1 Maccabees · Updated Brenton English Septuagint
1 Maccabees 16 Updated Brenton English Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Same Septuagint text as Brenton, with modernised spelling.
1 Then came up John from Gazara, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done.
1 John went up from Gazara and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus was doing.
2 Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father’s house, have ever from our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.
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, so that we have often delivered Israel.
3 But now I am old, and ye, by [God’s] mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from heaven be with you.
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 So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modein.
4 He chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war and cavalry, and they went against Cendebaeus, and slept at Modin.
5 And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook between them.
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 So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.
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 [That done], he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies’ horsemen were very many.
7 He divided the people, and placed the cavalry in the midst of the infantry; but the enemies’ cavalry were exceedingly many.
8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant got them to the stronghold.
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 was Judas John’s brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Kedron, which [Cendebeus] had built.
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 So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace.
10 They fled to the towers that are in the fields of Azotus; and he burned them with fire. About two thousand men of them fell. Then he returned into Judea in peace.
11 Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemy the [son] of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:
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.
12 for he was the high priest’s son-in-law.
13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.
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 taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Shebat:
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, in the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat.
15 where the [son] of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Dok, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hidden men there.
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 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemy and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.
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 In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.
17 He committed a great iniquity, and repaid evil for good.
18 Then Ptolemy wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him a host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities.
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 also to Gazara to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.
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 And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.
20 He sent others to take possession of Jerusalem and the temple hill.
21 Now one had run afore to Gazara, and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, [quoth he, Ptolemy] hath sent to slay thee also.
21 One ran before to Gazara, and told John that his father and kindred had perished, and that he has sent to kill you also.
22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.
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 As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,
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, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.
24 behold, they are written in the chronicles of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.