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1 And the king of
Egypt gathered together an army, like the sand that lieth
upon the sea shore, and many ships: and he sought to get the kingdom of
Alexander by deceit, and join it to his own kingdom.
2 And he went
out into Syria with peaceable words, and they opened to him the cities, and
met him: for king Alexander had ordered them to go forth to meet him, because
he was his father in law.
3 Now when
Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put garrisons
of soldiers in every city.
4 And when
he came near to Azotus, they shewed
him the temple of Dagon that was burnt with fire, and Azotus,
and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast
abroad, and the graves of them that were slain in the battle, which they had
made near the way.
5 And they
told the king that Jonathan had done these things, to make him odious: but
the king held his peace.
6 And
Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with glory,
and they saluted one another, and they lodged there.
7 And
Jonathan went with the king as far as the river, called Eleutherus:
and he returned into Jerusalem.
8 And king
Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by the sea
side, even to Seleucia, and he devised evil designs against Alexander.
9 And he
sent ambassadors to Demetrius, saying: Come, let us make a league between us,
and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in the kingdom of thy father.
10 For I
repent that I have given him my daughter: for he
hath sought to kill me.
11 And he
slandered him, because he coveted his kingdom.
12 And he
took away his daughter, and gave her to Demetrius, and alienated himself from
Alexander, and his enmities were made manifest.
13 And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two crowns upon
his head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia.
14 Now king
Alexander was in Cilicia at that time: because they that were in those places
had rebelled.
15 And when
Alexander heard of it, he came to give him battle, and king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met him with a
strong power, and put him to flight.
16 And
Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and king Ptolemee was exalted.
17 And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent
it to Ptolemee.
18 And king
Ptolemee died the third day after: and they that
were in the strong holds were destroyed by them that were within the camp.
19 And
Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty-seventh year.
20 In those
days Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea, to take the castle
that was in Jerusalem: and they made many engines of war against it.
21 Then
some wicked men that hated their own nation, went away to king Demetrius, and
told him that Jonathan was besieging the castle.
22 And when
he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith he came to Ptolemais,
and wrote to Jonathan, that he should not besiege the castle, but should come
to him in haste, and speak to him.
23 But when
Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege it still: and he chose some of the
ancients of Israel, and of the priests, and put himself in danger.
24 And he
took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many other presents, and went to the
king to Ptolemais, and he found favour
in his sight.
25 And certain
wicked men of his nation made complaints against him.
26 And the
king treated him as his predecessor had done before: and he exalted him in
the sight of all his friends.
27 And he
confirmed him in the high priesthood, and all the honours
he had before, and he made him the chief of his friends.
28 And
Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free from tribute,
and the three governments, and Samaria, and the confines thereof: and he
promised him three hundred talents.
29 And the
king consented: and he wrote letters to Jonathan of all these things to this
effect.
30 King
Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
31 We send
you here a copy of the letter, which we have written to Lasthenes
our parent concerning you, that you might know it.
32 King
Demetrius to Lasthenes his parent, greeting.
33 We have
determined to do good to the nation of the Jews who are our friends, and keep
the things that are just with us, for their good will which they bear towards
us.
34 We have
ratified therefore unto them all the borders of Judea, and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda, and Ramatha, which are added to Judea, out of Samaria, and all
their confines, to be set apart to all them that sacrifice in Jerusalem,
instead of the payments which the king received of them every year, and for
the fruits of the land, and of the trees.
35 And as
for other things that belonged to us of the tithes, and of the tributes, from
this time we discharge them of them: the saltpans also, and the crowns that
were presented to us.
36 We give
all to them, and nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth and for ever.
37 Now
therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be given to
Jonathan, and set upon the holy mountain, in a conspicuous place.
38 And king
Demetrius seeing that the land was quiet before him, and nothing resisted
him, sent away all his forces, every man to his own place, except the foreign
army, which he had drawn together from the islands of the nations: so all the
troops of his fathers hated him.
39 Now
there was one Tryphon who had been of Alexander's
party before: who seeing that all the army murmured against Demetrius, went
to Emalchuel the Arabian, who brought up Antiochus
the son of Alexander.
40 And he
pressed him much to deliver him to him, that he might be king in his father's
place: and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and how his soldiers
hated him. And he remained there many days.
41 And
Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that he would cast out them that
were in the castle in Jerusalem, and those that were in the strong holds:
because they fought against Israel.
42 And Demetrius
sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not only do this for thee, and for thy
people, but I will greatly honour thee, and thy
nation, when opportunity shall serve.
43 Now
therefore thou shalt do well if thou send me men to
help me: for all my army is gone from me.
