16
While Ptolemy reached the peak of his power, Alexander fled to Arabia to find protection,
17
but an Arab named Zabdiel cut off his head and sent it to Ptolemy.
18
Two days later Ptolemy himself died, and the troops he had left in the fortresses were then killed by the local citizens.
19
So in the year 167 Demetrius the Second became king.
20
About that time Jonathan gathered the men of Judea to attack the fort in Jerusalem. They built many siege platforms to use in the attack.
21
But some traitorous Jews who hated their own nation went to King Demetrius the Second and told him that Jonathan was laying siege to the fort in Jerusalem.
22
When Demetrius heard this, he was furious and immediately moved his headquarters to Ptolemais. He wrote to Jonathan and ordered him to lift the siege and to meet him for a conference in Ptolemais without a moment's delay.
23
When Jonathan got the message, he gave orders for the siege to continue, and then chose some Jewish leaders and some priests to go with him. At the risk of his life,
24
he went to the king in Ptolemais, taking along robes, silver and gold, and many other gifts. He made a good impression on the king.
25
Although some lawless traitors of his own nation had made accusations against Jonathan,
26
the king still treated him just as his predecessors had done. He honored him in the presence of all his advisers,
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:
32
" "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.
34
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.
1
35
And I also grant them relief from the payment of revenues now due me from tithes, tolls, salt taxes, and special taxes.
36
None of the provisions mentioned in this letter shall ever be canceled in the future.