75
He encamped before Joppa, but the men of the city closed its gates, for Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa.
76
So they fought against it, and the men of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and Jonathan gained possession of Joppa.
77
When Apollonius heard of it, he mustered three thousand cavalry and a large army, and went to Azotus as though he were going farther. At the same time he advanced into the plain, for he had a large troop of cavalry and put confidence in it.
78
Jonathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle.
79
Now Apollonius had secretly left a thousand cavalry behind them.
80
Jonathan learned that there was an ambush behind him, for they surrounded his army and shot arrows at his men from early morning till late afternoon.
81
But his men stood fast, as Jonathan commanded, and the enemy's horses grew tired.
82
Then Simon brought forward his force and engaged the phalanx in battle (for the cavalry was exhausted); they were overwhelmed by him and fled,
83
and the cavalry was dispersed in the plain. They fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, for safety.
84
But Jonathan burned Azotus and the surrounding towns and plundered them; and the temple of Dagon, and those who had taken refuge in it he burned with fire.
85
The number of those who fell by the sword, with those burned alive, came to eight thousand men.