1 Maccabees According to the Syriac Peshitta Version with English Translation 9781463239749

Citation preview

THE ANTIOCH BIBLE

The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible with English Translation

1 Maccabees

Ṣurath Kthobh

Editors George A. Kiraz Andreas Juckel

The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible with English Translation

1 Maccabees

English Translation by

Donald M. Walter Gillian English Translation by

Greenberg Text Prepared by

Philip Michael Forness

George A. Kiraz

Text Prepared by

Joseph Bali George Anton Kiraz

9

34 2022

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2022 by Gorgias Press LLC All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC.

‫ܒ‬

1

2022

ISBN 978-1-4632-0585-0

Printed in the United States of America

For James and Susan Butz

And James and June Segesdy,

Who welcomed me into their family

And gave me another place to call home.

Philip Michael Forness

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .................................................................................... v Foreword to the Edition ....................................................................... vii By George A. Kiraz Making of the Text ................................................................................... vii Orthographic Diversions from Mosul ................................................. viii Text Organization ....................................................................................... x Acknowledgements ..................................................................................... x

Abbreviations........................................................................................... xi Translator’s Acknowledgments .......................................................... xiii Introduction to the Translation ........................................................... xv By Philip Michael Forness The Peshiṭta Translation of the First Book of Maccabees ................ xv A Brief Outline of the First Book of Maccabees .............................. xvii The Books of Maccabees in the Syriac Tradition: Manuscript Transmission .................................................................................... xx List of Manuscripts of the Peshiṭta Translation of the Books of Maccabees ..................................................................................... xxiv Translating the Peshiṭta Version of the First Book of Maccabees ................................................................................... xxviii Comparison of the Peshiṭta with the Septuagint ............................ xxxiii Noteworthy Readings .......................................................................... xxxvi

Appendix 1: Versification ................................................................... xliii Appendix 2: Variant Readings ............................................................ xlv Appendix 3: Names ................................................................................ lv Parallel Greek and Syriac Proper Nouns .............................................. lvi Replacement of Individual Letters ......................................................... lxi Replacement of Words ............................................................................ lxi Translations ............................................................................................... lxii

Appendix 4: Syriac Chapter Divisions .............................................. lxiii Chapter Divisions of 1 Maccabees in West Syriac Pandect Manuscripts .................................................................................... lxiv Chapter Divisions of 1 Maccabees in East Syriac Apocryphal Collections ...................................................................................... lxiv

v

vi

Table of Contents

Bibliography ......................................................................................... lxvii Text and Translation ............................................................................... 1

FOREWORD TO THE EDITION BY GEORGE A. KIRAZ

The primary objective of this edition is twofold: to provide a reliable text for scholars and students who are looking for a fully vocalized Syriac text, and to make available to religious communities, for whom this text is sacred, an English translation that can be used in various religious and cultural settings. As such, one had to navigate carefully between rigid scholarly principles and practical editorial choices. Making of the Text

The current edition provides a West Syriac version of the 1887–91 Peshiṭta Mosul text. 1 While the Mosul text was prepared based on second millennium manuscripts, its text is substantially attested by manuscripts belonging to the first millennium. As ancient MSS are hardly vocalized, our text relies on the vocalization of the Mosul edition. In addition to full vocalization, our text is supplemented with complete Rukkākhā and Quššāyā pointing and other orthographic markings, keeping in mind the general orthographic principles adopted by Pusey and Gwilliam in their 1901 Tetraeuangelium. 2 Hence, while the consonantal tier is substantially ancient, the vocalism and orthographic tiers are quite late. As the Mosul edition did not fully mark Rukkākhā and Quššāyā, these points were added and a regular expression 3 was applied to the text to 1 Clemis Joseph David (ed.), The Syriac Bible According to the Mosul Edition, 3 volumes, with an introduction by Sebastian P. Brock (Piscataway, NJ, 2010), a reprint of the Mosul 1887–91 edition titled ‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܕܡܬܩܪܝܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ‬. 2 P. E. Pusey and G. H. Gwilliam, Tetraeuangelium Sanctum, the Fourfold Holy Gospel in the Peshitta Syriac Version with Critical Apparatus, with an introduction by Andreas Juckel (Piscataway, NJ, 2003), a reprint of the 1901 edition. 3 In computing, a regular expression provides a mechanism with which strings of text can be matched with a search criterion. In most notations, a bracket expression matches a single character inside that bracket (e.g., [ab] matches a single a or b). The exclamation mark denotes negation. Hence, the expression [bgdkpt][!RQ] (where R and Q represent the Rukkākhā and Quššāyā points, respectively) will match a single bgādkpāt letter that is not

vii

viii

Foreword to the Edition

ensure that all bgādkpāt letters are marked. When the consonantal orthography, and in many cases the vocalic orthography, of East and West Syriac diverged, use was made of Lee’s 1823 edition 4 as well as linguistic resources including Audo, 5 Brockelmann, 6 Margoliouth, 7 and Smith. 8 As for Rukkākhā and Quššāyā pointing, analogies were made internally within other Mosul reading, and externally with the Pusey and Gwilliam New Testament text, making use of my Concordance 9 as a tool and the guidelines presented in my introduction to spirantization. 10 Unfortunately, 1–4 Maccabees are not included in the so-called ‘Syriac Masora,’ though outside the standard ‘Masora’ a short ‘Masoretic’ treatment of 1–3 Macc is extant on fol. 303rv of Ms 12/22 in the Syriac-orthodox Patriarchate (Damascus). The Mbaṭṭlānā and Marhṭānā were added systematically following current orthographic conventions, but the Mhaggyānā, Nāgudā, and Mṭappyānā, all ubiquitous in the Mosul text, were removed as they are alien to West Syriac orthography. 11 The text was collated directly against the Leiden text. Variants are given in Appendix 2. In cases of proper nouns, the vocalization largely reflects the Greek pronunciation; the Thesaurus Syriacus (ed. by R. Payne Smith) was regularly consulted. Where available, we followed the BFBSvolume of the Peshitta New Testament. This part of the work was done by Andreas Juckel. Orthographic Diversions from Mosul

In terms of the consonantal tier, the present text differs orthographically from the Mosul text in two ways. Firstly, it intentionally replaces early Syriac orthographic conventions, most of which are also preserved in the East followed by a Rukkākhā or Quššāyā point. When this search fails, all bgādkpāt letters have been pointed (regardless of accuracy of course). 4 S. Lee, Vetus et Novum Testamentum Syriace (London, 1823). 5 T. Audo, ‫( ܣܝܡܬܐ ܕܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ‬Mosul, 1897). 6 C. Brockelmann, Lexicon Syriacum (2nd ed., 1928). 7 J. P. Smith (Mrs. Margoliouth), A Compendious Syriac Dictionary Founded upon the Thesaurus Syriacus (Oxford, 1903). 8 P. Smith, Thesaurus Syriacus (Oxford, 1879–1901). 9 G. A. Kiraz, A Computer Generated Concordance to the Syriac New Testament, 6 volumes (Leiden, 1993). 10 G. A. Kiraz, Introduction to Syriac Spirantization, Rukkâḵâ and Quššâyâ (Losser, 1995). 11 On these symbols, see C. J. David, Grammaire de la Langue Araméenne, 2 volumes, (Mosul, 2nd ed., 1896) §62, §67; G. Kiraz, Turrāṣ Mamllā, A Grammar of the Syriac Language, Volume I Orthography (Gorgias Press, 2012) §§205–208.

Foreword to the Edition

ix

Syriac Mosul text, with West Syriac ones. 12 Secondly, as one of the objectives of the present edition is to provide a functional text for religious communities, it was necessary to be systematic and to provide the reader with a standardized orthography. As for the vocalic tier, the present text differs from the Mosul text in a number of ways. ܿ ܰ E. Syr. ◌ܼ was generally converted to the corresponding W. Syr. ◌ except in lexemes where the E. and W. Syriac orthographies vary. In the ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬, Mosul always uses an E. Syr. ◌ܼܿ case of bdwl prefixes attaching to ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܿ (1:44). ܺ ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ‬vs. M ‫ܝܗܘ ܵܕܐ‬ ‫ܕ‬ while here a W. Syr. ◌ is used as in ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܼ ܵ ܼܳ E. Syr. ◌ was generally converted to W. Syr. ◌ except when followed ܰ ܵ̈ܿ W. Syr. ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܰܥ ̈ܒ ܰܕ‬ by ‫ ܘ‬in which case it became ◌ ; e.g., E. Syr. ‫ ܼܥܒܕܘܗܝ‬vs. ̱ ܳ ܵ ܵ ܿ ܳ ‫( ܰܣ‬6:57). This (1:8). East Syriac ‫ ܼܣܝܒܪܬܐ‬was vocalized as West Syriac ‫ܝܒܪܬ ܐ‬ also applies to nominal forms when followed by an enclitic demonstrative pronoun. ܶ E. Syr. ◌ܸ was generally converted to W. Syr. ◌ except in lexemes where the E. and W. orthographies vary. ܺ ܶ E. Syr. ◌ܹ was mapped to either ◌ or ◌ depending on the phonoܳ ‫ ܺܪ‬for M ‫( ܹܪ ܵܫܐ‬1:29). logical, morphological or lexical context; e.g. ‫ܝܫܐ‬ ܺ ܿ E. Syr. ‫ ܼܝ‬was converted to W. Syr. ‫◌ܝ‬, while E. Syr. ‫ ܘ‬and ‫ ܼܘ‬were ܽ collapsed into W. Syr. ‫◌ܘ‬. The choice was made to place the vowel on the consonant preceding the matres lectionis. Metathesis was applied to the sequence ‚V resulting in V‚. In C‚Vinitial stems prefixed with bdwl letters, this led to further vocalization changes on the prefixes The Mbaṭṭlānā was applied in the present text following the Pusey and Gwilliam tradition but with further extensions following contemporary orthographic conventions. It should be noted that the current orthographic conventions do not put a Mbaṭṭlānā under every single silent letter (e.g. the suffix ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ̱ not ‫ܘܗ ̱ܝ‬ ̱ ). Only a few readings in Mosul were rejected, most of which seem to be ܳ ܺ݁ ܰ ܳ ܺ݁ ‫ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‬for M ‫( ܰܕ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‬2:24), typographical errors: ‫ܝܬܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܡܬ‬for M ‫ܝܬܐ‬ ݂ ‫( ܡܬ‬2:23), ܶ ‫ ݁ܦ ܳܛ‬for M ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ‬ ܶ ‫݁ܦ ܳܛ‬ ܶ‫ ݂ ܰܕܐ ܺܣ ̈� ݂ ܳܕ�ܐ‬for M ‫( ݂ ܰܕܐ ܺܣ ̈� ݂ ܳܪ�ܶܐ‬2:42), and ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ‬

12 On orthography, see L. Van Rompay, ‘Some Preliminary Remarks on the Origins of Classical Syriac as a Standard Language. The Syriac Version of Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History’, in G. Goldenberg and S. Raz (eds.), Semitic and Cushitic Studies (Wiesbaden, 2004), 70–89; S. P. Brock, ‘Some Diachronic Features of Classical Syriac’, in M. F. J. Baasten and W. Th. Van Peursen (eds.), Hamlet on the Hill. Semitic and Greek Studies Presented to Professor T. Muraoka on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Louvain, 2003), 95– 111.

x (5:15.22.55), ܺ

Foreword to the Edition

ܶ ܶ ݂ ‫ܰܘ‬ ‫�ܒܝܬ ܽܫܘ� ܐ‬

ܶ ‫( ݁ܦ ܳܛ‬11:17). ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‬

for

ܶ ݂ ‫ܰܘ‬ ‫�ܒܝܬ ܽܫܘܪܐ‬

(6:7), and

ܳ ܶ ܳ ݁ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ‬ ‫ܦܛ‬

for M

Text Organization

On the division of the text, see below in Appendix 4. Acknowledgements

Andreas Juckel, my co-editor in the Ṣurath Kthob series, played a major role in setting the textual policies of the edition. I am personally grateful to my wife Christine and three children: Tabetha Gabriella, Sebastian Kenoro, and Lucian Nurono. It is hoped that the current edition will be a motivation for further texts and translations of the Syriac Biblical tradition, and will stimulate the use of the Peshiṭta in educational and religious settings.

ABBREVIATIONS ASV BCE CE ed. e.g. et al. i.e. lit. LXX om P pr rev. tr trans. v. vol.

American Standard Version (1901) Before the Common Era Common Era editor, edition exempli gratia and others id est literally Septuagint Greek Text omit Peshiṭta places before revised transpose translator verse volume

xi

TRANSLATOR’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This volume took shape over several years and has benefited from the support of a number of colleagues. I am grateful to George Kiraz for entrusting me with the translation of the books of Maccabees for the Antioch Bible and encouraging my research on this and other topics in Syriac studies. The editors of the Antioch Bible, George Kiraz and Andreas Juckel, provided extensive feedback on the introduction, translation, and edition of the text. It was a delight to work with them to ensure that this volume is of the highest quality. Melonie Schmierer-Lee carefully proofread and typeset the manuscript. Robert Kitchen compared the translation with the Syriac text and helped me improve my own translation style. James Walters and James Hamrick carefully read the introduction and offered a number of key suggestions that have shaped how I understand and present the First Book of Maccabees. Jennifer Forness has lived with the books of Maccabees for longer than she expected and generously read several drafts.

xiii

INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSLATION BY PHILIP MICHAEL FORNESS The Peshiṭta Translation of the First Book of Maccabees

The Hebrew Bible was translated into Syriac during the second century CE. This translation became known as the Peshiṭta (‘simple’ or ‘ordinary’) version. The specific books included within the Peshiṭta Old Testament in the second century remain unknown, although they must have included the Pentateuch, the Latter Prophets, and the Psalms. The translation of other books, such as Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1–2 Chronicles, came at a later date. 1 The four books of Maccabees likewise were not part of the original Peshiṭta translation of the Old Testament. The First Book of Maccabees was written in Hebrew, yet no traces of this work in its original language have survived. A Greek translation based on the Hebrew first appears in two of the monumental complete bibles of the fourth and fifth centuries. 2 One important variation in the Greek transmission of this work provides a key to dating the Peshiṭta version. A set of variant readings from the dominant Greek tradition came to be associated with the figure Lucian of Antioch (d. 312 CE). 3 The Peshiṭta of 1 This paragraph draws on Bas ter Haar Romeny and Craig E. Morrison, ‘Peshitta,’ in Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage, ed. Sebastian P. Brock et al. (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2011), 326–331; M. P. Weitzman, The Syriac Version of the Old Testament, University of Cambridge Oriental Publications 56 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999). 2 These are the Codex Alexandrinus and the Codex Sinaiticus. The next earliest Greek witness is from the eighth century. See Werner Kappler, ed., Maccabaeorum liber I, Septuaginta: Vetus Testamentum Graecum auctoritate Societatis Literarum Gottingensis editum 9.1 (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1936), 7–8. For a discussion of the Hebrew language of 1 Maccabees, see Jonathan A. Goldstein, 1 Maccabees, The Anchor Bible 41 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1976), 14–16. 3 On Lucian, see Bruce M. Metzger, Chapters in the History of New Testament Textual Criticism, New Testament Tools and Studies 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1963), 1–41. On the Lucianic Recension of the Old Testament, see Karen H. Jobes and Moisés Silva, Invitation to the Septuagint (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2000), 53–55; Emanuel Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, 3rd rev. ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011), 146–147; Siegfried Kreuzer und Marcus Sigismund, ed., Der Antiochenische Text der Septuaginta in seiner

xv

xvi

Introduction to the Translation

the First Book of Maccabees contains many readings that reflect the Lucianic recension. 4 The translation of the First Book of Maccabees must have taken place after the Lucianic recension developed in the early fourth century. The textual tradition of the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees is relatively stable. One translation, called Syr-1, appears in all but two manuscripts. 5 A second translation is attested in one seventh-century manuscript — the Codex Ambrosianus (7a1) — and has been designated Syr-2. 6 A third translation based on the Clementine Vulgate is attested in a single manuscript from the nineteenth century. 7 The differences between Syr-1 and Syr-2 are so stark that the critical edition presents them separately. 8 The Codex Ambrosianus (7a1) features a distinct translation (Syr-2) for 1 Maccabees 1:1–14:25 and then follows Syr-1 for the remainder of the book. Until recently the translation in 7a1 (Syr-2) was regarded as a revision of the dominant translation (Syr-1) with reference to the Greek. 9 But Ignacio Carbajosa has put forward strong arguments that Syr-2 should be seen as an independent translation. 10 Although it remains difficult to date Syr-1 and Syr-2 with precision, there is strong external evidence that a Syriac translation of 1 Maccabees circulated by the early fifth century.11 The Bezeugung und seiner Bedeutung, De Septuaginta Investigationes 4 (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013). For the Greek witness to the Lucianic recension of 1 Maccabees, see Kappler, Maccabaeorum liber I, 26–28. 4 Kappler, Maccabaeorum liber I, 29. 5 For a full list of the manuscripts that contain the First Book of Maccabees, see the table below and The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden, List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue) (Leiden: Brill, 1961), 109; The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden, ‘Peshiṭta Institute Communications VII: Fourth Supplement to the List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue),’ Vetus Testamentum 18, no. 1 (1968): 143; The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden, ‘Peshiṭta Institute Communications XIV: Fifth Supplement to the List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue),’ Vetus Testamentum 27, no. 4 (1977): 511. 6 All manuscripts will be referenced by their sigla from the Peshiṭta Institute. See the table below that provides references to their identification and description. 7 For further details, see page xxiv, note 38 below. 8 Angelo Penna, Konrad Dirk Jenner, and Dirk Bakker, eds., ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ in The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.4 (Leiden: Brill, 2013), 3–131. 9 Gottfried Schmidt, Über die beiden syrischen Übersetzungen des I. Maccabäerbuches (Leipzig, 1896); Gottfried Schmidt, ‘Die beiden syrischen Übersetzungen des I. Maccabäerbuches,’ Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 17 (1897): 1–47, 233–262; Serge Ruzer, ‘1 Maccabees: Syriac,’ in Textual History of the Bible, ed. Emanuel Tov (Leiden: Brill, 2020), doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2452-4107_thb_COM_0210010300. 10 Ignacio Carbajosa, ‘What Is the Relationship between the Two Ancient Syriac Peshitta Versions of 1 Maccabees? A New Proposal That Challenges the Classical Explanation,’ Aramaic Studies 18, no. 1 (2020): 64–98. 11 Philip Michael Forness, ‘The First Book of Maccabees in Syriac: Dating and Context,’ Aramaic Studies 18, no. 1 (2020): 99–123.

Introduction to the Translation

xvii

Mosul Bible reflects the dominant translation (Syr-1) which is attested in three manuscripts from the seventh or eighth centuries and later divides into eastern and western recensions, traits of which are already previewed in the early manuscripts. 12 The text of the First Book of Maccabees in the Mosul Bible — which serves as the base text for the Antioch Bible — reflects elements of both the eastern and western traditions. 13 The Antioch Bible version of the First Book of Maccabees includes the standard modern chapters of this text as well as chapter divisions from the Syriac tradition. Appendix 4 identifies two sets of chapter numbers known in the Syriac tradition. The first derives from West Syriac manuscripts of the entire bible appearing as early as the fifteenth century that divide the four books of Maccabees into fifty-two consecutively numbered chapters. This set of chapter divisions appears in the text and translation below. The second comes from East Syriac apocryphal collections that date as early as the sixteenth century and begin with the first three books of Maccabees. These chapter divisions are indicated only in Appendix 4 below. A Brief Outline of the First Book of Maccabees

The military expeditions of Alexander the Great of Macedon (356–323 BCE) heightened cultural interactions in the conquered territories. The endurance of dynasties that succeeded his empire led to extended periods of exchange and conflict. Judea was caught between the Seleucid Empire, based in Syria and extending to central Asia, and the Ptolemaic Empire, centered in Egypt. Under the leadership of Antiochus III the Great (r. 223– 187 BCE), the Seleucids took control of Palestine away from the Ptolemies in 198 BCE. The Seleucid Empire soon faced a period of decline, beginning with the defeat of Antiochus III by Rome in 190 BCE. The reigns of his successors increased tensions between the Seleucids and the high priesthood in Jerusalem. The Seleucid rulers undertook various measures to eliminate the distinctive identity of the Jewish community in Palestine. The First Book of Maccabees chronicles the resistance efforts against the Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ v. More than half of the variant readings find support in manuscript 8a1 (148 out of 275), which usually matches the later eastern tradition (ibid., xiii). Further, most of these variations find support in two later eastern manuscripts, as represented by the siglum 8a1fam (140 out of 148). At the same time, just under half of the variants in the collation reflect western manuscripts: 12a1 (116 out of 275), 15/14a1 (123 out of 275), 15a3 (125 out of 275), and the group designated as 12a1fam (108 out of 275). 12 13

xviii

Introduction to the Translation

Seleucids led by the priestly family of Mattathias and the establishment of the relative independence of Judea under the Hasmonean Dynasty. The narrative contains five major sections that emphasize the leadership of the family of Mattathias during the resistance movement. After a preface that introduces the central conflict between the Seleucids and the people of Judea (1:1–64), the remaining four sections center around Mattathias (2:1–70) and his sons Judas Maccabaeus (3:1–9:22), Jonathan (9:23–12:53), and Simon (13:1–16:24). The final section features Simon’s son John Hyrcanus (15:27–16:24) during whose reign (131–104 BCE) or shortly thereafter the work was written. As a whole, the chronicle defends the claim to the high priesthood and political ascendancy of the Hasmoneans who ruled from 142 to 63 BCE and whose leaders descended from Mattathias. 14 A more detailed overview of the five sections of this work will help readers navigate the complex history it narrates. The preface situates the resistance movement within the conquests of Alexander the Great (1:1–10). It then identifies the narrative’s central antagonists: the Jewish Hellenizers who embraced the practices of Gentiles (1:11–15) and the Seleucid rulers (1:16–64). The chronicle first names Antiochus IV Epiphanes (r. 175–164 BCE) who persecuted and imposed Gentile practices on the Jewish community, including the rededication of the temple to Zeus. The second section introduces the narrative’s protagonists: Mattathias and his descendants. After Mattathias and his sons mourn the actions of Antiochus IV and his supporters (2:1–14), they gather a small army to fight against them (2:15–48). Mattathias charges his sons and blesses them on his deathbed (2:49–70). This scene serves as an introduction to the remainder of the chronicle in which Mattathias’s sons play leading roles. The third section features the accomplishments of Judas Maccabaeus. It begins with a song of praise for his military victories (3:1–9) and then recounts his early skirmishes with the Seleucids (3:10–4:35). The narrative proceeds to the cleansing of the temple under the leadership of Judas and his brothers, including the founding story for the festival of Hanukkah (4:36–61). A string of attacks under Judas’s leadership against the neighboring peoples (5:1–68) is followed by the death of Antiochus IV (6:1–17). The military leader Lysias then leads the Seleucids under the reign 14 Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 12.265, states that Mattathias’s grandfather was named Asamonaios (Ἀσαμωναίου) (Ralph Marcus, trans., Josephus: Jewish Antiquities, Books 12–13, Loeb Classical Library 365 [Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1943], 136–137).

Introduction to the Translation

xix

of Antiochus IV’s son, Antiochus V Eupator (r. 164–162/161 BCE). 15 After some skirmishes, Lysias allows the Jews to live under their own laws (6:18–63). Demetrius I Soter (r. 162–150 BCE) executes Lysias and Antiochus V and then appoints Alcimus as high priest in Jerusalem. He sends two ultimately unsuccessful military expeditions against Judas under the military leaders Bicrius 16 and Nicanor (7:1–50). Judas’s activities culminate in a treaty with Rome that establishes Judea’s independence (8:1– 32). He dies heroically during a military campaign sent by Demetrius I (9:1– 22). The fourth section turns to Judas’s brother Jonathan. Jonathan battles the Seleucids soon after taking over as leader, which results in the death of the high priest Alcimus and forces Bicrius to flee (9:23–73). Alexander I Balas (r. 150–145 BCE) contests Demetrius I’s claim to the throne, defeating him and his son Demetrius II Nicator (r. 145–140/139 BCE). This leads to Jonathan’s establishment as high priest and additional allowances for the Jews (10:1–89). Competition over the Seleucid throne brings conflicts among Ptolemy VI Philometor (r. 180–145 BCE), Demetrius II, and Antiochus VI Epiphanes Dionysus (r. 145/144–141/140 BCE). This unrest garners yet further provisions for the Jews and involves Jonathan and his brother Simon in political conflicts as high priest and regional governor under Antiochus VI (11:1–66). Jonathan undertakes diplomatic relations with Rome and the Spartans (12:1–23) but then faces the armies of Demetrius II a second time and is captured (12:24–53). The fifth section discusses the leadership of Simon, the last of the sons of Mattathias. Simon takes command after Jonathan’s capture and fights against their former ally Trypho, who kills Jonathan on his return from battle (13:1–30). After fortifying Jerusalem, Simon gains the independence of Judea from Demetrius II and recaptures the strongholds (13:31–14:3). Simon receives praise in song and establishes relations with Rome and Sparta again, inaugurating the Hasmonean Dynasty in 142 BCE. The Jews then confirm his status as their ruler and high priest (14:4–49). Both the new Seleucid ruler Antiochus VII Sidetes (r. 138–129 BCE) and the Romans ratify the independence of the Jews, but Antiochus VII quickly turns on his promises (15:1–36). The ensuing battle allows Simon’s son 15 The account of Lysias’s expeditions is one of the very few parts of the books of Maccabees in the Peshiṭta translation that has received scholarly attention. See Angelo Penna, ‘Le spedizioni di Lisia nella versione Peshiṭta,’ Studii Biblici Franciscani Liber Annuus 13 (1962–1963): 93–100. 16 In the Greek translation, his name is Bacchides (Βακχίδης).

xx

Introduction to the Translation

John Hyrcanus to emerge as a leader against an army sent by Antiochus VII (15:37–16:10). Simon and most of his sons die during an attempted coup (16:11–17), but John Hyrcanus escapes and emerges as the new high priest and ruler (16:18–24). The First Book of Maccabees traces the complex history that led to the relative independence of Judea. As an imperial chronicle, it supports the ideology of the Hasmonean Dynasty and narrates its founding history. As a religious work, it presents a theological vision in which contemporary actions parallel the great feats of characters from the biblical narratives. This theology supports the rule of the Hasmoneans and their claim to the high priesthood. The text also reflects the realities of cultural interaction in the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s conquests. The Maccabean revolt and the Hasmonean Dynasty represent one response to the intolerance and conflict that occasionally characterized the rule of Alexander’s successors. As a whole, this work reflects efforts to form a distinct cultural identity related to a theological vision. The Books of Maccabees in the Syriac Tradition: Manuscript Transmission

The history of the Maccabees circulated widely in the Syriac tradition. The early translation of the four books of Maccabees reflects the importance of these works for the biblical narrative. The commemoration of the Maccabees in liturgical settings communicated and preserved the memory of the Maccabean martyrs. Subsequent compositions on and works dedicated to the Maccabees further indicate their importance to the tradition. Each of the volumes of the Maccabees in the Antioch Bible will address one aspect of the reception of the Maccabees in the Syriac tradition. This volume discusses the manuscript transmission of the four books of Maccabees. The books of Maccabees circulated as a set in the Syriac tradition. Five manuscripts that date to the seventh or eighth century transmit the books of Maccabees, and all but one of these manuscripts contain at least two of the four books. 17 One seventh-century manuscript and one eighth-century manuscript contain three or four books within complete versions of the 17 The five manuscripts are 7a1, 7h1, 7h7, 8a1, and 8g1. The first four contain two, three, or all four of the books of Maccabees. The fifth, 8g1 only includes 3 Maccabees. This manuscript marks 3 Maccabees as the sequel to the sixth book of Josephus’s Jewish War (Sebastian P. Brock and Lucas Van Rompay, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts and Fragments in the Library of Deir al-Surian, Wadi al-Natrun (Egypt), Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 227 [Leuven: Peeters, 2014], 43).

Introduction to the Translation

xxi

Old Testament. 18 The later manuscript tradition maintains a similar consistency in their transmission. Only six of the over thirty later manuscripts contain individual books, and the full extent of three of these six manuscripts is unclear. 19 Greek manuscripts likewise exhibit the transmission of these works as a set. Two of the three complete Greek bibles of the fourth and fifth centuries contain two or more of these books. 20 They came into the Syriac tradition as a set and continued to be transmitted in this manner. An inquiry into specific manuscripts that transmit the books of Maccabees reveals aspects of their use in the Syriac tradition. Around half of the manuscripts that preserve the books of Maccabees take the form of pandects, that is, complete versions of the entire bible or of one of the testaments. One such manuscript, the seventh-century Codex Ambrosianus (7a1), represents the first complete Old Testament manuscript in the Syriac tradition. At the end of the manuscript, the four books of Maccabees appear in order with the sixth book of Josephus’s Jewish War. The titles given to each of these five books lead readers to understand them as a set. A concluding note on these works indicates the interest of the producers of this manuscript in this collection: The book of Maccabees is ended in which there are five volumes: three on the Maccabees; one on Shmuni and her sons, how they acted [and] the law was not transgressed; the fifth on the last destruction of Jerusalem by Titus son of Vespasian, Emperor of the Romans. 21

7a1 and 8a1. 13k1 only contains a fragment of 2 Maccabees. Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 3 contains an Arabic-Garshuni translation of 2 Maccabees directly after 1 Maccabees. Damascus, Archepiscopal Residence, 1 (136) only has 1 Maccabees according to the catalogue, but it includes the usual list of books in the East Syriac apocryphal collection that ordinarily contains 1–3 Maccabees. It may be incomplete. 20 The Codex Alexandrinus contains 1–4 Maccabees, while the Codex Sinaiticus contains 1 and 4 Maccabees. For the lists of books in these manuscripts, see Lee Martin McDonald, The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2007), 442. ̈ 21 Milan, Ambrosian Library, B. 21 inf., fol. 330r: ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܣܦ�ܐ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܟܬܒܐ‬ 18 19

̈ ‫ ܬܠܬܐ ܥܠ‬.‫ܚܡܫܐ‬ ‫ܡܩܒܝܐ ܘܚܕ ܥܠ ܫܡܘܢܝܬ ܘܒܢܝ̈ ̇ܗ ܕܐܝܟ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܥܒܕܘ � ܥܒܪ ܢܡܘܣܐ ܕܚܡܫܐ‬ ̇ ‫ܚܘܪܒܗ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܕܐܘܪܫܠܡ ܕܡܢ ܛܛܘܣ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܣܦܣܝܢܣ ܡܠܟܐ ܕ�ܗܘܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܕܝܢ ܥܠ‬. For the text,

which is difficult to read from the reproduction of this manuscript, see Antonio M. Ceriani, ed., ‘Flavii Josephi: De bello judaico, liber sextus, syriace versus,’ Monumenta sacra et profana 5 (1868): 240.

xxii

Introduction to the Translation

The scribe of this manuscript emphasizes the value of these books for understanding the history of the destruction of Jerusalem. 22 The books of Maccabees also circulated in collections of works which have been called the apocrypha. An eighth- or ninth-century manuscript (8g1) transmits the Third Book of Maccabees along with the sixth book of Josephus’s Jewish War and the Syriac Book of Women. 23 A tenth-century manuscript (11/10g1) includes Genesis, the Second Book of Maccabees, and the Epistle of Baruch. A manuscript (18g2) completed in 1734 contains the Second and Third Books of Maccabees. It circulated in South India,24 and some of the biblical works may have been copied from the Walton Polyglot. 25 The manuscript was written in an East Syriac hand, but reflects the western text type for the books of Maccabees. 26 The beginning of the manuscript shows its diverse contents: (1) hymns by a Jesuit Maronite Peter of Cyprus, (2) a poem by the Maronite Bishop Isaac Shadrensis, (3) 1 Esdras, (4) 2 Maccabees, (5) 3 Maccabees, (6) a liturgical responsorial song, (7) the book of Revelation, and so forth. 27 A nineteenth-century manuscript (19g3) also includes all four books of Maccabees in a diverse collection of theological and biblical works. The transmission of the books of Maccabees in apocryphal collections forms another aspect of their reception in the Syriac tradition. The East Syriac tradition transmitted the Peshiṭta text of the bible in lectionaries that contained readings for use in the liturgy. But it also preserved the continuous text of the whole Peshiṭta bible within five

22 For a fuller treatment, see my ‘Narrating History Through the Bible in Late Antiquity: A Reading Community for the Syriac Peshitta Old Testament Manuscript in Milan (Ambrosian Library, B. 21 inf.),’ Le Muséon 127, no. 1–2 (2014): 41–76. 23 On the Syriac Book of Women, see Catherine Burris, ‘The Syriac Book of Women: Text and Metatext,’ in The Early Christian Book, ed. William E. Klingshirn and Linda Safran, CUA Studies in Early Christianity (Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2007), 86–98. 24 On the origins of the manuscript, see Johannes Petrus Maria van der Ploeg, The Syriac Manuscripts of St. Thomas Christians (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 1983), 207– 210. 25 See W. Baars and J. C. Lebram, eds., ‘1 (3) Esdras,’ in The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.6 (Leiden: Brill, 1972), xi–xii; Claudio Balzaretti, ‘Review of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.4, Ezra and Nehemiah, 1–2 Maccabees (Leiden: Brill, 2013),’ Orientalia Christiana Periodica 80 (2014): 538–542. 26 Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ xxiv. 27 William Wright, A Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts Preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1901), 1052–1057.

Introduction to the Translation

xxiii

collections: (1) the Book of the Pentateuch, (2) the Book of Sessions, 28 (3) the Book of the Prophets, (4) the Book of the Maccabees, and (5) the New Testament. 29 The Psalter was transmitted independently in a separate volume. The so-called ‘Book of the Maccabees’ included the following works: 1–3 Maccabees, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Wisdom, Judith, Esther, Susanna, Epistle of Jeremiah, Epistle of Baruch, and Baruch. 30 The books of Maccabees in this collection show uniformity in their witness to the textual tradition. 31 The Peshiṭta Institute assigned this distinct collection of works the siglum ‘e’ and labeled it an apocryphal collection. 32 This terminology has been adopted here, although the incorporation of this collection into a continuous text of the entire bible should always be kept in mind. One final observation indicates the potential use of these manuscripts in Syriac communities. The manuscripts that transmit the entire books of Maccabees are not structured for reading in a communal setting. But this does not exclude the possibility manuscripts were used in liturgical settings. 33 In fact, a seventh-century manuscript (7h7), which includes only the first two books of Maccabees, contains two notations that indicate the liturgical use of these works. A selection of the First Book of Maccabees is

28 The contents of this collection, not self-evident from its title, are: Joshua, Judges, 1– 2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Ruth, Song of Songs, Sirach, and Job. The Peshiṭta Institute uses the siglum ‘c’ for this collection. 29 Heleen Murre-van den Berg, Scribes and Scriptures: The Church of the East in the Eastern Ottoman Provinces (1500–1800), Eastern Christian Studies 21 (Leuven: Peeters, 2015), 228– 229. 30 On the collection, see further Murre-van den Berg, Scribes and Scriptures, 153–154, 197. 31 On this text type, see M. D. Koster, ‘On the Interdependence of Two Nestorian Peshiṭta Manuscripts,’ Vetus Testamentum 12, no. 2 (1962): 238–239. The text type of this set of manuscripts has been examined to some extent in the editions of individual books. For 1– 2 Maccabees, see Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ xviii–xix, xxi, xxiii–xxv; for 1– 2 Chronicles, see R. P. Gordon, ed., ‘Chronicles,’ in The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.2 (Leiden: Brill, 1998), xv–xix; for Ezra and Nehemiah, see Micheline Albert, ed., ‘Ezra and Nehemiah,’ in The Old Testament in Syriac according to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.4 (Leiden: Brill, 2013), xviii–xix; for the Wisdom of Solomon, see J. A. Emerton, The Peshitta of the Wisdom of Solomon, Studia Post-Biblica 2 (Leiden: Brill, 1959), xlv–lv, and J. A. Emerton and D. J. Lane, eds., ‘Wisdom of Solomon,’ in The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 2.5 (Leiden: Brill, 1979), vii–viii. 32 The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden, List, vii. 33 See especially Konrad Dirk Jenner, ‘A Review of the Methods by Which Syriac Biblical and Related Manuscripts Have Been Described and Analysed: Some Preliminary Remarks,’ Aram 5, no. 1–2 (1993): 255–266.

xxiv

Introduction to the Translation

marked for use in a liturgical service: ‘Reading for the departed.’ 34 Similarly, a later marginal note on the Second Book of Maccabees reads: ‘An account of Shmuni, her sons, and Eleazar the elder and priest.’ 35 The narrative of Shmuni and her sons represented one of the central ways that the narrative of the Maccabees was recalled in the Syriac tradition.36 The introductions to the following volumes will treat this in more detail. But, for now, it is important to recognize that liturgical traditions associated with the Maccabees already seem to have taken diverse forms even from the manuscripts that transmit these works. List of Manuscripts of the Peshiṭta Translation of the Books of Maccabees

The following list is restricted to manuscripts that contain the Peshiṭta version of the Books of the Maccabees. The goal of this list is to show the circulation of the books of the Maccabees in Syriac. For this reason, manuscripts whose current location remains unknown or are perhaps no longer accessible appear in the list. Manuscripts that were copied from printed polyglots also appear in this list. 37 I have sought in all cases to ensure that there are no entries that merely reflect the transfer of a manuscript to a new repository. Codices that contain excerpts from the books of the Maccabees have been excluded. Two further interesting manuscripts also do not appear in this list: (1) the one manuscript known to contain a version of the First Book of Maccabees based on the Clementine Vulgate and (2) a manuscript that contains the Peshiṭta version of the First Book of the Maccabees in a vocalized Hebrew script. 38 Parentheses are

(William Wright, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 [London, 1870–1872], 1:98). On this marginal notation in Syriac manuscripts, see Konrad Dirk Jenner, De perikopentitels van de geïllustreerde Syrische Kanselbijbel van Parijs (MS Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Syriaque 341): Een vergelijkend onderzoek naar de oudste Syrische perikopenstelsels (Leiden: Universitaire Drukkerij, 1993), 144–146. ̈ ‫( ܬܫܥܝܬܐ ܕܥܠ ܫܡܘܢܝ‬Wright, British Museum, 1:98). 35 .‫ܢܝܗ ܘܐܠܝܥܙܪ ܣܒܐ ܘܟܗܢܐ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܒ‬ 36 See especially Witold Witakowski, ‘Mart(y) Shmuni, the Mother of the Maccabean Martyrs, in Syriac Tradition,’ in VI Symposium Syriacum 1992: University of Cambridge, Faculty of Divinity, 30 August–2 September 1992, ed. René Lavenant, Orientalia Christiana Analecta 247 (Rome: Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum, 1994), 153–168; Sebastian P. Brock, ‘Eleazar, Shmuni and Her Seven Sons in Syriac Tradition,’ in La mémoire des persécutions: Autour des livres des Maccabées, Collection de la Revue des Études Juives 56 (Leuven: Peeters, 2014), 329–336. 37 Balzaretti, ‘Review,’ identifies 17a11, 18g2, and Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 1– 4 all as copies of a printed polyglot. 38 The nineteenth-century manuscript that includes a translation of 1 Maccabees 1:1– 11:14 based on the Clementine Vulgate within a diverse set of texts is Thrissur, Chaldean 34

‫ܩܪܝܢܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܝܕܐ‬

Introduction to the Translation

xxv

placed around the hypothetical sigla of manuscripts that are not included in the published lists of the Peshiṭta Institute. Further cataloguing efforts will surely uncover more witnesses. Sigla

Books 1–4

Pandect

7h1

1–3

Independent?

7h7

1–2

Independent

8a1

1–3

Pandect

8g1

3

Apocrypha?

11/10g1

2

Diverse

7a1

Type

Manuscript

Milan, Ambrosian Library, B. 21 inf. Birmingham, University of Birmingham Special Collections, Mingana syr. 629; Cambridge, Westminster College Library, WGL I/17–18 (olim Nestle Library G. ii.4; photographs of Sinai manuscript); Milan, Ambrosian Library, A. 296, Fragment 27; Mount Sinai, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Syr. 279 (olim 37) and Syr. sp. 8 London, British Library, Add. 14446 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 341 Wadi al-Natrun, Deir alSurian, Syr. 9A London, British Library, Add. 12172, fol. 136–196

Description(s)

Ceriani, Translatio, 7–8 Birmingham: Mingana 3:74–75; Cambridge: Coakley, Cambridge University Library, 197; The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 7; Milan: Chabot 39; Mount Sinai: Brock, Saint Catherine, 7, 92, 158–159; Géhin 123–124; Kamil 152

Wright, British Museum, 1:98 Nau 297 Brock and Van Rompay 42–44 Wright, British Museum, 1:6–7

Syriac Church, 69 (Radu Mustaţă, ‘APSTCH THRI 00069,’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, accessed May 11, 2019, https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/ view/138286; Mar Aprem, Assyrian Manuscripts in India [Thrissur: Mar Narsai Press, 2011], 31). The contents of the manuscript as listed by Mustaţă are as follows: (1) fol. 2r–75v: a Syriac-Malayalam dictionary (with both languages written in Syriac letters); (2) fol. 76r–77v: short explanations in Malayalam of Syriac words, a verse of the psalms, and the judges and kings of Israel; (3) fol. 78r–97r: Questions and answers about the antichrist; and (4) fol. 98r– 124v: 1 Maccabees 1:1–11:14. The inclusion of 1 Maccabees in this collection still requires an explanation. The eighteenth- or nineteenth-century manuscript that contains the Peshiṭta translation of 1 Maccabees in a vocalized Hebrew script is: London, British Library, Or. 9926 (‘Or 9926,’ British Library: Digitised Manuscripts, accessed July 6, 2019, http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_9926).

xxvi

Introduction to the Translation

12a1

1–4

Pandect

Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Oo. 1.1, 2 London, British Library, Add. 12174 London, British Library, Add. 14752, fol. 1–227 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 11 Diyarbakɪr, Meryem Ana Kilisesi, 1/1

12h1

4

Hagiography

13k1

2

Fragments

15/14a1

1–4

Pandect

15a3

1–4

Pandect

(19/)16e1

1–3

Apocrypha

17a1

1–4

Pandect

17a2

1–4

Pandect

17a3

1–4

Pandect

17a4

1–4

Pandect

17a5

1

Pandect

17a6

1–2

Pandect

17a7

1–2

Pandect

17a8

1–2

Pandect

17a9

1–2

Pandect

Rome, Vatican Library, Sir. 8

17a10

1–4

Pandect

17a11

1–3

Pandect

Rome, Vatican Library, Sir. 258 Rome, Vatican Library, Sir. 461

(17a)

1–4

Pandect

Manchester, John Rylands Library, Rylands Syr. 3 London, British Library, Egerton 704 Milan, Ambrosian Library, A. 144 inf. and A. 145 inf. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodl. or. 141 Oxford, Bodleian Library, Poc. 391 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 6 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 7–8 Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense, 194 Rome, Vatican Library, Sir. 7

Mosul, Monastery of Mar Behnam, 387

Wright, Cambridge, 2:1037–1044 Wright, British Museum, 3:1123–1139 Wright, British Museum, 2:410 Zotenberg 3 Kessel, ‘DIYR 00002’; The Peshiṭta Institute, ‘Communications VII,’ 131 Coakley, ‘John Rylands Library,’ 120 Wright, British Museum, 1:1–3 Ceriani, ‘Le edizione,’ 16 Payne Smith 1–16 Payne Smith 16–22 Zotenberg 1–2 Zotenberg 2 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 38–39 Assemani 2:14–19; Penna, ‘I libri,’ 325– 326 Assemani 2:19–20; Penna, ‘I libri,’ 326– 327 Mai 5.2:1; Penna, ‘I libri,’ 331–334 Lantschoot 1–3; Penna, ‘I libri,’ 334– 336 Mugler and Falconer ‘MBM 00387’

Introduction to the Translation (17a)

1 39

Pandect

17e1

1–3

Apocrypha

(19/)17e2

1–3

Apocrypha

(18a)

1–4

Pandect

18e1

1–3

Apocrypha

(18e)

1

Apocrypha

18g2

2–3

Apocrypha?

19e1

1–3

Apocrypha

19e2

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 3 Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Sachau 90 Mosul, Chaldean Patriarchate, 114 Mardin, Church of the Forty Martyrs, 1 Birmingham, University of Birmingham Special Collections, Mingana syr. 486 Damascus, Archepiscopal Residence, 1 (136) Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Oo. 1.11 London, British Library, Or. 4397 Mosul, Chaldean Patriarchate, 116 Alqosh, Chaldean Diocese, 22 Alqosh, Chaldean Monastery Notre-Dame des Semences, 10 Alqosh, Chaldean Monastery of NotreDame des Semences, 11 Alqosh, Chaldean Monastery of NotreDame des Semences, 13 41 Batnaya, Chaldean Church, 4

xxvii Zotenberg 1 Sachau 1:127–128 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 30 McCollum, ‘CFMM 00001’ Mingana 1:898–900

Baumstark 325; The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 55 Wright, Cambridge, 2:1052–1057 Margoliouth 30–31 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 30 ‘DCA 00022’ The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 64; Vosté 9 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 64; Vosté 9 40 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 64; Vosté 9 ‘CCB 00004’

39 An Arabic-Garshuni translation of 2 Maccabees appears directly after 1 Maccabees in this volume. 40 This is the same manuscript described as codex 8 in Addai Scher, Notice sur les manuscrits syriaques conservés dans la bibliothèque du couvent des Chaldéens de Notre-Dame-des-Semences (Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1906), 8–9. 41 This is probably the same manuscript as Mosul, Chaldean Patriarchate, 6, as described in Addai Scher, ‘Notice sur les manuscrits syriaques conservés dans la bibliothèque du Patriarcat chaldéen de Mossoul,’ Revue des bibliothèques 17 (1907): 230. The name of the scribe is the same, and Scher notes that the codex was given to the monastery Notre-Dame des Semences.

xxviii

Introduction to the Translation

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

(19e)

1–3

Apocrypha

19g3

1–4

Diverse

(20g)

1–4

Apocrypha

Irbil, Chaldean Archdiocese, 3 42 Irbil, Chaldean Archdiocese, 4 Pampakuda, Konat Collection, (6) 43 Urmia, Museum Association of Oroomiah College, 164 Rome, Vatican Library, Borg. sir. 108 Mosul, Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese, 92

‘ACE 00003’ ‘ACE 00004’ The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 65 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 72; Sarau 27–28 Cersoy 377–379; Penna, ‘I libri,’ 338– 343; Scher 272 Kiremitlian, ‘ASOM 00092’

Translating the Peshiṭta Version of the First Book of Maccabees 44

The translation technique adopted here is meant to serve the specific purposes of the present series. The English follows the guidelines for translating and annotating the text that have been set for the series. The following description clarifies the translation method according to a number of specific categories. Dynamic equivalency. The English translation is intended to provide the contextually appropriate sense of the Peshiṭta in an idiomatic way. As such, it strives for dynamic rather than formal equivalence, regularly adapting the Syriac form to the norms of English idiom in a dynamic way, for the sake of providing the English reader with a meaning that is genuinely equivalent to that of the Syriac. This principle applies at different levels, beginning with the handling of single words and idiomatic phrases. For instance, a formally literal translation of the Syriac expression, ‘by the hand of’ would give the wrong sense. In English, the expressions ‘through’ or ‘by means of’ capture the sense better: ‘they persecuted the proud, and through them, the

42 This seems to be the same manuscript as catalogued previously as Alqosh, Chaldean Monastery of Notre-Dame des Semences, 12 in The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden, List, 64, and Jacques-Marie Vosté, Catalogue de la bibliothèque syro-chaldéenne du couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d’Alqoš (Iraq) (Paris: Geuthner, 1929), 9. The dimensions, number of quires, number of lines, and lack of a date in the colophon either match or are extremely close. 43 This shelf number does not correspond to shelf number 6 in the Konat collection currently being catalogued by the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library. That is, this manuscript does not correspond to APSTCH 01943, which currently has the shelf number 6 in this collection. The cataloguing process is ongoing, and the manuscript noted in the list of the Peshiṭta Institute has not yet been identified. 44 This section is adapted from the translation policy composed by Jeff Childers for the Gospel volumes in the Antioch Bible series.

Introduction to the Translation

xxix

ܽ ‫ܐܝ ܰܕ‬ ܰ ‫ ܘܐ‬:‫�ܫܒܗ� ܢܶܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܬܩ ܰܝܡ‬ ̈ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕ ܐ ܺܒ‬ ܰ work was accomplished’ (.‫ܝܗܘܢ‬ ‫ ; ܰܘ ܰܪܕܦ ̱ܘ‬1 Maccabees 2:47). A dynamic handling of the forms yields a more equivalent meaning. ܶ

ܳ

Translation unit. According to the priorities of dynamic equivalence, the translation does not follow a word-for-word or highly literal policy that adheres to form rather than sense. Yet it normally takes phrases and clauses as the primary sense units — rather than entire sentences or paragraphs, on the one hand, or words and partial words, on the other. This enables the translation to stay quite close to the wording and order of the original, while conveying its sense in proper English idiom.

Contextual sensitivity. Words can have different meanings and functions, based on requirements or possibilities determined by their contexts, and depending on the norms of the language into which they are translated. In the English translation, context prescribes word choice, so that the same Syriac word may be translated differently in different places rather than rendered woodenly the same way every time. For example, the Syriac word ܺܰ (‫ ) ܐܩܝܡ‬is variously translated ‘set up’ (1:47), ‘raise up’ (3:43), ‘appoint’ (6:14), ‘erect’ (6:51), ‘support’ (12:1), and so forth. Where more than one meaning for a word or phrase is plausible and would yield a sufficiently distinct sense — not simply a difference in style or vocabulary choice — the accompanying notes provide alternative translations. The plausibility of legitimately different meanings is determined by the strength of historically grounded lexical data about a given word, the natural variety of meaning inherent in a particular term or grammatical form, and the requirements of the context. Several common Syriac conjunctions and particles also illustrate the importance of contextual sensitivity in making translation choices. Depending on the context, the ubiquitous Syriac conjunction w- (-‫ )ܘ‬has a wide range of meanings — ‘and,’ ‘but,’ ‘for,’ ‘or,’ ‘since,’ and so on. ܶ ) are very common; often translated Similarly, dên (‫ ) ܶܕܝܢ‬and gêr (‫ܓܝܪ‬ respectively ‘but/now’ and ‘for,’ each has a range of possible meanings and rhetorical functions. The function of the interjection hā (‫) ܳܗܐ‬, traditionally translated ‘behold!’, may be best captured by any of several terms or phrases, or even none at all. The English does not translate such words woodenly, but uses various words to represent their meanings and function. Since Syriac idiom is replete with such terms in ways that often seem redundant or awkward in English, at times such words are left untranslated altogether in order to produce a smooth English text. Furthermore, since English prefers hypotactic structures over the parataxis common to Syriac, the translation often changes a flat (paratactic) coordination between

xxx

Introduction to the Translation

clauses to create a subordinating (hypotactic) connection instead. For instance, ‘he gathered together the nation and comforted them and said to ܰ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ‬ ܽ ‫ܐܡܪ‬ ܰ ; 1 Maccabees 13:3) becomes ‘he ܰ ‫ܘܒ ܰܝܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܘ‬ ܰ .‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‬ them’ (.‫�ܗܘܢ‬ gathered together the nation and comforted them, saying.’

Inclusive Language. It is the policy of the series to use gender inclusive language. Where the context indicates that a specific gender is meant, the translation retains grammatical gender. However, when the context indicates gender neutrality, the translation uses inclusive language. The Syriac word ‘sons’ (‫ ) ̈ܒ ܰ� ܳܝܐ‬serves as an example. In one context, this word ܶ ܰ ‫ܘ�ܡ‬ refers only to males: ‘to leave their uncircumcised sons alone’ (‫ܫܒܩ‬ ܳ ܺ ܰ ; 1 Maccabees 1:48). But, in another context, it implies ܺ � ‫ܒ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܟܕ‬ :‫ܓܙܝܪܝܢ‬ both males and females: ‘but I will ܰ contend for the ܰ sake of our nation, ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ our ܰ ܰ ̈ ̈ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ sanctuary, and our children’ ( ‫ ܘܥܠ ܐܦܝ ܒܝܬ‬:‫ ܐܬܟܬܫ ܥܠ ܐܦܝ ܥܡܢ‬:‫ܒܪܡ ܕܝܢ‬ ܰ :‫ ; ܰܡܩܕ ܰܫܢ‬1 Maccabees 13:6). ̈.‫ܒ�ܝܢ‬ ܰ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܐ ܰ ̈ܦܝ‬

Explicit subjects and objects. Compared to English idiom, the Syriac often provides a veritable surplus of objects. However, at times the Syriac only implies an object that English idiom would prefer be made explicit. For instance, in 1 Maccabees 11:37, the Syriac reads: ‘now take care to make a ܽ ܶ ܶ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܶܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܦܛ‬ ܶ ܳ ‫ܚܡܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܒܦ‬ ܳ copy of thisܶ ܶ and give to Jonathan’ (‫ܕܗܠܝܢ ܬܟܬܘܒ‬ ܳ ܳ ܽ ‫ܘܢܬܢ‬ ‫)ܘܬܬܠ �ܝ‬. In such cases, the English translation tacitly makes the object explicit: ‘give it to Jonathan.’ In other cases, the English translation requires more than a simple pronoun, for the text provides no antecedent. ܰ For example, 1 Maccabees 5:38 reads: ‘Judas sent to spy on the camp’ (‫ܘܫ ܰܕܪ‬ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ‫) ܺ� ܽܗ‬. The English translation places the implied object ܽ ܶ‫ܘܕ ܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܓܫܘܢ �ܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬ in brackets: ‘Judas sent [people] to spy on the camp.’ On the other hand, an object or subject may be explicit but vague. This often happens when the Syriac does not specify the identity of a verb’s subject (e.g. ‘she’), or an object (e.g. ‘him’). The repetition of third-person subjects and objects can become confusing, especially in a running narrative. At such times, the English translation makes the identity of a subject or object clear — e.g., ‘Judas Maccabaeus’ in place of ‘he’ or ‘him.’ These changes do not make the implicit explicit so much as they clarify what is vague; therefore, the changes are indicated by brackets or explained in accompanying notes. Definiteness and indefiniteness. Syriac grammar does not always distinguish a ܳ ܰ ) may mean ‘the man’ or ‘a definite noun as such. For instance, gabrā (‫ܓܒܪ ܐ‬ man.’ The context guides translation choices in this area. At times, the numerical adjective ḥad (‘one,’ ‫ ) ܰܚܕ‬simply marks a word as indefinite, rather than designating a specific quantity; in such instances, the indefinite ‘a/an’ is

Introduction to the Translation

xxxi

more satisfactory than ‘one.’ The Syriac may use the demonstrative pronouns ‘that/those’ or ‘this/these’ merely to indicate definiteness, rather than with full demonstrative force. When this is judged to be the case, the English translation uses the definite article (‘the’) rather than a pronoun.

Hendiadys. At times the Syriac mentions two actions or things, linked by a conjunction, when only one is meant (hendiadys). A frequent occurrence is ܳ ‫ܰܘ‬ an expression suchܳ as the following: ‘King Ptolemy answered and said’ (‫ܥܢܐ‬ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ :‫ ;ܦܛܘ�ܡܐܘܣ ܡ�ܟܐ ܘܐܡܪ‬1 Maccabees 10:55). Two verbs are paired to convey a single action. The English translation prefers dynamic rather than formal equivalence, giving the appropriate sense by using a single term: ‘King Ptolemy answered.’

Untranslatable features. Some features of Syriac idiom cannot be properly captured by English idiom at all and therefore are not evident in the present English translation. They may mark syntax in ways that are untranslatable or simply involve structures that do not fit English. Examples of this include certain nuances between verb tenses and the so-called dativus ethicus, or pleonastic dative, whereby a particular prepositional phrase accompanies the verb but does not essentially change its meaning. For example, in 1 Maccabees 9:57 the verb ‘died’ takes dative: ‘when Bicrius saw ܰ a ܶpleonastic ܺ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܳ ‫) ܰܘ‬. Syriac very that Alcimus had died’ (:‫ܚܙ ܐ ܺܒܝܟܪ ܽ�ܘܣ ܕܡܝܬ ܠܗ ܐ�ܩܝܡܘܣ‬ commonly uses anticipatory and resumptive pronominal suffixes in a manner that is not normal in English. For example, ‘the friend of him, of ܳ ‫ܕܡ‬ ܶ ‫ ; ܳܪ‬1 Maccabees 10:20) is simply translated as ‘the ܰ ‫ܚܡܗ‬ the king’ (‫�ܟܐ‬ friend of the king.’ Untranslatable features such as these are tacitly normalized according to English idiom. The Lord. In the Peshiṭta version of the Hebrew Bible, the term māryā ܳ ‫) ܳܡ‬, ‘the Lord,’ represents the tetragram, the name of the Lord God. (‫ܪ�ܐ‬ Where this form occurs in the Peshiṭta text of the First Book of Maccabees, the English translation uses the capitalized ‘the Lord’ throughout. By ܳ contrast, in locations where the simple form mārā (‫ ) ܳܡܪ ܐ‬occurs, the English translates it as ‘lord.’

