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Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with the Romans.
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He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians and to other places for the same purpose.
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So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate and said, Jonathan the high priest and the people of the Jews sent us unto you, to the end that you should renew the friendship and league which you had with them, as in former time.
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Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place, that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.
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And this is the copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:
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Jonathan the high priest and the elders of the nation and the priests, and the others of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:
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There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Arius, who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
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At that time Onias treated the ambassador who was sent honorably, and received the letters wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.
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Therefore also albeit we need none of these things, for we have the holy books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us
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we have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether; for a long time has passed since you sent unto us.
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We therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts and other designated days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is proper and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren.
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And we are very glad for your honor.
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As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forasmuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.
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However that be, we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends in these wars;
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for we have help from heaven that succoreth us, so that we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought underfoot.
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For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans to renew the amity that we had with them and the former league.
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We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute you and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
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Therefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.
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And this is the copy of the letter which Arius sent to Onias.
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Arius, king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:
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It is found in writing that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.
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Now therefore, since this has come to our knowledge, you shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.
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We write back again to you that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We command, therefore, our ambassadors to make report unto you in this way.
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Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes had come to fight against him with a greater host than before,
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he removed from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to enter his country.
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He sent spies also unto their tents, who came back and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.
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Therefore as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch and to be armed, that all the night long they might be ready to fight; also he sent forth sentinels round about the host.
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But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they feared and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp.
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However Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning, for they saw the lights burning.
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Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not, for they had gone over the River Eleutherus.
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Therefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called Zabadeans, and smote them and took their spoils.
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And removing from thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country.
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Simon also went forth and passed through the country unto Askalon and the strongholds there adjoining, from whence he turned aside to Joppa and won it.
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For he had heard that they would deliver the stronghold unto those who took Demetrius' part; therefore he set a garrison there to keep it.
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After this Jonathan came home again and, calling the elders of the people together, he consulted with them about building strongholds in Judea
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and making the walls of Jerusalem higher, and raising a great mound between the tower and the city to separate it from the city, so that it might be alone, that men might neither sell nor buy in it.
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Upon this they came together to build up the city, forasmuch as part of the wall toward the brook on the east side had fallen down; and they repaired that which was called Chaphenatha.
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Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.
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Now Trypho went about to get the kingdom of Asia, and to kill Antiochus the king, that he might set the crown upon his own head.
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However he was afraid that Jonathan would not suffer him, and that he would fight against him; therefore he sought a way how to take Jonathan, that he might kill him. So he removed and came to Beth-shan.
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Then Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for the battle, and came to Beth-shan.
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Now when Trypho saw that Jonathan came with so great a force, he dared not stretch his hand against him,
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but received him honorably, and commended him unto all his friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him as to himself.
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Unto Jonathan also he said, Why hast thou brought all this people to such great trouble, seeing there is no war between us?
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Therefore now send them home again, and choose a few men to wait with thee, and come thou with me to Ptolemais, for I will give it to thee, and the rest of the strongholds and forces and all who have any charge. As for me, I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.
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So Jonathan, believing him, did as he bade him and sent away his host, who went into the land of Judea.
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And with himself he retained but three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.
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Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates and took him, and all those who came with him they slew with the sword.
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Then sent Trypho a host of footmen and horsemen into Galilee and into the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's company.
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But when they knew that Jonathan and those who were with him were taken and slain, they encouraged one another, and went close together, prepared to fight.
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Therefore those who followed after them, perceiving that they were ready to fight for their lives, turned back again.
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Thereupon they all came into the land of Judea peaceably, and there they bewailed Jonathan and those who were with him; and they were sore afraid. Therefore all Israel made great lamentation.
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Then all the heathen who were round about them sought to destroy them; for said they, They have no captain, nor any to help them. Now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away their memory from among men.