1 Maccabees 1 When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he again sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah, along with the right wing of his army. 德默特琉听说,尼加诺尔已经阵亡,军队已覆没,便再派遣巴基德和阿耳基慕率领右翼军,到犹大地去。 2 1 They took the road to Galilee, and camping opposite the ascent at Arbela, they captured it and killed many people. 他们沿着通往加里肋亚的大道前行,包围了阿尔贝拉的买撒罗特,攻陷那地方,杀死很多人。 3 2 In the first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two, they encamped against Jerusalem. 一百五十二年正月,面对耶路撒冷安营。 4 Then they set out for Berea with twenty thousand men and two thousand cavalry. 但以后又拔营,领着步兵两万,骑兵两千,前往贝尔则特。 5 Judas, with three thousand picked men, had camped at Elasa. 同时犹大带着精兵三千在厄拉撒驻扎。 6 When his men saw the great number of the troops, they were very much afraid, and many slipped away from the camp, until only eight hundred men remained. 犹太人见敌军人数众多,都很害怕,于是有许多人离营潜逃,剩下的仅八百人。 7 As Judas saw that his army was melting away just when the battle was imminent, he was panic-stricken, because he had no time to gather them together. 犹大见自己的军队潜逃,战事又迫于眉睫,心中焦急,已来不及集合兵马; 8 But in spite of his discouragement, he said to those who remained: "Let us go forward to meet our enemies; perhaps we can put up a good fight against them." 遂失意地对剩下的人说:"起来,去攻打敌人,也许能与他们对抗!" 9 They tried to dissuade him, saying: "We certainly cannot. Let us save our lives now, and come back with our kinsmen, and then fight against them. Now we are too few." 他们劝阻他说:"我们不能去!现在只可逃命!不如回去联合我们的弟兄再与他们决战,因为我们人数太少!" 10 But Judas said: "Far be it from me to do such a thing as to flee from them! If our time has come, let us die bravely for our kinsmen and not leave a stain upon our glory!" 犹大说:"逃走?我决不逃。若时机到来,我们要为我们的兄弟勇敢牺牲,决不可失掉我们的光荣。" 11 Then the army of Bacchides moved out of camp and took its position for combat. The cavalry were divided into two squadrons, and the slingers and the archers came on ahead of the army, and all the valiant men were in the front line. 敌军从营里冲出,犹太人便去迎战。这时敌骑分成两翼,投石手与弓手行在军队前面,前锋都是勇士,巴基德坐镇右翼。 12 Bacchides was on the right wing. Flanked by the two squadrons, the phalanx attacked as they blew their trumpets. Those who were on Judas' side also blew their trumpets. 敌军两翼进攻时,吹起号角,犹大方面的人也吹起号角。 13 The earth shook with the noise of the armies, and the battle raged from morning until evening. 14 Seeing that Bacchides was on the right, with the main force of his army, Judas, with all the most stouthearted rallying to him, 犹大见巴基德和军队主力都在右翼,就集合所有勇敢的人专攻右翼; 15 3 drove back the right wing and pursued them as far as the mountain slopes. 右翼便被他们击溃,他们将敌人追到阿左托山。 16 But when the men on the left wing saw that the right wing was driven back, they turned and followed Judas and his men, taking them in the rear. 敌军左翼见右翼败退,便转身从背后追击犹大及其军队。 17 The battle was fought desperately, and many on both sides fell wounded. 18 Then Judas fell, and the rest fled. 犹大也阵亡了,其余的人也都逃散。 19 Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the tomb of their fathers at Modein. 约纳堂便和息孟,将他们的兄弟犹大抬回,埋葬在摩丁城的祖茔里。 20 All Israel bewailed him in great grief. They mourned for him many days, and they said, 全以色列都痛哭他,非常悲哀,一连多日哀悼他说: 21 "How the mighty one has fallen, the savior of Israel!" 22 The other acts of Judas, his battles, the brave deeds he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded; but they were very many. 犹大其余的言行,所立的战功,英勇的事迹,和他的伟大,都没有记载出来,因为实在大多了。 