the forces murmured against Demetrius. So he went to Imalcue the Arabian, who was raising up Antiochus the young child of Alexander, 40 and urgently insisted to him that he should deliver him to him, that he might reign in his father’s place. He told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred with which his forces hated him; and he stayed there many days.
41 Now Jonathan sent to King Demetrius, that he should remove the troops of the citadel from Jerusalem, and the troops who were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually. 42 Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying, “I will not only do this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honour you and your nation, if I find an opportunity. 43 Now therefore you shall do well if you send me men who will fight for me; for all my forces have revolted.” 44 So Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch. They came to the king, and the king was glad at their coming.
45 The people of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of one hundred and twenty thousand men, and they wanted to kill the king. 46 The king fled into the court of the palace, and the people of the city seized the main streets of the city and began to fight. 47 The king called the Jews to help him, and they were gathered together to him all at once, and they dispersed themselves in the city, and killed that day about one hundred thousand. 48 They set the city on fire, and seized many spoils that day, and saved the king. 49 The people of the city saw that the Jews had taken control of the city as they pleased, and they became faint in their hearts, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying, 50 “Give us your right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city.” 51 They threw away their weapons and made peace. The Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all who were in his kingdom. Then they returned to Jerusalem, having much plunder. 52 So King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him. 53 He lied in all that he spoke, and estranged himself from Jonathan, and didn’t repay him according to the benefits with which he had repaid him, and treated him very harshly.
54 Now after this, Tryphon returned, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned and put on a crown. 55 All the forces which Demetrius had sent away with disgrace were gathered to him, and they fought against him, and he fled and was routed. 56 Tryphon took the elephants, and took control of Antioch. 57 The young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, “I confirm to you the high priesthood, and appoint you over the four districts, and to be one of the king’s‡ friends.” 58 He sent to him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him permission to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle. 59 He made his brother Simon governor from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.
60 Jonathan went out and took his journey beyond the river and through the cities. All the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him to be his allies. He came to Ascalon, and the people of the city met him honourably. 61 He departed from there to Gaza, and the people of Gaza shut him out. So he besieged it and burnt its pasture lands with fire, and plundered them. 62 The people of Gaza pleaded with Jonathan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem. Then he passed through the country as far as Damascus.
63 Then Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had come to Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great army, intending to remove him from his office. 64 He went to meet them, but he left Simon his brother in the country. 65 Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and hemmed it in. 66 They asked him to give them his right hand, and he gave it to them. He removed them from there, took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.
67 Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of Gennesareth, and early in the morning they marched to the plain of Hazor. 68 Behold, an army of foreigners met him in the plain. They laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but they themselves met him face to face. 69 But those who lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle. All those who were on Jonathan’s side fled. 70 Not one of them was left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces. 71 Jonathan tore his clothes, put dirt on his head, and prayed. 72 He turned again to them in battle, and routed them, and they fled. 73 When the men on his side who had fled saw this, they returned to him and pursued with him to Kedesh to their camp, and they encamped there. 74 About three thousand men of the foreigners fell on that day. Then Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.
12
1 Jonathan saw that the time was favourable for him, so he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. 2 He also sent similar letters to the Spartans, and to other places. 3 They went to Rome, entered into the senate house, and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew for them the friendship and the alliance, as in former time.” 4 They gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should provide safe conduct for them on their way to the land of Judah. 5 This is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 “Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greetings. 7 Even before this time letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Arius,† who was reigning amongst you, to signify that you are our kindred, as the copy written below shows. 8 Onias welcomed honourably the man who was sent and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of alliance and friendship. 9 Therefore we also, even though we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, 10 have undertaken to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for a long time has passed since you sent your letter to us. 11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to be mindful of kindred. 12 Moreover, we are glad for your glory. 13 But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings who are around us have fought against us. 14 We were unwilling to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our allies and friends, in these wars; 15 for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled. 16 We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former alliance. 17 We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood. 18 And now you will do well if you give us a reply.”
19 And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:
20 “Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greetings. 21 It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are kindred, and that they are of the descendants of Abraham. 22 Now, since this has come to our knowledge, you will do well to write to us of your‡ prosperity. 23 We moreover write on our part to you, that your livestock and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you accordingly.”
24 Now Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes had returned to fight against him with a greater army than before, 25 so he marched away from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no opportunity to set foot in his country. 26 He sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were preparing to attack them at night. 27 But as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be armed, that all the night long they might be ready for battle. He stationed sentinels around the camp. 28 The adversaries heard that Jonathan and his