ܳ ‫ܺ� ܽܗ‬ Jew or Judean. The Greek term Ἰουδαῖος and its Syriac translation ‫ܘܕ ܳ�ܐ‬ present a major challenge. Modern translators have two options: ‘Jew’ or ‘Judean.’ The term ‘Jew’ bears strong religious connotations, while ‘Judean’ relates more to ethnicity and geography. The translation ‘Jew’ risks suggesting that modern categories of religion applied equally in antiquity, while the term ‘Judean’ may imply that practices called religious today did not cross cultures in antiquity. The books of Maccabees have played a particularly important role in these debates. The translation of the

xxxii

Introduction to the Translation

Maccabees in the Antioch Bible regularly uses the term ‘Jew’ based on the conventions of English bible translation. But the present translator hopes that readers will keep the diverse meanings of this term in mind. 45

Names. According to the policy of the series, the present translation uses conventional English spellings for proper names rather than transliterations. These conventions are long-standing and find their justification in the norms for idiomatic translations of all types of source material and in traditional methods for rendering biblical names into English — though it must be acknowledged that English conventions owe more to ancient Greek and Latin than Aramaic forms, as in the name ‘Joshua’ (rather than ‘Yeshua’). Furthermore, it should be noted that certain traditional name distinctions have become conventional even though they are without linguistic warrant and are inconsistent with sound translation methodology. For instance, the name ‘Judas’ and the region of ‘Judea’ are the same word ܳ ‫) ܺ� ܽܗ‬. Recognizing the limitations of this procedure, for the sake in Syriac (‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ of consistency the policy of the series is to use conventional English spellings. However, in this volume, alternatives have been used for proper nouns that cannot be resolved into conventional English spellings. Thus, for example, Jonadab is used for Joarib, Bicrius is used for Bacchides, Moreim is used for Modein. Other names that have been altered are indicated in the notes and in Appendix 3.

The attributive genitive. Syriac commonly uses genitival phrases to describe the quality of a preceding noun. Dynamic equivalence in English (or Greek) prefers adjectival phrases, and this is how the translation usually renders ܽ ܰ them. For example, ‘instruments of holiness’ (‫ ; ܳܡܐܢ ̈ܝ ܩܘܕ ܳܫܐ‬1 Maccabees ܶ ܺ 4:49) is translated as ‘holy instruments,’ and ‘with crowns of gold’ (�̈‫ܰܒܟ�ܝ‬ ܳ ‫ ; ܰܕܕ‬1 Maccabees 4:57) is translated as ‘with golden crowns.’ ‫ܗܒܐ‬ Biblical citations. The First Book of Maccabees often quotes from and alludes to the Hebrew Bible. Citations and strong verbal allusions are put within quotes. The notes provide references to the sources of the citations.

45 For an accessible introduction to the debate, see Timothy Michael Law and Charles Halton, eds., ‘Jew and Judean: A Forum on Politics and Historiography in the Translation of Ancient Texts,’ Marginalia: Los Angeles Review of Books, August 26, 2014, https://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org/jew-judean-forum/. A study on this debate in relation to the Second Book of Maccabees recently appeared: Markus Öhler, ‘Judäer oder Juden? Die Debatte „Ethnos vs. Religion“ im Blick auf das 2. Makkabäerbuch,’ in Die Makkabäer, ed. Friedrich Avemarie et al., Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 382 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017), 157–185.

Introduction to the Translation

xxxiii

Notes. In addition to providing biblical references, the notes that accompany the English translation define obscure terms, supply alternative meanings for some Syriac words and expressions, explain the literal wording behind certain translations, and clarify distinctions otherwise lost in English. Comparison of the Peshiṭta with the Septuagint

The Peshiṭta Syriac translation (Syr-1 = P) of the First Book of Maccabees is based on the Lucianic recension of the Septuagint Greek text (= LXX). Many differences between the versions attest to the translators’ efforts to make the translation intelligible in Syriac while freely rendering the Greek. A close comparison of the Peshiṭta and Septuagint versions of this work reveal differences due to the free style of translation: additions to lists of items or actions, specifications or omissions of names, transformations of subordinate clauses in Greek into separate sentences in Syriac, etc. Yet, some of these differences reflect the basic features of translation criticism: mistranslation, inner-Syriac corruptions, and deliberate changes. The three comparative lists included here note such differences when the Syriac Peshiṭta cannot be explained by variant readings in the Greek manuscript tradition. They complement Appendix 3, which contains such comparison related to proper nouns. Conventional symbols from the Göttingen Septuagint and from the Leiden edition of the Peshiṭta are used and can be located in those works. 46

Mistranslations 1:17

‘and with great splendor’. LXX στόλῳ μεγάλῳ ‘with a great fleet’. P renders στόλῳ as though from στολή ‘a garment’ rather than from στόλος ‘an army’ or ‘a fleet’. ܽ ‘the golden offerings’. LXX καὶ τὰς θυίσκας τὰς ܳ ‫ܘ�ܒܢܶܐ ܰܕܕ‬ ܳ ‫ܘܩ‬ 1:22 ‫ܗܒܐ‬ χρυσᾶς ‘and golden censers’. P translates θυίσκας as though it were a form of θύος ‘burnt offering’. ܽ 1:46 ‫‘ ܘܩܘܕ ܳܫܐ‬and holy place’. LXX καὶ ἁγίους ‘and the holy ones’. P translates ἁγίους as though a neuter — rather than a masculine — form of the adjective ἅγιος. ܳ ‫‘ ܰܓ‬honored man’. LXX ἀνὴρ ἄδοξος ‘dishonored man’. P ܰ ‫ܒܪ ܐ‬ 2:8 ‫ܡܫܒ ܳܚܐ‬ does not translate the privative ἀ- at the beginning of the adjective. P may reflect a variant reading found in one Greek manuscript (46) and xxv.

ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܰܪܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܒܬ‬

46

Kappler, Maccabaeorum liber I, 7–29; Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ v–

xxxiv

2:51

3:48

3:55 4:30 4:57

6:47 7:24 8:5

Introduction to the Translation several Latin sources (LaLGLucifer) ἄνδρα ἔνδοξον or ἀνὴρ ἔνδοξος ‘esteemed man’. ܰ ‫‘ ܰܕ‬which they kept’. LXX μνήσθητε τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν τὰ ‫ܥܒܕ ̱ܘ‬ ἔργα, ἃ ἐποίησαν ‘remember the works of our ancestors, which they did’. P omits by homoioteleuton the first part of this phrase but still translates the relative pronoun ἃ ‘which’ as -‫‘ ܕ‬which’. In order to render this passage into intelligible English, I have stretched the ܰ ‫‘ ܰܕ‬which they did’ to ‘which they kept’ in the meaning of ‫ܥܒܕܘ‬ translation of P below. ܽ ‫ܬܕ‬ ܽ ‫ܒܪܘܢ ܰܒ‬ ܽ ‫ܐ�ܨܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ܺ ‫‘ ܰܥ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܳܕ‬the nations who were ܰ ܶ‫ ܕܢ‬:‫�ܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‬ forcing them to live like them’. LXX ἐξηρεύνων τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ὁμοιώματα τῶν εἰδώλων αὐτῶν ‘the nations examined the ܺ ‫ܳܕ‬ likenesses of their idols’. P translates ἐξηρεύνων ‘examined’ as ‫ܐ�ܨܝܢ‬ ‘were forcing’. The origin of this mistranslation is obscure. P also omits τῶν εἰδώλων αὐτῶν ‘of their idols’. ܰ ‘leaders of fifties’. LXX καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ ܺ ‫ܘ� ܰܒܝ ܰܚ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ‬ δεκαδάρχους ‘leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens’. P omits καὶ ܰ ܳ ܶ δεκαδάρχους ‘and leaders of tens’. 7a1 includes ‫‘ ܘ� ܰܒܝ ܥܣܪ ܐ‬leaders of ܺ ‫‘ ܰܘ� ܰܒܝ ܰܚ‬leaders of fifties’. ‫ܡܫ‬ tens’ but omits ‫ܝܢ‬ ܽ ܳ‫ܕܓܢ̱ ܳܒܪ ܐ‬ ܳ ܰ ‫‘ ܬܘܟ�ܢܶܗ‬confidence of the warrior’. LXX τὸ ὅρμημα τοῦ δυνατοῦ ‘attack of the mighty one’. The translation of ὅρμημα ܳ ܳ ܽ ‘attack’ is obscure. ܳ ܺ ܰ as̈ ܰ ‫‘ ܬ ܽܘܟ� ܳܢܐ‬confidence’ ܽ :‫ܘܚ ݁ ܶܕܬ ̱ܘ ܰܬ �ܥܶܐ‬ ܰ ‘and they restored the doors and ‫ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܡܐ ܢܝ ܬܨܒܝܬܐ‬ all the instruments of the priestly chamber’. LXX καὶ ἐνεκαίνισαν τὰς πύλας καὶ τὰ παστοφόρια καὶ ἐθύρωσαν αὐτά ‘and they restored the gates and the priestly chambers, and they gave them doors’. P is the only witness to the text of the First Book of Maccabees that omits καὶ ἐθύρωσαν αὐτά ‘and they gave them doors’. The Syriac text of 7a1 has the full phrase. ܳ ‫‘ ܰܘ‬Judas saw’. LXX εἶδον ‘they saw’. P reads ‘they saw’ εἶδον ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܺ� ܽܗ ܳܘܕ ܐ‬ as ‘he saw’ εἶδεν and then adds the proper noun to specify who is acting. ܰ ‫‘ ܶܘܐܫܬ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ‬and were sent’. LXX καὶ ἀνεστάλησαν ‘and were prevented’. P does not take into account the prefix on ἀνεστάλησαν ‘prevented’ and renders it as though ἀπεστάλησαν ‘they were sent’. ܶ̈ ܰ ܰ ܳ ‫�ܟܐ ܳܕܟܬ�̈ܶܐ‬ ‫‘ ܘ�ܡ‬the kings of the people of Kittim’. LXX τὸν Περσέα Κιτιέων βασιλέα ‘Perseus, the king of the people of Kittim’. P regularly omits personal names when they are unnecessary for the meaning of a passage. But the omission of Perseus’s name from this passage eliminates any mention of him in P.

Introduction to the Translation 9:24

10:36

12:18

12:23 12:46 14:33 15:6

15:14

ܳ ‫ܒܠܬ ܳܐܦ ܰܐ‬ ܰ ‫ܐܬܚ‬ ܽ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܥ‬ ܰ ‫‘ ܶܘ‬and the land was also destroyed along with ‫ܡܗܘܢ‬

them’. LXX καὶ αὐτομόλησεν ἡ χώρα μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ‘and the land deserted with them’. It is difficult to determine how P arrived at this rendering. It is possible that P read αὐτομόλησεν ‘deserted’ as a form of the verb ἀπόλλυμι. But this would require confusing and transposing ܳ ܳ several letters. ܺ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ‬ ‫ܠܦܝ̈ܢ‬ ‫‘ ܬܠ‬three thousand’. LXX τριάκοντα χιλιάδας ‘thirty thousand’. Most differences in numbers between P and LXX can be explained via variant readings to the Greek text. But the critical edition of the LXX notes no variant readings in this particular example. Leiden edition reflects the Greek ‘thirty thousand’ ܺ The ܺ ‫ܬܝܢ ܰܐ‬ ܳ‫ܬܠ‬. P may have read τριάκοντα ‘thirty’ as τριά ‘three’, ̈‫ܠܦܝܢ‬ which does not match the gender inܶ Greek. ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ‫ܚܡܗܝܢ ܕܗܠܝܢ‬ ̱ ‫‘ ܐܢ ܗܘ ܕܬܟܬܒܘܢ ܠܢ ܦ‬if you make us a copy of this’. LXX ἀντιφωνήσαντες ἡμῖν πρὸς ταῦτα ‘when you have replied to us in these matters’. P may have mistaken ἀντιφωνήσαντες ‘when you have replied’ for a form of ἀντιγράφω ‘to write in reply’ or ‘to copy’. ‫‘ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‬everything’. LXX Τὰ κτήνη ὑμῶν καὶ ἡ ὕπαρξις ὑμῶν ‘your livestock and your belongings’. It is unclear why P fails to render the specificity of the LXX in this passage. 7a1 translates this passage accurately. ‫‘ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ‬and he went’. LXX ἀπῆλθον ‘they went’. P reads this verb as a singular, which requires the switching of only one letter: ἀπῆλθεν. This normally does not affect the general meaning of the passage, but here it proves misleading in the context. ܳ ܺ ܰ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢܬܐ‬ ‫‘ ܕ‬the cities’’. LXX τῶν πολεμίων ‘the enemies’’. P has πολεμίων as though it came from πόλις ‘city’. rendered ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ‫‘ ܕܬ‬to make a decree and to ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܐܝܟ ܳܕܨ ܶܒܐ ܐܢܬ‬ ‫ܦܣܘܩ ܦܣܩܐ ܘܬܦܩܘܕ ܦ‬ issue a command as you wish’: LXX ποιῆσαι κόμμα ἴδιον, νόμισμα τῇ χώρᾳ σου ‘to mint your own coin as the current coin in your own land’. P misreads κόμμα and νόμισμα in this passage. These mistranslations are discussed in the ‘Noteworthy Readings’ below. ܶ̈ ܰ ܰ ܶ ‫‘ ܘܐܚܕ ܐܠܦܐ‬seized the ships’. LXX τὰ πλοῖα ἀπὸ θαλάσσης συνῆψαν ‘the ships joined in from the sea’. P fails to translate the prefix on συνῆψαν ‘joined in’, taking it as though from ἅπτω ‘to join’ or ‘to lay hands on’.

Inner-Syriac Corruptions 4:2

xxxv

ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ‫ܝܬܗ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ‫‘ ܡܫܪ‬Judas’s camp’. LXX τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων ܳ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬can mean ‘Judas’ or ‘the camp of the Jews’. The Syriac word ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬

xxxvi

Introduction to the Translation

ܳ ‫ܺܕ ܽܝܗ‬ ‘Judea’. P may have rendered τῶν Ἰουδαίων ‘of the Jews’ as ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ‘of Judea’. But it is not possible to speak of a ‘camp of Judea’. Alternatively, P may have originally rendered τῶν Ἰουδαίων ‘of the ̈ ܽ ‫‘ ܺܕ‬of the Jews’ or ‘of the Judeans’, and then an innerJews’ as ‫ܝܗܘ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‬ Syriac corruption followed. ܳ ‘that he wished’. LXX καὶ ἐζήτει ‘and he sought’. It seems 9:32 ‫ܕܨ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ likely that the simple corruption of -‫‘ ܘ‬and’ into -‫‘ ܕ‬that’ has occurred in P. The majority text of the Leiden edition and the distinct ܳ ). translation in 7a1 also have this reading (‫ܘܨ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ Deliberate Changes Introduced by the Peshiṭta 3:49 6:37 9:38 12:51

14:26 15:28

ܳ ‫‘ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡܬܐ ܰܕ ܺܢܙ ܽܝܪܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‬the days of their separation’ or ‘the days of their

Naziriteship’. LXX τὰς ἡμέρας ‘the days’. P specifies what is implied by the LXX. ܰ ‫‘ ܰܘ‬and its driver’. LXX καὶ ὁ Ἰνδὸς αὐτοῦ ‘its Indian ‫ܡܕܒ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‬ [driver]’. P loses the specificity of the LXX, as there is no equivalent Syriac word to Ἰνδός that simultaneously means ‘driver’ and specifies the driver’s origin. ܳ ‫‘ ܶܘܐܬܕ ܰܟܪ ܽ�ܘ ܳܢܬܢ‬Jonathan remembered’. LXX ἐμνήσθησαν ‘they remembered’. P renders ἐμνήσθησαν ‘they remembered’ as though ἐμνήσθησεν ‘he remembered’. It then adds a proper noun to specify the actor. ܽ ‫ܕܡ ܰܪܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‬ ܶ ‘that they were grieved in their soul’. ܰ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ‬ ܳ ‫�ܢ‬ ܰ ‫�ܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܦܫܐ‬ LXX ὅτι περὶ ψυχῆς αὐτοῖς ἐστιν ‘that it was a matter of life for ݁ ܶ ‘that [they] were grieved’ in order to make sense them’. P adds ‫ܕܡ ܰܪܬ‬ of the idiomatic phrase in the LXX, which carries a different meaning. ܽ ‫�ܫ‬ ܶ ‘for Simon’. LXX αὐτῷ ‘for him’ or ‘for it’. The Syriac ‫ܡܥܘܢ‬ clarifies the antecedent of an ambiguous pronoun. But, in this case, αὐτῷ has often been assumed to refer to Israel rather than Simon. ܽ ‫ܐܡܪ‬ ܶ ܶ‫ܕܡ ܳܢܐ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܘܢ‬ ܳ ‘how shall we go act towards and ܰ ‫ ܺܘܢ‬.‫ܥܒܕ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‬ speak to them’. This phrase does not appear in the LXX.

Noteworthy Readings

The following list presents select readings from the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees to demonstrate its use in text criticism and its distinct character. The first section discusses four readings that establish a connection between the Peshiṭta and the Lucianic recension of the Greek. The second section identifies three variants within the Syriac tradition that have value for establishing the pre-Lucianic Greek text. The third section treats three unique readings in the majority Peshiṭta translation that have

Introduction to the Translation

xxxvii

either proven significant for text criticism or shaped the way that Syriac communities read this book.

Shared Readings with the Lucianic Text

The majority text of the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees reflects elements of the Greek Lucianic recension. The general uniformity of the Peshiṭta translation makes it a key witnesses to the Lucianic recension. The four readings discussed below have been selected as very simple and clear examples of variations that connect the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees to the Greek Lucianic recension.47 1 Maccabees 1:5 Alexander fell on his bed…

݂ܰ ܶ ‫ܢܦܠ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܥ‬ .‫ܪܣܗ‬

The majority text of the Greek reads ‘He fell on the bed’ (ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην). But several Greek witnesses to the Lucianic text (L-19–93) read: ‘Alexander fell on his bed’ (ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην αὐτοῦ ὁ ᾿Αλέξανδρος). The Peshiṭta follows this phrasing exactly. This seemingly insignificant variant represents one method that has linked the majority Peshiṭta translation to the Lucianic recension, namely, by identifying additions. 1 Maccabees 7:47

ܰ ‫ܝܫܗ ݁ܕ ܺܢ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܘ‬ ܶ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܺܪ‬ ...‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ‬

They cut off Nicanor’s head…

Both the majority Greek text and the Lucianic recension have the same set of words. Yet the majority text begins with ‘Nicanor’s head’ (καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν Νικάνορος ἀφεῖλον), while several Greek witnesses to the Lucianic recension (L-19–93) begin with ‘They cut off’ (καὶ ἀφεῖλον τὴν κεφαλὴν Νικάνορος). Here again the Peshiṭta follows the Lucianic recension. Word order also assumes a role in determining the Greek text on which the Peshiṭta is based. 1 Maccabees 10:44

ܶ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܢܶܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܘܕ‬ ݂ܰ ݁ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ‬ .‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‬ ݂ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒ‬

So that the sanctuary is rebuilt and restored … 47

A longer list appears in Kappler, Maccabaeorum liber I, 29.

xxxviii

Introduction to the Translation

The Syriac and Greek majority text share the beginning of this verse. But the majority Greek text adds ‘and the expenditure will also be given from the word of the king’ (καὶ ἡ δαπάνη δοθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λόγου τοῦ βασιλέως). The Lucianic recension (L-19–93) also omits this latter part of the verse. Such ommissions have also helped determine that the Lucianic recension served as the base text for the Peshiṭta translation of the First Book of Maccabees. 1 Maccabees 10:81 … and their cavalry grew weary.

ܽ ‫ܰܘ �ܺܝܘ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܰܫ‬ .‫ܝܗܘܢ‬

The majority Greek text has ‘and their horses wearied’ (καὶ ἐκοπίασαν οἱ ἵπποι αὐτῶν). But several Greek witnesses to the Lucianic recension and one Latin witness (L [LaB]) agree with the Syriac: ‘and their cavalry grew weary’ (καὶ ἐκοπίασαν οἱ ἱππεῖς αὐτῶν). The variation of this word in Greek manuscripts suggests that it was not simply a translation error in the Latin and Syriac versions. Word choice represents yet another approach by which the Peshiṭta has been linked to the Lucianic recension.

Divergent Readings from Other Syriac Recensions

There are variations within the transmission of the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees that have influenced text critical decisions about the Greek. First, the text in the Codex Ambrosianus (7a1) has a different translation of 1 Maccabees 1:1–14:25 based on the Greek text (Syr-2). Ignacio Carbajosa has recently argued that this translation was independent of the dominant translation (Syr-1).48 This translation was based on a version of the Greek text that preceded the Lucianic recension. The distinctions between the majority Syriac text and this translation have therefore been seen as significant for establishing the pre-Lucianic Greek text. 49 Second, small changes later in the tradition have provided additional support for early readings of the Greek text. Here three very slight differences in the text illustrate how the Codex Ambrosianus, the later tradition, and the majority tradition of the Peshiṭta have been used to help establish the text of the Greek.

48 49

Carbajosa, ‘What is the Relationship.’ Kappler, Maccabaeorum liber I, 38.

Introduction to the Translation 1 Maccabees 1:29 After two years…

xxxix

ܰ ܳ݁ ܶ ܺ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ‬ .‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܢ‬ ݂ ‫ܘܡܢ ܒ‬

The majority Syriac translation agrees with most Greek manuscripts (Sca 71 L'–542 46 55 58 311 340 LaX G B V) in adding an untranslated ‘and’ (καὶ/-‫ )ܘ‬to the beginning of this sentence. Yet the Codex Ambrosianus (7a1) and one Latin translation (LaL) simply begin with the word ‘after.’ This reflects what likely was the original Greek reading, as preserved in the Codex Sinaiticus (S) to which a later reader has added ‘and’ in the margin. In this small matter, the variation between the majority Syriac translation and the translation in the Codex Ambrosianus have helped establish the Greek text. 1 Maccabees 2:28 He and his sons fled to the mountain...

ܽ ܳ ‫ܠܛ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܘ‬ .‫ܘܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ܽܗܘ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬

The verb that begins this passage is singular in the majority of Syriac manuscripts, but its subject is plural. A family of manuscripts in the western tradition of the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees (12a1fam [12a1vid] ܰ ‫) ܰܘ‬. This change 15/14a1 15a3→) changed the verb to the plural (‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‬ reflects the earliest Greek manuscripts and contrasts a set of later Greek and Latin readings (46 55 311 LaLucifer). The original Syriac reading is correct grammatically, and the change may come from logic rather than a comparison with the Greek. 1 Maccabees 3:56 He said to those building houses…

ܶ ܳ ܽ ܶ �ܰ ‫ܐܡܪ‬ ܰ ‫ܶܘ‬ ...‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ̈ܒ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܢܶܝܢ‬

The majority Syriac tradition contains a singular verb in this sentence in concord with the earliest Greek witnesses (εἶπε) and the Latin translation (La). Yet the Codex Ambrosianus (7a1) and a significant number of Greek manuscripts (29-71-120-130 58 106 340; 98-107-243-721 l 46) contain a ܰ ‫ ܶܘ‬/εἶπαν/εἶπον). Here the majority Syriac tradition plural reading (‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‬ supports what was the likely original reading against the unique translation in the Codex Ambrosianus and much of the later Greek tradition.

Unique Readings

The Peshiṭta also contains a number of unique readings that appear in no other witness to the text. The readings presented below represent three

xl

Introduction to the Translation

different categories. The first shows the corruption of proper nouns, which leads to different connections to the rest of the biblical narrative. The second features a reading found only in Syriac manuscripts that has determined the reading of the Greek. The third reading provides a glimpse into the creativity of the Peshiṭta translators when they encountered difficulties translating the Greek. 1 Maccabees 2:1

ܳ ܺ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܶܫ‬ ܳ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܳܟ‬ ܰ �ܽ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ‬ ݂ ‫ܬ‬ ܶ ‫ ܶܩܡ ܺܡ‬:‫ܽܘ ݂ܒ ܳ ܳܗܢܘܢ ܶܝܘ ܽܡ ݂ ܺܬܐ‬ ܺ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܡ‬ .‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‬ ݂ ‫ ܘ‬.‫�ܘ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬

In those days, Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest from the children of Jonadab, left Jerusalem and settled in Moreim.

This passage shows two variations from all versions of the Greek text. First, the family of Mattathias is said in the majority Greek text to come from the family of ‘Joarib’ (Ιωαριβ). Only the Syriac has the name ‘Jonadab’ (see also 1 Maccabees 14:29). Several figures named Jonadab appear in the biblical narrative, but none is a priest (2 Samuel 12:3–5; Jeremiah 35:1–19). The name of Joarib appears in various forms associated with priestly families (1 Chronicles 9:10; 24:7). The Peshiṭta does not enable readers to make this connection. Second, the location of Moreim translates ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν) in Greek. The alternation of dālath and rīsh in personal and place names is well-known and appears throughout the First Book of Maccabees. Neither this person nor place name was ever corrected in later Syriac versions. 50 The Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees handed down distinct versions of proper names within Syriac communities.51 1 Maccabees 3:41

ܳ ݁ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒܘ ݁ ܶܟ‬ ܶ ‫ܘܣ ̈ܘ‬ ܰ :‫ܗܒܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‬ ܽ ‫ܘܩ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ‬ ܳ ݂ ‫ܘܕ‬ ܰ ݂ ‫ܣܦܐ‬ :‫ܛܡܐ‬ ̱ ܰ ‫ܰܘ‬

They took silver, much gold, fetters, and shackles…

All Greek and Latin manuscripts have ‘slaves’ or ‘children’ (παῖδες) rather than ‘fetters.’ The Greek word for ‘fetters’ (πέδας) came to sound exactly the same as ‘slaves’ as the language progressed. Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 50 On Jonadab and Moreim, see Angelo Penna, ‘I nomi propri dei primi due libri dei Maccabei nella Peshiṭta,’ Rivista degli studi orientali 40, no. 1 (1965): 14, 31. 51 On proper names in general, see Appendix 3 and Penna, ‘I nomi propri’; Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ xxxvi–xlvii.

Introduction to the Translation

xli

12.299 also has ‘fetters’ (πέδας). 52 Yet the Syriac provides a unique textual witness to this word within the context of the book. 1 Maccabees 15:6

ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ݁ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ�‫ܘ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܦ ܽܣܘܩ ܦܣܩܐ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܘܕ ܦ‬ ܰ .‫ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‬

I have given you authority to make a decree and to issue a command as you wish.

The second half of this sentence reads very differently in Greek: ‘to make your own coin as the current coin in your own land’ (ποιῆσαι κόμμα ἴδιον, νόμισμα τῇ χώρᾳ σου). The Peshiṭta translators chose another possible translation of ‘coin’ (κόμμα): ‘something cut off.’ This led them to choose ܳ which carries the same meaning of ‘cutting’ and the Syriac word ‫ܦܣ ܳܩܐ‬ means ‘decree.’ Similarly, they chose to translate ‘current coin’ (νόμισμα) with another possible meaning: ‘mandate.’ This sentence does not accurately reflect the meaning of the Greek. But the translators made great efforts to find coherence by choosing coordinating meanings for these two nouns.

52

Marcus, Jewish Antiquities 12–13, 154–155.

APPENDIX 1: VERSIFICATION Versification, the Mosul text compared with the Leiden edition. Leiden 1:36 4:4 4:31 5:57 5:66 8:4 8:17 11:61 12:4 12:20 13:40 14:28 14:43 14:47

Begins with Mosul Fourth word of 1:36 Sixth word of 4:4 Ninth word of 4:31 Last word of 5:56 Eighth word of 5:66 Last six words of 8:3 Eleventh word of 8:17 Ninth word of 11:61 Last five words of 12:3 Last three words of 12:19 Eleventh word of 13:40 Second word of 14:28 Last two words of 14:42 Fifth word of 14:47

xliii

APPENDIX 2: VARIANT READINGS The text of the Peshiṭta found in the Mosul Bible (= M) serves as the base text for the Antioch Bible. Differences between the Mosul edition and the critical edition produced by the Leiden Peshiṭta Institute (= L) are minor. This appendix collates the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees from the Mosul Bible used in this volume with the Leiden critical edition. Up to and including 14:25 the Leiden edition gives 7h7 as the basic text. 7a1 is a different translation and printed on the facing page. 1 The following table gives the variants of Mosul against Leiden. The fourth column indicates the support for the Mosul reading as follows: early first millennium up to and including the tenth century. late post tenth century (making use of the Leiden apparatus). no support Mosul’s reading is unique. Place 1:3 1:6 1:7 1:11 1:15 1:22 1:28 1:35 1:39 1:40 1:42

Mosul

‫ܥܕܡܐ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܠܟ‬ �‫ܥܘ‬ ‫ܠܥܘܪܠܘܬܐ‬ �‫ܕܗܝܟ‬ ̇ ‫ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ‬ ‫�ܘܙܝܩܐ‬ ̇ ‫ܡܩܕܫܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܪܘܡܗ‬ ‫ܘܕܢܫܒܘܩ‬

Leiden

‫ܥܕܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܗܢܘܢ‬ ‫ܐܡܠܟ ܕܝܢ‬

seyāme om lāmadh

‫ܕܕܗܒܐ‬ ̈ ̇ ‫ܥܡܘ‬ ‫ܕܝܗ‬ ‫�ܘܡܚܐ‬ ‫ܡܩܕܫܐ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܪܘܡܪܡܗ‬ ‫ܘܢܫܒܘܩ‬

Support for M no support no support no support late no support early early no support early early early

1 The text editions of the Old Testament in S. Lee, ed., Vetus testamentum syriace (London, 1823) and Justin Perkins, ed., The Old Testament, Translated into Ancient and Modern Syriac (Urmia, 1852) do not include the four books of Maccabees. Thus, unlike other Old Testament volumes of the Antioch Bible, these versions are not collated in the table of variants.

xlv

xlvi Place 1:44 1:51 1:54 1:54 2:1 2:9 2:10 2:23 2:24 2:25 2:30 2:36 2:36 2:53 2:53 2:62 2:70 3:10 3:12 3:12 3:20 3:23 3:23 3:28 3:29 3:32 3:32 3:35 3:41 3:42 3:43 3:43 3:44 3:56 3:58 4:3 4:5

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

‫ܐܝܙ̈ ܓܕܘܗܝ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܦܩܕ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܒܡܕ�̈ܢܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܡܘܪܥܝܡ‬ ̇ ̈‫ܘܥ�ܝ‬ ‫ܡܝܗ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ‬ ‫ܕܢܡܠܠ‬ ‫ܕ ̣ܝܢܐ‬ ‫̇ܣܚܦ‬ ‫ܘܒܢܝ̈ܗܘܢ ܘܢܫܝ̈ܗܘܢ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ̈ ‫ܡܛܫܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܣܦ‬ ‫ܢܡܘܣܐ‬ ‫ܡܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܐܒ�ܘ‬ ‫ܡܢ‬ ‫ܘܢܣܒ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܢܫܒܘܢܢ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܫ�ܝܬܗ‬ ̈ ‫ܡܘܗܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܢܡܘܣܐ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ‬ ‫ܥܒܝ̈ܕܬܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܡܥܛܐ‬ ‫ܬܓ�ܐ‬ ‫ܕܦܩܕ‬ ̣ ‫ܘܐܡܪ‬ ‫ܘܩܘܕܫܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܟܢܫܘ‬ ‫ܕܢܗܦܟܘܢ‬ ‫ܕܢܪܡܘܢܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܚܝ�ܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܗ‬

Leiden

‫̈ܫܠܝܚܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܦܩܕ‬ ̣ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‬ om waw

‫ܒܡܘܕܥܝܡ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܥܠܝܡܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܪܬܘ‬ ‫ܕܡܡܠܠ‬ ‫ܕܝ̇ܢܐ‬ ‫ܣܚܦ‬ ̣ tr om waw pr bēth om waw pr waw

‫ܦܘܩܕܢܐ‬

pr waw

‫ܘܐܬܐܒܠ‬ om waw

‫ܘܢܣܒܘ‬

‫ܘܕܢܫܒܘܢܢ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܕܝܐ‬

om seyāme om seyāme seyāme

‫ܘܡܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܥܒܝܕܬܐ‬

om waw

̇ ‫ܬܓ�ܝܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܕܦܩܕ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܪܘ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܩܘܕܫܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܟܢܫܬ‬ ‫ܕܢܗܦܘܟ‬ ‫ܕܢܪܝܡܘܢܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܚܝܠܬܢܐ‬ ‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬

Support for M no support early no support early no support early early late no support no support early no support no support no support early no support early no support late early early no support early early early late early early early early no support late early early early no support early

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Place 4:23 4:27 4:30 4:30 4:30 4:33 4:35 4:35 4:38 4:38 4:52 4:53 4:54 4:59 5:2 5:3 5:7 5:10 5:12 5:13 5:14 5:14 5:15 5:18 5:20 5:20 5:23 5:26 5:28 5:28 5:28 5:30 5:35 5:35 5:36 5:36 5:38

Mosul

‫ܕܗܝܩܢܬܘܢ‬ �‫ܘ‬ 1‫ܡܫ�ܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܫ�ܝܬܐ ܥܫܝ̈ܢܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܫܚܩܬ‬ ‫ܒܪܘܡܚܐ‬ ‫ܘܕܐܬܥܫܢܬ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܕܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܕܒܥܒܐ‬ ‫ܬܨܒܝ̈ܬܐ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܕܝܩܕܐ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܗܘ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܢܥܛܘܢܝܗܝ‬ ‫ܥܡ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܕܒܚܕ�ܝܢ‬ ‫ܕܢܦܠ‬ ̣ ‫ܘܐܘܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ‬ ‫̈ܡ� ܗܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܡܕܒ�ܢܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܦܠܓ‬ 2‫ܓܒ�ܝܢ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܒܒܘܣܪܝܐ‬ ‫ܕܒܘ�ܪܐ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ܘ‬ ‫ܘܢܣܒܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܪܝܡܘ‬ ‫ܩܛܠ‬ ‫ܘܢܣܒ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܟܒܫܘܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܒܘܣܪܝܐ‬ ‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬

Leiden

‫ܕܝܗܩܢܬܘܢ‬ ‫ܘ� ܗܘܐ‬

om seyāme om seyāme

‫ܕܫܚܩ‬

seyāme

‫ܘܐܬܥܫܢܬ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܕ‬

om seyāme

̈ ‫ܬܨܒܥܬܐ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‬ seyāme

‫ܒܗܘ ܝܘܡܐ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‬ om waw

‫ܥܠ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܕܚܕ�ܝܢ‬ ‫ܕܢܦ�ܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܘܥܕ‬ tr

om seyāme

‫ܥܠܝܗܘܢ‬ om

‫ܘܐܬܦܠܓܘ‬ ‫�ܝܠܝܢ‬

seyāme

‫ܠܒܘ�ܪܐ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ‬ ‫ܘܢܣܒ‬

om waw

‫ܩܛ�ܘ‬ ‫ܘܢܣܒܘ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܟܒܫܗ‬ seyāme

‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܗ‬

xlvii Support for M early early early early early early early early early no support early early early no support early early late early late early early early early early no support late early late early early early early early early early no support early

xlviii Place 5:40 5:45 5:47 5:51 5:53 5:56 5:65 5:68 5:68 6:4 6:7 6:7 6:20 6:33 6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:46 6:50 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:54 6:56 6:60 7:6 7:6 7:6 7:6 7:7 7:7 7:9 7:18

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

‫ܒܩܕܡܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܐ‬ ̇ ‫ܬ�ܥܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܐܘܒܕܘ‬ ‫�ܚ�ܢܐ‬ ‫ܪܝܫܐ‬ ‫ܒܢܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܒܐܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܦܟܘ‬ ̇ ‫ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ‬ ‫ܒܢܘ‬ ‫ܕܡܕܝܢܬܗܘܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܡܐܟܢܘܣ‬ ‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܩܝ̈ܣܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܓܒܐ‬ ‫ܫܡܫܐ ܘܨܡܚ‬ ‫ܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܟܪܣܗ ܒܣܝܦܐ‬ ‫ܘܟܒܫܗ‬ ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫ܘܐܩܝܡ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕ‬ ̣ ̈ ‫ܡܐܟܢܘܣ‬ ̇ ‫ܕܣܝܒܪܬܗ‬ ‫ܘܐܫܬܚܪ‬ ‫ܒܒܝܬ‬ ‫ܕܨܒܐ‬ ̣ ‫ܘܫܕܪܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܟܠ‬ ̣ ‫ܘܐܡܪ‬ ‫ܐܘܒܕ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܫܐ‬ ‫ܕܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܠܗ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬

Leiden

‫ܒܩܕܡܐ‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕ‬ ‫ܬ�ܥܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܘܒܕ‬ ‫�ܚ�ܝܐ‬ seyāme om

‫�ܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܦܟ‬

om om om dālath

‫ܘܡܐܟܢܣ‬ ‫ܠܡܫܪܝܬܗ‬ om seyāme

̈ ̇ ‫ܓܒ‬ ‫ܝܗ‬ tr tr

‫ܡܫܪܝܬܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܟܒܫܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫ܘܐܩܝܡܘ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕܘ‬

om seyāme

‫ܕܣܝܒܪܬܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܫܬܚܪܘ‬ om bēth

̇ ‫ܕܨܒܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ‬ ‫ܘܐܟ�ܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܪܘ‬ ‫ܐܘܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܢ‬

om waw

om om waw

‫ܕܥܒܕܘ‬

Support for M early late late no support no support early early late early early early early late early early early late early early early no support early no support early no support no support no support no support early early early early early early early late early

‫‪xlix‬‬ ‫‪Support for M‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬

‫‪Appendix 2: Variant Readings‬‬ ‫‪Leiden‬‬

‫ܘܫܪܘ‬

‫‪seyāme‬‬ ‫‪om waw‬‬

‫̇‬ ‫ܘܐܚܕܗ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܚܙܐ‬ ‫ܘܢܦ�ܘ‬ ‫‪tr‬‬

‫‪om‬‬

‫ܠܒܝܬܐ ܗܢܐ‬ ‫‪pr lāmadh‬‬

‫ܘܬܒܪ‬

‫‪om seyāme‬‬

‫ܒܐܕܪ ܝܪܚܐ‬

‫ܒܟܠ ܫܢܐ ܘܫܢܐ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܕܚܬܝܐ‬ ‫ܢܣܒܘ‬ ‫ܝܗܒܘ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪܘ‬ ‫ܕܡܢܝܚܢ‬ ‫ܘܕܬܟܬܒܘܢܢ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܦܚܡܗ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪܘ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܡܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܟܠ ܡܥܕ�ܢܝܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܣܒܝܢ‬ ‫ܢܬܝܗܒ‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܒ‬ ‫ܗܦܟܘ‬ ‫‪om waw‬‬

‫ܘܒܟܘ ܘܐܪܩܕܘ‬ ‫ܠܘܬ‬ ‫‪om waw‬‬ ‫‪om‬‬

‫ܘܨܒܐ‬

‫‪Mosul‬‬

‫ܘܫܪܐ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܙܪܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܘܐܚܕܘܗ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܝܬ‬ ‫ܕܐܚܙܐ‬ ‫ܘܢܦܠ‬ ‫̈ܡ� ܗܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܠܗܢܐ ܒܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܿܗܘ‬ ‫ܘܬܒܘܪ‬ ‫ܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܐܕܪ‬ ‫̈ܡܐܛ�‬ ‫ܟܠ ܫܢܐ ܒܫܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܟܬ�̈ܐ‬ ‫ܢܣܒ‬ ‫ܝܗܒ‬ ‫ܫܕܪ‬ ‫ܕܡܚܝܢܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܕܬܟܬܒܘܢ ܠܢ‬ ‫ܦܚܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ‬ ‫ܕܪܚܡܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܥܕ�ܢܝܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܣܒܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܬܠܘܢ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܝܐ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܒܘ‬ ‫ܗܦܟ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܒܟܐ ܘܐܪܩܕ‬ ‫ܠܒܝܬ‬ ‫ܘܗܫܐ‬ ‫ܕܨܒܐ‬ ‫ܢܗܪܐ‬

‫‪Place‬‬ ‫‪7:19‬‬ ‫‪7:19‬‬ ‫‪7:19‬‬ ‫‪7:22‬‬ ‫‪7:22‬‬ ‫‪7:28‬‬ ‫‪7:28‬‬ ‫‪7:32‬‬ ‫‪7:33‬‬ ‫‪7:35‬‬ ‫‪7:41‬‬ ‫‪7:42‬‬ ‫‪7:42‬‬ ‫‪7:49‬‬ ‫‪8:3‬‬ ‫‪8:4‬‬ ‫‪8:5‬‬ ‫‪8:8‬‬ ‫‪8:8‬‬ ‫‪8:10‬‬ ‫‪8:12‬‬ ‫‪8:20‬‬ ‫‪8:22‬‬ ‫‪8:22‬‬ ‫‪8:22‬‬ ‫‪8:24‬‬ ‫‪8:26‬‬ ‫‪8:28‬‬ ‫‪9:1‬‬ ‫‪9:12‬‬ ‫‪9:16‬‬ ‫‪9:18‬‬ ‫‪9:20‬‬ ‫‪9:26‬‬ ‫‪9:30‬‬ ‫‪9:32‬‬ ‫‪9:34‬‬

l Place 9:39 9:40 9:43 9:48 9:53 9:58 9:73 10:13 10:20 10:28 10:30 10:34 10:38 10:40 10:42 10:56 10:58 10:60 10:61 10:63 10:64 10:65 10:73 10:78 10:80 10:83 10:88 11:4 11:16 11:17 11:21 11:22 11:29 11:31 11:34 11:37 11:38

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

‫ܘܚܬܢ̈ܐ‬ ‫ܠܛܘ�ܐ‬ ‫ܕܗܦܟ‬ ‫ܥܒܪܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܒܢܛܘ�ܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܫܠܝܐ ܬܟܝ�ܝܬ‬ ‫ܐܢܫܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܒܩ‬ ̣ ‫ܫܘܬܦܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܓܝ̈ܐܬܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܝܐ‬ ‫ܠܟܠܗܝܢ‬ ‫�ܒܝ‬ ‫ܒܝܬ‬ ‫ܕܟܣܦܐ‬ ‫ܘܬܡܢ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܐܢܘܢ‬ �‫ܘ‬ ‫ܡܟܣܝ‬ ‫ܪܒ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܡܫ�ܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܛ�ܩܘ‬ ‫ܐܬܬܒܪܘ‬ ‫ܠܗܠܝܢ‬ ‫ܕܐܘܩܕܘ‬ ‫ܘܥܪܩ‬ ‫ܙܒܕܝܐܝܠ‬ ‫ܝ̇ܬܒ ܥܠ‬ ‫ܢܐܪܥܝܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܟܬܝܒ‬ ‫ܦܚܡܐ‬ ‫ܕܐܬܬܘܣܦܘ‬ ‫ܒܦܚܡܐ‬ �‫ܚܝ‬

Leiden om seyāme om seyāme pr waw om seyāme tr pr lāmadh

‫ܕܗܦܟ ܘܐܬܐ‬

‫ܘܫܒܩܘ‬ ‫ܫܠܡܘܬܐ‬ ‫�ܘܪܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܐ‬

om lāmadh om om dālath

‫ܪܒ‬

‫ܕܬܡܢ‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܢܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐܢܫ‬ ‫ܡܟܣܐ‬ ‫ܪܝܫ‬ om waw om seyāme

‫ܘܛ�ܩܘ‬ ‫ܐܬܒܕܪܘ‬

om lāmadh

‫ܕܐܘܩܕ‬ ‫ܘܥܪܩ ܗܘ‬ ‫ܙܝܒܐܝܠ‬ ‫̣ܝܬܒ ܒܥܠ‬ pr waw

‫ܕܟܬܝܒ‬ ̇ ‫ܦܚܡܗ‬ ‫ܕܐܬܬܘܣܦ‬ ‫ܕܦܚܡܐ‬ ‫ܚܝܠܗ‬

Support for M no support early early early early early late late early early early early early late early late no support late early early early no support no support no support late early early early early no support no support early early no support no support early late

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Place 11:39 11:42 11:55 11:59 11:61 11:61 11:61 11:62 11:63 11:65 12:7 12:8 12:11 12:13 12:16 12:20 12:21 12:21 12:22 12:23 12:32 12:36 12:36 12:37 12:38 12:41 12:52 13:6 13:6 13:7 13:17 13:17 13:21 13:27 13:33 13:51 14:10

Mosul

‫ܐܝܬܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܒܠܚܘܕ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܟܢܫ ܗܘܐ‬ ̈ ̇ ‫ܬܚܘ‬ ‫ܡܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܝܬܒܘ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܐܘܩܕܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܟܠܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܠܕܪܡܣܘܩ‬ ‫�ܘܪܒܢܐ‬ ‫ܥܡܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠܗ‬ ̈ ‫�ܚܘܗܝ ܢܬܕܟܪ‬ ‫ܕܐܩܪܒܘ‬ ‫ܠܢܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܪܒ‬ ‫ܠܘܬ‬ ‫ܙܪܥܗ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܕܝܕܥܢ‬ ‫ܦܩܕܢ‬ ‫ܠܕܪܡܣܘܩ‬ ‫ܡܢܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܗܠ‬ ‫ܥܠ�ܓܢܒ‬ �‫ܕܒܨܦܝ‬ ‫ܘܫܩܠ‬ ̣ 2‫ܘܐܬܐܒ�ܘ‬ ‫ܥܡܢ‬ ̈ 2‫ܐܦܝ‬ ‫ܕܫܡܥ‬ ‫ܕܠܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܢܐܡܪ‬ ‫ܒܐܘܪܚܐ‬ ‫ܩܒ�ܐ‬ ‫ܐܢܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܝܗܒ‬ ̣

Leiden tr

‫ܐܝܬ‬

‫ܘܐܬܟܢܫܘ‬ ̈ ‫ܬܚܘܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܝܬܒ‬ ̣ ‫ܘܐܘܩܕܗ‬ ̣ ‫ܠܟܠܗ‬ ‫ܠܕܡܣܩܘܣ‬ ‫�ܘܪܒܢܘܗܝ‬ ̇ ‫ܥܡܗ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠܗ ܗܘܐ‬ tr om dālath

‫ܠܝܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ ܪܒ‬ ‫ܥܠ‬ ‫ܫܪܒܬܗ‬ tr pr waw

‫ܠܕܡܣܩܘܣ‬ ̇ ‫ܡܢܗ‬ ̇ ‫ܘܠܗ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܥܠ�ܓܢܒ‬ ‫ܕܒܨܦܐ‬ om

‫ܘܐܬܐܒܠ‬ ‫ܥܡܝ‬ om

pr dālath om om om seyāme om

‫ܕܫܡܥܘ‬

̈ ‫ܘܒܬܫܒܚܬܐ‬ om waw

li Support for M early early early early early early early early early early late early early late no support early late early early early no support early early no support no support no support no support late late no support no support no support no support no support no support early early

‫‪Appendix 2: Variant Readings‬‬ ‫‪Support for M‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪late‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪no support‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬ ‫‪early‬‬

‫‪Leiden‬‬ ‫‪om waw‬‬ ‫‪seyāme‬‬

‫ܠܘܬܟܘܢ‬ ‫ܝܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܠܝܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܒܪ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܝܗܘܕܝܐ‬ ‫ܕܨܒܐ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܕܢܛܪ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܒܗ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܘܐܥܫܢܗ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܫܘ�ܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܡܩܡܘ‬ ‫ܕܢܥܒܪ ܕܝܢ‬ ‫‪om waw‬‬

‫ܐܬܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܢܬܩܢ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܚܪܘ‬ ‫ܠܪܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܪܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܝܒܫܐ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‬ ‫ܝܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫‪pr dālath‬‬

‫ܘ��ܥܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܠܕܝܐܪܬ‬ ‫ܘܠܣܡܣܩܝܣ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܐܣ�‬ ‫ܘܠܩܝܪܘܢܐ‬ ‫ܟܬܒܘ‬ ‫‪om seyāme‬‬

‫ܪܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܩܪܒ‬ ‫ܒܝܢܬ‬ ‫ܚܝܠܬܢܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܙܠܘ‬

‫‪lii‬‬ ‫‪Mosul‬‬

‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܪܝܫܐ‬ ‫ܠܟܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܠܢܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܡܢ‬ ‫ܕܝܗܘܕܐ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܕܨܒܐ ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܕܢܛܪ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܒܗ‬ ‫ܘܐܥܫܢܗ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܫܘܪܗ‬ ‫ܠܡܩܡܘ‬ ‫ܕܢܥܒܪ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܕܢܗܘܝܢ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܕܬܬܩܢ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܚܪ‬ ‫ܠܕܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‬ ‫ܝܒܫܐ‬ ‫ܢܘܡܢܝܘܣ‬ ‫ܢܩܪܒܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܐ�ܥܬܐ‬ ‫ܘ�ܪܝܪܬ‬ ‫ܘܠܡܣܩܘܣ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܐܣܐܠܝܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܠܩܝ�ܢܝܐ‬ ‫ܟܬܒ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܟܗܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܩܪܒܘ‬ ‫ܒܝܬ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܚܝܠܬܢܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܙܠ‬

‫‪Place‬‬ ‫‪14:13‬‬ ‫‪14:20‬‬ ‫‪14:21‬‬ ‫‪14:22‬‬ ‫‪14:24‬‬ ‫‪14:29‬‬ ‫‪14:33‬‬ ‫‪14:35‬‬ ‫‪14:35‬‬ ‫‪14:37‬‬ ‫‪14:37‬‬ ‫‪14:37‬‬ ‫‪14:42‬‬ ‫‪14:45‬‬ ‫‪14:49‬‬ ‫‪15:4‬‬ ‫‪15:9‬‬ ‫‪15:10‬‬ ‫‪15:11‬‬ ‫‪15:13‬‬ ‫‪15:14‬‬ ‫‪15:14‬‬ ‫‪15:15‬‬ ‫‪15:19‬‬ ‫‪15:19‬‬ ‫‪15:22‬‬ ‫‪15:23‬‬ ‫‪15:23‬‬ ‫‪15:23‬‬ ‫‪15:24‬‬ ‫‪15:24‬‬ ‫‪15:25‬‬ ‫‪15:25‬‬ ‫‪15:25‬‬ ‫‪15:28‬‬ ‫‪16:3‬‬ ‫‪16:4‬‬

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Place 16:10 16:10 16:11 16:16 16:24

Mosul

̇ ‫ܘܐܘܩܕܗ‬ ‫ܓܒ�ܝܢ‬ ‫ܡܩܡ‬ ‫ܩܡܘ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ‬

Leiden

‫ܘܐܘܩܕܗ‬ ‫ܓܒ�ܐ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܕܡܩܡ‬ ‫ܩܡ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܟܘܠܗܝܢ‬

liii Support for M early early no support early early

APPENDIX 3: NAMES The spelling of proper nouns in the Antioch Bible normally follows that of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901. However, a translation of the books of Maccabees was not published as part of the ASV. This volume aims to spell proper names in the spirit of the ASV by considering the spelling of names in other books in the ASV or examining subsequent translations of the books of the Maccabees. Yet some proper names in the Syriac are so distant from their Greek counterparts that they cannot be resolved into conventional English spellings. In these cases, alternatives have been used that reflect the Syriac. Footnotes identify these deviations throughout the translation. This appendix compares the proper nouns found in the Peshiṭta of the First Book of Maccabees to those found in the Septuagint. It separates them into four categories. The first and largest category includes proper nouns that are identical or similar in the Peshiṭta and Septuagint. The second category includes nouns in which individual consonants have been changed, added, or deleted in the Syriac rendering of Greek proper nouns. The third category includes proper nouns that have been changed significantly. The fourth category includes proper nouns whose meanings have been translated from Greek into Syriac. Each entry includes four items: (1) the English rendering of the proper noun found in the translation, (2) a reference to the first occurrence of the proper noun in this form, (3) the Syriac version of the proper noun as it occurs in the text below, and (4) the Greek version of the proper noun. Some entries include the translation of the Greek proper noun. In addition to this appendix, readers may wish to consult an article on proper nouns in the First and Second Books of Maccabees by Angelo Penna as well as the data collected on this topic in the critical edition. 1

1

Penna, ‘I nomi propri’; Penna, Jenner, and Bakker, ‘1–2 Maccabees,’ xxxvi–xlvii.

lv

lvi

Appendix 3: Names

Parallel Greek and Syriac Proper Nouns

Aaron (7:14) ‫ ܐܗܪܘܢ‬for ܰ Greek Ααρων Abraham (2:52) ‫ ܐ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܳܗܡ‬for Greek Αβρααμ ܽ ܰ Absalom (11:70) ‫ ܐ ݂ܒ ܳܫ�ܘܡ‬for Greek Αψαλώμος ܳ ݂ ‫ ܰܚ ݁ ܽܒ‬for Greek Ἄβουβος Abubus (16:11) ‫ܘܒܐ‬ ܳܰ Accos (8:17) ‫ܘܣ‬ ܳܳ ‫ ܐܩ‬for Greek Ακκως Adar (7:43) ‫ ݂ܐܕܪ‬for Greek Αδαρ ܰ for Greek Ἀκραβαττήνη ܰ ݁ ‫ܥܩ‬ Akrabattene (5:3) ‫ܪܒ ݂ܬ‬ ܰ ܺ ܳ Alcimus (7:5) ‫ܝܡܘܣ‬ ‫�ܩ‬ ‫ܐ‬ for Greek Ἄλκιμος ܺܳ Alema (5:26) ‫ ܐܠܝܡ‬for Greek Αλέμοις 2 ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ Alexander (1:1) ‫ ܐܠ ݁ܟܣ ݁ܢܕܪܘܣ‬for Greek Ἀλέξανδρος Ammon (5:6) ‫ ܰܥ ܽܡܘܢ‬forܰ Greek Αμμων ܺ ܺ Antioch (3:37) ‫ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ܟ ܰܝܐ‬forܰ Greek Ἀντιόχεια ܺ Antiochus (1:10) ‫ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‬forܰ Greek Ἀντίοχος ܺ ܰ ݁ ‫ܢܛ‬ ܳ ‫ܝܦ‬ Antipater (12:16) ‫ܛܪܘܣ‬ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ἀντίπατρος ܰ ܶ Aphairema (11:34) ‫ ܐ ݂ܦܪܝܡ‬forܰ Greek Αφαιρεμα ܺ �ܽ ‫ ܐ ݁ ܳܦ‬for Greek Ἀπολλώνιος Apollonius (3:10) ‫ܘ� ܳܝܘܣ‬ ܽ ݂ for Greek Απφους Apphus (2:5) ‫ܚܦܘܣ‬ ܰ ܳ ܳ Arab (5:39) ‫ܪܒܝܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܥ‬for Greek Ἄραψ Arabia (11:16) ‫ ܰ� ܰܪ ݂ ܺܒ ܰܝܐ‬for ܰ Greek Ἀραβία ܽ ܳ Aradus (15:23) ܳ ‫ܘܣ‬ ܰ ‫ ܐ ܪ ݂ܘܕ‬for Greek Ἄραδος Arbela (9:2) �‫ ܐ ݁ܪܒ‬for Greek Ἄρβηλα ܰ ܰ ܳ Ariarathes (15:22) ‫ ܐܪ�ܪ ܰ ݂ܬ‬for Greek Ἀριαράθης ܰ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ἀρσάκης Arsaces (14:3) ‫ܪܣܩ‬ ܽ ‫ܫܩ‬ ܳ ‫ ܰܐ‬for Greek Ἀσκάλων Askalon (10:86) ‫ܘܢ‬ � ܰ Asia (8:6) ‫ ܐ ܺܣ ܰܝܐ‬for Greek Ἀσία ܶ ܳ Asphar (9:33) ‫ܣܦܪ‬ ܽ ݂ ܳ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ασφαρ Assyria (7:41) ‫ ܐ ݂ܬܘܪ‬for Greekܶ Ἀσσυρίων (of the Assyrians) ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ Athenobius (15:28) ‫ܘܣ‬ ܰ ܰ ‫ ܐ ݂ܬ ܐܢ ݂ܘܒܝ‬for Greek Ἀθηνόβιος Attalus (15:22) ‫ ܐܛ ܳ�ܘܣ‬for Greek Ἄτταλος ܳ Avaran (2:5) ‫ ܰܚܘܪܢ‬for Greek Αυαραν ܳ ‫ ܰ� ܰܙ‬for Greek Αζαρίας Azariah (2:59) ‫ܪ�ܐ‬ ܳ Azotus (5:68) ‫ ܳܙܘܛܘܣ‬for Greek Ἄζωτος Babylon (6:4) ‫ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒܠ‬for Greek Βαβυλών Baean (5:4) ‫ ܰܒ ܰܝܐܢ‬for Greek Βαιαν ̈ Baskama (13:23) ‫ ܶܒܣܩ ܶܡܐ‬for Greek Βασκαμα ܳ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βηθδαγων Beth-dagon (10:83) ‫ܓܘܢ‬ ݂ ܽ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ‬

ܽ ܰ

2

This word only occurs once, and it is in the dative plural.