23 After the death of Judas, the transgressors of the law raised their heads in every part of Israel, and all kinds of evildoers appeared. 犹大死后,以色列各地的歹徒,都蜂拥而起,作恶的人也乘机而兴, 24 In those days there was a very great famine, and the country deserted to them. 25 Bacchides chose impious men and made them masters of the country. 巴基德便选出一些歹徒,派定他们主管那地方; 26 These sought out and hunted down the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, who punished and derided them. 他们便搜查犹大的朋友,逮捕后,解到巴基德前,让他报仇,虐待他们。 27 There had not been such great distress in Israel since the time prophets ceased to appear among the people. 28 Then all the friends of Judas came together and said to Jonathan: 于是犹大的众朋友聚集起来,向约纳堂说: 29 "Since your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to oppose our enemies, Bacchides and those who are hostile to our nation. "自从你的兄弟犹大死后,没有一个象他的人出来,抵抗我们的仇敌和巴基德,以及仇视我们民族的人。 30 Now therefore we have chosen you today to be our ruler and leader in his place, and to fight our battle." 所以我们今天推选你来代替他,作我们的领袖,领导我们作战。" 31 From that moment Jonathan accepted the leadership, and took the place of Judas his brother. 约纳堂那时便接受了领袖的职位,起来代替他哥哥犹大。 32 When Bacchides learned of it, he sought to kill him. 巴基德一听说这事,便企图杀害他。 33 4 But Jonathan and his brother Simon and all the men with him discovered this, and they fled to the desert of Tekoa and camped by the waters of the pool of Asphar. 约纳堂和他哥哥息孟以及他的众同志,知道这个消息后,便逃到特科亚旷野,驻扎在阿斯法尔水池旁。 34 5 【巴基德在安息日知道了这事,便率领他的全军,来到约但的彼岸。】 35 6 Jonathan sent his brother as leader of the convoy to ask permission of his friends, the Nabateans, to deposit with them their great quantity of baggage. 36 7 But the sons of Jambri from Medaba made a raid and seized and carried off John and everything he had. 不料,杨布黎人从默德巴出来,捉住若望,且抢去他的一切所有,带着走了。 37 After this, word was brought to Jonathan and his brother Simon: "The sons of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and with a large escort they are bringing the bride, the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan, from Nadabath." 事后,有人报告约纳堂及他的兄弟息孟说:“杨布黎人现在正要举行隆重的婚礼,场面伟大,由纳达巴特迎娶新娘,她是客纳罕一个族长的女儿。” 38 Remembering the blood of John their brother, they went up and hid themselves under cover of the mountain. 那时他们便想起他们兄弟若望的血债,遂上去藏在山中隐密处。 39 They watched, and suddenly saw a noisy crowd with baggage; the bridegroom and his friends and kinsmen had come out to meet the bride's party with tambourines and musicians and much equipment. 举目一望,看见一群喧嚷的人和大批的妆大,新郎和他的众朋友及兄弟,都出来迎接,其中有的敲鼓,有的奏乐,很多人还拿着武器。 40 The Jews rose up against them from their ambush and killed them. Many fell wounded, and after the survivors fled toward the mountain, all their spoils were taken. 犹太人便从埋伏的地方起来。向他们冲去击杀,他们伤亡的很多,其余的都逃到山里去了,犹太人便抢得了他们所有的一切。 41 Thus the wedding was turned into mourning, and the sound of music into lamentation. 如此,婚事变成了丧事,乐声变成了哀声。 42 Having taken their revenge for the blood of their brother, the Jews returned to the marshes of the Jordan. 他们为自己的兄弟报了血仇以后,就回到约旦河的沼泽地方。 43 When Bacchides heard of it, he came on the sabbath to the banks of the Jordan with a large force. 巴基德一听说这事,就在安息日率领大军来到约但河畔。 44 Then Jonathan said to his companions, "Let us get up now and fight for our lives, for today is not like yesterday and the day before. 那时约纳堂向部下说:“现在应当起来,应为保全生命而战。今天决不象昨天或前天一样。 