1 Maccabees:Chapter 12

Index

1 Maccabees:Chapter 12

瑪加伯(上)	1 Maccabees
¹約納堂見時局為自己有利就挑選幾個人，打發他們往羅馬去，與羅馬人重修舊好。	¹Jonathan saw that circumstances were to his advantage. So he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the alliance of friendship with the Romans.
²為了這事，也給斯巴達人及其他地方寫了信。	²He also sent letters to the Spartans and to other places for this same purpose.
³使者到了羅馬，進了元老院，說道：「大司祭約納堂和猶太人民，打發我們來，請你們與他們重修友好盟約，如同從前一樣。」	³Those who went to Rome entered the Senate and delivered this message: "The High Priest Jonathan and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew with you the friendship and alliance that formerly united us."
⁴元老們就交給他們一封給各地官吏的公函，以便護送他們平安回到猶太地方。	⁴The Senate gave them letters of recommendation to the authorities of each region, enabling them to journey safely back to the land of Judah.
⁵約納堂寫給斯巴達人的信，原文如下：	⁵This is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
⁶「大司祭約納堂，民間長老、司祭及猶太其餘民眾，祝斯巴達弟兄安好！	⁶"Jonathan, High Priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the whole country of the Jews, to the people of Sparta, their brothers: peace.
⁷從前管轄你們的君王阿勒烏，致書大司祭敖尼雅時，曾稱你們是我們的弟兄，正如所附副本指出的一樣。	⁷In the past, our high priest Onias received from Areios, your king, a letter stating that you are indeed our brothers, as the enclosed copy attests.
⁸敖尼雅曾優待了被打發來的使者，也接受了談及聯盟與友好的信件。	⁸Onias received the envoy with great honor and accepted the letter which clearly spoke of friendship and alliance.
⁹我們雖然不需要這些事，因為有我們手中的聖經作安慰；	⁹Though we are not in need, for we have our consolation in our Sacred Books,
¹⁰但是，我們仍願試驗一下，遣發使者到你們那裏去，為與你們重建弟兄和朋友之誼，不致與你們疏遠，因為自從收到你們的來信後，到現在時間已經過了很久。	¹⁰we have decided to send ambassadors to you to renew our fraternal bonds and friendship in order not to become strangers to you, for it has been a long time since you wrote us.
¹¹所以我們在節日，及其他法定日子，當獻祭和祈禱時，時常不斷記念你們；原來記念自己的弟兄，本是理所當然的。	¹¹For our part, we constantly remember you in all circumstances, on special days, in the sacrifices we offer, as well as in our prayers; for it is but right and proper to remember our brothers
¹²我們也為了你們的榮耀而喜樂。	¹²and greatly rejoice at your prosperity and fame.
¹³至於我們，當種種困難、連年戰爭、四面楚歌、鄰國攻打我們的時候，	¹³For our part, we have been involved in many trials, in misery and wars, for neighboring kings have attacked us.
¹⁴在這些戰爭中，我們不願意麻煩你們和我們其他的同盟及友邦，	¹⁴However, we did not want to be a burden to you or to the rest of our allies and friends during these wars,
¹⁵因為我們有上天的助佑，來協助我們，拯救我們脫離敵人的手，使敵人屈服。	¹⁵for our help comes from Heaven. Finally we have been freed from our enemies who have been humbled.
¹⁶所以我們纔選派安提約古的兒子奴默尼，和雅松的兒子安提帕特，打發他們到羅馬人那裏去，與他們重立昔日的友好同盟。	¹⁶So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and sent them to the Romans to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.
¹⁷我們也吩咐他們，到你們那裏去，向你們致敬，並且也把關於重建我們之間弟兄友誼的書信，呈給你們，	¹⁷We have also ordered them to go to you, greet you and deliver this letter to you on our behalf, with which we wish to renew our alliance.
¹⁸也請你們對這事給我們一個答覆。」	¹⁸We shall be glad to receive a favorable response."
¹⁹這是從前寄給敖尼雅的信的副本：	¹⁹This is a copy of the letter which Onias had received:
²⁰「斯巴達王阿勒烏，祝大司祭敖尼雅安好！	²⁰"Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias the High Priest.
