42
Moreover, the five thousand shekels of silver that my officials have received every year from the income of the services of the temple, this too is canceled, because it belongs to the priests who minister there.
43
And all who take refuge at the temple in Jerusalem, or in any of its precincts, because they owe money to the king or are in debt, let them be released and receive back all their property in my kingdom.
44
"Let the cost of rebuilding and restoring the structures of the sanctuary be paid from the revenues of the king.
45
And let the cost of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and fortifying it all around, and the cost of rebuilding the walls in Judea, also be paid from the revenues of the king."
46
When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they did not believe or accept them, because they remembered the great wrongs that Demetrius had done in Israel and how much he had oppressed them.
47
They favored Alexander, because he had been the first to speak peaceable words to them, and they remained his allies all his days.
48
Now King Alexander assembled large forces and encamped opposite Demetrius.
49
The two kings met in battle, and the army of Demetrius fled, and Alexander pursued him and defeated them.
50
He pressed the battle strongly until the sun set, and on that day Demetrius fell.
51
Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt with the following message:
52
"Since I have returned to my kingdom and have taken my seat on the throne of my ancestors, and established my rule—for I crushed Demetrius and gained control of our country;