Part 620 (1/2)

10:82. Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the legion: for the hors.e.m.e.n were wearied: and they were discomfited by him, and fled.

10:83. And they that were scattered about the plain fled into Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple, there to save themselves.

10:84. But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that were round about it, and took the spoils of them and the temple of Dagon: and all them that were fled into it, he burnt with fire.

10:85. So they that were slain by the sword, with them that were burnt, were almost eight thousand men.

10:86. And Jonathan, removed his army from thence and camped against Ascalon: and they went out of the city to meet him with great honour.

10:87. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his people, having many spoils.

10:88. And it came to pa.s.s, when Alexander, the king heard these words, that he honoured Jonathan yet more.

10:89. And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is, to be given to such as are of the royal blood. And he gave him Accaron, and all the borders thereof, in possession.

1 Machabees Chapter 11

Ptolemee invades the kingdom of Alexander: the latter is slain: and the former dies soon after. Demetrius honours Jonathan, and is rescued by the Jews from his own subjects in Antioch. Antiochus the younger favours Jonathan. His exploits in divers places.

11:1. And the king of Egypt gathered together an army, like the sand that lieth upon the sea sh.o.r.e, and many s.h.i.+ps: and he sought to get the kingdom of Alexander by deceit, and join it to his own kingdom.

11:2. And he went out into Syria with peaceable words and they opened to him the cities, and met him: for king Alexander had ordered them to go forth to meet him, because he was his father in law.

11:3. Now when Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put garrisons of soldiers in every city.

11:4. And when he came near to Azotns, they shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt with fire, and Azotus, and the suburbs thereof, that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad, and the graves of them that were slain in the battle, which they had made near the way.

11:5. And they told the king that Jonathan had done these things, to make him odious: but the king held his peace.

11:6. And Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with glory, and they saluted one another, and they lodged there.

11:7. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river, called Eleutherus: and he returned into Jerusalem.

11:8. And king Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by the sea side, even to Seleucia, and he devised evil designs against Alexander.

11:9. And he sent amba.s.sadors to Demetrius, saying: Come, let us make a league between us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in the kingdom of thy father.

11:10. For I repent that I have given him my daughter: for he hath sought to kill me.

11:11. And he slandered him, because he coveted his kingdom,

11:12. And he took away his daughter, and gave her to Demetrius, and alienated himself from Alexander, and his enmities were made manifest.

11:13. And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two crowns upon his head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia.

11:14. Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time: because they that were in those places had rebelled.

11:15. And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him battle: and king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met him with a strong power, and put him to flight.

11:16. And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and king Ptolemee was exalted.