27
and confirmed him as High Priest, restoring all his former honors and appointing him to the highest rank among the "Friends of the King."
28
Jonathan asked the king to release the territory of Judea and the three regions of Samaria from the payment of taxes, promising that if Demetrius would do that, he would pay him a lump sum of 22,000 pounds of silver.
29
The king agreed and wrote a letter to Jonathan to confirm all this:
30
"King Demetrius to King Jonathan and to the Jewish nation, greetings.
31
"For your information I am sending a copy of the letter I have written to the Honorable Lasthenes about you:
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.