And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with them:

And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places, according to the same form.

And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance, as it was before.

And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.

And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

Jonathan, the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.

There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest, from Arius, who reigned then among you to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.

And Onias received the ambassador with honour and received the letters, wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.

We, though we needed none of these things having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,

Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.

We, therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet and becoming to remember brethren.

And we rejoice at your glory.

But we have had many troubles and wars on every side; and the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars.

For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.

We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew with them the former amity and alliance.

And we have commanded them to go also to you, and salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.

And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:

Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, greeting.

It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.

And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.

And we also have written back to you, That our cattle, and our possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We, therefore, have commanded that these things should be told you.

Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.

So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.

And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.

And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels round about the camp.

And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle: and they were struck with fear and dread in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.

But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.

And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.

And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.

And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.

Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of it,

(For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them that took part with Demetrius) and he put a garrison there to keep it.

And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people; and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,

And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell.

And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that was upon the brook, towards the east, was broken down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:

And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up gates and bars.

Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus:

Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.

And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.

Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him.

But received him with honour, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.

And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?

Now, therefore, send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming.

And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:

But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that came in with him they slew with the sword.

Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s company.

But they, when they understood that Jonathan, and all that were with him, were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.

Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.

Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda and they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great lamentation.

Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:

They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore, let us make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst men.

Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it.

And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people,

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:

By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel’s sake, and I am left alone.

And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren.

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.

And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words:

And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brother:

Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us.

So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.

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.

And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody.

But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.

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,

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.

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.

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:

Because he sent not the money and the children therefore is he lost.

So he sent the children and the hundred talents and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.

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.

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.

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.

And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.

And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.

And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.

And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.

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:

And he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren:

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.

This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin, even unto this day.

But Tryphon, when he was upon a journey with the young king, Antiochus, treacherously slew him.

And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the land.

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.

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.

And king Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:

King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

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.

For all that we have decreed in your favour shall stand in force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own.

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.

And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.

In the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel.

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.

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.

And they that were within the engine leapt into the city: and there was a great uproar in the city.

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.

And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness.

And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him.

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.