Alliances with Rome and Sparta
1 When Jonathan saw that things were working out to his advantage, he chose ambassadors and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew friendship with the Romans. 2 He also sent letters with a similar message to Sparta and other places. 3 The ambassadors went to Rome, where they were admitted to the Senate chamber, and reported that the High Priest Jonathan and the Jewish nation had sent them to renew the earlier ties of friendship and alliance with Rome. 4 The Romans provided them with letters to the authorities in each country through which they would pass, guaranteeing them safe conduct in their return to the land of Judea.
5 Here is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 “Jonathan the High Priest, the national council of leaders, the priests, and the rest of the people of Judea, to our brothers in Sparta, greetings. 7 At an earlier time, your King Arius sent a letter to our High Priest Onias, stating that our two nations are related, as the attached copy shows. 8 Onias received your ambassador with full honors and acknowledged receipt of your letter, which declared our alliance and friendship. 9 And now, although we are not in need of such alliances, since we find our source of strength in the holy books we possess, 10 we have written to renew our ties of brotherhood and friendship with you. We do not wish to become total strangers, and it has now been many years since your last communication. 11 Throughout the years we have taken every opportunity, on our festival days and other suitable days, to remember you when we have offered our sacrifices and made our prayers, as it is fitting and proper for brothers to do. 12 We also are pleased that fame has come to you. 13 But we have had one series of troubles after another and have had to fight many wars, because we have been under constant attack by surrounding nations. 14 During this time of war, we did not wish to trouble you or our other allies and friends, 15 since we do have the help of the Lord, who has defeated our enemies and rescued us from them. 16 So we have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus together with Antipater son of Jason and sent them as ambassadors to Rome to renew our ties of friendship and alliance with the Romans. 17 We have also ordered them to go to you with our greetings and deliver this letter about the renewal of our ties of brotherhood. 18 And now we request an answer to this letter.
19 “The following is a copy of the earlier letter:
20 “‘King Arius of Sparta to Onias the High Priest, greetings. 21 We have found a document about the Spartans and the Jews indicating that we are related and that both of our nations are descended from Abraham. 22 Now that we have discovered this, please send us a report about your situation. 23 In reply, we will send you a letter indicating that we are willing to share our possessions, including cattle and property, if you will do the same. We have given orders to our ambassadors to give you a full report about these matters.’”
Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon
24 Jonathan learned that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with an even larger army than before. 25 Jonathan did not want to give them an opportunity to penetrate his own territory, so he left Jerusalem and went to meet them in the region of Hamath. 26 Jonathan sent spies into the enemy camp, who reported to him that the enemy forces were making plans to attack the Jews by night. 27 At sunset Jonathan ordered all his soldiers to be on the alert and to have their weapons ready for a surprise attack any time during the night. He also stationed guards all around the camp. 28 When the enemy soldiers learned that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were panic-stricken and fled, leaving their campfires burning. 29 Jonathan and his men saw the campfires but did not realize what had happened until the next morning. 30 Jonathan then set out after them, but he could not overtake them because they had already crossed the Eleutherus River. 31 Then Jonathan turned aside and attacked a tribe of Arabs called Zabadeans. He defeated them and plundered their possessions. 32 Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, inspecting the entire area along the way.
33 Meanwhile, Simon had also set out on a campaign and had advanced as far as Ascalon and the neighboring fortresses. Then he turned aside to Joppa 34 and stationed a detachment of soldiers there because he had heard that the people were planning to hand over the fortress of Joppa to the soldiers of Demetrius.
35 When Jonathan returned, he called the council of the leaders together and made plans with them to build fortresses in Judea, 36 to increase the height of the walls of Jerusalem, and to build a high wall to separate the fort from the city. This would isolate the fort, making it impossible for the enemy to buy or sell anything. 37 The people worked together to strengthen the city's defenses because a part of the east wall along the Kidron Valley had collapsed and the Chaphenatha section was in need of repair. 38 Simon also rebuilt the town of Adida in the foothills. He fortified it and constructed barred gates for it.
Trypho Captures Jonathan
39 Then Trypho plotted a rebellion against King Antiochus so that he could make himself king of Syria. 40 He was afraid, however, that Jonathan would not agree to this and would go to war against him to prevent it. So Trypho got his army ready and went to Beth Shan in the hope of capturing Jonathan and putting him to death. 41 But Jonathan also came to Beth Shan with 40,000 well-trained soldiers. 42 When Trypho saw how large an army Jonathan had brought with him, he was afraid to take action. 43 So he received Jonathan with all honors, presented him to all his advisers, gave him gifts, and ordered his advisers and soldiers to obey Jonathan as they would him. 44 He asked Jonathan, “Why have you put these soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war? 45 Why don't you send them home? Choose a few men to stay with you, and then accompany me to Ptolemais. I will hand the city over to you, as well as the rest of the fortresses, the troops, and all the officials. Then I will turn around and leave. In fact, that's why I am here.” 46 Jonathan believed him, and following his advice, sent his soldiers back to Judea. 47 He took 3,000 men with him, but left 2,000 of them in Galilee, while only 1,000 accompanied him the rest of the way. 48 But when Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of the city locked the gates, arrested him, and killed everyone who had come with him.
