1 Maccabees 15

1 Antíoco, filho do rei Demétrio, escreveu das ilhas do mar uma carta a Simão, sacerdote e chefe dos judeus, e a todo o povo.

2 Dizia assim sua carta: "O rei Antíoco a Simão, sumo sacerdote e príncipe, e ao povo judeu, saudações!

3 Perversos apoderaram-se do reino de meus pais, mas quero recobrá-lo e restabelecê-lo como foi outrora. Organizei, pois, um poderoso exército e aluguei navios de guerra,

4 e pretendo penetrar no país para vingar-me daqueles que o devastaram e assolaram inúmeras cidades.

5 Pela presente carta, confirmo todas as imunidades conferidas por meus reais predecessores, e todas as dádivas que eles te fizeram.

6 Dou-te a permissão de cunhar uma moeda especial para teu país.

7 Que Jerusalém e os lugares santos gozem de liberdade! Todos os armamentos que mandaste fazer e todas as fortalezas que construíste e que estão em teu poder, podes guardá-las.

8 Que te sejam perdoadas, desde agora e para sempre, as dívidas que deves ou deverás ao tesouro real.

9 Quando tivermos entrado na posse do nosso reino, dispensaremos honras a ti, a teu povo e ao templo, de maneira que vossa reputação fique célebre em toda a terra".

10 No ano cento e setenta e quatro, entrou Antíoco no reino de seus pais. Todas as tropas se ajuntaram a ele, de modo que foram poucos os que ficaram com Trifão.

11 Este, perseguido por Antíoco, foi refugiar-se em Dora, cidade marítima,

12 porque sabia que o mal o ia atingindo e que seu exército o abandonava.

13 Antíoco cercou Dora com cento e vinte mil homens e oito mil cavaleiros.

14 Cercou a cidade e seus navios aproximaram-se, formando assim o bloqueio por terra e por mar, sem deixar ninguém sair ou entrar.

15 Nessa ocasião, Numênio e seus companheiros voltaram de Roma, com cartas dirigidas aos reis e aos povos. Eis o conteúdo:

16 "Lúcio, cônsul romano, ao rei Pto­lomeu, saudações!

17 Os embaixadores envia­dos por Simão, sumo sacerdote, e pelo povo judeu, como amigos e aliados vieram a nós para renovar a amizade e a alian­ça de outrora.

18 Trouxeram eles um escudo de ouro de mil minas.

19 Nós resolvemos então pedir aos reis e aos países, que não lhes causem mal, nem lhes movam guerra contra eles, às suas cidades e aos seus campos; e não se aliem a seus inimigos.

20 Aprouve-nos aceitar seu escudo.

21 Se judeus apóstatas se refugiaram junto a vós, entregai-os ao sumo sacerdote Simão, para que ele os castigue segundo sua Lei".

22 A mesma carta foi enviada ao rei Demétrio, a Átalo, a Ariarates, a Arsaces

23 e a todos os países: a Sampsames, aos espartanos, a Delos, a Mindos, à Siciônia, à Cária, a Samos, à Panfília, à Lícia, a Halicarnasso, a Rodes, a Fasélis, a Cós, a Side, a Arados, a Gortina, a Cnido, a Chipre e a Cirene.

24 A cópia dela foi enviada ao sumo sacerdote Simão.

25 O rei Antíoco continuava o cerco de Dora, oprimindo-a de todos os lados, construindo máquinas de guerra e encerrando Trifão, de maneira que ele não pudesse mais sair nem entrar.

26 Por sua vez, enviou Simão dois mil homens de escol para combater ao lado dele, além de prata, ouro e muitos equipamentos.

27 Mas o rei não quis aceitá-los. Ao contrário, retirou o que lhe havia concedido a princípio e mudou de atitude para com ele.

28 Enviou-lhe um de seus amigos, Atenóbio, para comunicar-lhe isso: "Vós vos ocupastes de Jope e de Gazara, cidades de meu reino, como também a fortaleza de Jerusalém.

29 Assolastes o território, devas­tastes gravemente o país e vos apoderas­tes de numerosas localidades em meu reino.

30 Entregai agora as cidades das quais vos haveis apoderado e os tributos das regiões que conquistastes fora das fronteiras da Judeia.

31 Ou, então, dai em troca quinhentos talentos de prata e quinhentos outros talentos pelas perdas causadas e pelas rendas das cidades; do contrário, iremos à guerra!".

32 Atenóbio, o amigo do rei, chegou então a Jerusalém. Ali, ao ver as honras prestadas a Simão – o armário com as taças de ouro e prata, sua habitação faustosa – ficou maravilhado. Referiu, todavia, as palavras do rei,

33 e Simão respondeu: "Não foi uma terra estrangeira que conquistamos, nem a propriedade de outrem que conservamos, mas somente a herança de nossos pais, injustamente usurpada, durante algum tempo, por nossos inimigos.

34 Chegou a hora para nós de a reivindicarmos.

35 Pelo que toca a Jope e Gazara, que tu reclamas e que fizeram tanto mal ao nosso povo, devastando o país, nós te concedemos cem talentos". Atenóbio nada respondeu,

36 mas voltou cheio de ira para junto do rei, repetindo-lhe essa resposta e contando-lhe o fausto de Simão, bem como tudo o que vira, e isso levou o rei a uma grande ira.

