Page 1230 - bible

1224 First Book of Machabees

the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came tion, and laid out much of his money, and armed
to us to renew the former friendship with us. the valiant men of his nation, and gave them
23 And it pleased the people to receive the wages.
men honourably, and to put a copy of their words 33 And he fortified the cities of Judea and
in the public records, to be a memorial to the Bethsura that lieth in the borders of Judea,
people of the Spartans. And we have written a where the armour of the enemies was before: and
copy of them to Simon, the high priest. he placed there a garrison of Jews.
24 And after this Simon sent Numenius to 34 And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the
Rome, with a great shield of gold, of the weight sea: and Gazara, which bordereth upon Azotus,
of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed
them. And when the people of Rome had heard Jews here: and furnished them with all things
25 These words, they said: What thanks shall convenient for their reparation.
we give to Simon, and his sons: 35 And the people seeing the acts of Simon,
26 For he hath restored his brethren, and hath and to what glory he meant to bring his nation,
driven away in fight the enemies of Israel from made him their prince and high priest, because
them: and they decreed him liberty, and regis- he had done all these things, and for the jus-
tered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars tice and faith which he kept to his nation, and
in mount Sion. for that he sought by all means to advance his
27 And this is a copy of the writing. The people.
eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year 36 And in his days things prospered in his
one hundred and seventy-two, being the third hands, so that the heathens were taken away out
year under Simon, the high priest, at Asaramel, of their country, and they also that were in the
28 In a great assembly of the priests, and of city of David, in Jerusalem, in the castle, out of
the people, and the princes of the nation, and the which they issued forth, and profaned all places
ancients of the country, these things were noti- round about the sanctuary, and did much evil to
fied: Forasmuch as there have often been wars purity.
in our country, 37 And he placed therein Jews for the defence
29 And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the of the country, and of the city, and he raised up
children of Jarib, and his brethren, have put the walls of Jerusalem.
themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies 38 And king Demetrius confirmed him in the
of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy high priesthood.
places, and the law: and have raised their nation 39 According to these things he made him his
to great glory. friend, and glorified him with great glory.
30 And Jonathan gathered together his na- 40 For he had heard that the Romans had
tion, and was made their high priest, and he was called the Jews their friends, and confederates,
laid to his people. and brethren, and that they had received Si-
31 And their enemies desired to tread down mon’s ambassadors with honour:
and destroy their country, and to stretch forth 41 And that the Jews, and their priests, had
their hands against their holy places. consented that he should be their prince and
32 Then Simon resisted and fought for his na- high priest for ever, till there should arise a faith-