²¹在論及斯巴達人和猶太人一文獻上發現：這兩個民族彼此是弟兄，因為他們都是亞巴郎的後裔。	²¹We have found in one of our documents that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers, for both are of the race of Abraham.
²²現在我們既然知道這事，就請你們更好將你們的昇平情況，寫給我們，	²²Now that we have come to know this, we shall be grateful if you send us news of your welfare.
²³我們也寫給你們：凡你們的牲畜和財產，都是我們的；凡我們的，也都是你們的；所以我們吩咐了使者，將這些事呈報給你們。」	²³And we say this to you: our livestock and our possessions are yours, and similarly all that are yours are ours. This is what we have instructed our envoys to say to you."
²⁴約納堂聽說：德默特琉的將領，帶着比以前更多的軍隊回來，要與他作戰，	²⁴Jonathan learned that the generals of Demetrius had come to attack him with a larger army than before.
²⁵就離開耶路撒冷，往哈瑪特地方去迎擊敵人，因為他不肯讓他們有侵入自己邊境的時間。	²⁵So he left Jerusalem at once and went to face them in the country of Hamath, so as not to give them time to invade his own land.
²⁶並且打發偵探到敵方軍營裏去，他們回來給他報告說：敵人決議要在夜間進襲。	²⁶He sent spies to their camp, and on their return, they told him that the enemy planned to attack them during the night.
²⁷太陽西落時，約納堂吩咐部下戒備，整夜攜帶武器，準備作戰，並在軍營四周，派上哨兵。	²⁷So, at sunset, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch throughout the night with their weapons at hand, ready to fight. And he posted guards around the camp.
²⁸敵人聽說約納堂和部下都準備決戰，怕得膽戰心驚，便在自己營中點起火，逃走了。	²⁸When the enemies learned that Jonathan was keeping watch with his troops and ready for battle, they were afraid and discouraged; for this reason, they kindled fires in their camp and fled.
²⁹約納堂和他的部下，先只看見火光，直到早晨纔知道敵人已經逃走。	²⁹But neither Jonathan nor his army knew of their withdrawal until morning, for they saw the fires burning the whole night.
³⁰約納堂就去追趕他們，但沒有追上，因為他們早已渡過厄婁特洛河。	³⁰Jonathan pursued them but was not able to catch up with them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus river.
³¹約納堂轉而攻擊稱為匝巴泰的阿剌伯人，將他們打敗，搶掠了他們的財物。	³¹So Jonathan went back against the Arabs called Zabadeans, defeated them and plundered them.
³²之後，便又出發，來到大馬士革，走遍全境。	³²After breaking camp, he went to Damascus and traveled throughout the region. Meanwhile,
³³同時，息孟也出征，直到阿市刻隆和臨近的堡壘，然後轉向約培，佔據了那城。	³³Simon had also set out and gone as far as Askalon and the neighboring fortresses. He then proceeded to Joppa and occupied it,
³⁴因為聽說，有人願將此堡壘交給德默特琉的黨羽，遂在那裏派軍隊把守。	³⁴for he had heard that the inhabitants of that city planned to hand the Citadel over to the supporters of Demetrius. And he stationed a garrison there to hold it.
³⁵約納堂回來之後，召集民間長老，與他們議決，要在猶太修建一些堡壘，	³⁵On returning, Jonathan summoned the elders of the people. The assembly decided to build fortresses in Judea,
³⁶加高耶路撒冷的圍牆，在堡壘與城之間，修築一堵高牆，將堡壘與城分開，使堡壘孤立，叫其中的人不能買賣。	³⁶to make the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a barrier between the Citadel and the city, to separate it from the city and to isolate it and prevent its defenders from going out to buy or sell.
³⁷猶太人便聚集起來修城，因為溪旁的東牆，已經倒塌；也把稱為加斐納達的地區加以重修。	³⁷They also held an assembly to rebuild the city. Part of the wall over a rushing stream had fallen and they built up a new wall they called Chapthenatha.
