New American Bible, Revised Edition

1 Maccabees 11:58-74 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

58. He also sent him gold dishes and a table service, gave him the right to drink from gold cups, to dress in royal purple, and to wear a gold buckle.

59. Likewise, he made Jonathan’s brother Simon governor of the region from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.

60. Jonathan set out and traveled through the province of West-of-Euphrates and its cities, and all the forces of Syria espoused his cause as allies. When he arrived at Askalon, the citizens welcomed him with pomp.

61. But when he set out for Gaza, the people of Gaza shut him out. So he besieged it, and burned and plundered its suburbs.

62. Then the people of Gaza appealed to Jonathan, and he granted them terms of peace. He took the sons of their leaders as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem. He then traveled on through the province as far as Damascus.

63. Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had come with a strong force to Kadesh in Galilee, intending to remove him from office.

64. So he went to meet them, leaving his brother Simon in the province.

65. Simon encamped against Beth-zur, attacked it for many days, and shut in the inhabitants.

66. They appealed to him, and he granted them terms of peace. He expelled them from the city, took possession of it, and put a garrison there.

67. Meanwhile, Jonathan and his army pitched their camp near the waters of Gennesaret, and at daybreak they went to the plain of Hazor.

68. There the army of the foreigners met him on the plain. Having first detached an ambush in the mountains, this army mounted a frontal attack.

69. Then those in ambush rose out of their places and joined in the battle.

70. All of Jonathan’s men fled; no one stayed except the army commanders Mattathias, son of Absalom, and Judas, son of Chalphi.

71. Jonathan tore his clothes, threw dust on his head, and prayed.

72. Then he went back to the battle and routed them, and they fled.

73. Those of his men who were running away saw it and returned to him; and with him they pursued the enemy as far as their camp in Kadesh, and there they encamped.

74. About three thousand of the foreign troops fell on that day. Then Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.