15:1 Et misit rex Antiochus filius Demetrii epistolas ab insulis maris Simoni sacerdoti, et principi gentis Judaeorum, et universae genti :
*H And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent letters from the isles of the sea to Simon, the priest, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people:
Ver. 1. Demetrius. Soter, and brother of Nicator, (C.) now a captive. W. — When the latter went beyond the Euphrates, he wandered for fear of Tryphon, till he found rest at Rhodes, where he heard of his brother's misfortune, and was invited by his wife to marry her. He therefore took the title of king, when he wrote to Simon from the isle of Rhodes. Soon after he landed (C.) at Seleucia, and married Cleopatra, who was indignant that her husband had taken to wife the daughter of Mithridates. Just. xxxvi. — Tryphon's adherents flocked to him: exolescente favore recentis imperii. Trog. xxxix. Eus. — Demetrius was styled Sidetes, either because he came from Side, in Pamphylia, or because he was fond of "hunting." Yet his medals have, "Euergetes." Vaillant, Usher, A. 3864. C. — Prince. Gr. "Ethnarch." H. — Josephus often uses this title for an independent prince, beneath the dignity of a king. C.
A.M. 3864, A.C. 140.
15:2 et erant continentes hunc modum : Rex Antiochus Simoni sacerdoti magno, et genti Judaeorum salutem.
*H And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon, the high priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
Ver. 2. And to. Gr. properly adds, "and Ethnarch, and to," &c.
15:3 Quoniam quidem pestilentes obtinuerunt regnum patrum nostrorum, volo autem vendicare regnum, et restituere illud sicut erat antea : et electam feci multitudinem exercitus, et feci naves bellicas.
*H Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore it to its former estate; and I have chosen a great army, and have built ships of war.
Ver. 3. Pestilent; disturbers of the peace, (H.) like Alexander, Antiochus, and Tryphon.
15:4 Volo autem procedere per regionem ut ulciscar in eos, qui corruperunt regionem nostram, et qui desolaverunt civitates multas in regno meo.
And I design to go through the country, that I may take revenge of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities desolate in my realm.
15:5 Nunc ergo statuo tibi omnes oblationes, quas remiserunt tibi ante me omnes reges, et quaecumque alia dona remiserunt tibi :
*H Now, therefore, I confirm unto thee all the oblations which all the kings before me remitted to thee, and what other gifts soever they remitted to thee:
Ver. 5. Oblations, such as were presented to the Lord, or remittances. He is very liberal of what he could not get back.
15:6 et permitto tibi facere percussuram proprii numismatis in regione tua :
*H And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy country:
Ver. 6. Money. He supposed that Simon would have his own image on it. But we find no human figure on the coins which he sent out during the first four years, but only vessels, trees, inscriptions, &c. Afterwards he seems to had desisted, either (as some suppose) because it was not conformable to the law, or because he found it brought no profit to the state.
15:7 Jerusalem autem sanctam esse, et liberam : et omnia arma, quae fabricata sunt, et praesidia, quae construxisti, quae tenes, maneant tibi.
And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the armour that hath been made, and the fortresses which thou hast built, and which thou keepest in thy hands, let them remain to thee.
15:8 Et omne debitum regis, et quae futura sunt regi, ex hoc et in totum tempus remittuntur tibi.
And all that is due to the king, and what should be the king's hereafter, from this present and for ever, is forgiven thee.
15:9 Cum autem obtinuerimus regnum nostrum, glorificabimus te, et gentem tuam, et templum, gloria magna, ita ut manifestetur gloria vestra in universa terra.
And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will glorify thee, and thy nation, and the temple, with great glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.
15:10 Anno centesimo septuagesimo quarto exiit Antiochus in terram patrum suorum, et convenerunt ad eum omnes exercitus, ita ut pauci relicti essent cum Tryphone.
In the year one hundred and seventy-four, Antiochus entered into the land of his fathers, and all the forces assembled to him, so that few were left with Tryphon.
A.M. 3865, A.C. 139.
15:11 Et insecutus est eum Antiochus rex, et venit Doram fugiens per maritimam :
*H And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled along by the sea coast and came to Dora.
Ver. 11. Dora, to the south of Carmel. Tryphon had first tried the fortune of a battle. C.
15:12 sciebat enim quod congregata sunt mala in eum, et reliquit eum exercitus :
For he perceived that evils were gathered together upon him, and his troops had forsaken him.
15:13 et applicuit Antiochus super Doram cum centum viginti millibus virorum belligeratorum, et octo millibus equitum :
And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen:
15:14 et circuivit civitatem, et naves a mari accesserunt : et vexabant civitatem a terra et mari, et neminem sinebant ingredi vel egredi.
