1 Maccabees · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
1 Maccabees 12 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
1 Καὶ εἶδεν Ἰωνάθαν ὅτι ὁ καιρὸς αὐτῷ συνεργεῖ, καὶ ἐπέλεξεν ἄνδρας, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς Ῥώμην, στῆσαι καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν.
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 Καὶ πρὸς Σπαρτιάτας, καὶ τόπους ἑτέρους ἀπέστειλεν ἐπιστολὰς κατὰ τὰ αὐτά.
2 He also sent similar letters to the Spartans, and to other places.
3 Καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς Ῥώμην, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον, καὶ εἶπον, Ἰωνάθαν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ τὸ ἔθνος τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπέστειλεν ἡμᾶς ἀνανεώσασθαι τὴν φιλίαν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὴν συμμαχίαν κατὰ τὸ πρότερον.
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 Καὶ ἔδωκαν ἐπιστολὰς αὐτοῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τόπον, ὅπως προπέμπωσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα μετʼ εἰρήνης.
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 Καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν ὧν ἔγραψεν Ἰωνάθαν τοῖς Σπαρτιάταις·
5 This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 Ἰωνάθαν ἀρχιερεὺς, καὶ ἡ γερουσία τοῦ ἔθνους, καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς, καὶ ὁ λοιπὸς δῆμος τῶν Ἰουδαίων, Σπαρτιάταις τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς χαίρειν.
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 Ἔτι πρότερον ἀπεστάλησαν ἐπιστολαὶ πρὸς Ὀνίαν τὸν ἀρχιερέα παρὰ Δαρείου τοῦ βασιλεύοντος ἐν ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἐστὲ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ὡς τὸ ἀντίγραφον ὑπόκειται.
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 Καὶ ἐπεδέξατο Ὀνίας τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἀπεσταλμένον ἐνδόξως, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰς ἐπιστολάς ἐν αἷς διεσαφεῖτο περὶ συμμαχίας καὶ φιλίας.
8 Onias welcomed honorably the man who was sent and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of alliance and friendship.
9 Καὶ ἡμεῖς οὖν ἀπροσδεεῖς τούτων ὄντες, παράκλησιν ἔχοντες τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια τὰ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν,
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 ἐπειράθημεν ἀποστεῖλαι τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀδελφότητα καὶ φιλίαν ἀνανεώσασθαι, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐξαλλοτριωθῆναι ὑμῶν· πολλοὶ γὰρ καιροὶ διῆλθον ἀφʼ οὗ ἀπεστείλατε πρὸς ἡμᾶς.
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 Ἡμεῖς οὖν ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἀδιαλείπτως ἔν τε ταῖς ἑορταῖς καὶ ταῖς λοιπαῖς καθηκούσαις ἡμέραις μιμνησκόμεθα ὑμων, ἐφʼ ὧν προσφέρομεν θυσιῶν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς, ὡς δέον ἐστὶ καὶ πρέπον μνημονεύειν ἀδελφῶν.
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 Εὐφραινόμεθα δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ δόξῃ ὑμῶν.
12 Moreover, we are glad for your glory.
13 Ἡμᾶς δὲ ἐκύκλωσαν πολλαὶ θλίψεις, καὶ πόλεμοι πολλοὶ, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν ἡμᾶς οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ κύκλῳ ἡμῶν.
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 Καὶ οὐκ ἠβουλόμεθα οὖν παρενοχλεῖν ὑμῖν, καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς συμμάχοις, καὶ φίλοις ἡμῶν, ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις τούτοις.
14 We were unwilling to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars;
15 Ἔχομεν γὰρ τὴν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ βοήθειαν βοηθοῦσαν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐῤῥύσθημεν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐταπεινώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν.
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 Ἐπελέξαμεν οὖν Νουμήνιον Ἀντιόχου καὶ Ἀντίπατρον Ἰάσωνος, καὶ ἀπεστάλκαμεν πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἀνενεώσασθαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν καὶ συμμαχίαν τὴν προτέραν.
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 Ἐνετειλάμεθα οὖν αὐτοῖς καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς πορευθῆναι, καὶ ἀσπάσασθαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀποδοῦναι ὑμῖν τὰς παρʼ ἡμῶν ἐπιστολὰς περὶ τῆς ἀνανεώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀδελφότητος ἡμῶν.
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.
18 Καὶ νῦν καλῶς ποιήσετε ἀντιφωνήσαντες ἡμῖν πρὸς ταῦτα.
