The Word Am I

The First Book of Maccabees

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- Chapter 16 -

The sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon with two of his sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee his son in law.

1
And so, John came up from Gazara, and he reported to Simon, his father, what Cendebeus had done against their people.(a)
2
And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and he said to them: “I and my brothers, and my father’s house, have fought against the enemies of Israel from our youth, even to this day. And this work has prospered in our hands, so that we have delivered Israel several times.
3
And now that I am old, you must act in place of me and my brothers, and go out to fight for our nation. Truly, may the help of heaven be with you.”
4
Then he chose from the region twenty thousand men of warfare, and horsemen; and they started out toward Cendebeus. And they rested in Modin.
5
And they rose up in the morning and went out into the plains. And behold, an abundant army of foot soldiers and horsemen was there to meet them, and there was a river flowing between them.
6
And he and his people moved their camp opposite their face, and he saw the trepidation of the people to cross over the river, and so he crossed over first. And seeing him, the men also crossed after him.(b)
7
And he divided the people and the horsemen into the midst of the foot soldiers. But the horsemen of the adversary were exceedingly numerous.
8
And they sounded the holy trumpets. And Cendebeus and his army were turned back. And many of them fell wounded. But the rest fled into the fortress.
9
Then Judas, the brother of John, was wounded. But John pursued them, until he came to Kedron, which he had built.(c)
10
And they fled all the way to the towers that were in the fields of Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there fell of them two thousand men, and he returned to Judea in peace.
11
Now Ptolemy, the son of Abubus, was appointed commander over the plain of Jericho, and he held much silver and gold.
12
For he was the son-in-law of the high priest.
13
And his heart was exalted, and he wanted to obtain the region, and he devised treachery against Simon and his sons, so as to destroy them.
14
Now when Simon was traveling through the cities that were in the region of Judea, and acting with concern for them, he went down to Jericho, he and Mattathias and Judas, his sons, in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month; this is the month of Shevat.
15
And the son of Abubus received them, with deceitfulness, into a little fortress, which is called Dok, that he had built. And he made them a great feast, and he hid men there.
16
And when Simon and his sons became inebriated, Ptolemy and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and entered into the gathering. And they killed him, and his two sons, and some of his servants.
17
And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and he repaid good with evil.
18
And Ptolemy wrote about these things, and he sent to the king, so that he would send him an army to assist him, and he could deliver to him the region, and their cities and tributes.
19
And he sent others to Gazara to destroy John. And he sent letters to the tribunes to come to him, and he would give them silver, and gold, and gifts.
20
And he sent others to occupy Jerusalem and the mountain of the temple.
21
Now a certain one, running ahead, reported to John in Gazara, that his father and his brothers perished, and that “he sent to kill you also.”
22
But when he heard it, he was very afraid, and he apprehended the men who came to destroy him, and he killed them. For he knew that they sought to destroy him.
23
And the rest of the stories about John, and his wars, and the virtuous deeds that he performed with fortitude, and the building of the walls that he raised, and the things that he did,
24
behold, these have been written in the book of the days of his priesthood, from the time that he became high priest, after his father.

Footnotes

(a)16:1 John:He was afterwards surnamed Hircanus, and succeeded his father in both his dignities of high priest and prince. He conquered the Edomites, and obliged them to a conformity with the Jews in religion; and destroyed the schismatical temple of the Samaritans.(Challoner)
(b)16:6 He:Viz., John.(Challoner)
(c)16:9 Cedron:Otherwise called Gedon, the city that Cendebeus was fortifying.(Challoner)

The sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon with two of his sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee his son in law.

1
John went up from Gazara and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus was doing.
2
Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them, “I and my brothers and my father’s house have fought the battles of Israel from our youth, even to this day; and things have prospered in our hands, that we have often delivered Israel.
3
But now I am old, and you moreover, by his mercy, are of a sufficient age. Take the place of me and my brother, and go out and fight for our nation; and let the help which is from heaven be with you.
4
He chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war and cavalry, and they went against Cendebaeus, and slept at Modin.
5
Rising up in the morning, they went into the plain, and, behold, a great army of infantry and cavalry came to meet them. There was a brook between them.
6
He encamped near them, he and his people. He saw that the people were afraid to pass over the brook, and he passed over first. When the men saw him, they passed over after him.
7
He divided the people, and placed the calvary in the midst of the infantry; but the enemies’ cavalry were exceedingly many.
8
They sounded the trumpets; and Cendebaeus and his army were put to flight, and many of them fell wounded to death, but those who were left fled to the stronghold.
9
At that time Judas, John’s brother, was wounded; but John pursued after them until he came to Kidron, which Cendebaeus had built.
10
They fled to the towers that are in the fields of Azotus; and he burned it with fire. About two thousand men men of them fell. Then he returned into Judea in peace.
11
Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed governor over the plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold;
12
for he was the high priest’s son-in-law.
13
His heart was lifted up, and he planned to make himself master of the country, and he made deceitful plans against Simon and his sons, to do away with them.
14
Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and attending to their needs. He went down to Jericho—himself with Mattathias and Judas his sons—in the one hundred seventy-seventh year,(a) in the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat.
15
The son of Abubus received them deceitfully into the little stronghold that is called Dok, which he had built, and made them a great banquet, and hid men there.
16
When Simon and his sons had drunk freely, Ptolemy and his men rose up, took their weapons, rushed in against Simon in the banqueting place, and killed him, his two sons, and some of his servants.
17
He committed a great iniquity, and repaid evil for good.
18
Ptolemy wrote these things and sent to the king, that he should send him forces to aid him, and should deliver him their country and the cities.
19
He sent others to Gazara to do away with John. To the captains of thousands, he sent letters to come to him, that he might give them silver, gold, and gifts.
20
He sent others to take possession of Jerusalem and the temple hill.
21
One ran before to Gazara, and told John that his father and kindred had perished, and he has sent to kill you also.
22
When he heard, he was greatly shocked. He seized the men who came to destroy him and killed them; for he perceived that they were seeking to destroy him.
23
And the rest of the acts of John and of his wars and of his valiant deeds which he did, and of the building of the walls which he built, and of his achievements,
24
behold, they are written in the chronicles(b) of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.

Footnotes

(a)16:14 circa B.C. 136.
(b)16:24 Gr. book of days.
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