Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/178

Apocrypha. christ m*shty 8reat host both °^ fbotmen and 01.139. Norsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.

6 So he and his people pitched over against them : and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.

7 That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen : for the enemies' horsemen were very many.

8 Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to night, so that many of them were (lain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.

9 At that time was Judas John's brother wounded but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.

10 || So they fled even unto the towers in Z'hnbe the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned taj/mt, it with sire : so that there were slain of t/Jutto tnem about two thousand men. Aster 's^ /onvr, ward he returned into the land of Judea in Peace- and there I I Moreover in the plain of Jericho iverejuun, was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold :

1 2 For he was the high priest's son in law.

13 Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.

14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them ; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat :

15 Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet : howbeit he had hid men there.

16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came up on Simon into the banqueting place, and stew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

17 In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.

18 Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would de liver him the country and cities.

19 He sent others also to Gazara to kijl John : and unto the f tribunes he sent let- t Gr. ters to come unto him, that he might give Tbllj'al'af! them silver, and gold, and rewards.

20 And others he lent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

21 Now one had run afore to Gazara, and told John that his father and brethren were stain, and, quoth be, Ptolemee hath sent to stay thee also.

22 Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished : so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and stew them ; for he knew that they sought to make him away.

23 As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

24 Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

HE brethren, the Tews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt, health and peace :

2 God be gracious unto you,and remem ber his covenant that he made with Abra ham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants

3 And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind ;

4 And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and fend you peace,

5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.

6 And now we be here praying for you.

7 What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that "Jason and his