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 XII.
B.C. 144.
Jonathan renews the league with the Romans and Lacedaemonians. He is made prisoner by Tryphon.
Now when Jonathan saw that the time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship which they had with them. He sent letters also to the Lacedaemonians a, and to other places for the same purpose. So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate-house, and said, ” Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friend ship which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.” Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place, that they should bring them into the land of Judah in peace. And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote unto the Lacedaemonians: ” Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other people of the Jews, unto the Lacedaemonians their brethren, send greeting: There were letters sent in times past unto”
“Onias b the high priest from Darius c, who ” reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify. At which time Onias entreated honourably the ambassador who was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, for that we have the holy books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us, have nevertheless attempted to send unto you, for the renewing of brother- hood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us. We, therefore, at all times, without ceasing, both in our feasts and other convenient days, do re member you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers; as is right, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren: and we are right glad of your glory. But as for us, many troubles and man wars have environed us; for so much as the kings who are round about us, have fought”
” against us. Howbeit, we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends in these wars: for we have help from heaven which succoured us, so that we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are humbled. For this cause we have chosen
Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity which we had with them, 17 ” and the former league. We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood. Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto. And this is the copy of the letters which Arius sent d to Onias. Arius king of the Lacedaemonians, to Onias the high priest, greeting: It is found in writing, that the Lacedaemonians and Jews are brethren e and that they are of the stock of Abraham: now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your welfare. We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore our”
” ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.” Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had come to fight against him with a greater host than afore, he removed from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Amathis f: for he gave them no respite to invade his country. He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him, that they had appointed to come upon them in the night-season. Wherefore so soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to fight also, he sent forth sentinels round about the host. But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp g. Howbeit, Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning. Then Jonathan pursued after them but overtook them not: for they were gone over the river Eleutherus. Wherefore Jonathan 31 turned aside to the Arabians, who were called Zabadaeans h, and smote them, and took their spoils. And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and 32 so passed through all the country. Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Ascalon, and the strong holds there adjoining;
from whence he turned aside to Joppe, and won it. For he had heard that they would deliver the fortress unto them which took Demetrius’ part wherefore he set a garrison there to keep it. After this came Jonathan home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strong holds in Judaea and making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mount between the tower and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy i init. Upon this they came together, to build up the city; and part of the wall toward the brook on the east side was fallen down k; and they repaired that which was called Caphenatha. Simon also set up Adida, in Sephela l, and made it strong with gates and bars. Now Tryphon sought to get the kingdom of Asia, to put the crown on himself, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus m the king. Howbeit he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him wherefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan,
that he might kill him. So, he removed and came to Bethshan. Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle and came to Bethshan. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with so great a force, he durst not stretch his hand against him: but received him honorably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his armies to be as obedient unto him as to himself. Unto Jonathan also he said. Why hast thou put all this people to so great trouble, seeing there is no war between us? therefore send them now home again, and choose a few men to wait on thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it thee, and the rest of the strong holds and forces, and all who have any charge: as for me, I will return and depart: for this is the cause of my coming. So, Jonathan believing him, did as he bade him, and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judah. And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, and one thousand went with him. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and took him, and all of them which came with him they slew with the sword. Then sent Tryphon a host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company. But when they knew that Jonathan and they which were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another and went close together prepared to fight. They therefore which followed upon them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again. Whereupon they all came into the land of Judah peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan, and them which were with him, and they were sore afraid wherefore all Israel made great lamentation. Then all the heathen who were round about them sought to destroy them: for, said they, they have no captain, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memorial from amongst men.
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