20
"Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greeting.
21
It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brethren and are of the family of Abraham.
22
And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare;
23
we on our part write to you that your cattle and your property belong to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys report to you accordingly."
24
Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned, with a larger force than before, to wage war against him.
25
So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country.
26
He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that the enemy were being drawn up in formation to fall upon the Jews by night.
27
So when the sun set, Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle, and he stationed outposts around the camp.
28
When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart; so they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew.
29
But Jonathan and his men did not know it until morning, for they saw the fires burning.
30
Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleutherus river.