Simon Leads the Jews
1 Simon learned that Trypho had assembled a large army and that he had plans to invade Judea and devastate it. 2 He realized that this news had brought panic and fear to the people, so he went to Jerusalem, called the people together, 3 and tried to encourage them by saying, “You know how much my father's family, my brothers, and I have done for the sake of the Law of Moses and the Temple. You also know about the wars we have fought and the troubles we have had. 4 All my brothers have been killed fighting for our Law, our Temple, and our nation, and I am the only one left. 5 But never let it be said that I tried to save my own life in a time of danger; I do not consider myself better than my brothers. 6 Not in the least! It is true that in their hatred all the Gentile nations have gathered together to destroy us, but I will fight to defend my nation, the Temple, and your loved ones.”
7 These words immediately revived the morale of the people, 8 and they answered with a loud shout, “You are now our leader in place of your brothers Judas and Jonathan. 9 Fight our wars, and we will do whatever you ask.” 10 So Simon gathered together all the soldiers and hurried to complete the walls of Jerusalem and to strengthen all its defenses. 11 He sent Jonathan son of Absalom to Joppa with a large army. This Jonathan drove out the people who were there and occupied the town.
12 Trypho left Ptolemais with a large army to invade Judea, taking Simon's brother Jonathan along with him as a prisoner. 13 Simon set up camp at Adida at the edge of the plain. 14 When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan and that he was ready to meet him in battle, he sent this message to him: 15 “I am holding your brother Jonathan under arrest because while he was in office he did not pay his debts to the royal treasury. 16 However, I will release him if you will pay me 6,000 pounds of silver and send two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that he will not revolt against us when he is released.”
17 Although Simon knew that they were deceiving him, he sent for the money and the two sons because he did not want to arouse the hostility of the Jews. 18 He was afraid that they might later say that Jonathan was put to death because Simon would not send the money and the boys. 19 So he did as Trypho had demanded, but Trypho broke his promise and did not release Jonathan.
20 Then Trypho made his move to invade the land and destroy it, circling around by the road to Adora. But Simon and his army moved along facing him wherever he went. 21 The enemy soldiers in the fort in Jerusalem kept sending messengers to Trypho urging him to come to them quickly by way of the desert and to send them supplies. 22 Trypho got all his cavalry ready for the invasion, but that night there was a heavy snowstorm, and he was not able to move up into the hills. So he withdrew and went into Gilead. 23 When he was near Baskama, he had Jonathan put to death and his body buried there. 24 Then Trypho turned and went back to his own country.
25 Simon had the body of his brother Jonathan brought to Modein, to be buried in the town of their ancestors. 26 Everyone in Israel was in deep sorrow at the loss of Jonathan, and they mourned for him a long time. 27 Over the tomb of his father and his brothers Simon built a high monument that could be seen from a great distance. It was covered front and back with polished stone. 28 He constructed seven pyramids side by side for his father, his mother, and his four brothers. 29 For the pyramids he created a setting of tall columns on which there were carvings. Some of these carvings were of suits of armor and some were of ships. It was a monument to their victories, which travelers from overseas could visit. 30 The tomb which he built in Modein is still there today.
31 Meanwhile, Trypho assassinated the young king, Antiochus the Sixth, 32 and took over his kingdom in Syria. He brought that country great troubles.
33 Simon rebuilt the fortresses of Judea with high towers, strong walls, and barred gates; then he placed stores of supplies there. 34 He sent ambassadors to King Demetrius the Second to ask for tax relief for the land, since Trypho was doing nothing but robbing them. 35 King Demetrius sent the following letter in reply:
36 “King Demetrius to the High Priest Simon, the friend of kings, to the Jewish nation, and to their leaders, greetings. 37 I have received the gold crown and the gold palm branch which you sent, and I am prepared to make a peace treaty with you and to instruct our tax officials to grant you exemptions. 38 Our previous agreements with you are confirmed, and the fortresses which you have built are to remain yours. 39 I grant you pardon for treaty violations committed up to the present date, and I release you from payment of the special tax still due and any other taxes that have been collected up to this time in Jerusalem. 40 All Jews who are qualified may enroll in the royal service. Let us have peace.”
