The Neshoba Democrat., 1909-10-07

'Tt IS fine army thou hast, iona
than. And I am glad of this occa
sion which has come to me of seeing
thy perfect discipline and the obedi
ence of thy men to thy every com
mand. Happy must thou be with such
an army"
And why hast thou come with
such a great army to Bethsan?' ques'
toned Jonathan, not altogether salts.
fled by the cordial words which
Tryphon had spoken.
That l might have thy Judgment
upon them and mightest give them
into thy hand for discipline as thine
own army is disciplined" he replied,
with evident sincerity "See," he ex.
claimed, here are the orders which
command that the men in my army
shall obey thee in all that thou shalt
say to them, and fortunate indeed
will I count myself if thou wilt but
come with me and show the manner
of thy orders in thine own army"
Jonathan took the proffered parch.
ment bearing the seal and writing.
Yea, thou knowest that l may well
covet thee as a friend, for do I not
know that Rome has again made
league with thee and have not the
LaCedemonians likewise entered into
covenant of peace with thee?"
Tryphon continued to argue, and
Jonathan seemed satisfied, for the
nnYt 1av uhnn ht,,,
to return with him to Ptolemais he
consented thereto.
Send home thy army, but take with
thee those whom thou wouldst have
serve thee until thy return" Tryphon
counseled, and Jonathan, believing
such advice was good and that his
men were better back in their homes
and busy on the land, he dismissed
them and sent them back. But 1000
he sent into Galilee and 1000 picked
men he took with him.
Now as soon as Jonathan had en-.
tered into Ptolemais with his men
the men of the city shut the gates
In subtlety at night, and going forth
they slew while yet they slept all the
men whom Jonathan had brought
with him, so that when he went forth
in the morning he found himself
prisoner in the hands of Tryphon,
and he expected that he would be
killed, but instead Tryphon fastened
back into Galilee to destroy the
forces there before the rest of the
army could assemble.
But when Simon, the brother of
Jonathan, heard all this he hastened
to gather the men of Judea But they
were in great dismay until he had
spoken boldly, saying:
"Ye yourselves know what great
things l, and my brethren, and my
fathers house, have done for the laws
and the sanctuary, the battles also
and troubles which we have seen.
By reason whereof all my brethren
are slain for Israels sake, and am
left alone. Now be it far from me,
that l should spare mine own life, in
any time of trouble; for l am no bet.
ter than my brethren. Doubtless l
will avenge my nation, and the sane.
tuary, and our wives, and our chill
dren; for all the heathens are gath
cred to destroy us of very malice
Now when the people heard these
brave words their spirits revived and
they shouted:
Thou shalt be our leader instead
of Jonathan thy brother. Fight our
battles and whatsoever thou COM
mandest us, that will we do"
In this spirit Simon and his army
met the great army of Tryphon,
which came into Judea, Jonathan be-
ing held in ward. And Tryphon sent
messengers to Simon, saying:
Whereas we have Jonathan thy
brother in hold, 1t is for money that
he is owing unto the kings treasury,
concerning certain business which
was committed unto him. Wherefore
now send hundred talents of silver
and two of his sons as hostages, that
when he is at liberty he may not re-
volt from us and we will let him CO."
Now Simon suspected further de-
ceit, but he knew that his followers
would blame him if he consented not
to these terms and would charge that
he had caused the death of Jonathan.
So he sent Tryphon the children and
the money.
But Tryphon kept not his word, but
when he had come to Bascama, he
slew Jonathan and buried him there
and then returned to his own land,
and Simon went and took the bones
OF Jonathan and buried them in
Modin, the city of his fathers and he
built a monument and all Israel made
great lamentation for him and be-
walled him many days.
CNtr