Chapter 12
Jonathan Renews Friendship with Rome and Sparta. 1 When Jonathan saw that the times were favorable, he selected men to send to Rome for the purpose of confirming and renewing the treaty of friendship with the Romans. 2 He also sent letters to the same effect to Sparta and elsewhere.
3 Upon reaching Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and said, “The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew their treaty of friendship and alliance with you.” 4 The Romans provided them with letters that requested the authorities in various locations to give the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah.
5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 [a]“Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans. 7 Quite some time ago a letter was sent to Onias[b] the high priest from Arius your king, stating that you are indeed our brothers, as the attached copy shows. 8 Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and accepted the letter, on which was set forth a clear declaration of alliance and friendship. 9 Although we have no need of such things, inasmuch as we have as a source of encouragement the sacred books[c] in our possession, 10 we have decided to request the renewal of our pact of family ties and friendship with you so that we may not become estranged from you, for a great many years have elapsed since you last contacted us.
11 “We, for our part, remember you constantly in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers at our festivals and on other appointed days, for it is right and proper to remember brothers.[d] 12 We rejoice in your renown. 13 We ourselves, however, have endured many trials and wars, and the kings in our vicinity have been attacking us. 14 We did not want to bother you and our other allies and friends during these wars, 15 inasmuch as we have the support of Heaven to help us. Therefore, we were delivered from our enemies, and they have been humbled. 16 And so we have chosen Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew our former pact of friendship and alliance. 17 We have also instructed them to visit you and greet you and deliver this letter about the renewal of our pact of family ties. 18 Please send us a reply to this letter.”
19 This is a copy of the letter that was sent to Onias: 20 “Arius, the king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest. 21 A document has been uncovered that states that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers, both being descended from Abraham. 22 And now that we have learned of this, we ask that you write to us with news of your welfare. 23 We, on our part, affirm that your livestock and your possessions belong to us and that ours belong to you, and we are instructing our envoys to give you a promise to this effect.”
24 Jonathan Thwarts the Syrian Offensive. When Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had returned to wage war against him with an even larger army than previously, 25 he set forth from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath,[e] thereby giving them no opportunity to invade his own territory. 26 He sent spies into their camp who returned and informed him that the enemy was preparing to attack the Jews that night. 27 Therefore, at sunset Jonathan commanded his troops to remain awake and fully armed throughout the night, prepared for battle, and he stationed outposts all around the camp. 28 When the enemy learned that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were terrified, and their courage failed them. After lighting fires in the camp, they then withdrew. 29 However, Jonathan and his men were not aware of their withdrawal until morning, for they saw the fires burning. 30 Although Jonathan pursued them, he was unable to overtake them, for they had crossed the River Eleutherus. 31 And so, Jonathan turned aside to attack the Arabs who are called Zabadeans,[f] and he thoroughly routed them and engaged in plunder. 32 Then he moved on to Damascus, marching through that entire region.
33 Simon also set out and advanced as far as Ashkelon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned toward Joppa and occupied it, 34 for he had heard that its inhabitants intended to hand over this stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius, and he stationed a garrison there to guard it.
35 Jonathan Erects Fortifications in Jerusalem and Judea. When Jonathan returned, he convened the elders of the people and secured their agreement to build strongholds in Judea, 36 to increase the height of the walls in Jerusalem, and to erect a high barrier between the citadel and the city so that the citadel would be isolated and its occupants would be unable to engage in commerce with the city. 37 The people worked together to rebuild the city. Part of the wall above the valley to the east had collapsed, and the quarter called Chaphenatha was also repaired. 38 Simon meanwhile rebuilt Adida in the Shephelah, and he strengthened its fortifications with gates and bars.
39 Jonathan Falls into the Hands of His Enemies. Meanwhile, Trypho set his sights on becoming king of Asia, assuming the crown, and launching an attack on King Antiochus. 40 However, he was afraid that Jonathan would not allow him to do this and might even resort to war to prevent him from doing so. Therefore, he set out and marched to Beth-shan, in the hope of seizing him and putting him to death. 41 Jonathan marched out to confront him with forty thousand picked warriors and arrived at Beth-shan.
42 When Trypho saw that Jonathan was confronting him with a large army, he was hesitant about launching an attack against him. 43 Instead he received him with honor, commended him to all his Friends, and gave him gifts. He also ordered his Friends and all his soldiers to obey him as they would himself. 44 Then he said to Jonathan, “Why have you put all your soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war? 45 Send them back home after first choosing a few of them to remain with you, and journey with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and then I will depart for home. That was my purpose in coming here.”
46 Jonathan believed that he was being truthful and did as he had suggested. He dismissed his forces, and they returned to the land of Judah. 47 However, he kept three thousand men with him, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee while one thousand accompanied him. 48 But as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of the city closed the gates and seized him, and they slew with the sword all those who had accompanied him.
49 Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain[g] to destroy all of Jonathan’s men. 50 When these learned that Jonathan had been captured and his forces had been slaughtered, they encouraged one another and marched in close formation, ready for battle. 51 Their pursuers, realizing that they were prepared to fight for their lives, turned back. 52 Thus they all returned home safely to the land of Judah. They grieved over Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear, and all Israel was plunged into mourning.
53 All the surrounding nations were determined to destroy them. “They have no leader or ally,” they said. “Now let us attack them and wipe out every memory of them from all peoples.”
Footnotes
- 1 Maccabees 12:6 The author transcribes the letter inserting a few teachings in it; indirectly, he reveals to us that the collection of the Scriptures (v. 9) is constituted.
- 1 Maccabees 12:7 The persons seem to be Onias I, high priest (323–290 B.C.), and Arius I, king of Sparta (309–265 B.C.), whose tasks coincided during the period from 309–300 B.C.
- 1 Maccabees 12:9 Sacred books: the law, the prophets, and other books mentioned in the prologue to Wisdom of Ben Sira (v. 1), after 132 B.C.
- 1 Maccabees 12:11 Despite the separatism practiced by the Jews, no law prohibited them from praying for other peoples, even Gentiles, for their rulers (see Jer 29:7; Ezr 6:10), and in particular for foreign sovereigns on whom Israel depended.
- 1 Maccabees 12:25 Region of Hamath: the Seleucid territory of Upper Syria northeast of Coelesyria and separated from it by the Eleutherus River. His own territory: Coelesyria, which was under Jonathan’s command (1 Mac 11:59ff).
- 1 Maccabees 12:31 Zabadeans: perhaps people northwest of Damascus.
- 1 Maccabees 12:49 The Great Plain: of Beth-shan (v. 41) where Jonathan’s disbanded men remained.