44 And
Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and they came to the
king, and the king was very glad of their coming.
45 And they
that were of the city assembled themselves together, to the number of a
hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have killed the king.
46 And the
king fled into the palace, and they of the city kept the passages of the
city, and began to fight.
47 And the
king called the Jews to his assistance: and they came to him all at once, and
they all dispersed themselves through the city.
48 And they
slew in that day a hundred thousand men, and they set fire to the city, and
got many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
49 And they
that were of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would: and
they were discouraged in their minds, and cried to the king, making
supplication, and saying:
50 Grant us
peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us, and the city.
51 And they
threw down their arms, and made peace, and the Jews were glorified in the
sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in his realm, and were
renowned throughout the kingdom, and returned to Jerusalem with many spoils.
52 So king
Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom: and the land was quiet before
him.
53 And he
falsified all whatsoever he had said, and alienated himself from Jonathan,
and did not reward him according to the benefits he had received from him,
but gave him great trouble.
54 And
after this Tryphon returned, and with him Antiochus
the young boy, who was made king, and put on the diadem.
55 And
there assembled unto him all the hands which Demetrius had sent away, and
they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.
56 And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself master of
Antioch.
57 And
young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying: I confirm thee in the high
priesthood, and I appoint thee ruler over the four cities, and to be one of
the king's friends.
58 And he
sent him vessels of gold for his service, and he gave him leave to drink in
gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle:
59 And he
made his brother Simon governor from the borders of Tyre
even to the confines of Egypt.
60 Then
Jonathan went forth and passed through the cities beyond the river: and all
the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him to help him, and he came to Ascalon, and they met him honourably
out of the city.
61 And he
went from thence to Gaza: and they that were in Gaza shut him out: and he besieged
it, and burnt all the suburbs round about, and took the spoils.
62 And the
men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan, and he gave them the right hand:
and he took their sons for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem: and he went
through the country as far as Damascus.
63 And
Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come treacherously to
Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great army, purposing to remove him from
the affairs of the kingdom:
64 And he
went against them: but left his brother Simon in the country.
65 And
Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted it
many days, and shut them up.
66 And they
desired him to make peace, and he granted it them: and he cast them out from
thence, and took the city, and placed a garrison in it.
67 And
Jonathan, and his army encamped by the water of Genesar,
and before it was light they were ready in the plain of Asor.
68 And
behold the army of the strangers met him in the plain, and they laid an
ambush for him in the mountains: but he went out against them.
69 And they
that lay in ambush arose out of their places, and joined battle.
70 And all
that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none was left of them, but Mathathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, chief captain of the army.
71 And
Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
72 And
Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he put them to flight, and they
fought.
73 And they
of his part that fled saw this, and they turned again to him, and they all
with him pursued the enemies even to Cades to their own camp, and they came
even thither.
74 And
there fell of the aliens in that day three thousand men: and Jonathan
returned to Jerusalem.
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1- و جمع ملك مصر جيوشا كثيرة
كالرمل الذي على ساحل البحر و سفنا عديدة و حاول الاستيلاء على مملكة الاسكندر
بالمكر و الحاقها بمملكته.
2- فقدم سورية متظاهرا بالسلم
ففتح له اهل المدن و لاقوه اذ كان الاسكندر الملك قد امر بلقائه لانه صهره.
3- و كان بطلماوس عند دخوله
المدن يبقي في كل مدينة حرسا من الجند.
4- و لما وصل الى اشدود اروه
هيكل داجون المحرق و اشدود و ضواحيها المهدومة و الجثث المطروحة و الذين كان
يوناتان قد احرقهم في الحرب و كانوا قد جعلوا رجامهم على طريقه.
5- و حدثوا الملك بما فعل يوناتان يريدون
تجرمه فسكت الملك.
6- و لاقى يوناتان الملك في يافا
باجلال و سلم بعضهما على بعض و ناما هناك.
7- ثم شيع يوناتان الملك الى
النهر الذي يقال له الوتارس و رجع الى اورشليم.
8- فاستحوذ الملك بطلماوس على
مدن الساحل الى سلوكية الساحلية و كان مضمرا للاسكندر السوء.
9- ثم انفذ رسلا الى ديمتريوس الملك قائلا هلم
فنعقد عقدا بيني و بينك و اهب لك بنتي التي عند الاسكندر و تملك ملك ابيك.
10- فاني قد ندمت على عطائي
ابنتي له لانه رام قتلي.
11- و تجنى عليه طمعا في ملكه.
12- ثم استرد ابنته و اعطاها لديمتريوس و تغير
على الاسكندر و ظهرت عداوتهما.
