with forty thousand chosen men； for he thought that he came to
fight him； but when he perceived that Jonathan was ready to
fight； he attempted to gain him by presents and kind treatment；
and gave order to his captains to obey him； and by these means
was desirous to give assurance of his good…will； and to take away
all suspicions out of his mind； that so he might make him
careless and inconsiderate； and might take him when he was
unguarded。 He also advised him to dismiss his army； because there
was no occasion for bringing it with him when there was no war；
but all was in peace。 However； he desired him to retain a few
about him； and go with him to Ptolemais； for that he would
deliver the city up to him； and would bring all the fortresses
that were in the country under his dominion； and he told him that
he came with those very designs。
2。 Yet did not Jonathan suspect any thing at all by this his
management； but believed that Trypho gave him this advice out of
kindness； and with a sincere design。 Accordingly； he dismissed
his army； and retained no more than three thousand of them with
him； and left two thousand in Galilee； and he himself； with one
thousand； came with Trypho to Ptolemais。 But when the people of
Ptolemais had shut their gates； as it had been commanded by
Trypho to do； he took Jonathan alive； and slew all that were with
him。 He also sent soldiers against those two thousand that were
left in Galilee； in order to destroy them； but those men having
heard the report of what had happened to Jonathan； they prevented
the execution； and before those that were sent by Trypho came；
they covered themselves with their armor； and went away out of
the country。 Now when those that were sent against them saw that
they were ready to fight for their lives； they gave them no
disturbance； but returned back to Trypho。
3。 But when the people of Jerusalem heard that Jonathan was
taken； and that the soldiers who were with him were destroyed；
they deplored his sad fate； and there was earnest inquiry made
about him by every body； and a great and just fear fell upon
them； and made them sad； lest； now they were deprived of the
courage and conduct of Jonathan； the nations about them should
bear them ill…will； and as they were before quiet on account of
Jonathan they should now rise up against them； and by making war
with them； should force them into the utmost dangers。 And indeed
what they suspected really befell them； for when those nations
heard of the death of Jonathan； they began to make war with the
Jews as now destitute of a governor and Trypho himself got an
army together； and had intention to go up to Judea； and make war
against its inhabitants。 But when Simon saw that the people of
Jerusalem were terrified at the circumstances they were in； he
desired to make a speech to them； and thereby to render them more
resolute in opposing Trypho when he should come against them。 He
then called the people together into the temple； and thence began
thus to encourage them： 〃O my countrymen； you are not ignorant
that our father； myself； and my brethren； have ventured to hazard
our lives； and that willingly； for the recovery of your liberty；
since I have therefore such plenty of examples before me； and we
of our family have determined with ourselves to die for our laws；
and our Divine worship； there shall no terror be so great as to
banish this resolution from our souls； nor to introduce in its
place a love of life； and a contempt of glory。 Do you therefore
follow me with alacrity whithersoever I shall lead you； as not
destitute of such a captain as is willing to suffer； and to do
the greatest things for you； for neither am I better than my
brethren that I should be sparing of my own life； nor so far
worse than they as to avoid and refuse what they thought the most
honorable of all things； … I mean； to undergo death for your
laws； and for that worship of God which is peculiar to you； I
will therefore give such proper demonstrations as will show that
I am their own brother； and I am so bold as to expect that I
shall avenge their blood upon our enemies； and deliver you all
with your wives and children from the injuries they intend
against you； and； with God's assistance； to preserve your temple
from destruction by them； for I see that these nations have you
in contempt； as being without a governor； and that they thence
are encouraged to make war against you。〃
4。 By this speech of Simon he inspired the multitude with
courage； and as they had been before dispirited through fear；
they were now raised to a good hope of better things； insomuch
that the whole multitude of the people cried out all at once that
Simon should be their leader； and that instead of Judas and
Jonathan his brethren； he should have the government over them；
and they promised that they would readily obey him in whatsoever
he should command them。 So he got together immediately all his
own soldiers that were fit for war； and made haste in rebuilding
the walls of the city； and strengthening them by very high and
strong towers； and sent a friend of his； one Jonathan； the son of
Absalom； to Joppa； and gave him order to eject the inhabitants
out of the city； for he was afraid lest they should deliver up
the city to Trypho； but he himself staid to secure Jerusalem。
5。 But Trypho removed from Ptoeinais with a great army； and came
into Judea； and brought Jonathan with him in bonds。 Simon also
met him with his army at the city Adida； which is upon a hill；
and beneath it lie the plains of Judea。 And when Trypho knew that
Simon was by the Jews made their governor； he sent to him； and
would have imposed upon him by deceit and trencher； and desired；
if he would have his brother Jonathan released； that he would
send him a hundred talents of silver； and two of Jonathan's sons
as hostages； that when he shall be released； he may not make
Judea revolt from the king； for that at present he was kept in
bonds on account of the money he had borrowed of the king； and
now owed it to him。 But Simon was aware of the craft of Trypho；
and although he knew that if he gave him the money he should lose
it； and that Trypho would not set his brother free and withal
should deliver the sons of Jonathan to the enemy； yet because he
was afraid that he should have a calumny raised against him among
the multitude as the cause of his brother's death； if he neither
gave the money； nor sent Jonathan's sons； he gathered his army
together； and told them what offers Trypho had made； and added
this； that the offers were ensnaring and treacherous； and yet
that it was more eligible to send the money and Jonathan's sons；
than to be liable to the imputation of not complying with
Trypho's offers； and thereby refusing to save his brother。
Accordingly； Simon sent the sons of Jonathan and the money； but
when Trypho had received them； he did not keep his promise； nor
set Jonathan free； but took his army； and went about all the
country； and resolved to go afterward to Jerusalem by the way of
Idumea； while Simon went over against him with his army； and all
along pitched his own camp over against his。
6。 But when those that were in the citadel had sent to Trypho；
and besought him to make haste and come to them； and to send them
provisions； he prepared his cavalry as though he would be at
Jerusalem that very night； but so great a quantity of snow fell
in the night； that it covered the roads； and made them so deep；
that there was no passing； especially for the cavalry。 This
hindered him from coming to Jerusalem； whereupon Trypho removed
thence； and came into Celesyria； and falling vehemently upon the
land of Gilead； he slew Jonathan there； and when he had given
order for his burial； he returned himself to Antioch。 However；
Simon sent some to the city Basca to bring away his brother's
bones； and buried them in their own city Modin； and all the
people made great lamentation over him。 Simon also erected a very
large monument for his father and his brethren； of white and
polished stone； and raised it a great height； and so as to be
seen a long way off； and made cloisters about it； and set up
pillars； which were of one stone apiece； a work it was wonderful
to see。 Moreover； he built seven pyramids also for his parents
and his brethren； one for each of them； which were made very
surprising； both for their largeness and beauty； and which have
been preserved to this day； and we know that it was Simon who
bestowed so much zeal about the burial of Jonathan； and the
building of these monuments for his relations。 Now Jonathan died
when he had been high priest four years （13） and had been also
the governor of his nation。 And these were the circumstances that
concerned his death。
7。 But Simon； who was made high priest by the multitude； on the
very first year of his high priesthood set his people free from
their slavery under the Macedonians； and permitted them to pay
tribute to them no longer； which liberty and freedom from tribute
they obtained after a hundred and seventy years （14） of the
kingdom of the Assyrians； which was after Seleucus； who was
called Nicator； got the dominion over Syria。 Now the affection of
the multitude towards Simon was so great； that in their contracts
one with another； and in their public records； they wrote； 〃in
the first year of Simon the benefactor and ethnarch of the Jews；〃
for under him they were very happy； and overcame the enemies that
were round about them； for Simon overthrew the city Gazara； and
Joppa； and Jamhis。 He also took the citadel of Jerusalem by
siege； and cast it down to the ground； that it might not be any
more a place of refuge to their enemies when they took it； to do
them a mischief； as it had been till now。 And when he had done
this； he thought it their best way； and most for their advantage；
to level the very mountain itself upon which the citadel happened
to stand； that so the temple might be higher than it。 And indeed；
when he had called the multitude to an assembly； he persuaded
them to have it so demolished； and this by putting them in mind
what miseries they had suffered by its garrison and the Jewish
deserters； and what miseries they might herea