1 Now when Yahonathan saw that time served him, he chose some men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the alliance that they had with them.
2 He also sent letters to the Lakedaemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose.
3 So they went to Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, “Yahonathan the kohĕn ha’gadol, and the people of the Yahuḏim, sent us to you, so that you should renew the friendship which you had with them, and alliance as before.”
4 Upon this, the Romans gave them letters to the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Yahuḏah peaceably.
5 And this is the copy of the letters which Yahonathan wrote to the Lakedaemonians:
6 “Yahonathan the kohĕn ha’gadol, and the elders of the nation, and the kohenim, and the other of the Yahuḏim, to the Lakedaemonians their brothers, greetings.
7 “There were letters sent in time past to Onyah the kohĕn ha’gadol from Dareyawesh, who then reigned among you, to signify that you are our brothers, as the copy here underwritten specifies;
8 at which time Onyah entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, in which declaration was made of the alliance and friendship.
9 “Therefore we also – although we need none of these matters, in that we have the qodesh Books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us –
10 have nevertheless attempted to send to you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether; for a long time has passed since you sent to us.
11 “We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our Feasts, and other convenient days, remember you in the slaughterings which we offer, and in our prayers, as is right, and as it is fitting for us to think upon our brothers,
12 and we are rightly pleased for your honour.
13 “As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and battles on every side, because the sovereigns that are round about us have fought against us.
14 “However, we would not be troublesome to you, nor to others of our allies and friends, in these battles,
15 for we have help from the shamayim that upholds us, so that we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.
16 “For this cause we chose Numĕnios the son of Antioḵos, and Antipater the son of Yason, and sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former alliance.
17 “We also commanded them to go to you, and to greet and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18 “Therefore now you shall do well to give us an answer to this.”
19 And this is the copy of the letters which he sent to Onyah:
20 “Arĕios sovereign of the Lakedaemonians to Onyah the kohĕn ha’gadol; greetings.
21 “It is found in writing, that the Lakedaemonians and Yahuḏim are brothers, and that they are of the race of Aḇraham.
22 “Now therefore, since this has come to our knowledge, you shall do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23 “We write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We command therefore our ambassadors to make report to you in this way.”
24 Now when Yahonathan heard that Dĕmĕtrios’ princes had come to fight against him with a greater army than before,
25 he moved from Yerushalayim, and met them in the land of Amathos; for he gave them no release to enter his country.
26 He also sent spies to their tents, who came again, and told him that they were positioned to attack them in the night.
27 Therefore, as soon as the sun was down, Yahonathan commanded his men to be armed and to watch all night long so that they would be ready to fight. He also sent out watchmen round about the army.
28 But when the adversaries heard that Yahonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.
29 However Yahonathan and his army did not know it till the morning; for they saw the lights burning.
30 Then Yahonathan pursued after them, but did not overtake them, for they had passed over the River Eleutherus.
31 Therefore Yahonathan turned to the Araḇians, who were called Zaḇaḏeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.
32 And moving from there, he came to Dammeseq, and so passed through all the land.
33 Shim’on also went out and passed through the land to Ashqelon and the towers beside there, from where he turned aside to Yapho, and took it,
34 for he had heard that they would deliver the stronghold to those that allied with Dĕmĕtrios; therefore he positioned a garrison there to guard it.
35 After this, Yahonathan returned home again, and calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strongholds in Yahuḏah,
36 and making the walls of Yerushalayim higher, and raising a great mound between the tower and the city to separate it from the city, so that it might stand alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.
37 Upon this they came together to build up the city, because part of the wall toward the wadi on the east side had fallen down, and they repaired that which was called Kaphenatha.
38 Shim’on also built up Aḏiḏa in Shephelah, and strengthened if with gates and bars.
39 Now Truphon went about to take the reign of Asia, and to kill Antioḵos the sovereign, that he might place the crown upon his own head.
40 However he was afraid that Yahonathan would not allow him, and that he would fight against him; therefore he sought a way how to take Yahonathan, that he might kill him. So he moved, and came to Bĕyth She’an.
41 Then Yahonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Bĕyth She’an.
42 Now when Truphon saw Yahonathan come with so great a force, he dared not stretch out his hand against him;
43 but received him honourably, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of battle to be as obedient to him, as to himself.
44 To Yahonathan he also said, “Why have you brought all this people such great trouble, seeing there is no battle between us?
45 “Now therefore, send them home again, and choose a few men to wait on you, and you, come with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it to you, and the rest of the strongholds and forces, and all that have any charge. As for me, I will return and depart, for this is why I have come.”
46 So Yahonathan believing him, did as he asked him, and sent away his army, who went into the land of Yahuḏah.
47 And he only kept three thousand men with himself, of which he sent two thousand into Galil, and one thousand went with him.
48 Now as soon as Yahonathan entered into Ptolemais, those of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all those that came with him they slew with the sword.
49 Then Truphon sent an army of footmen and horsemen into Galil, and into the great plain to destroy all Yahonathan’s army.
50 But when they knew that Yahonathan and those that were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another, and drew close together preparing to fight.
51 Therefore those that pursued them, seeing that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.
52 So they all came into the land of Yahuḏah peaceably, and there they mourned for Yahonathan, and those that were with him, and they were very afraid. And so all Yisra’ĕl made a great lamentation.
53 Then all the gentiles that were round about sought to destroy them, for they said, “They have no captain, nor any to help them. Now therefore let us fight them, and take away their remembrance from among men.”