Appendix 3: Names Bethel (9:50) ‫ܝܬ ܐܝܠ‬ ݂ ܳ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βαιθηλ Beth-horon (3:16) ‫ܝܬ ܰܚܘܪܢ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek βαιθωρων ܰ ݂ ‫ܝܬ‬ ܳ Beth-zechariah (6:32) ‫ܙܟܪ�ܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βαιθζαχαρια ܶ ܽ Beth-zur (4:29) ‫ܝܬ ܫܘ� ܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βαιθσούρ ܽ ܰ ܳ Bosor (5:26) ‫ ܒܘܣܪ�ܐ‬for Greek Βοσορ ܳ ܳ ‫ ܽܒ‬for Greek Βοσορα Bozrah (5:26) ‫ܘ�ܪ ܐ‬ Caleb (2:56) ‫ ܳܟ ܳܠ ݂ܒ‬for Greek Χαλεβ ܰ for Greek Χανααν Canaan (9:37) ‫ܟܢܥܢ‬ ܰ ݂ for Greek Χαφαρσαλαμα ܳ ‫ܟܦܪ‬ Caphar-salama (7:31) ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ܶ Caria (15:23) ‫ ܩܪܝܢ‬for Greek Καρία ܳ ‫ ܰܩ‬for Greek Καρναϊν Carnaim (5:26) ‫ܪܢܐ‬ ܰ ݁ ‫ ܶܩ‬for Greek Κενδεβαῖος Cendebeus (15:38) ‫ܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ‬ ܳ ݁ ‫ ܰܟ‬for Greek Χασφω or Χασφωρ Chaspo (5:26) ‫ܣܦܘܪ‬ ܺ ܺ ܺ Cilicia (11:14) ‫ ܩܝܠܝܩ ܰܝܐ‬for ܶ Greek Κιλικία ܰ ݁ ܳ�‫ܩ‬ ܰ ‫ܘܦ‬ Cleopatra (10:57) ‫ܛܪ ܐ‬ for Greek Κλεοπάτρα ܺ ܳ Cnidus (15:23) ‫ܝܕܘܣ‬ ݂ ‫ ܩܢ‬for Greek Κνίδος Cos (15:23) ‫ ܺ ܳܩܘ‬for Greek Κῶς ܺ Crete (10:67) ‫ ܩܪܛܐ‬for Greek Κρήτη ݁ ‫ ܽܩ‬for Greek Κύπρος Cyprus (15:23) ‫ܘܦ ܳܪܘܣ‬ ܺ ܺ Cyrenian (15:23) ‫ ܩܝܪ ܳ� ܳܝܐ‬for Greek Κυρήνη (Cyrene) ܳ Dagon (11:4) ‫ܓܘܢ‬ Δαγων ݂ ܽ ‫ ܕ‬forܽ Greek ܰ Damascus (11:62) ‫ ܕܪܡܣܘܩ‬for Greek Δαμασκός Daniel (2:60) ‫ ܳܕ ܺ�ܝܶܐܝܠ‬for Greek Δανιηλ ܺ Darius (1:1) ‫ ܳܕ ܪ ܰ�ܘܫ‬for Greek Δαρεῖος David (1:33) ‫ ܰܕ ܺܘ ݂ܝܕ‬for Greek Δαυιδ ܳ ‫ ܰܕ‬for Greek Δῆλος Delos (15:23) ‫ܐܠܘܣ‬ ܺ Demetrius (7:1) ‫ ܺܕ ܺܡܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‬for Greek Δημήτριος ܳ Dor (15:11) ‫ ܰ ܽܕܘܪ ܐ‬for Greek Δωρ ܳ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ελασα (Elasa) or Αλασα (Alasa) Elasa (9:5) ‫�ܣܐ‬ ܽ Ekron (10:89) ‫ ܶܥܶܩܪܘܢ‬for Greek Ακκαρων ܳ ‫ ܐ ܺܠ‬for Greek Ελεαζαρ Eleazar (2:5) ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‬ ܳ �ܳ for Greek Ελεαζαρ Eleazar (8:17) ‫� ܳܙܪ‬ ܺܶ Elijah (2:58) ‫ ܐ� ܳܝܐ‬for Greek Ηλίας ܳ ‫ ܺܥ‬for Greek Ἐλυμαΐς Elymais (6:1) ‫ܝܠܡ‬ ܽ Emmaus (3:40) ‫ ܥܶ ܰܡܐܘܣ‬for Greek Αμμαουσ Ephron (5:46) ‫ܘܦ ܳܪ ܐ‬ Εφρων ݂ ‫ ܽܥ‬for Greek ܰ ݂ ‫ ܶܐ ݁ ܺܦ‬for Greek Ἐπιφανής Epiphanes (1:10) ‫ܝܦ ܳܢܘܣ‬ Esau (5:3) ‫ ܺܥ ܽܣܘ‬for Greek Ησαυ ܶ ‫ ܶܐ‬for Greek Εὐμένης Eumenes (8:8) ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝܘܣ‬ ܳ ܰ ܶ Eupator (6:17) ‫ ܐ ݁ܘܦܛܘܪ‬for Greek Εὐπάτωρ ܳ Euphrates River (3:32) ‫ ܰܢܗܪ ܐ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ݂ܬ‬for Greek ὁ ποταμὸς Εὐφράτης

ܺ

lvii

lviii

Appendix 3: Names

Euphrates River (3:37) ‫ܗܪ ܐ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ ܰܢ‬for Greek ὁ Εὐφράτης ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ‫ ܐ ݁ܘܦܠ‬for Greek Εὐπόλεμος Eupolemus (8:17) ‫ܝܡܘܣ‬ ܰ ܰ Gaddi (2:2) ‫ܓ ݁ܕܝ‬ ܳ ܺfor Greek Γαδδι Galilee (5:14) �‫ ܓܠܝ‬for Greek Γαλιλαία ܶܳ ܰ Gauls (8:2) ‫ܓ ܰܠܛܝ̈ܐ‬ for Greek Γαλάται ܳ ܳ Gaza (11:61) ‫ ܥܐܙ ܐ‬for Greek Γάζα ܳ for Greek Γαζαρα Gazara (4:15) ‫ܓ ܳܙܪ‬ ܳ ܺ for Greek Γαζηρα Gazara (7:45) ‫ܓܙܝܪ ܐ‬ ܳ ܺ for Greek Γαζαρα Gazara (9:52) ‫ܓܙܝܪ ܐ‬ ܶ for Greek Γεννησαρ Gennesaret (11:67) ‫ܓܢܶ ܰܣܪ‬ ܳ ܶ Gilead (5:9) ‫ ܓ�ܥ ݂ܕ‬for Greek Γαλααδ ܺ ݁ ‫ ܽܓ‬for Greek Γοργίας Gorgias (3:38) ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ‬ ܰ ܶ ܳ Greece (1:1) ‫ ܗ� ݂ܕ ܐ‬for Greek Ἑλλάς Greece (8:9) ‫ ܶܗ ܰܠܣ‬for Greek Ἑλλάς ܰ ‫ ܶܐ ܺܠ‬for Greek Ἁλικαρνασσός ܰ ‫ܝܩ‬ Halicarnassus (15:23) ‫ܪܢ ܳܣܘܣ‬ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܕ‬ Hamath (12:25) ‫ܚܡ ݂ܬ�̈ܐ‬ ݂ ܳ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Αμαθῖτις ܳ ‫ ܰܚ ܰܢ‬for Greek Ανανίας Hananiah (2:59) ‫ܢܝܐ‬ ܰ Hasideans (2:42) ‫ ܐ ܺܣ ̈� ݂ ܳܕ ܰ�ܶܐ‬for Greek Ασιδαῖοι Hazor (11:67) ‫ ܐ ܽܣܘܪ‬for Greek Ασωρ ܽ Hebron (5:65) ‫ ܶܚ ݂ܒܪܘܢ‬for Greek Χεβρων ܰ Idumea (4:15) ‫ ܐ݂ ܽܕܘܡ‬for Greek Ἰδουμαία ܽ ݁ ‫ ܰܡ‬for Greek Ιμαλκουε Imalkue (11:39) ‫�ܟܘ‬ ܳ ‫ ܰܐ‬for Greek χώρα ἡ Ἰνδική ܽ ݂ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܶܗ‬ India (8:8) ‫ܢܕܘ‬ ܶܳ ܺ Israel (1:11) ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‬ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ισραηλ ܽ �ܰ for Greek Ιακωβ Jacob (1:28) ‫ܘܒ‬ ݂ ‫ܥܩ‬ ܺ ݁ ‫ ܰܐ‬for Greek Ιαμβρι Jambri (9:36) ‫ܡܒܪܝ‬ ܺ �ܰ for Greek Ἰαμνεία Jamnia (4:15) ‫ܡܢܝܢ‬ ܺ Jason (8:17) ‫ ܐ ܰ� ܳܣܘܢ‬for Greek Ἰάσων ܺ �ܰ for Greek Ιαζηρ Jazer (5:8) ‫ܥܙܝܪ‬ ܽ ‫ ܺܐ ܺܝܪ‬for Greek Ιεριχω Jericho (9:50) ‫ܝܚܘ‬ ܶ ܺ ܽ Jerusalem (1:14) ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬for Greek Ἱεροσόλυμα ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬for Greek Ἰουδαῖος Jew (8:20) ‫ܘܕ ܳ�ܐ‬ ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬for Greek Ἰουδαῖος Jewish (2:23) ‫ܘܕ ܳ�ܐ‬ ܰ �ܽ for Greek Ιωάννης John (2:1) ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ‬ ܳ ܳ ܽ Jonathan (2:5) ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‬ � for Greek Ιωνάθης ܺ ݁ ܽ Joppa (10:75) ‫ �ܘܦܐ‬for Greek Ἰόππη ݁ �ܽ for Greek ὁ Ιορδάνης Jordan (5:24) ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ‬ ܳ ݁ �ܽ for Greek ὁ Ιορδάνης Jordan River (9:34) ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ ܰܢܗܪ ܐ‬ ܶ ܰ Joseph (2:53) ‫ �ܘܣ ݂ܦ‬for Greek Ιωσηφ Joshua (2:55) ‫ �ܶ ܽܫܘܥ‬for Greek Ιησους ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬for Greek Ἰούδας Judas (2:4) ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬

ܳ

Appendix 3: Names

lix

Judea (1:29) ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ܘܕ‬for Greek Ἰούδα ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬for Greek Ἰούδα Judea (1:44) ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬for Greek Ἰουδαία Judea (3:34) ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܳ ‫ ܰܐ‬for Greek γῆ Ἰούδα ܽ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ‬ Judea (9:1) ‫ܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‬ ܽ ‫ ܺܕ‬for Greek Ἰούδα Judean (1:51) ‫ܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‬ ܶ݁ Kadesh (11:63) ‫ܩܕܫ‬ ܰ Greek Κεδες ܳ ܳ ܳ for ܶ ̈ Kittim (1:1) ‫ ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ�ܐ‬for Greek Χεττιμ ܶܳ Kittim, people of (8:5) ‫ ܳܟ ݂ܬ�̈ܐ‬for Greek Κιτιέων (of the people of Kittim) ܶܺ Lasthenes (11:31) ‫ܣܬܢܝܣ‬ ݂ ‫ ܰܠ‬for Greek Λασθένης ܺ ܽ Lucius (15:16) ‫ ܠܘܩ ܳܝܘܣ‬for Greek Λεύκιος ܺ ܽ Lycia (15:23) ‫ ܠܘܩ ܰܝܐ‬for Greek Λυκία ܳ ݂ ‫ ܽܠ‬for Greek Λυδδα Lydda (11:34) ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܺ ݂ ‫ ܽܠ‬for Greek Λυδία Lydia (8:8) ‫ܘܕ ܳ�ܐ‬ ܺ ‫ ܽܠ‬for Greek Λυσίας Lysias (3:32) ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ‬ ܰ ݁ ‫ ܰܡ‬for Greek Μακκαβαῖος Maccabaeus (2:4) ‫ܩܒܝ‬ ܳ ܽܶ ܰ Macedonian (1:1) ‫ܘ� ܳܝܐ‬ ܳ ܺ ݁ ‫ ܡܩ ݂ ܰܕ‬for Greek Μακεδών Mattathias (2:1) ‫ܝܬܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܡܬ‬for Greek Ματταθίας ܳ ܳ ܳ Mede (1:1) ‫ ܡ ݂ܕ�ܐ‬for Greek Μῆδος Medeba (9:36) ‫ ܶܡ ݂ܐܕ ݂ ܳܒܐ‬for Greek Μηδαβα Media (6:56) ‫ ܳܡ ݂ ܰܕܝ‬for Greek Μηδία ܽ ‫ ܰܡ‬for Greek Μαισαλωθ Mesaloth (9:2) ‫ܘܬ‬ ݂ �‫ܣ‬ ܰ ܰ Michmash (9:73) ‫ܣ‬ ܶ ܳ ‫ ܡ ݂ ܺܟܡ‬for Greek Μαχμας Mishael (2:59) ‫ ܡܝܫܐܝܠ‬for Greek Μισαηλ Mizpah (3:46) ‫ ܰܡ ݁ܨܦ ܳܝܐ‬for Greek Μασσηφα ܳ ܳ ܽ Mount Azotus (9:15) ‫ ܛܘܪ ܐ ܽ ݂ܕ ܳܙܘܛܘܣ‬for Greek Ἀζώτου ὄρος ܽ ܶ ܳ Mount Zion (4:37) ‫ܗ�ܘܢ‬ ܳܳ ܰ ‫ ܛܘܪ ܐ ݂ܕܨ‬for Greek ὄρος Σιων Nabatean (5:25) ‫ ܢ ݂ܒܛܝܐ‬for Greek Ναβαταίος ܳ ‫ ܺܢܙ‬for Greek Ναζιραῖος Nazirite (3:49) ‫ܝܪ ܐ‬ ܰ ‫ ܺܢ‬for Greek Νικάνωρ Nicanor (3:38) ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ‬ ܰ ‫ ܽܢ‬for Greek Νουμήνιος Numenius (12:16) ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܳܝܘܣ‬ ܶ ܺ ܰ Oniares (12:19) ‫ ܐ��ܪܣ‬for a combination of two Greek names: Ὀνία Ἄρης (Onias Arius) ܺ ‫ ܽܚ‬for Greek Ονίας Onias (12:7) ‫ܘ� ܳܝܐ‬ ܽ݁ ܰ ܺ ‫ܪܬ‬ Orthosia (15:37) ‫ܘܣ ܳܝܐ‬ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ὀρθωσία ܺ ܽ ݂ ‫ ܰܦ‬for Greek Παμφυλία Pamphylia (15:23) ‫ܡܦܘ� ܰܝܐ‬ ܶ ܳ Persia (3:31) ‫ ܦܪܣ‬for Greek Περσίς ܳ ‫ ܳܦ‬for Greek Πέρσης Persian (1:1) ‫ܪܣ ܳܝܐ‬ ܽ ‫ ܶܦ‬for Greek Φαραω Pharaoh (4:9) ‫ܪܥܘܢ‬ ܳ for Greek Φαραθων Pharathon (9:50) ‫ܦܪ ݂ܬ‬ ܺ ‫ܐܣ‬ ܰ ‫ ܰܦ‬for Greek Φασηλίς ܰ ݂ ‫ܐܠ‬ Phaselis (15:23) ‫ܝܕܐ‬ ܽ ܺ for Greek Φασιρων Phasiron (9:66) ‫ܦܫܝܪܘܢ‬

lx

Appendix 3: Names

Philip (1:1) ‫ ܦܝܠ ݁ܝܦܘܣ‬for Greek ܳ ݁ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ Φίλιππος ܶ Philistia (3:24) ‫ ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܫܬ�ܐ‬for Greek γῆ Φυλιστιϊμ ܳ݁ ܶ Philistine (3:41) ‫ܫܬ ܳ�ܐ‬ ‫ ܦܠ‬for Greek ἀλλόφυλος ܺ ܶ Phinehas (2:26) ‫ܝܢܚܣ‬ ܺ ܶ ‫ ܦ‬forܳ Greek Φινεες Ptolemais (5:15) ‫ ܦܛܘ�ܡܐ ܳܝܣ‬for Greek Πτολεμαΐς ܳ ܶ ‫ܦܛ‬ Ptolemy (1:18) ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ‬ ܺ ݁ ܰ for Greek Πτολεμαῖος Ramathaim (11:34) ‫ ܪܡܬܝܡ‬for Greek Ῥαμαθαιμ ܺܳ Raphon (5:37) ‫ ܪ ݂ܦܝܢ‬for Greek Ῥαφων ܳ ݂ ‫ ܳܪ‬for Greek Ῥόδος Rhodes (15:23) ‫ܘܕܘܣ‬ ܽ ܺ ‫ ܰܒܪ ܪ ̱ܗ‬for Greek Ῥωμαῖος Roman (8:1) ‫ܘܡܐ‬ ܳ ‫ ܽܪ ̱ܗ‬for Greek Ῥωμαῖος Roman (8:23) ‫ܘܡ ܳܝܐ‬ ܺ ‫ ܽܪ ̱ܗ‬for Greek Ῥώμη Rome (1:10) ‫ܘܡܐ‬ ܽ Salu (2:26) ‫ ܰܣ�ܘ‬for Greek Σαλωμ ܺ Samaria (3:10) ‫ ܳܫܡܪܝܢ‬for Greek Σαμάρεια ܳ ܰ Samos (15:23) ‫ܘܣ‬ ܳ ܳ ‫ ܣܡ‬for Greek Σάμος Saul (4:30) ‫ ܫܐܘܠ‬for Greek Σαουλ ܺ ܶ Seleucia (11:8) ‫ ܶܣ�ܘܩ ܰܝܐ‬for Greek Σελεύκια ܳ �ܶ ‫ ܶܣ‬for Greek Σέλευκος Seleucus (7:1) ‫ܘܩܘܣ‬ ܳ ݂ for Greek Σαβατ Shebat (16:14) ‫ܫܒܛ‬ ܳ ܺ Shephelah (12:38) �‫ ܰ� ݂ܦܝ‬for Greek Σεφηλα ܺ for Greek Σικυών ܳ ‫ܣܩ‬ Sicyon (15:23) ‫ܝܢܘܣ‬ ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺܣ‬for Greek Σίδη Side (15:23) ‫ܝܕ ܐ‬ ܳ ݁ ‫ ܰܨ‬for Greek Σιδών Sidon (5:15) ‫ܝܕܢ‬ ܽ ܶ for Greek Συμεων Simeon (2:1) ‫ܫܡܥܘܢ‬ ܽ ܶ for Greek Σίμων Simon (2:3) ‫ܫܡܥܘܢ‬ ܰ ݁ ‫ ܶܐ‬for Greek χώρα Σπανίας ܺ Spain (8:3) ‫ܣܦ� ܰܝܐ‬ ܳ ܰ݁ ܶ Spartan (12:2) ‫ܣܦ ܳܪܛ ܳܝܐ‬ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Σπαρτιάτης ܰ ݁ ܳ Spartan (12:21) ‫ ܣܦܪܛܝܐ‬for Greek Σπαρτιάτης ܺ Syria (3:13) ‫ ܽܣܘܪ ܰ�ܐ‬for Greek Συρία ܽ Tekoa (9:33) ‫ ܬܩܘܥ‬for Greek Θεκωε ܽ ݂ for Greek Τεφων Tephon (9:50) ‫ܛܦܘܣ‬ ܰ ‫ ܰܬ‬for Greek Θαμναθα Timnath (9:50) ‫ܡܢ ݂ܬ‬ ܳܶ ܳ ܺ Timothy (5:11) ‫ܝܡ ݂ܬ ܽܐܘܣ‬ ‫ ܛ‬for Greek Τιμόθεος ̈ ܺ Tobites (5:13) ‫ ܛܘ ݂ܒܝܢ‬for Greek οἱ Τουβίου ܳ ܺ Trypho (11:39) ‫ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ‬for Greek Τρύφων Tyre (5:15) ‫ ܽܨܘܪ‬for Greek Τύρος ܳ ݂ ‫ ݂ ܺܙܒ‬for Greek Ζαβαδαῖος Zabadean (12:31) ‫ܝܕ ܶ ܳ�ܐ‬ Zabdiel (11:17) ‫ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܐܝܠ‬for Greek Ζαβδιηλ ܳ ‫ ݂ ܰܙܟ‬for Greek Ζαχαρίας Zechariah (5:18) ‫ܪ�ܐ‬ ܺ Zimri (2:26) ‫ ܰܙܡܪܝ‬for Greek Ζαμβρι

ܳ ܺ ܺ

Appendix 3: Names Replacement of Individual Letters

ܳ ‫ܥܕ‬ ܺ ݂ for Greek Αδιδα (Adida) Adira (12:38) ‫ܝܪ ܐ‬ ܳ ܽ Adura (9:66) ‫ ܰ� ݁ ܰܕܘܪ ܐ‬for Greek Οδομηρα (Odomera) ܳ ‫ ܐ‬for Greek Αδασα (Adasa) Arasa (7:40) ‫ܪܣܐ‬ ܰ Ardabat (5:23) ‫ ܐ ݁ܪܕ ݂ ܳܒܛ‬for Greek Αρβάττοις (the Arbatteans) Beth-jashan (5:52) ‫ܝܬ ܳ� ܳܫܢ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βαιθσαν (Beth-san) ܳ Beth-jashan (9:62) ‫ܝܬ ܳ�ܫܢ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βαιθβασι (Beth-basi) ܳ Beth-zara (7:19) ‫ܝܬ ܳܙ ܪ ܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܶܒ‬for Greek Βηθζαιθ (Beth-zaith) ܺ ݁ ‫ ܺܒ‬for Greek Βακχίδης (Bachhides) Bicrius (7:8) ‫ܝܟܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‬ ܰ ‫ ܺܒ‬for Greek Βερεθ (Berea) Birzeth (9:4) ‫ܝܪܙ ݂ܬ‬ ܺ Chaphi (11:70) ‫ ܰܚ ݁ܦܝ‬for Greek Χαλφι (Chalphi) ܳ݁ ܰ݁ ܶ Chesphantha (12:37) ‫ܢܬܐ‬ ‫ ܟܣܦ‬for Greek Χαφεναθα (Chaphenatha) ܺ ܽ ܳ Dormius (3:38) ‫ ܕܘܪܡܝ ܺܘܣ‬for Greek Δορυμένης (Dorymenes) ܳ ‫ ܽܕܘܪܛ‬for Greek Γόρτυνα (Gortina) Dortina (15:23) ‫ܝܢܐ‬ ܺ Douik (16:15) ‫ ܽܕܘܐܝܩ‬for Greek Δωκ (Dok) ܳ ‫ ܳܥ‬for Greek Γαζαρα (Gazara) Gaza (13:43) ‫ܐܙ ܐ‬ ܽ ܶ for Greek Σήρων (Seron) Heron (3:13) ‫ܗܝܪܘܢ‬ ܶܳ ܺ Israel (14:28) ‫ܣܪܐܝܠ‬ �‫ ܐ‬for Greek Ασαραμελ (Asaramel) ܳ ܳ ܽ Jonadab (2:1) ‫ �ܘ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬for Greek Ιωαριβ (Joarib) ܶ Kales (11:73) ‫ ܰܩܠܣ‬for Greek Κεδες (Kadesh) ܰ ‫ ܰܠ‬for Greek Σαμψάκης (Sampsakes) Lamsaqos (15:23) ‫ܡܣ ܳܩܘܣ‬ or Σαμψάμης (Sampsames) Maker (5:26) ‫ ܳܡ ܳܩܪ‬for Greek Μακεδ (Maked) ܺ for Greek Μύνδος ܳ ݂ ‫ܡܢ‬ Mnydos (15:23) ‫ܝܕܘܣ‬ ܺ ܽ Moreim (2:1) ‫ ܡܘܪܥܝܡ‬for Greek Μωδεϊν (Modein) Nabat (9:37) ‫ ܳܢ ݂ ܳܒܛ‬for Greek Ναδαβαθ (Nadabath) ܳ ܳ Rametha (5:9) ‫ܡܬܐ‬ ݂ ‫ ܪ‬for Greek Δαθεμα (Dametha) ܰ ‫ ܰܬ‬for Greek θασσι (Thassi) Tharsai (2:3) ‫ܪܣܝ‬ Replacement of Words

Egypt (1:16) ‫ ܶܡ�ܪܝܢ‬for Greek Αἴγυπτος ܶ ݂ ‫ ܳܟ ܽܢܘܢ‬for Greek Χασελευ (Chislev) First Kanun (1:54) ‫ܩܕܡ‬ ܳ ܳ Gaza (4:15) ‫ �ܙ ܐ‬for Greek Ἄζωτος Greeks (1:10) ‫ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܰ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‬for Greek Ἕλληνες Idumea (5:8) ‫ ܐ݂ ܽܕܘܡ‬for Greek Ἰουδαία (Judea) ܽ for Greek ἡ κλῖμαξ Τύρου (Ladder of ̇ ‫ܬܚ ̈ܘ ܶܡ‬ region of Tyre (11:59) ‫ܝܗ ݁ܕ ܽܨܘܪ‬ Tyre) sea of reeds (4:9) ‫ܘܦ‬ ݂ ‫ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܽܣ‬for Greek θάλασσα ἐρυθρά (Red Sea) ܺ ܽ ܰ Syria (10:69) ‫ ܣܘܪ�ܐ‬for Greek Κοίλη Συρία (Coelesyria)

ܶ

lxi

lxii Translations

Appendix 3: Names

Bar-hire (11:7) ‫ ܰܒܪ ܺܚܐ� ܐ‬for Greek Ἐλεύθερος (Eleutheros) ܳ ܶ Beyond the River (7:8) ‫ ܥܶ ݂ܒܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢܗܪ ܐ‬for Greek τὸ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ ܰ for Greek Ασιδαῖοι (Hasideans) singers (7:13) ‫ܡܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚܢܶܐ‬

ܶ

APPENDIX 4: SYRIAC CHAPTER DIVISIONS Two distinct systems of chapter divisions are represented within Syriac manuscripts. First, West Syriac manuscripts of the entire Bible beginning at least as early as the fifteenth century include a distinct set of chapter numbers. 1 This system divides the four books of Maccabees into fifty-two separate chapters, numbered from 1 to 19 (1 Maccabees), 20 to 35 (2 Maccabees), 36–42 (3 Maccabees), and 43–52 (4 Maccabees). This set of chapter divisions also appears in the text and translation below. Second, over ten manuscripts from the East Syriac tradition feature a standardized collection of texts that evidence a distinct system of chapter divisions for the first three books of Maccabees. 2 The First Book of Maccabees appears at the beginning of the collection and is divided into twenty-one chapters, numbered from 1 to 21. The Second and Third Book of Maccabees follow, and their chapters have two numbering systems. The first number counts the individual chapters in each book (from 1 to 18 for 2 Maccabees and from 1 to 8 for 3 Maccabees). The second number records the running tally of chapters in the collection as a whole (from 22 to 39 for 2 Maccabees and from 40 to 47 for 3 Maccabees). The numbering systems have been compared in five manuscripts from this set. 3 One of these five manuscripts, which dates to the nineteenth century, includes the chapter divisions known from the Walton polyglot printing for the First

Five manuscripts were consulted on these chapter numbers: Diyarbakɪr, Meryem Ana Kilisesi, 1/1 (DIYR 00002) (15a3); Oxford, Bodleian Library, Or. 141 (17a3) and Poc. 391 (17a4); Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, Syr. 11 (15/14a1); Rome, Vatican Library, Sir. 7 (17a8). 2 The Peshiṭta Institute, List, 7, calls this group ‘Apocryphal books’ and assigns it the siglum ‘e.’ The books that appear in this collection are 1–3 Maccabees, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Wisdom of Solomon, Judith, Esther, Susanna, the Epistle of Jeremiah, the Epistle of Baruch, and Baruch. 3 These are Alqosh, Chaldean Diocese, 22 (DCA 00022); Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Sachau 90 (17e1); Irbil, Chaldean Archdiocese, 3 (ACE 00003); London, British Library, Or. 4397 (19e1); Manchester, John Rylands Library, Rylands Syr. 3 ([19/]16e1). 1

lxiii

lxiv

Appendix 4: Syriac Chapter Divisions

and Second Books of Maccabees in addition to the distinctive East Syriac chapters. 4 Chapter Divisions of 1 Maccabees in West Syriac Pandect Manuscripts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1:1 2:1 2:52 3:37 (starting with ‫)ܒܫܢܬ ܡܐܐ ܘܐܪܒܥܝܢ‬ 4:28 5:6 5:45 6:18 7:1 8:1 9:3 10:1 10:48 11:14 11:54 12:31 13:37 14:27 (starting with ‫)ܒܬܡܢܥܣܪܐ ܒܐܝ�ܘܠ‬ 15:13

Chapter Divisions of 1 Maccabees in East Syriac Apocryphal Collections 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1:1 1:54 2:53 3:27 4:9 4:59 5:37 6:8 6:47 7:26

4 This is London, British Library, Or. 4397 (19e1). 1–3 Maccabees are included in the Walton Polyglot: Brian Walton, ed., Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, 6 vols. (London, 1654–1657).

Appendix 4: Syriac Chapter Divisions 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

8:17 9:28 10:1 10:48 11:8 11:54 12:24 13:14 14:1 14:35 15:28

lxv

BIBLIOGRAPHY ‘ACE 00003.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/134037. ‘ACE 00004.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed May 11, 2019. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/134038. Assemani, Stephen Evodius, and Joseph Simonius Assemani. Bibliothecae apostolicae vaticanae codicum manuscriptorum catalogus. 3 vols. Rome, 1758– 1759. Baars, W., and J. C. Lebram, eds. ‘1 (3) Esdras.’ In The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.6. Leiden: Brill, 1972. Balzaretti, Claudio. ‘Review of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.4, Ezra and Nehemiah, 1–2 Maccabees (Leiden: Brill, 2013).’ Orientalia Christiana Periodica 80 (2014): 538–542. Baumstark, Anton. ‘Syrische und syro-arabische Handschriften in Damascus.’ Oriens Christianus 5 (1905): 321–331. Brock, Sebastian P. ‘Eleazar, Shmuni and Her Seven Sons in Syriac Tradition.’ In La mémoire des persécutions: Autour des livres des Maccabées, 329–336. Collection de la Revue des Études Juives 56. Leuven: Peeters, 2014. ———. Catalogue of Syriac Fragments (New Finds) in the Library of the Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai. Athens: Mount Sinai Foundation, 1995. Brock, Sebastian P., and Lucas Van Rompay. Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts and Fragments in the Library of Deir al-Surian, Wadi al-Natrun (Egypt). Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 227. Leuven: Peeters, 2014. Burris, Catherine. ‘The Syriac Book of Women: Text and Metatext.’ In The Early Christian Book, edited by William E. Klingshirn and Linda Safran, 86–98. CUA Studies in Early Christianity. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2007. Carbajosa, Ignacio. ‘What Is the Relationship between the Two Ancient Syriac Peshitta Versions of 1 Maccabees? A New Proposal That Challenges the Classical Explanation.’ Aramaic Studies 18, no. 1 (2020): 64–98. ‘CCB 00004.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed May 11, 2019. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/135410. lxvii

lxviii

Bibliography

Ceriani, Antonio M., ed. ‘Flavii Josephi: De bello judaico, liber sextus, syriace versus.’ Monumenta sacra et profana 5 (1868): 181–240. ———, ed. Translatio syra pescitto Veteris Testamenti ex Codice Ambrosiano. London, 1876–1883. ———. ‘Le edizione e i manoscritti delle versioni siriache del Vecchio Testamento.’ Memorie del Reale Istituto Lombardo di scienze e lettere, Classe di lettere e scienze morali e politiche, 11:1–28. Milan, 1869. Cersoy, Pierre. ‘Les manuscrits orientaux des Monseigneur David, au Musée Borgia, de Rome.’ Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und verwandte Gebiete 9 (1894): 361–384. Chabot, Jean-Baptiste. ‘Inventaire des fragments de mss. syriaques conservés à la Bibliothèque Ambrosienne à Milan.’ Le Muséon 49 (1936): 37–54. Coakley, J. F. A Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in Cambridge University Library and College Libraries Acquired Since 1901. Ely, Cambridgeshire, England: The Jericho Press, 2018. ———. ‘A Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library.’ Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester 75, no. 2 (1993): 105–207. ‘DCA 00022.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/500560. Emerton, J. A. The Peshitta of the Wisdom of Solomon. Studia Post-Biblica 2. Leiden: Brill, 1959. Emerton, J. A., and D. J. Lane, eds. ‘Wisdom of Solomon.’ In The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 2.5. Leiden: Brill, 1979. Forness, Philip Michael. ‘Narrating History Through the Bible in Late Antiquity: A Reading Community for the Syriac Peshitta Old Testament Manuscript in Milan (Ambrosian Library, B. 21 inf.).’ Le Muséon 127, no. 1–2 (2014): 41–76. ———. ‘The First Book of Maccabees in Syriac: Dating and Context.’ Aramaic Studies 18, no. 1 (2020): 99–123. Géhin, Paul. Les manuscrits syriaques de parchemin du Sinaï et leurs membra disjecta. Corpus Scriptorium Christianorum Orientalium 665, Subsidia 136. Leuven: Peeters, 2017. Goldstein, Jonathan A. 1 Maccabees. The Anchor Bible 41. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1976. Gordon, R. P., ed. ‘Chronicles.’ In The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.2. Leiden: Brill, 1998.

Bibliography

lxix

Honigman, Sylvie. Tales of High Priests and Taxes: The Books of the Maccabees and the Judean Rebellion against Antiochos IV. Hellenistic Culture and Society 57. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2014. Jenner, Konrad Dirk. ‘A Review of the Methods by Which Syriac Biblical and Related Manuscripts Have Been Described and Analysed: Some Preliminary Remarks.’ Aram 5, no. 1–2 (1993): 255–266. ———. De perikopentitels van de geïllustreerde Syrische Kanselbijbel van Parijs (MS Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Syriaque 341): Een vergelijkend onderzoek naar de oudste Syrische perikopenstelsels. Leiden: Universitaire Drukkerij, 1993. Jobes, Karen H., and Moisés Silva. Invitation to the Septuagint. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2000. Kamil, Murad. Catalogue of All Manuscripts in the Monastery of St. Catharine on Mount Sinai. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1970. Kappler, Werner, ed. Maccabaeorum liber I. Septuaginta: Vetus Testamentum Graecum auctoritate Societatis Literarum Gottingensis editum 9.1. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1936. Kessel, Grigory. ‘DIYR 00002.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/ view/122717. Kiremitlian, Onnik. ‘ASOM 00092.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://w3id.org/vhmml/reading Room/view/501052. Koster, M. D. ‘On the Interdependence of Two Nestorian Peshiṭta Manuscripts.’ Vetus Testamentum 12, no. 2 (1962): 238–239. Kreuzer, Siegfried, und Marcus Sigismund, ed. Der Antiochenische Text der Septuaginta in seiner Bezeugung und seiner Bedeutung. De Septuaginta Investigationes 4. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013. Lantschoot, Arnold van. Inventaire des manuscrits syriaques des fonds Vatican (490–631): Barberini oriental et Neofiti. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1965. Law, Timothy Michael, and Charles Halton, eds. ‘Jew and Judean: A Forum on Politics and Historiography in the Translation of Ancient Texts.’ Marginalia: Los Angeles Review of Books, August 26, 2014. https://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org/jew-judean-forum/. Lee, S., ed. Vetus testamentum syriace. London, 1823. Mai, Angelo. Scriptorum veterum nova collectio e Vaticanis codicibus edita. 10 vols. Rome, 1825–1838. Mar Aprem. Assyrian Manuscripts in India. Thrissur: Mar Narsai Press, 2011. Marcus, Ralph, trans. Josephus: Jewish Antiquities, Books 12–13. Loeb Classical Library 365. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1943.

lxx

Bibliography

Margoliouth, George. Descriptive List of Syriac and Karshuni Mss. in the British Museum Acquired since 1873. London, 1899. McCollum, Adam Carter. ‘CFMM 00001.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed May 11, 2019. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/124184. McDonald, Lee Martin. The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2007. Metzger, Bruce M. Chapters in the History of New Testament Textual Criticism. New Testament Tools and Studies 4. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1963. Mingana, Alphonse. Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts. 3 vols. Cambridge: W. Heffer, 1933–1939. Mugler, Joshua, and Joshua Falconer. ‘MBM 00387.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed May 11, 2019. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/131685. Mustaţă, Radu. ‘APSTCH THRI 00069.’ Virtual Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Accessed May 11, 2019. https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/138286. Nau, François. ‘Notices des manuscrits syriaques, éthiopiens et mandéens, entrés à la Bibliothèque nationale de Paris depuis l’édition des catalogues.’ Revue de l’Orient Chrétien 16 (1911): 271–323. Öhler, Markus. ‘Judäer oder Juden? Die Debatte „Ethnos vs. Religion“ im Blick auf das 2. Makkabäerbuch.’ In Die Makkabäer, edited by Friedrich Avemarie, Predrag Bukovec, Stefan Krauter, and Michael Tilly, 157– 185. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 382. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017. ‘Or 9926.’ British Library: Digitised Manuscripts. Accessed July 6, 2019. http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_9926. Payne Smith, R. Catalogi codicum manuscriptorum bibliothecae Bodleianae pars sexta, codices syricacos, carshunicos, mendaeos complectens. Oxford, 1864. Penna, Angelo. ‘I libri dei Maccabei nei manoscritti siriaci della Biblioteca Vaticana.’ In Mélanges Eugène Tisserant, vol. 1, Écriture sainte: Ancien orient, 395–418. Studi e Testi 231. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1964. ———. ‘I nomi propri dei primi due libri dei Maccabei nella Peshiṭta.’ Rivista degli studi orientali 40, no. 1 (1965): 13–41. ———. ‘Le spedizioni di Lisia nella versione Peshiṭta.’ Studii Biblici Franciscani Liber Annuus 13 (1962–1963): 93–100. Penna, Angelo, Konrad Dirk Jenner, and D. Bakker, eds. ‘1–2 Maccabees.’ In The Old Testament in Syriac according to the Peshiṭta Version, vol. 4.4. Leiden: Brill, 2013.

Bibliography

lxxi

Perkins, Justin, ed. The Old Testament, Translated into Ancient and Modern Syriac. Urmia, 1852. The Peshiṭta Institute Leiden. List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue). Leiden: Brill, 1961. ———. ‘Peshiṭta Institute Communications VII: Fourth Supplement to the List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue).’ Vetus Testamentum 18, no. 1 (1968): 128–143. ———. ‘Peshiṭta Institute Communications XIV: Fifth Supplement to the List of Old Testament Peshiṭta Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue).’ Vetus Testamentum 27, no. 4 (1977): 508–511. Ploeg, Johannes Petrus Maria van der. The Syriac Manuscripts of St. Thomas Christians. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 1983. Romeny, Bas ter Haar, and Craig E. Morrison. ‘Peshitta.’ In Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage, edited by Sebastian P. Brock, Aaron M. Butts, George Anton Kiraz, and Lucas Van Rompay, 326– 331. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2011. Ruzer, Serge. ‘1 Maccabees: Syriac.’ In Textual History of the Bible, edited by Emanuel Tov. Leiden: Brill, 2020. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2452-4107_thb_COM_0210010300. Sachau, Eduard. Verzeichniss der syrischen Handschriften. Die Handschriftenverzeichnisse der königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin 23. 2 vols. Berlin, 1899. Sarau, Oshana. Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the Library of the Museum Association of Oroomiah College. Oroomiah, Persia, 1898. Scher, Addai. Notice sur les manuscrits syriaques conservés dans la bibliothèque du couvent des Chaldéens de Notre-Dame-des-Semences. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1906. ———. ‘Notice sur les manuscrits syriaques conservés dans la bibliothèque du Patriarcat chaldéen de Mossoul.’ Revue des bibliothèques 17 (1907): 227–260. ———. ‘Notice sur les manuscrits syriaques du Musée Borgia aujourd’hui à la Bibliothèque Vaticane.’ Journal asiatique 10 (1909): 249–287. Schmidt, Gottfried. ‘Die beiden syrischen Übersetzungen des I. Maccabäerbuches.’ Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 17 (1897): 1–47, 233–262. ———. Über die beiden syrischen Übersetzungen des I. Maccabäerbuches. Leipzig, 1896. Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. 3rd rev. ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011. Vosté, Jacques-Marie. Catalogue de la bibliothèque syro-chaldéenne du couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d’Alqoš (Iraq). Paris: Geuthner, 1929.

lxxii

Bibliography

Walton, Brian, ed. Biblia Sacra Polyglotta. 6 vols. London, 1654–1657. Weitzman, M. P. The Syriac Version of the Old Testament. University of Cambridge Oriental Publications 56. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Witakowski, Witold. ‘Mart(y) Shmuni, the Mother of the Maccabean Martyrs, in Syriac Tradition.’ In VI Symposium Syriacum 1992: University of Cambridge, Faculty of Divinity, 30 August–2 September 1992, edited by René Lavenant, 153–168. Orientalia Christiana Analecta 247. Rome: Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum, 1994. Wright, William. A Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts Preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1901. ———. Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838. 3 vols. London, 1870–1872. Zotenberg, H. Manuscrits orientaux: Catalogues des manuscrits syriaques et sabéens (mandaïtes) de la Bibliothèque nationale. Paris, 1874.

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

Ch. 







When John heard this, he was disturbed and quite speechless. He seized the men who went against him and slaughtered them. For John knew that they wished to kill him.

The rest of John’s words, his wars, his victories in which he was triumphant and conquered, the construction of the wall that he built, and his deeds, are written in the book of the days of his chief priesthood, for he was the chief priest in his father’s place after him. ENDED IS THE FIRST VOLUME OF MACCABEES



‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬

‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܰܐܙܠـ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ‪ܳ .‬ܙܥ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܠ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܶܓܝܪ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ‬ ‫ܩܛܠܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰ�ـ ܰܨܚ ܰܘ ݂ ܳܙܟـܐ‪ܶ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ̈ ܳܚ ܰܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܰܘܩ� ݂ ܰܒ ̱‬ ‫ܕ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܢـ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܪ ݁ ܽܒـ ݂ܘܬ ݁ ܳܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ‬ ‫ܗܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܟ ݂ܬ� ݂ܒܢ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒـܐ ݂ܕܝـܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܐ ݂ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܣܦܪܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   







  

 

They fled until the tower in Azotus and set it on fire. About three thousand 1 of their men fell. John’s people returned to Judea in peace. Ptolemy, son of Abubus, was established as the commander in the plain of Jericho. He acquired gold and much silver, for he was the son-in-law of the high priest.

His heart was exalted, and he wished to seize and gain authority over the land. He was plotting deceit against Simon and his sons so that he might kill them.

Simon was travelling around and visiting the cities of the region. He took care of everything that was required by them. He came down to Jericho along with his sons Mattathias and Judas in the one-hundredseventy-seventh year, 2 in the eleventh month, which is Shebat. Ptolemy, son of Abubus, received them deceitfully in the fortress which was called Douik, 3 which he had built. He made a great feast, and he hid men there.

While Simon and his sons drank and enjoyed themselves, Ptolemy and those with him arose and took up their arms. They attacked Simon at the drinking banquet, and they killed him, his sons, and some of his servants. He did a very wicked thing, and he repaid a wicked deed for a good one.

Ptolemy wrote and sent these things to the king so that he might send him an army to help and hand over to him lands and cities. He sent other men to Gazara to kill John. He wrote to the leaders of thousands that they should come to him so that he might give them gold, silver, and gifts. He sent others to seize Jerusalem and the temple mount.

They went and informed John in Gazara that his father and brothers had died and [said,] “He has also sent [people] to kill you.”

‘three thousand’: Greek ‘two thousand’ (δισχιλίους). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions.

1 2 3

134 BCE.

‘Douik’: Greek ‘Dok’ (Δωκ).



‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬

‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܩܕ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܽܢـܘ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܡܢـ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ �ܡ ݂ܓܕ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒܙ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܝܢ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ـܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫݁ܦ ܳܛ ـ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ݁ ܰܒ ـܪ ܰܚ ݁ ܽܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܩ ـܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܪܝܫـܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܒܪ ܢ ـܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܶܓܝܪ ܰܚ ݂ܬܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܢܶ ݂ܟـ�‬ ‫ܐܚ ݂ܘܕ ܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܢܶܩܛܘܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܶ� ݂ܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ‬ ‫ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܡ ݂ܬܟܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘܣܥܪ ܺ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܥܶـܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܘܝــܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܒ� ـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܚ ـ ݂ܬ � ܺܝܪܝܚ ـܘ ܗܘ ܘܡܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܘܫ ݂ܒܥܝܢ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܒܝܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕܥܣܪ‪ :‬ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܰܚ ݁ ܽܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ܒ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ݂ ܽܕܘܐܝــܩ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬܩـ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ�ܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܛ ܺܫܝ ݂ܬ ܳܡܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܣܡ ̱ܘ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܳ :‬ܩܡـ ̱ܘ ݁ܦ ܳܛـ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥ� ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ܶܫܡܥܘܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܛ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ�� ܳܢ ܺܫܝ̈ܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܒܝܫܬܐ ܪܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܦܪܥ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܘܫܕܪ ܗܠܝܢ ܦܛ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ �ܡ�ܟܐ‪ .‬ܕܢܫܕܪ ܠܗ ܚ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܕܢܫܠܡ ܠܗ ܐ�ܥ ݂ܬܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳܙܪ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܛ�ـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶܐ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫـܝ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܶܦـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ �ܝـܘܚܢܢ‪ .‬ܘ��‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ܬܠ �ܗܘܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܘܣܐܡܐ ܘܡܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܘܢ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ܽ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�̱ܚ� ܢܐ ܫܕܪ ܕܢܐܚܕܘܢ �ܘܪܫܠܡ ܘ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ ܰܐܚـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܳܓ ܳܙܪ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܺܡܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ܠـܗ ܐ ݂ ܽܒـ ̱‬ ‫ܐܘܕ ܽܥ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܦ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܛܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 

 









 



John went up from Gazara, and he showed his father everything that Cendebeus had done. He called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them, “My brothers and I as well as my father’s house waged Israel’s wars from our youth until today. It was given1 into our hands so that we might save Israel many times.

Now, I have grown old, and you are powerful by God’s mercy. Arise and take the place of my brothers and me! Come out and fight on behalf of our nation! Help from heaven will be with you.”

John chose twenty thousand chosen men from the land for war along with some cavalry. He went against Cendebeus, and they spent the night in Moreim. 2

They rose early in the morning and went to the plain. Then a large army of foot soldiers and cavalry met them. There was a stream between them. He and his nation set up camp opposite them. He saw that the nation was afraid to cross the stream. He crossed first. When they had seen that he had crossed, they then also crossed after him.

He divided the nation and the cavalry between their armies. But their enemies had many more cavalry. They sounded the horns, and Cendebeus and his army were conquered. Many of them fell dead, and those who remained fled to the fortresses.

Judas, John’s brother, was struck, and John pursued them until Hebron 3 which they had rebuilt.

1

‘was given’: Greek ‘has prospered’ (εὐοδώθη).

3

‘Hebron’: Greek ‘Kedron’ (τὴν Κεδρων). Some Greek recensions have ‘Hebron’.

2

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μοδεïν).



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܝܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܠܩ �ܘܚܢܢ ܡܢ ݁ܓܙܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܘܝ � ݂ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܩ ܺܫܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪ܺ :‬ܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝـ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܐ ݂ܒ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܘܐ ܰ̈ܚܝ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒܢ ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒ‬ ‫ܘܒ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܛ�ܝ ܳ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ݁ܺ ̈ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬܝܗ ݂ܒ ܒܐܝ ݂ܕܝܢ ܕܢ ݂ܦܪܘܩ �‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ܰ :‬ܙ ݂ ̈ܒ ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܣ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܬ ܺܠܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ‬ ‫ܠܬܢܶܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ‪ܽ .‬ܩܘܡ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܐ�ܗܐ ܚܝ ܰ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܰܐ ܰ̈ܚܝ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܬܫ ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ܰܥ ܰܡـܢ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ ܰܦܝ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܗ ܰܘܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘܦܘܩ ̱ܘ ܘ ݂ܐܬܟ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ :‬ܥܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܓ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ ̈ܝـܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܣܪܝܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܽܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ‪ܳ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰܚܝــ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝ ـܐܐ ܐ ܰܪܥ ܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܕ ܶܡ ـ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰ� ݂ܦ ـ ܳܪܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ܺܐܙ ̱ܠܝــܢ ̱ܗܘ ܳܘ ܒ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܢܚ� ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ� ݁ ܳܓ� ܰ ݂ܘܕ ݂ ܰܦ� ܶܫܐ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ ܽܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ݂ܕ ܺܚܝܠ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢܚــ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰܽ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܽܗܘ ݂ܒܩ ݂ܕܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ ܐ ݂ܦ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙܐ ̱‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـــܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓـــܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ� ܶܫـــܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢـــ ݂ܬ ܰܡܫ� ܳ�ـــ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܦ ܳ� ܶܫـــܐ ݂ ܶܕܝـــܢ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܺܝܐܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܩܛ ̈ܝـ�‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝ ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝـܘܣ ܘܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ܒ ܰܠـܥ‪�ܽ .‬ـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽ�ـ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܽܪܘܢ‪ܳ :‬ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰܢܘ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 



  

 

Simon answered him, “We have taken no foreign land nor have we seized anything that is not ours, but only the inheritance of our ancestors. At one time it had been seized by the enemies unjustly and brazenly. Now that our time has come, we have taken the inheritance of our ancestors.

As for Joppa and Gazara, which you have requested, they caused great harm to our nation and to our land. In place of these, we are giving one hundred talents.” But Athenobius did not answer him. Furiously he returned to the king. He informed him of all these things, the splendor of Simon, and everything that he saw. Then the king was infuriated with great anger. But Trypho boarded a ship and fled to Orthosia.

The king appointed Cendebeus as the general over the seashore and gave him an army of cavalry and foot soldiers. He told him to camp against Judea and commanded him to rebuild Hebron, 1 to fortify its gates, and to wage war with the nation. Meanwhile the king was pursuing Trypho. Cendebeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke and grieve the nation. He was going into Judea, slaughtering, and taking captive.

Cendebeus rebuilt Hebron and stationed there an army of cavalry and foot soldiers so that they might come out and travel on the road to Judea, just as the king had commanded him.

1

‘Hebron’: Greek ‘Kedron’ (τὴν Κεδρων). Some Greek rescensions have ‘Hebron’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕܢ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘܥܢܐ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗ‪ � .‬ܐܪܥܐ ܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܶܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܠܢ‪ .‬ܐ � ܐܢ ܳ� ݁ܪܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ̈ܗܝܢ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܒ ݂ ܰܙܒܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܐܬܬ ܶܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܒܥ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒـܐ ݂ܕ� ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢـܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ� ݂ܒ ݂ܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܫܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܠܢ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒܢ ܳ� ݁ܪܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ̈ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܽ� ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ� ݁ ܳܓ ܳܙܪ ݁ܕ ܰܫܐܶܠـ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ܳܥ ݂ ̈ܒـ ݁ ܳܕܢ ̱ܗ ̈ܘܝ‬ ‫ܡܚـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܐܪܥ ـܢ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢ ـܢ ܳܡ ـܐܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝــܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܰܐ ݂ ܺܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܠ ـ ݂ܦ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ܳ� ݁ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܒ ܰܥ ܰܡ ـܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒ ـܗ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ܳܡܐ � ݂ܬ ܽܐܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܶ ̈ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ �ܘ ݂ܬ ܡ�ܟܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܘܕܥܗ ܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܡ�‪݂ :‬ܘܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܒܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܫܡܥܘܢ ݂ܘܟܠ ܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚܡ ݂ܬ ܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ ܪ ݁ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒܪ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ݁ܶ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܪܩ �‬ ‫ܠܙ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܕܝܢ � ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܥـܠ ݁ܦ ܰܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ � ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܠـܘܣ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܰܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܫܐ ܘ݂ܕ� ݁ܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ܶܠـܗ ݁ܕܢܶܫـ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܽܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒـ ܽܪܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ـܕܗ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܒܢܶـܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܩـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܫـܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬ�ܥܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪܓ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ‪ܺ ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܥܝܩ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥـܐܠ ܳܘܐܙܶܠ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ܘ݂‬ ‫ܘܫܪܝ ݂ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܩܛܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ ܶܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰ� ݁ ܳܓ ܶ�‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶܩ ݁ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳܝܘܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳܢ ݂ܦ ܺܩܝــܢ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܽܪܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܣܡ ܬܡܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

  









and to all the lands, to Lamsaqos, 1 to the Spartans, to Delos, to Mnydos, 2 to Sicyon, to Caria, to Samos, to Pamphylia, to Lycia, to Halicarnassus, to Rhodes, to Phaselis, to Cos, to Side, 3 to Dortina, 4 to Cnidus, to Cyprus, to Aradus, and to the Cyrenians. He wrote a copy of this for the chief priest Simon.

Antiochus camped against Dor. On the second day, they made engines of war and approached [the city]. They held Trypho on all sides so that he might not be able to come out. Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to help him along with gold, silver, and much equipment.

He did not wish to receive them but rather was unfaithful to all that he had promised before and turned against him.

He sent one of his friends to Athenobius. He inquired of him privately, “How shall we go act towards and speak to them, for it is you who hold Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel in Jerusalem, the cities of my kingdom? You have devastated their region and have done great harm in the land. You have authority over many regions in the jurisdiction of my kingdom.

Now, then, hand over the cities that you have taken and the tributes of the regions over which you have had authority beyond the borders of Judea.

If not, give in place of them five hundred silver talents and in compensation for the devastations that you caused and the tributes of the cities another five hundred talents. If you do not give them, we will come and wage war with you.” Athenobius, the king’s friend, came to Jerusalem. He saw Simon’s splendor, his golden and silver utensils, and his most honorable vessels, and spoke the king’s words to Simon. ‘Lamsaqos’: Greek ‘Sampsakes’ (Σαμψάκῃ). Some Greek recensions have ‘Sampsames’. 1 2

‘Mnydos’: Greek ‘Myndos’ (Μύνδον).

4

‘Dortina’: Greek ‘Gortynan’ (Γόρτυναν).

‘to Side’: the Greek inserts ‘Arados’ (Ἄραδον) here, but it appears after ‘Cyprus’ in the Syriac.

3



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܐܠܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܳܩܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܠ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܦ� ܳܛܝܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܘܣ‬ ‫ܟܓ ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܐ�ܥ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܠܣܩ ܳܝܢـــܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܩܪܝـــܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܣ ܳܡـــܘܣ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܡܦܘ� ܰܝـــܐ ܰܘܠܘܩ ܰܝـــܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܪ ݂ ܳܘܕܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܰܪܢ ܳܣܘܣ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ� ܺܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕܘܪܛ ܳܝܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܕܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݁ܘܦ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܘ� ܽܪ ݂ ܳܘܕܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܝ ܺ� ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܕ ܦܚܡܗܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܗܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܕ ܳܘܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ�ـ ̈ܘܣ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܩ ܰܪ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܨܝ ݂ ܶܕܝ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ� ܢ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟܚ �ܡ ݁ܦܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܚܕܗ ܠܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܡܢ ݁ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܤܛ� ̱‬ ‫ܡܓ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܠܗ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܘ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡـܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܢ̈ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܙ ܘ� ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰܢܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܶܓܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܡـܕܡ ܕܐܫـ‬ ‫ܘܕܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܘܣ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܠـܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ� ݂ܬܶ ܽ� ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܩـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠـܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܡ‬ ‫ـܕܗ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܐܢ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ � ܽܝ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪ܺ .‬ܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ܰܘ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳܙܪ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ ܐ ܺܚ ݂ ܺ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܳ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܽ ̈ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛـ ݁ܬܘܢ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݁ܕ ݁ܬܘܢ ܡܚـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒـ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒܐܪܥـܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܘܐܚܪ ݂ܒܬܘܢ ܬܚܘܡܝܗܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ݂ ܽܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐܘܚܕ ܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܕܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠ ܳܗ ܳܫـ ـܐ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝـ ـܠ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡـ ـ ̱ܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢـ ـ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܰܐܚـ ـ ݁ܕ ݁ܬܘܢ ܰܘܫ ̈ܩـ ـ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܗ ܽܢـ ـܘܢ‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܬܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܐܫܬܠ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ̈݁ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܬܘܢ‬ ‫� ܶܘܐ� ܰܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܚ� ݂ܦܝܗܝܢ ܚܡܫ ܡܐܐ ݂ܟܟ�ܝܢ ܕ ݂ܟܣܦܐ‪ .‬ܘܚܠ ݂ܦ ܚܘܒ� ݂ܕܚܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢـ ݂ܬܐ ܰܚ ܶܡـܫ ܳܡـܐܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝــܢ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܳܢܝـܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ � ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܽܠـܘܢ‪ܺ :‬ܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܩ� ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ݁ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܘܣ ܳܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܰܐ ݂ܬܶ ܽܐܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ .‬ܘܚــܙ ܐ ݂ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ̈ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ݂ܘܕܣܐܡـܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܐ ܢ ـܝ ܐܝܩـ�ܐ ܡܝـܬ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܡـܪ �ܫܡܥـܘܢ‬ ‫݂ܘܬܫܡܫــܬܗ ݂ܕܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  XIX

 



 

 

 



King Antiochus pursued him, and Trypho came while he was fleeing to Dor, which is on the seacoast. For he saw that wicked things had multiplied against him, and his army had left him.

