25
And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him,
26
yet the king treated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends,
27
and confirmed him in the high priesthood and in all the honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends.
28
Then Jonathan desired of the king that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three governments with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.
29
So the king consented and wrote letters unto Jonathan concerning all these things in this manner:
30
King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan and unto the nation of the Jews sendeth greeting:
31
We send you here a copy of the letter which we wrote unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.
32
`King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:
33We are determined to do good for the people of the Jews, who are our friends and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.
34
Therefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathaim (which were added unto Judea from the country of Samaria), and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the yearly payments which the king received from them previously out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.
35
And as for other things that belong unto us of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as also the salt pits and the crown taxes which are due unto us, we discharge them from them all for their relief.