Thou shalt do well therefore to send cir. i63. unto them, and [| grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs..
27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner : King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the reft of the Jews :
28 If ye farewell, we have our desire ; we are also in good health.
29 Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business :
30 Wherefore they that will depart mall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.
31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molest ed for things ignorantly done.
32 I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.
33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of IGuAfiU- tie month || Xanthicus.
34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words : Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, II ambassa dors of the Romans, send greeting unto the psople of the Jews.
35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.
36 But touching such things as he judged to. be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you : for we are now going to Antioch.
3-7 Therefore fend some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.
38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
CHAP. XII.
WHEN these covenants were made, Lyfiasi went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.
2 But of the governors of several places, " Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of c"e^'ser Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demo- cir. 164.. phon, and beside them Nicanor the go- 2 Scc vernor of Cyprus, would not suffer them C1' ,0" 3*' to be auiet, and live in peace.
3 The men of Joppe also did such an ungodly deed : they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.
4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being de sirous to live in peace, and suspecting no thing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.
5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.
6 And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he flew.
7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, [] as if he would return to | or, with root out all them of the city of Joppe. a purpose
8 But when he heard that the Jamnites °u "r"' were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,
9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty fur longs off.
10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey to ward Timotheus, no fewer than five thou sand men on foot and five hundred horse men of the Arabians set upon him.
11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by the help of God got the victory ; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Ju das for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.
12 Thenjudas, thinkingindeed that they would be profitable in many things, grant ed them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they || departed to their tents. II Or,
13 He went also about to make a bridge ^iea"c'e{0rcm to a certain strong city, which was fenced place witt about with walls, and inhabited by people 'i"rJ„aJn of divers countries 3 and the name of it cattie. was Caspis.
14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and pro vision of victuals, that they behaved them selves rudely toward them that were with