13- ثم ان بطلماوس دخل انطاكية و وضع على راسه
تاجين تاج اسية و تاج مصر.
14- و كان الاسكندر الملك اذ ذاك
في كيليكية لان اهل تلك البلاد كانوا قد تمردوا.
15- فلما سمع الاسكندر قدم لمقاتلته فاخرج بطلماوس
جيشه و لاقاه بعسكر شديد فكسره.
16- فهرب الاسكندر الى ديار
العرب مستجيرا بهم و عظم امر بطلماوس الملك.
17- فقطع زبديئيل العربي راس
الاسكندر و بعث به الى بطلماوس.
18- و في اليوم الثالث مات
بطلماوس الملك فاهلك رجال الجند الحراس الذين في الحصون.
19- و ملك ديمتريوس في السنة المئة و السابعة
و الستين.
20- في تلك الايام جمع يوناتان رجال اليهودية
لفتح القلعة التي باورشليم و نصب عليها مجانيق كثيرة.
21- فانطلق قوم من مبغضي امتهم
من الرجال المنافقين الى الملك و اخبروه بان يوناتان يحاصر القلعة.
22- فلما سمع استشاط غضبا و سار
من ساعته قاصدا بطلمايس و كتب الى يوناتان ان يكف عن محاصرة القلعة و ان يبادر
الى ملاقاته في بطلمايس للمواجهة.
23- فلما بلغ ذلك يوناتان امر بان يستمروا على
الحصار و اختار بعضا من شيوخ اسرائيل و الكهنة و خاطر بنفسه.
24- و اخذ من الفضة و الذهب و
الحلل و سائر الهدايا شيئا كثيرا و انطلق الى الملك في بطلمايس فنال حظوة لديه.
25- و وشى به قوم من الامة من
اهل النفاق.
26- الا ان الملك عامله كما كان
اسلافه يعاملونه و عظمه لدى اصحابه جميعا.
27- و اقره في الكهنوت الاعظم و
في كل ما كان له من الاختصاصات و جعله من اول اصدقائه.
28- و سال يوناتان الملك ان يعفي
اليهودية و المدن الثلاث و ارض السامرة من كل جزية و وعده بثلاث مئة قنطار.
29- فارتضى الملك و كتب ليوناتان
كتبا في ذلك كله و هذه صورتها.
30- من ديمتريوس الملك الى
يوناتان اخيه و امة اليهود سلام.
31- نسخة الكتاب الذي كتبناه في حقكم الى
لسطانيس قريبنا كتبنا بها اليكم لتقفوا على مضمونها.
32- من ديمتريوس الملك الى
لسطانيس ابيه سلام.
33- لقد راينا ان نحسن الى امة
اليهود اوليائنا المحافظين على ما يحق لنا وفاء بما سبق من برهم لنا.
34- فجعلنا لهم تخوم اليهودية و
المدن الثلاث و هي افيرمة و لدة و الرامتائيم التي الحقت باليهودية من ارض
السامرة و جميع توابعها فتكون لجميع الذين يذبحون في اورشليم بدل الضرائب
الملكية التي كان الملك يستخرجها منهم قبلا في كل سنة من اتاء الارض و ثمر
الاشجار.
35- و سائر ما يحق لنا من العشور و الوضائع و
وهاد الملح و الاكاليل.
36- هذا كله قد انعمنا عليهم به تبرعا و من
الان لا يلغى شيء من هذا الانعام ما طال الزمان.
37- فالان اكتبوا نسخة من هذا
الرسم و لتسلم الى يوناتان و لتوضع في الجبل المقدس في موضع مشهود.
38- و راى ديمتريوس الملك ان
الارض قد اطمانت لديه لا ينازعه منازع فسرح جميع جيوشه كل واحد الى موضعه ما خلا
الجنود الغرباء الذين جاء بهم من جزائر الامم فمقته جيوش ابائه كلهم.
39- و كان تريفون من احزاب
الاسكندر قبلا فلما راى ان الجيوش جميعها تتذمر على ديمتريوس انطلق الى
ايملكوئيل العربي و كان يربي انطيوكس بن الاسكندر.
40- فالح عليه ان يسلمه اليه لكي يملك مكان
ابيه و اخبره بما فعل ديمتريوس و بما له في الجيوش من العداوة و مكث هناك اياما
كثيرة.
41- و ارسل يوناتان الى ديمتريوس
الملك ان يخرج الجنود الذين في القلعة من اورشليم و الذين في الحصون لانهم كانوا
يحاربون اسرائيل.
