AND the king of Mitsrayim gathered together a great host, like the sand that lies upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to his own.
Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner, so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for King Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his brother in law.
Now as Ptolemy entered into the cities, he set in everyone of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it.
And when he came near to Ashdod, they showed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt, and Ashdod and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass.
Also they told the king whatsoever Yonathan had done, to the intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace.
Then Yonathan met the king with great pomp at Yapho, where they saluted one another, and lodged.
Afterward Yonathan, when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus, returned again to Yerushalayim.
King Ptolemy therefore, having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined wicked counsels against Alexander.
Whereupon he sent ambassadors unto King Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give you my daughter whom Alexander has, and you shall reign in your father's kingdom:
For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.
Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his kingdom.
Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was openly known.
Then Ptolemy entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Mitsrayim.
In the mean season was King Alexander in Cilicia, because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him.
But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him: whereupon King Ptolemy brought forth his host, and met him with a mighty power, and put him to flight.
So Alexander fled into Arav there to be defended; but King Ptolemy was exalted:
For Zavdiy'el the Araviy took off Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemy.
King Ptolemy also died the third day after, and they that were in the strongholds were slain one of another.
By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year.
At the same time Yonathan gathered together them that were in Yahudah to take the tower that was in Yerushalayim: and he made many engines of war against it.
Then came wicked persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him that Yonathan besieged the tower,
Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Akko, and wrote unto Yonathan, that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him at Akko in great haste.
Nevertheless Yonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Yashar'el and the priests, and put himself in peril;
And took silver and gold, and raiment, and diverse presents besides, and went to Akko unto the king, where he found favor in his sight.
And though certain wicked men of the people had made complaints against him,
Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.
Then Yonathan desired the king, that he would make Yahudah free from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of Shomeron; and he promised him three hundred talents.
So the king consented, and wrote cepheriym unto Yonathan of all these things after this manner:
King Demetrius unto his brother Yonathan, and unto the nation of the Yahudiym, sends greeting:
We send you here a copy of the cepher which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.
King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sends greeting:
We are determined to do good to the people of the Yahudiym, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.
Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Yahudah, with the three governments of Apheqah and Lod and Ramah, that are added unto Yahudah from the country of Shomeron, and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Yerushalayim, instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.
And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.
And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth forever.
Now therefore see that you make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Yonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.
After this, when King Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, everyone to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.
Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Araviy that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,
And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, that he might reign in his father's stead: he told him therefore all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at enmity with him, and there he remained a long season.
In the mean time Yonathan sent unto King Demetrius, that he would cast those of the tower out of Yerushalayim, and those also in the fortresses: for they fought against Yashar'el.
So Demetrius sent unto Yonathan, saying, I will not only do this for you and your people, but I will greatly honor you and your nation, if opportunity serve.
Now therefore you shall do well, if you send me men to help me; for all my forces are gone from me.
Upon this Yonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad of their coming.
Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king.
Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
Then the king called to the Yahudiym for help, who came unto him all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew that day in the city to the number of a hundred thousand.
Also they set fire on the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
So when they of the city saw that the Yahudiym had got the city as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made supplication to the king, and cried, saying,
Grant us peace, and let the Yahudiym cease from assaulting us and the city.
With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and the Yahudiym were honored in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to Yerushalayim, having great spoils.
So King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.
Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spoke, and estranged himself from Yonathan, neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he had received of him, but troubled him very sore.
After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned.
Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who turned his back and fled.
Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch.
At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Yonathan, saying, I confirm you in the high priesthood, and appoint you ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.
His brother Shim`on also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tsor unto the borders of Mitsrayim.
Then Yonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Aram gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ashqelon, they of the city met him honorably.
From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.
Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Yonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Yerushalayim, and passed through the country unto Damascus.
Now when Yonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to Qadesh, which is in Galiyl, with a great power, purposing to remove him out of the country,
He went to meet them, and left Shim`on his brother in the country.
Then Shim`on encamped against Beyt Sura and fought against it a long season, and shut it up:
But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in it.
As for Yonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Kinneroth, from whence early in the morning they got them to the plain of Chatsor.
And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him.
So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle, all that were of Yahunathan's side fled;
So much so as there was not one of them left, except Mattithyahu the son of Avshalom, and Yahudah the son of Kalphiy, the captains of the host.
Then Yonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed.
Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away.
Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Qadesh, even unto their own tents, and there they camped.
So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Yonathan returned to Yerushalayim.