45 8 The battle is before us, and behind us are the waters of the Jordan on one side, marsh and thickets on the other, and there is no way of escape. 战争就在我们前后进行,这边有约但河水,那边有沼泽和丛林,决没有退却的地方。 46 Cry out now to Heaven for deliverance from our enemies." 所以现在应向上天呼吁:援救你们脱离仇敌的手。” 47 When they joined battle, Jonathan raised his arm to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides backed away from him. 双方于是交战,约纳堂伸手要杀巴基德,巴基德却脱身逃了。 48 Jonathan and his men jumped into the Jordan and swam across to the other side, but the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan. 约纳堂便同他的部下,跳进约但河,游到对岸。敌人并未过约但河追击。 49 A thousand men on Bacchides' side fell that day. 那一天,巴基德方面死亡的约一千人。 50 9 On returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea: the Jericho fortress, as well as Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars. 巴基德回到耶路撒冷,在犹太各城修筑防御工事,又修建高墙,安上大门和闩,巩固了耶里哥、厄玛乌、贝特曷龙、贝特耳、提默纳达、法辣通、特丰等地所有的堡垒; 51 In each he put a garrison to oppose Israel. 在那里驻扎了守卫队,与以色列为敌; 52 He fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara and the citadel, and put soldiers in them and stores of provisions. 且巩固了贝特族尔城,革则尔和耶路撒冷的堡垒,派军队驻扎在那里,并贮存了食粮, 53 He took as hostages the sons of the leaders of the country and put them in custody in the citadel at Jerusalem. 又把当地首领的孩子,带去作质,囚禁在耶路撒冷的堡垒里。 54 10 In the year one hundred and fifty-three, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary to be torn down, thus destroying the work of the prophets. But he only began to tear it down. 一百五十三年二月,阿耳基慕下令拆毁圣所内院的墙,就是拆毁先知们修建的工程,但他只能开始拆墙, 55 Just at that time he had a stroke, and his work was interrupted; his mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, so that he could no longer utter a word to give orders concerning his house. 因为那时候,阿尔基慕忽然得了病,他的工作因此被迫停止;他的口闭着,身子瘫痪,不能说话,也不能料理家事。 56 Finally he died in great agony. 阿耳基慕就这样十分凄惨地死了。 57 Seeing that Alcimus was dead, Bacchides returned to the king, and the land of Judah was quiet for two years. Bacchides and Jonathan 巴基德见阿耳基慕已死,就回到国王那里,犹大地方于是两年得享平安。 58 Then all the transgressors of the law held a council and said: "Jonathan and his companions are living in peace and security. Now then, let us have Bacchides return, and he will capture all of them in a single night." 那时犹太人中的一般歹徒又商议说:“看约纳堂和他的部下,已安心生活,一无所惧,所以现在我们要引巴基德来,一夜之间,把他们一网打尽。” 59 So they went and took counsel with him. 于是他们去向他建议。 60 When Bacchides was setting out with a large force, he sent letters secretly to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his companions. They were not able to do this, however, because their plot became known. 巴基德起身,带领大军前来,同时暗中给他在犹太的一切同僚去信,叫他们逮捕约纳堂和他的部下;但是他们没有办到,因为计划已被泄漏。 61 In fact, Jonathan's men seized about fifty of the men of the country who were ringleaders in the mischief and put them to death. 约纳堂的部下,反而从当地人中,逮捕了这事的罪魁五十名,尽行杀死。 62 11 Then Jonathan and Simon and their companions withdrew to Bethbasi in the desert; they rebuilt and strengthened its fortification, s that had been demolished. 约纳堂和息孟及他的部下,随后退入旷野,到了贝特巴息,将那里已毁坏的地方,重加修建及巩固。 63 When Bacchides learned of this, he gathered together his whole force and sent word to those who were in Judea. 巴基德知道了这事,就集合他的大军,又通知犹大地的党羽; 64 He came and pitched his camp before Bethbasi, and constructing siege-machines, he fought against it for many days. 便来面对贝特巴息安营,制造军械,攻打了多日。 65 Leaving his brother Simon in the city, Jonathan, accompanied by a small group of men, went out into the field. 