Antiochus camped by Dor along with one hundred twenty thousand warriors and eight thousand cavalry. He surrounded the city, seized the ships, and was closing in on it from both the sea and the dry land. He was not letting people enter or come out.

Numenius came and those who were with him from Rome. They had letters with them to the kings and lands. [The letters] were written1 in this way:

“Lucius, consul of Rome, to King Ptolemy: Peace.

The elders of the Jews, our friends and allies, who were sent by the chief priest Simon and the nation of the Jews, have come to us to renew an earlier friendship and alliance. They brought with them a golden shield of one thousand minas.

It then pleased us to write to the kings and the lands that no one should do a wicked deed to them nor wage war with them, their cities, or their lands, nor be allies with those waging war with them. It also pleased us to receive the shield from them.

Therefore, as for all the wicked people who fled from their land and came to you, hand them over to the chief priest Simon so that he might judge and punish them according to their law.” In this way, he then wrote to King Demetrius, Attalus, Ariarathes, and Arsaces,

1

‘[the letters] were written’: lit. ‘it was written in them’.



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܶܪܩ �ـ ݂ ܽـܕ ܳܘܪܐ ܕ ܰܥـܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦـ ܰ�ܝ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܕ ݁ܦܗ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܡ�ܟܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܶܩܗ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܶܓܝܪ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܽܕ ܳܘܪܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫܪܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶܡـܗ ݁ܬ ݁ܪܬܥܶܣـ ܶ�ܐ � ݁ܒـ ܳܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܩ ܰ� ݂ܒ ݂ܬܢܶـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܝܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ݁ܦ� ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ܶܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܶܦܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܨ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܰ� ݂ܒ ܳܫـܐ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܪܟܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ��ܢܫ �ܡܥܠ ܘ�ܡ ݁ܦܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝܘܣ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܶܡܢ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܽܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܐ ݁ܓـ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥܠ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܡ�ܟܐ ܘܐ�ܥ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܝܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܗܝܢ ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܝܘܣ ܽܗ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܠ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ� ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳܛܘܣ ݁ܕ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܺ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬܘ �ܘ ݂ܬܢ ܣ ݂ܒܐ ݂ܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ܐ �ܚܡܝܢ ܘܡܥܕ� ܢܝܢ‪ :‬ܠܡܚـܕ ݂ܬܘ ܪܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܕ ܺܪܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܘ ܰܠܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܢܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡ�ܝ̈ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ݁ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܰܠܢ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝــܠ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܟـ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ �ܡ�ܟـܐ ܘܐ�ܥـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒܘܢ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܳ� ܰܢܩ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܰܐܘ ܰܥܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܐܘ ܰܥـܡ ܐ� ܳܥـ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ�‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ� ܢܶܐ �ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܰܠܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܒܝܫܐ ݂ܕܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܐܪܥܗܘܢ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ݁ ݁ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫܡܥܘܢ ܪܒ ܟܗܢܐ ݂ܕܢܥܒ ݂ܕ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܕܝܢܐ ܘ ݂ܬܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫̈ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ � ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܘ�ܛ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪ :‬ܘ� ܳܪ�ـ ܰܪ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܡ‬ ‫݂ ܰ ܰܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܡ� ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܩ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 







   

 



Antiochus, son of King Demetrius, sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon, the chief priest and leader of the nation of the Jews, and to the whole nation. It was written in [the letter] as follows, “King Antiochus to Simon, the great chief priest and leader of the nation, and to the nation of the Jews: Peace.

Because wicked people seized the kingdom of my ancestors, now I wish to rise up to save it and take it from them and to make it as it was before. I have gathered a large army and equipped warships.

I wish then to come out into the land and go against those who devastated our land and destroyed many cities in the kingdom.

Now I am releasing you from the whole tribute from which the kings before me released [you] and all the gifts that they gave [you].

I have given you authority to make a decree and to issue a command as you wish. 1 Jerusalem and the sanctuary will be free. All the arms that you have made ready and the fortresses that you have built, which you hold, will be yours.

As for the whole debt of the king and all that comes to the palace — all is remitted from now on.

When our kingdom is restored, we will honor you, the temple, and your nation with great honor in order that your honor might be seen throughout the whole earth.”

In the one-hundred-seventy-fourth year, 2 Antiochus came out to the land of his ancestors, and all the armies gathered to him so that only a few people remained with Trypho.

‘to make a decree and to issue a command as you wish’: Greek ‘to mint your own coin as the current coin in your own land’ (ποιῆσαι κόμμα ἴδιον, νόμισμα τῇ χώρᾳ σου). See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings. 1

2

138 BCE.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܐ ݁ܓـ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܳܓـܙ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳܡـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܡ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܘܪܝܫ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܝܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܗܝܢ ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ‪ .‬ܐ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܝܫ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܒܝܫܐ ܐܚܕܘ ܡ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒـ ̈ܗܝ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܳܫـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܽܐܩـܘܡ‬ ‫ܶ ݂ ̱ܽ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܺ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܶܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܒ ̇‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܦܪ ܺܩ ̇‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ :‬ܟܢܫـ ݂ܬ ܕܝــܢ ܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܝܗ ܡܢܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܐܥܒ ݂ܕ ̇ܝܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܩܢܶ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܶܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܒܐ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܳܗ ܺܟܝܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ�ܥـܠ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܘܩ ܰܥـܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܶܒ�ـ ̱ܘ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥـܢ‪:‬‬ ‫݂ ̱ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂ܬܐ ܣܓܝ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܒܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ̱ܘ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܦ ܽܣܘܩ ܦܣܩܐ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܘܕ ܦ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܪܝܢ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܙ ܳܝܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܬ ܶܩܢـ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܣ ܶܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܺ ݁ :‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܟ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰܢ ݁‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܐܚ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟ ܶܠܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥܐܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܩ‬ ‫݂ܘܟܠܗ ܚܘܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ݁ܝܟـ ܳ� ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܢ ܰܢܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚـ ݂ܟ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܕܝܢ ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܶܬܩܢ ܡܶ�ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒ ݁‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥ‪݂ :‬ܢܦܩ ܐ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒـ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ � ܐܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽܙܥܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܚܪ �ܘ ݂ܬ ܛܪ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





  

 

that he would take care of the sanctuary, that everyone would obey him, that all commercial documents in his land would be written in his name, and that he would be clothed in purple garments of gold. Let no one have authority, neither the priests nor anyone of the nation, to destroy any one of these things, to stand against all his commands or for anyone to do anything without him, and to be clothed in purple garments and put on a golden clasp. Anyone who transgresses or destroys any of these things, let him be condemned.” The whole nation assented that every one of these things was Simon’s

and that they would act according to these words. Simon accepted them and assented to be the chief priest, leader, and commander of the nation of the Jews and the priests, and the caretaker of all of them.

They said, “Let this book be written on bronze tablets, and let them place them in the sanctuary in a specified place. Let a copy of them be placed in the treasury so that Simon and his sons have them.”



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܡܥܝــܢ ܶܠـܗ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܗܘܘ ܡ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ� ܶ� ݂ܦ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܶܒܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒـܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܰܡـ ݁ܬ ܳ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܕܗܘܘ ܡ ݂ܬܟ ݂ܬܒܝܢ ܒܫܡܗ‪ :‬ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܰܣܝ ܰܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܳܘ� � ܳܢܫ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛ‪ܳ ݂ �ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܘ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܶܡـܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ‪ :‬ܐܘ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ ݂ ܽ�ܒـܘ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܐܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܽܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢـ‬ ‫��ـ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܡ ݁ ܺܦ ݂ܝܒ ܳ� ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܰܣܝ ܰܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܰܐܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܝ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܶܘܐ�ܛ ݂ ܺܒܝ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܢܶܗ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ̈ܶܡܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐ�ܛ ݂ ܺܒܝ ݂ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܫ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܐ ݂ܘܕ ݂ܟܗܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܨ ݂ܘܦܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܢ ܐܢ ܶܝــܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܦܢܩܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪ ܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܝܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݁ ܶܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕܢܶܗ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܗܝܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 











    

He fortified the Judean cities and Beth-zur on the borders of Judea, where the cities’ 1 arms had been placed before. He established the men of Judea as guards there.

He fortified Joppa, which is by the sea, with fortresses and Gazara, which is on the border of Azotus, in which the enemies were dwelling earlier. He settled the Jews there, and everything that was good for nourishment and support he placed there for them.

The nation saw Simon’s deeds and the glory that he wished to bring to his nation. They then made him their leader and chief priest because of all the things he was doing, and the righteousness and faith which he preserved for his nation. In absolutely everything 2 he wished to raise up his nation. In his days, the road was restored through his efforts 3 so that he might obliterate the nations from their land. He blotted out those in the city of David, in Jerusalem, and removed from there those who had made a citadel for themselves from which they would come out and defile the surroundings of the sanctuary, causing great harm to the sanctuary.

Simon settled Jewish men in it and fortified it with fortresses so that it might be a citadel for the city and region. He set up and raised Jerusalem’s wall. King Demetrius established the chief priesthood for Simon.

He made him one of the king’s friends and honored him greatly.

It was reported that the Romans called the Jews brothers, friends, and allies, that they met Simon’s messengers with honor,

that the Jews and priests wanted him to be their leader and chief priest forever until a faithful prophet would arise, that he would be their leader, that he would take care of the sanctuary to establish [people] over their deeds, arms, and fortresses,

1

‘the cities’’: Greek ‘the enemies’’ (τῶν πολεμίων).

3

‘through his efforts’: lit. ‘through him’.

2

‘absolutely everything’: lit. ‘everything that there is’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܫـܘ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥـܠ� ݁ܬ ܽܚـ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܝܟـܐ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘܐܥܫܢ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ ܰܙ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܺܣܝܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܩܝܡ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܢܛܘ�ܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ̈ ܶ ܽ ݁ܺ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟـܐ‬ ‫ܠܓܙܪ ܕܥܠ�ܬܚܘܡـܐ ݂ܕܙ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘܐܥܫܢ ܒܚܣܢܐ �ܝܘܦܐ ݂ܕܥܠ �ܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܥܡـܪ ܬ ܳܡـܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܣ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕܐܙܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ ܳܣܡ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̈ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡـܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܽܡ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰܢܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܛܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫̱ܗܘܐ‪ :‬ܘܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܗܝܡܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܪܡ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ̈ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܰܢܓ ܰܡܪ � ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐܪܥـ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܺܒ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܘ ݂ܒ�ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ܽ ܺ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܗ ݂ܕܕܘ ݂ܝܕ ܒܐܘܪܫܠܡ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ �ܗܘܢ ܥܛܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܪܝܡ ܐܢܘܢ ܡـܢ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗܘܘ ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ܦ ܺܩܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܘܡܛ ܺܡܐܝــܢ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕ �ܝ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܐܥܡܪ ݁ ܶܒܗ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܥܫܢܶܗ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣ ܶܢـܐ ݂ܕܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܠܝ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܘ� ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܪܺܝܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܚ ݂ܘ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܺܩܝܡ ܶܠܗ �ܫܡܥܘܢ ܪܒ ݂ܘܬ ܟ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܗ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ .‬ܘܫܒܚܗ ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܥ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܶܐ ܰܐ ̈ܶܚܐ ܘ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܘ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܽ� ̱ܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰܐܪܥ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܫܡܥܘܢ ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫�ܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܘ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܐ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠـܡ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽܢܩـܘܡ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܽܗܘ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܡܩ ܽܡـܘ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܰܥـܠ�‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪ܺ .‬ܘܢـ ܰܐ� ݂ܦ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܶܚ ̈ܣ ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  



XVIII





  

Afterwards, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great golden shield of one thousand minas to establish the alliance with them. When the nation heard these things, they said, “What grace should we bestow on the chief priest Simon and his sons!

For his brothers and he as well as his father’s whole house took courage and waged war with Israel’s enemies. They drove them away, 1 and took possession of them. They established freedom for Simon.” 2 They wrote it on a bronze writing tablet and set it on a pillar on Mount Zion. This is the copy of the writing,

“On the eighteenth of Elul in the one-hundred-seventy-second year3 — the third year of the great chief priest Simon —

in Israel, 4 at the great gathering of priests and the nation, the leaders of the people, and the elders of the land, we informed you [of the following]:

Since at many times there have been wars in the land, Simon, son of Mattathias, from the sons of Jonadab, 5 and his brothers gave themselves over to peril. They stood against the enemies of their nation so that their law and sanctuary might stand. They greatly honored their nation. Jonathan gathered his nation and became their chief priest. He was interred with his nation. Their enemies plotted to come to their land in order to obliterate it and to overtake their sanctuary.

Then Simon rose and waged war for his nation’s sake. He fronted many of the expenses from his own [resources]. He gave arms to the men of the army, the children of his nation, and he paid them. 6 1

‘away’: lit. ‘away from them’.

3

140 BCE.

5

‘Jonadab’: Greek ‘Joarib’ (Ιωαριβ).

‘for Simon’: Greek ‘for him’ or ‘for it’ (αὐτῷ). ‘It’ in the Greek has often been assumed to refer to Israel.

2

4 6

‘Israel’: Greek ‘Asaramel’ (ασαραμελ). ‘paid them’: lit. ‘gave them gifts’.



‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝـܘܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ‪ܰ :‬ܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫�ܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟـ ݂ܕ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ ܳܕܐܠ ݂ܦ ܡܢ̈ܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܽܡܘ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܢܐ ܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܡ� ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ‪ .‬ܡܢܐ ܛ‬ ‫ܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶ ݂ܦܪ ܺܥܝـ ̱‬ ‫ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝ�ــ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܽܗܘ ܰܘ ܰܐܚــܘ ̈ܗܝ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܬ ܰܐ ݂ ܽܒــܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒــ ̱ܘ ܰܥــܡ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠــܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܚܩـ ̱ܘ ܐܢـܘܢ ܡܢــܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܝــܪ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܐܢـܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܩܝܡـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܤܛ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫـܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢ ـܐ‬ ‫ܘܣܡـ ̱ܘ ܰܥـܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܺܚـܐܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂ܦܢܩܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܒ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨ ܽ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܢܘ ݁ ܶܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܰ�ܥܶܣ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝ�ܘܠ ݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝــܢ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܪܬܝــܢ‪݂ ܳ :‬ܗ ܶܕܐ ܰܫܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ ̈ܶܒـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܒ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟܢܘܫܬܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐܘܕܥܢ ݂ܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ݁ܺ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܡܛܠ ܕܣܓܝ ܙ ݂ܒܢ ݂ܬܐ ܗܘܘ ܩ� ݂ܒܐ ݂ܒܐܪܥܐ‪ .‬ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܒܪܗ ܕܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠܡــ ̱ܘ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫــ ܽܗܘܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܒ ܰܘ ܰܐܚــܘ ̈ܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰ�ــܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽ�ــ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ ܺܢܕ ܳܝܢــܘܣ‪ .‬ܘܩܡــ ̱ܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܡــܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢــܐ ܽܢܩــܘܡ ܳܢ ܽܡــ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܗܘܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܠــ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܬ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܰܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠ ݂ܘܟܢܫ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܺ‬ ‫� ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܛـܘ ܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ �ܡ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܪܥــܗܘܢ ܕ ݂ܢܓܡܪܘܢـ ̇ܗ ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦܝ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܳܩܡ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܳܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܩ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܩ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡܘ ̈ܗ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕܝܠܗ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܙܝܢܐ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

  



 

 



The enemies and warriors were finished and perished from the land. Even the kings were routed in those days.

He affirmed and strengthened all the poor of his nation. He blotted out and removed all impiety, iniquity, and wickedness, and enforced 1 the law. He honored the holy place and multiplied the instruments of the sanctuary. When the Romans heard that Jonathan had died and when this was reported to the Spartans, they grieved greatly.

When they heard that his brother Simon was chief priest in his place and that he had taken control of the land, cities, and all who were in them, they wrote to him on a bronze tablet to renew the friendship and alliance with him that they had established with his brothers Judas and Jonathan. It was read before a crowd in Jerusalem.

This is a copy of the letter that the Spartans sent, “The Spartan leader and the cities to the great chief priest Simon and to the elders, priests, and the rest of the nation of our brothers, the Jews: Peace. The elders 2 who were sent to us informed us of your peace, honor, and glory. We rejoice greatly at their coming.

We recorded everything they said in the council chamber of our nation, as follows, ‘Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, the elders of the Jews, have come to us so that they might renew friendship with us.

The nation was pleased to receive friendship from them, and they received the men with honor. They made a copy of their letter in the archive so that it might be a reminder to the nation of the Spartans. They wrote a copy of it and of their response for the chief priest Simon.’”

1

‘enforced’: lit. ‘commanded’.

2 ‘elders’: Greek ‘ambassadors’ (οἱ πρεσβευταί). Some Greek recensions have ‘elders’ (οἱ πρεσβύτεροι). See also 1 Maccabees 14:22; 15:17.



‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬܛ ܰ�ܩ ̱ܘ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܒܥ�ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܐ ܘܩ� ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܝܠ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܛـܐ ܰܘܐܪܺܝــܡ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ܰܪܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܥـܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟ ܶܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܘ� ܘ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܒܚ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܣܓܝ ܳܡܐ ܢ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܶ� ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦ� ܳܛ ܶܝـܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡـܥ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܩـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܺܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ܰܪ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܚـ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ܦـ ̱‬ ‫ܫܡܥـ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ܶܫܡܥـܘܢ ܐ ܽܚـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܶܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܐܩܝܡـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫݁ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܠܗ ܒ ݂ܦܢܩ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫܐ ܰܠܡ ܰܚ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܬܘ �ܘ ݂ܬܗ ܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܡ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܥܡ �‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ ܶܟ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ̇ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܢ ـܘ ܦܚܡ ـܗ ܕܐܓ ـܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕܫ ـܕܪ ̱ܘ ܐܣܦ�ܛܝ ـܐ‪ .‬ܪܝܫ ـܐ ݂ܕܐܣܦ�ܛܝ ـܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ ̈ܶܒـܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܰܘ� ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܺܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ـܐ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝܢ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܺܐ ܳܝܩ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ ܰܬܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݁ܘܕ ܽܥܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܒܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܪܟـܘܢ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ� ݁ܬܫܒܘܚܬ ݂ܟܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕܝܢ ܣ ݁ܓܝ ݂ܒܡ ݂ܐܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܒـ ܳܘ� ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܰܡـܢ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ‪ܽ .‬ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝـܘܣ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܟ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܺ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐܢܛܝ ݂ܟـܘܣ ܘܐܢܛܝܦܛــܪܘܣ ܒـܪ ܐ�ܣـܘܢ ܣ ݂ܒـܐ ݂ܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ـܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܘ �ــܘ ݂ܬܢ‪:‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܢܚܕ ݂ܬܘܢ ܪ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܫܦــܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒ�ــ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢــܘܢ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒــ ܶ�ܐ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡــܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰܢܩ ݁ ܶܒــܠ ܡܢــܗܘܢ ܪܚܡــ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܡـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܓـ ܳܙ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ ̈ܒـܐ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶܗ ̈ܘ ܳ�ـܢ‬ ‫ܚܡـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ܐܓـ� ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܛܝـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ܘܟܪ ܢـܐ‪݁ .‬ܦܚܡܗܝــܢ ݁ܕܝــܢ ݁ܕܗܠܝــܢ ܘܥܢܝܢܗܝــܢ‪ :‬ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 



  

  

 



 

In the one-hundred-seventy-second year, 1 Demetrius 2 gathered his army and went to Media so that he might gather an army for himself and wage war with Trypho.

When King Arsaces of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius had come to his region, he sent one of his captains to seize him alive.

He went and attacked Demetrius’s army. He seized him and brought him to Arsaces. Then he placed him in prison. The land was at rest and quiet for all Simon’s days. [Simon] did many good things for his nation, and his authority and his glory pleased them for all his days. With all of his glory, he took Joppa as a harbor and made an entrance for ships of the sea.

He enlarged and increased the borders of his nation. He gained control over all of their land. He gathered much plunder and gained authority over Gazara, Bethzur, and the citadel. He blotted out and removed from them all impurity, and there was no one who stood against him. They were dwelling in and working their land in peace. The land was bringing forth its harvests and the trees of the land their fruits.

The old men were sitting in the streets, and all of them were considering good things. The youth were clothed with glory and not armor. He gave provisions to the cities and fortified them with instruments for the fortresses, until the fame of his glory was renowned in all the ends of the earth. He brought peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced greatly.

They sat, each under his vines and fig trees, and there was no one who made them afraid.

1 2

140 BCE.

‘Demetrius’: Greek ‘King Demetrius’ (Δημήτριος ὁ βασιλεύς).



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟܢܶܫ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـ ݂ ܰܕܝ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝܢ ݂‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܟܢܶܫ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ� ܰܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܣܩ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦـܪܣ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܳܡـ ݂ ܰܕܝ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܚܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܚܕܝ ̱‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܚܕܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܶ�ـܗ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣـܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ̇ܗ �ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ܺܣܝ ܶ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܪܡܝܗ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ݁݁ ܺ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܫ�ܝ ݂ܬ ܘܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ݂ܬ ܐܪܥـܐ ݂ܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܝـܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ �ܗܘܢ ܫܘܠܛܢܗ ݂ܘܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ̇ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ � ܽܝ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܐܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢـܐ � ̈ܠ ݂ ܶܦـܐ‬ ‫ܘܥܡ ܟܠܗ ܬܫܒ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ̇ܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܪ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܦ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܐܪܥ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫـܘ ܶ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܓ ܺܙ ܳܝܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܣܓ‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ݂‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ݁ ܳ ܶܒ ܺ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܛـܐ ܰܘܐܪܺܝــܡ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܕ ܳܩـܐܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܪܕ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ ܛܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܝܢ ܰܐܪܥـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ ܳ�ܗ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܥ̈�ـ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺܘܐ�̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܦܐ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܣ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩـܐ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܥـܠ ܛ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ�ܝܡܐ ܐ ݂ܬܟܣܝܘ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܡܐ ܢܐ ݂ܕܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܡـܗ‬ ‫ܐܥܫܢ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳܡܐ ܢ̈ـܝ ܶܚ ̈ܣ ܶܢـܐ‪݂ :‬ܥܕܡـܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܬܘܪܣܝܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܦ ̇‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܣܡ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܶܚـܠ�‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܰܐ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܓ ̈ܘ ݂ܦ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





  

They asked Simon to show them favor, and he showed it to them. He drove them out of there, and he cleansed the citadel from all impurity.

They entered the citadel on the twenty-third day of the second month in the one-hundred-seventy-first year1 with joy, splendor, exclamations, lyres, and harps, because the great enemy had been routed by Israel. The foreigner ceased waging war with Israel.

They established that they would mark this day in each and every year with gladness and joy. They fortified the temple mount which was near the citadel. Simon was dwelling there along with the people of his house. Simon saw his son John who was a warrior. He appointed him as leader of all of the armies, and he dwelled in Gazara.

1

141 BCE.



‫‪ ‬ܢܢ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܢܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܕ‬

‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ݁ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܦܩ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܥܘ ܡܢ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ܟܝܶܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܪܕ ܐ ܡܢ ܟܠ ̇ܗ ܛܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ݁ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ̱ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝܢ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝــܢ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܪܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܒܥܣܪܝܢ ܘ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܽ ̈ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ�ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܟ ܳ�ـ ܶ�ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ‪ :‬ܒܚـ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪݂ ܶ :‬ܘܒܐܘܫܥܢـܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܩܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶܕܐ ݁ܬܬ ݂ܒܪ ݁ܒܥ ݁‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܐ ܪ ݁ܒܐ ܡܢ ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ .‬ܘܫܠܝ ܢ ݂ܘܟܪ ܳ�ܐ ܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ�ܡܩܪ ݂ܒܘ ܥܡ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢـܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢـܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢـܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܰܡܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ‬ ‫ܐܥܫܢ ̱ܘ ܠܛܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟ� ݂ܕ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݁ܒ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ̈ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܘ ݂ܒܢܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒـܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡـܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܶ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܪ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܓ ܺܙ ܳܝܪܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

 







 





We are forgiving both the sins and transgressions [that have been] done up to today and that crown tax which you owed. Everyone who pays taxes in Jerusalem, let him henceforth not pay them. Anyone of you who wishes to be enlisted with us, let him be enlisted. Let there be peace between us.” In the seventieth year, 1 the yoke of the nations was lifted from Israel.

The nation began writing, when engaged in commerce, 2 “In the first year, in the name of Simon the great chief priest and the commander of the Jews.”

In those days, Simon besieged Gaza 3 and surrounded it with his army. He made mighty wooden towers and drew near to the city wall. He then overthrew one tower and seized the city. Men of the army leaped up and came out of the wooden towers. They went down to the city, and there was a great disturbance in the city.

Those in the city went up with their wives and children, rending their garments. They cried out with a raised voice and asked Simon to show them favor. They said to him, “Do not do to us according to our wickedness but according to your goodness.”

Simon left them, and he did not wage war with them. He drove them out of the city and cleansed the houses where there were idols. Thus he entered it giving honor and blessing. He expelled all the impurity from it, and he made men who consented to the law settle there. He built a fortress and made a house for himself in it. The inhabitants of Jerusalem’s citadel were prohibited from entering, coming out, buying, and selling. They were very hungry, and many of them died from hunger.

1

142 BCE.

3

‘Gaza’: Greek ‘Gazara’ (Γαζάραν).

2

‘engaged in commerce’: lit. ‘taking and giving’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܛ ̈ܶܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ̈ܟ�ـ ܳـܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝــ� ܰܗܘ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܺܩܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܐ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܚ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘ ݁ܝܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܗܒ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܡܟ ܳܣܐ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡ ݂ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ�ـ ܶܗ ݂ܒ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ܳ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟـܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܟܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܒܘܢ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܺܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܢ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܒܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢـ ݂ܬܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ݁ ݁ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܐ ݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܘܫ ݂ܒܥܝܢ‪ :‬ܐܬܬ ܪܝܡ ܢܝܪܐ ݂ܕܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ܡܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܺ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝــܘ ܰܥ ܳܡ ـܐ ݂ ܳܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܠܝــܢ‪ :‬ܘ�ܗܒܝــܢ ܒܫܢ̱ ـܬܐ ܩ ݂ܕܡܝـ‬ ‫ܫܡ ـܗ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܳܽ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̇ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܰܥـܠ�ܥـܐܙ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܚـ ݂ܕܪܗ ܒܡܫܪܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܓ ܒܗܢ ܶܘܢ ܝـܘܡ ݂ܬܐ‪� :‬ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܫـܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ� ݂ܕ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈� ܶܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܩــܪ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܓـܡ ܚـ ݂ܕ ܡ ݂ܓـܕ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ ݁ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܚܕܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܘܪ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ݁ܓܘ ܡ ݂ܓܕ� ݂ܕܩܝܣܐ ݂ܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫ܢܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܙ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܥܡ ܢܶ ܰܫ ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܕ ܺܩܝــܢ ܰܢ ̈ܚ ݁ܬܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ�ܩ ̱ܘ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܓܥܘ ܒܩ� ܪܡܐ ܘ ݂ܒܥܘ ܡܢ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܽ ܰ ܶܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܠܗ‪݂ � .‬ܬܥܒ ݂ܕ ܠܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܒܝܫ ݂ܘܬܢ‪ :‬ܐ � ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܛ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܳܘ� ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܺܟـܝ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܦܩ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡـܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ̈ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ܶ�ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܥܠ ܳ�ܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܒܚ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܘܬܶ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡــܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒــ ܶ�ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘ ݁ܐܦ ـܩ ܶܡ ܳܢــ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠــ ̇ܗ ܛܡــ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ̇ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܳ ̇ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܠܗ ܒܗ ܒ‬ ‫ܒܢܡܘܣܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܢܐ ݂ܒܗ ܚܣܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܶܕܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠــܡ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܶܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܥــܠ ܰܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰܦــܩ‪:‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܛ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒــܝ ܶܡــ ݁ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܙܒܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠܡ ܰܙ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܢܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݁ ܶܦܢ ̱ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܦ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

   

   XVII





Simon constructed [a building] 1 above the graves of his father and brothers. He exalted it in its appearance with hewn stones that were carved on both sides. He erected seven monuments, one opposite another, for his father, mothers, and four brothers.

He made devices and erected great columns. He carved on the columns weapons of war for eternal fame, and he made carved ships beside the weapons. He raised them up so that they might be seen by all who sail the sea.

This is the grave which Simon made in Moreim, 2 which still remains today. 3

Trypho dealt deceitfully with King Antiochus the Great, and he killed him. Then he reigned in his place and put on the crown of Asia. He caused great harm in the land.

Simon rebuilt Judea’s fortresses, and he surrounded them with high towers, great walls, doors, and bars. He laid provisions in the fortresses. Simon chose some men and sent them to King Demetrius to release the land, because all Trypho’s deeds were robbery. King Demetrius sent back with these words and wrote a reply in a letter as follows, “King Demetrius to Simon, the chief priest and friend of the king, and to the elders and nation of the Jews: Peace.

We have received the golden crown and palm branch that you sent us. We are ready to make great peace for you and to write to those who were set over the affairs to release you from the tributes. Everything that we have sent you remains, and as for the fortresses which you built, let them be yours. ‘constructed a building’: lit. ‘built’. The Syriac follows the Greek, which also does not have a direct object.

1 2 3

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).

‘which still remains today’: lit. ‘until today’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ �ܥܶـܠ ܶܡـܢ ܰܩ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒـܘܗܝ ܰܘܕ ܰܐܚـܘ ̈ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܟܙ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܡـܗ ݁ ܰܒܚـ ܳـܙ ݂ܬܗ‬ ‫̱ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ ܺܟܐ ݂ ̈ܦܐ ݂ܦ ܺ� ̈ܝ ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܓ ܺ�ܝ̈ ݂ ܳܦܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܰܒܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܽܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܘ� ܶܡـܗ ܘ�� ܒܥ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ‪ܽ ݂ � :‬ܒـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܐܤܛ ̈ܘ ܢܶܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ܰܠـ ݂ܦ ܰܥـܠ ܐܤܛ ̈ܘ ܢܶـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܳܡܐ ܢܰ̈ܝ ܰܙ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ـ ݁ܒ ܳܡܐ ܰܢ̈ـܝ ܰܙ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܡ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕܗ ܰ ̈ܘܝ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚܙ̈ ܳ�ܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܳܢ ̈ܚ ݁ܬܝ ܰ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ܦܐ ݂ܓ�ܝ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ܒ ܽܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܩ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܢ ݂ܟ� ܥܡ ܐ‬ ‫ܛܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܛܪ ݁ ܳܬ ܳܓܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣ ܰܝܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ̈ ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܚܕܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݂ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ� ܳ� ܶܡـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܫـܘ�ܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘ ݂ܒܢܐ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܚܣܢܝ ̇ܗ ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ܰܐ ܳܣ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫ܬ�ܥܶܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ܟ ܶ�‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܽܫ ݂ܘܒ ܳܩ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬܝܗܘܢ ̱ܗܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܚܛ ݂ܘܦܝܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܪܥܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܣܘܥ� ܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ ܥܢ�ܢـܐ ݂ܒ ݁‬ ‫ܐܓـܪܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܡ�ܟܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܗܠܝܢ ܡ�‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫�ܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܘ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥ ـܘܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶ ـܐ ܳܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ـܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܟ ـܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ ̈ܒ ـܐ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬

‫ܨܚ ܝܙ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ܪܬܘܢ ܰܠܢ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒܠܢ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܘܫܠ‬ ‫ܥܬ ݂ ܺܝܕܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܟܠܝ� ݂ ݂ܕܕ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕܢܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ �ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܕܝــܢ ܰܥـܠ � ݂ܒـܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܫ ̈ܩ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܠܚ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܠܚܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬܘܢ‪ܺ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܟܘܢ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܰܩ ܳܝܡ‪ .‬ܘܚܣܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܢ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܫܒ ܽܩـܘܢ‬

Ch. 



 



  





   

When Trypho learned that Simon had risen in his brother Jonathan’s place and that he was prepared to wage war with him, he sent messengers to him, saying to him, “In place of the silver 1 that your brother Jonathan owed the palace — because of the possessions that he held — we are holding him.

Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages lest, when we release him, he will turn and separate from us, and we will release him.”

Simon knew that they were speaking with him deceitfully. He then sent the money and the boys lest he cause great enmity for Israel and [someone] might say, “[It was] because he did not send the silver and the boys that they were lost.”

He sent the boys and one hundred talents, but [Trypho] lied and did not send Jonathan.

Afterwards Trypho came to travel in Judea in order to blot it out. He went on the way of Adora. Simon and his army preceded him to every place that he was going. The inhabitants of the citadel sent messengers to Trypho in order that he might come to them with haste on the trodden path and that he might send them provisions.

Trypho prepared all his cavalry so that he might come that night, but there was a great snow. He was not able to come because of the snow, so he marched and came to Gilead. When Trypho came to Baskama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there. Then Trypho went back to his land.

Simon sent for and took the bones of his brother Jonathan. He buried him in Moreim, 2 in the city of his ancestors.

All Israel wept and mourned for him for many days.

1 2

‘silver’: two different words for ‘silver’ are used in 13:14–16. ‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).



‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܩܡ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬ ݂ܝܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܚܠ ݂ܦ �‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܺܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܶܕܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ܳܝ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘܐ �‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܶܡܛـܠ ܶ� ݂ ̈ܒـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ܽܚ ݂ܘܟ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕ ܗ ܳܘܐ‪݁ :‬ܟ ܺܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܟܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ܺܐܚ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܗܡܝـ ܶ�ܐ‪݂ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳܡـܐܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܐ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـܐ ݂ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܤܛܐ ܘܢܶ ݂ܦ ܽܪܘܩ ܶܠܗ ܶܡ ܰܢܢ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܶܪܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܢ‬ ‫ܢܶܫܪܝ ̱‬ ‫ܡܡܠ ܺܝܢ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ̈ܝܶـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ ܰ� ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ � ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ܺܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܥܒ ݂ܕ ܒܥܠܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܕ� ܫܕܪ ܟܣܦܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܛ�ܝ̈ܐ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܰܐܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ܝ̈ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܶܓܠ ܘ� ܰܫ ݁ܕ ܶܪܗ �ܝ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ܘܕ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕܢܶܥܛܝـ ̇‬ ‫ـܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܐ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܠܡܗ� ݂ܟـܘ ݂ܒܐܪܥـܐ ݂ܕܝـ‬ ‫ܰܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ܳܩـ ݂ ܶܕܡ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠـܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܘܪܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܠ ܐ ݂ܬܪ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܘܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݁ ܳܕܐܙܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܰ̈ܒܝ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܶܕܐ ݂ܕ ܺܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ �ܘ ݂ܬ ܛܪ ݂‬ ‫ܚܦܝܛܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐ ܳܣ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬ܘܕܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛܝܶ ݂ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ݂ܒـ ܰܗܘ ܺ� ܳܝـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰܬ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܰܫ‬ ‫ܠܓـܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܶܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ� ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܡ ܺܛܝ ܺ‬ ‫�ܒܣ ̈ܩ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒܪ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܠܗ �ܝܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܘܐ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ �ܪܥܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ܒ ܽܡـ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ�ـ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ܽܚـ ̱‬ ‫ܫܩـܠ� ݁ ܰܓ� ܰܡـ ̱‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܟܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬܶܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܟܠܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 

  

  

      

Simon heard that Trypho had gathered a large army so that he might come to Judea and blot it out. When he saw the nation afraid and shaken, he went up to Jerusalem.

He gathered together the nation and comforted them, saying, “You know everything that my brothers and I as well as my father’s whole house have done for the sake of the law and the sanctuary, the wars and the punishments which you have seen. Because of this, all my brothers died for the sake of all Israel; I alone am left.

Now far be it from me that I should spare myself at all times of punishment, because I was not better than my brothers.

But I will contend for the sake of our nation, our sanctuary, and our children, because all the nations have gathered to obliterate us because of their enmity.” The nation’s spirit was awakened and excited at the moment it heard his words.

They responded with a raised voice, saying to him, “You are our leader in place of your brothers Judas and Jonathan. Wage our wars, and we will do all that you say.”

Simon gathered all the warriors and hastened to completely finish Jerusalem’s wall and fortify it all around. He sent Jonathan, son of Absalom, and a large army with him to Joppa. He drove out those in it and camped there. Trypho marched from Ptolemais with a large army to enter Judea. Jonathan was with him under guard. Simon camped at Adira, 1 opposite the valley.

1

‘Adira’: Greek ‘Adida’ (Αδίδοις).



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝܓ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ ݂ܕ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ ܘܢܶܥܛ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܕ ݂ܟܢܫ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܰܺ‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ܺܚܝܠ ܘܪ ݁ܬ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܝܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪݂ �ܳ .‬ܕ ܺܥܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕܥܶ ݂ܒـ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܰ ܰ ܰ̈‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܘܐ ܰ ̈ܚܝ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܐ ݂ܒ ̱ܝ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦܝ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܐ ݁ܦܝ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ܽܘܐ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܨ ܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܽ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐ ܰ̈ܚـܝ ܰܥـܠ ܐ ܦـܝ ܟܠـܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܛܠ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ ̱ܗܘ ܺܡܝـ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܟ�ـ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܪ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܳܚܣ ܺܠܝ ݂ ܶܕ ܽܐܚܘܣ ܰܥܠ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܰܙ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܢـܐ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ�‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ .‬ܡ ܰܝ ݁ܬܪ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܰ̈ܚܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܫ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦܝ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ‪̈ܰ ܰ ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܫـܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ‬ ‫ܒܪܡ ܕܝܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܟ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܐ ݁ܦـܝ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓܡـܪ ݂ܘܬܢ ܡܛـܠ‬ ‫ܐܦܝ ܒ�ܝـܢ‪ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܕ ݂ܐܬܟܢܫـ ̱ܘ ܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܥ ̱ܡܡـܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ݁ ܺ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܬܬܥܝܪ ݂ܬ ܘܪ ݂ܬܚ ݂ܬ ܪܘܚܗ ܕܥܡܐ‪ :‬ܒܪ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܰܢـܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܢܘ ݁ܒ ܳܩ ܳ� ܳܪ ܳܡܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‬ ‫ܚܠـ ݂ܦ �ـܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘ�ـ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ݁ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒܝܢ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰܠܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܢــܫ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥــܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣــ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܢــܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ� ܽܡــܘ‬ ‫�ܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܓ ݂ܒــ�ܐ ܩ� ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫܟ ܳܠ ܽܘ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܥܫܢܶܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܕܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶܡـܗ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪ܽ � :‬ܝ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܰܐ ݂ܒ ܳܫ ܽ�ـܘܡ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܐܦـܩ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ �ܝܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫� ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ݂ܬ ܳܡܢ ܽܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ـܠ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܥ ـܠ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝ ـܐܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܝܦ ـܘܢ ܶܡ ـܢ ݁ܦ ܳܛ ـ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥ ـܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬܢܛܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܥܕܝܪܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   



 

He left three thousand men with him. Of these, he released two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.

When Jonathan entered the city of Ptolemais, they besieged him there. They killed all who had entered with him by the sword. Trypho sent an army and cavalry to Galilee and to the great valley to destroy all of Jonathan’s people. When they learned that Jonathan had been seized and that he and those with him had perished, they took courage and comforted themselves. They went out, gathering for war.

When their persecutors saw that they were grieved in their soul and that they would fight with all their strength, they turned back from them. All came in peace to Judea and mourned for Jonathan and those with him. They were very afraid, and all Israel mourned loudly.

All the surrounding nations wished to obliterate them, for they said, “They have no leader who helps them. Now come let us fight with them and remove their remembrance from humanity.”



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܐ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝــܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܙ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܦـܝ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ݁ ܳ ܶܕܝܢ �ܘ ݂ܬܗ ܬ ܶܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܰܒ ݂ܓ ܺܠܝ�‪ .‬ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܐ ܰܙܠ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܬ ܳܡــܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰ� ݁ܦܛــ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܰܟــ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰܥــܠ �ــ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝ ̱ܢــ ݁ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ݂ܒ ܽܫــ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܛ� ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ� ̱ܘ ܥܡܗ ܩ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ � .‬ܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܪܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܦـܘܢ ܚܝــ� ݂ܘܦ�ܫـܐ ܠ ݂ܓܠܝــ� ܘܠ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ �‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܐܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ܽܗܘ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܝܐܘ‬ ‫ܢܢ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥ ̱ܘ ܕܐܬܬܚ ݂ܕ ܠܗ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܟ ܺܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܢ ܰܠܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܳ� ݂ ܽܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬ ܺܫܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܥܠ �ܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܢܒ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܐ ܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ݁ܟܠܗ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ܐ ݂ܒ� ܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܶܚ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ�ܝـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܡـ ܽܪܘ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܰܡـܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܢܓ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܠ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬܫ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ ܰܕܡ ܰ� ݁ ܰܕܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܢܪܝــܡ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪܢـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܗܫܐ ݂ܬܘ ܢ ݂ܬܟ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  

  

 



They gathered together to build up the city. But some of the wall on the eastern valley had fallen. They covered over the place that was called Chesphantha. 1

Simon built Adira 2 in the Shephelah and fortified it with gates and bars.

Trypho wished to rule over Asia, to put on the crown, and to overtake King Antiochus.

He was afraid that Jonathan would not allow him or would wage war with him. He was seeking a place that he might grasp Jonathan and destroy him. He marched and came to Beth-jashan. 3 Jonathan came out with forty thousand chosen men to war. He marched on and came to Beth-jashan. 4

When Trypho saw that Jonathan had come with a large army, he was afraid that he would overtake him.

He received him with splendor, and he exalted him before all his friends. He gave him gifts and said to his friends, “Give gifts to him and to his army.” He commanded them to obey him as though it were he. He said to Jonathan, “Why have you caused trouble 5 for this whole nation, when we had no war?

Now send them, each to his own house, and choose for yourself a few men to be with you. Come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand over to you the rest of the fortresses, the rest of the army, and all who are appointed over these affairs, and then I will return and go away. For I have come because of this.” He believed him and did as he said to him. Jonathan sent his army, and he went6 to Judea. ‘Chesphantha’: Greek ‘Chaphenatha’ (Χαφεναθα). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions.

1 2

‘Adira’: Greek ‘Adida’ (Αδιδα).

4

‘Beth-jashan’: Greek ‘Beth-san’ (Βαιθσαν).

3 5

‘Beth-jashan’: Greek ‘Beth-san’ (Βαιθσαν). ‘caused trouble’: lit. ‘troubled and brought’.

‘he went’: Greek ‘they went’ (ἀπῆλθον). The Syriac is misleading, as the following verses indicate that Jonathan did not go to Judea.

6



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶܡܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݁ܒ ܰܢܚــ� ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕܢ ܳܚـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܙ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ �ܡ ݂ܒܢܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̇ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܕܘܟ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܡ ݂ܬܩܪ�ܐ ݂ܟܣܦ‬ ‫ܘܛܡܪܗ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܥܫܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ݂ܬ�ܥܶܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܚ ܘܫܡܥܘܢ ܒܢܐ ܠ ݂ܥܕܝܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ� ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܟ ܰܥـܠ ܐ ܺܣ ܰܝـܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶܩܛـܘܪ ݁ܬ ݂ܳܓـܐ‪ :‬ܘܢـ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܶܚܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܘܢ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺܩܝ‬ ‫ܘܒܥܶـܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܠܗ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܝ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ� ܳܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܚܕܝ ̱‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܘܢ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܺܕܝ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ ̈ܝـܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݁‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩـܠ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ� ܳܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ݁ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ܶܚܠ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐ ݂ ܳܝܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘܚܙ ܐ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܒܚ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܡܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܘܩܒܠܗ ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܚܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡــܪ ��ܚܡــ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܡــܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒــ ̱ܘ ܠــܗ ܐ ݂ܦ ܗܢــܘܢ ܡــܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘ�ܚܝܠܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܕ ܕܢܗܘܘܢ ܡܫܬܡܥܝܢ ܠܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܡܕ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪� .‬ܡܢܐ ܫܚܩــܬ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ �ܝ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܠܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘܓ ݂ ܺܒܝ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽܙܥܘ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰܥ ܳܡـ ݂ܟ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶ ـܐ ܰܘ� ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ܳܠ ـ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ� ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫ�ܡܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܪܟ ـܐ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ـܝ ܰ� ݁ܦܛ ـ‬ ‫ܰܥܡـ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܶ� ̈ܒ ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܺܘ ܰܐܙܠ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ‬ ‫݂ܕܚ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶܺ‬ ‫ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܓܝܪ ܐ ݂ܬܝ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪ܶ ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝܡܢܶܗ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‬ ‫ܘܫـ ݁ܕܪܗ �ܚܝܠـܗ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 



  XVI

   

 

He sent spies to their camp. They returned and said to him, “In this way, they are planning to attack you at night.”

When the sun set, Jonathan commanded his people to be watchful and to prepare their arms and be ready for war all night. He brought guards outside the camp in all of its surroundings. When their enemies heard that Jonathan and his people were prepared for war, they were afraid and grew weak in their hearts. They started a fire in their camps and fled. But Jonathan and his people did not know this until morning, for they saw the burning fire.

Jonathan pursued after them, but he did not overtake them, as they had crossed the river that was called Bar-hire. 1 Jonathan turned back against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans. He attacked them and took their spoils. He departed and came to Damascus, passing through the lands.

Simon came out and went up to Askalon and the surrounding fortresses. He departed for Joppa and subdued it.

For he heard that they were seeking the fortress so that they might hand it over to Demetrius’s people. He set up a post there so that they might guard it. Jonathan returned and gathered the elders of the nation. He consulted with them so that he might build fortresses in Judea

and elevate Jerusalem’s walls. They made a great high wall 2 between the citadel and the city which was separated from the city in order that the city might be far away from it so that they might neither sell nor buy [there].

1 2

‘Bar-hire’: Greek ‘Eleutherus’ (Ἐλεύθερον). ‘high wall’: lit. ‘height’.



‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܘ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܝܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠـܗ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݁ ܳܓ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܥܠ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܡܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܺ� ܳܝܐ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܺܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ـ ݂ܕ ܥـ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝــܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܫܡܫ ـܐ‪ :‬ܦܩ ـ ݂ܕ � ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܺ� ܳܝـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܬ݂ ܺܕܝܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦـܩ ܳܢ ܽܛـܘ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫�ܒـܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܟ�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ � ̇ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁̈ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܕ ̱ܗܘ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܫܡܥـ ̱ܘ ܒܥ�ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܝ ـܗܘܢ ܕܡܥ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪܦܝܘ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܕ ܶܚ�ܘ ܳܘܙܥܘ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܒ ܰܡܫ� ܳ� ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫��ܦ ܳܪܐ‪ܳ .‬ܚ ܶܙܝــܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܽܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܺ �ܳ :‬ܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ̱ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ ݂‬ ‫�ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܢــ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܪܕ ݂ܦ �ــ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ ܳܒــ ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܐܕܪ ݂ܟ ܐ ܽܢــܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܥ ݂ܒــܪ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕܡ ݂ܬܩܪܐ ݂ܒܪ ܚܐ� ܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܥ� ݂ ܳܒܝܶܐ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚـܐ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܢ ݂ ܺܙܒ ̈� ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫� ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܡܣܘܩ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ݁ ܰܒܐ� ܳܥ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܝ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܟـܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܽ�ܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܣ ܶܢـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܶ�ܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܘܦـܐ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܒ ܳܫ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܬ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܢـܐ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܡـ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܘܬ ݂ܒ ܬܡܢ ܡܛ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܒ ܶܢـܐ ݂ ܺܒܝـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ ܰܒܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܡ ܰܠ ݂ܟ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ܘܕ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܡ ܽܫܘ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܘ ܰܪ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܰܘ ܰܢܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢـ ݂ܬ ܡـܪܕ ܐ ܠ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ ݂ ܰ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ ݁ ܶ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܠ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ� ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܡ ܶܢـܗ ܰܘ�ـ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـܬܐ‪ .‬ܕ ݂ܬܗܘܐ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰܦ ܺܪ ܳܝܩ ܶܡـܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳܙ ݂ܒ ܺܢܝܢ ܳܐ ݂ܦ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܙ ݁ܒ ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   

      





But many punishments have surrounded us as well as great wars, which all the surrounding kings have waged with us. We do not wish to annoy you, neither you nor the rest of our friends nor our allies in all our wars.

For we have help from the heavenly one who helps 1 us: he delivered us from our enemies and humbled them before us. We chose Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and sent [them] to the Romans to renew the alliance and friendship with them. We commanded them to come to you also, to greet you, and to give you our letter about the renewal of brotherhood with us. Now you will do well to make a copy of this for us.”

This is the copy of the letter he sent, “King Oniares 2 of the Spartans to the chief priest Onias: Peace.

It was found in the book concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they were brothers and that they were from the seed of Abraham.

Now from these things that we know, you will do well to write to us about your welfare. 3

We are writing to you about everything that is ours because all that you have is ours and all that we have is yours. We commanded them to say all these things to you.” Jonathan heard that the captains of Demetrius’s armies returned with a large army, larger than the first one, so that they might wage war with him. Jonathan departed from Jerusalem, and he met them in Hamath. For he did not allow them to tread upon his own land.

1

‘help’ and ‘helps’: these words come from the same Syriac root as ‘allies’ in 12:14.

3

‘welfare’ is the same word as ‘peace’ in 12:20.

‘the letter he sent, “King Oniares”’: two names have been combined. In most Greek witnesses, the phrase reads: ‘the letter sent to Onias, “King Arius.”’

2



‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬

‫�ܨ ܢܶـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܰܡـܢ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܠܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܽܐ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܰܗ ݂ ܽܪܟܘܢ‪ܽ ݂ �ܳ :‬‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܳ� � ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܝــܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܢܝــܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܟـܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܠـܢ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܽܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝـܐ ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ ܡ ܰ�ـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܠـܢ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ܰܨܝـܢ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܟ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܦܛـ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ ܰܒܝــܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝـܘܣ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܘ�‬ ‫ـܪܘܣ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܣـܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ ܰ̈ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪܢ �ܘ ݂ܬ ܒܢܝ ܪ ̱ܗܘܡܐ ܠܡܚܕ ݂ܬܘ ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܐ ܘܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܠ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܟـܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ ܽܠـܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܠܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ ݂ܘܦ ܶܩ ݂ ܰܕܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܦ ܳ�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟܘܢ ܳ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ܬܢ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽܐܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ݁ ܽܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ ܶܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒܘܢ ܰܠܢ ݁ ܶܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܗܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܦ�ܛܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܢܘ ܦܚܡ ̇ܗ ܕ ݁ܐܓܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕܫܕܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐ��ܪܣ ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫�ܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ــܘ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܦ� ܳܛ ܶܝــܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟــܚ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒــܐ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ܐ ̈ܶܚــܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ‬ ‫ܘܥــܠ �ܗܘ ݂ܕ�ــܐ‪ :‬ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܙܪܥܶܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܒ ܳܪ ܳܗܡ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂ ܰܝܕܥܢ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬܘܢ ܰܠـܢ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܫܠ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ݁ ܳܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܕ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܢ ܽܗܘ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܰܠܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܟܘܢ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܦ ܶܩ ݂ܕܢ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪ܺ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ ̱‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܺܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܰ�ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝــ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܡܥ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ݁ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܩ ݂ܕܡܝܐ ݂ܕܢܩ ݂ܪܒܘܢ ܥܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܬ�̈ܶܐ‪݂ܶ � .‬ܓܝــܪ ܳ�ـ ܶܗ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ �ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܡܢ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‪ :‬ܘܐܪܥ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܢܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܘܢ ݁ ܰܒܐܪܥܶܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 



 

   

  





When Jonathan saw that time was working in his favor, 1 he chose men and sent them to Rome to support and renew friendship with them. To the Spartans and other places he sent letters in this regard.

They went to Rome, entered their senate chamber, and said to them, “The chief priest Jonathan and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew friendship and the alliance as before.” The Romans received them with joy. They gave them letters so that, in all the places they were passing through, they might send them in peace to Judea. This is the copy of the letter that Jonathan sent the Spartans,

“The chief priest Jonathan, the elders, the priests, and the whole nation of the Jews to our brothers the Spartans: Peace.

Now, a letter had also been sent to the chief priest Onias from Darius 2 your king, [which states,] ‘You are our brothers,’ as the letter demonstrates.

Onias received a man who was sent in pomp and received this letter which was written for the alliance and friendship. But we do not trust in these things, because we have the holy books in our hands as [our] consolation.

Therefore we wish to send to you in order to renew friendship and brotherhood with you so that we might not be like foreigners to you, for much time has passed since you have sent [a letter] to us.

But we have always, without ceasing, remembered you in the festivals and the appointed days, in all the offerings which we made and with all our prayers, as it is required and right for someone to remember his brothers. We rejoice greatly about your glory.

1

‘was working in his favor’: lit. ‘was helping him’.

‘Darius’: Greek ‘Arius’ (Ἀρείου). The Syriac reflects some Greek and Latin recensions.

2



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ ܡ ܰ�ـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܠـܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܓ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܙ ܐ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܽܡܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܡ ܰܚ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܬܘ ܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܛܝܶܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ̱ܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܒ ܳܘ� ݂ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ̱ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪� .‬ـ‬ ‫�ܒ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ ݁ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܪܒ ܟܗܢܐ ܘܥܡܐ ܶ ݂ܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ܐ ܫܕܪܘܢ‪ :‬ܠܡܚـ ܳܕ ݂ܬܘ ܪܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܕ ܺܪܝــܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝــܢ‪ :‬ܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܛܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܢܘ ܦܚܡ ̇ܗ ܕ ݁ܐܓܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕܫܕܪ �ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ �‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ݁ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܛ ܶܝـܐ ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝـܢ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܪܒ ܟܗܢܐ ܘܣ ݂ܒܐ ݂ܘܟܗܢܐ ݂ܘܟܠܗ ܥܡـܐ ݂ܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ـܐ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܐ ݁ܓ ـ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܗܫ ـܐ ܐܫـ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝ ـܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶ ـܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ݁ ܳܕ ܺܪ ܰ� ـܘܫ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܢ ܰܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܓ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܠܟ ݂ܟܘܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠܗ ܚܘ�ܝܐ ܠܓ ݂ܒܪܐ ܗܘ ܕ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒـܠ ܐ ݁ܓـ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܰ̈ ݂ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ� ݂ܒܢ ̱ܗܘܝ ܥܠ�ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܐ ܘܥܠ ܪܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳ� ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ܬ ݂ ܺܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐܐ‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗܘ ܠـܢ ܒـ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ ̈ܒܐ ܰܩ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܫܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܝܢ ݁ ܰܕܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ �ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟܘܢ ܕܢܚܕ ݂ܬ ܪܚܡـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܐܚـ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟـܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗܐ ܶܓܝــܪ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܕ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ܪܬܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܘ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܕ ܺܥ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܕ ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ̈ܝܥܶܐ ܶܡ ݁ܬ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܺܪܝܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪݁ :‬ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ‬ ‫�ܨ�ـ ̈ܘ ݂ܬܢ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܥܶـܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘܙ ݂ ܶܕܩ ݁ܕܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ݁ܬ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒ ݁‬ ‫ܣܡܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܬܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  



Not one of them remained with him, except Mattathias, son of Absalom, and Judas, son of Chaphi, 1 and the princes who were the captains of the armies. Jonathan rent his clothes, placed dust on his head, and prayed.

