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1 Maccabees 13

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

1 Maccabees chapter 13 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.

Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.

1 Maccabees 13

1Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it,Καὶ ἤκουσε Σίμων ὅτι συνήγαγε Τρύφων δύναμιν πολλὴν τοῦ ἐλθεῖν εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐκ ρίψαι αὐτήν.

2And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,Καὶ εἶδε τὸν λαὸν ὅτι ἐστὶν ἔντρομος, καὶ ἔμφοβος, καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἤθροισε τὸν λαόν.

3And gave them exhortation, saying, You yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have seen.Καὶ παρεκάλεσεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, αὐτοὶ οἴδατε ὅσα ἐγὼ, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου, ὁ καὶ οἶκος τοῦ πατρός μου, ἐποιήσαμεν περὶ τῶν νόμων, καὶ τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ τοὺς πολέμους, καὶ τὰς στενοχωρίας ἃς εἴδομεν.

4By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.Τούτου χάριν ἀπώλοντο οἱ ἀδελφοί μου πάντες χάριν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ κατελείφθην ἐγὼ μόνος.

5Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare my own life in any time of trouble: for I am no better than my brethren.Καὶ νῦν μή μοι γένοιτο φείσασθαί μου τῆς ψυχῆς ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ θλίψεως, οὐ γάρ εἰμι κρείσσων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου.

6Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered to destroy us of very malice.Πλὴν ἐκδικήσω περὶ τοῦ ἔθνους μου, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ περὶ τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ τῶν τέκνων ἡμῶν, ὅτι συνήχθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐκτρίψαι ἡμᾶς ἔχθρας χάριν.

7Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived.Καὶ ἀνεζωοπύρησε τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ λαοῦ ἅμα τῷ ἀκοῦσαι τῶν λόγων τούτων,

8And they answered with a loud voice, saying, You shall be our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan your brother.καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, λέγοντες, σὺ εἶ ἡμῶν ἡγούμενος ἀντὶ Ἰούδα, καὶ Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου.

9Fight you our battles, and whatever, you command us, that will we do.Πολέμησον τὸν πόλεμον ἡμῶν, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἂν εἴπῃς ἡμῖν, ποιήσομεν.

10So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.Καὶ συνήγαγε πάντας τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς πολεμιστὰς, καὶ ἐτάχυνε τοῦ τελέσαι τὰ τείχη Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ὠχύρωσεν αὐτὴν κυκλόθεν.

11Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom, and with him a great power, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein remained there in it.Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰωνάθαν τὸν τοῦ Ἀβεσσαλώμου καὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ δύναμιν ἱκανὴν εἰς Ἰόππην, καὶ ἐξέβαλε τοὺς ὄντας ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ.

12So Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great power to invade the land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward.Καὶ ἀπῇρε Τρύφων ἀπὸ Πτολεμαΐδος μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς εἰσελθεῖν εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα, καὶ Ἰωνάθαν μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν φυλακῇ.

13But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain.Σίμων δὲ παρενέβαλεν ἐν Ἀδιδὰ κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ πεδίου.

14Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers to him, saying,Καὶ ἐπέγνω Τρύφων ὅτι ἀνέστη Σίμων ἀντὶ Ἰωνάθου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅτι συνάπτειν αὐτῷ μέλλει πόλεμον, καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτὸν πρέσβεις, λέγων,

15Whereas we have Jonathan your brother in hold, it is for money that he is owing to the king's treasure, concerning the business that was committed to him.περὶ ἀργυρίου οὗ ὤφειλεν Ἰωνάθαν ὁ ἀδελφός σου εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν διʼ ἃς εἶχε χρείας συνέχομεν αὐτόν.

16Therefore now send one hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will let him go.Καὶ νῦν ἀπόστειλον ἀργυρίου τάλαντα ἑκατὸν, καὶ δύο τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ὅμηρα, ὅπως μὴ ἀφεθεὶς ἀποστατήσῃ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀφήσομεν αὐτόν.

17Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spoke deceitfully to him yet sent he the money and the children, lest perhaps he should procure to himself great hatred of the people:Καὶ ἔγνω Σίμων ὅτι δόλῳ λαλοῦσι πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ πέμπει τὸ ἀργύριον, καὶ τὰ παιδάρια, μήποτε ἔχθραν ἄρῃ μεγάλην πρός τὸν λαόν,

18Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Jonathan dead.λέγων, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέστειλα αὐτῷ τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ τὰ παιδάρια, καὶ ἀπώλετο.

19So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go.Καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὰ παιδάρια, καὶ τὰ ἑκατὸν τάλαντα· καὶ διεψεύσατο, καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκε τὸν Ἰωνάθαν.

20And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it, going round about by the way that leads to Adora: but Simon and his host marched against him in every place, wherever he went.Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἦλθε Τρύφων τοῦ ἐμβατεῦσααι εἰς τὴν χώραν, καὶ ἐκτρίψαι αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐκύκλωσεν ὁδὸν τὴν εἰς Ἄδωρα· καὶ Σίμων καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ἀντιπαρῆγεν αὐτῷ εἰς πάντα τόπον οὗ ἂν ἐπορεύετο.

21Now they that were in the tower sent messengers to Tryphon, to the end that he should hasten his coming to them by the wilderness, and send them food.Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας ἀπέστελλον πρὸς Τρύφωνα πρεσβευτὰς κατασπεύδοντας αὐτὸν τοῦ ἐλθεῖν προὺς αὐτὸν διὰ τῆς ἐρήμου, καὶ· ἀποστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τροφάς.

22Therefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad.Καὶ ἡτοίμασε Τρύφων πᾶσαν τὴν ἵππον αὐτοῦ ἐλθεῖν ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ· καὶ ἦν χιὼν πολλὴ σφόδρα, καὶ οὐκ ἦλθε διὰ τὴν χιόνα, καὶ ἀπῇρε, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν Γαλααδίτιν.

23And when he came near to Bascama he killed Jonathan, who was buried there.Ὡς δὲ ἤγγισε τῇ Βασκαμᾷ, ἀπέκτεινε τὸν Ἰωνάθαν, καὶ ἐτάφη ἐκεῖ.

24Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land.Καὶ ἐπέστρεψε Τρύφων, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ.

25Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.Καὶ ἀπέστειλε Σίμων, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ ὀστᾶ Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔθαψεν αὐτὰ ἐν Μωδεῒν πόλει τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.

26And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him many days.Καὶ ἐκόψαντο αὐτὸν πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ κοπετὸν μέγαν, καὶ ἐπένθησαν αὐτὸν ἡμέρας πολλάς.

27Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind and before.Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Σίμων ἐπὶ τὸν τάφον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὕψωσεν αὐτὸν τῇ ὁράσει λίθῳ ξεστῷ ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν.

28Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren.Καὶ ἔστησεν ἐπʼ αὐτὰ ἑπτὰ πυραμίδας, μίαν κατέναντι τῆς μιᾶς, τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ τοῖς τέσσαρσιν ἀδελφοῖς.

29And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set great pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armor for a perpetual memory, and by the armor ships carved, that they might be seen of all that sail on the sea.Καὶ ταύταις ἐποίησε μηχανήματα, περιθεὶς στύλους μεγάλους, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐπὶ τοῖς στύλοις πανοπλίας εἰς ὄνομα αἰώνιον, καὶ παρὰ ταῖς πανοπλίαις πλοῖα ἐπιγεγλυμμένα, εἰς τὸ θεωρεῖσθαι ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν πλεόντων τὴν θάλασσαν.

30This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it stands yet to this day.Οὗτος ὁ τάφος ὃν ἐποίησεν ἐν Μωδεῒν, ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

31Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and killed him.Ὁ δὲ Τρύφων ἐπορεύετο δόλῳ μετὰ Ἀντιόχου τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ νεωτέρου, καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτὸν,

32And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ περιέθετο διάδημα τῆς Ἀσίας, καὶ ἐποίησε πληγὴν μεγάλην ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

33Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars, and laid up food therein.Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε Σίμων τὰ ὀχυρώματα τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ περιετείχισε πύργοις ὑψηλοῖς, καὶ τείχεσι μεγάλοις, καὶ πύλαις, καὶ μοχλοῖς, καὶ ἔθετο βρώματα ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασι.

34Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the land an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to spoil.Καὶ ἐπέλεξε Σίμων ἄνδρας, καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς Δημήτριον τὸν βασιλέα τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἄφεσιν τῇ χώρᾳ, ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ πράξεις Τρύφωνος ἦσαν ἁρπαγαί.

35To whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner:Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ Δημήτριος ὁ βασιλεὺς κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους· καὶ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔγραψεν αὐτῷ ἐπιστολὴν τοιαύτην·

36King Demetrius to Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, as also to the elders and nation of the Jews, sends greeting:Βασιλεὺς Δημήτριος Σίμονι ἀρχιερεῖ καὶ φίλῳ βασιλέων, καὶ πρεσβυτέροις, καὶ ἔθνει Ἰουδαίων χαίρειν.

37The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which you sent to us, we have received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yes, and to write to our officers, to confirm the immunities which we have granted.Τὸν στέφανον τὸν χρυσοῦν, καὶ τὴν βαΐνην ἣν ἀπεστείλατε, κεκομίσμεθα, καὶ ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ποιεῖν ὑμῖν εἰρήνην μεγάλην, καὶ γράφειν τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν χρειῶν τοῦ ἀφιέναι ὑμῖν ἀφέματα.