49 Trypho sent infantry and cavalry units to Galilee and Jezreel Valley to kill the rest of Jonathan's soldiers. 50 The Jewish troops thought that Jonathan had been captured and killed, along with all those who had accompanied him, so they encouraged one another and marched out in battle formation. 51 When the approaching enemy forces saw that the Jews were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back. 52 Then the Jewish soldiers returned to Judea safely, but terribly afraid. The whole nation was in deep mourning, assuming that Jonathan and all his men had been killed. 53 All the surrounding nations now tried to destroy them. They thought that the Jews had no leaders or allies and that the time was ripe to annihilate them and put an end to their history.
Romiešu un spartiešu savienība
1 Jonatāns redzēja, ka brīdis viņam ir labvēlīgs, un aizsūtīja uz Romu īpaši izvēlētus vīrus, lai atjaunotu un izveidotu ar Romu draudzīgas attiecības; 2 ar tādu pašu nolūku viņš nosūtīja vēstules uz Spartu un citām vietām. 3 Kad šie vīri nonāca Romā, tie iegāja valsts padomes sapulcē un sacīja: “Augstais priesteris Jonatāns un Jūdejas tauta mūs ir sūtījuši pie jums, lai atjaunotu draudzības un kara savienības līgumu, kāds tas bija iepriekš.” 4 Tad romieši tiem iedeva vēstules dažādu zemju pārvaldniekiem, lai tos ar mieru aizvadītu uz Jūdejas zemi.
5 Bet šis ir tās vēstules noraksts, ko Jonatāns nosūtīja spartiešiem:
6 “Augstais priesteris Jonatāns, tautas vecajo padome, priesteri un visa pārējā Jūdejas tauta sūta sveicienus saviem brāļiem spartiešiem! 7 Jau senāk augstais priesteris Onija saņēma vēstuli no Ārija , kas tobrīd valdīja pār jums, ka jūs esat mūsu brāļi, kā to parāda tālāk pievienotais vēstules noraksts. 8 Un Onija pieņēma atsūtīto vēstnesi ar godu, kā pienākas, un saņēma vēstuli, kurā bija skaidri rakstīts par draudzību un kara savienību. 9 Lai gan mums pašlaik nav vajadzības pēc tā visa, jo mūsu mierinājums ir Svētie Raksti, kas ir mūsu rokās, 10 taču mēs nolēmām sūtīt jums vēstuli un atjaunot ar jums brālīgu sadraudzību un savienību, lai mēs nekļūtu svešinieki, jo kopš tā brīža, kad jūs mums sūtījāt savu vēstuli, ir pagājis krietns laiks. 11 Mēs allaž savos svētkos un citās noteiktajās dienās pastāvīgi jūs pieminam ar upurēšanām un lūgšanām, kā jau tas brāļiem pienākas un pieklājas; 12 un mēs priecājamies par jūsu godību. 13 Bet mūs no visām pusēm apstājušas daudzas bēdas un daudzi kari, un pret mums ir karojuši ķēniņi, kas mums visapkārt, 14 taču mēs negribējām ar šiem kariem apgrūtināt jūs un citus sabiedrotos, un draugus. 15 Un mums taču ir palīdzība no debesīm, kas mums palīdzēja un mūs izglāba no ienaidniekiem, un mūsu ienaidnieki tika pazemoti. 16 Tagad mēs esam izvēlējušies Nūmēniju, Antioha dēlu, un Antipatru, Jasona dēlu, un esam tos nosūtījuši pie romiešiem, lai tie atjaunotu iepriekšējo draudzību un kara savienību. 17 Mēs pavēlējām tiem doties arī pie jums, sveicināt jūs un nodot jums vēstuli par mūsu brālīgo attiecību atjaunošanu. 18 Un jūs tagad darīsiet labi, ja mums uz to atbildēsiet.”
19 Un šis ir tās vēstules noraksts, kas bija sūtīta Onijam:
20 “Spartiešu ķēniņš Ārijs sūta sveicienu augstajam priesterim Onijam! 21 Kādos rakstos ir atrodams, ka spartieši un jūdi ir brāļi, jo ir cēlušies no Ābrahāma dzimtas. 22 Kad nu tas ir kļuvis zināms, jūs darītu labi, ja uzrakstītu mums, kā jums klājas; 23 mēs jums savukārt rakstām, ka jūsu lopi un jūsu manta pieder mums, bet viss, kas mūsu, – jums. Un visu šo mēs esam pavēlējuši jums paziņot.”
