Simon Maccabeus (III)

III. SIMON MACCABEUS, surnamed Thassi, Son of Mattathias, and Brother of Judas and Jonathan. He was Chief, Prince, and Pontiff of the Jews, from the Year of the World 3860 to 3869, before Christ 131, before the vulgar Era 135. He had for Successor John Hircanus his Son. Mattathias the Father of the Maccabees, just before his Death, spoke thus to his other Sons, of their Brother Simon; a I know that your Brother Simon is a Man of Counsel; give ear unto him alway, he shall be a Father unto you. He gave Proofs of his Valour in the Battle fought between his Brother Judas Maccabeus and Nicanor, in 2 Macc. viii. 22, 23.the Year of the World 3838; and also in another Battle between the same in 3843. 2 Macc. xv. 17.Upon another Occasion¹ Simon was sent into Galilee, to succour the Jews of that Province, who were threatened with an intire Destruction, by the Inhabitants of Tyre, Sidon, and Ptolemais. Simon having an Army of but three thousand effective Men, yet fought several Battles, dispersed the Enemy, kill’d above three thousand of them, obtain’d a great Booty, brought into Judea the Israelites that were in Galilee, and return’d triumphant to his Brethren. He again signalized his Valour in the Battle between his Brother Jonathan and Apollonius,² the Governor of Celosyria, whom they defeated, and kill’d above eight thousand of his Men. Simon was made Governor of the whole Coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from Tyre, as far as the Frontiers of Egypt, by the young King Antiochus 1 Macc. x. 82.Theos³. He also took Bethsura, and Joppa, and built Adida in the Plain call’d Sephela. 1 Macc. xii. 33. 1 Macc. xii. 48, &c.All these things he did while his Brother Jonathan was Chief and High-priest of the Jews.

But Jonathan being surprized by Tryphon,⁴ and a Report being spread that he was put to Death, Simon came to Jerusalem, and having assembled all the People, he thus address’d himself to ‘em; “ You “ very well know how many Battles we “ have fought, I and my Brethren, and “ the whole House of my Father, in Defence of our Laws, and for the Temple “ of the Lord. All my Brothers are slain “ for the Welfare of Israel, and I am left “ alone. But God forbid that I should be “ sparing of my Life in the same Cause; I “ am no better than my Brethren, and I “ shall be always ready for the Defence of “ my People, against all Nations that shall “ attempt to oppress them. ” At these Words the People were inspired with a new Courage, and said to him; “ Be our “ Chief in the room of Jonathan and of “ Judas, your Brethren; go before us in “ our Battles, and we will be obedient to “ you in every thing. ” Then Simon had the Walls of Jerusalem repair’d; and knowing that Tryphon was coming into Judea with a great Army, he march’d⁵ out to meet him, resolving to give him Battle.

But Tryphon sent Ambassadors to him, to tell him; that he had only detained his Brother Jonathan, because he was a Sum of Money in the King’s Debt, occasion’d by some Affairs of which he had had the Management; but if he would send him one hundred Talents of Silver, and his two Sons for Hostages, he should be set at Liberty. Tho’ Simon well knew this Message was only to trick him, yet he order’d the Money and his Brother’s Sons to be sent, that he might not draw any Odium upon himself from the People of Israel. Tryphon forfeited his Word and Honour, would not send back Jonathan, but fell to spoiling and ravaging the Country. Simon, on his Part, endeavour’d to prevent it what he could, by wheeling about, and continually coasting him. When Tryphon came to Bascama, he there slew Jonathan and his two Sons, and afterwards return’d into Syria. Simon sent to fetch away the Bones of his Brother, and buried them honourably at Modin in the Sepulchre of his Fathers, which he adorn’d very much with Pillars, Pyramids, and Trophies in Sculpture.

Tryphon being come into Syria, there put to Death the young King Antiochus,⁶ and usurped his Kingdom. But Simon Maccabeus would not acknowledge him, but his Competitor Demetrius Nicator as King of Syria; to whom he apply’d for confirming Judea in its antient Franchises, and for Freedom from Tribute. Demetrius granted Simon more than he asked, and gave him a general Amnesty for all that had passed, restor’d Judea to Freedom and Liberty, and left Simon the free Possession of all the Places he had fortify’d in the Country: So that this Year, which was the hundred and seventieth of the Greeks, he began to write upon the Tables and publick Registers; The first Year, under Simon sovereign Pontiff, great Chief, and Prince of the Jews. After this he took Gaza, and made a Composition with the Syrians that were in the Citadel of Jerusalem, and appointed an annual Festival in Commemoration of the Reduction of this Fortress, which for so long a 1 Macc. xiii. 43.Time had been in the Hands of Foreigners.