³⁸那時，息孟在舍斐拉也重修了哈狄得，加以設防，還安上門和閂。	³⁸Simon rebuilt Adida in the Shephelah, fortified it and erected barred gates in it.
³⁹那時，特黎豐企圖作亞細亞王，自戴王冠，而向安提約古下手，	³⁹Trypho wanted to reign in Asia, and to do away with King Antiochus in order to be king himself.
⁴⁰卻怕約納堂不容許他如此作，反而來攻打他，便設計擒拿約納堂，將他殺死；遂起程來到貝特商。	⁴⁰But he feared that Jonathan might not allow him to do so, and might even come to attack him. He set out and came to Bethshan.
⁴¹約納堂帶着四萬作戰精兵出發，也來到貝特商，與他交戰。	⁴¹At once Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men, and he, too, came to Bethshan.
⁴²特黎豐見約納堂帶着大軍前來，不敢向他下手；	⁴²When Trypho saw that Jonathan had come with a large army, he was afraid to begin the assault.
⁴³便以禮接待他，將他推薦給自己的眾朋友，送給他禮物，還命自己的朋友和自己的軍隊，都要服從他，如同服從自己一樣，	⁴³So he received Jonathan with honor, presented him to all his Friends, gave him gifts, and instructed his Friends and his troops to obey Jonathan as they obeyed him.
⁴⁴然後對約納堂說：「我們之間，既無戰事，你為什麼煩勞這麼多的人呢？	⁴⁴Then he asked Jonathan, "Why have you bothered to come with so many men? Are we perhaps enemies?
⁴⁵現在你打發他們各回本家罷！為你自己只選少數的人跟隨你，同我一起往仆托肋買去，我要將這座城，及其他堡壘、軍隊和一切官吏、都交給你；然後我回去，因為我原是為這事而來的。」	⁴⁵Send them back to their homes and remain here with some of them. Then you will come with me to the city of Ptolemais because I wish to hand it over to you, as well as the other fortresses and to place the rest of the troops and their officers at your disposal. Then, I will return home, for I have come only for this."
⁴⁶約納堂相信了他，就按他的話作了，遣散了軍隊，讓他們回到猶太地，	⁴⁶Jonathan believed him and did as Trypho had asked him. He dismissed his men who then returned to the land of Judea,
⁴⁷只為自己留下三千人，其中兩千人留在加里肋亞，與他同行的只有一千人。	⁴⁷and three thousand men remained with him. Of these, he left two thousand in Galilee and only a thousand accompanied him.
⁴⁸約納堂一進仆托肋買城，仆托肋買人便關了城門，將他捉住，用刀將他同來的眾人都殺了。	⁴⁸But as soon as they had entered Ptolemais, the inhabitants closed the gates. They seized him and killed all who had come with him.
⁴⁹同時，特黎豐又派步兵和騎兵，前往加里肋亞和大平原，去消滅約納堂的一切黨羽。	⁴⁹Trypho sent troops and cavalry to Galilee and to the Great Plain to wipe out all of Jonathan's men.
⁵⁰這些人雖已知道約納堂和跟從他的人，都被逮捕殺害，但仍然彼此鼓勵，整隊而出，準備決一死戰。	⁵⁰On receiving the news that Jonathan and his companions had been seized and killed, his soldiers encouraged one another and prepared to face their pursuers.
⁵¹追趕他們的敵人，一見猶太人決意要為保全性命而戰，就折回去了。	⁵¹When their enemy saw them ready to fight for their lives, they turned back.
⁵²這些人因此纔平安回到猶太地，他們都哀悼約納堂和跟從他的人，同時也非常恐懼；全以色列也都表示哀痛。	⁵²So the men of Jonathan reached the land of Judea safe and sound. They wept for Jonathan and his companions and they were discouraged. And all Israel was in mourning.
⁵³那時，他們四鄰所有的異民，都想滅絕猶太人說：「他們既沒有領袖，又沒有人幫助，現在我們應該去攻打他們，將他們的遺蹟由人間除去。」	⁵³Then all the neighboring nations planned to destroy them on seeing that they were now without leader or ally. And the pagans said: "This is now the opportunity to wipe out the remembrance of them from among men."

Produced by www.ccreadbible.org