Trifons sagūsta Jonatānu
24 Jonatāns uzzināja, ka Dēmētrija virsnieki dodas karot pret viņu ar vēl lielāku karaspēku nekā iepriekšējā reizē. 25 Tad viņš devās ārā no Jeruzālemes un sagaidīja tos Amatitas zemē, jo tā viņš domāja nepieļaut tiem ieiet viņa zemē. 26 Jonatāns sūtīja izlūkus uz viņu nometni, un tie atgriezās ar ziņu, ka pretinieks ir nolēmis tiem uzbrukt tajā pašā naktī. 27 Kad norietēja saule, Jonatāns pavēlēja saviem karavīriem būt nomodā pilnā bruņojumā un kaujas gatavībā, tāpat viņš arī norīkoja sardzi visapkārt nometnei. 28 Pretinieki uzzināja, ka Jonatāns un viņa vīri ir gatavībā, un nobijās; viņu sirds pagura, un viņi iededzināja gaismas savā nometnē un aizbēga. 29 Bet Jonatāns līdz pašam rītam to nezināja, jo viņš redzēja iedegtās gaismas. 30 Tad Jonatāns dzinās tiem pakaļ, bet nevarēja panākt, jo tie jau bija šķērsojuši Eleuteras upi. 31 Un Jonatāns pagriezās pret arābiem, ko sauca par zebedejiem, un tos sakāva, iegūdams laupījumu. 32 Tad viņš atkal sagatavojās, nāca uz Damasku un izgāja cauri visam šim apgabalam. 33 Bet Simons devās ārā un izgāja cauri visam apgabalam līdz Aškelonai un tai tuvējiem cietokšņiem, tad pagriezās uz Jafu un to negaidot pārsteidza, 34 jo viņš bija dzirdējis, ka tie grib nodot cietoksni Dēmētrija karaspēkam; Simons tajā izvietoja arī karaspēku, lai tas to sargātu. 35 Kad Jonatāns atgriezās, viņš sapulcināja tautas vecajos un kopā ar tiem nosprieda celt Jūdejā cietokšņus, 36 uzcelt augstāk Jeruzālemes mūrus un uzbūvēt ļoti augstu sienu, kas nošķir klints cietoksni no pilsētas, tā, lai tā būtu nošķirta no pilsētas un tur nevarētu notikt pirkšana un pārdošana. 37 Viņi sanāca kopā, lai celtu pilsētu, bet mūra daļa, kas bija ielejā, sabruka, tad tie atjaunoja šo daļu, ko sauca Hafenata. 38 Bet Simons uzcēla Adidu Sefēlā, to nostiprināja ar stipriem vārtiem un aizšaujamiem.
39 Tad Trifons gribēja valdīt Āzijā – viņš uzlika sev galvā kroni un izstiepa savu roku pret Antiohu. 40 Taču viņš uztraucās, ka Jonatāns to varētu nepieļaut un sākt pret viņu karu, tādēļ viņš meklēja viņu sagūstīt un nogalināt un devās uz Bēt-Šānu. 41 Tad Jonatāns izgāja viņam pretī ar četrdesmit tūkstošiem izlases vīru, izkārtotiem kaujas ierindā, un nonāca Bēt-Šānā. 42 Trifons redzēja, ka viņš atnācis ar lielu karaspēku, un savu roku pret viņu neizstiepa. 43 Viņš to uzņēma ar pienācīgu godu, ieveda to savu draugu pulkā, deva tam dāvanas un pavēlēja saviem draugiem un karaspēkam to klausīt. 44 Viņš sacīja Jonatānam: “Kādēļ gan lai nopūlas visa šī tauta, mums taču nav gaidāms karš. 45 Sūti viņus tagad mājās, bet atlasi sev nedaudz vīru, kas būs pie tevis, un dodies ar mani kopā uz Ptolemaīdu. Es tev to gribu nodot līdz ar pārējiem cietokšņiem, pārējo karaspēku un nodokļu ievācējiem, šī paša iemesla dēļ es arī esmu šurp ieradies.” 46 Jonatāns viņam noticēja un darīja tā, kā viņš sacīja, un atlaida karaspēku uz Jūdeju. 47 Pie sevis Jonatāns paturēja trīs tūkstošus vīru, no kuriem divus viņš atstāja Galilejā, bet tūkstotis gāja viņam līdzi. 48 Kad Jonatāns ienāca Ptolemaīdā, ptolemaīdieši aizslēdza vārtus un viņu sagūstīja; un visus viņa pavadītājus nogalināja ar zobenu. 49 Tad Trifons nosūtīja uz Galileju un uz lielo līdzenumu kājniekus un jātniekus, lai iznīcinātu visus, kas bija ar Jonatānu. 50 Kad viņi uzzināja, ka Jonatāns sagūstīts un tie, kas bija ar viņu, ir nogalināti, viņi uzmundrināja cits citu un iznāca pretiniekam pretī saliedētā ierindā un gatavi cīņai. 51 Bet vajātāji ieraudzīja, ka te būs cīņa uz dzīvību un nāvi, un griezās atpakaļ. 52 Tad tie visi mierā atgriezās Jūdejā un apraudāja Jonatānu un viņa vīrus, un ļoti bijās; visā Israēlā bija gaužas vaimanas. 53 Un visas apkārtējās tautas centās viņus iznīcināt, jo tie sacīja: “Viņiem nav vadoņa, kas tiem varētu palīdzēt, tādēļ tagad ar viņiem cīnīsimies un izdeldēsim viņu piemiņu no ļaužu atmiņas.”