41 So in the year 170 the yoke of the Gentile oppressors was removed from the Jews. 42 People began to date their documents and contracts with these words: “In the first year of Simon, the great High Priest, commander and leader of the Jews.”
43 At that time Simon laid siege to Gezer and surrounded it with his army. He built a movable siege platform, brought it up to the town wall, attacked one of the towers, and captured it. 44 The men who had been on the siege platform then moved rapidly into the town, and this created great confusion. 45 The men of the town, their wives, and their children tore their clothes in distress and climbed up on the top of the town wall. They pleaded loudly with Simon for a truce. 46 “Have mercy on us,” they begged. “Don't punish us as we deserve!”
47 So Simon came to terms with them and ended the fighting. He made the people leave the town; then he purified the houses in which there had been idols. When that was done, he and his men entered the town singing hymns and songs of praise. 48 He eliminated everything that would make the town ritually unclean and settled it with people who would obey every command contained in the Law of Moses. He strengthened the defenses of the town and built himself a palace there.
49 Those in the fort in Jerusalem were now prevented from leaving to buy or sell anything. They were suffering from severe hunger and many of them had died of starvation. 50 Finally they appealed to Simon for a truce. He agreed, removed them from the fort, and purified it. 51 On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year 171, there was a great celebration in the city because this terrible threat to the security of Israel had come to an end. Simon and his men entered the fort singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while carrying palm branches and playing harps, cymbals, and lyres. 52 Simon issued a decree that the day should be joyfully celebrated every year. He strengthened the defenses of the Temple hill on the side facing the fort, and he and his men made their headquarters there. 53 Simon's son John was now a grown man, so Simon made him commander of the whole army, and John set up headquarters at Gezer.
Simons kļūst par vadītāju; Jonatāna nāve
1 Simons uzzināja, ka Trifons ir sapulcinājis lielu karaspēku, lai dotos uz Jūdejas zemi un to izkautu. 2 Viņš, redzēdams, ka jūdu tauta baiļojas un trīc, nāca uz Jeruzālemi un sapulcināja tautu, 3 iedrošināja tos un sacīja tiem: “Jūs jau paši zināt, ko es, mani brāļi un mana tēva nams esam darījuši bauslības un svētnīcas labā, tāpat arī karus un ciešanas, ko esam pieredzējuši. 4 Tādēļ arī visi mani brāļi ir gājuši bojā par Israēlu, un es vienīgais esmu atlicis. 5 Un tagad ciešanu brīdī lai es saudzētu savu dzīvību? Tas nenotiks! Es taču neesmu labāks par saviem brāļiem. 6 Vēl vairāk, es atriebšu par savu tautu, par svētnīcu, par mūsu sievām un bērniem, jo visi cittautieši sapulcējušies, lai naidā izkautu mūsu tautu.” 7 Tiklīdz ļaudis dzirdēja šos vārdus, viņu sirdis iedegās, 8 un tie skaļā balsī sauca: “Esi tu mūsu vadonis Jūdas un Jonatāna, sava brāļa, vietā! 9 Karo šo mūsu karu, un mēs klausīsim visu, ko vien mums teiksi.” 10 Tad Simons sapulcināja visus vīrus, kas spējīgi karam, un steidza pabeigt Jeruzālemes sienas un pilsētu visapkārt nostiprināt. 11 Tad viņš nosūtīja Jonatānu, Abšāloma dēlu, ar lielu karaspēku uz Jafu, lai viņš izdzītu tos, kas tur nocietinājušies, un tur paliktu.