18 And now you will do well if you give us a reply.”
19 Καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἀντίγραφον τῶν ἐπιστολῶν ὧν ἀπέστειλεν. Ὀνιάρης
19 And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:
20 βασιλεὺς Σπαρτιατῶν Ὀνίᾳ ἱερεῖ μεγάλῳ χαίρειν.
20 “Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greetings.
21 Εὑρέθη ἐν γραφῇ περί τε τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν καὶ Ἰουδαίων ὅτι εἰσὶν ἀδελφοὶ, καὶ ὅτι εἰσὶν ἐκ γένους Ἁβραάμ.
21 It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the descendants of Abraham.
22 Καὶ νῦν ἀφʼ οὗ ἔγνωμεν ταῦτα, καλῶς ποιήσετε γράφοντες ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ὑμῶν.
22 Now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23 Καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ ἁντιγράφομεν ὑμῖν, τὰ κτήνη ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ ὕπαρξις ὑμῶν ἡμῖν ἐστι, καὶ τὰ ἡμῶν ὑμῖν ἐστιν· ἐντελλόμεθα οὖν ὅπως ἀπαγγείλωσιν ὑμῖν κατὰ ταῦτα.
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 Καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰωνάθαν ὅτι ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ ἄρχοντες Δημητρίου μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς ὑπὲρ τὸ πρότερον τοῦ πολεμῆσαι πρὸς αὐτόν.
24 Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had returned to fight against him with a greater army than before,
25 Καὶ ἀπῇρεν ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν Ἀμαθῖτιν χώραν· οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀνοχὴν ἐμβατεῦσαι εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ.
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 Καὶ ἀπέστειλε κατασκόπους εἰς τὴς παρεμβολὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ, ὅτι οὕτω τάσσονται ἐπιπεσεῖν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὴν νύκτα.
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 Ὡς δὲ ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, ἐπέταζεν Ἰωνάθαν τοῖς παρʼ αὐτοῦ γρηγορεῖν, καὶ εἶναι ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις, καὶ ἑτοιμάζεσθαι εἰς πόλεμον διʼ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς, καὶ ἐξέβαλε προφύλακας κύκλῳ τῆς παρεμβολῆς.
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 Καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ὑπεναντίοι ὅτι ἡτοίμασται Ἰωνάθαν καὶ οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν καὶ ἔπτηξαν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀνέκαυσαν πυρὰς ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ αὐτῶν.
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 Ἰωνάθαν δὲ καὶ οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕως πρωῒ, ἔβλεπον γὰρ τὰ φῶτα καιόμενα.
29 But Jonathan and his men didn’t know it until the morning; for they saw the fires burning.
30 Καὶ κατεδίωξεν Ἰωνάθαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ κατέλαβεν αὐτούς, διέβησαν γὰρ τὸν Ἐλεύθερον ποταμόν.
30 Jonathan pursued after them, but didn’t overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus.
31 Καὶ ἐξέκλινεν Ἰωνάθαν ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας τοὺς καλουμένους Ζαβεδαίους, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν.
31 Then Jonathan turned toward the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.
32 Καὶ ἀναζεύξας ἦλθεν εἰς Δαμασκόν, καὶ διώδευσεν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ χώρᾳ.
32 He came out from there, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.
33 Καὶ Σίμων ἐξῆλθε, καὶ διώδευσεν ἕως Ἀσκάλωνος, καὶ τῶν πλησίων ὀχυρωμάτων, καὶ ἐξέκλινεν εἰς Ἰόππην, καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτήν.
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 Ἤκουσε γὰρ ὅτι βούλονται τὸ ὀχύρωμα παραδοῦναι τοῖς παρὰ Δημητρίου, καὶ ἔθετο ἐκεῖ φρουρὰν, ὅπως φυλάσσωσιν αὐτήν.
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 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασε τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο μετʼ αὐτῶν τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι ὀξυρώματα ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ,
35 Then Jonathan returned and called the elders of the people together. He planned with them to build strongholds in Judea,
36 καὶ προσυψῶσαι τὰ τείχη Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ὑψῶσαι ὕψος μέγα ἀναμέσον τῆς ἄκρας καὶ τῆς πόλεως, εἰς τὸ διαχωρίζειν αὐτὴν τῆς πόλεως, ἵνα ᾖ αὕτη κατὰ μόνας, ὅπως μήτε ἀγοράζωσι μήτε πωλῶσι.
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, that its garrison might neither buy nor sell.
37 Καὶ συνήχθησαν τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἤγγισε τοῦ τείχους τοῦ χειμάῤῥου τοῦ ἐξ ἀπηλιώτου, καὶ ἐπεσκεύασαν τὸ καλούμενον Χαφεναθά.
