1 And what did Simon, when he heard that Tryphon had levied a strong force, for Juda’s invasion and overthrow? 2 Here was all the people in a great taking of fear; so he made his way to Jerusalem and there gathered them to meet him. 3 And thus, to put heart into them, he spoke: Need is none to tell you what battles we have fought, what dangers endured, I and my brethren and all my father’s kin, law and sanctuary to defend. 4 In that cause, and for the love of Israel, my brothers have died, one and all, till I only am left; 5 never be it said of me, in the hour of peril I held life dear, more precious than theirs! 6 Nay, come the whole world against us, to glut its malice with our ruin, race and sanctuary, wives and children of ours shall find me their champion yet. 7 At these words, the spirit of the whole people revived; 8 loud came their answer, Brother of Judas and Jonathan, thine to lead us now! 9 Thine to sustain our cause; and never word of thine shall go unheeded!
1 Et audivit Simon quod congregavit Tryphon exercitum copiosum ut veniret in terram Juda, et attereret eam. 2 Videns quia in tremore populus est, et in timore, ascendit Jerusalem, et congregavit populum: 3 et adhortans dixit: Vos scitis quanta ego, et fratres mei, et domus patris mei, fecimus pro legibus et pro sanctis, prælia, et angustias quales vidimus: 4 horum gratia perierunt fratres mei omnes propter Israël, et relictus sum ego solus. 5 Et nunc non mihi contingat parcere animæ meæ in omni tempore tribulationis: non enim melior sum fratribus meis. 6 Vindicabo itaque gentem meam, et sancta, natos quoque nostros, et uxores: quia congregatæ sunt universæ gentes conterere nos inimicitiæ gratia. 7 Et accensus est spiritus populi simul ut audivit sermones istos: 8 et responderunt voce magna, dicentes: Tu es dux noster loco Judæ, et Jonathæ fratris tui: 9 pugna prælium nostrum: et omnia, quæcumque dixeris nobis, faciemus.
10 Thereupon, he summoned all the fighting men together, and pressed on to have the walls of Jerusalem finished, till it was fortified all about; 11 and he sent Jonathan, son of Absalom, to Joppe, at the head of a force newly raised; the garrison was disbanded, and a new captain held it now. 12 Meanwhile, Tryphon had left Ptolemais, with a great army at his heels, marching on Juda; and with him went Jonathan, his prisoner. 13 He found Simon encamped at Addus, that looks out over the plain; 14 here was Jonathan’s brother Simon taking his place, and offering battle. Envoys were sent out to make his excuses: 15 Hold we the person of thy brother Jonathan, it is because he is in default to the royal treasury over his dealings with it. 16 Thou hast but to send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons, to be surety he will not play us false when we release him, and he is a free man. 17 Well Simon knew it was treacherously spoken; yet he gave orders, both money and hostages should be surrendered. A bitter grudge Israel’s people would bear him, if they had cause to say, 18 For want of money paid over and surety given, Jonathan must die! 19 Sent they were, the boys and the money both, but all was treachery; Jonathan never came back.
10 Et congregans omnes viros bellatores, acceleravit consummare universos muros Jerusalem, et munivit eam in gyro. 11 Et misit Jonathan filium Absalomi, et cum eo exercitum novum in Joppen, et ejectis his qui erant in ea, remansit illic ipse. 12 Et movit Tryphon a Ptolemaida cum exercitu multo, ut veniret in terram Juda, et Jonathas cum eo in custodia. 13 Simon autem applicuit in Addus contra faciem campi. 14 Et ut cognovit Tryphon quia surrexit Simon loco fratris sui Jonathæ, et quia commissurus esset cum eo prælium, misit ad eum legatos, 15 dicens: Pro argento, quod debebat frater tuus Jonathas in ratione regis propter negotia quæ habuit, detinuimus eum. 16 Et nunc mitte argenti talenta centum, et duos filios ejus obsides, ut non dimissus fugiat a nobis, et remittemus eum. 17 Et cognovit Simon quia cum dolo loqueretur secum: jussit tamen dari argentum et pueros, ne inimicitiam magnam sumeret ad populum Israël, dicentem: 18 Quia non misit ei argentum, et pueros, propterea periit. 19 Et misit pueros, et centum talenta: et mentitus est, et non dimisit Jonathan.
20 And now Tryphon invaded Juda, bent on its undoing; his troops must fetch a compass by the road that leads round to Ador, and, march they where they would, Simon and his army were at their heels. 21 Word came to Tryphon from the defenders of Jerusalem citadel, he should make his way across the desert without more ado, and bring them supplies; 22 and that same night he had all his cavalry in readiness for the march, but there was a great fall of snow, and come he might not … into the country of Galaad.[1] 23 When he reached Bascaman, then and there he put Jonathan and his sons to death; 24 and with that, he turned about, and went back to his own country.
