Books Jesus Read

Chapter 3: Spiritual Legacy – Jonathan, Simon, and John Hyrcanus

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Now, Trypho determined to kill the young King Antiochus in order to gain the kingdom of Asia, though he feared that Jonathan would never permit it. So, he schemed how he might capture and kill Jonathan. And when he came with his army to Bethshan, Jonathan came forth to meet him with an army of forty thousand chosen warriors. Taking stock of Jonathan’s massive force, Trypho decided to receive Jonathan with honor and commend him to all his friends. He also gave gifts to Jonathan and commanded his army to obey him as they would himself. Then he said to Jonathan, “Why have you come with so great an army, seeing that we are not at war? Send your legions home and come with me to Ptolemais with a few of your servants. There I will hand over the fortresses and the garrisons to you and then return home, for this is why I have come. Jonathan, trusting him, released his legions to begin the journey home to Judea. He kept back three thousand of his men, sending two thousand into Galilee and keeping a thousand with him. As Jonathan entered Ptolemais, Trypho’s men slaughtered the warriors who rode alongside him and closed the gates against the rest. Trypho then dispatched legions of horsemen and infantry to pursue and destroy Jonathan’s men in Galilee and in the Great Plain. However, when Jonathan’s troops heard that he had been taken captive and perished alongside his men, they encouraged one another and prepared for battle. Trypho’s men realized that Jonathan’s forces were prepared to fight without him. So, the enemy turned back and Jonathan’s men reached Jerusalem safely. All Israel mourned greatly for Jonathan. Then the Gentiles surrounding them sought to destroy