Jonathan sends envoys to renew the friendship with Rome and writes to the Lacedemonians, recalling a letter from their king Areus to the high priest Onias that called both peoples brethren, of the stock of Abraham. He drives Demetrius' princes back over the river Eleutherus, while Simon wins Joppa. Back in Jerusalem, he raises the walls and builds a mount to cut the tower off from the city. Tryphon, who wants the crown, fears him: meeting him at Bethsan, he persuades Jonathan to send his army home and come to Ptolemais with a thousand men. There the gates are shut, Jonathan is taken and all his escort slain.

1 Maccabees 12 - Summary
Read 1 Maccabees Chapter 12 Summary
Characters in This Chapter

Priest of Modin who refuses to sacrifice to idols, launches the revolt and on his deathbed names Judas captain

Son of Mattathias and leader of the revolt, who wins at Emmaus, rededicates the Temple and falls at Eleasa

Seleucid king who plunders the Temple, outlaws the law and sets up the abomination of desolation, then dies in Persia

Faithful Friend of David

King who Cast Daniel into the Lions' Den

Father of Many Nations
Places in This Chapter

City plundered and garrisoned by Antiochus, won back by Judas, rebuilt by Jonathan and freed of its Syrian tower by Simon

Sanctuary profaned by the abomination of desolation in the 145th year and rededicated by Judas three years later to the day

Town of Mattathias, where the revolt begins and where the family is buried under Simon's monument

Royal city of the Seleucid kings, from which the armies set out, and where Jonathan's soldiers save Demetrius from a rising

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and became a significant center of early Christianity. The apostle Paul wrote his most theological letter to the church in Rome and eventually traveled there as a prisoner. Both Peter and Paul are traditionally believed to have been martyred in Rome. Paul's Letter to the Romans is foundational to Christian theology, addressing salvation, grace, and the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.

Judea was the southern region of Israel, centered on Jerusalem. It was the heart of the ancient kingdom of Judah. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, was crucified in Jerusalem, and the early church spread from Judea to the ends of the earth.

Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and plays a significant role in biblical history. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus had his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ and was converted, becoming the apostle Paul. The prophet Elijah was told to anoint Hazael as king of Syria in Damascus. The city is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Galilee was a region in northern Israel where Jesus grew up and conducted much of His ministry. Jesus called His first disciples here, performed many miracles, and taught large crowds. After His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples in Galilee and commissioned them to make disciples of all nations.
Position in Book
Judas falls at Eleasa; Jonathan survives in the wilderness, becomes high priest between rival kings, and is taken by Tryphon's treachery at Ptolemais.
