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for he went to the king at Ptolemais, taking silver and gold and clothing and numerous other gifts. And he won his favor.
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Although certain renegades of his nation kept making complaints against him,
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the king treated him as his predecessors had treated him; he exalted him in the presence of all his Friends.
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He confirmed him in the high priesthood and in as many other honors as he had formerly had, and caused him to be reckoned among his chief Friends.
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Then Jonathan asked the king to free Judea and the three districts of Samaria from tribute, and promised him three hundred talents.
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The king consented, and wrote a letter to Jonathan about all these things; its contents were as follows:
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"King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan and to the nation of the Jews, greetings.
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This copy of the letter that we wrote concerning you to our kinsman Lasthenes we have written to you also, so that you may know what it says.
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"King Demetrius to his father Lasthenes, greetings.
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We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends and fulfill their obligations to us, because of the goodwill they show toward us.
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We have confirmed as their possession both the territory of Judea and the three districts of Aphairema and Lydda and Rathamin; the latter, with all the region bordering them, were added to Judea from Samaria. To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem we have granted release from the royal taxes that the king formerly received from them each year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees.