1 Maccabees

1Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done. 2Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have ever from my youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes. 3But now I am old, and ye, by God's mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from…

1Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince of the Jews, and to all the people; 2The contents whereof were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high priest and prince of his nation, and to the people of the Jews, greeting: 3Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge it again, that I may restore it to the old estate, and to that end have gathered a multitude of foreign soldiers together, and prepared ships of war;…

1Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media to get him help to fight against Tryphone. 2But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him alive: 3Who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward. 4As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such…

1Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it, 2And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together, 3And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have seen. 4By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, and I am left alone. 5Now therefore be it far from…

1Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. 2He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose. 3So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time. 4Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of…

1In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there, 2Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight. 3Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him. 4For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us: 5Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his…

1And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to his own. 2Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law. 3Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it. 4And when he came…

1Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host: 2Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people. 3Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem: 4From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen. 5Now Judas had pitched…

1Now Judas had heard of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them; 2And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute; 3And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there; 4And…

1In the hundred and one and fiftieth year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from Rome, and came up with a few men unto a city of the sea coast, and reigned there. 2And as he entered into the palace of his ancestors, so it was, that his forces had taken Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them unto him. 3Wherefore, when he knew it, he said, Let me not see their faces. 4So his host slew them. Now when Demetrius was set upon the throne of his kingdom, 5There came unto him all the wicked and ungodly men of Israel,…