38And whatever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and the strong holds, which you have builded, shall be your own.Καὶ ὅσα ἑστήκαμεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔστηκε, καὶ τὰ ὀχυρώματα ἃ ᾠκοδομήκατε ὑπαρχέτω ὑμῖν.

39As for any oversight or fault committed to this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax also, which you owe us: and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid.Ἀφίεμεν δὲ ἀγνοήματα καὶ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, καὶ τὸν στέφανον ὃν ὠφείλετε, καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο ἐτελωνεῖτο ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, μηκέτι τελωνείσθω.

40And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.Καὶ εἴ τινες ἐπιτήδειοι ὑμῶν γραφῆναι εἰς τοὺς περὶ ἡμᾶς, ἐγγραφέσθωσαν, καὶ γινέσθω ἀναμέσον ἡμῶν εἰρήνη.

41Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred and seventies year.Ἔτους ἑβδομηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ ᾔρθη ὁ ζυγὸς τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

42Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews.Καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ λαὸς Ἰσραὴλ γράφειν ἐν ταῖς συγγραφαῖς καὶ συναλλάγμασιν, ἔτους πρώτου ἐπὶ Σίμωνος ἀρχιερέως μεγάλου καὶ στρατηγοῦ καὶ ἡγουμένου Ἰουδαίων.

43In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about; he made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, and battered a certain tower, and took it.Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παρενέβαλε Σίμων ἐπὶ Γάζαν, καὶ ἐκύκλωσεν αὐτὴν παρεμβολαῖς, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑλεπόλεις καὶ προσήγαγε τῇ πόλει, καὶ ἐπάταξε πύργον ἕνα καὶ κατελάβετο.

44And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon there was a great uproar in the city:Καὶ ἐξήλλοντο οἱ ἐν τῇ ἑλεπόλει εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἐγένετο κίνημα μέγα ἐν τῇ πόλει.

45Insomuch as the people of the city tore their clothes, and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.Καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἐν τῇ πόλει σὺν ταῖς γυναιξὶ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος διεῤῥηχότες τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐβόησαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἀξιοῦντες Σίμωνα δεξιὰς αὐτοῖς δοῦναι,

46And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to your mercy.καὶ εἶπον, μὴ ἡμῖν χρήσῃ κατὰ τὰς πονηρίας ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου.

47So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.Καὶ συνελύθη Σίμων αὐτοῖς, καὶ οὐκ ἐπολέμησεν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐκαθάρισε τὰς οἰκίας ἐν αἷς ἦν τὰ εἴδωλα, καὶ οὕτως εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτὴς ὑμνῶν καὶ εὐλογῶν.

48Yes, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built therein a dwelling place for himself.Καὶ ἐξέβαλεν ἐξ αὐτῆς πᾶσαν ἀκαθαρσίαν, καὶ κατῴκισεν ἐκεῖ ἄνδρας οἵτινες τὸν νόμον ποιοῦσι, καὶ προσωχύρωσεν αὐτὴν, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἑαυτῷ ἑν αὐτῇ οἴκησιν.

49They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that they could neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor sell: therefore they were in great distress for lack of food, and a great number of them perished through famine.Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐκωλύοντο ἐκπορεύεσθαι καὶ εἰσπορεύεσθαι εἰς τὴν χώραν, καὶ ἀγοράζειν καὶ πωλεῖν, καὶ ἐπείνασαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἀπώλοντο ἐξ αὐτῶν ἱκανοὶ τῇ λιμῷ.

50Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them: which thing he granted them; and when he had put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions:Καὶ ἐβόησαν πρὸς Σίμωνα δεξιὰς λαβεῖν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ ἐκαθάρισε τὴν ἄκραν ἀπὸ τῶν μιασμάτων.

51And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτὴν τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ δευτέρου μηνὸς ἔτους ἑνὸς καὶ ἑβδομηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ μετὰ αἰνέσεως καὶ βαΐων, καὶ ἐν κινύραις, καὶ ἐν κυμβάλοις, καὶ ἐν νάβλαις, καὶ ἐν ὕμνοις, καὶ ἐν ᾠδαῖς, ὅτι συνετρίβη ἐχθρὸς μέγας ἐξ Ἰσραήλ.

52He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger than it was, and there he lived himself with his company.Καὶ ἔστησε κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν τοῦ ἄγειν τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην μετʼ εὐφροσύνης· καὶ προσωχύρωσε τὸ ὄρος τοῦ ἱεροῦ τὸ παρὰ τὴν ἄκραν, καὶ ᾤκει ἐκεῖ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ.

53And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made him captain of all the hosts; and he lived in Gazera.Καὶ εἶδε Σίμων τὸν Ἰωάννην υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀνήρ ἐστι, καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὸν ἡγούμενον τῶν δυνάμεων πασῶν, καὶ ᾤκει ἐν Γαζάροις.

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