1
In the one hundred and sixtieth year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, landed and occupied Ptolemais. They welcomed him, and there he began to reign.
2
When Demetrius the king heard of it, he assembled a very large army and marched out to meet him in battle.
3
And Demetrius sent Jonathan a letter in peaceable words to honor him;
4
for he said, "Let us act first to make peace with him before he makes peace with Alexander against us,
5
for he will remember all the wrongs which we did to him and to his brothers and his nation."
6
So Demetrius gave him authority to recruit troops, to equip them with arms, and to become his ally; and he commanded that the hostages in the citadel should be released to him.
7
Then Jonathan came to Jerusalem and read the letter in the hearing of all the people and of the men in the citadel.
8
They were greatly alarmed when they heard that the king had given him authority to recruit troops.
9
But the men in the citadel released the hostages to Jonathan, and he returned them to their parents.
10
And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem and began to rebuild and restore the city.