He turned back against them in war. He conquered them, and they fled.

When [Jonathan’s people] saw that those who were with him were fleeing, they returned and came to him. [His army] pursued them as far as Kales, 2 to their army, and they camped there.

About three thousand men of the Philistines fell on that day. Then Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.

1 2

‘Chaphi’: Greek ‘Chalphi’ (Χαλφι). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions. ‘Kales’: Greek ‘Kadesh’ (Κεδες).



‫‪ ‬ܥ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܥܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܥܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܥܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܥܕ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ ݂ܒ ܳܫ ܽ�ܘܡ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܚܪ ܶ�ܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ .‬ܐ � ܐܢ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܺܦܝ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܝ ܰܚ ̈ܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܨ ܺܠܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܪܝ �‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܢ ̈ܚ ݁ܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳܙܟܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܩܝــܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܺܢܝـ ܰـܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬܘ ܶܨܝـ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫�ܩ ܶܠܣ ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܳܪ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܦܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܘ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ̈ ݁ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܽ ܡܢ ܦ�ܫܬ�ܐ ݂ܒܗܘ �ܘܡܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܬܠـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ � ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘܢ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  





  

  

He established his brother Simon as the leader from the region of Tyre 1 up to the border of Egypt.

Jonathan came out and went to the river crossings and into the cities. The whole Syrian army gathered to him to help him.

Jonathan came to Askalon and the inhabitants of the city met him with great pomp. He went from there to Gaza. The people of Gaza closed [their gates] before him, and they besieged him. He set [the city] on fire with all its surroundings and plundered it. The people of Gaza beseeched Jonathan, and he showed them favor. He took the princes’ children as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem. He traveled in the land up to Damascus.

Jonathan heard that Demetrius’s princes had come to Kadesh of Galilee with a large army, for they wished to remove him from his affairs. He went and met them, but he left his brother Simon in the region.

Simon besieged Beth-zur and waged war with them for many days. He subdued its inhabitants.

They asked him to show them favor. He granted it to them and brought them out of there. When he had gained control over the city, he set up a post in it. Jonathan and his army camped near the waters of Gennesaret. Early in the morning they went forth to the valley of Hazor.

Then the army of Philistines met him in the valley, and they ambushed him. 2 They rose behind him and began waging war. All of Jonathan’s people fled.

1 ‘the region of Tyre’: Greek ‘the Ladder of Tyre’ (τῆς κλίμακος Τύρου). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions. 2

‘ambushed him’: lit. ‘brought out ambushes against him’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܐ ܺܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܗ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ܕ ܽܨܘܪ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚـ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܘ‬ ‫�ܫܡܥܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܡ�ܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬܗ‬ ‫ܣ ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ �‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܢܗܪܐ ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ܳ ݂ܬܢ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ܥ ݂ܒ� ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ� ݂ܕ ܽܣܘܪ ܰ�ܐ �ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܽ�ܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒـܝ ݂‬ ‫ܣܐ ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪܥـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܶܡܢ ܬ ܳܡـܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥـ ܳܐܙ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܥܠܝـ ̇‬ ‫ـܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܒ ̈ܢـܝ ܳܥـ ܳܐܙ ܐ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܰܘܐܘܩ ܳܕ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܙ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܘ ݂ܒܥܘ ܒܢܝ ܥـܐܙ ܐ ܡـܢ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕܡܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܡܝ ܶ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ �ܘܪܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘܗܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܒܐܪܥܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕܪܡܣܘܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ݁ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶ ـܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ ܰܠܩـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܕܫ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܓ ܺܠܝــ� ݂ܒ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܫܡ ـܥ � ـܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ̈ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܦܪ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ � ݂ܒܘ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰܘ ܰܐܪܥ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܽ ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܶܩܗ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝـܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܗ ܘ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݂ ܰ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܚܒܫ ܐܢܘܢ �ܝ ݂ܬܒܝ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܦܩ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܬ ܳܡـܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ �ܗܘܢ ܘ‬ ‫ܣܘ ܘ ݂ܒܥܘ ܡܢܗ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܣܡ ܒ ̇ܗ ܡܛܪܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܚܕ ̇ܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܓܢܶ ܰܣܪ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܕܡـ ̱ܘ ܒ� ݂ܦـܪܐ ܠ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܣܙ ܘ�ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܘܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܣܘܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ̈ ݁ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܩ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܟ ܺܡܐ ܢ ̈ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܫܬ�ܐ ܐܪ ݂‬ ‫ܣܚ ܘܗܐ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܥܬܗ ܒ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܤܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ �‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

 

  XV

   



The king summoned the Jews to help him. They all gathered together, and they all spread out in the city. They slaughtered about one hundred thousand on that day in the city. They burned the city and took many spoils on that day, and they delivered the king.

The inhabitants of the city saw that the Jews had become mighty and gained control over the whole city as they wished. Their minds became weak, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying, “Show us favor and let the Jews who are waging war with us and with the city cease.” 1 They threw down their arms, showed [them] favor, and made peace [with them]. The Jews were honored even more before the king and his whole kingdom. They returned to Jerusalem along with many spoils. King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was silent and at rest before him.

He was unfaithful in everything that he had said and turned against Jonathan. He did not give him everything that he promised to him, and he punished him greatly.

Afterwards, Trypho returned, and the young child Antiochus was with him. [Antiochus] reigned and put on the crown. The whole army that Demetrius had scattered gathered to him. It waged war with him, and he was conquered. So Demetrius fled.

Trypho took all of his animals and gained control over Antioch.

Young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, “I am establishing the chief priesthood for you. I am giving you authority over the four provinces so that you might be among the king’s friends.”

He sent him golden vessels and utensils and gave him authority so that he might drink in gold and be clothed in purple garments on which there was a golden clasp.

1

‘cease’: lit. ‘cease from us’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰܘܩـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܟܚـ ݂ ܳܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܥـ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫـ ̱ܘ �ــܘ ݂ܬܗ ܟ�ـ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ ܽ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܣـܪ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܩܛ� ̱ܘ ܒܗܘ �ܘܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬܒܕܪ ̱ܘ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫� ݁ܒ ܳܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܙܬ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝـ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ـ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘܐܘܩـ ݂ـܕܘܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ـ ̱ܘ ܒ ـܗܘ �ܘܡ ـܐ ݂ܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫ـܐܬ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦ ܽܨ� ـ ̱‬ ‫� ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܚـ ݁ ܽـܕ ̇‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒܝ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܓ ܰܥܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳܒ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܪ ܰܫ� ̱ܘ ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܢ ܰܗ ݂ܒ ܰܠܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܘܢ ܶܡ ܰܢܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܡ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܕܘ ܰܙܝܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚـ ̱ܘ ܰ� ݁ܬ ܳܝܪ ܺܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦܟܘ � ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ݂ ܰ ܽ ݂ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫̱ܗܘܐ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܒ ݂ܙܬ ܐ ܣܓ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝــܬ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ــܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝــ ݂ ݀‬ ‫�ܟــܐ ܰܥــܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟــ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܝܚ ݂ܬ ܐܪܥܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܚܠـ ݂ܦ ܰܥـܠ �ـ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܘ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܶܓܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܡܪ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܝ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܠ ܕ‬ ‫ܐܠܨ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܺ ̱‬

‫ܨܚ ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܚ‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ ܽܙܥـ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦـܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܥܡـܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݂ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ܘܩܛܪ ܬ ݂ܓܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ̇ܗ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܟ ܰܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܦܘܢ �ܚܝܘ ݂ܬܗ ܟܠ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܩܝܡ ܐ̱ܢܐ ܠ ݂ܟ ܪܒـ ݂ܘܬ ܟ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܙܥܘܪܐ �ܝܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܫ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫ ܶܠܛ ܐ̱ܢܐ ܠ ݂ܟ ܥܠ ܐ� ܒܥ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܕܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܫـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ ܫ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ܘܬܫܡܫـ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ ܠܗ ܡܐ ܢܐ ݂ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܦ ݂ܝܒ� ݂ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܟ ܰܣܝ ܐ� ݁ܓܘ ܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  









  



Let none of these be revoked now or ever.

Now take care to make a copy of this and give it to Jonathan. Let it be placed in a specified and public place on the holy mountain.’”

King Demetrius saw that the land was silent and quiet before him and there was no one standing against him. He released the whole army, each to his own place, except for those whom he chose among the islands of the nations. All of the armies of his ancestors had enmity for him. Trypho was formerly one of Alexander’s people, and he saw that the whole army was murmuring against Demetrius. He went to Imalkue the Arab who was raising Antiochus, Alexander’s son.

He said to him, “Let us hand him over so that we might reign in his father’s stead.” He informed him of everything that Demetrius had done and of the enmity his army had for him. He remained there for many days. Jonathan sent [a message] to King Demetrius so that he might bring out the inhabitants of the citadel from Jerusalem along with the inhabitants of the fortresses, for they were waging war with Israel.

Demetrius sent [a message] to Jonathan and said to him, “I will not only do these things for you and your nation, but I will also honor you and your nation with pomp when I have the opportunity. Now you will do well to send me men to help me, because the whole army has turned away from me.” Jonathan sent three thousand powerful men to Antioch. When they came to the king, the king rejoiced at their coming.

All the inhabitants of the city gathered together, about one hundred twenty thousand, in the middle of the city. They wished to kill King Demetrius. The king fled and entered the palace court. The people of the city closed all the ways out of the city, and they began fighting.



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܠܘ ܳܘ� ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܶܪܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܦܛ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܣܝــܡ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܟـ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܬܠ �ܝـ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܒ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܩ ݁ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܐܬ ܪ ܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕܝܥܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܝܚـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܶܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ� ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ݂ ܽܕ ݁ܘܟ ݂ܬܗ‪ :‬ܤܛܪ ܶܡـܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܓܙ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝـ�‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܥܡـܗ ܒܥܠܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ܐܒܗܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ݁ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܠܛ ܛܪ ݂ܝܦܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܶ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠـܗ ܳܪ�ـܢ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥـܠ ݂ܕܡܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ �ــܘ ݂ܬ ܡ ݁‬ ‫�ܟـܘ ܥ ݂ܪܒ ܳܝـܐ ܗܘ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ݁ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܪ ܒܐ ̱ܗܘܐ �‬ ‫ܐܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܡܝܘܗܝ ܶܠܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡ ܶܘ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܘܕ ܶܥـܗ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܠܗ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܢ ܺ ̱‬ ‫ܚܠـ ݂ܦ ܐ ݂ ܽܒـ ̱‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܝ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠـܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܘܩـ ܺܘܝ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܢ ݁ ܶܦـܩ � ܳܝ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰ ̈ܒـܝ ܶܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܽܘܫـܕܪ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܰܘ�ܝ ݂ܬܒܝ ܚܣܢܐ‪ .‬ܡܩ ݂ܪܒܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ݁ܓܝܪ ܥܡ ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚـ ݂ܘܕ ܶܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪̱ �ܳ .‬ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ �ܘ ݂ܬ �ܘܢ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܶܐ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚـ ݂ܟ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـ ݂ܟ‪ܳ :‬ܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܠـܝ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܐ � ܐ ݂ܦ ܒ ݂ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܰܐܢ ݁ܬ ܶܐܢ ܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܐܢ ݁ܬ ܺܠـܝ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥـ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ̱ܢܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ‬ ‫ܳ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܢܝ ܟܠܗ ܚܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܕܤܛܐ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܬܢܶـܐ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܟ ܰܝـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘܫـܕܪ �ـ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ܦ ܺܝــܢ ܓ ݂ܒـ�ܐ ܚܝ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ܶܡ ݂ܐܬ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬܥܶܣ ܶ�ܐ ܶ� ݁ܒ ܳܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܬ‬ ‫ܨܥ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒܝ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܛ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ـܪܩ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܰܘܥـ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ـ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܥ ـܠ ܶ�ܠ ـܗ � ـ ݂ ܳܕ ݁ܪܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܒܢ̈ ـܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ̈ ܳ ܶ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܦܩܢܝܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  



    





He took the gold, silver, instruments, and the rest of the other offerings. He went to Ptolemais to the king, and he found mercy before him. Iniquitous people of the nation were making complaints against him.

But he made him king as he had done for the one before him. He also exalted him before all his friends.

He gave him the priesthood and every honor which he had previously. He made him increase and made him among his greatly honored friends.

Jonathan entreated the king not to make Judea a tributary along with the three districts of the region and Samaria, and he promised him three hundred talents. The king consented and wrote a letter to Jonathan about all that he desired, and it was written as follows,

“King Demetrius to my brother Jonathan and the nation of the Jews: Peace.

We have written a copy of the letter to our kinsman Lasthenes about you. But we have written also to you so that you also might know. ‘King Demetrius to my father Lasthenes: Peace.

We wish to do good things for the nation of the Jews, 1 our friends and the guardians of concord with us, because of their concern for us.

We have established for them and given to them the region of Judea and the three provinces, Aphairema, Lydda, and Ramathaim, which were added to Judea from Samaria along with its whole area. As for [those who make] offerings in Jerusalem in place of the tributes which the kings previously took from them — from the seed of the earth and from the fruits of trees — and of the rest that is ours from the tithes, taxes, the salt ponds, and the crown taxes which are ours, everything is remitted to them.

1

‘for the nation of the Jews’: lit. ‘for them, for the nation of the Jews’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘܡܐ ̈ܶܢـ ـܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـــܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ـ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـ ـܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟـــܐ ݂ܕ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒ ܶܢـ ـܐ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܶܢـــܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܒ ܺܠܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ� ̈ܘ� ܶܡܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠـܗ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܡـܗ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܩܕܝــܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠـܗ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܒـܗ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܐ ܳܝܩـ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܟܙ ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܠܗ ܟܗܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܗ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܝܩ ܶ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܢ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒــ ݂ܕ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܩــܐ ܰܡــ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܚ ܰܘ ݁ܐܦܝــܣ �ــܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܫ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̈�ـ ܽܗܘܢ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܫـ‬ ‫ܘܕܝ ܶܠ ـܗ ݁ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ـܐܐ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫ܝܫـ ̱‬ ‫݂ ܰܟ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ�ܛܒܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܶܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ �ܝ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܝܒ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܝ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ �ܝ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܣܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܺܢܝܣ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܶܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟـܘܢ‪݁ .‬ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒـܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܐ ݂ܦ‬ ‫� ܦܚܡܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܐܓ ݁ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܢ ܶܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟܘܢ‪ :‬ܕ ݂ܐܦ ܐܢ̱ܬܘܢ ܬܕܥܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܺܢܝܣ ܳܐ ݂ܒ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒܝــܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ�ـ ܳـܘ ݂ ܰܬܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܛ�ܝ ܫ�ܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܗܘܢ ܕ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܡܛܠ�ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ـܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰܐ ܺܩܝܡــܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ـ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ̈ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ ܶܡـܢ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܝــܡ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܬ ݁ ܰܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝــܢ‬ ‫ܫܩ�ܝܢ‪݂ � :‬ܦܪܝܡ ܘܠـ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘ�ܪ‬ ‫ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠـܗ ܽܫـܘܠܛܢܗܝܢ �ܩܘ� ܒܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܐܘܪܫܠـܡ‪ :‬ܚܠـ ݂ܦ ܫܩـ�‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ� ܐ ݂ ܺܕܐ�̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܣـ ܶ�ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܠـܢ ܶܡـܢ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܰܡ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶܣـܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ̱ܡܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܟ ܺ�ܝ̈� ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܠܢ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

    XIV

 

    

 



For I regret that I gave him my daughter, because he wished to kill me.” He scorned and rejected him, because he desired his kingdom.

He took his daughter from [Alexander] and gave her to Demetrius. He turned against Alexander, and his enmity was exposed.

Ptolemy entered Antioch and put on the crown of Asia. He placed two crowns on his head, from Asia as far as Egypt. But King Alexander was in Cilicia at that time, because the people of that place had rebelled against him When Alexander heard this, he came against him in war. Ptolemy came out against him with a large army and with a strong hand. Then he conquered Alexander. Alexander fled to Arabia so that he might take refuge there. But King Ptolemy was exalted. The Arab Zabdiel took Alexander’s head and sent it to Ptolemy.

King Ptolemy also died within three days. Some whom he left in the fortresses were killed by those in the fortresses. Demetrius reigned in the one-hundred-sixty-seventh year. 1

In those days, Jonathan gathered an army from Judea so that it might attack the citadels’ inhabitants in Jerusalem. He made many weapons of war against it. People who hated their nation, iniquitous men, went to the king and told him, “Look! Jonathan is encamping against the citadel.”

When the king heard this, he became infuriated. At the moment he heard, he departed and came to Ptolemais. He wrote to Jonathan so that they might not encamp against the citadel and so that he might go meet him immediately in Ptolemais. When Jonathan heard this, he commanded them to encamp against the citadel. He then chose some priests and some elders of Israel and gave himself over to danger.

1

145 BCE.



‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܥܠ ݁ܕ�ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܶܠܗ ݁ܒ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܩܛ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܛܗ ܰܘܐܣ�ܝܶܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܪ ݂ܓ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܒــ ݂ܪܬܶܗ ܶܡ ܶܢــܗ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ܗ ݂ ܳܒــ ̇ܗ � ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܢ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒــ ̇ܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠــ ݂ܦ ܰܥــܠ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ــܘܣ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺܳܺܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܛܪ ݁ ܳܬ ܳܓܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣ ܰܝـܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝ‬ ‫ܢܛ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܘܣ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܦܛܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܘܣـܡ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝــܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܺܓ ̈ܝـܢ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܝ‬ ‫ܟ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܐ ܺܣܝܐ ܘ ݂ܥܕܡܐ �ܡ�ܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ܺܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܕ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܰܝܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ ܰܕܡـ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒــܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡــܥ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁‬ ‫ܥ�ــ‬ ‫ܢــܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܘ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ‬ ‫ܢܦــܩ ݁ܦܛــ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܐ ݂ܬ ܺܩ ݂ܝܦ ݁ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳܙܟܝ ̱ܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ � ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒܠܗ ܒܚܝ� ܣܓܝܐܐ ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܬܪ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ‪݁ .‬ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ��ܪ ݂ܒܝܐ ݂ܕܢ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬܬ ܪܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܐܶܝܠ ܰ�ܥ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒ ܳܝܐ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪ .‬ܘܫܕܪܗ �ܦܛ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ ܡ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܛ‬ ‫ܫܒـܩ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܠ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܽܗܘ ܺܡ ݂‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ‪ܺ :‬ܡܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܒܫܢ ݂ܬ ܡܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܚܝــ� ܶܡـܢ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟـ ݁ܬܫ ܰܥـܡ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒـܝ‬ ‫ܒܗܢܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܟܢܫ �‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ̈ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܡ ݂ܐܟ�ܘܣ ܣܓܝ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܳ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܥ� ̱‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܺܫܝ̈ܢ ܳܣ ̈� ܰܝܝ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠـܗ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳܗܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡــܥ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡــܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟــ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥــܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܡــ ݂ܬ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܫܩــܠ ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܒــ ܳܪ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪݁ :‬ܕ� ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒـܘܢ ܰܥـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ݁ܦܛـ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܺܢـ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟـ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ �ܝـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܓܠ ܒܦܛ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܝ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪݁ :‬ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒـܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܥـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܫܡܥ �ܘܢ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ܗ ݂ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܣ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܢܕ ܳܝܢܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 





 

   



The king of Egypt gathered a large army — as many as the sand on the seashore — and many ships. He wished to seize Alexander’s kingdom deceitfully so that he might add it to his kingdom.

He came out to Syria with peaceful words. The cities’ inhabitants were opening [their gates] for him and meeting him, because Alexander had commanded them to meet him, as [he was] his fatherin-law.

When Ptolemy entered the cities, he left an army and guards in all of them.

When he arrived at Azotus, he was shown the incinerated temple of the idol Dagon, Azotus and all its surroundings which were demolished, bodies that were strewn about, and those who were burned whom they had burned in the war. They formed piles upon piles on the road. The king was told all that he had done in order to disgrace him. But when the king heard this, he became silent.

Jonathan met the king in Joppa with great pomp. They greeted each other and spent the night there.

Jonathan went with the king up to the river called Bar-hire. 1 Then he returned to Jerusalem.

King Ptolemy gained authority over all the cities which were on the sea coast up to Seleucia on the bank of the sea. He formed wicked plans against Alexander.

He sent messengers to King Demetrius and said to him, “Come, let us make a covenant with each other. I will give you my daughter whom Alexander took, and you will reign over your father’s kingdom.

‘Bar-hire’: Greek ‘Eleutherus’ (Ἐλευθέρου). The Syriac is a translation of the meaning of the Greek.

1



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ ݁ ܰܟܢܶܫ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܚ� ݂ܕ ܰܥܠ ܶܣ ݂ܦـ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳܡـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܘܬܶܗ ݁ ܰܕܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܦ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‬ ‫ܐܚ ݂ܘܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ ݂‬ ‫ܘܐܠ ݂ܦܐ ܣܓܝ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰ�ܐ ݂ܒ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ܬ ܺܚܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠـܗ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒـܝ ݂‬ ‫ܳܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܰܩـ ݂ܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣܢـ ݁ـܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ܕܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥܝــܢ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܫ ݂ ܶܒـܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܚܝــ� ܳܘܢܛـܘ�ܐ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܥܐܠ ̱ܗܘܐ ܦܛ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ ܠ ݂‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟـ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ܺܘܝــܘ ܶܠـܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܡܛܝ �ܙ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܳܕ ܽ ݂ܓـܘܢ ܦ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ̈ܚ ݂ ܳܦـܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܛܘܣ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݁ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ܓـ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܶ�ܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܫܕܝــܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܢܘܪܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܙ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܟܫܝܢ ܟܫܝܢ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܐ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܕܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܒܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܨܥـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܺܥܝܘ ܶܠܗ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠـܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܫܡـܥ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܫܬܩ ܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܡ�ܟܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫܐܠ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ܽܝ ݁ܘܦܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܐܪܥܗ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܬܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܺܚـܐ ܶ� ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܥـܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܽܘܐܙܠ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ ݁ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠـܛ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܒـܠ‬ ‫ܦܛܘ�ܡܐܘܣ ܕܝܢ ܡ�ܟܐ ܐ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢـ ݂‬ ‫�ܣ ܶ� ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡــܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡــܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰܝــܐ ݂ܕܥــܠ� ݁ܓ ̱ܢــܒ �ܡــܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂ܬܚܫــ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥــܠ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܺܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܶܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ ݁ .‬ܬ ܐ ܺܢܩܝــܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝ ܳܡـܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩــܠ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܥــܡ ܰܚــ ݂ܕ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬܶܠ ܳ�ܠــ ݂ܟ ܰܠ ݂ܒــ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܳܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܠــ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܢــܕܪܘܣ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒ ݂ܘܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܡ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   

Jonathan departed from there and camped at Askalon. The city’s inhabitants came out to meet him with great pomp.

Jonathan returned to Jerusalem along with those with him, having many spoils with them. When King Alexander heard about these affairs, he again glorified Jonathan.

When he had sent him a golden clasp, as was customary to be given to the kindred of kings, he gave him Ekron and its whole region as an inheritance.



‫‪ ‬ܦܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܦܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܦܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܦܛ‬

‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ̈ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܽ�ܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ �ܬ ݂ܒܝܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܡܢ ܬܡܢ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘܪܥܗ ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ ܰܥـܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒـ ݂ܙܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟـ ݂ܕ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܳ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣܢـ ݁ـܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ̈ܶܡـ ܶ�‪ܰ .‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣـ ݂ܦ ܰܠܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܚـ ݂ܘܬܗ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܝ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ݂ ܳܕܐ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܺܕ‬ ‫ܘܗܡܗܘܢ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬܝ ܳܗ ݂ ܽܒܘ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܛـ‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ ܠܗ ܦ ݂ܝܒ� ݂ ݂ܕܕ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ �ܝܪܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ �ܥܩܪܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  

  

 

 



When Jonathan heard Apollonius’s words, he became infuriated and was motivated in his mind. He chose ten thousand men from Jerusalem, and his brother Simon met him to help him. Jonathan camped at Joppa, and its inhabitants closed off the city because Apollonius’s post was in it. They waged war with it. The city’s inhabitants became afraid, and they opened [the gates] for them. Jonathan was then put in authority over Joppa.

When Apollonius heard this, he brought out three thousand cavalry and a large army. He went to Azotus as though passing through. He was going before them to the valley, because of the army of cavalry that was with him and which he trusted.

Jonathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies came to war at the same time. Apollonius left one thousand cavalry behind them lying in wait.

Jonathan learned that there was an ambush1 behind him. They surrounded his camp and shot all 2 their arrows at the nation from morning until early evening.

But the nation remained standing, as Jonathan commanded, and their cavalry grew weary. 3 Simon led his army and made war with the battalions until the cavalry and the armies were brought to an end, routed, and fled from before him.

The cavalry were routed in the valley and fled to Azotus. They came to Beth-dagon, their idol, 4 so that they might be delivered. Jonathan burned their temple for idols. With it, they burned those who fled to take refuge in Beth-dagon. He set on fire Azotus and the surrounding cities and took their spoils.

There were about eight thousand men who fell by the sword with those who were burned. 1

‘ambush’: the Syriac root for ‘ambush’ is the same as ‘lying in wait’ in 10:79.

3

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

2

‘shot all’: lit. ‘shot and used up’.

‘their idol’: Greek ‘the temple of their idol’ (τὸ εἰδώλιον αὐτῶν). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions.

4



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶܡ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝـܘܣ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܡـ ݂ܬ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰ�ـ ܰܙܙ ݁ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥ� ܶܢـܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܕ ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܫܡܥ �ܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ ܥܶܣـ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝــܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ـ�ܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ܐܘܪܫܠ ـܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܪܥܶ ـܗ ܶܫܡܥ ـܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ ـ ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܺ ܰ ݁ܽ ̇ ܳ ܽ ܶ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡܛـ ݁ܪܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܥܗ ܘܫܪܐ �ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܥ ܺܠ �ܘܦܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܚܕܘܗ ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܰܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܳܡ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܘܣ ܐ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚـ ̱ܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠـܛ �ـ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܥܘ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܶܚ� ̱ܘ ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܽ� ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ݁ ܳܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܥܙ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܝــ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ�‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܘܣ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂ܒܪ ܬܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ܦ�ܫـܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܙܘܛܘܣ ܐܝܟ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܶܡܛܠ ܰܚܝ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ ܶܕܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ܗܘܢ ܠ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ ݂ܟܚ ݂ ܳܕܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܚ ܘ ݂ܪܕ ݂ܦ �‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܙܘܛܘܣ‪ .‬ܘܩܪ ݂ܒ ܡܫ�� ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ܰܐ ݁ ܳܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܥܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܘܣ ܐܠ ݂ܦ ܦ�ܫܝܢ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܟ ܺܡ ܳܐܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܪܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܶܒܣـ ݁‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘܫـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟـ ̇‬ ‫ܦ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥ �‬ ‫ـܕܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗ �ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܺܡ ܳܐܢـܐ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ܰܛ ܰ�ܩ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܐ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰ� ݂ܦܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳܢܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ�ܺܝܘ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܰܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܐ ܥܡܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܩܐܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܕ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܦܒ ܰܘ ܰܢܓ ݂ܕ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܩـ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥـܡ ݁ܦ ܰܠ ݁ ̈ܶܓـܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܺܪܝــܘ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‬ ‫݂ܰ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܝ�‪ :‬ܘܐܬܬ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܘ ܘܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܥ�ـ ̱ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪܩـ ̱ܘ �ܙ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܳܕ ܽ ݂ܓـܘܢ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܦܓ ݂ܘܦ�ܫܐ ܐܬܬ ݂ܒـܪ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܙܒܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܟܪܗܘܢ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܦ‬ ‫�ܒ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܗ �‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݂‬ ‫ܦܕ ܘܐ ݂‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܳܘ ܽܣـܘ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܶܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕܝ�ܢ ܠ ̇ܗ‪ :‬ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ܐܢܝــܢ‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܓܘܢ ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ�ܙܘܛܘܣ ܘܠ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܶܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܗ ܰܘܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܒ ـܐ ܰܥـܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܝـܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 







   



 



the king made [Jonathan] sit with him and said to his princes, “Come out with him to the middle of the city and proclaim that no one should complain against him for anything at all or quarrel about any of his words.”

When those who were complaining against Jonathan saw his splendor according to what the preachers proclaimed before him [and] when he was clothed in purple garments, they all fled. The king glorified Jonathan and reckoned him among the first of his friends. He made him the captain of the army and the leader of the nation. Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.

In the one-hundred-sixty-fifth year, 1 Demetrius, son of Demetrius, came from Crete to the land of his ancestors.

When King Alexander heard this, he was greatly grieved. He returned to Antioch.

Demetrius appointed Apollonius who had been put in charge of Syria, 2 and he gathered a large army. He camped at Jamnia and sent [a message] to the chief priest Jonathan, saying to him,

“You alone are raised up over us, and I have come into reproach and shame for your sake. Why are you placed in authority over us in our borders? Now if you trust your army, come down to us in the valley. Let us face each other there, for the power of the cities is with me.

Ask and see who I am and who those are who are helping us are, for they say that you are not able to stand3 before us, as your ancestors were conquered in their land twice. You are not strong enough now to stand before our army and its cavalry in the valley, where there is neither stone nor rock nor any place to flee.”

1 2

147 BCE.

‘Syria’: Greek ‘Coelesyria’ (Κοίλης Συρίας).

3 ‘you are not able to stand’: lit. ‘you do not have [the faculty] of standing of the feet’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܣܓ ܰܐ ݁ܘܬ ݂ ܶܒ ـܗ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܦܘܩ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܥ ـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫�ܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ـ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܩܒـܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܟ ܶܪܙ �ܘ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒـܘ ݂ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫�ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܥܠ ݁ܟܠ ܡ� ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰܢܗܪܝ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳܩ ݂ܒ ܺܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥـܠ �ـܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܬܫܒـ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܟـ ܶܪܙ �ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܰܣܝ ܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܳܟ ܽ�ܘܙܶ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܒ ܶܚܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒـܗ ܶܡـܢ ܺ� ܶ‬ ‫ܣܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܡـܗ ܰܪ ݁ܒ‬ ‫�ܟܐ �ܝـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚܝ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܘ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܺܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܡܫ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܛـܐ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܡܢ‬ ‫ܣܙ ݂ܘܒܫܢ ݂ܬ ܡܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܟ ܰܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܩ ܣܓܝ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒܝــܕ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥـܠ ܽܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܤܛ ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰ�ـܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܰ� ݁ ܳܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܢـܫ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝـܘܣ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܰ� ܺ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ‬ ‫ܚ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ �ــܘ ݂ܬ �ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܕ ݁ܝܟ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܰܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝــܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܳܐܢـܐ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ � ܶܚܣـ ݁ ܳـܕܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳܘܙ ܳܚـܐ‬ ‫ܗܘܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ�ܡܢܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܐ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ܶܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒـܠ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܟ‪ܽ :‬ܚ ܳ ݂ܘܬ �ܘ ݂ܬܢ ܠ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܚܝ� ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܝ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܚ ݂ܕ ܕܚ ݂ܕ ܬܡܢ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕܥ ̱‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܢܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ܰܫܐܶܠ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟـܘܢ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ ܰܙ ݂ ̈ܒ ܺܢܝܢ ܶܐ ݁ܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝܘ ܰܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܗ�̈ ݁ܟ ݁ ܰܒܐܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝܡ ܶ� ݂ܓ ܶ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ � ܶܡ ݂ܬܡ� ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܚ‬ ‫ܥܓ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܒ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠܢ ݂ܘܦ� ܰܫـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ � ݂ܟ ݂ܐܦܐ ܘ� ܛ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ� ܐ ݂ܬ ܪ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܥܪܩ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander sent messengers on that day to King Ptolemy of Egypt with these words, “Because I have returned to my kingdom, sat on the throne of my ancestors, gained control over the magistracy, and routed Demetrius, I have grown strong and have gained control over our lands. For I waged war with him, and he and his army were routed before us. Then I sat on the throne of his kingdom.

Now let us establish friendship with each other. Give me your daughter as a wife, and let me be your son-in-law. I will give you and her gifts that are worthy of you.” King Ptolemy answered, “Good is the day on which you returned to the land of your ancestors and sat on the throne of the kingdom.

Now let me do for you everything that you sent. But come to Ptolemais and let us see each other there. I will give you my daughter as you said.” Ptolemy and his daughter Cleopatra came out of Egypt and came to Ptolemais in the one-hundred-sixty-second year. 1

King Alexander met him, and he gave him his daughter Cleopatra. They held a wedding feast in Ptolemais with great splendor, in a royal manner. King Alexander wrote to Jonathan to come meet him.

Jonathan went with splendor to Ptolemais, and he met both kings. He gave gold, silver, and gifts to them and their friends. He found mercy in their eyes.

Wicked Israelites gathered to him, iniquitous men, to complain against Jonathan. But the king did not notice nor receive them.

At the king’s command, 2 they took off Jonathan’s clothes and dressed him in purple garments. When they had done so for him,

1 2

150 BCE.

‘at the king’s command’: lit. ‘the king commanded, and’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܳܛـ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣܢـ ݁ـܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ܒـ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝــܢ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܶܕܐ ݂ܒ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܡ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘ�ܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒـ ݂ܬ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒـ ܰ ̈ܗܝ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐܚـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܕ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ܪܬܶܗ � ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ݂ܬ ܐ� ܳܥ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܥܫܢ ݂ܬ ܘ‬ ‫ܪܝܫܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܰܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝــܢ‪ :‬ܘ�ܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒـ ݂ܬ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܰܥ ܶ ܶܡـܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܽܗܘ ܘܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ݂ܟ ܰ� ܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܐܗܘܐ ܳܠـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ܺܠـܝ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܺܢܩ ܶܝܡ ܚ ݂ܕ ܥܡ ܚ ݂ܕ ܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݂ܬ ܳܢܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬܠ ܳ�ܠ ݂ܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡܘ ̈ܗ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟـ ݁ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝــܪ ܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܢܐ ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ̈ ݁ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܘܪܣܝܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܐܒܗܝܟ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܶܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ܳܡـܢ‬ ‫ـܬ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ܬ ܐ ܰ� ݁ܦܛـ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܡـܕܡ ܕܫܠܚـ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬܶܠ ܳ�ܠ ݂ܟ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡ ݁ܪܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ�ܳ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܙ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܛــ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܒـ ـ ݂ܪܬܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܘ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܘܣ ܶܡـ ـܢ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝـــܢ‪ .‬ܗܘ ܘ‬ ‫ܢܦـ ـܩ ݁ܦܛـ ـ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫�ܦܛ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܢ ݂ܘܬܪܬܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪ :‬ܒܫܢ ݂ܬ ܡܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܩ�ܳ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܚ ܰܘܐܪܥܶܗ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܛـ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ݂ ܰܒـ ݂ܪܬܶܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠـܗ ܠ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܝܣ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܡܫܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܒܦܛ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܪܥܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ �ܝ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܘ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰܐܪܥ ܶܐ ܽܢــܘܢ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰ� ݁ܦ ܳܛــ ܶ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܫ ݁ ܽܒــ‬ ‫ܣ ܘܐܙܠ �ــ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ ܘ��ܚܡܝــܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܫܟـܚ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܘܣܐܡܐ ܘܡـܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ �ܗܘܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܐ ܶܘܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ�‪ܶ � :‬ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܒܠ ܰ�ܥـܠ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܽ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܚܪ ܒܗܘܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܝـ‬ ‫ܐܠܒ ܽܫـ ̱‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܰܢ ̈ܚـ ݁ܬ ̱‬ ‫�ܚـ ̱‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܠܗ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  





 



 XIII

  

I have given Ptolemais and its whole area to the holy ones in Jerusalem for the expenses of the sanctuary. I am going to give fifteen thousand silver coins from the king’s treasury each year.

All that is owed to me of the possessions that were not given to me as to the first nations, from now on let them be given for the work of the building. I am also going to release five thousand silver coins from those which I took from the sanctuary’s possessions in each and every year, because it belongs to the priests who serve in the temple. All who flee and find refuge in the temple in Jerusalem or in any of its borders who owe a debt or anything at all to the king, let them be released from it along with all that they have in my kingdom. So that the sanctuary is rebuilt and restored 1

and so that the wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt and made strong all around, let the expenses be given to them from the palace and let the walls of Judea be rebuilt.”

When Jonathan and the nation heard these words that Demetrius had sent, they did not believe him nor did they accept them from him. For they remembered all the wickedness that he had done in Israel and that he had greatly oppressed them. But they consented to Alexander because he was the first with words of peace for them. They were his allies for all their days.

King Alexander gathered a great army and camped against Demetrius. The two kings began to wage war. Demetrius’s army fled, and Alexander pursued them and proved stronger than them.

The war carried on mightily until the sun set. Demetrius fell on that day.

1

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܫـܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪ܶ ݁ ܶ� :‬‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܫ‬ ‫݂݂‬ ‫ܠܛ ܘ�ܦܛܘ�ܡܐܝܣ ܕܝܢ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܠ ݂ܢܦ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܥܣܪ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܓـ ܶܙܗ‬ ‫ܡ ܶܘ ܳܐܢܐ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܫܢܐ‪ :‬ܚܡ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܒ ܺܠܝ ܶܡܢ ܶ� ݂ ̈ܒـ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ� ܐ ݂ܬܝ ܶܗ ݂ ̈ܒـ ̱ܝ ܺܠـܝ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܚ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ�ܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ܩ ݂ܕܡܝܐ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܗܫܐ ܢ ݂ܬ�ܗܒܢ ܠ ݂ܥܒ ݂ܕܗ ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢـܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܶܣـ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܺܘܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܡـܢ ܶ� ݂ ̈ܒـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܢ ـܐ ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒ ـܩ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛ ـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ـܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫ ـܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ݂ܟ ـܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫�ܟ ̈ܗܢܶ ـܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܙ ݂ ܶܕܩ‪:‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܫܡܫܝܢ ܗܝܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣـܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟـ ܳ� ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܓ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕܢܶܥܪ ܽܩـܘܢ ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫݂݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰܐܘ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒـܘ‪ :‬ܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܫܬ ܶܪܝــܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܒܝــܢ ܚـܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰܘܕܢܶܬ ݁ܒܢܶܐ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ݂ܬܶ ݂ ܺܬܝ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ :‬ܘܢ ݂ܬܥܫܢ ܟ ݂ܕ ܚ ݂ܕܪ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܢܦ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܢܶ ݂ܒ ܽܢܘܢ ܽܫܘ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠ ـܚ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܡ ـܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ̈ܶܡ ـ� ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ـ ݂ܕ ܫܡ ـܥ ܳܕܝــܢ � ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ̇ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰܗ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ ـ‬ ‫ܥܒ ـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ـܗ ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ :‬ܘ� ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒ� ـ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢܶ ـܗ‪ .‬ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ـܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶܽ ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪݂ :‬ܘܕܐܠܨ ܐܢܘܢ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪܒܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܕ ̈ܶܡـ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܶܐ � ܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝܘ ݁ ܰܒܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܺܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܨܚ ܝܓ‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܡ�ܟܐ ܚ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܪܕ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒܘ ݂ܬ � ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܪܩ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܒ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  

  



  



Let us leave many tributes for you, and let us give you many gifts.

Now I am setting you free and releasing all of the Jews from the tributes and from the salt and crown taxes.

As for the third of the seed and that which is mine from the fruits of trees, I am releasing you from them today and henceforth so that I will not take them from Judea. Again I am releasing the three provinces situated near it from Samaria and Galilee, today and henceforth.

Let Jerusalem and all its borders be holy and free. I am releasing it from tithes and taxes. I am giving authority to the chief priest over the citadel in Jerusalem to station men whom he wishes to guard over it. Every Jewish person who was taken captive from Judea in all my kingdom, I am releasing as a free person without payment. Let everyone be released from their tributes for their livestock.

All its festivals, its sabbaths, the first days of its months, the specified days, and for three days before the festival and for three days after the festival — let them be [days that are] free and released from taxes for all the Jews who are dwelling in my kingdom. No one has the authority to levy or to punish one of them for anything at all.

So let three thousand 1 of the Jews be enlisted in the king’s armies and gifts be given to them as is fitting for the king’s armies. Let some stand in the great fortresses of the king, and let some be appointed over the king’s trusted affairs. Let some be their leaders and magistrates, and let them be led by their own laws as the king has commanded for Judea.

As for the three provinces situated near Judea from Samaria and Galilee, let them be given to Judea so that they might all be under one authority so that no one else might be given authority over them except the chief priests alone.

1

‘three thousand’: Greek ‘thirty thousand’ (τριάκοντα χιλιάδας).



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܠ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܘܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܫܩ� ܣܓܝܐܐ‪ .‬ܘܢ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܰܡܘ ̈ܗ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܳܫ ܶܪܐ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܦـܐ ܐ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ ܶܡـܢ ܫ ܳ ̈ܩـ ܶ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܘ ܰܡ ܳ ݁ ̱‬ ‫�ܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡܝ̈ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ܟ ܺܠܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܳ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܠ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܠـܝ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܺܦـܐ� ܐ ݂ ܺܕܐ�̈ ܳ� ܶܢـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܠ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒـܩ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܺ�ܝ̈ܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ̱ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܝــܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ݁ܓ ܺܠܝــ�‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ‬ ‫ܐ̱ܢܐ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܘ�ܗܠ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܽܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳܪܪܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܣـ ܶ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܩ ݁ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚـ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶܣـܐ‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܺܢܩܝܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܘܫ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫�ܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܢܛܪܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕܗܘ � ݂ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ̈ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݂ܒ ܰܝـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ݂ܕܝܗܘ ݂ܕ�ـܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ ݂ܬ ܺܚܐ ܶ� ܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳܓܢ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܫܒ ܽܩܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܝܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫̱ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥܕ ܺܥܐ ܶܕ�̈ ̇ܗ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܝـ ̇ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܝــܫ ܰ�� ܶܚܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܘܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ̈ܝܥܶـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܺܥـ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‬ ‫ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܩـ ݂ـܕܡ ܥ ݂ܕܥـ ݂ܐܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܬܠـ ݂ܬܐ ܝـܘܡܝܢ ܡـܢ ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶܣܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܪܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ � ܳܢܫ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒܥ ܰܐܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܠܘܨ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒـܘ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܘ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܐܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰ� ̈ܗ ݂ ܳܒـܢ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܒܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳܙ ݂ ܶܕܩ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܡܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܽܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܘܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܰܘ ܽܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡـܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܶܚ ̈ܣ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܘ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ � ݂ܒܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܡܗ�ܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ݁ܰ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܽ ̈ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܢܬܕܒܪܘܢ ܒܢܡܘܣܝܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܕ ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܒܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܺ�ܝ̈ ـܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ـܠ ܺ� ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܝــܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܢ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܘܬܠ ـ‬ ‫݁ܰ ݂ ܺ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܚ ݂ܕ ܫܘܠܛܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ܳ ݂ܓܠܝ�‪ :‬ܢ ݂ܬ�ܗܒܘܢ ܠܗ ܠܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ܳ ܶ :‬ܕܢ ܶܗܘܘܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܬܚ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ � ܐܢ ܰ� ݁ ܰܒܝ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܕ� ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܐ̱ܚܪܝܢ ܢ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

    



    



But some of those who abandoned the law and the commandments remained in Beth-zur, because it was a place of refuge for them.

King Alexander heard about everything that Demetrius had sent and promised to Jonathan. He was told about the wars, feats, and victories that he and his brothers had accomplished. He said, “Are we ever going to find someone like this man? Let us make him our friend and ally now!” He wrote a letter and sent it to him as follows,

“King Alexander to my brother Jonathan: Peace.

We have heard about you that you are a powerful man, and we think it fitting for you to be our friend.

Now we have appointed you today as chief priest of your nation so that you might be called the friend of the king.” He sent him purple garments and a golden crown and said, “May you share in our thinking, and may we maintain friendship with one another.” Jonathan put on the holy robe in the seventh month in the onehundred-sixtieth year 1 at the festival of booths. He gathered an army, and he prepared many arms. When Demetrius heard of these things, he was grieved and said,

“What have we done? For Alexander made friendship first with the Jews so that they might be his allies.

Let me also now write words of supplication, exaltation, and gifts so that they might be allied with us.” He sent to them as follows, “King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews: Peace.

Because you have abided by the covenant with our nation, maintained friendship with us, and did not join our enemies, we have heard of it and rejoiced. Now abide by our thinking, and let us repay you with many good things as you did with us.

1

152 BCE.



‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܘܣـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫܘ ܶ�ܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܒܩـ ̱ܘ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܢܶـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܺܒ ܰܪܡ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܝ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܠܚ ܘܐܫـ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ـ� ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ̈ ܳܚܢܶ ـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ـ ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ‬ ‫�ܝـܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܫܬܥܝــܘ ܠ ـܗ ܥ ـܠ ܩ� ݂ܒـܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܠـܢ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ܳܗ ܳܫـܐ ܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ̱‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܚ ܶܠܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܡ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܐ ݁ܓ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܝ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ �ܝ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܰܫܚ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܠܢ ݁ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܠܢ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܬ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥܢ ܥ ܰܠ ݁ܝܟ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܚ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡـܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܳܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ ݂ܟ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܐ ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ݁ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܠܗ ܰܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶـܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܺܟܠܝـ ܳـ� ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠـܗ ܰܫ ݁ܘܬ ݂ ܽܦـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܛܪ ܪ‬ ‫ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚـܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܣܝ �ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐܤܛ� ܩܕ‬ ‫ܫܬܝــܢ‬ ‫ܫܢـ ݂ܬ ܡـܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܡ ܰܛ ̱� ܶ�‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܺܥ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܙܝܢܐ ܣ ݁ܓܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ܚܝ� ܘܥ ݂‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܶܡ ܶ�‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܩ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܥـܡ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕܢ ݁ܕ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܰܡܢ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕܪܘܣ �ܡܥܒ ݂ܕ ܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰܠـܢ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ �ܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܦ ܐܢܐ ܡ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒܥ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘ݂ܕܪܘܡܪܡܐ ܘ݂ܕܡܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ̈ܶܡـ ܶ�‪ܺ ݂ :‬ܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܚ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ�ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬܢ‪ :‬ܘ� ܶܢܩ ݂ܦـ ݁ܬܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܩܘܝܬܘܢ ܒܩܝܡܐ ݂ܕܥܡܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܛܪܬܘܢ ܪ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݁ܕ ݁ܬܘܢ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ ݂ܬܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܦܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܥܟܘܢ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܣܓܝ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܫܐ ܩܘܘ ܒ ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ܰܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

XII



    

      

Chapter 

In the one-hundred-sixtieth year, 1 Alexander, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus, went up, seized Ptolemais, and subdued it. They received him, and he reigned there. When King Demetrius heard this, he gathered a large army and came to meet him in war. Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan with words of peace so that he might honor him. Demetrius said, “Let us first make friendship with him before he goes and makes it with Alexander, and he becomes our adversary.

For he is going to remember all the wickedness that we did to him, his brothers, and his nation.”

He gave him authority to gather an army, to prepare arms, and to be its leader. As for the hostages that were in the citadel, he said that they should be given to him. Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and he read the letter in the hearing of the whole nation and of those who inhabited the citadel.

They were very afraid, because they heard that the king had given him authority to gather an army. Those living in the citadel handed over the hostages to Jonathan, and he handed them over to their kin.

Jonathan lived in Jerusalem, and he began rebuilding and renewing the city. Jonathan told the laborers to rebuild the wall and Mount Zion, surrounding it with square stones for the fortress. And so they did. The foreigners who were in the fortresses that Bicrius had built fled. Everyone left his place, and they went to their own region.

1

152 BCE.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܒ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܶܐ ݁ ܺܦ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܝــܢ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫݂ܘܒܫܢ ݂ܬ ܡܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܝܦ ܳܢـܘܣ‬ ‫ܣܠـܩ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣܢـ ݁ـܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܒـܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‪ :‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܘܐܡܠـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ̇ܗ �ܦܛܘ�ܡܐܝܣ ݂ܘܟ ݂ܒܫ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘܩ ݁ܒ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܽ�ܘܪܥܶܗ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܡ�ܟܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܟܢܫ ܚ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ܒ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܐܓ� ݂ܬ ܐ �ܘ ݂ܬ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܫ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ ݁ܕ� ܺܢـ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ :‬ܢܩܕܡ ܘܢܥܒ ݂ܕ ܥܡܗ ܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܥܡ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܠܢ ܰܣ ܽܩ ݂ܘܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕܢ ܶܠܗ ܰܘ� ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܕ ݂ܟܪ ܓܝܪ ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܰܙ ܳܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܢܶـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܡܝـ ܶ�ܐ‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܠܗ ܫ‬ ‫ܢܟܢܶܫ ܰܚܝ� ܰܘ ܰܢܥ ݁ ݂‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰ� ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܘܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܩـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܶܐ ݁ܓـ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ ̈‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒـܝ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐܕ ܰܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢـܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܳܢ ܽܫـܘ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܠܗ ܫ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫݂ܘܕܚ ܳ� ̱ܘ ܕܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰܚܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ ܰ̈ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ �� ܳܢ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ̱ܘ � ݂ܬܒܝ ܡܪܕ ܐ ܗܡܝ�ܐ �ܝܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘܫܪܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂‬ ‫ܡܒܢܐ ܘܡܚܕ ݂ܬ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܥܡܪ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ̈ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܪ �‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕܐ‪ :‬ܕܢ ݂ܒܢܘܢ ܫܘܪܐ ܘܛܘܪܐ ݂ܕܨܗ�ܘܢ ܟ ݂ܕ ܚـ ݂ܕܪ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟܐ ݂ܦـܐ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ �ܥ ݂ܒܕܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ� ܒܥ ݂ܬܐ �ܚܣܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ݁ ܽܕ ݁ܘܟ ݂ܬܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ � ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

      



  



Jonathan, Simon, and those with him, departed for Beth-jashan, 1 which is in the desert. They rebuilt its ruins and secured it.

When Bicrius learned this, he gathered his whole army and commanded those who were in Judea. He came out and encamped against Beth-jashan. 2 He waged war with it for many days, and he made engines of war. Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city. But he came out to the region, and he came with only a few. 3

He attacked Adura, 4 his brothers, and the children of Phasiron in their tent. They began assaulting and going up with the armies. Simon and those with him came out of the city, and they burned the engines of war.

They waged war with Bicrius, and he was routed before them. They were pressing him greatly because his plot and his arrival had been nullified.

Bicrius became infuriated with anger against the iniquitous men who had counseled him to come against the land. He slaughtered many of them, and he plotted to go to his own land. When Jonathan learned this, he sent messengers to him to make peace with him and so that he might give them their captives. Bicrius accepted this, and he acted according to his words and swore that he would not seek a wicked deed for all the days of his life.

He gave him the captives that he had taken captive earlier from Judea. Bicrius went back to his own land and did not see their region again.

The sword ceased from Israel. Jonathan dwelled in Michmash, and Jonathan began to judge the nation of Israel and to eradicate and destroy wicked people from it.

1

‘Beth-jashan’: Greek ‘Beth-basi’ (Βαιθβασι).

3

‘only a few’: lit. ‘a few’.

2

‘Beth-jashan’: Greek ‘Beth-basi’ (Βαιθβασι).

4 ‘Adura’: Greek ‘Odomera’ (Οδομηρα). The Syriac reflects some Greek and Latin recensions.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܳ� ܳܫـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒـ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢـܘ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܣܒ ܘܫܢܝ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܪܪ ̇‬ ‫ܘܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣܚ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܰܳ ̇ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܫـܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܩــܪ ݂ܒ ܥܡـܗ ܝـܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܣܕ ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦـܩ ܽܗܘ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦـܩ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ �‬ ‫ܣܗ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫�ܫܡܥܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶܡܢ�ܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ݁ܦ ܺܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܪܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�� ݁ ܽܕ ܳܘܪܐ ܰܘ� ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܣܘ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܳܡ ܶܚܝــܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܙ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܣܚ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ�ܨܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠـܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܬ ܰܪܩ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܗ ܘܡ ݂ܐܬ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܤܛ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܒ ܽܪܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܰ�ـ ܳ ̈ܘ�‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢـܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫�ܟ ܰـ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݂ ܶ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܕܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ‪ .‬ܘܩܛܠ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܣܓܝܐܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܚܫ ݂ܒ ܕܢܐܙܠ�ܠܗ �ܪܥܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܺܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓـ ݁ ܶܕܐ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕܢܶـ ݁ܬܠ�‬ ‫ܥ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܝܡܐ ܠܗ ܕ� ܢ ݂ܒܥܐ ܠܗ ܒ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܳܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܫܒ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰ�ܪܥܶܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݂ܟ ܰܡܣ‪ .‬ܘܫܪܝ �ـ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ .‬ܘܥܡܪ �‬ ‫ܥܓ ܘܫ�ܝ ݂ܬ ܪܘܡܚܐ ܡܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ .‬ܘܠܡܚ ݁ܒ�ܘ ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܡܕܢ �ܥܡܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



   



  

 



Bicrius returned to Jerusalem and built up mighty cities in Judea: a fortress in Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon with high walls, gates, and bars. He appointed guards in them as the enemies of Israel.

He reinforced the city of Beth-zur, Gazara, and the citadel. In them he settled an army and set provisions for them.

Bicrius took the children of the princes of the land as hostages, and he placed them under guard in Jerusalem’s citadel.

In the one-hundred-fifty-third year 1 in the second month, Alcimus commanded that they tear down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. He demolished the work of the prophets. But he had [only] begun to obliterate it.

At that time Alcimus was beaten down, and his deeds were abolished and brought to an end. His mouth was shut, and he was not able to speak even a word nor to command his house. Alcimus died at that time with great torments.

When Bicrius saw that Alcimus had died, he returned to the king. Judea was at rest and was quiet for two years. All the iniquitous people offered advice, saying, “Look! Jonathan and those with him are dwelling restfully in confidence. Now let us bring Bicrius and seize them in one night.” So they went, and they consulted him.

Bicrius marched forth to come with a great army. He secretly sent letters to all the leaders in Judea so that they might grasp Jonathan and all those with him. But they were not able [to do this], because their plot was exposed to Jonathan. Jonathan’s people seized fifty men from the people of the land, the leaders in the wicked deed, and slaughtered them.