And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come in, or to go out.
15:15 Venit autem Numenius, et qui cum eo fuerant, ab urbe Roma, habentes epistolas regibus et regionibus scriptas, in quibus continebantur haec :
*H And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the contents whereof were these:
Ver. 15. Numenius. He had been sent to Rome almost two years before, and now brought letters not only to the Jews, but to various kings and nations in their behalf. W.
15:16 Lucius consul Romanorum, Ptolemaeo regi salutem.
*H Lucius, the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting.
Ver. 16. Lucius, Calvus, or Philus, (Drus. Grot.) or Piso, (Usher. Sal. M.) whose colleague, Lenas, went against Numantia. C. — Ptolemee, surnamed Physcon, brother and successor of Philometor, (Ch.) in Egypt. H.
15:17 Legati Judaeorum venerunt ad nos amici nostri, renovantes pristinam amicitiam et societatem, missi a Simone principe sacerdotum et populo Judaeorum.
The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon, the high priest, and the people of the Jews.
15:18 Attulerunt autem et clypeum aureum mnarum mille.
And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds.
15:19 Placuit itaque nobis scribere regibus et regionibus, ut non inferant illis mala, neque impugnent eos, et civitates eorum, et regiones eorum : et ut non ferant auxilium pugnantibus adversus eos.
It hath seemed good therefore to us, to write to the kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them that fight against them.
15:20 Visum autem est nobis accipere ab eis clypeum.
And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield of them.
15:21 Si qui ergo pestilentes refugerunt de regione ipsorum ad vos, tradite eos Simoni principi sacerdotum, ut vindicet in eos secundum legem suam.
If, therefore, any pestilent men are fled out of their country to you, deliver them to Simon, the high priest, that he may punish them according to their law.
15:22 Haec eadem scripta sunt Demetrio regi, et Attalo, et Ariarathi, et Arsaci,
*H These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,
Ver. 22. Attalus, &c. Attalus was king of Pergamus, Ariarethes was king of Cappadocia, and Arsaces was king of the Parthians. Ch. — Demetrius was prisoner of the latter.
15:23 et in omnes regiones : et Lampsaco, et Spartiatis, et in Delum, et in Myndum, et in Sicyonem, et in Cariam, et in Samum, et in Pamphyliam, et in Lyciam, et in Alicarnassum, et in Coo, et in Siden, et in Aradon, et in Rhodum, et in Phaselidem, et in Gortynam, et Gnidum, et Cyprum, et Cyrenen.
*H And to all the countries: and to Lampsacus and to the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samus, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.
Ver. 23. Lampsacus, in Mysia, a free city. — Delus, an island of great trade after the fall of Carthage. — Myndus, a port in Caria. — Sicyon, another in Achaia. — Samus, an independent and powerful island near Asia Minor. — Pamphylia, in Cilicia, beyond Taurus. — Lycia had been freed from the Rhodians, by the Romans. — Alicarnassus, an ancient town of Caria, opposite to the isle of Coo. — Side, in Pamphylia. v. 1. Grotius conjectures we should read, "Sidon." — Aradus, near the coasts of Syria. — Rhodes, famous for its Colossus. — Phaselis, a maritime town near Lycia. — Gortyna, a city of Crete, which was then an independent island. — Gnidus, an island near Rhodes. — Cyrene, a province of Egypt. It must then have been partly free, and in alliance with Rome.
15:24 Exemplum autem eorum scripserunt Simoni principi sacerdotum, et populo Judaeorum.
*H And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon, the high priest, and to the people of the Jews.
Ver. 24. Simon, that he might know what they had done for him, and to whom he might apply for aid.
15:25 Antiochus autem rex applicuit castra in Doram secundo, admovens ei semper manus, et machinas faciens : et conclusit Tryphonem, ne procederet :
*H But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second time, assaulting it continually, and making engines: and he shut up Tryphon, that he could not go out.
Ver. 25. Second. He had interrupted the siege, or made a fresh wall or attack.
15:26 et misit ad eum Simon duo millia virorum electorum in auxilium, et argentum, et aurum, et vasa copiosa :
And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid him, silver also, and gold, and abundance of furniture.
15:27 et noluit ea accipere, sed rupit omnia, quae pactus est cum eo antea, et alienavit se ab eo.
*H And he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant that he had made with him before, and alienated himself from him.
Ver. 27. Not. Josephus seems to assert the contrary; observing that the king applied for aid, which was readily granted. Yet he soon forgot the favour, and sent Cendebeus against the Jews. He passes over the embassy of Athenobius. v. 28.
