Page 1228 - bible

1222 First Book of Machabees

32 And he reigned in his place, and put on the and took it.
crown of Asia: and brought great evils upon the 44 And they that were within the engine leapt
land. into the city: and there was a great uproar in the
33 And Simon built up the strong holds of city.
Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and 45 And they that were in the city went up,
great walls, and gates and bars: and he stored with their wives and children, upon the wall,
up victuals in the fortresses. with their garments rent, and they cried with
34 And Simon chose men, and sent to king a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them
Demetrius, to the end that he should grant an peace.
immunity to the land; for all that Tryphon did, 46 And they said: Deal not with us according
was to spoil. to our evil deeds, but according to thy mercy.
35 And king Demetrius, in answer to this re- 47 And Simon being moved, did not destroy
quest, wrote a letter in this manner: them but yet he cast them out of the city, and
36 King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols,
and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing
the nation of the Jews, greeting: the Lord:
37 The golden crown, and the palm, which 48 And having cast out of it all uncleanness,
you sent, we have received: and we are ready to he placed in it men that should observe the law:
make a firm peace with you, and to write to the and he fortified it, and made it his habitation.
king’s chief officers to release you the things that 49 But they that were in the castle of
we have released. Jerusalem were hindered from going out and
38 For all that we have decreed in your favour coming into the country, and from buying and
shall stand in force. The strong holds that you selling: and they were straitened with hunger,
have built, shall be your own. and many of them perished through famine.
39 And as for any oversight or fault committed 50 And they cried to Simon for peace, and
unto this day, we forgive it: and the crown which he granted it to them: and he cast them out
you owed: and if any other thing were taxed in from thence and cleansed the castle from un-
Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed. cleannesses.
40 And if any of you be fit to be enrolled 51 And they entered into it the three and
among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there twentieth day of the second month, in the year
be peace between us. one hundred and seventy-one, with thanksgiv-
41 In the year one hundred and seventy, the ing, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and
yoke of the Gentiles was taken off from Israel. cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, and canti-
42 And the people of Israel began to write cles, because the great enemy was destroyed out
in the instruments, and public records, The first of Israel.
year under Simon, the high priest, the great cap- 52 And he ordained that these days should be
tain, and prince of the Jews. kept every year with gladness.
43 In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and 53 And he fortified the mountain of the tem-
camped round about it, and he made engines, ple that was near the castle, and he dwelt there
and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, himself, and they that were with him.