and people, and rulers of the nation, and elders of the country, were these things notified unto us. Forasmuch as often times there have been wars in the country; and Simon the son of Mattathias, the son of the sons of Jarib, and his brethren, have put themselves in jeopardy; and have resisted the enemies of their nation, that their sanctuary and law might be maintained; and have honoured their nation with great honour: —(For after that Jonathan, having gathered his nation together, and been their high priest, was added to his people; their enemies purposed to invade their country, that ” they might destroy it, and lay hands on the sanctuary: at which time Simon rose up, and fought for his nation, and spent much of his own substance, and armed the mighty men of his nation, and gave them wages, and fortified the cities of Judaea, together with Bethsura which lieth upon the borders of Judaea, where the armour of the enemies had been before; and set a garrison of Jews there. Moreover, he fortified Joppe which lieth upon the sea, and Gazara which bordered upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt before: and placed Jews there and furnished them with all things convenient for the reparation thereof.) The people, therefore, seeing the acts of Simon, and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation,”
“made him their governor, and chief priest; because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought to exalt his people. For in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the heathen were taken out of their country, and they also which were in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a tower, out of which they issued, and polluted all about the sanctuary, and did much hurt in the holy places g : but he placed Jews therein, and fortified it for the safety of the country, and the city, and raised up the walls of Jerusalem. King Demetrius also confirmed to him the high priesthood, according to those things. And made him one of his friends and honoured him with great honour. For he had heard say, that the Jews were called by the Romans their friends, and confederates, and brethren; and that they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honourably: also, that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest for ever, until there should arise a faithful prophet h Moreover, that he should be their captain, and should take charge of the sanctuary, to set them over their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the fortresses ; that (I say) he should take charge of”
“the sanctuary; besides this, that he should be obeyed by every man, and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold; also, that it should be lawful for none of the people or priests to break any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to gather an assembly in the country without him, or to be clothed in purple, or to wear a buckle of gold and whosoever should do otherwise, or break any of these things, he should be punished i. Thus, it pleased all the people to deal with Simon, and to do as hath been said.”
Then Simon accepted hereof, and was well pleased to be high priest, and captain, and governor of the Jews and priests, and to defend them all. So, they commanded to put this writing in tables of brass, and to set them up within the compass of the sanctuary in a conspicuous place; also to lay up the copies thereof in the treasury, to the end that Simon and his sons might have them.
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