37 They were gathered together to build the city. Part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side had fallen down, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha.
38 καὶ Σίμων ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν Ἀδιδὰ ἐν τῇ Σεφήλᾳ, καὶ ὠχύρωσε θύρας καὶ μοχλούς.
38 Simon also built Adida in the plain country, made it strong, and set up gates and bars.
39 Καὶ ἐζήτησε Τρύφων βασιλεῦσαι τῆς Ἀσίας, καὶ περιθέσθαι τὸ διάδημα, καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρα ἐπὶ Ἀντίοχον τὸν βασιλέα.
39 And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to crown himself, and to stretch out his hand against Antiochus the king.
40 Καὶ ἐφοβήθη μήποτε οὐκ ἐάσῃ αὐτὸν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ μήποτε πολεμήσῃ πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐζήτει πόρον τοῦ συλλαβεῖν τὸν Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ ἀπολυσαι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπάρας ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν.
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 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἰωνάθαν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτῷ ἐν τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάσιν ἀνδρῶν ἐπιλελεγμέναις εἰς παράταξιν, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Βαιθσάν.
41 Jonathan came out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.
42 Καὶ εἶδε Τρύφων ὅτι πάρεστιν Ἰωνάθαν μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς, καὶ ἐκτεῖναι χεῖρας ἐπʼ αὐτὸν εὐλαβήθη.
42 Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, and he was afraid to stretch out his hand against him.
43 Καὶ ἐπεδέξατο αὐτὸν ἐνδόξως, καὶ συνέστησεν αὐτὸν πᾶσι τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ δόματα, καὶ ἐπέταξε ταῖς δυνάμεσιν αὐτοῦ ὑπακούειν αὐτῷ ὡς ἑαυτῷ.
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 Καὶ εἶπε τῷ Ἰωνάθαν, ἱνατί ἔκοψας πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, πολέμου μὴ ἐνεστηκότος ἡμῖν;
44 He said to Jonathan, “Why have you put all these people to so much trouble, seeing there is no war between us?
45 Καὶ νῦν ἀπόστειλον αὐτοὺς εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν, ἐπίλεξαι δὲ σεαυτῷ ἄνδρας ὀλίγους οἵτινες ἔσονται μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ δεῦρο μετʼ ἐμοῦ εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ παραδώσω σοι αὐτὴν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ὀχυρώματα καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις τὰς λοιπὰς καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν χειρῶν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας ἀπελεύσομαι, τούτου γὰρ χάριν πάρειμι.
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 turn around and depart; for this is why I came.”
46 Καὶ ἐμπιστεύσας αὐτῷ ἐποίησε καθὼς εἶπε, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε τὰς δυνάμεις, καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα.
46 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.
47 Κατέλιπε δὲ μεθʼ ἑαυτοῦ ἄνδρας τρισχιλίους, ὧν δισχιλίους ἀφῆκεν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, χίλιοι δὲ συνῆλθον αὐτῷ.
47 But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.
48 Ὡς δὲ εἰσῆλθεν Ἰωνάθαν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, ἀπέκλεισαν οἱ Πτολεμαεῖς τὰς πύλας, καὶ συνέλαβον αὐτὸν, καὶ πάντας τοὺς εἰσελθόντας μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ.
48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais shut the gates and seized him. They killed all those who came in with him with the sword.
49 Καὶ ἀπέστειλε Τρύφων δυνάμεις, καὶ ἵππον εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ τὸ πεδίον τὸ μέγα, τοῦ ἀπολέσαι πάντας τοὺς παρὰ Ἰωνάθαν.
49 Tryphon sent troops and cavalry into Galilee, and into the Great Plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men.
50 Καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν ὅτι συνελήφθη Ἰωνάθαν καὶ ἀπόλωλε, καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ παρεκάλεσαν ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ ἐπορεύοντο συνεστραμμένοι ἕτοιμοι εἰς πόλεμον.
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 Καὶ ἴδον οἱ διώκοντες ὅτι περὶ ψυχῆς αὐτοῖς ἐστι, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν.
51 Those who followed them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again.
52 Καὶ ἦλθον πάντες μετʼ εἰρήνης εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐπένθησαν τὸν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ τοὺς μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἐπένθησε τᾶς Ἰσραὴλ πένθος μέγα.
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 Καὶ ἐζήτησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἐκτρίψαι αὐτούς· εἶπαν γάρ, οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἄρχοντα καὶ βοηθοῦντα· νῦν οὖν πολεμήσωμεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐξάρωμεν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν.
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 against them, and take away their memory from among men.”