12 Bet Trifons ar lielu karaspēku devās no Ptolemaīdas uz Jūdeju un līdzi ņēma Jonatānu, ķēdēm saistītu. 13 Simons izvietoja savu karaspēku Adidā, pašā līdzenuma priekšā. 14 Kad Trifons saprata, ka Simons ir stājies Jonatāna, sava brāļa, vietā un ka tūdaļ sāksies kauja ar viņu, viņš sūtīja pie viņa vecajos, sacīdams: 15 “Mēs esam aizturējuši Jonatānu tā sudraba dēļ, ko viņš bija parādā ķēniņam par tiem amatiem, kas viņam tika dāvāti, 16 tādēļ tagad atsūti mums simt talantus sudraba un ķīlā divus viņa dēlus, lai viņš, brīvībā atlaists, neatkristu no mums, tad mēs viņu atlaidīsim.” 17 Simons gan saprata, ka viņš runā viltu, taču nosūtīja ļaudis pēc sudraba un bērniem, lai ļaužu dusmas nekristu uz viņu, 18 kad tie sacītu: “Tādēļ ka viņš nenosūtīja Trifonam sudrabu un bērnus, Jonatāns gāja bojā.” 19 Tādēļ viņš nosūtīja bērnus un simt talantus, taču tie viņu piekrāpa un neatlaida Jonatānu. 20 Pēc tam Trifons iegāja zemē, lai to izkautu, un pa apkārtceļu gāja uz Adaru, bet Simons ar savu karaspēku sekoja tiem pa visu zemi, kur vien viņi devās. 21 Tad tie, kas bija klints cietoksnī, sūtīja pie Trifona pārstāvjus ar ziņu, lai tas steigšus cauri tuksnesim dotos pie viņiem un atgādātu tiem pārtiku. 22 Trifons sagatavoja visus savus jātniekus, lai tie dotos ceļā, bet tajā naktī uzkrita dziļš sniegs, un viņi nevarēja doties sniega dēļ; tad viņš devās uz Gileādu. 23 Kad viņš pietuvojās Baskanai, viņš nogalināja Jonatānu un turpat to arī apglabāja. 24 Pēc tam Trifons griezās atpakaļ un devās uz savu zemi.
25 Tad Simons sūtīja savus ļaudis, lai tie paņemtu Jonatāna, sava brāļa, kaulus, un apglabāja tos Modeīnā, viņa tēvu pilsētā. 26 Un viss Israēls sēroja par viņu dziļās sērās un vaimanāja par viņu daudzas dienas. 27 Simons uzcēla pār savu tēvu un brāļu kapu augstu pieminekli, lai to labi varētu redzēt, tam priekšpuse un mugurpuse bija no gludi slīpētiem akmeņiem. 28 Viņš izvietoja arī septiņas piramīdas, pa vienai pretī sava tēva, savas mātes un savu četru brāļu kapiem. 29 Viņš izveidoja uz tām smalkus darinājumus, uzslēja visapkārt varenas kolonnas, pie kurām viņš piekāra bruņas un ieročus par mūžīgu piemiņu. Šī izgreznojuma priekšā viņš novietoja grieztus kuģus – tā, lai tos varētu redzēt visi, kas kuģo garām pa jūru. 30 Šis kapu piemineklis, ko viņš uzcēla Modeīnā, tur atrodas līdz pat šai dienai.
