1 Maccabees 16

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done.

Then came up John from Gazera, and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done: John comes up from Gazera and tells Simon his father what Cendebeus has done — the son-state reporting the provocation to the ruling state.

2Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father’s house, have ever from our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.

Wherefore Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them, I, and my brethren, and my father’s house, have ever from our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel; and things have prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel oftentimes: Simon calls his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and says: I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have ever from our youth to this day fought against the enemies of Israel, and things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered Israel oftentimes — the father's charge grounded in the whole family record of the book.

3But now I am old, and ye, by God’s mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from heaven be with you.

But now I am old, and ye, by God’s mercy, are of a sufficient age: be ye instead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation, and the help from heaven be with you: but now I am old, and you, by the Source's mercy, are of sufficient age: be you instead of me and my brother, go and fight for our nation, and the help from the inner realm be with you — rule handed down a generation, with heaven's help named as the true reinforcement.

4So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modin.

So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modin: he chooses out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen — the number exact — who go out against Cendebeus and rest that night at Modin, the fathers' city, before the fight.

5And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them.

And when as they rose in the morning, and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them: howbeit there was a water brook betwixt them: rising in the morning — at the dawning of the state — they go into the plain, and behold, a mighty great host of footmen and horsemen comes against them, a water brook between them: living water as the dividing line between the hosts.

6So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him.

So he and his people pitched over against them: and when he saw that the people were afraid to go over the water brook, he went first over himself, and then the men seeing him passed through after him: he pitches over against them; seeing the people afraid to go over the brook, he goes first over himself, and then the men, seeing him, pass through after him — the leader-state crossing first, courage communicated by example.

7That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies’ horsemen were very many.

That done, he divided his men, and set the horsemen in the midst of the footmen: for the enemies’ horsemen were very many: that done, he divides his men and sets the horsemen in the midst of the footmen, for the enemies' horsemen are very many.

8Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold.

Then sounded they with the holy trumpets: whereupon Cendebeus and his host were put to flight, so that many of them were slain, and the remnant gat them to the strong hold: then they sound with the holy trumpets — the rallying blasts made sacred by their cause — and Cendebeus and his host are put to flight; many are slain, and the remnant gets them to the strong hold.

9At that time was Judas John’s brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built.

At that time was Judas John’s brother wounded; but John still followed after them, until he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built: at that time Judas, John's brother, is wounded; but John still follows after them, until he comes to Cedron, which Cendebeus had built — the raiding stronghold of chapter 15 reached and faced.

10So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace.

So they fled even unto the towers in the fields of Azotus; wherefore he burned it with fire: so that there were slain of them about two thousand men. Afterward he returned into the land of Judea in peace: they flee even to the towers in the fields of Azotus; he burns it with fire, and about two thousand men are slain; afterward he returns into the land of Judea in peace — rest within the order, the conflict closed.

11Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold:

Moreover in the plain of Jericho was Ptolemeus the son of Abubus made captain, and he had abundance of silver and gold: in the plain of Jericho — the open, level sense-state — Ptolemeus the son of Abubus is made captain, and has abundance of silver and gold: office and wealth gathered in an unproved state.

12For he was the high priest’s son in law.

For he was the high priest’s son in law: for he is the high priest's son in law — joined to the ruling house by marriage, which makes the coming treachery a betrayal from within the family of states.

13Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them.

Wherefore his heart being lifted up, he thought to get the country to himself, and thereupon consulted deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them: his heart being lifted up — the affection-state exalting itself — he thinks to get the country to himself, and consults deceitfully against Simon and his sons to destroy them: ambition counselling in secret, as Tryphon's did.

14Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:

Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat: Simon is visiting the cities in the country, taking care for their good ordering, when he comes down to Jericho with his sons Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat — year and month exact.

15Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there.

Where the son of Abubus receiving them deceitfully into a little hold, called Docus, which he had built, made them a great banquet: howbeit he had hid men there: the son of Abubus receives them deceitfully into a little hold called Docus, which he had built, and makes them a great banquet — but he has hid men there: hospitality as the ambush's covering.

16So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants: when Simon and his sons have drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rise, take their weapons, come upon Simon in the banqueting place, and slay him, his two sons, and certain of his servants: the ruling state of the whole deliverance falls at a table, by treachery from within its own house.

17In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good.

In which doing he committed a great treachery, and recompensed evil for good: in this doing he commits a great treachery, and recompenses evil for good — the record's own verdict, kept plain.

18Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities.

Then Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him an host to aid him, and he would deliver him the country and cities: Ptolemee writes these things and sends to the king: send me a host to aid me, and I will deliver you the country and cities — the traitor-state selling the land it could not hold by its own strength.

19He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards.

He sent others also to Gazera to kill John: and unto the tribunes he sent letters to come unto him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards: he sends others to Gazera to kill John; and to the tribunes he sends letters to come to him, that he might give them silver, and gold, and rewards — the succession targeted, the officers courted with bribes.

20And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple.

And others he sent to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the temple: others he sends to take Jerusalem and the mountain of the temple — the center and the sanctuary-height struck at in the same hour as the succession.

21Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee also.

Now one had run afore to Gazera and told John that his father and brethren were slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee hath sent to slay thee also: one runs ahead to Gazera and tells John his father and brethren are slain, and, quoth he, Ptolemee has sent to slay you also — the warning outrunning the assassins.

22Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away.

Hereof when he heard, he was sore astonished: so he laid hands on them that were come to destroy him, and slew them; for he knew that they sought to make him away: hearing it, he is sore astonished; he lays hands on those come to destroy him and slays them, for he knows they sought to make him away — the surviving son-state acting on knowledge, not panic.

23As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings: as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars — the conflicts of the true idea with the states opposing it — and worthy deeds, and the building of the walls he made, and his doings, the book closes by pointing beyond itself.

24Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

Behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father: behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father: the record of the son's mediating rule kept in its own chronicle, as the book's final word.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.