66 He struck down Odomera and his kinsmen and the sons of Phasiron in their encampment; these men had set out to go up to the siege with their forces. 袭击住在帐幕中的敖多默辣,和他的兄弟们,以及法息龙的后裔。这些人也随他作战,部队也随着扩大。 67 Simon and his men then sallied forth from the city and set fire to the machines. 那时,息孟也率领部下,突出城外,焚毁了敌方的军械。 68 They fought against Bacchides, and he was beaten. This caused him great distress. Because the enterprise he had planned came to nought, 于是双方夹攻,巴基德大败,囚此十分懊丧,因为他的计谋与战略都落了空, 69 he was angry with the lawless men who had advised him to invade the province. He killed many of them and resolved to return to his own country. 便对那些给他献计,劝他来此地的歹徒泄怒,将他们中许多人杀死,然后决意回国。 70 Jonathan learned of this and sent ambassadors to make peace with him and to obtain the release of the prisoners. 约纳堂一知道了,就打发使者到他那里,与他和谈,要求交还俘虏。 71 He agreed to do as Jonathan had asked. He swore an oath to him that he would never try to injure him for the rest of his life; 巴基德接受了,也按他所说的话行了,还向他发誓,有生之日,不再谋害他, 72 and he released the prisoners he had previously taken from the land of Judah. He returned to his own country and never came into their territory again. 遂把以前在犹大地掳去的俘虏,交还给约纳堂,然后回本国去了;此后再不打算来犯犹太国境。 73 12 Then the sword ceased in Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash; he began to judge the people and he destroyed the impious in Israel. 以色列地干戈于是止息。约纳堂住在米革玛斯,开始治理百姓,且将歹徒由以色列中除尽。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [2] They took the road . . . Arbela, they captured it: This passage is restored, in part, by conjectural emendation. The present Greek text could be translated, "They took the road to Gilgal, and camping opposite Mesaloth at Arbela, they captured it." But Arbela (modern Khirbet Irbid) was in Galilee-on a high hill overlooking the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gilgal, on the contrary, was in the Jordan valley near Jericho. "Mesaloth" is probably a corrupt form of a Hebrew word meaning "steps, ascent." 2 [3] The first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two: April/May 160 B.C., by the temple calendar. 3 [15] As far as the mountain slopes: conjectural emendation. The Greek text has "as far as Mount Azotus"; this is most unlikely. Apparently the Greek translator mistook the Hebrew word ashd't, "slopes," for a shd'd, "Azotus." 4 [33] Tekoa: home of the prophet Amos in the wild country above the Dead Sea, southeast of Jerusalem. 5 [34] Omitted, it is a dittography of 1 Macc 9:43. 6 [35] Jonathan sent his brother: this was John who was called Gaddi (1 Macc 2:2; cf 1 Macc 9:36, 38). 7 [36] Medaba: northeast of the Dead Sea. 8 [45] Jonathan's force was apparently trapped in one of the many oxbows of the lower Jordan. Bacchides had crossed and caught them still on the east bank. 9 [50] These sites constitute a ring on the edges of the province of Judea. 10 [54] In the year . . . second month: May, 159 B.C. 11 [62] Bethbasi: two miles east of Bethlehem and six miles north of Tekoa. 12 [73] Began to judge: exercise the governing authority as in the book of Judges. With Jerusalem and the garrison towns (1 Macc 9:50) firmly in Seleucid hands, Jonathan's freedom of action was greatly restricted. Michmash, southeast of Bethel, famous for the exploit of the former Jonathan, son of Saul; cf 1 Sam 14. |