Simons panāk Jūdejas neatkarību
31 Bet Trifons viltīgi izrīkojās ar jauno ķēniņu Antiohu – viņš to nogalināja 32 un sāka valdīt viņa vietā kā ķēniņš. Viņš uzlika galvā Āzijas ķēniņa kroni un radīja visā zemē lielas mokas. 33 Pa to laiku Simons uzbūvēja Jūdejā cietokšņus ar augstiem torņiem un varenām sienām, ar stipriem vārtiem un aizšaujamiem un novietoja cietokšņos pārtikas krājumus. 34 Tad Simons nosūtīja īpaši izraudzītus vīrus pie ķēniņa Dēmētrija, lai lūgtu pēc atvieglojuma zemei, jo Trifons visos savos darbos rīkojās kā laupītājs. 35 Un ķēniņš Dēmētrijs viņam atbildēja ar šādu vēstuli:
36 “Ķēniņš Dēmētrijs sveicina augsto priesteri un ķēniņa draugu Simonu, vecajos un visu jūdu tautu. 37 Mēs esam saņēmuši to zelta kroni un palmas zaru, ko jūs sūtījāt, un esam gatavi ar jums noslēgt mieru un rakstīt vēstules nodevu vācējiem, lai atlaiž jums noliktos nodokļus. 38 Tāpat arī viss, ko esam jums par labu noteikuši, tas jums lai paliek, arī tie cietokšņi, ko esat uzbūvējuši, lai paliek jūsu ziņā. 39 Piedodam jums arī nejaušus nodarījumus un pārkāpumus līdz pat šai dienai, arī kroņa maksu, ko esat parādā, un, ja vēl kas cits bija apliekams ar nodevām Jeruzālemē, lai turpmāk vairs nav. 40 Un ja vēl pie jums ir kādi citi, kas būtu piemēroti pierakstīties pie tiem, kas ar mums, lai pierakstās, un starp mums būs miers.”
41 Tā simt septiņdesmitajā gadā tika noņemts tautu jūgs pār Israēlu. 42 Tādēļ israēlieši savos rakstos un līgumos rakstīja: “Simona, varenā, augstā priestera, jūdu karavadoņa un valdītāja pirmajā gadā…”
43 Tanīs dienās Simons novietoja savu karaspēku pie Gezeras un to aplenca, viņš uzcēla mūru graujamo ierīci, pievirzīja to pie pilsētas mūra, vienu torni sagrāva un to ieņēma. 44 Tad karavīri no mūru graujamās ierīces ielēca pilsētā, un tur izcēlās liels satraukums. 45 Pilsētas iedzīvotāji kopā ar savām sievām un bērniem uzkāpa augšā uz pilsētas mūriem, pārplēsa savas drēbes un, skaļā balsī saukdami, lūdza Simonu slēgt ar viņiem mieru: 46 “Nedari mums pēc mūsu nešķīstības, bet pēc savas apžēlošanās.” 47 Tad Simons iežēlojās par viņiem un tos neapkāva. Viņš tos izdzina ārā no pilsētas, šķīstīja mājas, kurās bija elki, un tad iegāja pilsētā ar dziesmām un Dieva slavēšanu. 48 Viņš izmeta ārā no tās visas nešķīstības, nometināja tajā vīrus, kas pildīja likumu, nocietināja to un iekārtoja tur sev mājvietu.
49 Bet tiem, kas bija klints cietoksnī, liedza brīvi pārvietoties un iepirkties, tādēļ tos mocīja liels bads un daudzi no viņiem gāja bojā aiz bada. 50 Tad tie sauca uz Simonu, lai viņš tiem sniegtu roku mieram, un viņš sniedza. Pēc tam viņš tos no turienes izdzina un šķīstīja klints cietoksni no visām negantībām. 51 Un simt septiņdesmit pirmā gada otrā mēneša divdesmit trešajā dienā jūdi devās augšup uz klints cietoksni, Dievu slavēdami, greznojušies ar palmu zariem, kokles, cimboles un cītaras spēlēdami, psalmodami un dziedādami, jo lielais Israēla ienaidnieks bija satriekts. 52 Simons noteica, ka šī diena ar gavilēm jāsvin katru gadu, viņš arī nocietināja tempļa kalnu gar klints cietoksni un dzīvoja tur pats un viņa ļaudis. 53 Un Simons redzēja, ka viņa dēls Jānis ir pieaudzis, un iecēla viņu par visa karaspēka vadītāju un apmetās uz dzīvi Gezerā.