Simon made his Son, John Hircanus, General of his Troops,⁷ and appointed him his Station at Gazara, or Gadara, which was an important Post, for the Defence of the Country. During this Time Simon apply’d himself to Civil Affairs, and to give his Countrymen the Enjoyment of that Peace he had procured them.⁸ All Israel beheld with Pleasure the prudent Administration of this great Man. His whole Study was to advance the Happiness of his Nation, and to make them dwell in Prosperity and Security. He took Joppa, and made a Harbour of it, to improve the Trade of the Jews; and every way extended the Limits of his Country. Then did every one cultivate his Lands in Peace, the Fields produced all sorts of Fruits, the Elders sat in the publick Places, and discoursed of what was for the general Advantage, the young Men dress’d themselves splendidly in warlike Habits; in short, every one sat under his Vine, and under his Fig-tree, and no one had Power to disturb the Tranquillity they enjoy’d. And thus the Name of Simon became famous to the utmost Parts of the Earth.

He renew’d their Alliance with the Romans,⁹ and with the Lacedemonians,¹⁰ and had a favourable Reception from ‘em both. The whole Jewish Nation¹¹ concurr’d in registring a publick Act, by which they acknowledged their Obligations to Simon and all his Family, and recognized him and his Children as perpetual Prince and Pontiff of their Nation, till some faithful Prophet should arise from among them. They order’d, that he should be obey’d in all things, that all publick Acts should pass in his Name, that he should be cloathed in Purple, and adorned with Gold. This Declaration was written upon a Table of Copper, and set up in the Galleries of the Temple. A Copy of it was also deposited in the Treasury of the Temple, for the Use of Simon and his Children.

Antiochus Sidetes, King of Syria, Son of Demetrius Soter, and Brother to Demetrius Nicator, being inform’d that Demetrius Nicator was taken by the Parthians, wrote 1 Macc. xv. 1, 2, 3, &c.to Simon from the Isle of Rhodes, to endeavour to engage him on his Side against Tryphon. He confirm’d to him whatever had been granted by Demetrius Nicator, and allow’d him the Privilege of stamping Money;¹² remitted to him all the Debts which he might owe to the Kings of Syria, and declared Jerusalem to be a free and an holy City. Simon consented to the Proposals of Antiochus, and sent him Men and Money to assist him in the Reduction of Dora, a City to the South of Mount Carmel, in which Tryphon had shut himself up. But Antiochus would not receive them, nor would stand by the Articles of the Treaty that he had made with Simon. He even sent Athenobius to him, to demand of him the Surrender of several Places in his Possession, or the Sum of a thousand Talents of Silver; threatning, in case of Refusal, to enter Judea with a Body of Troops, and to treat him as an Enemy. But Simon was not at all discouraged with his Threats, and sent him Word, he had usurped nothing from him, but had only took Possession of the Inheritance of his Fathers. He offer’d to give him an hundred Talents for the Cities of Joppa and Gazara, of which he had made himself Master, because they were the Occasion of great Calamities to the Country.

Antiochus was but ill satisfy’d with this Answer, and therefore sent Cendebeus¹³ with an Army into the Country that lies upon the Coasts of the Mediterranean, and order’d him to make what Spoil and Havock he could in Judea. John Hircanus, the Son of Simon, who had his Quarters at Gazara or Gadara, came to inform his Father of this; who sent him back, with his other Son Judas, at the Head of twenty thousand Men of good Troops, and bid them give Battle to Cendebeus. They did so, and defeated this General. See the Article of JOHN HIRCANUS. Three Years afterwards,¹⁴ when Simon went to make a Visit to the Cities of Judea; he came to the Castle of Docus or Dagon, where his Son-in-law Ptolemy, Son of Ambubus, resided. Ptolemy received him, and made him a great Entertainment; but in the midst of the Feast he caus’d him to be massacred, with his two Sons Mattathias and Judas, hoping by this to make himself Master of Jerusalem, and the whole Country. But John Hircanus having Notice of this Treachery, was before-hand with him, and came first to Jerusalem. He was acknowledg’d Sovereign Pontiff and Prince of the Jews, in the place of his Father. The Reader may see the Consequences of this Murder of Simon, under the Article of PTOLEMY, Son of Ambubus.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages