The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 12
1 Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for
him, so he chose men and sent
them to Rome to confirm and renew the
friendship that they had with them.
2 He also sent similar letters to the
Spartans, and to other places.
3 They went to Rome, 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 alliance, as in former time.”
4 They gave them letters to the men in
every place, that they should provide safe
conduct for them on their way to the land of Judah.
5 This is the copy of the letters which
Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
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, greetings.
7 Even before this time letters were sent
to Onias the high priest from Arius,† who
was reigning among you, to signify that
you are our kindred, as the copy written
below shows.
8 Onias welcomed honorably the man
who was sent and received the letters,
wherein declaration was made of alliance
and friendship.
9 Therefore we also, even though we
need none of these things, having for our
encouragement the holy books which are
in our hands,
10 have undertaken 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 a long time has passed since
you sent your letter to us.
11 We therefore at all times without ceasing,
both in our feasts, and on the other
convenient days, remember you in the sacrifices
which we offer, and in our prayers,
as it is right and proper to be mindful of
kindred.
12 Moreover, we are glad for your glory.
13 But as for ourselves, many afflictions
and many wars have encompassed us, and
the kings who are around us have fought
against us.
14 We were unwilling to be troublesome
to you, and to the rest of our allies and
friends, in these wars;
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 humbled.
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 alliance.
17 We commanded them therefore to go
also to you, and to salute you, and to de-
liver youour letters concerning the renewing
of friendship and our brotherhood.
18 And now you will do well if you give us
a reply.”
19 And this is the copy ofthe letters which
they sent to Onias:
20 “Arius king of the Spartans to Onias
the chief priest, greetings.
21 It has been found in writing, concerning
the Spartans and the Jews,thatthey are
kindred, and that they are of the
descendants of Abraham.
22 Now, since this has come to our knowledge,
you will do wellto write tous of your‡
prosperity.
23 We moreover write on our part to you,
that your livestock and goods are ours, and
ours are yours. We do command therefore
that they make report to you accordingly.”
24 Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius’
princes had returned to fight against him
with a greater army than before,
25 so he marched away from Jerusalem,
and met them in the country of Hamath;
for he gave them no opportunity to set foot
in his country.
26 He sent spies into his camp, and they
came again, and reported to him that they
were preparing to attack them at night.
27 But as soon as the sun was down,
Jonathan commanded his men to watch,
and to be armed, that all the night long
they might be ready for battle. He stationed
sentinels around the camp.
28 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 then
withdrew.
29 But Jonathan and his men didn’t know
it until the morning; for they saw the fires
burning.
30 Jonathan pursued after them, but
didn’t overtake them; for they had gone
over the river Eleutherus.
31 Then Jonathan turned toward the Arabians,
who are called Zabadaeans, and
struck them, and took their spoils.
32 He came out from there, and came to
Damascus, and took his journey through
all the country.
33 Simon went out, and took his journey
as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that
were near it. Then he turned toward Joppa
and took possession of it;
34 for he had heard that they were
planning to hand over the stronghold to
Demetrius’ men. He set a garrison there to
guard it.
35 Then Jonathan returned and called
the elders of the people together. He
planned with them to build strongholds in
Judea,
36 and to make the walls of Jerusalem
higher, and to raise a great mound between the
citadel and the city, to separate it from the city,
that so it might be isolated, thatits garrison
might neither buy nor sell.
37 They were gathered together to build
the city. Part of the wall of the brook that is
on the east side fell down, and he repaired
the section called Chaphenatha.
38 Simon also built Adida in the§ plain
country, made it strong, and set up gates
and bars.
39 And Tryphon soughtto reign over Asia
and to crownhimself, and to stretchouthis
hand against Antiochus the king.
40 He was afraid that Jonathan wouldn’t
allow him, and that he would fight against
him; and he sought a way to seize him, that
he might destroy him. So he marched out
and came to Bethshan.
41 Jonathan came out to meet him with
forty thousand men chosen for battle, and
came to Bethshan.
42 Try phon saw that he came with a great
army, and he was afraid to stretch out his
hand against him.
43 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.
44 He said to Jonathan, “Why have you
put all this people to so much trouble,
seeing there is no war between us?
45 Now send them away to their homes,
but choose for yourself a few men who
shall be with you, and come with me to
Ptolemais, and I will give it to you, and the
rest of the strongholds and the rest of the
forces, and all the king’s officers. Then I
will nturnaround and depart;for this is why
I came.”
46 He put his trustin him, and did even as
he said, and sent away his forces, and they
departed into the land of Judah.
47 But he reserved to himself three
thousand men, of whom he lefttwo thousand in
Galilee, but one thousand went with him.
48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into
Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais shutthe
gates and seized him. They killed all those
who came in with him with the sword.
49 Tryphon sent troops and cavalry into
Galilee, and into the Great Plain, to destroy
all Jonathan’s men.
50 They perceived that he had been
seized and had perished, along with those
who were with him. They encouraged
one another and went on their way close
together, prepared to fight.
51 Those who followed them saw that
they were ready to fight for their lives, and
turned back again.
52 They all came in peace into the land
of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan
and those who were with him, and they
were very afraid. All Israel mourned with
a great mourning.
53 And all the Gentiles who were around
them sought to destroy them utterly; for
they said, “They have no ruler nor anyone
to help them. Now therefore let’s fight
againstthem, and take away their memory
from among men.”