46
When Jonathan and the people heard these words, they did not believe or accept them, because they remembered the great wrongs which Demetrius had done in Israel and how he had greatly oppressed them.
47
They favored Alexander, because he had been the first to speak peaceable words to them, and they remained his allies all his days.
48
Now Alexander the king assembled large forces and encamped opposite Demetrius.
49
The two kings met in battle, and the army of Demetrius fled, and Alexander pursued him and defeated them.
50
He pressed the battle strongly until the sun set, and Demetrius fell on that day.
51
Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt with the following message:
52
"Since I have returned to my kingdom and have taken my seat on the throne of my fathers, and established my rule -- for I crushed Demetrius and gained control of our country;
53
I met him in battle, and he and his army were crushed by us, and we have taken our seat on the throne of his kingdom --
54
now therefore let us establish friendship with one another; give me now your daughter as my wife, and I will become your son-in-law, and will make gifts to you and to her in keeping with your position."
55
Ptolemy the king replied and said, "Happy was the day on which you returned to the land of your fathers and took your seat on the throne of their kingdom.
56
And now I will do for you as you wrote, but meet me at Ptolemais, so that we may see one another, and I will become your father-in-law, as you have said."
57
So Ptolemy set out from Egypt, he and Cleopatra his daughter, and came to Ptolemais in the one hundred and sixty-second year.
58
Alexander the king met him, and Ptolemy gave him Cleopatra his daughter in marriage, and celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with great pomp, as kings do.
59
Then Alexander the king wrote to Jonathan to come to meet him.
60
So he went with pomp to Ptolemais and met the two kings; he gave them and their friends silver and gold and many gifts, and found favor with them.
61
A group of pestilent men from Israel, lawless men, gathered together against him to accuse him; but the king paid no attention to them.
62
The king gave orders to take off Jonathan's garments and to clothe him in purple, and they did so.
63
The king also seated him at his side; and he said to his officers, "Go forth with him into the middle of the city and proclaim that no one is to bring charges against him about any matter, and let no one annoy him for any reason."
64
And when his accusers saw the honor that was paid him, in accordance with the proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all fled.
65
Thus the king honored him and enrolled him among his chief friends, and made him general and governor of the province.
66
And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.
67
In the one hundred and sixty-fifth year Demetrius the son of Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his fathers.
68
When Alexander the king heard of it, he was greatly grieved and returned to Antioch.
69
And Demetrius appointed Apollonius the governor of Coelesyria, and he assembled a large force and encamped against Jamnia. Then he sent the following message to Jonathan the high priest:
70
"You are the only one to rise up against us, and I have become a laughingstock and reproach because of you. Why do you assume authority against us in the hill country?
71
If you now have confidence in your forces, come down to the plain to meet us, and let us match strength with each other there, for I have with me the power of the cities.
72
Ask and learn who I am and who the others are that are helping us. Men will tell you that you cannot stand before us, for your fathers were twice put to flight in their own land.
73
And now you will not be able to withstand my cavalry and such an army in the plain, where there is no stone or pebble, or place to flee."
74
When Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, his spirit was aroused. He chose ten thousand men and set out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him.
75
He encamped before Joppa, but the men of the city closed its gates, for Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa.
76
So they fought against it, and the men of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and Jonathan gained possession of Joppa.
77
When Apollonius heard of it, he mustered three thousand cavalry and a large army, and went to Azotus as though he were going farther. At the same time he advanced into the plain, for he had a large troop of cavalry and put confidence in it.
78
Jonathan pursued him to Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle.
79
Now Apollonius had secretly left a thousand cavalry behind them.
80
Jonathan learned that there was an ambush behind him, for they surrounded his army and shot arrows at his men from early morning till late afternoon.
81
But his men stood fast, as Jonathan commanded, and the enemy's horses grew tired.
82
Then Simon brought forward his force and engaged the phalanx in battle (for the cavalry was exhausted); they were overwhelmed by him and fled,
83
and the cavalry was dispersed in the plain. They fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, for safety.
84
But Jonathan burned Azotus and the surrounding towns and plundered them; and the temple of Dagon, and those who had taken refuge in it he burned with fire.
85
The number of those who fell by the sword, with those burned alive, came to eight thousand men.
86
Then Jonathan departed from there and encamped against Askalon, and the men of the city came out to meet him with great pomp.