20 Et post hæc venit Tryphon intra regionem, ut contereret eam: et gyraverunt per viam quæ ducit Ador: et Simon et castra ejus ambulabant in omnem locum quocumque ibant. 21 Qui autem in arce erant, miserunt ad Tryphonem legatos, ut festinaret venire per desertum, et mitteret illis alimonias. 22 Et paravit Tryphon omnem equitatum, ut veniret illa nocte: erat autem nix multa valde, et non venit in Galaaditim. 23 Et cum appropinquasset Bascaman, occidit Jonathan et filios ejus illic. 24 Et convertit Tryphon, et abiit in terram suam.
25 There lay the bones of Simon’s brother Jonathan, till he sent to fetch them, and gave them burial at Modin, the city of his fathers. 26 Loud lament all Israel made for him, and long they bemoaned him. 27 Over the graves of his father and his brethren Simon raised a towering monument, of dressed stone behind and before; 28 then, with father and mother and his four brethren in mind, he built seven pyramids, in rows; 29 and all about were great columns, carved with armour and ships; an abiding memorial, and a land mark to mariners at sea. 30 Such was the tomb he raised at Modin, and it may be seen to this day. 31 Meanwhile, as they were journeying together, Tryphon murdered the young king Antiochus by artifice, 32 and succeeded to his throne, wearing the crown of all Asia; great mischief it was he did to his country.
25 Et misit Simon, et accepit ossa Jonathæ fratris sui, et sepelivit ea in Modin civitate patrum ejus. 26 Et planxerunt eum omnis Israël planctu magno, et luxerunt eum dies multos. 27 Et ædificavit Simon super sepulchrum patris sui et fratrum suorum ædificium altum visu, lapide polito retro et ante. 28 Et statuit septem pyramidas, unam contra unam, patri et matri, et quatuor fratribus: 29 et his circumposuit columnas magnas: et super columnas arma, ad memoriam æternam: et juxta arma naves sculptas, quæ viderentur ab omnibus navigantibus mare: 30 hoc est sepulchrum, quod fecit in Modin usque in hunc diem. 31 Tryphon autem cum iter faceret cum Antiocho rege adolescente, dolo occidit eum: 32 et regnavit loco ejus, et imposuit sibi diadema Asiæ, et fecit plagam magnam in terra.
33 All the fortresses of Judaea Simon repaired, building them up with high tower and stout wall, with bolt and bar; and never a garrison but had provisions laid up in store. 34 Then he chose out envoys and sent them to king Demetrius, praying that the land might enjoy immunity after the tyrannous actions of Tryphon.[2] 35 When king Demetrius answered the request, he wrote in these terms following. 36 King Demetrius to the high priest Simon, the friend of kings, and to all the elders and people of the Jews, greeting. 37 Crown of gold and robe of scarlet you sent us were faithfully delivered. Great favour we mean to shew you, by sending word to the king’s officers to respect the remissions granted you. 38 The decrees we made concerning you are yet in force; and, for the strongholds you have built, they shall be yours. 39 Fault of yours in the past, witting or unwitting, is condoned; coronation tax you owed, and all other tribute that was due from Jerusalem, is due no longer. 40 Fit be they for such enrolment, Jews shall be enrolled in our armies, and ever between us and you let there be peace!
33 Et ædificavit Simon præsidia Judææ, muniens ea turribus excelsis, et muris magnis, et portis, et seris: et posuit alimenta in munitionibus. 34 Et elegit Simon viros, et misit ad Demetrium regem ut faceret remissionem regioni: quia actus omnes Tryphonis per direptionem fuerant gesti. 35 Et Demetrius rex ad verba ista respondit ei, et scripsit epistolam talem: 36 Rex Demetrius Simoni summo sacerdoti et amico regum, et senioribus, et genti Judæorum, salutem. 37 Coronam auream, et bahem, quam misistis, suscepimus: et parati sumus facere vobiscum pacem magnam, et scribere præpositis regis remittere vobis quæ indulsimus. 38 Quæcumque enim constituimus, vobis constant: munitiones, quas ædificastis, vobis sint: 39 remittimus quoque ignorantias et peccata usque in hodiernum diem, et coronam quam debebatis: et si quid aliud erat tributarium in Jerusalem, jam non sit tributarium. 40 Et si qui ex vobis apti sunt conscribi inter nostros, conscribantur, et sit inter nos pax.
