1 Maccabees
Chapter 12
1 When Jonathan saw that the times favored him, he sent selected men to Rome to confirm and renew his friendship with the Romans.
约纳堂见时局为自己有利，就挑选几个人，打发他们往罗马去，与罗马人重修旧好。
2 He also sent letters to Sparta and other places for the same purpose.
为了这事，也给斯巴达人及其他地方写了信。
3 After reaching Rome, the men entered the senate chamber and said, ＂The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew the earlier friendship and alliance between you and them.＂
使者到了罗马，进了元老院，说道：＂大司祭约纳堂和犹太人民，打发我们来，请你们与他们重修友好盟约，如同从前一样。＂
4 The Romans gave them letters addressed to the authorities in the various places, requesting them to provide the envoys with safe conduct to the land of Judah.
元老们就交给他们一封给各地官吏的公函，以便护送他们平安回到犹大地方。
5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
约纳堂写给斯巴达人的信原文如下：
6 ＂Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans.
＂大司祭约纳堂、民间长老、司祭及犹太其余民众，祝斯巴达弟兄安好！
7 1 Long ago a letter was sent to the high priest Onias from Arius, who then reigned over you, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy shows.
从前管辖你们的君王阿勒乌，致书大司祭敖尼雅时，曾称你们是我们的弟兄，正如所附副本指出的一样。
8 Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which clearly referred to alliance and friendship.
敖尼雅曾优待了被打发来的使者，也接受了谈及联盟与友好的信件。
9 2 Though we have no need of these things, since we have for our encouragement the sacred books that are in our possession,
我们虽然不需要这些事，因为有我们手中的圣经作安慰；
10 we have ventured to send word to you for the renewal of brotherhood and friendship, so as not to become strangers to you altogether; a long time has passed since your mission to us.
但是，我们仍愿试验一下，遣发使者到你们那里去，为与你们重建弟兄和朋友之谊，不致与你们疏远，因为自从收到你们的来信后，到现在时间已经过了很久。
11 We, on our part, have never ceased to remember you in the sacrifices and prayers that we offer on our feasts and other appropriate days, as it is right and proper to remember brothers.
所以我们在节日。及其他法定日子，当献祭和祈祷时，时常不断记念你们；原来记念自己的弟兄，本是理所当然的。
12 We likewise rejoice in your renown.
我们也为了你们的荣耀而喜乐。
13 But many hardships and wars have beset us, and the kings around us have attacked us.
至于我们，当种种困难、连年战争、四面楚歌、邻国攻打我们的时候，
14 We did not wish to be troublesome to you and to the rest of our allies and friends in these wars;
在这些战争中，我们不愿意麻烦你们和我们其他的同盟及友邦，
15 with the help of Heaven for our support, we have been saved from our enemies, and they have been humbled.
因为我们有上天的助右，来协助我们，拯救我们脱离敌人的手，使敌人屈服。
16 So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.
所以我们才选派安提约古的儿子奴默尼和雅松的儿子安提帕特，打发他们到罗马人那里去，与他们重立昔日的友好同盟。
17 We have also ordered them to come to you and greet you, and to deliver to you our letter about the renewal of our brotherhood.
我们也吩咐他们，到你们那里去，向你们致敬，并且也把关于重建我们之间弟兄友谊的书信，呈给你们，
18 Therefore kindly send us an answer on this matter.＂
也请你们对这事给我们一个答复。＂
19 This is a copy of the letter that was sent to Onias:
这是从前寄给敖尼雅的信的副本：
20 ＂Arius, king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest.
＂斯巴达王阿勒乌，祝大司祭敖尼雅安好！
21 A document has been found stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers; both nations descended from Abraham.
在论及斯巴达人和犹太人一文献上发现：这两个民族彼此是弟兄，因为他们都是亚巴郎的后裔。
22 Now that we have learned this, kindly write to us about your welfare.
现在我们既然知道这事，就请你们更好将你们的升平情况，写给我们，
23 We, on our part, are informing you that your cattle and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours. We have, therefore, given orders that you should be told of this.＂
我们也写给你们：凡你们的牲畜和财产，都是我们的；凡我们的，也都是你们的；所以我们吩咐了使者，将这些事呈报给你们。＂
24 Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had returned to attack him with a stronger army than before.
约纳堂听说：德默特琉的将领，带着比以前更多的军队回来，要与他作战，
25 3 He set out from Jerusalem and went into the country of Hamath to meet them, giving them no time to enter his province.
就离开耶路撒冷，往哈玛特地方去迎击敌人，因为他不肯让他们有侵入自己边境的时间。
26 The spies he had sent into their camp came back and reported that the enemy had made ready to attack the Jews that very night.
并且打发侦探到敌方军营里去，他们回来给他报告说：敌人决议要在夜间进袭。
27 Therefore, when the sun set, Jonathan ordered his men to be on guard and to remain armed, ready for combat, throughout the night. He also set outposts all around the camp.
太阳西落时，约纳堂吩咐部下戒备，整夜携带武器，准备作战，并在军营四周，派上哨兵。
28 When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, their hearts sank with fear and dread. They lighted fires and then withdrew.