1

159 BCE.



‫‪ ‬ܢܢ‬

‫‪ ‬ܢܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܕ‬

‫‪ ‬ܢܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܢܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܣ‬

‫‪ ‬ܣܐ‬

‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܰܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦܟ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒܝـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ܘܕ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܣܢـܐ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢـ ݂ܬܐ ܥܫ�ܢـ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܝــܬ ܰܚـ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܢـ ݂ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ـܬ ܐܝــܠ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܝܚܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘ�ܥܶ ܰܡـܐܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ݂ܬ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܦܘܣ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܽܫܘ�ܐ ܳ� ܶܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܬ�ܥܶܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܩܝܡ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ ܳܢܛܘ�ܐ ܰܠ ݂ܒܥ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܠܓ ܺܙܝ ܳܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܥܫܢ ̇ܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝــܢ‬ ‫ـܬ ܡـܪܕ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܘ�ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝ ܰܢ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ ܐ ܳܣ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܡܝ ܶ�ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶ ̇‬ ‫ܘܣـܡ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ݁ ܰܒܢܛـܘ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܪܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝܢ‪݁ :‬ܦ ܰܩـ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܣ ݁ܕܢܶܣـ ݁‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܪܘܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ ̈�ـ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܚـ ݂ܦ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܒܝ̈ܶـܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܫـ ܺܪܝ‬ ‫ܽܫـܘܪܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܳܕ ݁ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܰܓـ ܳܘ ݁ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ܰܢܓ ܰܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ـܗ ݁ܒ ـ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢ ـܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܠ ـܥ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ـ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܶܘܐܫـ ݁‬ ‫ܝܡ ـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܛ� ـ ̱ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܺܪܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ� ܰܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݂ ܰܟܪ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܳܩ ݂ ܽܕܘ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܳܠܘ ܐ ݂ܦ� ݂‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ ܶܩܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܘܣ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܡܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܕ ܺܡ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܪܬܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܡ ܰܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪ .‬ܗܐ �ܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܚ ݂ܘܕ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܺ� ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ :‬ܘܢ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ .‬ܗܫܐ ܢ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝ� ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܬ‬ ‫ܫܩــܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ــܘܣ ݁ܕ ܺܢــ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚܝــ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒــܐ‪ .‬ܘܫــܕܪ ܐ ݁ܓــ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܛܫܝܐ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܗ ݂ܘܕ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ܳܘܢܝــ ̱ܗܝ �ܝــܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ� ܰܢــ ̱‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܠـܗ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܚܫ ݂ܒـ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܝ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ̇ ݁ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܚ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝــܢ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܒ ̈ܢـܝ ܐܪܥـܐ‪� :‬ܝܫܢܝــܗ ܕ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܛ� ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 



    

   

Afterwards, they said to Jonathan and his brother Simon, “Τhe people of Jambri are making a great wedding feast. They are bringing a bride from Nabat, 1 a daughter of one of the chief leaders of Canaan, with great splendor and many people.”

Jonathan remembered his brother John, and they went up and hid under the protection of the mountain. They lifted up their eyes and saw the clamor of the large crowd, the bridegroom, and his friends, for his friends and his brothers had come out to meet him with harps and lyres and many weapons.

Jonathan’s people rose up out of hiding against them and slaughtered them. Many fell dead, and the rest fled to the mountains. They took all their spoils. The wedding feast turned to mourning; the sound of their music to lamentation. They took vengeance for the blood of their brother. They returned to the crossing of the Jordan. Bicrius heard that Jonathan had returned. He then came to the borders of the Jordan on the sabbath with a great army.

Jonathan said to those with him, “Arise, let us fight for our own sakes, for today is not like yesterday and the day before. For, look!, a war has been prepared against us, before us and behind us. The waters of the Jordan are surrounding us on both sides and a thicket [is] in the middle, and there is no place to turn away from it. Now cry out to the heavenly one that you might be saved from the hand of your enemies.”

They began to wage war, and Jonathan raised his hand to strike Bicrius. But he turned away from him, going behind him. 2

Jonathan and those with him crossed back over the Jordan by swimming. But [Bicrius’s people] did not cross after them. About one thousand of Bicrius’s men fell on that day.

1 ‘Nabat’: Greek ‘Nadabath’ (Ναδαβαθ). The spelling of this name varies widely in different recensions. 2

‘going behind him’: lit. ‘behind him’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ̈ܡـ�‪ :‬ܐ ܰܡـܪ ̱ܘ �ܝـܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܒ ̈ܢـܝ‬ ‫�ܫܡܥـܘܢ ܐ ܽܚـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ ݁ܺ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܢ ݂ ܳܒܛ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒܪ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܐܡܒܪܝ ܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܡܫܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܝܬܝܢ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܪܘ� ݂ܒܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܢܥܢ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܗ ݁ܕܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ�ܩܘ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ܰܛ ܺܫܝܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܟ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ �ܝ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܘܐܬܕ ݂ܟܪ �‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܚܙܘ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ܬ ܳܢـܐ ܘ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܰܘܐܪܺܝܡ ̱ܘ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܫـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ�ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܟ ܳ�ـ ܶ�ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܳܡܐ ܢ̈ـܝ ܰܙ ܳܝܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܘܐܚܘ ̱ܗܝ �ܘܪܥـܗ‪ :‬ܒܩܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܛ�ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢ ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܩܛ ̈ܝـ�‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܟ ܺܡ ܳܐܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ ܰܕܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ݀ ܶ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳܙܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܪ ܽܩܘ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܐ ܘ ݂ܐܬܗ ݂ܦܟ ݂ܬ ܡܫܬ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܕ ܶܡܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܽܐܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ �ܥܶ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܽ� ݁‬ ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘܐܬܬ ݂ܒܥ ̱ܘ ܬ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽ�ـ ݁‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ �ـ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܽ .‬ܩܘܡـ ̱ܘ ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟـ ݁ܬܫ ܰܥـܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦـܝ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫـ ݂ܬܢ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘܐܡܪ ܺ�ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܝ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ݂‬ ‫݂ܶܓܝܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܘܡܢܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ ݂ܐܬܡ ̱‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܝ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܗܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰܪܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒ ܰܠܢ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܽ� ݁‬ ‫ܪܟ ܽܢـܘ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܰܠܢ ܶܡ ݁ ܳܟܐ ܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܳܟܐ‪ :‬ܘܥ ݂ܒܐ ݂ܒܡܨ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܳܗ ܳܫــܐ ܓ ܰܥــܘ �ــ ܳـܘܬ ܳܥ ܽܡــ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝــܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕܐܝ ݁ ܰܟ ܳܢــܐ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܩــܘܢ ܶܡــܢ ܐܝــ ݂ ܳـܕܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܒܝܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܕܗ ݁ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܺܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܟـܢ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ �ܡܩܪ ݂ܒܘ‪ .‬ܘܐܪܝܡ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܚܝـ ̱‬ ‫�ܒ ݁‬ ‫ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢܶܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܝܘܪܕܢܢ ܒܣܚــܘܐ‪� :‬ـܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ݂ܒܪ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܒܗܘ �‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

     

   

 



In those days, there was a great famine, and the land was also destroyed 1 along with them. Bicrius chose wicked people and established them as lords and authorities over the land.

They were pursuing and seeking Judas’s friends. They brought them to Bicrius’s house, and he insulted and tortured them.

Great distress came to Israel, such as had not been since the day that a prophet ceased appearing 2 among them. All of Judas’s friends gathered and said to Jonathan,

“From the day that your brother Judas died, there has been no man like him from the people of our nation to come out against our enemies, Bicrius, and all who fight with us and hate us.

Now we are choosing you today to be [our] commander to wage our wars.” At that time, Jonathan agreed to be the leader and stood in his brother Judas’s place. When Bicrius learned this, he wished to kill him.

Jonathan, his brother Simon, and all who were with him learned this and fled to the desert of Tekoa. They camped near the water of the well of Asphar.

Bicrius learned this on the sabbath, and he and his whole army came to the crossing of the Jordan River.

Jonathan sent his brother John to be a leader for the people, and he asked his friends the Nabateans to leave all their belongings with them.

The people of Jambri from Medeba came out and seized John and everyone who was with him. Leading them, they went away.

1 2

‘was … destroyed’: Greek ‘deserted’ (αὐτομόλησεν). ‘ceased appearing’: lit. ‘did not appear’.



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܳܽ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܦ ܳܢܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ܒ ܰܠ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܕ ܘ ݂ܒܗܢܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܳܛܢܶܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܰܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ �� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܡ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܥܶܝܢ � ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܢ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܒ ܰܙܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘܡ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܟܙ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݂ܬܚـ ܺܙܝ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܐ ݂ܟ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܶܡـܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝـܐ‬ ‫݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ �ܝ‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܶܡ ـܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ـ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܳܕ ܶܡ ـܐ ܶܠ ـܗ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽܦ ـܘܩ‬ ‫ـܬ ܺ� ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܐ ܽܚ ـ ݂ܘܟ‪ � :‬ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܺܡܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ‪ .‬ܘ ܽܠ ـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝــܢ ܘ ܽܠ ـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܠ ـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬ ܺܫܝܢ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܢܶܝܢ ܰܠܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܶܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܠـܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒـܘ‬ ‫ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫� ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܒ ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܕܢܶܩܛܠܝ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܐ ܽܚܘܗܝ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪܩـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬܩܘܥ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܪܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܽܓ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܦܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܽܗܘ ݂ܘܟܠـܗ ܰܚܝܠـܗ �ܥ ݂ܒـ� ̱‬ ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܽ� ݁‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ �ܝ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܘܫܕܪ �‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܒܛ ܶܝـܐ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܟܠ ̇ܗ ܺ� ܰܩܪܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܠܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܺܪܝ ܶܡܢ ܶܡ ݂ܐܕ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝـ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܰܐ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫�ܟـܠ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





   

      

The army departed from the camp, and they rose up in war. The cavalry were divided into two parts. The archers and slingers were going before the army with all the powerful warriors.

Bicrius was in the right wing. The battalions approached from both sides and were sounding the horns. Judas’s people were also sounding their horns.

The land was shaken by the sound of the armies. They then began to wage war from morning until evening.

Judas saw that Bicrius and the might of the army was on the right. His companions gave themselves over with their whole heart.

When the right wing was routed and shattered before them, he pursued after them until Mount Azotus.

When those on the left wing saw that the right wing had been conquered, [the whole wing] turned after Judas and those who were with him behind them. They waged war mightily, and some fell on both sides. When Judas fell, those who remained fled.

Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the grave of their ancestors in Moreim. 1

All Israel wept and made lamentation for Judas, mourning loudly for many days, saying, “How the warrior and powerful one, the savior of Israel, has fallen!”

The rest of Judas’s words, battles, victories, strength, and power have not been recorded, for there were too many.

After the death of Judas, iniquitous men showed themselves and appeared throughout the whole region of the Israelites. All the wicked people and transgressors of the law were uncovered.

1

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ܦ ܶܠ ݂ܓـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‬ ‫ܫܩ‬ ‫ܠ ܚܝ� ܡܢ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ ̈ܕ ܰ� ـܝ ݁ܒ ܶܩ ̈�ܥܶ ـܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܺܙ ̱ܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܩـ ݂ـܕܡ ܚܝــ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬ ݁ܪܬܝــܢ ܡ� ـܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܩܫ ـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܢܐ ܘܩ� ݂ܒ ݂ܬܢܐ ܥܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܚܝ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܘܗܝ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ݁ܦ ܰܠ ݁ ̈ܶܓـܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܬ ܰ�ܝـ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܐ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݁ ̈ܶܒܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܳܩ ܶܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁݁ ܺ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝــܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒـܘ ܶܡـܢ ܰ� ݂ܦـ ܳܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܬ ܙܝܥ ݂ܬ ܐܪܥܐ ܡܢ ܩ� ݂ܕܡܫ�� ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܓ ݁ ܰܒܐ ܗܘ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܘܚܙ ܐ ܺ�ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ ݁ܝܟܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܘܥܘܫܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܕܡܫܪ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܚ ݂ܒ� ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܶܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܶܚـܩ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܳܙܘܛܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܶܣ ܳܡ ܳ�‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ܚـ ܰـܙܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟـܝ ܶܠـܗ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܬܪ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܡܗ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܥܫܢ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕ ݁‬ ‫ܢܦܠ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܢ‪ܽ ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܐ ܽܚـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܒ ܰܩ ݂ܒـ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒـ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ �ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܒـܪ ̱‬ ‫݁ܒ ܽܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳܟܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܩ ݂ܕ ܰܥܠ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܶܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐ ݂ܒـ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ� ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܬܢܐ ݂ܦܪܘܩܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟـــܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܰ�ـــܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒـــ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬܗ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ̈ ܳܚ ܰܢـــ ̱‬ ‫ܝـــܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܩ� ݂ ܰܒـــ ̱‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܬ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ � :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ‪ܰ .‬ܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܺܝܐܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܡـ ݁ܘܬܶܗ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ݂ ܺܕܝܩـ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙܝــܘ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܰ�ـ ̈ܘ� ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܡـܢ ܒـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ̈ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܬܚܘܡܗܘܢ ܕ ݂ܒܢܝ ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ܓܠܝܘ ܟ�ܗܘܢ �ܫܝܥܐ‪ :‬ܘܥ ݂ܒ�ܝ ܢܡܘܣܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 



 XI

   



 



When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in war, he again sent Bicrius and Alcimus for the second time to Judea and with them the right wing of the army. Bicrius’s people went on the road of Gilead 1 and camped at Mesaloth in Arbela. They subdued and burned many human lives within it. In the one-hundred-fifty-second year 2 in the first month, they camped at Jerusalem.

And they departed and went to Birzeth 3 with twenty thousand foot soldiers and two thousand cavalry. Judas was camped in Elasa with three thousand chosen men.

When they saw the army of their enemies which was very mighty, they were greatly afraid. Many deserted the army, so that only eight hundred men remained. When Judas saw that his army had been scattered and that war was pressing, he was troubled in his heart and was weakened because he did not have time to gather them.

He said to those who remained with him, “Arise, let us go up against our enemies [and] perhaps we will be able to wage war with them.”

They replied back to him, “We are not strong enough. But now let us save ourselves instead, and then let us come back with our brothers and fight against them, because we are too few.”

Judas said, “Far be it from me that I should do this and flee before them. If our time has arrived, let us die courageously for the sake of our brothers and let us leave no blemish on our glory.”

1

‘Gilead’: Greek ‘Galgala’ (Γαλγαλα). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions.

3

‘Birzeth’: Greek ‘Berea’ (βερεθ).

2

160 BCE.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫ܨܚ ܝܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܛ‪.‬‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ـܥ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠ ـܗ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ ـܠ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢ ـܘܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܣ ـ ݂ܦ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ــܘܣ ܘ� ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡــܘܣ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝــܢ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܺܢ̈ܝــܢ � ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠܡ ܰܫــ ݁ ܳܕ ܽܪܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥــܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ــܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ� ݂ܘܬ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܐ ݁ܪܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̇‬ ‫ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܘ ܰܥܠ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܐ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܪܝܢ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ � ݂ܓ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܝܪܙ ݂ܬ‪ :‬ܒܥ‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ݁ ܰܒܝ̈ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܫܪܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܐ�ܣܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܡܗ ܬܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢـܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ܶܚ�ـ ̱ܘ ܳܛـ ݂ܒ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܢܝــܘ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ �ܡܫܪ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܳܡܢܶ ܳܡܐܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܓܝܐܐ ܡܢ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ݁ ܰ ݀ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܳܐ ܶܠܨ ܶܠܗ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܶܚܩ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒـܗ‬ ‫ܘܚܙ ܐ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܬܒܕܪ ݂ܬ ܠܗ ܡܫܪ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ݂ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܫܘ ܐܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܙ ݂ܒܢܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܐܫܬܪܝ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ܽ .‬ܩܘܡ ̱ܘ ܘܢܶ ܰܣܩ ܰܥـܠ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝــܢ‪݁ :‬ܟ ݂ ܰܒـܪ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒܘ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝܢ ܶܠـܗ‪ܶ �ܳ .‬ܡ ݂ܬܡܨܶܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ܳܗ ܳܫـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܳܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܶܠـܛ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܢ ‪ .‬ܘܢ ܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܺܘܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܢـܢ ܽܙܥـܘ�ܐ‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܦܫ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܳ .‬ܚܣ ܺܠܝ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ ܶܘܐܥـ ܽـܪܘܩ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ܰܡܛـܝ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܰܢــܢ‪ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܫܒــܘܩ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܥــܠ ܐ ݁ ܰܦــ ̈ܝ ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡــܐ‬ ‫ܢܡــ ݂ܘܬ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܳܪܐܝــ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 



  





 





“Judas Maccabaeus, his brothers, and the nation of the Jews sent us to you to establish an alliance and friendship with you and so that you might declare us your friends and allies.” This was pleasing in their eyes.

This is a copy of the letter that they wrote on a bronze writing tablet and that he sent to Jerusalem so that it might be for them a reminder of the friendship, alliance, and peace:

“Let it be pleasing to the Romans and the nation of the Jews at sea and on the dry land forever. Let the sword and the enemy be far from them. If a war should arise for the Romans first or their allies or any place in which they have authority, let the nation of the Jews come to help them according to what the occasion demands with a full heart. Let then not give rest to the enemies who wage war with them. Let them deny them wheat, arms, money, and ships as it pleases the Romans. Let them fulfill their responsibilities, taking nothing from them.

If war should happen to the nation of the Jews first, let the Romans fight and help them with all their soul as much as the occasion demands.

Let them not give wheat, arms, money, and ships to those fighting and making war with them as is pleasing to the Romans. Let them fulfill their responsibilities, taking nothing from them without any deceit. The Romans have established these words with the congregation of the Jews.

Afterwards, if they wish to subtract from or add to these things, let them do everything that is pleasing in their mind. All that they subtract or add, let it be permitted by [both of] them. About the wickedness that King Demetrius did to you, we have written and we have sent to him, ‘Why did you make your yoke heavy and strong on our friends and allies, the Jews?

If then they complain against you again, we will take vengeance on and judge them and will wage war with you at sea and on dry land.’” 

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܡܩ ܽܡܘ ܰܥ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܒܝ ܰܘ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܰܫ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܟ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟـܘܢ‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܢ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݁ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒܘܢ ܰܠܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܐ ܘܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܐ ܘܫ ݂ܦܪ ݂ܬ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܰܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫـܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܟܒ ܘܗܢܘ ܦܚܡܐ ݂ܕܐܓܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܢܩܝـ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܽܥ ݂ܘܕܪ ܢܐ ݂ܘܕܫ�ܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ �ܥ ̱ܘܗܕ ܢܐ ݂ܕܪ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܝ ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܶܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܓ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ � ܽ� ̱ܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪ܽ .‬ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܚܐ‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܚܩ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐܘ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ܐܘ ܰܥܠ ܡܥܕ� ܢܝـ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܐܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ ܥܠ � ̱ܗܘܡܝܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫܠܛܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܐܝܟܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܽܢܗܘܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܫܐܶܠ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ �ܳ :‬ܢܶ ݁ܬ ܽܠـܘܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡܩܪ ݂ ܺܒܝــܢ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫـܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܟ ܽ�ـܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ̈ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ ܶܘ ̈‬ ‫ܛـܐ ܰܘܙ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܶ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ ܶܦـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ݂ ܰܦـܪ � ܽ� ̱ܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܝـܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶܛـ ܽـܪܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܢܗܘܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܣܒܘܢ ܡܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܛܘ� ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܟ ݂ܕ ܡܕܡ � ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܙ ܶܘܐܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ ܢܶ ݂ܓ ݁ ܰܕܫ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬ ܽܫـܘܢ ܰܘ ܰܢܥـ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܳܫܐܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫̈ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܰܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܛـܐ ܰܘܙ ܳܝܢـܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ � :‬ܢܶ ݁ܬ ܽܠܘܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬ ܺܫܝܢ ܘܡܩ ݂ܪܒܝܢ ܥ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ̈‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ ܶܦܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ݂ ܰܦܪ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛܘ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܒـܘܢ‬ ‫ܛܪܘܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪݁ .‬ܕ� ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܛ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ܰܐ ܺܩܝܡ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܶܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܒܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܪ ܰܐܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ܽܦܘ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ‬ ‫ܠ ܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܦـܘܢ‪ :‬ܢـܗܘܐ ܫܠܝــܛ‬ ‫ـܬܗܘܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܟـܠ ܕ ݂ܢܒـ�ܪܘܢ ܐܘ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܪܥܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ݂ ܰܦܪ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ݁ ܽܟـܘܢ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒـܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܚــܢ‬ ‫� ܘܥܠ ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ـܘܣ ܡ�ܟـܐ‪ :‬ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܩܪܬ ܰܘܐܥ ܶܫ ݁ܢܬ ܺܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܠܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ � ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ� ܰܢܝܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܺܘܕ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒ ܽ�ܘܢ ܥ ܰܠܝـ ݁ـܟ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܶܐܢ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ� ݁ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ �ــܗܘܢ ܬ ݂ܒܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

















 

and [the Romans] were informed of this, he sent one of the commanders against them and waged war with them. Many of them fell dead, and they took their wives and children captive. They plundered them, and they seized control of and proved stronger in their land. They demolished their fortresses and have subjected them until this day. They were devastating, plundering, taking captive, and subjecting to servitude the rest of the kingdoms and islands as well as all who stood against them at any time.

But they kept [their] friendship with their friends and those allied with them. They seized and were stronger than the kings who were far and near. All who heard the report about them were disturbed by them.

Everyone whom they wished to help and make king, he would become the king. All whom they wished to humble, they would humble. They were exalted and became very mighty.

For all these things, not even one of them put on a crown, nor was [one of them] covered with purple garments so that [this one] might be magnified by them. But they made a senate chamber for themselves, and every day three hundred twenty senators would hold a council at the same time and consider how they might take care of and lead the nation. They would hand over the magistracy to one man per year, and he would command and be put in authority over their whole land. All would then obey that one man, and there would be no envy or jealousy among them.

Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and an alliance with them and to take away the yoke from them, because the kingdom of the Greeks was subjecting Israel to servitude.

Eupolemus’s people went to Rome, and the way was very long. They entered their senate chamber and asked,



‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚـ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ ܶܐܤܛ ܰ� ܺ� ܶܓـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬ� ݂ܕܥ ݂ܬ �ܗܘܢ ܡ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒܘ ܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܩܛܝ̈� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒـܙ �ܘ‬ ‫ܽܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ܐܪܥـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ ܶܚ ̈ܣ ܰܢܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܐܢـܘܢ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓـܙ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܚـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ݂ ܰܙܒـܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟـܠ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ� ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ̈ܠ ݁ܟ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ܒ ܺܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܠ ـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܺܙܝــܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ ܶܒܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܺܕܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܝܢܝــܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥـܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܥـܡ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܝــܢ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ـܠ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܪ ܺܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܝــܢ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ ـܠ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥܗܘܢ ܶܡ ݁ܬܬ ܙܺܝܥܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܥ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܰܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܟ ܗ ܳܘܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܺܟܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܳܓܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܺܣܝ ܐ� ݁ܓ ܳܘ ܢܶܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܝܢ � ܩܛܪ ܐ ݂ܦ� ܚ ݂ܕ ܡ‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶܬ ܰܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܽܒـ ܳܘ�‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟـܠ ܽ�ـܘܡ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬ ܳܡـܐܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢـܐ ܺܢ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܪܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ ܰܐ ݂ܟܚ ݂ ܳܕܐ ݂ܒ ܰ̈ܢـܝ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܨܦـܘܢ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݁ܒ ܽܪܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ‬ ‫�ܡܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܪܝܫܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ �ܚ ݂ܕ ܓ ݂ܒܪܐ ݂ܒܫܢ̱ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܗܘ ݂ܦܩܕ ܗܘܐ ܘܡ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ ̱ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ �ــܗܘ ܚـ ݂ܕ ݁ܓ ݂ܒـܪܐ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܐܪܥ ܽܗܘܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܣ ܳܡܐ ܳܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶ�ܘ ݁ ܰܦ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܣ ݁ܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܽ�ـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐ ܳܩـܘܣ‪ :‬ܘ� ܰ� ܳܣـܘܢ ݁ܒـ ܶܪܗ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ݁ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܢܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ��ܙܪ‪ .‬ܘܫܕܪ ܐܢܘܢ �ܪ ̱ܗܘܡܐ‪ :‬ܕܢܩܝܡܘܢ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܥܒــ ݂ ܳܕܐ ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ܢــܗܘܢ ܺܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒــܘܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳ� ܶܝــܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܪܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛــܠ ܕܡ�ܟــ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܣ ܽ‬ ‫�ܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐܘ ݁ ܳܦ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ .‬ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ�ـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܒܘ� ݂ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܥܢܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

X















 

Chapter  Judas heard the report about the Romans: that they were mighty in power, that they treated all who were united with them well, and that they made friends with everyone who approaches them. He was told about their strength, their battles which they waged with the Gauls, that they were stronger than them, and that they made them their tributaries,

as well as all that they did in Spain, that they seized gold and silver mines there, that they seized every place with their counsels and their long suffering — and even a place that was very far from them — and how they also had shattered the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth and attacked them with a large assault, while the rest had become tributaries to them each and every year.

In wars, they humbled and shattered Philip, the kings of the people of Kittim, 1 and those who rose against them, and they were stronger than them.

As for King Antiochus the Great of Asia who went against them in war with one hundred twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots, and a large and mighty army — they shattered his whole army. They seized [Antiochus] while he was living. He established that he and the kings after him would bring a great tribute to them each and every year and that they would give them pledges and gifts.

When he took India, Media, and Lydia, the choicest of his lands, from [Antiochus], he gave them to King Eumenes. When some from Greece wished to come blot out and obliterate them

‘the kings of the people of Kittim’: Greek ‘Perseus, the king of the people of Kittim’ (τὸν Περσέα Κιτιέων βασιλέα).

1



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܚ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ̈ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܺ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܥ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܫܡܥܗܘܢ ܕ ݂ܒܢܝ ܪ ̱ܗܘܡܐ ݂ܕܥܫܝܢܝܢ ܒܚ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝــܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡܬ ܰܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܩܦܝܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩـ ܰܪ ݂ܒ �ــܘ ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܡܩܝܡܝــܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܡܗ ܪ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܺܥܝܘ ܶܠܗ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘܩ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܰܠܛ ̈ܝـܐ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܕܢܗܘܘܢ �ܗܘܢ ܡܣܩܝ ܡܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠܝܗܘܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ̈ܶܡ ܰܐܛ ܰ� ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܦ ܺ� ܰܝܐ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡـܐ‬ ‫ܰܰ‬ ‫�ܟܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܚܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ ݁ܬܪ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܪ ܺܚܝܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܚܩـ ̱ܘ � ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܦ ̇‬ ‫ܪܟـܐ ݂ ܰܕܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܚܘ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܢܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܩܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ �ܗܘܢ ܡܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܠܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ݁ ܳܦܘܣ ܘ�ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ�ܐ ܘ�ܝܠܝܢ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܫܚܩ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܒܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣ ܰܝܐ‪ܰ :‬ܗܘ ݁ ܶܕ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ�‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒ ܳـܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ ܳܡ ـܐܐ ܘܥܶܣܪܝــܢ ݁ܦܝ̈ܠܝــܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܦ� ܶܫ ـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ� ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܒ ـ ݂ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܝــ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝ ـܐܐ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܳ ܰ ܽ ̇ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܫܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܫܚܩܘܗ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܡ ܶܣـܩ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܚـܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝــܡ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܰܐ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܽܗܘ ܘ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܚܕ ̱ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܡܝ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳ� ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܒܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܘ� ܳܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܬܪܗ ܡܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘ�ܪܥܐ ݂ܕܗܢܕܘ ܘ݂ܕܡ ݂ܕܝ ܶܘ݂ܕܠ ݂ܘܕ�ܐ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܐ�ܥ ݂ܬܗ ܐ�ܥـ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ� ܳܝܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪̱ �ܰ :‬ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ � ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܰ ݁ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ݂�ܒܘ ܕܢ ݂ܐܬܘܢ ܡܢ ܗܠܣ ܕܢܥܛܘܢ ܘ ݂ܢܓ‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





  

They came out from all the villages of Judea and were then driving them out and turning them around one after another, until all of them fell at the edge of the sword and not even one of them remained.

They took their spoils and booty. They cut off Nicanor’s head and his right hand which he had raised arrogantly. They brought them and hung them in Jerusalem. 1 The nation rejoiced greatly and established this day with gladness and joy. They resolved to keep it from year to year on the thirteenth of Adar. Judea was at rest for a few days.

1

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܡܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܽܩܘ� ܳ�ܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݁ܦ ݂ ܺܟܝــܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܪܒܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܚـܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܦ� ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܡ ܶܝܢـܗ ܳܗܝ ݁ ܰܕܐܪܺܝــܡ‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝܘ ܰܘܬ ܰܠܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܫ ݂ܘܒܗܪܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܣܡ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ݁ܺ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪܐ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܕܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛ ܘܣܡ ̱ܘ ܕܗܘܘ ܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܠܗ ܡܢ ܫܢܐ ܠܫܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܽܙܥܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܢ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 



  



  

The priests entered and stood before the altar and entrance of the temple. 1 They wept, saying,

“Lord, you chose this house for yourself so that it might be called by your name 2 and so that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for your people. Take vengeance on this man and his army and let them fall by the spear. Remember their blasphemy and do not give them power and endurance.”

Nicanor came out of Jerusalem and camped at Beth-horon. The army of Syria met him.

Judas camped at Arasa 3 with three thousand men. Judas prayed, saying, “Lord, you are the one whose messenger came out and ravaged one hundred eighty-five thousand, when the king of Assyria’s armies blasphemed against you. 4

In this way shatter and break this army today before us. Let the rest of them 5 know that they 6 spoke wickedly against your sanctuary! Judge them according to their wickedness!”

The armies began waging war on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. Nicanor’s army was routed, and he fell first in the war. When Nicanor’s army saw that he had fallen, they threw down their arms and fled.

Judas’s people were pursuing them for one day from Arasa 7 until they came to Gazara. They sounded the specified horns after them.

1

‘entrance of the temple’: Greek ‘temple’ (τοῦ ναοῦ).

3

‘Arasa’: Greek ‘Adasa’ (Αδασα).

2 4 5 6 7

See 1 Kings 8:29, 43; 9:3.

See 2 Kings 19:35–36; Isaiah 37:36.

‘rest of them’: lit. ‘rest of the others’.

‘they’: Greek ‘he’. The Greek seems to refer to Nicanor. ‘Arasa’: Greek ‘Adasa’ (Αδασα).



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܤܛܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܟܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܝܬ ܠ ݂ܟ ܗܢܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܘܒܥ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܦ ܽ�ܘܢ ݁ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܦܘܪ�ܢܐ ܡܢ ܓ ݂ܒܪܐ ܗܢܐ ܘܡܢ ܡܫܪ‬ ‫ܘܡܚـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ݇ܟـܪ‬ ‫ܠܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݂݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁ ܽܓܘܕ ݂ܦܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܬܠ ܒܗܘܢ ܚܝ� ܘܡܣܝܒܪ ܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢـܘܪ ܶܡـܢ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܶܒܝــܬ ܰܚـ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ܰ :‬ܘܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܗ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܕ ܽܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡ ܺܘ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܺܠܝ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܽܐܬܘܪ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܪ� ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ـ ݂ܕ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ـ ̱ܘ ܥ ܰܠܝـ ݁ـܟ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ـ ܶ� ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ ـܩ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܪ ݂ܒ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰ� ܳܡܐܐ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܺܢܐܝܢ ܘܚ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ܟ ݂ܟ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܕ ܽܥـܘܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟـܐ ݂ ܰܕܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶـܐ‬ ‫ܫܚܘܩ ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܘܪ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪ܽ ݂ .‬ܘܕܘܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡܠ ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܘܫܪܝ ܡܫ�� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܢܩ� ݂ܒܢ ܒ ݂ܬܠ ݂ܬܥܣــܪܐ ݂ܒـ ݂ܐܕܪ �ܪܚـܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܬܬ ݂ܒـܪ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܽܗܘ ݂ܒ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܕܘ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶ�ܠܗ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܕ ܕܝܢ ܚܙ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܘ ܳܪ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܦܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܶ .‬ܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬܘ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠܓ ܺܙ ܳܝܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ̈ܝ ܳܥ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





   

  

 

When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown mighty and he knew that he was not able to stand before them, he returned to the king. He slandered them in regard to many wicked things.

Then King Demetrius sent Nicanor, one of his honored princes, who had hatred and enmity 1 for Israel. He commanded him to blot out and remove the nation.

Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large army. He deceitfully sent words of peace to Judas and his brothers, saying to them, “Let there not be strife between you and me! I have come with a few men so that I might see your face in peace.” They came to Judas and greeted one another. But the armies were preparing to take Judas by force.

Judas was informed that they had come to him deceitfully, and he distanced himself from [Nicanor]. He did not want to see his face again.

When Nicanor realized that his plot had been exposed, he came out to meet Judas near Caphar-salama. About five hundred men who were with Nicanor fell. They fled to the city of David. Afterwards, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. The priests from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the nation came out to greet him and show him the burnt offerings and offerings that were being brought before the king. He mocked, insulted, and scorned them, speaking arrogantly.

Furiously he swore, “Unless Judas and his army are delivered over into my hands now, when I have returned in peace, I will burn this house.” He went out with great fury.

1

‘who had hatred and enmity’: lit. ‘who was in hatred and enmity’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܝܡܘܣ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ـ ݂ܟ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܐܟ ـܠ ܰܩ� ܰܨܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܩ ـܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܒ ܶܣ ܶܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ ݂ܕܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ــܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܽܒــ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܩــܕܗ ݁ܕܢܶܥܛܝــ ̱‬ ‫ܝــܬ ̱‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܢܪ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܝ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ̈ܡـ�‬ ‫ܟܙ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ܕܫ�ܡܐ ݂ܒܢ ݂ܟ� ܘܐܡܪ �ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܰܝܢ ـܝ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬܝ ـ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ـ ܶ�ܐ ܽܙܥ ـܘ�ܐ ݂ ܶܕܐܚـ ܶـܙ ܐ ܐ ݁ ܰܦ ̈� ݁ ܽܟ ـܘܢ‬ ‫ܟܚ � ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܡ ـܨ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐܶܠ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬ܚ ̈ܝـ ܶ� ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܬ݂ ܺܕܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܛܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܩ ܶܠܗ ܶܡ ܶܢـܗ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ‬ ‫ܠ ܘ ݂ܐܬ� ݂ܕܥ ݂ܬ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ� ܐ ݂ܬܘ ܶܨܝ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫݁‬ ‫� � ݂ܒܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܕܢܚܙ ܐ ܐܦܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ ـܩ �ܘܪܥܶ ـܗ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫� ܘܝـ ݂ـܕܥ ܢܝܩܢ ـܘܪ ܕ ݂ܐܬܓ�ܝ ـ ݂ܬ ܠ ـܗ ܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ـ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ܟ ݂ ܰܦܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܰܕ ܺܘ ݂ܝܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܡܢ ܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܥܡ ܢܝܩܢܘܪ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܚܡܫ ܡܐܐ‪ :‬ܘܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦܩـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢܘܪ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܢ ܩܫܝ ܶܫܐ ݂ܕܥܡܐ ݂ܕܢ ܰܫܐܠܘܢ ݁ܒܫ�ܡـܗ‪ܰ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ܰܢܚـܘܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ�ܩـ ݁ ܶܕܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܶܩ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܠܠ ܒܫ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܙܚ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܺܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝـ ݂ ܰܕܝ‪ܳ :‬ܡـܐ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܘܐܡܪ‪ .‬ܕܐܢ � ܢܫܬܠܡ ܗܫܐ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܒܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܗܢܐ ݂ܒܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ܒܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܕܝ ̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

     



    

The singers 1 were first among the Israelites, and they were seeking peace from them. For they said, “A priest has come from the seed of Aaron with an army, and they are not going to harm us.”

He spoke words of peace with them and swore to them, saying, “Let us not seek nor plot any wicked deed against you or your friends!”

They believed him, and he seized sixty of their men. He slaughtered them in one day according to the word that the prophet spoke, “The flesh of your holy ones and their blood has been shed around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.” 2

Fear of them fell on the whole nation, because they said, “There is no truth nor judgment for them because they transgressed the judgment, oaths, and covenant that they had established.” Bicrius departed from Jerusalem and camped near Beth-zara. 3 He sent and seized some people who had deserted with him and some from the nation. He slaughtered them over a great pit. 4

He handed over the land to Alcimus, and he left an army with him to help him. Then Bicrius came to the king. But Alcimus was fighting for the high priesthood.

All of those who were troubling their nation gathered to him and seized Judea. They caused great slaughter in Israel.

Judas saw the whole wicked deed that Alcimus and those with him had done to the Israelites — even more than the nations.

He went out to all the surrounding borders of Judea and judged the men who had rebelled and were sent to travel in the land.

1 2

‘singers’: Greek ‘Hasideans’ (Ασιδαῖοι). See Psalm 78:2–3 [79:2–3].

‘Beth-zara’: Greek ‘Beth-zaith’ (Βηθζαιθ). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions. 3

4 ‘slaughtered them over a great pit’: many modern translations of the Greek add ‘and threw them into [a pit]’ for clarity.



‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬

‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܒ ܰ̈ܢـܝ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܥܶܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝــܠ‪ܳ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܕܡܝܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܶܐ ܳܬ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܙܪܥܶܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܰܥـܡ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ�‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܰܡ ݂ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܝــܢ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܳܟ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܰܠܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪݁ .‬ܕ� ܢܶ ݂ܒܥܶـܐ ܘ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ �ܗܘܢ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ܰܘ� ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠܝܟܘܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ :‬ܘܩܛܠ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܚـ ݂ܕ �‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܶܐ ܰܫ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܣ ܰܝ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܩ ݂ ܰܒܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ܦ ܰܠ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ـܪ ܳܪܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳ� ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܐܩܝܡ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܥܠ ܕܝܢܐ ܘܡܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܘ ܰܐܚـ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥ‬ ‫ܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܕ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢ ݁ ܶܟܣ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܺܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝــ� ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥــܐ ܰ� ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܠــܡ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡــܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥــ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܫܒــܩ �ــܘ ݂ܬܗ ܚ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܺܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥܠ ܪܒ ݂ܘܬ ܟ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫܓ ܺܫܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܽ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܚـ ݁ ܽـܕ ̇‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ̇ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܣ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢـܝ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ܰ� ݁ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܚ ݂ܕ ܺܪܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܕ ̱ܘ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

IX



     



   

Chapter  In the one-hundred-fifty-first year, 1 Demetrius, son of Seleucus, came out of Rome, went up to the cities on the seacoast with a few people, and reigned there.

When he was entering the palace of his ancestors, the armies seized Antiochus and Lysias in order to bring them up to him. When he learned this, he said, “Do not show me their faces.”

The armies slaughtered them, and Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom.

All the iniquitous and wicked men of Israel came to him. Their leader was Alcimus, who wished to become high priest. He slandered the nation before the king, saying, “Judas and his brothers destroyed your friends and scattered us from the land.

Now send a man who is faithful to you, and let him go and see all the destruction that he caused for us and for the king’s land — how he tormented them 2 and all who helped them.” The king chose his friend Bicrius, 3 who was put in authority in the [province] Beyond the River and was also a great and faithful man within his kingdom.

He sent him and wicked Alcimus, and he established the priesthood for him. He commanded him to take vengeance on the Israelites. They departed and came to Judea with a large army. They deceitfully sent messengers to Judas and his brothers with words of peace.

They considered and inspected their words, because they had seen that they had come to them with a great army. A gathering of the scribes formed near Alcimus and Bicrius to plead for and seek justice. 1 2

161 BCE.

‘how he tormented them’: Greek ‘let him punish them’ (καὶ κολασάτω αὐτούς).

‘Bicrius’: Greek ‘Bacchides’ (τὸν Βακχίδην). Since Bicrius is mentioned frequently, this difference is unmarked in the remainder of the book.

3



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܛ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܙ‪.‬‬

‫ܚܕܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܶܣ ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܘܣ ܶܡܢ ܽܪ ̱ܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܰ ܰܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܝ �ܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥܠ ݂‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ݁ܒ ̱ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽܙܥܘ�ܐ ܰܥܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܥܐܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܚ ̈ܝ� �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܠ ܽ ܺ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰ� ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܢܝ ܐ ݁ ܰܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ܶܠܗ ݂�ܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܡܪ � ݂ܬܚܘܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܘܪܣܝܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܩܛ� ̱ܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܚܝ�‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝــܠ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܘ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܐ�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܣ‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒܪ ܽܢܗܘܢ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܪ ݁ܒ ݁ ܳܟܗܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡ ـܐ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ـ ݂ܕ ܺ� ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚ ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ ܰܐܟ ـܠ ܰܩ ـ� ܰܨ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫� ܳ�ܚ ܰܡ ݁ܝܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܐ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܺ :‬ܘܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܰܒܢ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܫܢܶܩ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܐܪܥܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܠـܛ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܒـ ܰܗܘ ܥܶܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ�ܘܣ ܳܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡـܗ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݂݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܒܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘܡܗܝܡܢܐ ݂ܒܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܕ ܶܪܗ ܶܠܗ ܰܘ� ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܣ ܰܪ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ـܕܗ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܩـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܠـܗ ܟܗܢـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܘܪ�ܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܢܝ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ܰܡ� ݂ ̈ܟـܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܘ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܒ ̈ܶܡ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܪ ̱ܘ ܘ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܣܬ ݁ ܰܟ� ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܚܙܘ ݁ܓܝܪ ܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ـ ̱ܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ܦ ـ ܶ�ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡ ـܘܣ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݁ܝܟ ܺܪ ܳ� ـܘܣ ܟܢ ـ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ݂ ܺܟ ܽܐܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

  



He was hastening to go. Lysias said to the king, the leaders of the army, and the princes of the nation, “We are finished here, and there is little food for us. The fortress of this place against which we are encamped is very mighty, and the royal affairs are set against us. Let us now assist these people and make peace with them and with their whole nation.

Let us establish them so that they might walk in their laws as before, for, because we abolished their laws, they became infuriated and angry and did all these things.”

This was pleasing to the king and his princes. They sent to them so that he might make peace with them and some agreed [to this]. The king and his princes swore to them. For these things, they came out from their fortress. The king came to Mount Zion and saw its fortress. 1 He reversed the oaths that he had sworn. He commanded that they pull down the surrounding wall.

He departed from there, and he returned in earnest to Antioch. He found Philip who had seized the city. He gained authority over him, waged war with him, and took the city from him by force.

1

‘its fortress’: lit. ‘the fortress of the place’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܽܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܕ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܢܙ ܘܡ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ� ܰܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ�ـܐ ܗܝ ܰܠـܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܬ ܪ ܐܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܓܡܪ ܰܝܢܢ ܳܗ ݁ ܳܪܟـܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒـܪܬ ܐ ܙܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ̱ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܥ ܺܫܝــܢ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܢـܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܒـܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܟـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ݁ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥـܡ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܢܚ ܗܫܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܗ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܰܘ ܺܢܩܝܡ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡـ ̈ܘ ܰܣܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝــܡ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ� ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ �ܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܠܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܰܣܝ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ݂ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܣ ܘܫ ݂ܦܪ ݂ܬ ܡ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܘܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܡܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܶܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܐ ܺܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܘܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܠܛܘܪܐ ݂ܕܨܗ�ܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܚܙ ܐ ܚܣܢܗ ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܒܡܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܣܬ ܽܪ ܳܘܢܝܗܝ‪ܽ .‬ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܕܪ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܟ ܶܚـܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܺܟ ܰܝـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ �‬ ‫ܝܦـܘܣ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܚܦܝܛܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ ܘ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ .‬ܘܢܣܒـܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܕܐܚܕܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܛܝܪܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܡܢܗ ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



   

 

 

  

He ran against him with power and with courage between the armies and the battalions. He was making havoc to his right and to his left, and they were fleeing before him on both sides.

He came under the elephant, and he struck its belly with his sword, killing it. It fell on top of him on the ground, and he died there.

When Judas saw the might of the kingdom and the preparation of the army, he departed from them.

Some of the king’s army were going up against them to Jerusalem, while the king camped in Judea and on Mount Zion.

He made peace with those in Beth-zur. Since there were no provisions, they came out of the city so that they were enclosed inside, because it was a sabbath for the land.

The king subdued Beth-zur, and he established a post there so that they might guard it.

He camped against the sanctuary and fought against it for many days. He erected there towers and engines of war to wage war against them and to launch projectiles, arrows, stones, and fire with catapults. He also made engines of war against their engines of war. They waged war for many days.

There were no provisions in the sanctuary, because it was the seventh year and those who were delivered from the nations were eating the rest of its food. There were [only] a few people left in the sanctuary because hunger had overcome them. They were scattered, each to his own place.

Lysias heard that Philip, whom Antiochus had appointed while he was living to raise his son and make him king, had returned from Persia and Media along with the whole army that went with the king, for he wished to gain control over royal affairs.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ ̈ܦ ܰܠ ݁ ܶܓܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܒܚܝ� ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܒܝܢ ݂ܬ ܡܫ�� ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܣ ܳܡ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܝ ܺܡܝܢܶܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܩܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣـܗ ݁ܒ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܠـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܝـ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦـܠ�‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ� ݁ܬ ܽܚ ݂ܘܬ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܟܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܙ ܘܚܙ ܐ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܥܘܫܢ ̇ܗ ܕܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܛܘ� ݂ܒܗ ܕܚ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪܐ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܘܡܢ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܒܝܗ ݂ܘܕ ܘ ݂ܒܛܘܪܐ ݂ܕܨܗ�ܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩـ ̱ܘ ܶܡـܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐ ܳܣ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܽܫܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܳܘ ̇ܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܒ ܶܫܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܘ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܩܝܡ ܬܡܢ ܡܛ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝـܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝــܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܩܕܫܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܟـ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܶ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܥ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒـܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܡ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ�ـ ̈ܘܣ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ� ܶܡܫـ ݁ ܳـܕܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܒ ܶܠܤܛـܘܣ‬ ‫ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ̈ܶܦܐ ܽܘܢܘܪܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶܓܐ� ܐ ݂ ܺ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ�̈ ـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ـ ݂ܕ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܶܗ ܽܢ ـܘܢ ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ـ ̈ܘܣ ܽܠ ـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܝ ـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ݀ ܺ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܰܐ ܳܣ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܝܥܝـ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܕܫܢ̱ـܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠـܗ � ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟـܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ܳ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦܨܶܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒ ݁ܪܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܫـܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܕ ܶܘ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܽܙܥـܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܦ ܳܢـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒܝ ܰـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦـܘܣ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܐܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܽܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܗ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡـܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܰܥـ ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ ܰܚـܝ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܪ ݁ ܶܒܐ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ܰܘܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܝ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ ܳܕܐܙܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܦ ܶܪܣ ܘܡ ݂ܕܝ ܘܥܡܗ ܟܠܗ ܚ‬ ‫�ܒـܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕܢܐܚ ݂ܘܕ � ݂ܒܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 















 



They divided them into battalions. They assigned to each of the elephants one thousand men, who were clothed with iron breastplates and had bronze helmets placed on their heads, and five hundred select cavalry who were following each of the elephants.

[The men and the cavalry] came first. Wherever one of [the elephants] would go, they would be there also, and they would not go far from it.

On top of them were mighty wooden towers which covered each of the elephants and were girded with engines of war. On every one of them were thirty 1 powerful men, who would wage war on top of it, and its driver. 2 They stationed the rest of the cavalry on either side of the two flanks of the army [so that they might] wage war and display the sight of their arms in the battalions. When the sun rose and shone on the golden and bronze shields, the mountains received light and were glimmering from them like fiery lamps.

Some of the army was in formation and stood on the high mountains and some on the lower mountains. They were coming securely in their formations. All who heard the sound of their army, the marching of their multitude, and the clanking of their arms, were disturbed. For the army was great and exceedingly mighty.

Judas and his army came to war, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell.

Eleazar, who was called Avaran, saw one of the elephants that was girded with royal armor and was the best of all the elephants, and it seemed that the king was on it. He gave himself up to save his people and to make an eternal name for himself.

1 2

‘thirty’: Greek and Latin recensions have either ‘four’, ‘thirty’, or ‘thirty-two’. ‘its driver’: Greek ‘its Indian [driver]’ (ὁ ᾿Ινδὸς αὐτοῦ).



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ̱ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܠܓ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ̈ܦ ܰܠ ݁ ܶܓܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܝ̈� ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝــܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܺܫܝܢ ݁ܒ ܶܫ� ܳ�ܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܦܪܙ�‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܣܢܘ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܫܡـܐܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ ܰܦ ܳ� ܺܫܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܺܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܝ̈� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ݁ ܶܒܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ݂ ܳܕܐܙܶܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܳܡـܢ ܳܗ ܶܘܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܐ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܚܩܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܡ ݂ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ� ݂ܕ ܰܩܝ̈ ܶܣܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈�ܢܶܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕܡܛ ̱ܠܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺܙܩܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܝ̈�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝܢ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܚܝ� ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘ� ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܦ� ܶܫܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܺܩܝܡ ̱ܘ ܡܟܐ ܘܡܟܐ ܡـܢ ܬ �ܝــܗܘܢ ܓܒـܐ ݂ܕܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܝܢ ܶܚ ܳܙܘܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ݁ܦ ܰܠ ݁ ̈ܶܓܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ܰܘܕ ܳܢܚ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܪܝــܢ‬ ‫ܡܓ ̈ܢـܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܚ ܫܡܫܐ ܘܰܨܡܚ ܥـܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܦ ̈� ܶܕܐ ܕ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܗܪܝܢ ܽܛܘ ܶ�ܐ ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܗܝܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܠ ݁ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܶܳ̇ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬܕ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܥܠ ܽܛܘ ܶ�ܐ ܳ� ܶܡܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢـ ̇ܗ ܰܥـܠ ܛـܘ�ܐ‬ ‫ܡ ܘܡܢܗ ܡܢܶ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܐ ܳ ܺ ݁ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܒܣ ݂ܕ�ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽܙܥܘ�ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܬ ݂ܟܝ� ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܙܺ ܺ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ــܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܥܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܳܩــ� ݂ܕ ܰܚ‬ ‫ܝܥܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܽܟ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܽܣܘܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬܝـ ̇‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‬ ‫ܐܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܩܫܐ ݂ܕܙܝܢܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ـܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܣ ݁ܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܶܫـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܡـܢ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘܩܪ ݂ܒ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳܡܐܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܢ �ܚ ݂ܕ ܡܢ ܦܝـ�‪ :‬ܕܡܚـܙܩ ܒܙܝܢـܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܺܦܝ̈ ܶ�‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܚ ܺܙܝ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܗ ܽܗܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‬

‫‪ ‬ܡܕ‬

‫ܫܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ܦ ܽܪܘܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

   

 



 



We consent to perform service for your father, to follow all his commands, and to go after all his desires.

Look! Our people are dwelling in the citadel for this reason. We are being treated as foreigners, and they are killing every one of us whom they find. Our inheritance is being plundered by them.

But they have stretched out their hands not only against us but also against all their borders.

Look! Today they are camping against the citadel in Jerusalem so that they might subdue it. They have fortified the sanctuary and Beth-zur.

Unless you immediately overtake them — for they will do greater and more things than these — you are not going to prevail over them.” The king became infuriated when he heard these things. He gathered all his friends, the captains of his army, and those who were in charge of the chariots. The armies that he hired from other kingdoms and from many islands came to him.

The number of his army was one hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants which were skilled in war.

They came to Idumea and camped against Beth-zur. They waged war for many days and made engines of war. But [Judas’s people] came out, set them on fire, and fought courageously.

Judas marched from the citadel and camped near Beth-zechariah opposite the army of the king. The king rose early in the morning, and he led the army with haste on the road of Beth-zechariah. The armies were prepared for war, and they sounded the horns.

They showed the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, preparing them for war. 1

1 The reason the elephants were given the juice of grapes and mulberries remains debated. Suggestions include making the elephants drunk, enraging them through seeing red liquid like blood, and merely rousing their appetites.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܢــܢ ܶܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܓ ܰ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢــܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܦ ܽ�ــܘܚ ܰܥ ݂ܒــ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ � ݂ ܽܒــ ݂ܘܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܢܗ ܶܠــ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܢܐܙܠ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܕ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܡܪܕ ܐ ܡܛܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܢ ܶܡ ܰܢـܢ ܳܩܛܠܝــܢ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘ�ـܪܬ ݂ܘܬܢ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒـ ܳܙܙ ܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ��ܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܗ ܳܘ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ �ܘ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ�ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܘܕ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܝܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ ݂ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫܘ ܶ�ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܟܙ ܶܘ ܳܐ� ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܓ ـܠ� ݁ ݂ܬܕܪ ݂ ܽܟ ـܘܢ ܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ـܢ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰ� ݁ܬܝ ـ ܳ�ܢ ܶܡ ـܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ـ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬܡܨܶܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ ܰܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ� ܰ� ݁ ܰܒـܝ‬ ‫ܚܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ� ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܢ ݁ ܳܓ ـܙ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬܗ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ـ�‬ ‫ܟܛ ܘܡ ـܢ ܡ�ܟ ـܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܐ̱ܚ�ܢܝ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪܝــܢ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܳ :‬ܡܐܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ � ݂ܓ ܳ� ܺܝܝܢ‪ :‬ܘܥ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ‬ ‫ܠ ܘ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܦܝ̈� ݂ܬܠ ݂ܬܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܪܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܕܥܝܢ ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܫـܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰܥـܠ ܰ ݂ܐ ܽܕܘܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘܫـ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝـܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܪܘ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܶܒܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫� ܘ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܡ ݂ܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܽܢܘܪܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬܫ ̱ܘ ݁ܓܢ̱ܒܪܐ ݂‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܽ :‬ܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ ܰܙܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݁ܒ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܺܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦـܐ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ݂ ܰܙܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܶ ݂ܒ ܰ� ݂ܦ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ̇ܗ �ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܕ ̱ܘ ܰܚ ̈ܝ� ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ݁ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ̈݁ ܶ ܰ݁ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܝܶ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦܝ� ܚܘܝܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܕܡܐ ݂ܕ�ܢܒܐ ܘܕ ݂ܬܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 







    VIII



 

 

I said to my heart, ‘How much distress have I come into! Even to this great peril by which I am cast down, because I was kind and beloved in my authority.’ Now I remember the wickedness that I did in Jerusalem. I took the instruments of gold and silver that were in it, and I sent [people] to blot out the inhabitants of Judea without cause.

I know that because of these things all this wickedness has come upon me. Look! I am being destroyed from great distress in a foreign land.”

Antiochus summoned Philip, one of his friends. He appointed him over his whole kingdom. He gave him his crown, his robe, and his ring, so that he might bring them to his son Antiochus and raise him to be king. King Antiochus died there in the one-hundred-forty-ninth year. 1

When Lysias learned that the king had died, he appointed his son Antiochus, whom [Lysias] had raised since childhood, in his kingdom. [Lysias] named him Eupator. Those dwelling in the citadel were besieging 2 Israel all around the sanctuary. They wished very much to do harm in every way, and they were helping the nations. Judas plotted to remove them and gathered the whole nation so that they might besiege them.

When they had gathered together, they besieged them in the onehundred-fiftieth year. 3 They made towers opposite them and engines of war to fight with them.

Some came out from the besieged place, and some wicked Israelites joined them.

They went to the king and told him, “For how long will you not make a judgment and take vengeance for our brothers?