41 Thus, in the hundred and seventieth year, Israel was free of the Gentile yoke at last; 42 and this style the people began to use, were it private bond or public instrument they indited, In the first year of Simon’s high priesthood, chief paramount and governor of the Jews.
41 Anno centesimo septuagesimo, ablatum est jugum gentium ab Israël. 42 Et cœpit populus Israël scribere in tabulis, et gestis publicis, anno primo sub Simone summo sacerdote, magno duce, et principe Judæorum.
43 Then it was that Simon marched on Gaza,[3] and beleaguered it with his army; built engines, and forced an entry into one of the towers. 44 Out into the streets they sallied, that manned the engine, and there was a fine commotion in the city; 45 here were the townsfolk, with their wives and children, mounting the walls with their garments rent about them, and crying aloud, Simon should give them quarter; 46 great were their fault, greater still his clemency! 47 At that, Simon relented; harry them to the death he would not, but he drove them out of the city, and cleansed all the houses where idols had stood; then, with singing of psalms and giving of thanks, he made his entry; 48 and now all defilement must be put away, and such citizens it must have as did what the law commanded. After that, he fortified it, and made his own dwelling there.
43 In diebus illis applicuit Simon ad Gazam, et circumdedit eam castris, et fecit machinas, et applicuit ad civitatem, et percussit turrem unam, et comprehendit eam. 44 Et eruperant qui erant intra machinam in civitatem, et factus est motus magnus in civitate. 45 Et ascenderunt qui erant in civitate cum uxoribus et filiis supra murum, scissis tunicis suis, et clamaverunt voce magna, postulantes a Simone dextras sibi dari, 46 et dixerunt: Non nobis reddas secundum malitias nostras, sed secundum misericordias tuas. 47 Et flexus Simon, non debellavit eos: ejecit tamen eos de civitate, et mundavit ædes in quibus fuerant simulacra, et tunc intravit in eam cum hymnis benedicens Dominum: 48 et ejecta ab ea omni immunditia, collocavit in ea viros qui legem facerent: et munivit eam, et fecit sibi habitationem.
49 And what of the Gentiles that were left in Jerusalem citadel? Enter Jewish territory or leave it they might not, buy or sell they might not, so that they were hard put to it for food, and many died of famine. 50 At last they cried out to Simon, he should give them quarter, and give them quarter he did, but drove them out, and cleansed the citadel of its pollution. 51 On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the hundred and seventy-first year, in came the Jewish folk singing praise and bearing palm-branches, with music of harp, and cymbals, and zither, and chanting of psalms; of such ill neighbours Israel was now rid. 52 Every year, Simon proclaimed, holiday should be kept at this time; 53 and he fortified that part of the temple mountain which was close by the citadel; here he dwelt, and his followers with him. 54 And now here was his son John grown into a brave warrior; him Simon put at the head of the whole army, with his quarters at Gazara.
49 Qui autem erant in arce Jerusalem, prohibebantur egredi et ingredi regionem, et emere ac vendere: et esurierunt valde, et multi ex eis fame perierunt, 50 et clamaverunt ad Simonem ut dextras acciperent: et dedit illis: et ejecit eos inde, et mundavit arcem a contaminationibus: 51 et intraverunt in eam tertia et vigesima die secundi mensis, anno centesimo septuagesimo primo, cum laude, et ramis palmarum, et cinyris, et cymbalis, et nablis, et hymnis, et canticis, quia contritus est inimicus magnus ex Israël. 52 Et constituit ut omnibus annis agerentur dies hi cum lætitia. 53 Et munivit montem templi, qui erat secus arcem, et habitavit ibi ipse, et qui cum eo erant. 54 Et vidit Simon Joannem filium suum, quod fortis prælii vir esset: et posuit eum ducem virtutum universarum: et habitavit in Gazaris.
[1] It seems clear from the context that some words have dropped out. The Greek text has, ‘and come he might not, because of the snow. So he moved camp and went into the country of Galaad’. But the passage may originally have indicated what reasons Tryphon had for abandoning his campaign in Judaea.
[2] ‘After the tyrannous actions of Tryphon’; literally (in the Greek text), ‘because all the actions of Tryphon were seizures’. The meaning is perhaps that Simon now recognized all the actions of Tryphon as usurpations of power; it is evident from what follows that he was not sure of his position; had the Jews, by their support of a pretender, forfeited the privileges granted in 11.33-37?
[3] Josephus is perhaps right in reading ‘Gazara’ (less than twenty miles from Jerusalem) instead of ‘Gaza’; cf. 14.7.