15:28 Et misit ad eum Athenobium unum de amicis suis, ut tractaret cum ipso, dicens : Vos tenetis Joppen, et Gazaram, et arcem, quae est in Jerusalem, civitates regni mei :
*H And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to treat with him, saying: You hold Joppe and Gazara, and the castle that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom:
Ver. 28. Gazara. The edit. of Basle properly read, "Gadara."
15:29 fines earum desolastis, et fecistis plagam magnam in terra, et dominati estis per loca multa in regno meo.
Their borders you have wasted, and you have made great havoc in the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom.
15:30 Nunc ergo tradite civitates quas occupastis, et tributa locorum in quibus dominati estis extra fines Judaeae :
*H Now, therefore, deliver up the cities that you have taken, and the tributes of the places whereof you have gotten the dominion without the borders of Judea.
Ver. 30. Taken, such as Joppe, the three governments, &c. C.
15:31 sin autem, date pro illis quingenta talenta argenti, et exterminii, quod exterminastis, et tributorum civitatum alia talenta quingenta : sin autem, veniemus, et expugnabimus vos.
But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the havoc that you have made, and the tributes of the cities, other five hundred talents: or else we will come and fight against you.
15:32 Et venit Athenobius amicus regis in Jerusalem, et vidit gloriam Simonis, et claritatem in auro, et argento, et apparatum copiosum : et obstupuit, et retulit ei verba regis.
So Athenobius, the king's friend came to Jerusalem, and saw the glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold, and silver, and his great equipage, and he was astonished, and told him the king's words.
15:33 Et respondit ei Simon, et dixit ei : Neque alienam terram sumpsimus, neque aliena detinemus : sed haereditatem patrum nostrorum, quae injuste ab inimicis nostris aliquo tempore possessa est.
And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have neither taken other men's land, neither do we hold that which is other men's, but the inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.
15:34 Nos vero tempus habentes, vindicamus haereditatem patrum nostrorum.
But we having opportunity, claim the inheritance of our fathers.
15:35 Nam de Joppe et Gazara quae expostulas, ipsi faciebant in populo plagam magnam, et in regione nostra : horum damus talenta centum. Et non respondit ei Athenobius verbum.
*H And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and Gazara, they did great harm to the people, and to our country: yet for these we will give a hundred talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word.
Ver. 35. Talents. Simon subdued these two towns, because they attacked his country; but as they did not otherwise belong to him, he paid (W.) or offered to pay something for them. H. — Those of Joppe drowned two hundred Jews. 2 B. xii. What Gazara had done we know not. W.
15:36 Reversus autem cum ira ad regem, renuntiavit ei verba ista, et gloriam Simonis, et universa quae vidit, et iratus est rex ira magna.
But returning in a rage to the king, made report to him of these words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen, and the king was exceeding angry.
15:37 Tryphon autem fugit navi in Orthosiada.
*H And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias.
Ver. 37. Orthosias, in Phœnicia, opposite to Aradus. Hence he fled to Apamea, (C.) strewing silver in the way to stop his pursuers. Front. ii. 13. — The city was however besieged, and he slew himself, (Strabo xiv.) or was slain after a reign of five years. Jos. Vaillant.
15:38 Et constituit rex Cendebaeum ducem maritimum, et exercitum peditum et equitum dedit illi.
*H And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen.
Ver. 38. Coast. This government was granted to Simon by young Antiochus. C. xi. 59.
15:39 Et mandavit illi movere castra contra faciem Judaeae : et mandavit ei aedificare Gedorem, et obstruere portas civitatis, et debellare populum. Rex autem persequebatur Typhonem.
*H And he commanded him to march with his army towards Judea: and he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to fortify the gates of the city, and to war against the people. But the king himself pursued after Tryphon.
Ver. 39. Gedor, near Jamnia. Gr. "Cedron," (C.) as also v. 40. formerly (H.) in the Vulg. A city was here repaired on the river Cedron. W. — Syr. "Hebron." — Fortify. Lit. "to block up." H. — But this is the import of the Greek. C. — Alex. MS. "to fortify cities." H. — Gates, or defiles. Grot.
15:40 Et pervenit Cendebaeus Jamniam, et coepit irritare plebem, et conculcare Judaeam, et captivare populum, et interficere, et aedificare Gedorem.
And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, and to ravage Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and to kill, and to build Gedor.
15:41 Et collocavit illic equites et exercitum, ut egressi perambularent viam Judaeae, sicut constituit ei rex.
And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they might issue forth, and make incursions upon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.