29
So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after 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 did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it.
32
King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:
33
We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.
34
Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are 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 payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime 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 saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for their relief.
36
And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.
37
Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.
38
After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him.
39
Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up Antiochus the young son of Alexander,