Agere Sequitur Esse

Capture of Demetrius; and the Eulogy of Simon

1 Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth yeere, king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media, to get him helpe to fight against Tryphon.

2 But when Arsaces the king of Persia & Media, heard that Demetrius was entred within his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him aliue.

3 Who went and smote the hoste of Demetrius, and tooke him and brought him to Arsaces, by whom hee was put in warde.

4 As for the land of Iudea, that was quiet all the dayes of Simon: for he sought the good of his nation, in such wise, as that euermore his authoritie and honour pleased them well.

5 And as he was honourable (in all his acts) so in this, that he tooke Ioppe for an hauen, and made an entrance to the yles of the Sea,

6 And enlarged the boundes of his nation, and recouered the countrey,

7 And gathered together a great number of captiues, and had the dominion of Gazara and Bethsura, and the towre, out of the which he tooke all vncleannesse, neither was there any that resisted him.

8 Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gaue her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit.

9 The ancient men sate all in the streetes, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warrelike apparell.

10 He prouided victuals for the cities, and set in them all maner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowmed vnto the end of the world.

11 He made peace in the land, and Israel reioyced with great ioy:

12 For euery man sate vnder his vine, and his figgetree, and there was none to fray them:

13 Neither was there any left in the lande to fight against them: yea, the Kings themselues were ouerthrowen in those dayes.

14 Moreouer hee strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the Law he searched out, and euery contemner of the Law, and wicked person, he tooke away.

15 He beautified the Sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the Temple.