Treaty of Ptolemy and Alexander
51 Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Egypt's King Ptolemy, and they delivered the following message:
52
I have returned to my kingdom and taken my seat on the throne of my ancestors. I have established my rule by crushing Demetrius to gain control of our country.
53
I met him in battle, and we crushed him and his army. I have taken my seat on the throne of his kingdom.
54
Therefore, let us establish friendship with each other. Give me your daughter to be my wife, and I will become your son-in-law. I will give gifts to you and to her in keeping with your position.
55
Ptolemy the king replied, Happy was the day on which you returned to the land of your ancestors and took your seat on the throne of their kingdom.
56
Now I will do for you as you wrote, but meet me at Ptolemais so that we may see each other, and I will become your father-in-law, as you have said.
57
So Ptolemy set out from Egypt—he and his daughter Cleopatra—and came to Ptolemais in the year 162.
58
King Alexander met Ptolemy, who gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. He celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with much ceremony, as kings do.
59
King Alexander then wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.
60
So he went with majestic apparel to Ptolemais and met the two kings. He gave silver and gold and many other gifts to them and their chief political advisors, and he found favor with them.
61
A group of troublemakers from Israel gathered together to slander him, but the king paid no attention to them.
62
Instead, he gave orders to take off Jonathan's garments and to clothe him in purple. And they did so.
63
The king also seated him at his side, and he spoke to his officers: "Go with him into the middle of the city and announce that no one should bring charges against him about any matter. Furthermore, let no one annoy him for any reason."
64
His accusers saw the honor that was paid Jonathan in keeping with the proclamation. They saw him clothed in purple, so they all fled.
65
In this way, the king honored him and enrolled him among his chief political advisors, and made him general and governor of the province.
66
And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.