The Koine Bible

And Jonathan saw that the time worked together for him, and he chose men and sent to Rome to establish and renew the friendship with them

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

And they went to Rome and entered into the council chamber and said, Jonathan the high priest and the nation of the Jews has sent us to renew for themselves the friendship and the alliance according to the former time

And they gave letters to them concerning them in each place, so that they might escort them to the land of Judea with peace.

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

Jonathan the high priest and the council of elders of the nation and the priests and the rest of the people of the Jews to the Spartans their brothers, greeting.

Moreover, letters were sent before to Onias the high priest from Areus, who was reigning among you, that you are our brothers, as the copy below lies before us.

And Onias received the man who had been sent in a glorious manner, and he took the letters in which it was made clear concerning alliance and friendship

We therefore, being in no need of these things, having for encouragement the holy books that are in our hands

We have attempted to send the brotherhood and friendship toward you and to renew it, so as not to be alienated from you, for many times have passed since you sent to us.

So we, at every time unceasingly, both in the feasts and in the remaining fitting days, remember you in the sacrifices which we offer and in the prayers, as it is right and fitting to remember brothers.

But we rejoice at your glory.

But many afflictions and many wars have surrounded us, and the kings around us have warred against us

We were not willing, then, to trouble you and the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.

For we have the help from heaven helping us, and we were rescued from our enemies, and our enemies were humbled.

So then, we have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew the friendship and alliance with them, the former one

So we commanded them also to go to you and to greet you and to give to you the letters from us concerning the renewal and our brotherhood

And now you will do well, replying to us about these things.

And this is the copy of the letters which Onias sent

Arius king of the Spartans, to Onias the great priest, greetings.

It was found in writing concerning both the Spartans and the Jews that they are brothers and that they are from the race of Abraham

And now, since we have known these things, you will do well by writing to us about your peace.

And we also write back to you concerning your cattle, and your property is ours, and ours is yours; therefore we command that they report to you according to these things.

And Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned with a great force, greater than before, to fight against him.

And he departed from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Hamath, for he did not give them a respite to invade his land

And he sent spies into their camp, and they returned and reported to him that they were thus drawn up to fall upon them by night.

And when the sun set, Jonathan ordered those with him to keep watch and to be on the weapons, to prepare for battle throughout the whole night, and he set outposts around the camp.

And the adversaries heard that Jonathan and those with him had been prepared for war, and they feared and were terrified in their heart, and they kindled fires in their camp.

But Jonathan and those with him did not know until morning, for they were seeing the lights burning

And Jonathan pursued after them, and he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus River.

And Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called the Zabadaeans, and he struck them and took their spoils

And having set out, he came to Damascus and passed through in all the country.

And Simon went out and marched as far as Ascalon and the neighboring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppa and took it beforehand.

For he heard that they wanted to hand over the fortress to those from Demetrius, and he placed a garrison there so that they might guard it

And Jonathan returned and assembled the elders of the people and took counsel with them to build fortifications in Judea

and to raise up the walls of Jerusalem and to make a great height between the citadel and the city, in order to separate it from the city, so that it might be by itself, so that neither they might buy nor sell

And they were gathered to build the city, and it fell of the wall of the ravine from the east wind, and he repaired what is called Chaphenatha.

And Simon built Adida in the Shephelah and fortified it and set up gates and bars.

And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on the diadem and to stretch out a hand against King Antiochus

And he was afraid lest Jonathan might not let him, and lest he might fight against him, and he was seeking to seize him in order to destroy him; and setting out he came to Beth-shan.

And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand selected men for battle line, and he came to Bethshan

And Tryphon saw that he had come with a very great force, and he was afraid to lay hands on him.

And he received him gloriously and introduced him to all his friends and gave him gifts and ordered his friends and his forces to obey him as himself

And he said to Jonathan, Why have you wearied all this people, war not having come upon us?

And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will hand over to you it and the remaining strongholds and the remaining forces and all those over the affairs; and having returned, I will depart, for on account of this I am present.

And trusting him, he did as he said and dismissed the forces, and they went away into the land of Judea.

And he left with himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, and a thousand joined him.

And when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the Ptolemaeans shut the gates and seized him and killed with the sword all who had gone in with him

And Tryphon sent forces and cavalry into Galilee and the great plain to destroy all those who were with Jonathan.

And they perceived that he had been captured and had perished, and those with him, and they encouraged one another and were marching together, ready for battle.

And the pursuers saw that it was about their lives, and they turned back.

And they all came in peace into the land of Judea, and they mourned Jonathan and those with him, and they were greatly afraid, and all Israel mourned a great mourning.

And all the nations around them sought to wipe them out, for they said, They have no ruler and no helper; now therefore let us fight against them and remove from among men their memorial.