敌人听说约纳堂和部下都准备决战，怕得胆战心惊，便在自己营中点起火，逃走了。
29 But because Jonathan and his men were watching the lights burning, they did not know what had happened until morning.
约纳堂和他的部下，先只看见火光，直到早晨才知道敌人已经逃走。
30 Then Jonathan pursued them, but he could not overtake them, for they had crossed the river Eleutherus.
约纳堂就去追赶他们，但没有追上，因为他们早已渡过厄娄特洛河。
31 So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, overwhelming and plundering them.
约纳堂转而攻击称为匝巴泰的阿刺伯人，将他们打败，抢掠了他们的财物。
32 Then he marched on to Damascus and traversed that whole region.
之后，便又出发，来到大马士革，走遍全境。
33 Simon also set out and went as far as Ashkalon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned to Joppa and occupied it,
同时，息孟也出征，直到阿市刻隆和临近的堡垒，然后转向约培，占据了那城。
34 for he heard that its men had intended to hand over this stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius. He left a garrison there to guard it.
因为听说，有人愿将此堡垒交给德默特琉的党羽，遂在那里派军队把守。
35 When Jonathan returned, he assembled the elders of the people, and with them he made plans for building strongholds in Judea,
约纳堂回来之后，召集民间长老，与他们议决，要在犹太修建一些堡垒，
36 for making the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and for erecting a high barrier between the citadel and the city, that would isolate the citadel and so prevent its garrison from commerce with the city.
加高耶路撒冷的围墙，在城垣与城之间，修筑一堵高墙，将城垣与城分开，使城垣孤立叫其中的人不能买卖。
37 The people therefore worked together on building up the city, for part of the east wall above the ravine had collapsed. The quarter called Chaphenatha was also repaired.
犹太人便聚集起来修城，因为溪旁的东墙，已经倒塌；也把称为加斐纳达的地区加以重修。
38 Simon likewise built up Adida in the Shephelah, and strengthened its fortifications by providing them with gates and bars.
那时息孟在舍裴拉也重修了哈狄得，加以设防，还安上门和闩。
39 Trypho was determined to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and do away with King Antiochus.
那时特黎丰企图作亚细亚王，自戴王冠，而向安提约古下手，
40 But he was afraid that Jonathan would not permit him, but would fight against him. Looking for a way to seize and kill him, he set out and reached Beth-shan.
却怕约纳堂不容许他如此作，反而来攻打他，便设计擒拿约纳堂，将他杀死遂起程来到贝特商。
41 Jonathan marched out against him with forty thousand picked fighting men and came to Beth-shan.
约纳堂带着四万作战精兵出发，也来到贝特商，与他交战。
42 But when Trypho saw that Jonathan had arrived with a large army he was afraid to offer him violence.
特黎丰见约纳堂带着大军前来，不敢向他下手；
43 Instead, he received him with honor, introduced him to all his friends, and gave him presents. He also ordered his friends and soldiers to obey him as they would himself.
便以礼接待他，将他推荐给自己的众朋友，送给他礼物还命自己的朋友和自己的军队，都要服从他，如同服从自己一样，
44 Then he said to Jonathan: ＂Why have you put all your soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war?
然后对约纳堂说：＂我们之间既无战事，你为什么烦劳这么多的人呢？
45 Pick out a few men to stay with you, send the rest back home, and then come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with other strongholds and their garrisons, as well as the officials, then I will leave and go home. That is why I came here.＂
现在你打发他们各回本家罢！为你自己只选少数的人跟随你，同我一起往仆托肋买去，我要将这座城，及其他堡垒、军队和一切官吏，都交给你；然后我回去，因为我原是为这事而来的。
46 Jonathan believed him and did as he said. He dismissed his troops, and they returned to the land of Judah.
约纳堂相信了他，就按他的话作了遣散了军队，让他们回到犹大地，
47 But he kept with him three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand to Galilee while one thousand accompanied him.
只为自己留下三千人，其中两千人留在加里肋亚，与他同行的只有一千人。
48 Then as soon as Jonathan had entered Ptolemais, the men of the city closed the gates and seized him; all who had entered with him, they killed with the sword.
约纳堂一进仆托肋买城，仆托肋买人便关了城门，将他捉住，用刀将与他同来的众人杀了。
49 4 Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry to Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's men.
同时，特黎丰又派步兵和骑兵，前往加里肋亚和大平原，去消灭约纳堂的一切党羽。
50 These, upon learning that Jonathan had been captured and his companions killed, encouraged one another and went out in compact body ready to fight.
这些人虽已知道约纳堂和跟从他的人，都被逮捕杀害，但仍然彼此鼓励，整队而出，准备决一死战。
51 As their pursuers saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back.
追赶他们的敌人，一见犹太人决意要为保全性命而战，就折回去了。
52 Thus all these men of Jonathan came safely into the land of Judah. They mourned over Jonathan and his men, and were in great fear, and all Israel fell into deep mourning.
这些人因此才平安回到犹大地，他们都哀悼约纳堂和跟从他的人，同时也非常恐惧；全以色列也都表示哀痛。
53 All the nations round about sought to destroy them. They said, ＂Now that they have no leader to help them, let us make war on them and wipe out their memory from among men.＂
那时，他们四邻所有的异民，都想灭绝犹太人说：＂他们既没有领袖，又没有人帮助，现在我们应该去攻打他们，将他们的遗迹由人间除去。＂
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Footnotes（注解）
1 [7] Onias: Onias I, high priest from 323-300 or 290 B.C. Arius: Arius I, king from 309 to 265 B.C. The letter was sent long ago, i.e., a century and a half before.
2 [9] The sacred books . . . in our possession: a reference to ＂the law, the prophets and other books,＂ as mentioned in the Prologue to Sirach (1 Macc 12:1), after 132 B.C.
3 [25] Country of Hamath: the Seleucid territory of Upper Syria northeast of Coelesyria and separated from it by the Eleutherus River. The latter territory was under the command of Jonathan (1 Macc 11:59, 60).
4 [49] The Great Plain: of Beth-shan (1 Macc 12:41), where Jonathan's disbanded troops remained.