42- فارسل ديمتريوس الى يوناتان
قائلا سافعل ذلك لك و لامتك بل ساعظمك انت و امتك تعظيما متى وافقتني فرصة.
43- و الان فانك تحسن الصنيع اذا
ارسلت الى رجالا يكونون في نجدتي فاني قد خذلتني جيوشي كلها.
44- فوجه يوناتان ثلاث الاف رجل
اشداء الباس الى انطاكية فوافوا الملك ففرح الملك بقدومهم.
45- و اجتمع اهل المدينة في وسط المدينة و
كانوا مئة و عشرين الف رجل يحاولون قتل الملك.
46- فهرب الملك الى داره فاستولى
اهل المدينة على طرق المدينة و شرعوا في القتال.
47- فدعا الملك اليهود لنجدته
فاجتمعوا اليه كلهم ثم تفرقوا بجملتهم في المدينة فقتلوا فى المدينة في ذلك
اليوم مئة الف رجل.
48- و احرقوا المدينة و اخذوا
غنائم كثيرة في ذلك اليوم و خلصوا الملك.
49- فلما راى اهل المدينة ان
اليهود قد استولوا على المدينة يفعلون ما شاءوا انخلعت قلوبهم و صرخوا الى الملك
متضرعين و قالوا.
50- عاقدنا و ليكف اليهود عن
الايقاع بنا و بالمدينة.
51- فالقوا السلاح و عقدوا
المصالحة فعظم امر اليهود عند الملك و عند جميع اهل مملكته ثم رجعوا الى اورشليم
بغنائم كثيرة.
52- و جلس ديمتريوس الملك على عرش ملكه و هدات
الارض امامه.
53- فاخلف في جميع ما وعد و تغير
على يوناتان و كافاه بخلاف ما صنع اليه من المعروف و ضيق عليه جدا.
54- و بعد ذلك رجع تريفون و معه انطيوكس و هو غلام صغير فملك انطيوكس و
لبس التاج.
55- فاجتمع اليه جميع الجيوش
التي سرحها ديمتريوس و قاتلوا ديمتريوس ففر منهم منهزما.
56- فاستولى تريفون على الفيلة ثم فتح
انطاكية.
57- و كتب انطيوكس الصغير الى
يوناتان قائلا اني اقرك في الكهنوت الاعظم و اقيمك على المدن الاربع و اتخذك من
اصدقاء الملك.
58- و ارسل اليه انية من الذهب
لخدمته و اباح له ان يشرب في الذهب و يلبس الارجوان بعروة الذهب.
59- و اقام سمعان اخاه قائدا من
عقبة صور الى حدود مصر.
60- و خرج يوناتان و طاف في عبر
النهر و في المدن فاجتمعت لمظاهرته جميع جيوش سورية و قدم اشقلون فلاقاه اهل
المدينة باحتفال.
61- و انصرف من هناك الى غزة فاغلق اهل غزة
الابواب في وجهه فحاصرها و احرق ضواحيها بالنار و نهبها.
62- فسال اهل غزة يوناتان الامان
فعاقدهم و اخذ ابناء رؤسائهم رهائن و ارسلهم الى اورشليم ثم جال في البلاد الى
دمشق.
63- و سمع يوناتان ان قواد
ديمتريوس قد بلغوا الى قادش الجليل في جيش كثيف يريدون ان يعزلوه عن الولاية.
64- فزحف لملاقاتهم و خلف سمعان
اخاه في البلاد.
65- فحاصر سمعان بيت صور و حاربها
اياما كثيرة و احاط بها.
66- فسالوه المعاقدة فعاقدهم و
اخرجهم من هناك و فتح المدينة و اقام فيها حرسا.
67- و اما يوناتان و جيشه فنزلوا على ماء
جناسر و قبل الفجر زحفوا الى سهل حاصور.
68- فاذا بجيش الاجانب يلاقيهم
في السهل و قد اقاموا عليهم كمينا في الجبال فبينما هم يتقدمون تجاههم.
69- ثار الكمين من مواضعهم و
الحموا القتال.
70- ففر رجال يوناتان جميعا و لم
يبق منهم احد الا متتيا ابن ابشالوم و يهوذا بن حلفي قائدا الجيوش.
71- فمزق يوناتان ثيابه و حثا
التراب على راسه و صلى.
72- ثم عاد اليهم يقاتلهم فانهزموا و هربوا.
73- و لما راى ذلك الذين هربوا
من رجاله رجعوا و تعقبوا العدو معه الى قادش الى معسكرهم و نزلوا هناك.
74- فسقط من الاجانب في ذلك
اليوم ثلاثة الف رجل و رجع يوناتان الى اورشليم
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