按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he was able out of the country； and then sat down before
Bethsura； and besieged it； that being the strongest place in all
Judea； and a garrison of Demetrius's kept it； as we have already
related。 But as Simon was raising banks； and bringing his engines
of war against Bethsura； and was very earnest about the siege of
it； the garrison was afraid lest the place should be taken of
Simon by force； and they put to the sword； so they sent to Simon；
and desired the security of his oath； that they should come to no
harm from him； and that they would leave the place； and go away
to Demetrius。 Accordingly he gave them his oath； and ejected them
out of the city； and he put therein a garrison of his own。
7。 But Jonathan removed out of Galilee； and from the waters which
are called Gennesar； for there he was before encamped； and came
into the plain that is called Asor； without knowing that the
enemy was there。 When therefore Demetrius's men knew a day
beforehand that Jonathan was coming against them； they laid an
ambush in the mountain； who were to assault him on the sudden；
while they themselves met him with an army in the plain； which
army； when Jonathan saw ready to engage him； he also got ready
his own soldiers for the battle as well as he was able； but those
that were laid in ambush by Demetrius's generals being behind
them； the Jews were afraid lest they should be caught in the
midst between two bodies； and perish； so they ran away in haste；
and indeed all the rest left Jonathan； but a few there were； in
number about fifty； who staid with him； and with them Mattathias；
the son of Absalom； and Judas； the son of Chapseus； who were
commanders of the whole army。 These marched boldly； and like men
desperate； against the enemy； and so pushed them； that by their
courage they daunted them； and with their weapons in their hands
they put them to flight。 And when those soldiers of Jonathan that
had retired saw the enemy giving way； they got together after
their flight； and pursued them with great violence； and this did
they as far as Cadesh； where the camp of the enemy lay。
8。 Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious victory； and slain two
thousand of the enemy； returned to Jerusalem。 So when he saw that
all his affairs prospered according to his mind； by the
providence of God； he sent ambassadors to the Romans； being
desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation had with
them formerly。 He enjoined the same ambassadors； that； as they
came back； they should go to the Spartans； and put them in mind
of their friendship and kindred。 So when the ambassadors came to
Rome； they went into their senate； and said what they were
commanded by Jonathan the high priest to say； how he had sent
them to confirm their friendship。 The senate then confirmed what
had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the
Jews； and gave them letters to carry to all the kings of Asia and
Europe； and to the governors of the cities； that they might
safely conduct them to their own country。 Accordingly； as they
returned； they came to Sparta； and delivered the epistle which
they had received of Jonathan to them； a copy of which here
follows： 〃Jonathan the high priest of the Jewish nation； and the
senate； and body of the people of the Jews； to the ephori； and
senate； and people of the Lacedemonians； send greeting。 If you be
well； and both your public and private affairs be agreeable to
your mind； it is according to our wishes。 We are well also。 When
in former times an epistle was brought to Onias； who was then our
high priest； from Areus； who at that time was your king； by
Demoteles； concerning the kindred that was between us and you； a
copy of which is here subjoined； we both joyfully received the
epistle； and were well pleased with Demoteles and Areus； although
we did not need such a demonstration； because we were satisfied
about it from the sacred writings （10） yet did not we think fit
first to begin the claim of this relation to you； lest we should
seem too early in taking to ourselves the glory which is now
given us by you。 It is a long time since this relation of ours to
you hath been renewed； and when we； upon holy and festival days；
offer sacrifices to God； we pray to him for your preservation and
victory。 As to ourselves； although we have had many wars that
have compassed us around； by reason of the covetousness of our
neighbors； yet did not we determine to be troublesome either to
you； or to others that were related to us； but since we have now
overcome our enemies； and have occasion to send Numenius the son
of Antiochus； and Antipater the son of Jason； who are both
honorable men belonging to our senate； to the Romans； we gave
them this epistle to you also； that they might renew that
friendship which is between us。 You will therefore do well
yourselves to write to us； and send us an account of what you
stand in need of from us； since we are in all things disposed to
act according to your desires。〃 So the Lacedemonians received the
ambassadors kindly； and made a decree for friendship and mutual
assistance； and sent it to them。
9。 At this time there were three sects among the Jews； who had
different opinions concerning human actions； the one was called
the sect of the Pharisees； another the sect of the Sadducees； and
the other the sect of the Essens。 Now for the Pharisees； （11）
they say that some actions； but not all； are the work of fate；
and some of them are in our own power； and that they are liable
to fate； but are not caused by fate。 But the sect of the Essens
affirm； that fate governs all things； and that nothing befalls
men but what is according to its determination。 And for the
Sadducees； they take away fate； and say there is no such thing；
and that the events of human affairs are not at its disposal； but
they suppose that all our actions are in our own power； so that
we are ourselves the causes of what is good； and receive what is
evil from our own folly。 However； I have given a more exact
account of these opinions in the second book of the Jewish War。
10。 But now the generals of Demetrius being willing to recover
the defeat they had had； gathered a greater army together than
they had before； and came against Jonathan； but as soon as he was
informed of their coming； he went suddenly to meet them； to the
country of Hamoth； for he resolved to give them no opportunity of
coming into Judea； so he pitched his camp at fifty furlongs'
distance from the enemy； and sent out spies to take a view of
their camp； and after what manner they were encamped。 When his
spies had given him full information； and had seized upon some of
them by night； who told him the enemy would soon attack him； he；
thus apprized beforehand； provided for his security； and placed
watchmen beyond his camp； and kept all his forces armed all
night； and he gave them a charge to be of good courage； and to
have their minds prepared to fight in the night time； if they
should be obliged so to do； lest their enemy's designs should
seem concealed from them。 But when Demetrius's commanders were
informed that Jonathan knew what they intended； their counsels
were disordered； and it