1 Maccabees 14

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1Mac 14:1 
Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year king Demetrius 
gathered his forces together, and went into Media to get him 
help to fight against Tryphone. 
 
1Mac 14:2 
But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that 
Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his 
princes to take him alive: 
 
1Mac 14:3 
Who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him, and 
brought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward. 
 
1Mac 14:4 
As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of 
Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as 
that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well. 
 
1Mac 14:5 
And as he was honourable in all his acts, so in this, that he 
took Joppa for an haven, and made an entrance to the isles of 
the sea, 
 
1Mac 14:6 
And enlarged the bounds of his nation, and recovered the 
country, 
 
1Mac 14:7 
And gathered together a great number of captives, and had the 
dominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the 
which he took all uncleaness, neither was there any that 
resisted him. 
 
1Mac 14:8 
Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave 
her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit. 
 
1Mac 14:9 
The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of 
good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike 
apparel. 
 
1Mac 14:10 
He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all 
manner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowned 
unto the end of the world. 
 
1Mac 14:11 
He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great 
joy: 
 
1Mac 14:12 
For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there 
was none to fray them: 
 
1Mac 14:13 
Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: 
yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days. 
 
1Mac 14:14 
Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were 
brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the 
law and wicked person he took away. 
 
1Mac 14:15 
He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the 
temple. 
 
1Mac 14:16 
Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that 
Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry. 
 
1Mac 14:17 
But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made 
high priest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities 
therein: 
 
1Mac 14:18 
They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the 
friendship and league which they had made with Judas and 
Jonathan his brethren: 
 
1Mac 14:19 
Which writings were read before the congregation at 
Jerusalem. 
 
1Mac 14:20 
And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians 
sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon 
the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the 
people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting: 
 
1Mac 14:21 
The ambassadors that were sent unto our people certified us 
of your glory and honour: wherefore we were glad of their 
coming, 
 
1Mac 14:22 
And did register the things that they spake in the council of 
the people in this manner; Numenius son of Antiochus, and 
Antipater son of Jason, the Jews' ambassadors, came unto us to 
renew the friendship they had with us. 
 
1Mac 14:23 
And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, 
and to put the copy of their ambassage in publick records, to 
the end the people of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial 
thereof: furthermore we have written a copy thereof unto Simon 
the high priest. 
 
1Mac 14:24 
After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of 
gold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league with them. 
 
1Mac 14:25 
Whereof when the people heard, they said, What thanks shall 
we give to Simon and his sons? 
 
1Mac 14:26 
For he and his brethren and the house of his father have 
established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from 
them, and confirmed their liberty. 
 
1Mac 14:27 
So then they wrote it in tables of brass, which they set upon 
pillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy of the writing; The 
eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the hundred threescore and 
twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest, 
 
1Mac 14:28 
At Saramel in the great congregation of the priests, and 
people, and rulers of the nation, and elders of the country, 
were these things notified unto us. 
 
1Mac 14:29 
Forasmuch as oftentimes there have been wars in the country, 
wherein for the maintenance of their sanctuary, and the law, 
Simon the son of Mattathias, of the posterity of Jarib, together 
with his brethren, put themselves in jeopardy, and resisting the 
enemies of their nation did their nation great honour: 
 
1Mac 14:30 
(For after that Jonathan, having gathered his nation 
together, and been their high priest, was added to his people, 
 
1Mac 14:31 
Their enemies prepared to invade their country, that they 
might destroy it, and lay hands on the sanctuary: 
 
1Mac 14:32 
At which time Simon rose up, and fought for his nation, and 
spent much of his own substance, and armed the valiant men of 
his nation and gave them wages, 
 
1Mac 14:33 
And fortified the cities of Judea, together with Bethsura, 
that lieth upon the borders of Judea, where the armour of the 
enemies had been before; but he set a garrison of Jews there: 
 
1Mac 14:34 
Moreover he fortified Joppa, which lieth upon the sea, and 
Gazera, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt 
before: but he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all 
things convenient for the reparation thereof.) 
 
1Mac 14:35 
The people therefore sang the acts of Simon, and unto what 
glory he thought to bring his nation, made him their governor 
and chief priest, because he had done all these things, and for 
the justice and faith which he kept to his nation, and for that 
he sought by all means to exalt his people. 
 
1Mac 14:36 
For in his time things prospered in his hands, so that the 
heathen were taken out of their country, and they also that were 
in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a 
tower, out of which they issued, and polluted all about the 
sanctuary, and did much hurt in the holy place: 
 
1Mac 14:37 
But he placed Jews therein. and fortified it for the safety 
of the country and the city, and raised up the walls of 
Jerusalem. 
 
1Mac 14:38 
King Demetrius also confirmed him in the high priesthood 
according to those things, 
 
1Mac 14:39 
And made him one of his friends, and honoured him with great 
honour. 
 
1Mac 14:40 
For he had heard say, that the Romans had called the Jews 
their friends and confederates and brethren; and that they had 
entertained the ambassadors of Simon honourably; 
 
1Mac 14:41 
Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon 
should be their governor and high priest for ever, until there 
should arise a faithful prophet; 
 
1Mac 14:42 
Moreover that he should be their captain, and should take 
charge of the sanctuary, to set them over their works, and over 
the country, and over the armour, and over the fortresses, that, 
I say, he should take charge of the sanctuary; 
 
1Mac 14:43 
Beside this, that he should be obeyed of every man, and that 
all the writings in the country should be made in his name, and 
that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold: 
 
1Mac 14:44 
Also that it should be lawful for none of the people or 
priests to break any of these things, or to gainsay his words, 
or to gather an assembly in the country without him, or to be 
clothed in purple, or wear a buckle of gold; 
 
1Mac 14:45 
And whosoever should do otherwise, or break any of these 
things, he should be punished. 
 
1Mac 14:46 
Thus it liked all the people to deal with Simon, and to do as 
hath been said. 
 
1Mac 14:47 
Then Simon accepted hereof, and was well pleased to be high 
priest, and captain and governor of the Jews and priests, and to 
defend them all. 
 
1Mac 14:48 
So they commanded that this writing should be put in tables 
of brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of 
the sanctuary in a conspicuous place; 
 
1Mac 14:49 
Also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the 
treasury, to the end that Simon and his sons might have them. 
 

14:1 In the year one hundred and seventy-two, king Demetrius assembled has army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against Tryphon.

14:2 And Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take him alive, and bring him to him.

14:3 And he went and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody.

14:4 And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and he sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased them well all his days.

14:5 And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea.

14:6 And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master of the country.

14:7 And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away all uncleanness out of it and there was none that resisted him.

14:8 And every man tilled his land with peace: and the land of Juda yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit.

14:9 The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of the good things of the land, and the young men put on them glory, and the robes of war.

14:10 And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory was renowned even to the end of the earth.

14:11 He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy.

14:12 And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and there was none to make them afraid.

14:13 There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings were discomfited in those days.

14:14 And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man.

14:15 He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the holy places.

14:16 And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead: and they were very sorry.

14:17 But when they heard that Simon his brother was made high priest in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the cities therein:

14:18 They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and alliance which they had made with Judas, and with Jonathan his brethren.

14:19 And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent.

14:20 The princes and the cities of the Spartans to Simon the high priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews their brethren, greeting.

14:21 The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoice at their coming.

14:22 And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the people in this manner: Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with us.

14:23 And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to the people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to Simon the high priest.

14:24 And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of gold the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with them. And when the people of Rome had heard

14:25 These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and his sons?

14:26 For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.

14:27 And this is a copy of the writing: The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third year under Simon the high priest at Asaramel,

14:28 In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country,

14:29 And Simon the son of Mathathias of the children of Jarib, and his brethren have put themselves in danger, and have resisted the enemies of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: and have raised their nation to great glory.

14:30 And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their high priest, and he was laid to his people.

14:31 And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places.

14:32 Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them wages:

14:33 And he fortified the cities of Judea, and Bethsura that lieth in the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and he placed there a garrison of Jews.

14:34 And he fortified Joppe which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for their reparation.

14:35 And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he meant to bring his nation, made him their prince, and high priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice, and faith, which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to advance his people.

14:36 And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem in the castle, out of which they issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and did much evil to its purity.

14:37 And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and of the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem.

14:38 And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood.

14:39 According to these things he made him his friend, and glorified him with great glory.

14:40 For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews their friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had received Simon's ambassadors with honour:

14:41 And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented that he should be their prince, and high priest for ever, till there should arise a faithful prophet:

14:42 And that he should be chief over them, and that he should have the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint rulers over their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the strong holds.

14:43 And that he should have care of the holy places: and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name: and that he should be clothed with purple, and gold:

14:44 And that it should not be lawful for any of the people, or of the priests, to disannul any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to call together an assembly in the country without him: or to be clothed with purple, or to wear a buckle of gold:

14:45 And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void any of these things shall be punished.

14:46 And it pleased all the people to establish Simon, and to do according to these words.

14:47 And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to execute the office of the high priesthood, and to be captain, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be chief over all.

14:48 And they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the sanctuary, in a conspicuous place:

14:49 And that a copy thereof should be put in the treasury, that Simon and his sons may have it.