37 Por esse tempo, Trifão fugia em navio para Orto­sia.

38 O rei nomeou então Cendebeu comandante supremo da costa e entregou-lhe tropas de infantaria e cavalaria.

39 Encarregou-o de atacar a Judeia, deu-lhe ordens de reconstruir Quedron, de fortificar os acessos e de atacar o povo judeu, enquanto ele mesmo perseguiria Trifão.

40 Chegado a Jâmnia, Cendebeu começou a importunar o povo judeu, a realizar incursões na Judeia, a fazer um grande número de prisioneiros e a massacrar os habitantes. Construiu Quedron

41 e colocou ali infantes e cavaleiros com a ordem de realizar investidas e de infestar os caminhos da Judeia, como lhe ordenara o rei.

1 Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Simon the priest and*15:1 Gr. ethnarch. governor of the Jews, and to all the nation. 2 Its contents follow:

"King Antiochus to Simon the chief priest and*15:2 Gr. ethnarch. governor, and to the nation of the Jews, greetings. 3 Whereas certain troublemakers have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, but my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as it was before; and moreover I have raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared warships; 4 moreover I plan to land in the country, that I may punish those who have destroyed our country, and those who have made many cities in the kingdom desolate; 5 now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions which the kings who were before me remitted to you, and whatever gifts besides they remitted to you, 6 and I permit you to coin money for your country with your own stamp, 7 but that Jerusalem and the sanctuary should be free. All the weapons that you have prepared, and the strongholds that you have built, which you have in your possession, let them remain yours. 8 Every debt owed to the king, and the things that will be owed to the king from henceforth and for evermore, let them be remitted to you. 9 Moreover, when we have established our kingdom, we will glorify you and your nation and the temple with great glory, so that your glory will be made manifest in all the earth.

10 In the one hundred seventy-fourth year,*15:10 circa B.C. 139 Antiochus went into the land of his fathers; and all the forces came together to him, so that there were few men with Tryphon. 11 King Antiochus pursued him, and he came, as he fled, to Dor, which is by the sea; 12 for he knew that troubles had come upon him all at once, and that his forces had deserted him. 13 Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him one hundred twenty thousand men of war and eight thousand cavalry. 14 He surrounded the city, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea. He harassed the city by land and sea, and permitted no one to go out or in.

15 Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings and to the countries, in which were written these things:

16 "Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greetings. 17 The Jews’ ambassadors came to us as our friends and allies, to renew the old friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews. 18 Moreover they brought a shield of gold weighing one thousand minas.*15:18 1,000 minas is about 499 kg. or about 1,098 pounds. 19 It pleased us therefore to write to the kings and to the countries, that they should not seek their harm or fight against them, their cities, and their country, or be allies with those who fight against them. 20 Moreover, it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them. 21 If therefore any troublemakers have fled from their country to you, deliver them to Simon the high priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law."

22 He wrote the same things to King Demetrius, to Attalus, to Arathes, to Arsaces, 23 to all the countries, to*15:23 Some authorities read Sampsaces: the Latin versions have Lampsacus. Sampsames, to the Spartans, to Delos, to Myndos, to Sicyon, to Caria, to Samos, to Pamphylia, to Lycia, to Halicarnassus, to Rhodes, to Phaselis, to Cos, to Side, to Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene. 24 They also wrote this copy to Simon the high priest.

25 But King Antiochus encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war; and he shut up Tryphon from going in or out. 26 Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to fight on his side, with silver, gold, and instruments of war in abundance. 27 He would not receive them, but nullified all the covenants which he had made with him before, and was estranged from him. 28 He sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends,*15:28 See 1 Maccabees 2:18. to confer with him, saying, "You hold possession of Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, cities of my kingdom. 29 You have devastated their territory, and done great harm in the land, and control many places in my kingdom. 30 Now therefore hand over the cities which you have taken, and the tributes of the places which you have taken control of outside of the borders of Judea; 31 or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that you have done, and the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. Otherwise we will come and subdue you."

32 Athenobius, the king’s friend,*15:32 See 1 Maccabees 2:18. came to Jerusalem. When he saw the glory of Simon, the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great attendance, he was amazed. He reported to him the king’s words. 33 Simon answered, and said to him, "We have not taken other men’s land nor do we have possession of that which belongs to others, but of the inheritance of our fathers. However, it had been in possession of our enemies wrongfully for a while. 34 But we, having opportunity, firmly hold the inheritance of our fathers. 35 As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they did great harm among the people throughout our country. We will give one hundred talents for them."

Athenobius didn’t answer even one word, 36 but returned in a rage to the king, and reported to him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all that he had seen; and the king was exceedingly angry. 37 Meanwhile, Tryphon embarked on board a ship, and fled to Orthosia.

38 The king appointed Cendebaeus chief captain of the sea coast, and gave him troops of infantry and cavalry. 39 He commanded him to encamp against Judea, and he commanded him to build up Kidron, and to fortify the gates, and that he should fight against the people; but the king pursued Tryphon. 40 So Cendebaeus came to Jamnia and began to provoke the people, and to invade Judea, and to take the people captive and kill them. 41 He built Kidron and stationed cavalry and infantry there, to the end that going out they might make raids on the highways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.