Common English Bible

1 Maccabees 12:26-46 Common English Bible (CEB)

26. He sent spies to their camp. They returned and reported to him that the enemy was lining up in battle formation to attack the Jews at night.

27. When the sun had set, Jonathan commanded his troops to be on alert. They were to keep their weapons at hand so they could be ready through the night for battle. He also stationed guard posts around the camp.

28. When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his troops were prepared for battle, they were extremely terrified. So they lit fires in their camp and retreated.

29. Jonathan and his troops didn’t know about this until morning because they saw the fires burning.

30. Then Jonathan tried to pursue them, but he couldn’t catch them since they had already crossed the Eleutherus River.

31. So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs, who are called Zabadeans, and he crushed and plundered them.

32. Then he broke camp and went to Damascus and marched throughout that region.

33. Simon also marched through the country as far as Ashkelon and the fortresses in the area. He turned aside to Joppa and took it by surprise,

34. because he had heard that they were ready to hand over the fortress to people that Demetrius had sent. So he stationed a force there to occupy and guard it.

35. When Jonathan returned to Jerusalem, he assembled the elders of the people and planned with them how to build fortresses in Judea.

36. They also discussed how to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a high barrier between the elevated fortress and the city to separate them. This was to isolate the elevated fortress so that its troops couldn’t buy or sell things.

37. So they gathered together to rebuild the city. Part of the wall toward the valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Chaphenatha.

38. Simon also built Adida in the western foothills. He secured it and installed gates with bolts.

39. At that time, Trypho attempted to rise up against King Antiochus, put on the crown, and become king in Asia.

40. He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do this, making war on him. So he kept trying to capture and kill him. He marched out and came to Beth-shan.

41. Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand select warriors. He also came to Beth-shan.

42. When Trypho saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to lift a hand against him.

43. So he received Jonathan with honor and commended him to all his chief political advisors. He gave him gifts and told his advisors and troops to obey him as they would himself.

44. Then he said to Jonathan, "Why have you put all these people to so much trouble when we’re not at war?

45. Tell them to go back to their homes. Pick for yourself a few men to stay with you, and come with me to Ptolemais. I’ll hand it over to you as well as the other fortresses and the remaining troops and officials. Then I’ll turn around and go home. That’s why I’m here."

46. Jonathan trusted him and did what he said. He sent away his troops, and they returned to Judah.