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"King Demetrius to King Jonathan and to the Jewish nation, greetings.
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"For your information I am sending a copy of the letter I have written to the Honorable Lasthenes about you:
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" "King Demetrius to the Honorable Lasthenes, greetings.
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I have decided to grant the Jewish nation certain benefits because they are our loyal allies and keep their treaty obligations.
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I confirm their rights to the land of Judea and the three regions of Ephraim, Lydda, and Arimathea, which are hereby annexed to Judea from Samaria with all the lands belonging to them. This will be of benefit to everyone who goes to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice, since payments of the annual tax on produce and fruit from these lands will no longer be made to the king, but to the Temple.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.