1 Macabeos · Revised Version (con apócrifos)
1 Macabeos 15 Revised Version (con apócrifos)
1 And Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all the nation;
1 Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all the nation.
2 and the contents thereof were after this manner: King Antiochus to Simon the chief priest and governor, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting:
2 Its contents follow: “King Antiochus to Simon the chief priest and governor, and to the nation of the Jews, greetings.
3 Forasmuch as certain pestilent fellows have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, but my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as it was before; and moreover I have raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared ships of war;
3 Whereas certain troublemakers have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, but my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as it was before; and moreover I have raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared warships;
4 moreover I am minded to land in the country, that I may punish them that have destroyed our country, and them that have made many cities in the kingdom desolate:
4 moreover I plan to land in the country, that I may punish those who have destroyed our country, and those who have made many cities in the kingdom desolate;
5 Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the exactions which the kings that were before me remitted unto thee, and whatsoever gifts besides they remitted unto thee:
5 now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions which the kings who were before me remitted to you, and whatever gifts besides they remitted to you,
6 and I give thee leave to coin money for thy country with thine own stamp,
6 and I permit you to coin money for your country with your own stamp,
7 but that Jerusalem and the sanctuary should be free: and all the arms that thou hast prepared, and the strongholds that thou hast built, which thou hast in thy possession, let them remain unto thee:
7 but that Jerusalem and the sanctuary should be free. All the weapons that you have prepared, and the strongholds that you have built, which you have in your possession, let them remain yours.
8 and everything owing to the king, and the things that shall be owing to the king from henceforth and for evermore, let them be remitted unto thee:
8 Every debt owed to the king, and the things that will be owed to the king from henceforth and for evermore, let them be remitted to you.
9 moreover, when we shall have established our kingdom, we will glorify thee and thy nation and the temple with great glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.
9 Moreover, when we have established our kingdom, we will glorify you and your nation and the temple with great glory, so that your glory will be made manifest in all the earth.
10 In the hundred and seventy and fourth year went Antiochus forth into the land of his fathers; and all the forces came together unto him, so that there were few men with Tryphon.
10 In the one hundred seventy-fourth year, Antiochus went into the land of his fathers; and all the forces came together to him, so that there were few men with Tryphon.
11 And king Antiochus pursued him, and he came, as he fled, unto Dor, which is by the sea:
11 King Antiochus pursued him, and he came, as he fled, to Dor, which is by the sea;
12 for he knew that troubles were come upon him all at once, and that his forces had forsaken him.
12 for he knew that troubles had come upon him all at once, and that his forces had deserted him.
13 And Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horse.
13 Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him one hundred twenty thousand men of war and eight thousand cavalry.
14 And he compassed the city round about, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea; and he vexed the city by land and sea, and suffered no man to go out or in.
14 He surrounded the city, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea. He harassed the city by land and sea, and permitted no one to go out or in.
15 And Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings and to the countries, wherein were written these things:
15 Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings and to the countries, in which were written these things:
16 Lucius, consul of the Romans, unto king Ptolemy, greeting:
16 “Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greetings.
17 The Jews’ ambassadors came unto us as our friends and confederates, to renew the old friendship and confederacy, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews:
17 The Jews’ ambassadors came to us as our friends and allies, to renew the old friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews.
18 moreover they brought a shield of gold of a thousand pound.
18 Moreover they brought a shield of gold weighing one thousand minas.
19 It pleased us therefore to write unto the kings and unto the countries, that they should not seek their hurt, nor fight against them, and their cities, and their country, nor be confederates with such as fight against them.
19 It pleased us therefore to write to the kings and to the countries, that they should not seek their harm or fight against them, their cities, and their country, or be allies with those who fight against them.
20 Moreover it seemed good to us to receive the shield of them.
20 Moreover, it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them.
21 If therefore any pestilent fellows have fled from their country unto you, deliver them unto Simon the high priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law.
21 If therefore any troublemakers have fled from their country to you, deliver them to Simon the high priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law.”
22 And the same things wrote he to Demetrius the king, and to Attalus, and to Arathes, and to Arsaces,
22 He wrote the same things to King Demetrius, to Attalus, to Arathes, to Arsaces,
23 and unto all the countries, and to Sampsames, and to the Spartans, and unto Delos, and unto Myndos, and unto Sicyon, and unto Caria, and unto Samos, and unto Pamphylia, and unto Lycia, and unto Halicarnassus, and unto Rhodes, and unto Phaselis, and unto Cos, and unto Side, and unto Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.
23 to all the countries, to Sampsames, to the Spartans, to Delos, to Myndos, to Sicyon, to Caria, to Samos, to Pamphylia, to Lycia, to Halicarnassus, to Rhodes, to Phaselis, to Cos, to Side, to Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene.
24 But the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.
24 They also wrote this copy to Simon the high priest.
25 But Antiochus the king encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war, and he shut up Tryphon from going in or out.
25 But King Antiochus encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war; and he shut up Tryphon from going in or out.
26 And Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to fight on his side; and silver, and gold, and instruments of war in abundance.
26 Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to fight on his side, with silver, gold, and instruments of war in abundance.
27 And he would not receive them, but set at nought all the covenants which he had made with him aforetime, and was estranged from him.
27 He would not receive them, but nullified all the covenants which he had made with him before, and was estranged from him.
28 And he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his Friends, to commune with him, saying, Ye hold possession of Joppa and Gazara, and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, cities of my kingdom.
28 He sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to confer with him, saying, “You hold possession of Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, cities of my kingdom.
29 The borders thereof ye have wasted, and done great hurt in the land, and got the dominion of many places in my kingdom.
29 You have devastated their territory, and done great harm in the land, and control many places in my kingdom.
30 Now therefore deliver up the cities which ye have taken, and the tributes of the places whereof ye have gotten dominion without the borders of Judaea:
30 Now therefore hand over the cities which you have taken, and the tributes of the places which you have taken control of outside of the borders of Judea;
31 or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that ye have done, and the tributes of the cities, other five hundred talents: or else we will come and subdue you.
31 or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that you have done, and the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. Otherwise we will come and subdue you.”
32 And Athenobius the king’s Friend came to Jerusalem; and he saw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great attendance, and he was amazed; and he reported to him the king’s words.
32 Athenobius, the king’s friend, came to Jerusalem. When he saw the glory of Simon, the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great attendance, he was amazed. He reported to him the king’s words.
33 And Simon answered, and said unto him, We have neither taken other men’s land, nor have we possession of that which appertaineth to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers; howbeit, it was had in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a certain time.
33 Simon answered, and said to him, “We have not taken other men’s land nor do we have possession of that which belongs to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers. However, it had been in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a while.
34 But we, having opportunity, hold fast the inheritance of our fathers.
34 But we, having opportunity, firmly hold the inheritance of our fathers.
35 But as touching Joppa and Gazara, which thou demandest, they did great harm among the people throughout our country, we will give a hundred talents for them. And he answered him not a word,
35 As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they did great harm among the people throughout our country. We will give one hundred talents for them.” Athenobius didn’t answer even one word,
36 but returned in a rage to the king, and reported unto him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all that he had seen: and the king was exceeding wroth.
36 but returned in a rage to the king, and reported to him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all that he had seen; and the king was exceedingly angry.
37 But Tryphon embarked on board a ship, and fled to Orthosia.
37 Meanwhile, Tryphon embarked on board a ship, and fled to Orthosia.
38 And the king appointed Cendebaeus chief captain of the sea coast, and gave him forces of foot and horse:
38 The king appointed Cendebaeus chief captain of the sea coast, and gave him troops of infantry and cavalry.
39 and he commanded him to encamp before Judaea, and he commanded him to build up Kidron, and to fortify the gates, and that he should fight against the people: but the king pursued Tryphon.
39 He commanded him to encamp against Judea, and he commanded him to build up Kidron, and to fortify the gates, and that he should fight against the people; but the king pursued Tryphon.
40 And Cendebaeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, and to invade Judaea, and to take the people captive, and to slay them.
40 So Cendebaeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people, and to invade Judea, and to take the people captive and kill them.
41 And he built Kidron, and set horsemen there, and forces of foot, to the end that issuing out they might make outroads upon the ways of Judaea, according as the king commanded him.
41 He built Kidron and stationed cavalry and infantry there, to the end that going out they might make raids on the highways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.