1

163 BCE.

3

162 BCE.

‘besieging’: this word is in the form of a passive participle. Following the Greek and the narrative, it should be taken as active, even though the passive form of this verb does not normally have an active sense. 2



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܶܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܫ ܳܘ� ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ ܶܐ ݂ ܰܬ ݁ܝܬ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ� ܳܝܢܐ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ܶܠܗ ܠ ݁ ܶܒ ̱ܝ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܡـܐ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܒܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ܺܣܝܡ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܪܚܝܡ ݁ܒ ܽܫܘܠܛ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܕܥܶܒ ݁ ܶܕܬ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܒ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐ ܢ̈ܶܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܗܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܰ ݂ܗܕ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ ݂ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܕ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܳܘ ̇ܗ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܕ ܶܪ ݂ܬ ݁ܕܢܶܥܛܘܢ �ܥܡܘ� ̇ܝܗ ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܳܝܩܐ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‬ ‫�ܶ ݂ܕܥܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡܛܠ ܗܠܝܢ ܐ ݂ܬܝ ܥܠܝ ܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܥ ݂‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ܣܓ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ݁ ܳܦܘܣ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܡـܗ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܚܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ :‬ܕܢܝـ‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ ݁ܬ ݂ܶܓܗ ܶܘ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ݁ܒـ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܤܛܠܗ ܘ�ܙܩـ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܢܪ ݁ ܶܒܝ ̱‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܬܡܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܰܫܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܽܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ ݂ܕ ܺܡ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܒـܪܗ ܒܡ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ܰ݁ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܛܘܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܕܗܘ ܪܒܝܗ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܢ ܛ�ܝ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܩܪܐ ܫܡܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܺ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ �‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ܟܠ ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ � ̱‬ ‫ܐܫـܘܢ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܐܫـܘ ܰܢ ݂ ܶܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ܶܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰܡ ݂ ܳܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫� ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܢܪܝܡ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒــ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢــ ݂ܬ ܳܡــܐܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒــ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫــ ̱ܘ ܐ ݂ܟܚــ ݂ܕܐ ܘܶ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܫܘ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ ܰܡ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ� ܰ‬ ‫ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ܺܐܟ ܰ� ̈ܘܣ �ܡ ݂ܬܟ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܺܫܝ̈ܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܝـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶܢܩ ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ � ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ � ݂ܬܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܕܝܢـܐ ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܝܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 







  





 

King Antiochus was traveling through the upper regions, and he heard that in Persia there was the city of Elymais which was honored for its wealth of gold and silver. [Its] temple for idols was very rich. There were golden helmets, breastplates, and weapons there, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who had first been king of the Greeks, had left there.

He came, and he desired to subdue the city and plunder it. But he was not able to do this, 1 because the matter was known to the inhabitants of the city. So, its inhabitants rose against him in war. He fled and marched from there with great distress to return to Babylon.

They came and told Antiochus in Persia that his armies which had gone to Judea had been conquered,

that, just as Lysias had gone earlier with a great army and had been conquered by them, the Judeans had become mighty with arms, with force, and with the large amount of spoils that they had taken from the armies that they conquered, that they had destroyed the abomination that had been built on the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with great walls as before and rebuilt their city Beth-zur. When the king heard these words, he was speechless and was extremely frightened. He fell on his bed and fell sick from his distress because it was not as he had thought.

He was there for many days, because his distress gained strength on him. Antiochus thought that he was dying.

He summoned all his friends and said to them, “Sleep has fled from my eyes and my heart has melted within me from great anxiety.

1

‘was not able to do this’: lit. ‘was not able’.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܘ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠـ ݂ܟ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܒܐ�ܥـ ݂ܬܐ ܥ�ܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܫܡـܥ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܦܪܣ‪ܺ :‬ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ܫ ݂ ܺܒ ݁‬ ‫ܝܚܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܒܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪ ܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܣܢــܘ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ܶ�ܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ـܗ ܰܥ ݁ܬܝــܪ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ܳܡـܢ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗ ݁ܝܟـ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܫ� ܳ� ܶܢــܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ̈ܢــܝ ܰܙ ܳܝܢــܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒــܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܬ ܳܡــܢ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁‬ ‫ܢــܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ ܰܒــܪ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܐ‪ܰ :‬ܗܘ ݁ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܡ ܶܩ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝــܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܶܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܘܢܶ ݁ܒ ܺܙ ̇‬ ‫ܫܟــܚ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛــܠ‬ ‫ܡܕܝ ̱ܢــ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶܥــܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܕܢ ݂ܟܒܫܝــܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫݁ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ �ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܐܬ� ݂ܕܥ ݂ܬ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒ ܶܠܗ ܳܥ ܽܡܘ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܫܩـܠ ܡـܢ ܬܡـܢ ܒܥܩـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ ܶܒܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ ݁ܒ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠـܗ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ݁ܒ ݂ ܳܦـ ܶܪܣ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟـܝ ܰܡܫ� ܳ�ـ ݂ܬܗ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܶܕ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺܠܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܶܰ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܶܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ܒܚ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ܳܝܢـܐ‬ ‫݂ܘܕܐܝܟܢܐ ܐ ܙܠ�ܠܘܣܝܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܡܫ� ܳ� ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܙܟܘ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܙܬ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܰܥܠ ܰܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ ܕ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܠ ܰܛ ܽܡܐܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܳܗܝ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܢܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܚܦ ̇‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫݂݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕܝــܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽܫـܘ ܶ�ܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܫـܘ�ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܢـܘ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ ܐܚـ ݁ـܕܪ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ̈ܶܡܐ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܰܡܗ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܙܺܝܥ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦـܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܬܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܪܥܶܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ�ܥܪܣܗ ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܪܗ ܡܢ ܥ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܫـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ݂ܬܡܢ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܥܩـ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܬ ܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ݀ ܳ ̇ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ �ܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܕ ݂ܦܪܕ ݂ܬ ܠܗ ܫܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܣܝ ܶܠܗ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܶܪ ܳܢܝܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 



   

  

Gorgias and the men with him came out of the city against them in war. Joseph and Azariah were conquered. They pursued them up to the border of Idumea. About two thousand men from the nation of Israel fell on that day.

There was great ruin in Israel because they did not obey Judas and his brothers, for they also wished to make a name for themselves 1 and achieve victory.

But they were not of the seed of those men through whom God brought salvation to Israel. Judas and his brothers were honored even more before all of Israel, among all the nations, and everywhere news of them was heard. They gathered together and came to honor them.

Judas and his brothers went out and were waging war with the children of Esau in the southern land. They attacked Hebron and its villages, demolished its fortresses, and set its surrounding towers on fire.

Judas marched from there to go Philistia, and he passed through Samaria. 2 On that day, the priests who had wished to achieve victory for themselves and went out to war without counsel fell in war.

Judas departed for Azotus which was in Philistia. They demolished its altars, set the graven images of their idols on fire, plundered the spoils of the cities, and returned to Judea.

1

See again the note on 1 Maccabees 3:14.

‘Samaria’: some Latin recensions read ‘Marisa’, and the editor of the Greek prefers this reading.

2



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ݁ ܽܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ ܶܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪݂ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܕܘܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ ܶܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝܘ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܘ�ܙܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܪܕ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܗܘ �ܘܡܐ ܡܢ ܥܡܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܥ ̱ܘ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܘ� ܰܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝــܢ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ܘܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܐ ܳ�ـ ܳܗܐ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ܽܗܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܣܒ ܗܢܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܺ � ܐ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ � ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝــܠ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܣܓ ܘܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܘܐܚܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܢـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ ̱ܘ ܰ� ݁ܬ ܳܝܪܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܐܝܟܐ ݂ܕܡܫܬܡܥ ̱ܗܘܐ ܫܡܥܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܫܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܶܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܗ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥـܡ ݁ܒ ܰ̈ܢـܝ ܺܥ ܽܣـܘ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܡܢـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁̈ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܘ ݁ܒ ܽܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܝ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂ܓܕܠ ̇‬ ‫ܡܚܐ ̇‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܽܪܘܢ ܘܠ ݂ܒܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܗ ܐ ܶ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܚ ݂ܕܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܣܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܦ� ̈ܫ ݁ܬ�ܶܐ‪̱ ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒـܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒـ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܙ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ̈ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܶ�ــܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥ�ــ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦــ ̱ܘ‬ ‫�ܙܘܛــܘܣ ܕ ݂ܒܐܪܥــܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܫ‬ ‫ܣܚ ܘܐܪܟــܢ �ــܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢـ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܓ�ܝ ݂ܦܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ�ܝܗܘܢ ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܒܢܘܪܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒـܙ �ܘ ܒܙ ݂ܬܗܝــܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

 



  

   

He came up to Ephron. This is a great and very mighty city on the road. 1 It was not possible to turn from it to the right or the left, but only to pass through it. The villagers shut them out and blocked its entrances with stones.

Judas sent to them with peaceful words, “Let me pass through your land so that I might go to our land. No one will harm you. But only let us pass through on our feet.” But they did not wish to open [the entrances] for them. Judas commanded them to proclaim in the camp that everyone should set up camp where he was.

The people of the army set up camp and waged war with the whole city on that day and the whole night. The city was delivered into their hands. They eliminated every male from it by the edge of the sword. They uprooted it and took its spoils. Then they passed through the city over the slain. They crossed the Jordan to the great valley before Beth-jashan. 2

Judas was gathering those lagging behind and comforting the nation on the whole path until they came to Judea.

They went up Mount Zion with gladness and joy. They made offerings and burnt-offerings, for not one of them had fallen. They returned in peace.

In those days when Judas and his brother Jonathan were in Gilead, his brother Simon was in Galilee opposite Ptolemais.

Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, the captain of the armies, heard of the strength, victories, and wars of Judas, and said, “Let us also make a name for ourselves! 3 Let us go and wage war with the surrounding nations!” They commanded the army with them and went to Jamnia.

1

‘on the road’: lit. ‘that is situated on the road’.

3

See the note on 1 Maccabees 3:14.

2

‘Beth-jashan’: Greek ‘Beth-san’ (Βαιθσαν).



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪܐ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܠ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ̱ܗܝ ܪܒ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܘ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܝ ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܐ ݂ܦ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܣ ܳܡ�‪ :‬ܐ � ܐܢ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܤܛܐ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪ܰ � :‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܳܘ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܶ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܰܟܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ�ܥܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܟܐ ݂ ̈ܦܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܙ ܘܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܒܐܦܝܗܘܢ ܥܡܘ�ܝܗ ܕܩܪ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ݁ ܰܒܐܪ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ̈ܶܡـ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܟـܘܢ‬ ‫ܪܥܢ‪ .‬ܘܐ ܳܢܫ ܳ� ܰܢ ݂ ܶܒܐܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܺܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܒ ܶ�ܓ ܰܠܝܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܒـܘ‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܦ ݁ܬ ܽܚܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܐ ܳܢܫ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܕ ݁ܘܟ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛ ܘ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܕ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܕܢ ݂ܟܪܙܘܢ ܒܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܢ ܘܫܪܘ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠـܗ ܺ� ܳܝـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܥܡ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܶܕܟ ܳܪܐ ܒ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܰܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܙܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܩܪ ̇‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܘܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݂ ܶ ݂ ݂ ܺ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܩܛܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ� ܳܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܒ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ �ܘܪܕܢܢ ܠ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܡܒ ܰܝܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܺܘ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܶܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ�̱ܚ ܳ��ܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚـܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܕ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒ ܶܢـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ̈ܩـ ݁ ܶܕܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ�‬ ‫ܣ�ܩ ̱ܘ ܠܛ ܳܘܪܐ ݂ܳܕܨܗ�ܘܢ ܒ ݂ܒܘܣܡܐ ܘ ݂ܒܚ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܦ� ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ̱ܗܘܘ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘ�‬ ‫�ܥـ ݂ܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܗ ܘ ݂ܒܗܢܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܺ ܐ ܽܚـ ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܦܛܘ�ܡܐܝܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܒ ݂ܓܠܝ� ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܫܡܥܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ــܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܫܡــܥ ܰ�ــ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܰܙ ܳܪ�ــܐ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܒــܪ ݂ ܰܙܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܰ�ــ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪݂ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܢܘ‬ ‫ܠܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒــ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬܗ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܘܠܩ� ݂ܒ ̱‬ ‫ܘ��ܨܚܢ ̱‬ ‫ܫܡܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܘ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܙ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܠܢ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܚ ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ �ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   





 



 VII



Judas departed for Alema 1 and waged war with it. He killed every male in [the city], took its spoils, and set it on fire.

From there Judas marched, and they subdued Chaspho, Maker, 2 Bosor, and the rest of the cities in Gilead.

Afterwards, Timothy gathered another army and set up camp near Raphon beside the river. Judas sent [people] to spy on the camp, and they came and told him, “All the surrounding nations have gathered against you as a very mighty army.

They have also hired Arabs for help, and they are camping beside the river. They are preparing to come against you in war.” Then Judas went to meet them.

Timothy said to the captains of his army, “When Judas and his army approach the edge of the river, if he crosses over to us first, we are not going to be able to stand before him because he is much stronger than we are. But if he is afraid and sets up camp on that side of the river, let us cross over to him, as we are stronger than he is.”

When Judas arrived at the river, he stationed officers of the nation on the river and commanded them, “Do not allow anyone to set up camp, but rather let them all come to war.” He crossed over first against them and the whole nation after him. The nations were routed before him. They threw down their arms and fled to the temple for idols in Carnaim.

Judas’s people subdued the city and set the temple for idols with everything in it on fire. Carnaim was conquered, as it also was unable to stand before Judas. Judas gathered all Israel that was in Gilead, from the smallest to the greatest, their women, their children, and all of their possessions, a very mighty camp, to come to Judea.

1 2

‘Alema’: Greek ‘Maapha’ (Μααφα). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions. ‘Maker’: Greek ‘Maked’ (Μακεδ).



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̇ ܳ ܳ ܽ ݁ܶ ܳ ܳ ̇ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܰܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܛܠ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܥܡܗ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܠ ܕ ݂ܟܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܗ‬ ‫ܐܪܟܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ � ܺܠܝܡ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܩܕ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܙܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܩـܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܦـܘܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܒ ܽܫـ ̇‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܫܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܪ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ـ ݁ܒ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂ܬܪ ܕܝܢ ܗܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܟܢܫ ܛ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܬܐܘܣ ܰܡܫܪ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܛܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܪ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܤ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ ̱ܘ ܶܠ ـܗ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫـ ̱ܘ ܥ ܰܠܝـ ݁ـܟ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܘ ܰܫ ـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܺ� ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ܓ ܽܫـܘܢ �ܡ ܳܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ�ܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܚܝ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܥ� ݂ ܳܒܝܶ ـܐ ܰܐ ܺܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܪܝــܢ ܰܥ ـܠ ܶܤܛـ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܳܢ ـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪܝــܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ݁ ܺ ݁ܺ ܽ ݂ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܥܬ݂ܕܝܢ ܕܢ ݂ܐܬܘܢ ܥܠܝܟ ܠܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܙܠ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ �ܘܪܥܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ ܘܐܡܪ ܛ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ܰܥـܠ�‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܬܐܘܣ �� ܒܝ ܚܝܠܗ‪ .‬ܟ ݂ܕ ܢ ݂ܬܩـܪ ݂ܒ �ـܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܳܘܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ݁ܒ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ݁‬ ‫݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݁ܒ ܶܣ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢܗܪܐ‪ .‬ܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܢ‪ܶ � :‬ܡ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢـܢ‬ ‫ܡܨ ܽ�ܘ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܽܢܩܘܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ� ܐ ܰܚܝ ܰܠܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ܰܗܘ ܶܤܛـ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܶܐܢ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ـܠ ܘܢܶܫـ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ـܪ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬܗ ܘܢܶ ݂ܬܡـ ܶـ� ܐ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܣܦـ ܰ�ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ܰܥـܠ ܰܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܩـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܡܛܝ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‬ ‫�ܢܗܪܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܺܩܝܡ ܳ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܶܳ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ �ــܗܘܢ‪݂ � .‬ܬܫܒܩ ـܘܢ ܐ ݂ܦ ـ� ��ܢ ـܫ ܕܢܫــܪܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ܢ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ܽܗܘ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܡـܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܳܒـ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ̱ܘ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܕܘ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰܩ ܳܪܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩـܕܘ ݁ܒ ܽܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܥـܡ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܒܫܘܗ ܠ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܽܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܟـ�ܐ ܐ ܶ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܒـ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ܟܝـ ݂ܬ ܩܪܢـܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܡܫܟܚـܐ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܬ ܠܡܩـܡ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܨܚ ܙ‬

‫‪ ‬ܡܗ‬

‫ܽ ܶ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫�ܥـܕ‪ܶ .‬ܡـܢ ܽܙܥـ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ � ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܓ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ�ܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܪܒـ ݂ܬܐ ܘܥܫܝܢـ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܺ� ܰܩـ ݁ܪܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

 



 

   

Simon led those in Galilee and those in Ardabat1 with their wives, their children, and all their possessions, and brought them to Judea with great gladness.

Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan, and they went on a three-day journey in the desert.

The Nabateans met them and welcomed them peacefully. They related to them everything that had happened to their brothers in Gilead,

“Many of them are being held in Bozrah, Bosor, Alema, Chaspo, Maker, 2 and Carnaim — all of which are great and mighty cities.

[Others] are being held in the rest of the cities in Gilead. They are preparing to attack the fortresses tomorrow, to demolish them, and to destroy all of them in one day.” Judas and his whole army turned back on the desert road to Bozrah. They suddenly attacked the city, slaughtered every male in it by the edge of the sword, took all of their spoils, and set [the city] on fire. Judas marched from there at night, and they went to the fortress.

Morning came, and they lifted their eyes and saw a people, large and without number. They were carrying ladders and ropes and waging war to subdue the fortress. Judas saw that the war was fierce. The city’s cry, the sound of horns, and a great shout went up to heaven.

Judas said to the men of the army, “Wage war today for your brothers!” Judas went out with three divisions behind them. They sounded the horns and cried out in prayer.

Timothy’s camp realized that it was Maccabaeus, and they fled before him. He attacked them with a large assault. About eight thousand men fell on that day.

1 2

‘those in Ardabat’: Greek ‘the Arbatteans’ (Αρβάττοις). ‘Maker’: Greek ‘Maked’ (Μακεδ).



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰ ݂ܘܕ ݂ ܰܒܐܪ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒܛ ܰܥܡ ܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܓ ݂ܘܕ ݂ܒܪ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܓܠ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ� ܰܩ ݁ܪܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ ܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܕ ܳܢܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ ܽ� ݁‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܘܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܡܩܒܝ ܘ�‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܰܘ ܰܐܪܥ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܒ ܳܛܝܶܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܺܥܝܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܫ�ܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܓ ݂ ܰܕܫ ܰ� ܰܚ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܝــܡ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܳܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܘ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝـܐܐ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܪܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܝــܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܒـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐ ܺܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦـܘܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܳܡ ܳܩܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܩ ܳܪܢܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ̈� ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܒܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܺܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡـܘܢ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܡܚـܪ‬ ‫ܟܙ ܘ ݂ܒܫܪܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂‬ ‫ܚܦܘܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܘܢ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܪܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒـ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܒـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܘܟܠܗ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩܛ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ݁ܟܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܟـ ܳܪܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܐܘܩܕ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܛ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ݁ܒ ܺ� ܳܝܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ ̱ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܚܙܘ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫�� ݂ܦ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܠ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܪܺܝܡ ̱ܘ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܽܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ̈ܒـ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܶܠܗ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ܣܒܠـ ݂‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܣܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫� ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܺܫܝܢ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܓܥـ ݂ܬܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ� ݂ܕܩ� ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܰ .‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܥܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ܐ ܰܚ ̈� ݁ ܽܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ�ܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܘܐܡܪ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘܩـ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܺ� ܺ‬ ‫ـܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ܰܥـܘ‬ ‫ܝܫܝــܢ ܡـܢ ܒܣـ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ܳ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܠ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒܝ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܐܘܣ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚـܐ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܕܛܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘ� ݂ܕܥ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܚـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܡܢــܗܘܢ ܒـܗܘ �ܘܡـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܬܡܢܝـܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝــܢ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  









    

Look! They are preparing to come and subdue the very fortress in which we have taken refuge. Timothy is their leader. Now, come and save us from their hands, for many of our people have fallen.

All our brothers who were among the Tobites died. They took captive their wives, their children, and all their belongings. They destroyed about one thousand people there.”

When they received this letter, 1 other messengers came from Galilee, rending their garments and telling a story in accordance with these words,

saying, “Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon, and all of Galilee have gathered against us as foreign nations in order to blot us out and obliterate us.”

When Judas and the whole nation heard these words, a great gathering formed to consult concerning what they should do for their brothers who were in distress, 2 for they were being oppressed by [their enemies]. Judas said to his brother Simon, “Gather men to yourself and go save your brothers in Galilee. But my brother Jonathan and I will go to Gilead.” He left Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah as leaders of the nation with the rest of the army in Judea so that they might keep guard.

He commanded them, “Look after and take care of this people. Do not invade the nations until we come back.” Three thousand men were allotted to go with Simon to Galilee and eight thousand men to go with Judas to Gilead. Simon went to Galilee and waged great wars with the nations. The nations were routed before him.

He pursued them until Ptolemais. About three thousand men from the nations fell, and they took their spoils.

1 2

‘when they received this letter’: lit. ‘as this letter was being received’. ‘distress’ is from the same root as ‘oppressed’ later in this verse.



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ܰ݁ ܺ ݁ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ܘܢܶ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܽܫــܘܢ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢــܐ ܳܗ ܳܢــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܺܪ ݂ ܺܝܕܝــܢ ܚ ܰܢــܢ ݁ ܶܒــܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܡ ݂ ܳܬܥ ݂‬ ‫ܬܕܝــܢ ܕܢــ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐܘܣ ܽܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒܪ ܽܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܛܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܽܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶܡ ܰܢܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ ̈ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܽܛــ ̈ܘ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ܺܡܝــ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒــܘ ܢܶ ܰܫ ̈ܝــ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܐܚܝــܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܺܫܝ̈ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܺ� ܰܩ ݁ܪܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰܡ� ݂ ̈ܟܐ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܢܶܐ ܐ ݂ܬܘ ܶܡܢ ݁ܓ ܺܠܝ�‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩ� ܳ�ܢ ̱ܗ ̈ܘܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܰ ̈ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܒ ܺܪܝܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ̈ܡ� ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣܕܩܝܢ ܢܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܨܘܪ ܘ ܰܨܝـ ݁ ܳـܕܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝܢ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܦ ܳܛـ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠـܗ ݁ܓ ܺܠܝــ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܶ ܽ ܳܶ ܰ ݁ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ ܰܘ ܰܢܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳܘܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ܢ ݂ܘܟ��ܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ �ܗܠܝܢ ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܟܢܫـ ̱ܘ ܟܢـ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܪܒــ ݂‬ ‫�ܟــܘܢ‪ :‬ܕܡܢــܐ ܢܥܒــ ݂ܕܘܢ �ܚܝــܗܘܢ ܐܝܠܝــܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ�ܨܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܟ ܶܢـܫ ܳܠـ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘܙܶܠ ݁ܦـ ܽܪܘܩ � ܰܚ ̈ܝـ ݁ܟ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ �ܫ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܝ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ܰܐܙܠ� ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܒ ݂ܓܠܝ�‪ .‬ܐܢܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܘ�‬ ‫ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݂ ܰܙܟ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܰܙ ܳܪ�ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟـܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚـܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܩ ݂ܕ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܺ� ܰ� ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܰܥـܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܺܘܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪݂ ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܰܠܓ ܰܥܡ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܺܢ ܽܐܙ ̱ܠـܘܢ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ ܰܠ ݂ܓ ܺܠܝــ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݂ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܡ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܬܡܢܝܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ݁ܓ ݂ܒ�ܝܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ܰܠܓ ܺܠܝـ ܳـ�‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒـܐ ܰܥـܡ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ ݁ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܐܺܝܣ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ� ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܶܡـܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܪܕ ݂ܦ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 



 



 VI

   



When the surrounding nations heard that the altar had been built and the sanctuary dedicated as it was before, they became extremely infuriated.

They plotted to go up and blot out those of the seed of Jacob who lived among them. They then began killing and ravaging the people.

Judas was waging war with the children of Esau in Idumea at Akrabattene, because they were situated alongside Israel. He attacked them with a large assault, scattered them, and took their spoils. He remembered the wickedness of the children of Baean, who were a trap and stumbling block for the nation, lying in wait for them on the roads.

He besieged them in the towers, attacked them, and cursed them. He then set their towers on fire along with everything in them. Judas crossed over against the Ammonites. He found a mighty people and a strong power. 1 Timothy was their leader.

He waged great wars with them, and they were routed before him. He attacked them and subdued Jazer and its villages. Then Judas returned to Idumea. 2

The nations that were in Gilead gathered against the Israelites who lived in their borders 3 in order to blot them out. [The Israelites] fled to the fortress of Rametha 4 and sent a letter to Judas and his brothers, saying, “The surrounding nations have gathered against us to blot us out.

1 2

‘strong power’: lit. ‘strong hand’.

‘to Idumea’: Greek ‘to Judea’ (εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν).

‘the Israelites who lived in their borders’: lit. ‘Israel, those who lived in their borders’.

3 4

‘Rametha’: Greek ‘Dathema’ (Δαθεμα).



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫ܨܚ ܘ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܚܕ ܰ�ܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܐܬ ݁ܒ ܺܢـܝ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚـ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܩ ݂ܘܒ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫�ܙܪܥܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܢ ܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܠܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܥܡ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܺܥ ܽܣܘ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܽܐܕܘܡ ݁ ܰܒܥ ܰܩ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒـ ݂ܬ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫̱ܗܘܘ ܥ ـܡ ܐ‬ ‫ܢܣ ـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܡܚ ـܐ ܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ ܡܚ ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ ܰܙ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡــܐ ܠ ݂ ܰܦ ܳܚــܐ‬ ‫ܶܘܐ ݁ܬ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟــܪ ݁ ܳܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫــ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢــܝ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܝــܐܢ‪ :‬ܗܢــܘܢ ܽ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܟ ܽܫܘ�‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܳܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܘܐܚـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪܡ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܡـܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܒܫ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡܓ ݁ ̈ܕ ܶ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܩـ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܓ ݁ ̈ܕ ܶܠܝـ ̇‬ ‫ـܗ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ܽܢܘܪܐ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ܒ ܰ̈ܢـܝ ܰܥ ܽܡـܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܟـܚ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢـܐ ܺܘܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ݂ܬ ܺܩ ݂ܝܦـ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܐܘܣ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܽܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܛܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ݁ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐܦܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܩ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ̱ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫�ܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܒ ܳܫ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ � ݂ ܽܕܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܙܝܪ ܘܠ ݂ܒܢ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫــ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡــܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥــ ݂ܕ ܰܥــܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪ :‬ܗܢــܘܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܽ ̈ ܰ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܛܘܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܬܚܘܡܝܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ �ܪ ݂‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ܗܝ ܳܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫـ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ݁ܓ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܠܝــܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܕ �ܝܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܢ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



    

 

 

They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is First Kanun, in the one-hundred-forty-eighth year1 of the kingdom.

They raised up offerings according to the law on the new altar of burnt-offering that they had made. 2

Its dedication was on that same day, according to the days and times when the nations had defiled it, with psalms, harps, and lyres.

The whole nation fell on their faces and worshipped, blessing the heavenly one who restored and prepared their way of life.

They dedicated the altar for eight days and offered sacrifices with gladness. They made sacrifices of salvation and praise. They adorned the front of the temple with golden crowns and shields. They restored the doors and all the instruments of the priestly chamber. 3

Great gladness and much joy came to the nation, and the reproach of the nations turned away.

Judas, his brothers, and the whole gathering of Israel established that these would be the days of the dedication of the altar in their time from year to year: eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of First Kanun, with joy and gladness. At that time they built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion lest the nations ever come and subdue it as they did previously.

They stationed an army there which would guard it. They fortified Beth-zur so that the nation would have a fortress facing Idumea.

1 2

164 BCE.

See Deuteronomy 27:6.

‘instruments of the priestly chamber’: Greek ‘the priestly chambers, and they gave them doors’ (τὰ παστοφόρια καὶ ἐθύρωσαν αὐτά).

3



‫‪ ‬ܢܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܣ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܣܐ‬

‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܳܟ ܽܢـܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܕܡ ̱ܘ �� ݂ܦܪܗ ܕ�ܘܡܐ‪ :‬ܒܚܡܫܐ ܘܥܣܪܝܢ ܒܝܪܚܐ ܳ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܫܥܐ‪ :‬ܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ̱‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܳܡܢܶܐ ܫ ܺܢ̈ܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܩ ̱ܘ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒܢܶܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܒـܗ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܰܙ ݂ ̈ܒܢܶܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ܰܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫ܝܒـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ�ܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܟ ܳ� ܶ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܚܘܕ ݂ܬܗ ܒܡܙܡܘ�ܐ ܘ ݂ܒܩ ݂‬ ‫�ܥ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝـܐ ܰܗܘ‬ ‫݁ ܰܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܝܶ ݂ܒ ܽܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܬܩܢ‬ ‫ܘܕ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܝܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܚـܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡـܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܰܒܚـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫݁ܶ ̈ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦܘܪܩܢܐ ܘܕ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܨ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦـܝ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟـ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܟ ܺ� ̈ܝـ ܶ� ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ̈ܢܶـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚـ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ� ܶܥـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ̈ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܡܐ ܢܝ ܬܨܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܐܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ݂ܒܘܣܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܣܓ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ̇ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪݁ .‬ܕܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܘܝــܢ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ـ ̱ܘ ܺ� ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚ ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܘܟܠ ـܗ ܟܢ ـ‬ ‫ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܢܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢـܐ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܝـܐ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ‬ ‫ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܩܕܡ‪ :‬ܒܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܘܣܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܘܥܣܪܝܢ ܒ ݂ܟܢܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨ ܽ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܕܪ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܽܫܘ�ܐ ܳ� ܶܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݂ܓـ ݁ ̈ܕ� ܰܚ ܺܣ ̈� ܶܢـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢܘ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܽܢܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܘܡ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܥܫܢܶܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܘ�ܐ‪ :‬ܕܢ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ̱ܘ ܬܡܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݂ܐ ܽܕܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܥܡܐ ܚܣܢܐ ܠ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  

   

     

They saw the devastated sanctuary, the ravaged altar, the burned gates, the trees that had grown in the courts as though in forests or on one of the mountains, and all the demolished chambers. 1

They rent their garments and made great lamentation, placing dust on their heads. They fell to their faces on the ground, sounded the specified horns, and cried out to the heavenly one.

Then Judas commanded and assigned men to fight and wage war with those dwelling in the fortresses until he had cleansed the sanctuary. He chose priests who had no blemish and who consented to the law.

He cleansed the sanctuary, taking the unclean stones and placing them in an unclean place. They consulted about what they should do with the defiled altar of offering.

The good thought occurred to them to destroy it lest it ever be a reproach to them, for the nations had defiled it. So they destroyed the altar. They placed its stones in a specified place around the building until a prophet would come and tell them what would come of these things. They took whole stones, as it was written in the law, 2 and built the altar as before.

They built the sanctuary and the whole inside of the building and sanctified the courts. They made new holy instruments and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.

They sacrificed on the altar and lit the lamps on the candlestick, bringing light into the temple.

They placed bread on the table and hung the curtains, finishing all their tasks. ‘chambers’: the Greek word for ‘chambers’ (παστοφόρια) implies that the chambers are priestly.

1 2

See Exodus 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬ� ܶܥـܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ ܡܩܕܫܐ ݂ܕܡܚܪ ݂ܒ‪ .‬ܘ�ܡ ݂ܕܒܚـܐ ݂ܕܚــܪ ݂ܒ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥـܘ ܐ�̈ ܳ� ܶܢـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒـܐ‪ :‬ܐܘ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ ܛـܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܦܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬܨܒܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ݁ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝܘ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܛ ܘ�ܪܝܘ ܢܚܬ�ܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܐܪܩ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܡܪܩܘܕܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ̈ܝ ܳܥـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ܰܥـܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܳܥ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܒـܘܢ ܰܥـܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝــܢ ݁ܦ ܰܩـ ݂ܕ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝــܡ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬ ܽܫـܘܢ ܰܘܢܩ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܳܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݁ ܶܟܐ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝܢ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܛܒܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܘ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܺܟܝ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܣܡ ܐܢܝܢ ܒ ݂ܐܬ ܪ ܐ ܛܡܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܩܕܫܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܣ ݂ܒ ܟܐ ݂ܦܐ ܕܛܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܬ ܰ� ݂ܒ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܡ ܰܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܰܥܠ ܡ ݂ܕܒܚܐ ݂ܕܩܘܪܒܢܐ ܗܘ ܕ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܘܡ ܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܳܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ .‬ܕ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܘܢ ݂ܦܠ ݂ܬ �ܗܘܢ ܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܡـܐ ܽ ܶܡـܢ ܡـ ݂‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܕܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ � ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗܘܘ ܥ ̱ܡܡܐ‪ .‬ܘܫܪܐ ̱‬ ‫ܝܒ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܡܘ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪ ܐ ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ܕ ܺܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ ݂ܒܝـ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݁ܒ ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ � ̱‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܺܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢـܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝـ ݂ـܒ ݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܺܟܐ ݂ܦܐ ܡܫ�ܡ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܕ � ܐ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܕܫ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܩܕܫܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܓܘܗ ܕ ݂ܒܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦـ ݂ܬ ܳܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܳܡܐ ܢ̈ܝ ܽܩ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫܐ ܰܚ ݂ ̱̈ܕ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܥܶ�ـ ̱ܘ ܡܢـ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܶܡـܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܢ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݁ ܰܒܚ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ـܠ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚ ـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢـ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܪܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ـܗܪ ̱ܘ ܫ ܳ� ݂ܶܓ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ـܠ ܡܢ ـ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܶܠܡـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܡـ ̱ܘ ܰܥـܠ ݁ ܳܦـ ݂ ܽܬ ܳܘܪܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܰܠـܘ ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦـ ̈ܝ ݁ ܰܬ� ܶܥـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܡـܘܩ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 V

  

    

 

When he heard, he became weak and very weary, for what happened to Israel was not as he desired and what he did was not as the king commanded him. After a year, Lysias gathered sixty thousand chosen men and five thousand cavalry in order to wage war with Israel.

They came to Idumea and set up camp at Beth-zur. Judas met them with ten thousand men.

He saw their enemies’ armies, which were strong, and prayed, “Blessed are you, savior of Israel, who shattered the confidence of the warrior through David your servant 1 and delivered over the army of the Philistines into the hand of Jonathan, son of Saul, and his armor-bearer. 2 Now also besiege this camp through your nation Israel and let them be ashamed of their army and cavalry! Lay fear upon them and shatter the might of their army! Let them be disturbed by their ruin!

Throw them down with the sword of your beloved ones! Let all who know your name honor you with praises!” So they waged war with each other. About five thousand men from Lysias’s army fell, and they were routed before them.

When Lysias saw that his army had been conquered and that Judas’s army had grown mighty and that they were prepared to die or live as warriors, he marched from there and went to Antioch and gathered a large army. He prepared himself and was plotting to go up against Judea again. Judas and his brothers said, “Look! Our enemies have been routed. Let us go up, cleanse the sanctuary, and restore it!” The whole army gathered, and they went up to Mount Zion.

1 2

See 1 Samuel 17:1–51. See 1 Samuel 14:1–15.



‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܗ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܫܠ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܩ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪݁ .‬ܕ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ܟ ܳܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ̱ܗܝ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ܟ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ̈ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܝــܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‬ ‫ܡܓܒܝܐ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ܬܪ ̇ܗ ܕܫܢ̱ ܰܬܐ‪ :‬ܟܢܫ ܠܘܣܝܐ ܺ ݂ܓ ݂ܒ� ܶܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ܦ�ܫܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕܢܩ ݂ܪܒܘܢ ܥܡ ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰ� ݂ ܽܕܘܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣــܪܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‬ ‫ܝــܬ ܽܫــܘ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܐܪܥ ܐ ܽܢــܘܢ �ــܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܒܥ‬ ‫ܫــܪܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܟܛ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁̈ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܺܠـܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ‪݁ .‬ܒ ܺܪܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܠ ܘܚܙ ܐ ܡܫ�� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܥ�ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܒܝܗܘܢ ܡܫ�� ݂ܬܐ ܥܫ�ܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܳܦ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩـܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚܩـ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܽܬ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܶܢـܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒـ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܺܒܐܝـ ݂ـܕܗܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪ܰ .‬ܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ̈ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ ܕ�‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܬܢ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܳܫـܐܘܠ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܫܬ�ܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕܕܘ ݂ܝܕ ܥ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘܐܫܠܡܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫ ܶܩܠ ܳܡ ܰܐ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫� ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܫ ـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܬܘܢ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܗ݂ܕܐ ݂ܒܐܝـ ݂ـܕܗ ܕܥܡ ـ ݂ܟ ܐ‬ ‫ܚܒ ـܘܫ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܦ ܳ� ܰܫ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ــܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܙܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܪܡــܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚــܘܩ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܠــܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܥــܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܫܢــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ‬ ‫ܝــܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܕܚ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܰܥــ ̈ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝــܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܢܫ ݁ܒ ܽܚــ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡــܐ ܶܐ ܽܢــܘܢ ݁ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܚــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ݂ ܰܒ ݁‬ ‫ܫܡــ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܬܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒܘ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰܥܡ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܚ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܕܠ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰܘ ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ̱ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܐܬܥܫܢ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܠܗ ܟ ݂ܕ ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܶ ܠܘܣܝܐ ݂ܕ ܺܐܙܕ ݂ܟܝ ݂ܬ ܠ ܽܗ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬܘܢ ܰܐܘ ݁ܕ ܺܢܐ ܽܚܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܬ ݂ ܺܝܕܝܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ‬ ‫ܫܩـܠ ܶܡـܢ ܬ ܳܡـܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫـ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘܐܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܠܽܗ �ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ܟ ܰܝܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܢܫ ܠܗ ܰܚܝ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ :‬ܘܥـ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܢܶ ܰܣܩ ܰܥܠ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܐ ܰܡܪ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕ ܺܐ ܰܘ ܰܐܚـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܳ .‬ܗܐ ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝـܢ‪ .‬ܢܶ ܰܣـܩ ܰܘ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݁ ܶܟـܐ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ ܰܘ ܰܢܚ ݁ܕ ݂ܬܝ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݀ ݁ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܨ ܽ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ�ܩ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܢܫ ݂ܬ ܟܠܗ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  

  

 

     

They came out of their camps for war. Judas’s people sounded the horns and attacked them. The nations were routed and fled to the valley.

Those who remained fell by the sword. They pursued them up to Gazara, to the valley of Idumea, to Gaza, 1 and to Jamnia. About three thousand men fell. Then Judas and his army turned back from pursuing them.

He said to the nation, “Do not desire the spoils, for a war still remains before us.

Gorgias and his army are in the mountains, and they are near us. But rise up now against our enemies and wage war with them. Afterwards, take the spoils freely.” While Judas was saying these things, some of Gorgias’s people appeared from the mountain.

They saw that [Gorgias] had been conquered and that Judas’s people were burning their camps, for the smoke that appeared made known what had happened.

When they saw these things, they became greatly afraid. Then, when they saw Judas’s army in the valley prepared for war, they all fled to Philistia.

Judas returned to the spoils of the camp. He took much gold, silver, precious stones of jacinth, the violet of the sea, and great riches. They returned and were honoring and giving thanks to the Lord in heaven who is good and whose mercy is forever. 2

Salvation came to Israel on that day.

Those Philistines who remained came and showed Lysias what had happened.

1 2

‘Gaza’: Greek ‘Azotus’ (Ἄζωτος) See Psalm 135:1 [136:1].



‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܡܫ� ܳ� ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁݁ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܬܬ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܘ ܥ ̱ܡܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܠ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ ̱ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓـ ܳܙܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܪܕ ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫�� ܳܙ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܕܘܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܡܢـ‬ ‫ܠ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠ ݂ܬܐ ܐܠ ݂ܦܝܢ ݁ܓ ݂ܒ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܦܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܚܝܠܗ ܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ݁ ܺܟܝــܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـܐ‪݂ � .‬ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܓܪ ܽܓـܘܢ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒـ ݂ܙܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܰܩ ܳܝـܡ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܒܝــܢ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܰܠـܢ‪ .‬ܐ � ܽܩܘܡـ ̱ܘ ܳܗ ܳܫـܐ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ݁ܒܛـܘ�ܐ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܩܪ ݂‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ݁ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܝܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒـܘܢ ܒـ ݂ܙܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂ܬܪ ܗܠܝܢ ܬ ݂‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܰܦ ܶܪ ̱ܗ ܺܣ ܰܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܺܕܝܩܘ ܶܡܢ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܕ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥـܡ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܽܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܡܘܩ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܡܫ� ܳ�ـ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪݁ .‬ܬ ܳ� ܳܢـܐ ݂ܶܓܝــܪ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝ ܶܠܗ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܕܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܟـ ݂ܕ ܚـ ܰـܙܘ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܶܚ�ـ ̱ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ ݁ ܰܕܚـ ܰـܙܘ �ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܶ� ̈ܫ ݁ܬ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ̇ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ݂ ̈ܦܐ‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܣܦܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܥܠ ܒ ݂ܙܬܗ ܕܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܗܝܩܢܬܘܢ‪ :‬ܘ ݁‬ ‫ܐܪܓܘ ܢܐ ݂ܕ�ܡܐ ܘܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪ ܐ ܪܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝـܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳܛـ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠـܡ‬ ‫ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ̈ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܘܝܘ ܠ ܽ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ�ܶܐ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ݂ ܰܬܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܟܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܕܐܫܬܚܪ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܦ�ܫ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܓ ݂ ܰܕܫ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 

     

   

 

Gorgias led five thousand foot soldiers and a thousand chosen cavalry with him. His army marched at night

in order that they might attack Judas’s camp at night and kill them suddenly. Those dwelling at the citadel became their leaders. When Judas heard this, he and the armies with him marched

to attack the king’s army in Emmaus, while his army was scattered from its camp.

Gorgias came to Judas’s camp and found no one. He was searching for them on the mountains, for he said, “They have fled from us.”

When morning came, Judas appeared in the valley with three thousand foot soldiers. They had nothing that they desired, 1 except for swords and shields alone. They saw that the army of the nations was strong and well-armed. 2 Cavalry surrounded it, and [its soldiers] were trained in war.

Judas said to the men with him, “Do not fear their large size or be terrified by their preparation.

Remember how our ancestors were saved in the sea of reeds, when Pharaoh was pursuing them with a great army. 3

Now let us cry out to the heavenly one. Perhaps he will have mercy on us, and the Lord will remember the covenant of our ancestors and shatter this army before us today.

Then all the nations will know that he is the one who saves and delivers Israel.”

The Philistines lifted up their eyes and saw that they were coming to meet them.

1

‘that they desired’: lit. ‘as they desired’.

3

See Exodus 13:17–15:21.

2

‘strong and well-armed’: lit. ‘a strong army girded with arms’.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ܶ�ܓ ܳ� ܺܝܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܓ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ ̈ܝـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܽܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ܒ ܺ� ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܩܠ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ܺ� ܳܝܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܛ�ܘܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡـܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܡܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܡܫܪܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܕ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܽܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܒ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܡ ܽܝܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠـܗ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥ ܰܡܐܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܥ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ�� ܳܢܫ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܩـ ݂ܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܽ ݂ܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܪܓ ܰܝܐ �ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܒܛܘ�ܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕܐܡܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܕܥܪܩ ̱ܘ �ܗܘܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ܳܠـ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝــܢ � ݂ܓ ܳ� ܺܝܝــܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܗܘܐ � ݂ܦـܪܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܚـܙܝ �ـܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܡܓܢܐ ݂ܒ�ܚ ݂ܘܕ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ� ݂ܒܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܐ � ܐܢ �ܘܡܚܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳܙܩܐ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܢܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܥܫ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚܙܘ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܦܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ‪݂ �ܳ .‬ܬ݂ܶܕܚ ܽ�ܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܣܘܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܒ ܽܗܘܢ �‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ܬܶ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܒܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟܪ ̱ܘ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶܪܩ ̱ܘ ܰܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰ ̈ܗܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܽܣ ݂ܘܦ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟـ ݂ܕ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥـܘܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬

‫�ܡـܐ ܰܢܪ ܶܚـܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܢܶܓܥܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܳܥ ܽܡܘ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝــܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟـܪ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ̇ ܳܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܕܐ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܺܕ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܺܩܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ̈ܗܝܢ‪ :‬ܘܢܫܚܩܝܗ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ݁ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܦ� ܐ �‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܡܢ ܕ ݂ܦܪܩ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢܕܥܘܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ̈ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬܝܢ �ܘܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ�ܶܐ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܦ�ܫ‬ ‫ܥܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

 

 

Afterwards, Judas appointed leaders for the nation, leaders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. 1 He said to those building houses, 2 the women marrying them, those planting gardens for them, and those who were timid, that they should return, each to his to his home, as the law said. The army marched and set up camp south of Emmaus.

Judas said, “Gird yourselves and become powerful! Be prepared in the morning to wage war with these nations that have gathered against us to remove us and our sanctuary! For it is better for us to die in battle than to see the misfortune of our nation and sanctuary. Just as the heavenly one wills, thus will he do.”

1 ‘leaders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties’: lit. ‘leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, and leaders of fifties’. The word for leader in the first half of this ܳ ‫ܡܕ‬ ܰ ) is different than the word used three times later in the sentence sentence (‫ܒܪ ܳܢܐ‬ ܰ ܳ (‫)ܪܒܐ‬.

‘he said to those building houses’: on this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

2



‫‪ ‬ܢܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܣ‬

‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܺܩܝܡ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ ݁ �ܰ :‬ܒܝ ܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܶܦܐ ܘ ܰ� ݁ ܰܒܝ ܰܡـܐ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘ ܰ� ݁ ܰܒܝ ܰܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܳ̈ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܒܝــܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܟܝـ ܳ�ܢ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܢܶ ̈ܶܫـܐ ܰܘ ܺܢܨ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܢܶܝܢ �ــܗܘܢ ܒـ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܢܶܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܟ�ܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܕܚܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ� ܳܝ ̇ܗ ݁ܕܥܶ ܰܡܐܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܩܠ ݂ܬ ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫�� ݂ܦــ ܳܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܡــܪ ܺ�ــ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܙܩــ ̱ܘ ܰܘܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ̈ܢــܝ ܰܚܝــ�‪ܰ .‬ܘܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܽܒܘ ܰܥܡ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܺ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛــܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܦ ܳܩــܚ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܠــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫــܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܰܡــܢ‬ ‫ܢܡــ ݂ܘܬ ܒܩܪ ݂ܒــܐ ܐܘ ܕܢܚــܙ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܥ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ܟ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



  



  

    

Judas and his brothers saw that wickedness had multiplied and the army had encircled their borders. They also learned what the king had commanded about the nation: to destroy it and blot it out. One was saying to another, “Let us raise up our overthrown nation and wage war for our nation and our holy place!”

They gathered together as a congregation prepared for war in order to pray and to request mercy and pity.

Jerusalem was a desert without inhabitant. None of its children entered or went out of it. Its sanctuary was trampled down, and foreigners were dwelling in its citadel. It became a dwelling place for the nations. Joy was taken from Jacob, and harps and lyres were absent from it. [Judas’s people] gathered together and entered Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because Mizpah had previously been Israel’s house of prayer.

They fasted on that day and covered themselves with sackcloth. They placed dust on their heads and rent their garments. They unrolled the scroll of the law, and, before the holy one, they were accusing the nations who were forcing them to live like them.

They brought the garments of the priesthood, the first of the harvests, and tithes. They established the Nazirites who had completed the days of their separation. 1

They cried out to the heavenly one, “What shall we do to these or where shall we bring them?

Look! Your sanctuary has been trampled down and defiled, and your priests are in mourning and humiliation. Look! The nations have gathered against us to remove us. You know what they are plotting against us! How can we stand against them if you do not help us?”

They sounded the horns and cried out with a raised voice.

‘separation’: lit. ‘Naziriteship’. See Numbers 6:1–21. This word is not found in Greek or Latin recensions.

1



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ݁ܰ ̈ ܺ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܟ ܰܪ ݂ܟ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ� ݂ܦـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܘܚܙ ܐ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ܘܐܚܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕܣ ݂ܓܝ ݂ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܚ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܶܡܛܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܘܢܶܥܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܶܦܗ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݁ܓ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩ ܺܪ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܗ‪ܺ .‬ܢܩܝܡ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥـܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦـܝ ܰܥ ܰܡـܢ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܘܕ ܰܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ݀ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒ ـܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܨ ܳ� ܽܝ ـܘ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܢܫ ـ ̱ܘ ܟܢ ـܘܫܬܗܘܢ ܕܗܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܫ ـܐܠ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ܶ ݁ܶ ܺ ܶ ̇ ܳ ݀ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܳܥـܐܠ ܳܘܢ ݂ ܶܦـܩ ݁ ܳܒـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ ܕܝܢ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܝܗ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܬ ܚܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܰ� ̈� ݁ ܶܕܝ ̇ܗ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫ ̇ܗ ܶܡ ݁ܬܬ ݁ ܺܕܝܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ� ܶ�ـܐ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܺܒܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܕ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܡـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܠـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܚـ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ �ܥ ̱ܡܡـܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܳ̇ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ� ܶ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܩ ݂ܘܒ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ ܡܢܗ ܩ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ̱ܘ � ܰܡ ݁ܨܦ ܳܝܐ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܨܠ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ ܡܨܦܝܐ �‬ ‫ܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܺܣܝܘ ܰܣ ̈ܩܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܨܡ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝܘ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܶܕܩـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܳܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܐ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܰܪܣ ̱ܘ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܥܠ� ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܟܗ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܩ ݁ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܒ ܺܠܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ�ܨܝــܢ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ܬ݁ ܰܕ ݁ܒ ܽܪܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܕ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝܘ ܳܡܐ ܢܰ̈ܝ ݁ ܳܟ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܣـ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝܡـ ̱ܘ ܰܠ ܺܢܙܝـ ܶ�ܐ ܳܗ ܽܢـܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܘ‬ ‫ܗܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܪܝــܫ ܥ ̱ܠـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܺ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܝܘ ܝܘܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܢܙܝܪ ݂ܘܬܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܘܬ ܳܥ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܶܠܝــܢ‪ .‬ܐܘ � ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ‪ܳ .‬ܡ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟـܐ‬ ‫ܢܢ ܰܘ ݂ܓ ܰܥܘ ܶ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܰܢ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰ�ـ ݂ܒ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ̈ܗ ܰܢܝـ ݁ܟ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܐܒـ ܳ� ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܽܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـ ݂ܟ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݁ ܺܕܝــܫ ܘܡ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ ܳܟـܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܢܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ‪ .‬ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܳܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܰܕܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ � ܡ ܰ� ݁ ܰܕܪ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܠܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܕ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܘ ݁ܒ ܰܩ� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ܰܥܘ ݁ܒ ܳܩ� ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

  



  IV

 

 

He left Lysias, an honored man from royalty, over the king’s affairs from the Euphrates River to the border of Egypt. [He also left him] to raise his son Antiochus until he came back.

He handed over to him elephants and half of his army. He then commanded him about everything he desired and about the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem: to send an army against them, to blot out and obliterate Israel’s army, to destroy the rest of Jerusalem, to remove their memory from the region, to settle foreigners in all of their borders, and to make them inherit their land.

The king led his remaining half of the army. He left Antioch, his capital city, in the one-hundred-forty-seventh year. 1 He crossed the Euphrates River and was travelling throughout the upper regions. Lysias chose Ptolemy, son of Dormius, 2 Nicanor, and Gorgias, powerful men who were among the friends of the king.

He sent forty thousand foot soldiers with them and seven thousand cavalry to go to Judea [and] devastate it according to the word of the king.

Ptolemy’s people marched with their whole army and then came and set up camp near Emmaus in the valley. 3

The merchants of the land heard news of them. They took silver, much gold, fetters, 4 and shackles, and came to the camp to take the Israelites as servants. The Syrian army and the Philistine nation were added to them.

1

165 BCE.

3

‘in the valley’: lit. ‘in the land of the valley’.

2 4

‘Dormius’: Greek ‘Dorymenes’ (τὸν Δορυμένους). ‘fetters’: Greek ‘slaves’ (παῖδες). See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒـܩ ܠ ܽ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝـܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥـܠ�‬ ‫ܢܣـܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈� ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ݂ܬ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܺܘܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܡ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܝܘ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‪݂ ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܺܦܝ̈ ܶ� ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܠܓܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܗ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܳ�ܥ ܽܡܘ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ܳܘܕܐ ܽܘܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܥܛـܐ ܘܠ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܠܡܫܕ ܪܘ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܚܝــ�‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܓܡـܪܘ ܚܝܠـܗ ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܪܟ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܽܡܘ ܽܕܘܟ ܳܪ ܽܢܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܐܬ ܪ ܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ� ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ :‬ܘܠ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ ܽܒܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ� ݁ܬ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܬܘ ܐܪܥ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺܳܺܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܙ ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚܝ� ܰܗܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܶܦ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܶܡܢ ܐܢܛܝ ݂ܟܝܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕܡ‬

‫ܨܚ ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ݂ܦـ ܳܪ ݂ܬ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܥ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠـ ݂ܟ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܒܐ� ܳܥـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܶ ܳ�ܝ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ݁ܒـــ ܶܪܗ ݁ ݂ܕ ܽܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܝـــܐ ܰ� ݁ܦ ܳܛـــ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܡ ܳܝـــܘܣ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘܓ ݂ ܳܒـــܐ ܽܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܳܢـــܘܪ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ ܽ ݁ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܡ�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓܘܪܓܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ܚܝ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܢܐ ܡܢ �ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܶܫـܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܠܛ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܰܐ ݁ܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܐ ̈ܠ ݂ ܺܦܝܢ ܶ� ݂ܓ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܡـ ܰܐܙܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܪܥܐ ݂ܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕܐ‪ :‬ܠܡܚܒ� ݂ܘܬܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ܰܘܫـ ܰ‬ ‫ܡ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܚܝ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܦ ܽܛ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪܘ ܰܥـܠ�‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܓܢ̱ܒ ܥܡܐܘܣ ܒܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦܩ ݂‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒـܘ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳܓ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩـ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܣــ ݂ܒ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܰ̈ܢــܝ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝـــܠ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܛܡــܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܘ �ܡ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ ̈ܒــ ݁ ܶܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܪܝــ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܚܝ� ܕ ܽܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܶ� ̈ܫ ݁ܬ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   

    





But we are waging war for ourselves and our laws.

The Lord will shatter them before us, so do not fear them.”

When Judas ceased speaking, he suddenly leaped up and attacked them. Heron 1 and his camps fell before him.

Judas’s people were pursuing him from the descent of Beth-horon until the valley. About eight hundred men fell, and the rest fled to Philistia. Then fear and dread of Judas and his brothers began falling on all the surrounding nations.

His name 2 reached the king, and all the nations were recounting Judas’s deeds.

When Antiochus heard these words, he grew hot with anger and sent to gather the whole army of his kingdom, a great and mighty army. 3

He opened his treasuries, paid 4 his armies for one year, and commanded them to be ready and prepared for anything.

He saw that the money in his treasuries had depleted and that the land’s tributes were small due to the dissension and harm that he had brought to the land, because he desired to remove the earliest law of their ancestors. He feared that he would not be able to pay again, for he used to pay with a generous hand more abundantly than the kings who preceded him. In his soul, he was greatly wearied. So Antiochus plotted to go to Persia and take the tributes of the land in order to gather much money.

1

‘Heron’: Greek ‘Seron’ (Σήρων).

3

‘army’: two words are translated as ‘army’ in this verse.

ܳ ) ‘name’ or ‘fame’. The author contrasts Heron who wished to make a name (‫ܫܡܐ‬ for himself in 1 Maccabees 3:14 to Judas who did not express this desire but ܳ ) in this verse. received a name or fame (‫ܫܡܐ‬ 2

4

‘paid’: lit. ‘gave gifts’. See also 1 Maccabees 14:32.



‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ ܰܥܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬܢ ܳܘܢ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܰܣܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ ܳ� ݂ ݂ܬܶܕܚ ܽ�ܘܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܚܘܩ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠـܠ‪ :‬ܫـ ܰـܘܪ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܝ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦـܠ ݁ܒـ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܡـܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶܗ ܽܝܪܘܢ ܘܡܫ�� ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ܰܚ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܕ ݁ܦܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܚـܘܪܢ ܰ ݂ܥܕܡـܐ ܠ ݂ܦܩܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ � ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܪܟ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢܶ ܳܡܐܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܶ� ̈ܫ ݁ܬ�ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܳܢ ݂ܦ ܳ� ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܰܘܕ ܰܐܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ� ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺܛܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܢܶܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ ܽܣܘܥ� ܰܢـ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ̈ܶܡـ ܶ�‪ܶ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܡـ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܫܡܥ ܕܝܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܓـ ܳܙ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫـ ݁ ܰܕܪ ݁ ܰܟ ܶܢـܫ‬ ‫ܪ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܢܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܪܒ ݂ܬܐ ܘܥܫ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ ܚܝ� ݂ܕܡ�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ :‬ܡܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܠܚـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ܰܫܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܓـ ܰܙܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܡـܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܚ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܝ ܰ�ـ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܺ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܬ ݂ܝܕܝܢ ܘ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ ܽܙܥـ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܕܐܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰ�ܪ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܓـ ܰܙܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘܫ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶܠܝـ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ ܳ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܢܪܝــܡ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗ ̈�ـ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܦܠܓ ݂‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܶܚܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟܚ ܶܠܗ � ܶܡ ݁ܬܠ ݂ܙܒܢ̱ܬܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܕܐ ܪܒ ݂ܬܐ‪� :‬‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܶܓܝܪ �ܡܬܠ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ݁ܕ ܺܢـ ܰܐܙܠ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܩ ̱ܗܘܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܚܫ ݂ܒ ܐ‬ ‫ܠܦـ ܶܪܣ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܟ ܳܢ ܽܫܘ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܫ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶܠܝ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

 

  

  

When Heron, 1 the captain of the Syrian forces, heard that Judas had gathered together believers to him who were going to war,

he said, “I will make a name for myself 2 and will be honored in the kingdoms. I will wage war with Judas and those who reject the word of the king with him.”

He went up again, and a great and mighty army of wicked men went up with him to help him take vengeance on the Israelites. He reached the ascent of Beth-horon, and Judas went out with a few people to meet him.

When those with Judas saw the army which was coming against them, they said to Judas, “How are we, being a few, able to wage war with this whole, mighty army? Look! We are tired, for we have not eaten today.” Judas said, “This is easy: that many be delivered over to a few. The heavenly one 3 is not limited 4 to saving with many or with a few.

For victory in war comes 5 not through a large army, but rather power 6 is given from heaven.

They are coming against us with a large army, which is iniquitous and disgraceful, so that they might remove and blot us out, along with our wives and children, and take us captive.

1

‘Heron’: Greek ‘Seron’ (Σήρων). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions.

‘make a name for myself’: this phrase points back to the error of the builders of the city of Babel. See Genesis 11:4.

2

‘heavenly one’: lit. ‘the heavenly dweller’. As Robert Payne Smith, Thesaurus syriacus, vol. 2 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879), 2920, points out, ‘the heavenly dweller’ was regularly the translation of ‘heaven’ (ὁ οὐρανός). He suggests that by ܳ ܽ ‫) ܳܥ‬, it would not seem that worship was being offered to adding ‘dweller’ (‫ܡܘܪ ܐ‬ heaven itself, thereby eliminating any hint of idolatry. 3

‘the heavenly one is not limited’: lit. ‘there is no hindrance before the heavenly one’. 4 5

‘comes’: lit. ‘is’.

‘army’ and ‘power’ are the same word in Syriac (�‫) ܰܚܝ‬, whereas the Greek uses two different terms (δυνάμεως, ἰσχύς).

6

ܳ



‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܺܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ�̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܥ ܗܝܪܘܢ ܪܝܫܐ ݂ܕܚܝ�ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܣܘܪ�ܐ‪ :‬ܕ ݂ܟܢܫ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܟܢـ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ݂ܦ ܺܩܝܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ̈ܠ ݁ܟ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥـܡ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܥܒ ݂ܕ ܺܠܝ ܫܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘܥـܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܡܗ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܡܣܠܝܢ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܣ ݂ܦ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܣܩ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶـܐ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܪܒـ ݂ܬܐ ܘܥܫܝܢـ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܥ ܶܡـ ܺܗ ܡܫܪܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܘܕ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ‪ܶ � :‬ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ܕ ܶܒܝܬ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺܛܝ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ �ܘܪܥܶܗ ݁ܒ ̱ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽܙܥܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܣ ݁ ݂ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬ ܳ�ـܐ ܽܠـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ ܐ ܰܡـܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥܡ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪� :‬ܡܫܪܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܢܢ‪ܰ :‬ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܢܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܽܙܥܘ ܶ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥـܡ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܚܝــ�‬ ‫ܚܢܢ ܳܗܐ ܰ� ܺܝ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܝܢ ܚ ܰܢܢ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫�ܥܝܣ ܰܠܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪݁ .‬ܦ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ� ܽܡܘܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ ݂ ܺܒܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽܙܥـܘ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܝܩܐ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܗܕܐ ݂ܕܢ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܥ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܙܥܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪� :‬ܡ ݂ܦܪܩ ܒܣܓܝܐܐ ܐܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܟܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ܳ� ܶܡـܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܰܝـܐ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒܚܝ� ܣܓܝܐܐ ܗܘ�ـܐ ܙ ݂ܟـ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬܝ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܰܚܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ݂ܕ ܰܥـ ܳܘ� ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܨܥـ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ـܪܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܺܢܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܢ ܘܢܶܥܛـܘܢ ܰܠـܢ‬ ‫ܗܢܘܢ ܐ ݂ܬܝܢ ܥܠ ܰܝܢ ݁ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ�ܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝܢ ܘܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

Chapter 

  

  

    



His son Judas Maccabaeus rose up in his place.

All his brothers and all connected with his father were helping him and were fighting Israel’s wars with gladness and joy. Judas greatly increased the splendor for his people. He wore the breastplate as a warrior 1 and was girded with his armor. He waged wars and protected the camps with his sword. 2 He was like a lion in his deeds and like a lion’s whelp which roars for prey.

He carefully persecuted the iniquitous and burned those who were troubling his people with the flame.

The iniquitous ones fled and were terrified for fear of him. All the workers of iniquity were frightened; salvation was granted through him.

He embittered and wearied many kings, but he made Israel joyful and glad through his deeds. May his memory be blessed forever!

He travelled throughout the cities of Judea and destroyed the wicked in them. And so he turned anger away from Israel. He was renowned unto the ends of the earth, and he gathered those who were scattered.

Then Apollonius gathered the nations [and] a large force from Samaria to wage war with Israel. When Judas recognized this, he went out against them. He attacked [Apollonius] and threw him down. Many of them fell dead and the rest fled.

He took their spoils. Judas took the sword 3 of Apollonius, and he waged war with it all [his] days.

1 2

‘warrior’ or ‘giant’. ‘sword’ or ‘spear’.

‘sword’: this is a different word for sword than that used in 3:3. This reflects the Greek which uses different words for ‘sword’ in these verses.

3



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܓ‪.‬‬

‫ܘܩܡ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܒ ܶܪܗ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܒܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ܺܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܰܚـܘ ̈ܗܝ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܺܪܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܠـܗ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܦܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܩ� ݂ ܰܒ ̱‬ ‫� ݂ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫ܰܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ܺ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒـ ܳܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܫ ܫ‬ ‫ܘܐܘܪ ݂ܒ ܘܐܣܓܝ �ܗ ݂ܘܕܐ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ �ܥܡܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܩ� ݂ܒܐ ݂ܘܟܣܝ ܡܫ�� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒܪܘܡܚܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬܚܙܩ ܒܡܐ ܢܝ ܩܪ ݂ܒܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܡܝ ܰ� ܳܪ�ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ�ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܶܗܡ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܩܝܢ �ܥܡܗ ܐܘܩ ݂ܕ ܒܫ�ܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰܪܕ ݂ܦ ��ܘ� ݂ܒ ݂ܒܛܝ� ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܳܦ� ܰ ̈ܚـܝ ܰܥـܘ� ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܙܺܝܥـ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬܪ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰ� ̈ܘ� ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܕܚܠـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܒ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶܣـܡ � ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡܪ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝــܠ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺܕܝ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܥܝܩ � ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܢܶܗ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܒـ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶـܐ ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓـ ܳܙ ܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܐܗܦـ ݂ܟ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܡܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ � ܰܣ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܦ ̇‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܡܒ ݁ܕ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝـܘܣ ܰܥ ̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ܳܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪܝــܢ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶـܫ ܰܐ ݁ ܳܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥـܡ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬

‫ܐܪܡܝـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ـ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܝـ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܒ� ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܪܟ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܛܝ̈ ܶ� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܦܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܒ ܰܙܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܣ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒـܗ ܰܡܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ ܺ�ـ ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝܘܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



Mattathias died in the one-hundred-forty-eighth year1 of the kingdom. His sons buried him in the grave of his ancestors in Moreim. 2 All Israel mourned for him loudly.

1 166 BCE; ‘in the one-hundred-forty-eighth year’: Greek ‘in the one-hundredforty-sixth year’ (ἐν τῷ ἕκτῳ καὶ τεσσαρακοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ ἔτει). The Syriac reflects some Greek recensions. 2

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).



‫‪ ‬ܥ‬

‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܽ ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܡܬܝـ‬ ‫ܘܡܝـ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܫܢـ ݂ܬ ܡ ـܐܐ ܘܐܪܒܥܝــܢ ܘ ݂ܬܡܢـܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܟـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܒ ـ ܶܪ ̱‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܰܩ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܽܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܶܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܒ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

         

  

David, in his mercy, inherited the throne of the kingdom forever. 1

Elijah, when he burned with zeal for the law, ascended to heaven. 2

Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael who believed were delivered from the fiery flame. 3 Daniel, in his simplicity, 4 was delivered from the mouth of lions. 5

Thus, understand that, in each and every generation, all who trusted in him neither grew weary nor fell sick. Do not fear because of the words of an iniquitous man, for his splendor is going to turn to dung and the worm. Today he is raised up, but tomorrow he is not, for he is going to return to dust 6 and his intentions will perish.

You, my children, 7 take courage and act bravely in the law, for you are honored through it. Look! I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel and intelligence. Obey him all your days, and he will be your commander.

Judas Maccabaeus has been mighty in power from his childhood. He will be your commander in battles, and he will wage war with the nations.

Bring to yourselves all those who carry out the law and demand vengeance for your people. Avenge yourselves against the nations and watch over the commands of the law.” He blessed them, and he was interred with his ancestors.

‘the throne of the kingdom forever’ or ‘the throne of the eternal kingdom’. See 2 Samuel 7:13.

1 2

See 2 Kings 2:11.

4

‘simplicity’ or ‘innocence’.

3 5 6 7

See Daniel 3:16–30. See Daniel 6:1–24.

‘to dust’: lit. ‘to his dust’.

‘my children’ or ‘my sons’.



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܽ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܙ ܕܘ ݂ܝܕ ܒܡܪܚܡܢ ݂ܘܬܗ �ܪ ݂ܬ ܬ ܪܘܢܘܣ ܕܡ�ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܢܚ ܶܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܝܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݁ܕ ܰ�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܺܠܝ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܛ�ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܰ ܳ ܰܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܕ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܛ ܘܚܢܢܝܐ ܘ�ܙܪ�ܐ ܘܡܝܫܐܝܠ ܕܗܝܡܢ ̱ܘ ܐ ݂ܬܦܨܝܘ ܡܢ ܫ‬ ‫�ܗ ݂ ܺܒ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܛ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܺܨܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕܐ� ܰܝ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ ݂ ܳܘܕ ܺ�ܝܶܐܝܠ ܒ ݂ܦܫ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܦ�ـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܳܕܪ ݂ ܳܘܕܪ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܠ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܣܒـܪ ̱ܘ ܒـܗ‪ � :‬ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܰܪܗ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ‬ ‫�ܙ ݂ܒـ�‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ‬ ‫ܫܒـ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܶܡܢ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪܐ ܰ�ـ ܳܘ� � ݂ ݂ܬܕܚ ܽ�ـܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܕ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܥܐ ܳܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܶܦـ ݂ܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܦـ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܪܝــܡ ܘܠܡܚـܪ � ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ݁ܬܗ ܐ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܽܚܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܕ ܰܘܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝ� ̱ܘ ܘ ݂ܐܬܥܫܢ ̱ܘ ܒܢܡܘܣܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒܗ ܬ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ܰܐ ܽܚ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܗ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܠـܗ‬ ‫ܘܟـܘܢ‪ܳ :‬ܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܰܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܕܡ�ܟـܐ ܘܕ ݂ܬܪܥܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥܝــܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܢــ ܶ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟــܘܢ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫�ܟــܘܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܝــܬܘܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܝܫــܐ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝ ـ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪ܽ .‬ܗܘ ܢܶ ـ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܘ ܺܘܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܒ ـܝ‪ܰ :‬ܥ ܺܫܝــܢ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ� ܶܡ ـܢ ܰܛ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ـܘܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫ ـܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܙ ܰܘܐܢ ̱ ݁ ܽܬܘܢ ܰܩ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܒܥـ ̱ܘ ܬ ݂ܒܥـ ݂‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܥ ݂ ܽܒ ̈ܘ ݂ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܥ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܟܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܚ ܰܘ ݂ܦ ܽܪܘܥ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܐ � ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܚܘܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ܟܢܶܫ‬ ‫ܤܛ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

   

  III

    

They circumcised the uncircumcised children, whom they found within Israel’s borders with strength and force.

They persecuted the proud and, through them, the work was accomplished.

They took the law from the nations and their kings, and they did not allow the horn of the iniquitous one to be raised up. The days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons, “Pride and reproach have now prevailed, and it is a time of destruction and the fury of anger.

Now, my children, 1 burn with zeal for the law and commit yourselves to the covenant of our ancestors, which 2 they kept3 in their generations and received great splendor and eternal fame.

Was not Abraham, while being tested, found faithful, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 4

Joseph, in the time of his punishment, kept the law and became the lord of Egypt. 5

Our ancestor Phinehas, burning with zeal, 6 received the covenant of the eternal priesthood. 7 Joshua, when he fulfilled the word, became judge over Israel.

Caleb, when he testified in the congregation, received a land of inheritance. 8 ‘my children’ or ‘my sons’. The Syriac does not use different words for ‘sons’ in 2:49 and ‘children’ in 2:50, 64.

1

At the beginning of this verse, the Greek adds ‘remember the works of our ancestors’ (μνήσθητε τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν τὰ ἔργα).

2

‘kept’: lit. ‘did’. This translation stretches the word’s meaning due to the omission of a clause earlier in the verse.

3 4

See Genesis 15:6.

6

‘burning with zeal’: lit. ‘with the zeal with which he burned’.

5 7 8

See Genesis 41:38–45.

See Numbers 25:6–8; Psalm 105:30–31 [106:30–31]. See Numbers 13:30.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫݁ܰ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܛ� ̈ܝܶـܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܘ ܰܘܓ ܰܙܪ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܓ ܺܙ ܺܝܪܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝــܠ‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚـ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂ܬܚܘܡـܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ݂ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܘܫܢܐ ܘ ݂ܒܚܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫ ݂ܒܗ ܳ� ܢܶܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܝܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܰܘ ݂ ܰܪܕ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܺܐ ݂ ܳܝܕܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ݂ ܳܝܕܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘܢ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܣܒ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܰܩܪܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܪܪ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܡ ـ ݂ܘܬ‪ .‬ܘܐܡ ـܪ ܠ ݂ܒ� ـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܗܫ ـܐ ܐܫـ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܒ ـ ̱ܘ ܳܝ ـܘܡ ݂ܬܗ ܕ ܳܡܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܦܐ ܘ ܶܚ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܽܣ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܕܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܢܢ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܛܢ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܟܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ݁ ܺܕ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܺܩܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ̈ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܐ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܳܕ � ܽܝܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܩܒ� ̱ܘ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܪܒ ݂‬

‫ܨܚ ܓ‬

‫‪ ‬ܢܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܢܘ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܳܗܡ ܳ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܒܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܢܛܪ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܡ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܕܐܘ�ܨ ܢܗ‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܰ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܝܢܚܣ ܐ ݂ܒܘܢ ܒܛ�ܢܐ ܕ�ܢ ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܕ� ݂ܬܩܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܗܢ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܗܘܐ ݂ܕ�ܢܐ ܥܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܘ�ܶ ܽܫܘܥ‪ .‬ܒ ݂ܕܫܡܠܝ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܣܗܕ ܒ ݂ܟܢܘܫܬܐ ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ�‬ ‫݂ܘܟܠ ݂ܒ‪ .‬ܒ ݂ܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

    

 





 



But they said, “We are not going to come out, nor are we going to carry out the word of the king to violate and repudiate the sabbath.” So, [they] hastened to make war with them.

But they did not respond with even a word, nor did they throw a stone at them, nor did they barricade their hiding places.

Rather they said, “Let us all die in our simplicity! 1 Look! Heaven and earth are our witnesses 2 that you are destroying us unjustly.” They rose against them on the sabbath and slaughtered them, their wives, their children, and their livestock, around one thousand human lives.

When Mattathias and his friends heard this, they mourned loudly for them. One was saying to another, “If we all do as our brothers did and we do not wage war with the nations for ourselves and for our law, they are going to destroy [us] quickly and remove us from the earth.”

They took council on that day, and said, “Let us wage war with every man who comes against us in war on the sabbath! Let us all not die as all our brothers died in hiding!” 3

Then a gathering of Hasideans 4 from Israel, who were mighty in power, joined Mattathias’s people. Every one of them consented to the law. All those who were fleeing wickedness were also added to them, and so they were strengthened.

They established an army and slaughtered the iniquitous ones in their anger and the transgressors of the law in their fury. The rest fled to the nations to escape. Mattathias and his friends surrounded and demolished the altars.

1

‘simplicity’ or ‘innocence’.

3

‘in hiding’: lit. ‘in the hiding places’.

‘heaven and earth are our witnesses’: lit. ‘heaven and earth witness for us’. See Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; and 2 Esdras 2:14, on heaven and earth as witnesses in the biblical tradition.

2

4

‘Hasideans’ (Ασιδαίων). In the Mosul Bible ‘Hasireans’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ܺ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒܛ ܽ�ܘ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪� :‬ܡܫܪܐ ܘܠ ݂‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘܐܡܪ ̱ܘ � ܢ ݂ܦܩܝܢܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ � ܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢܢ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܦܬ ܳܓ ܳܡ ـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ـ ܳ� ݂ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܦ ـܐ ܫـ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܕܘ ݁ܒ ـ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ـ� ܰܣ ݁ ܰܟ ـܪ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܘ� ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ـ ̱ܘ �ـ ܳ ݂ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܡܛ ̈ܫ ܳܝ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܽ ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝـܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܢ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܳܣ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܠܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥـܐ‪݂ ܰ ݁ .‬ܕܕ�‬ ‫ܠܙ ܐ � ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܘ‪ .‬ܢܡ ݂ܘܬ ܟܠܢ ܒ ݂ܦܫܝܛ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܡ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬܘܢ ܰܠܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ـ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ�ܢܶ ܰܫ ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝـ ܽܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ̱ܘ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܒܝܘܡܐ ݂ܕܫܒ ݂ܬܐ ܘܩ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܒܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܘ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܥܠ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܒ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܛ ܘܫܡܥ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܐ ܰ̈ܚܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܓ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܗ‪ .‬ܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩ ܺܪ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܽܟ ܰܠܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܥـܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦـܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܰܫـܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ̈ܦـܝ ܳܢ ܽܡـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܢ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܓـܠ ܰܡـ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܠܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠܝــܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ� ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܺܢـ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܡ ܰܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫݁ܽ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܢܩـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐ ܰ ̈ܚܝـܢ‬ ‫ܢܡـ ݂ܘܬ ݁ ܽܟ ܰܠـܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܺܡܝـ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܟ�ـ‬ ‫݂ܕܫܒـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡܛܫܝ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣ ̈� ݂ ܳܕ�ܶـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ :‬ܟܢـ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܗ‬ ‫ـܬ ܡܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕܝــܢ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫـ ̱ܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܳܗܳ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܺܝܢܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝ�‪݁ :‬ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܛܒܐ ݂ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܗ ܰܘܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ ܰܬ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܪܩܝــܢ ܡـܢ ܒܝܫـ ݂‬ ‫�ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܛ� ـ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ـ ̱ܘ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�� ـ ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܽܪܘܓ ـ ܽܙܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ�� ܳܢ ܳܫ ـܐ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ـ ܰ�ܝ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܽܨܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܘ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥ� ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 





  

   

 

When Mattathias ceased speaking, 1 one Jewish man came before the whole nation to sacrifice on the altar in Moreim 2 according to the king’s command.

When Mattathias saw this, he burned with zeal and his insides shook. He let his fury rise according to what is just. 3 He then ran and killed him on the altar.

At that time, he also killed the king’s prefect, who was pressuring them to sacrifice, and demolished the altar.

Mattathias burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas had done against Zimri, son of Salu. 4

Mattathias called out with a raised voice throughout the city, “Let everyone who burns with zeal for the law and upholds the covenant follow me!”

He and his sons fled to the mountain, 5 and they left their possessions in the city. Then many who sought righteousness and justice went down to settle in the desert —

they, their children, their wives, and their livestock — because wickedness was multiplying against them.

The king’s soldiers and the armies in Jerusalem, the city of David, were told that people who had repudiated the king’s command had gone down to hide in the desert. 6

Many ran after them, overtook them, and waged war with them on the sabbath. [The soldiers] said to them, “This is far enough! Come out! Act according to the king’s command and live!”

1 2

‘speaking’: lit. ‘from saying these words’. ‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).

‘according to what is just’: on this reading, which involves an emendation of the Syriac text, see Forness, ‘The First Book of Maccabees,’ 115–118.

3 4 5

See Numbers 25:6–14.

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

‘had gone down to hide in the desert’: lit. ‘had gone down and were in desert hiding places’.

6



‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܺ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܡ ܶܠـܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ̈ܶܡـܐ‪ :‬ܩـ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܫܠܝ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ� ܽܗ ݂ ܳܘܕ ܳ�ـܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥܝــܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠـܗ ܰܥ ܳܡـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܥܝܡ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܚـܘ ܰܥـܠ�ܥܠـ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܡـ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢ ـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ‬ ‫ܐܣ ـܩ ܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܘ� ـܢ ܘܪ ݂ܬ ܟ ـܘ�ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚــܙ ܐ ܡܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܠܗ ܰܥܠ�ܥܠ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܐܠــܨ ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݁ܒ ܽܚــܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܩ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܳܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܗ ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ � ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܠــܗ ݁ܒــ ܰܗܘ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢــܐ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ‬ ‫ܥܠ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܚܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܝ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰܣ ܽ�ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܘ ܘ�ܢ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟـܠ ܰܡ ܽܢـܘ ݁ܕ ܳܛـܐܶܢ ݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܳܩـ ܳ� ܳܪ ܳܡـܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܟܙ ܘܩܪܐ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܺ ܰ ܺ ܺ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܝܡ ܕ� ݂ܬܩܐ‪ :‬ܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܪ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ܽܗܘ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ �ܗܘܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܺܘܕ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܳ �ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܳܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒـ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒـܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܙ ܕܝܩـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܠ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܘܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܪܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ̈‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܝ ܰ�ــ ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܺܕܐܝــܬ ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡــܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚــܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫� ܶܘ ݂ܐܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠــܡ‬ ‫݂ ݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܚ ـ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫــܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝــܕ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ܶܛ� ـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܦــ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ـ ݁ܬܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܰܕ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒܪܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬܝܗܘܢ ܒܛܫܝ ݂‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ �ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܥܡـ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܕ ܶܪ ݂ܟـ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܳ :‬ܣ ݂ܦ ܳܩܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗ݂ ܶܕܐ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܦܘܩ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܽܦـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܝܘ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

      





  

All its ornamentation has been taken from it. It has come to servitude in place of its freedom. Look! Our sanctuary, ornamentation, and glory have become desolate, for the nations have defiled them. Why then is it good for us to live?”

Mattathias and his sons rent their garments, covered themselves in sackcloth, and mourned loudly. Then the king’s soldiers, who were urging apostasy, came to Moreim 1 to sacrifice.

Many Israelites came to them. Mattathias and those with him gathered together. The king’s soldiers responded to Mattathias, “You are a greatly honored leader in this city, for you are affirmed and supported by sons and brothers.

Now then, be the first to come and carry out the king’s command just as all the nations and the men of Judea who remain in Jerusalem have done. You and your sons will be among the king’s friends, and you and your sons will be honored with gold, silver, and other gifts.” 2 Mattathias responded with a raised voice, saying, “Even if all the nations under the king’s authority obey him to abandon the worship of their ancestors and consent to his commands,

my sons, my brothers, and I are going to continue in the covenant of our ancestors. Far be it that we abandon the law of the Lord and his commands!

We are not going to obey the word of the king so that we would transgress our covenant and our worship or depart from them to the right or to the left.”

1 2

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν).

‘other gifts’: lit. ‘the rest of the other gifts’.



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܶܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ݀ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܽ ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܠܗ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘܚܠ ݂ܦ ܚܐܪ ݂ܘܬ ̇ܗ ܗܘ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ � ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܒـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܫـܢ ܘ� ݂ܒـܬܢ ݂ܘܬܫܒ ـ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܶ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢ ـܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ݂ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ܳܐ ܙܶܠ ܰ�ܠܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ܢ‬ ‫ܚܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܺܣܝܘ ܰܣ ̈ܩܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܐ ݂ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣܕܩ ̱ܘ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܘܪܒܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚــܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܽܢــܘܢ ݁ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ�ܨܝـــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥــܠ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܘ ݁ ܳܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܤܛ� ܽܢــ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫�ܡܘܪܥܝܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݁ܒ ܽܚܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܶܡ ـܗ‬ ‫ܘܣܓܝ ـܐܐ ܡ ـܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝــܠ ܐ ݂ܬܘ �ــܘ ݂ܬܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܡܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܘ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܢܘ ݁ ܳܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ̱ܘ �ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܪܪ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܰܝܡ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܒ ܰ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ̈ܶܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܘܒ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܚܪܘ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ̈ ݁ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܽܚــܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈ܝــ ݁ܟ ܶܡــܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܡ�ܟــܐ‪ :‬ܘ ̱ܐܢــܬ ܘ ݂ܒ�ܝــܟ ܬ‬ ‫ܗܒــܐ‬ ‫ܚܡــ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܳܢܝ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܣܐܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܫܪܟܐ ݂ܕܡܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ‪ܶ .‬ܐܢ ܽܗܘ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝــܬܐ ݂ܒ ܳܩــ ܳ� ܳܪ ܳܡــܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܬ‬ ‫ܘܥܢ ـܐ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡــܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܫܘܠܛܢܗ ܕܡ�ܟܐ ܡܫܬܡܥܝܢ ܠـܗ ܕܢ ݂ܦܪܩـܘܢ ܡـܢ ܦܘ�ܚܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܒܗ�ـܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܛܒܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ � ܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܘ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܰܘܐ ܰ ̈ܚܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܺܩܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ̈ܗܝܢ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕ ܰܝܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܚܣ ܰܠܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܩܝ ܰܡـܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚ ܰܢܢ‪ :‬ܐܘ ݁ܕܢܶܤܛـܐ‬ ‫ܘܦـ‬ ‫ܡܥ ܰܝܢܢ �ܡ‬ ‫�ܡ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ �ܝܡܝܢܐ ܐܘ �ܣܡ�‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

II

      

 



Chapter  In those days, Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, 1 a priest from the children of Jonadab, 2 left Jerusalem and settled in Moreim. 3 He had five sons: John who was called Gaddi, Simon who was called Tharsai, 4

Judas who was called Maccabaeus,

Eleazar who was called Avaran, and Jonathan who was called Apphus. They saw the blasphemies in Judea and Jerusalem.

[Mattathias] said, “Woe is me! Why was I born to see the ruin of my nation 5 and the holy city. Foreigners have settled there because [the city] was given over to enemies and its sanctuary to foreigners. 6 Its temple became at that time like an honored man. 7

Now the instruments of its splendor have gone into captivity. Its children have been slaughtered in open places 8 and its youth by the enemy’s sword.

What nation has not inherited its kingdom and received some of its spoils?

‘Simeon’ is the same as ‘Simon’ in 2:3 below. But there is a distinction between the Greek ‘Simeon’ (Συμεων) and ‘Simon’ (Σίμων). 1 2

‘Jonadab’: Greek ‘Joarib’ (Ιωαριβ). See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

4

‘Tharsai’: Greek ‘Thassi’ (θασσι). The Syriac reflects one Greek recension.

3 5

‘Moreim’: Greek ‘Modein’ (Μωδεϊν). See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings. ‘of my nation’: lit. ‘of the daughter of my nation’.

‘the city was given over to enemies and its sanctuary to foreigners’: lit. ‘it was given into the hand of enemies and its sanctuary into the hand of foreigners’.

6 7 8

‘honored man’: Greek ‘dishonored man’ (ἀνὴρ ἄδοξος). ‘open places’: lit. ‘its open places’.



‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܒ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܥـܘܢ ݁ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܗܢـܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ܒ ̈ܢـܝ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܗܢܘܢ ܝܘ ܽܡ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܩܡ ܡܬ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ܒܡܘܪܥܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܘ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ݂ܒ ܺ�ܝ̈ܢ‪ܰ �ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ݂ܰܓ ݁ ܰܕܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܥܘܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ݂ ܰܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܣܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺܘ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܒܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܦܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܠܝ�ܙܪ ܗܘ ܕ ݂ܐܬܩܪܝ ܚܘܪܢ‪ .‬ܘ�ܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ݁ ܽܓ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܶܦܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܝܢ ݁ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪ܳ .‬ܘܝ ܺܠܝ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܕ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ـܝ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒـ ܳܪ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ݂ܬ ܰܥܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ ܳ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܶ�ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰ�ܗ ݂ ܰܒـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܺܒܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥܶ� ݁ ̈ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܒـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܐ ݂ܕ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫ ̇ܗ ݁ ܺܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܗ ݁ܝܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܰܙܒܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬ ̇ܗ ܐ ܰܙܠ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܶܫ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ‪̈ �ܽ �ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶܕܝ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܩܛ�ـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܠܛـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܫܐ ܡܐ ܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ܒ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܚܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥ ݁‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܙܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܢܘ ܥܡܐ ݂ܕ� �ܪ ݂ܬ ܒܡ�ܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



         

On the fifteenth day of First Kanun in the one-hundred-forty-fifth year, 1 they built a desolating sacrilege 2 on the altar. In the cities of Judea, they built altars 3 all around. They sacrificed in the gates of houses and in open places.

They tore up and set on fire the books of the law which they found.

Everywhere a book of the law or someone who consented to the law was found, this was the king’s decree: that he should die.

In this way they oppressed Israel strenuously, all who were found in the cities, in each and every month.

On the twenty-fifth day of the month, while they were sacrificing on the altar which was on the altar of burnt offering, 4

they brought forth the women who had circumcised their sons and killed them according to the command, hanging their sons by their necks. They plundered their houses and slaughtered those who had circumcised them.

But many Israelites took courage and acted bravely so that they did not eat the defiled food. They chose to die rather than be defiled by food or violate the holy covenant, and they died. Then great anger came over Israel.

1

167 BCE.

‘desolating sacrilege’: see Daniel 9:27, 11.31, 12.11; Matthew 24:15–16; Mark 13:14; and Luke 21:20–21.

2

‘altar’ and ‘altars’: the Syriac uses two words for ‘altar’ in this verse. Similarly, see 1:59.

3

4 ‘the altar of burnt offering’: lit. ‘the altar’. The Greek also uses different words for the two altars.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ـܕܡ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܕ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܚܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳܟ ܽܢـܘܢ ܩـ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܥܶܣ ܳܪܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢـ ݂ܬ ܳܡـܐܐ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܡـܫ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܢـܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܛ ܽܡ ـܐܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܪܒ ـܐ ܰܥ ـܠ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚ ـܐ ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ـ ݂‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢ ـܘ ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ � ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܳ̈ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܠ ܰܛ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܗ ܘܥܠ�ܬ�ܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܩܕܘ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܘ ܘ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚ ̱ܘ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܶܕܩ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܶ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܙ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ـܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܣ ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܘ ܰܡ ܽܢ ـܘ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܛܒ ـܐ ݂ ܶܒ ـܗ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟ ـܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܓ ܳܙܪ ݁ ܺܕܝܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܽ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܢܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܢܐ ܳܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܨܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ �‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܟ ܺܚܝــܢ‬ ‫�ܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܐܝܠܝــܢ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܺ� ܰܪܚ ݁ ܺܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܚ‪.‬‬ ‫̱ܗܘܘ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܘܥܶ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ܢܛ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܥܠ‬ ‫�ܥܠـ ݂ܬܐ ܳܗܝ ݁ ܺܕܐܝـ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܢܶ ̈ܶܫܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܓـ ܰܙ � ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܶܗܝــܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣ ܡ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܛܠܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�̈ ܶܗܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܣܐ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ܶܠܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܨܘ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܝܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܙ �ܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܓـ ܰܙܪ ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢـܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܩܛ� ̱ܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝ� ̱ܘ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܐܟ ܽ�ܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܰܝ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܟ ܳܠـ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܐܘ ݁ܕܢܶܫـ ܽـܪܘܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܺܩـܐ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܰܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܰܒܘ �ــܗܘܢ ܕܢܡـ ݂ܘܬܘܢ ܘ� ݂ܕܢܣܬ ݂ܝܒـܘܢ ܒܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓܙ ܐ ܪܒܐ ݂ܒܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܕ ܘܗܘܐ ܪ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

        

 

Many Israelites consented to his service. 1 They sacrificed to his idols and profaned the sabbath. King Antiochus sent messengers 2 to Jerusalem and the Judean villages to tell them to follow 3 the foreign laws of the land,

that sacrifices, drink offerings, and offerings were forbidden in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and festivals, to make the sanctuary and holy place unclean,

to build altars and a temple for idols, to set up the idols, to slaughter swine and unclean livestock, to leave their uncircumcised sons alone, to defile themselves with all impurity, and to profane themselves, in order that they might stray from the law and all the commandments might be altered. “Let everyone who will not act according to the word of the king die!”

With such words, 4 [Antiochus] wrote to his whole kingdom. He established overseers for the whole nation and commanded the Judean cities to sacrifice in each and every city.

Many from the nation gathered before them — everyone who abandoned the law. They did many wicked things in the land. They forced Israel into hiding in every house of refuge. 5

1

‘service’ or ‘religion’.

3

‘to tell them to follow’: lit. ‘that they should follow’.

5

‘in every house of refuge’: lit. ‘in every house of their refuge’.

‘King Antiochus sent messengers’: lit. ‘through his messengers, King Antiochus sent’. 2

4

‘with such words’: lit. ‘according to all these words’.



‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ܶܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܛܒܝܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܚ� ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚܢܶܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܰܒܚ ̱ܘ ܰܠ ݂ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ܳܟܘܣ ݁ܒ ܰܝـܕ ܺܐܝܙ̈ ݁ ܰܓـ ݁ ܰܕܘܗܝ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩܘ� ܳ�ـܐ ݂ ܺܕܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ ܳܘܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܘܫܕܪ ܡ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܺܢ ܽܐܙ ̱ܠܘܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ܳܢ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܶܣܐ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ��ܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܽ�ܘܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܚ ܽ�ـܘ ܰܫ ݁ ̈ܒـܐ‬ ‫ܘ� ̈ܘ ܳܩܝܶܐ ܘ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒܢܶܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ̈ܕ ܺܥ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܡܛ ܳܡ ܽܐܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܘ ܘܠ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟـ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ܶ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܠܡ ܰܢ ݁ ܳܟ ܽܣـܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙܝـ ܶ�ܐ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܽܡܘ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܡܙ ݂ܘܕܢ ݂ܒܢܘܢ ܥ�ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܥܝܪܐ ܛ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒ ـܩ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ـ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܟــ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܓ ܺܙ ܺܝܪܝــܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܳܝ ݂ ܽܒــܘ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ـ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟــܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܛ ܽܡܐܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܚ ܽ�ܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰܢܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܚ�ܦܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܥܘܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܡܢܘ ݂ܕ� ܢܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܐ ܰܘܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ـ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩܝــܡ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠ ـ ̇ܗ ܡ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝــܢ ݁ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓ ̈ܡ ـܐ ݂ܟ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܕ ܶ�ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܚـܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ‬ ‫ܰܩ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦܩ ݂ܕ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܒ ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒـܩ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‬ ‫݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ ܣܓܝ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰܡܛ ̈ܫ ܳܝ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣ ܽܡ ̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

       

   

He took the spoils of the city and set it on fire. He ruined its houses and surrounding wall. He took captive their women, children, and livestock, and they 1 inherited their property.

They rebuilt the city of David with a very strong wall and mighty towers, and it became a citadel for them.

They stationed a sinful people in it, workers of iniquity, 2 and they became mighty in it. They placed arms and rations in it, and they gathered all the spoils of Jerusalem and placed them there.

[The city] became a great snare, 3 an impediment to the sanctuary, and a stumbling block and an evil offense 4 to Israel at all times. They shed innocent blood around the sanctuary, defiling the sanctuary.

Because of them, the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled. It became a dwelling for foreigners and foreign to its inhabitants, as its children had left it.

Its sanctuary became desolate like the desert. Its festivals turned to mourning, its sabbaths to a reproach, and its honor to disgrace. Its disgrace was as great as its splendor. Its exaltation turned to humiliation.

Then King Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom so that they all might become one nation

and so that each might abandon its own law. All the nations agreed to act according to the word of the king.

1

‘they’: i.e., the magistrate and his army.

‘workers of iniquity’: this description is closely related to ‘iniquitous people’ as in 1:11, 15, and throughout the book.

2

‘[The city] became a great snare’: Greek ‘they became a great snare’ (ἐγένοντο εἰς μεγάλην παγίδα). In the Greek, the people described in 1:35 become a snare rather

3

than the city. These words accordingly appear at the end of 1:35 in the Greek, but have been moved to verse 36 in the Syriac.

4

‘an evil offense’: lit. ‘evil offenses’.



‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ̇ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̇ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ�̈ ̇ܗ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܕܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܩܕܗ ܒܢܘܪܐ‪ .‬ܘܣܚ ݂ܦ ܒ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫� ܘܢܣ ݂ܒ ܒ ݂ܙܬܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܐ ܢܶ ܰܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܝܪ ݂ܬ ̱ܘ ܒܗܘܢ �‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܕ ܺܘܝــܕ ݁ܒ ܽܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܣ ܳܝܢـܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ̈ܓـ ݁ܕ ܶ� ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈� ܶܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘ ݂ܒܢܘ ܠ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ � ܶܡ ݁ܪܕ ܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܚܛ ܳܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܳܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕܝ ܰܥܘ�‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܥ ܰܫܢ ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܙܬ ܐ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ̱ܘ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܰܙ ܳܝܢܐ ܘ ܽ� ܺܘܙ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܩܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܢܶܫ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳܚــܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒــܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܘ ݂ ܳܟــܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܠــܬܐ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝــܬ ܡܩܕܫــܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܘܩ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ̈ܟ ܽܫܘ� ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ � ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܕܘ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟ ܳܝܐ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܚܕ �ܝ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܠܙ ܶܘ ܰ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫܐ‪ :‬ܘܛ ܽܡܐ ̱‬ ‫ܥܪܩܘ ܶܡ ܽܛ ܳܠܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܳ�ܬ ݁ ܶܒܝ̈ ̇ܗ ݁ ܽܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡܥܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܶ�ـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ ܶܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰܘ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ݀ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ � ܰܝ� ݁ ̈ܕܶܝ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶ�ܝ̈ ̇ܗ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܽܩ ̇‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ݂ܬ ܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫ܘܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܚܪ ݂ܒ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒـ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܥ ݂ܕ ܺܥܐ ݂ ܶܕ ̈�ـ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܬܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟـ ̱ܘ � ݂ܒـ�‪ :‬ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܝـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ ܳܪ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫� ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ܶܐ ݂ܬܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟ � ܽܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܬ ̇ܗ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ ܳܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒ�ـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܽܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܰ ݂ܘܕܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܳܢ ܽܡـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒـ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



 

      



Antiochus returned after he had attacked Egypt in the one-hundredforty-third year. 1 He then went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a mighty army. He entered the sanctuary arrogantly and took the golden altar, the lampstand of light, all the instruments for its preparation,

the table of showbread, the drink offerings, the dishes, the sacrificial instruments, the golden offerings, the curtains, the crowns, and all the ornamentation on the front of the temple. 2 He stripped everything off. He took gold, silver, all the desirable instruments, and he took the hidden treasures which he found. Antiochus took everything and went to his own land. He committed great murder and spoke with great pride. Great mourning came to Israel in every dwelling. 3

Magistrates, elders, and young men were groaning. Young women became weary, and the beauty of women declined. Every bridegroom took to mourning, and even the woman sitting on the bridal bed was mourning.

The land was frightened for its inhabitants. The whole house of Jacob was clothed in shame.

After two years, 4 King Antiochus sent a magistrate in charge of collecting the tribute into Judea. He came to Jerusalem with a very mighty army.

He deceitfully spoke words of peace, but they believed him. He attacked the city suddenly, striking them with a large assault and destroying many of the Israelites.

1

169 BCE.

3

‘in every dwelling’: lit. ‘in each of their dwelling[s]’.

‘all the ornamentation on the front of the temple’: lit. ‘all the ornamentation of the temple in front of the temple’. 2

4

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.



‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ̇ܗ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐܐ ܰܘ ݁‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܐܪܒ ܺܥܝܢ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘܣܠܩ ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܥܠ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܪܫܠܡ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝ� ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܚـܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫـ ݂ܘܒ ܳܗ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥܠ � ݂ ܶܒ‬ ‫ܘܠܡ ܳܢـ ݁ܪܬ ܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܕ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܡܐ ܢܰ ̈ܝ ݁ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦܝ�ܣܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܢ ̈ܝ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܽܩܘ� ݁ ܳܒ ܶܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܠܦܬܘܪܐ ܕ�ܚܡ ܐܦܐ‪ :‬ܘ��ܘܩܝܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ݂ ܰ ݁ ݂ ܰ̈ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠܗ � ݂ܒـܬܐ ݂ܕܗܝܟـ� ݂ܕ ݂ܒܐ ܦـܝ ܗܝܟـ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܦܝ ܬܪܥܐ ܘ� ݂ܟܠܝ�‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘܩܠ ݂ܦ ݁ܟܠܗ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣ ـ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒ ـܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ـ ݂ܒ ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡ ـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫�ܟ�ــܗܘܢ ܡܐ ܢ ـܐ ݂ܕܪ ܓ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛܫܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܩܛـ ܳـ� ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠ �ܪܥܶܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܠـܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܐ ݂ܒ� ܪܒܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪܐܝܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠـ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܦ ̈ܠـ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܬ�ܚ ̱ܘ �ܝܫܢܐ ܘܣ ݂ܒـܐ ܘܥ�ܝܡـܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܘܠـ ݂ܬܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽܫ ݂ܘܦܪ ܶܗܝܢ ݁ܕܢܶ ̈ܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܶܐ ݂ܒ ܳ�‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܒ ܰܓܘ ݁ܓ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܰܚ ݂ܬ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܐ ݂ܒ ܰܠ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܥܠ ܳ�ܥ ܽܡܘ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܙܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܫ ̱ܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܥܩ ݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡـ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܢ‪ܰ .‬ܫ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳ ܳܟـܘܣ ܡ�ܟـܐ ܪܝܫـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܥـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ ܺܕܝܗ ݂ܘܕ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘܪܫܠܡ ܒܚܝ� ܥܫܝܢܐ ܘܪܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܢـܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܠܠ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ݂ܒܢܶ ݂ܟـ ܳ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܢܦـܠ ܰ�ܥ ܺـܠ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̇ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܒ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ ܶܡܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܚܗ ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܪܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 



   



  

In those days, iniquitous people 1 came out of Israel and implored many, saying to them, “Let us go make a covenant with the nations surrounding us, because from the day that we separated from them, we have encountered much wickedness.” This idea was pleasing in their eyes.

Some from the nation were plotting, and they went to the king. The king gave them authority to act according to the law 2 of the nations. 3

The iniquitous people built a gymnasium4 in Jerusalem according to the law of the nations.

Then they extended foreskin for themselves, distancing themselves from the holy covenant. 5 They mingled with the nations and consented to do wickedness. The kingdom was prepared and established before Antiochus. But he also wanted to reign over the land of Egypt so that he might reign over both kingdoms.

Antiochus entered Egypt with a very mighty army, with chariots, elephants, cavalry, and great splendor. 6 He waged war with King Ptolemy of Egypt, and Ptolemy was conquered before him. The [Egyptians] fled, and many fell dead.

They seized the mighty cities of Egypt and took the spoils of the land of Egypt.

1

‘iniquitous people’: lit. ‘people, children of iniquity’.

ܽ ‫ ) ܳܢ‬uses a Greek loan word (νόμος), but the Greek uses a ‘law’: the Syriac (‫ܡܘ ܳܣܐ‬ different word in this location (τὰ δικαιώματα). Later (1 Maccabees 2:21, 26, 40, 48, 50, etc.), the Syriac uses the same word to describe the law of God. 2

‘nation’ and ‘nations’: the Syriac uses two related words ‘nation’ (‫ ) ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‬and ‘nations’ (‫) ܰܥ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‬. The Greek uses words from different roots (τοῦ λαοῦ, τῶν ἐθνῶν). 3

4

‘gymnasium’ or ‘stadium’.

6

‘great splendor’: Greek ‘a great fleet’ (στόλῳ μεγάλῳ).

5

‘covenant’: this is a different word from that used in 1:11.



‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫݁ ܳܽ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܰܥ ܳܘ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝـܐܐ‬ ‫ܐܦܝܣـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫̱ ݂‬ ‫ܒܗܢܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܰܘܢܩܝܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝ ܳܡܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ̱ܡ ܶܡـܐ ܳܗܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕܝܪܝــܢ ܰܠـܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܦ ܰܪܫܢ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܚܢ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܦܪ ݂ܬ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܙܠـ ̱ܘ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ�ـ ̱ܗ ݂ܒ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܤܛ ܺܕ ܳ�ܘܢ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܢܘ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܰܥܘ�‪ :‬ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܢܓـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ܰܠܛـ �ܘ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܩـ ̱ܘ ܡـܢ ܕ� ݂ܬܩـܐ ܩܕܝܫـ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ �ܥܘܪܠـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐ�ܛܒܝܘ �ܡܥܒ ݂ܕ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܥ ̱ܡܡܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܠـ ݂ܟ ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟܘܣ‪ .‬ܘ ݂�ܒـܐ ݂ܕܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܬܥܬܕܬ ܘܐܬܛ ݂ܝܒܬ ܡ�ܟܘܬ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܳ ݂ܶ ݂ ܶ ݂ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ݂ ܰ ܶ ݂ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܪܝܢ‪ .‬ܐܝܟܢܐ ݂ܕܢܡܠ ݂ܟ ܥܠ�ܬ�ܬܝܗܝܢ ܡܠܟܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ ܐ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ�ܪܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚܝــ� ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢـܐ ܘ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪݁ .‬ܒ ܰܡ� ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܦܝ̈ـ�‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܦ�ܫܐ ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡ ܳܐܘܣ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܡ ݁ܦ ܳܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܙܕ ݂ ܺܟܝ ݁ܦܛܘ� ܶܡܐܘܣ ܶܡܢ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪܩܘ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ� ̱ܘ ܩܛܝ̈� ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܙܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ�ܢ ݂ܬܐ ܥܫ�ܢ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܪܝܢ‪ .‬ܘܢܣ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Ch. 

I



 

  

  



Chapter  After Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian, who came from Kittim, attacked and killed 1 Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he reigned in his place. He had reigned first over Greece.

He waged great wars, seized many fortresses, and slaughtered the kings of the earth.

He went to the ends of the earth and took the spoils of many nations. When the earth became silent and was at rest before him, he was exalted and his heart became haughty.

He gathered a large and mighty army and reigned over nations, peoples, and rulers. They became his tributaries. Afterwards, Alexander fell on his bed and realized he was dying. 2

Then he summoned his honored servants, who had been raised with him since his childhood, and divided his kingdom among them while he was alive. When Alexander had reigned for twelve years, he died. Each of his servants 3 took charge of his own region.

After his death, all of them, and their descendants for many years after them, put on their crowns. They multiplied wickedness upon the earth.

Then the root of sin came out from them: Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, who was a hostage at Rome. He became king in the one-hundred-thirty-seventh year4 of the Greek kingdom.

‘attacked and killed’: lit. ‘killed and attacked and killed.’ The repetition of ‘killed’ follows the Greek. 1 2

On this verse, see Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

4

175 BCE.

3

‘each of his servants’: lit. ‘his servants, each and every one of them’.



‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܩ ݂ ܰܦ� ܳܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܝـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܛܠ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ݂ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ݁ ܳܦـܘܣ ܰܡ ܶܩ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦـܩ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܡܢ ܒ ݂ܬܪ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܕ ܪ ܰ�ܘܫ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܛܠܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ�̈ܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ� ܳܣܝܶܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܳܡ ݂ ܳܕ ̈�ـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܡ ݁ܕܝܢ ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܒܗ� ݂ ܳܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܩ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ̈ܣܢܶܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܛܠ � ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܝ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܙܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ � ܰܣ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܦ ̇‬ ‫ܬ‬ ‫ܢܣـ ݂ܒ ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺ� ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܩܠ ܶܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰܥܠ� ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ ܐ ̈ܡـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫݂ܘܟܢܫ ܠܗ ܚܝ� ܥܫܝܢܐ ܘܣܓܝܐܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܛ�ܘܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܗܘܘ ܠܗ ܡܣܩܝ ܡܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܰܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܣܗ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܬ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܘܬܶܗ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܪ ݁ ܺܒܝܘ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܶܡܢ ܛ ܽ ݂‬ ‫ܩܪܐ � ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ̱ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬܗ ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ ܰܚܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬܥܶܣ ܶ�ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܟ ܰܣ ݁ܢܕ ܳܪܘܣ ܬ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰܐܚ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܛܪ ̱ܘ ܟ‬ ‫ܫ� ̈ܝـܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ݂̈ܶܓܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܣܓܝܘ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܶܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ :‬ܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ ܐ ݁ ܺܦܝ ݂ ܰܦ ܳܢـܘܣ‪݁ .‬ܒـ ܶܪܗ ݁ ܰܕܐܢܛ ܳܝ ݂ ܳܟـܘܣ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܢܦܩ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܥܩܪܐ ݂ܕܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܗܡܝــܪܐ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܗܘܡــܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܡܠــ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝــܬ‬ ‫�ܟــܐ‪ :‬ܗܘ ܕ‬ ‫ܫܢــ ݂ܬ ܡــܐܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܬܠ ݂ܬܝܢ ܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܣܦܪܐ ̈‬ ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ‬

‫ܥܘܬܕܐ‬

‫ܚܡܠ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܣܦܪܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ̈‬ ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܦܩܬܐ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܐܬܦܚܡܬ ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܕܡܬܩܪܝܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ܆ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܕܐ ܥܠ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ܇ ܕܒܝܕ ܡܪܝ ܩܠܝܡܝܣ ܝܘܣܦ ܕܘܝܕ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܦܪܣܬ ܡܕܢܚܐܝܬ ܫܢܬ ܐܦܦܙ ـ ܐܦ�ܐ܇ ܒܬܪ ܡܐ ܕܫܚ�ܦܢܢ ܠܣܪܛ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܐܬ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܡܢ ܡܕܢܚܝܐ ܠܡܥܪܒܝܐ܆ ܘܐܘܣܦܢܢ ܢܘܩܙܝ ܪܘܟܟܐ ܘܩܘܫܝܐ ܓܡܝܪܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܘܢܝܫܐ ܕܡܒܛ�ܢܐ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܫܠܡܢܘܬܐ ܕܝܘܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܦܚܡܢܢ ܕܝܢ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ ܥܡ ܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܫܟܚܢܢ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܫܘܚ�ܦܐ ܒܨܝ�ܐ ܒܩ�ܝܢܐ܇ ܗܪܟܐ ܘܬܡܢ܇ ܒܝܬ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܐܝܬ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܙܕܩ ܠܡܕܥ ܕܣܘܓܐܐ ܕܗܠܝܢ ܩ�ܝܢܐ ܕܒܡܦܩܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ ܫܟܝܚܝܢ ܘܠܘ ܒܣ�ܝܛܐ ܕܥܠ ܫܟܝܚܘܬ ܐܘ ܚܣܝܪܘܬ ̈‬ ‫ܐܬܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܕܘ�ܝ̈ܬܐ ܐܢܘܢ܆ ܘܕܥܠ ܫܟܝܚܘܬ ܐܘ ܚܣܝܪܘܬ ܣܝ̈ܡܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܫܪܟܐ‪ .‬ܣܕܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܗܠܝܢ ܩ�ܝܢܐ ܒܓܒܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܬܪ�ܢ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܫܠܡܢܘܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ ܡܥܪܒܝܬܐ ܕܝܘܡܢ‬ ‫ܪܕܝܐ‪ .‬ܐܝܬܐ ܠܡܐܡܪ‪ :‬ܟܬܒܢܢ ܺܪܝܫ ܚܠܦ ܺܪܫ ܘܫܪܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܟܐ ܕܝܢ ܩܘܒܠܛܝܒܘܬܐ ܡܩܪܒܝܢܢ ܠܡ�ܦܢܐ ܐܢܕܪܐܘܣ ܝܘܟܝܠ ܕܥܕܪ‬ ‫ܬܘܕܝܢ ܕ� ̈‬ ‫ܒܦܘܚܡܐ ܥܠ ܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�̈ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܠܡܪܝܐ �ܗܐ ̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܡܘܦܝܢ܀ ܐܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܘܟܪܢܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܓܘܪܓܝܣ ܣܗܕܐ܆ ܝܓ ܢܣܝܢ ܒܟܒ ̄ܡ‬ ‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬ ‫ܕܝܪܝܐ ܝܘܣܦ ܒܐܠܝ‬

‫ܗ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܙܕܩܐ ܢܛܝܪܝܢ܀‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫ܣܦܪܐ ̈‬ ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ‬ ‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܣܘܪܝܐܝܬ‬

‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬ ‫ܕܝܪܝܐ ܝܘܣܦ ܒܐܠܝ‬

‫ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫ܦܝܠܝܦܘܣ ܡܝܟܐܝܠ ܦܘܪܢܝܣ‬ ‫ܕܘܢܐܠܕ ܡ‪ .‬ܘܐܠܬܪ‬

‫ܒܟܒ ̄ܡ‬ ‫ܓܘܪܓܝܐܣ ܦܪܣ‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܡܦܚܡܢܝ ܫܫܠܬܐ‬

‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬

‫ܐܢܕܪܐܘܣ ܒܪ ܘܐܠܬܪ ܕܒܝܬ ݁‬ ‫ܝܘܟܝܠ‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫ܣܦܪܐ ̈‬ ‫ܕܡܩܒܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ‬