Verse 1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.
Verse 2. And seeing that the people was in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people:
Verse 3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen:
Verse 4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.
Verse 5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.
Verse 6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.
Verse 7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words.
Verse 8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan thy brother.
Verse 9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.
Verse 10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
Verse 11. And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.
Verse 12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.
Verse 13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.
Verse 14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,
Verse 15. Saying: We have detained thy brother Jonathan for the money that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.
Verse 16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will release him.
Verse 17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the money, and the children to be sent: lest he should bring upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:
Verse 18. Because he sent not the money, and the children, therefore is he lost.
Verse 19. So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.
Verse 20. And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they went.
Verse 21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and send them victuals.
Verse 22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of Galaad.
Verse 23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.
Verse 24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.
Verse 25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.
Verse 26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.
Verse 27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:
Verse 28. And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brethren:
Verse 29. And round about these he set great pillars: and upon the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea.
Verse 30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin even unto this day.
Verse 31. But Tryphon when he was upon a journey with the young king Antiochus, treacherously slew him.
Verse 32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.
Verse 33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.
Verse 34. And Simon chose men and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an immunity to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
Verse 35. And king Demetrius in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:
Verse 36. King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
Verse 37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have released.
Verse 38. For all that we have decreed in your favour, shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.
Verse 39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed.
Verse 40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
Verse 41. In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.
Verse 42. And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and public records, The first year under Simon the high priest, the great captain and prince of the Jews.
Verse 43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, and took it.
Verse 44. And they that were within the engine leaped into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.
Verse 45. And they that were in the city went up with their wives and children upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
Verse 46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.
Verse 47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them: but yet he cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord.
Verse 48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.
Verse 49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through famine.
Verse 50. And they cried to Simon for peace, and he granted it to them: and he cast them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from uncleannesses.
Verse 51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel.
Verse 52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.
Verse 53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.
Verse 54. And Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man for war: and he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara.