1 Maccabees 13 - UPDV Updated Bible Version

^13:1 Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army, to invade the land of Judah, and to destroy it.
^13:2 And seeing that the people were in dread, and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people.
^13:3 And he exhorted them, saying: You⁺ know what great battles I and my brothers, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen.
^13:4 By reason whereof all my brothers have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.
^13:5 And now far be it from me to spare my soul in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brothers.
^13:6 I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the nations are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice.
^13:7 And the spirit of the people was revived as soon as they heard these words.
^13:8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying: You are our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan your brother.
^13:9 Fight our battles, and we will do whatsoever you will say to us.
^13:10 So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.
^13:11 And he sent Jonathan the [son] of Absalom, and with him a new army into Joppa, and he cast out those who were in it, and himself remained there.
^13:12 And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him in custody.
^13:13 But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain.
^13:14 And when Tryphon understood that Simon had risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him,
^13:15 saying: We have detained your brother Jonathan for the silver that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he had the management of.
^13:16 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.
^13:17 Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him, nevertheless he ordered the silver, and the children to be sent: otherwise he should bring on himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have said:
^13:18 Because he did not send the silver, and the children, therefore he perished.
^13:19 So he sent the children, and the hundred talents: and he lied, and did not let Jonathan go.
^13:20 And after this Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy it: and they went about by the way that leads to Ador: and Simon and his army marched to every place wherever they went.
^13:21 And those who were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, that he should make haste to come through the desert, and send them victuals.
^13:22 And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, and he did not come into the country of Gilead.
^13:23 And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons there.
^13:24 And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country.
^13:25 And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, in the city of his fathers.
^13:26 And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they mourned for him many days.
^13:27 And Simon built over the tomb of his father and of his brothers, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone behind and before:
^13:28 And he set up seven pyramids one against another for his father and his mother, and his four brothers.
^13:29 And round about these he set great pillars: and on the pillars arms for a perpetual memory: and by the arms ships carved, which might be seen by all who sailed on the sea.
^13:30 This is the tomb that he made in Modin even to this day.
^13:31 But Tryphon when he was on a journey with the young King Antiochus, treacherously slew him.
^13:32 And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and brought great evils on the land.
^13:33 And Simon built up the strongholds of Judea, fortifying them with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars: and he stored up victuals in the fortresses.
^13:34 And Simon chose men and sent to King Demetrius, to the end that he should grant liberty to the land: for all that Tryphon did was to spoil.
^13:35 And King Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote a letter in this manner:
^13:36 King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews: Greetings.
^13:37 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.
^13:38 For all that we have decreed in your⁺ favor, will stand in force. The strongholds that you⁺ have built, will be your⁺ own.
^13:39 And as for any oversight or fault committed to this day, we forgive it, and the crown which you⁺ owed: and if any other thing were taxed in Jerusalem, now do not let it be taxed.
^13:40 And if any of you⁺ are fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
^13:41 In the year one hundred and seventy the yoke of the nations was taken off from Israel.
^13:42 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."

1 Maccabees, Chapter 13