1 Maccabees chapter 12

[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Jonathan Maccabees makes an alliance with the Roman Empire. Demetrius attacks again. Trypho captures Jonathan Maccabees.

 


 

The First Book of Macabbees is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches

 


 

JONATHAN MACCABEES MAKES AN ALLIANCE WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE

 

VERSE 1. And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.

 

VERSE 2. And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner.

 

VERSE 3. And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time.

 

VERSE 4. And they gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace.

 

VERSE 5. And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

 

VERSE 6. Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greeting:

 

VERSE 7. Even before this time were letters sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you are our kindred, as the copy here underwritten shows.

 

VERSE 8. And Onias entreated honorably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship.

 

VERSE 9. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,

having for our encouragement the holy books. Jonathan valued the Bible.

He found the Bible a source of encouragement!

 

VERSE 10. have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether: for long time is passed since you sent to us.

 

VERSE 11. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be mindful of kindred:

 

VERSE 12. and moreover are glad for your glory.

 

VERSE 13. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

 

VERSE 14. We were not minded therefore to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars;

 

VERSE 15. for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been brought low.

 

VERSE 16. We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy.

 

VERSE 17. We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood.

 

VERSE 18. And now you shall do well if you give us an answer thereto.

 

VERSE 19. And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:

 

VERSE 20. Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting:

 

VERSE 21. It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

 

VERSE 22. and now, since this is come to our knowledge, you shall do well to write to us of your prosperity.

 

VERSE 23. And we moreover do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you on this wise.

 

DEMETRIUS ATTACKS AGAIN

 

VERSE 24. And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were returned to fight against him with a greater army than before,

 

VERSE 25. and he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to set foot in his country.

 

VERSE 26. And he sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were appointed in such and such a way to fall upon them in the night season.

 

VERSE 27. But as 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 for battle: and he put forth sentinels round about the camp.

Jonathan commanded his men to watch. Jonathan’s men were to be always ready.

Similarly, the Lord Jesus calls us to constant vigilance for his return in glory at the End of Time.

Similarly, St. Paul calls us to always be ready to give answer to enquirers about our faith.

 

VERSE 28. And the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.

they feared, and trembled in their hearts. When the enemy soldiers thought of Jonathan Maccabees and his army, they were terrified.

 

VERSE 29. But Jonathan and his men knew it not till the morning; for they saw the lights burning.

 

VERSE 30. And Jonathan pursued after them, and overtook them not; for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

 

VERSE 31. And Jonathan turned toward the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.

 

VERSE 32. And he came out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.

 

VERSE 33. And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that were near to it. And he turned toward Joppa, and took possession of it;

 

VERSE 34. for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold to the men of Demetrius; and he set a garrison there to keep it.

 

VERSE 35. And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judea,

 

VERSE 36. and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be all alone, that men might neither buy nor sell.

 

VERSE 37. And they were gathered together to build the city, and there fell down part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha.

 

VERSE 38. And Simon also built Adida in the plain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

 

TRYPHO CAPTURES JONATHAN MACCABEES

 

VERSE 39. And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king.

 

VERSE 40. And he was afraid lest haply Jonathan should not suffer him, and lest he should fight against him; and he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. And he removed, and came to Bethshan.

 

VERSE 41. And Jonathan came forth to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.

 

VERSE 42. And Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, and he was afraid to stretch forth his hand against him:

 

VERSE 43. and he received him honorably, and commended him to all his Friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself.

 

VERSE 44. And he said to Jonathan, Why have you put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war between us?

 

VERSE 45. And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come you with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers: and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.

 

VERSE 46. And he put his trust in him, and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah.

 

VERSE 47. But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.

 

VERSE 48. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and laid hands on him; and all those who came in with him they killed with the sword.

 

VERSE 49. And Tryphon sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men.

 

VERSE 50. And they perceived that he was taken and had perished, and those who were with him; and they encouraged one another, and went on their way close together, prepared to fight.

 

VERSE 51. And those who followed upon them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again.

 

VERSE 52. And they all came in peace into the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan, and those who were with him, and they were sore afraid; and all Israel mourned with a great mourning.

 

VERSE 53. And all the Gentiles that were round about them sought to destroy them utterly: for they said, They have no ruler, nor any to help them: now therefore let’s fight against them, and take away their memorial from among men.

take away their memorial from among men. How many times have people tried to eradicate the Jewish people?

How many times have people denied their suffering?

Even in our day, prominent secular leaders have denied the Holocaust.

Even a Roman Catholic bishop denied the Holocaust.

 


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1 MACCABEES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology

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