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CHAPTER VI. Now, King Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elimaeus in Persia was greatly renowned and abounding in silver and gold, and that there was in it a temple exceeding rich and coverings of gold and breastplates and shields, which King Alexander's son of Philip the Macedonian, that reigned first in Greece, had left there. So he

came and sought to take the city and to pillage it, but he was not able because the design was known to them that were in the city. And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia. And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him how the armies that were in the land of Judah were put to flight, and that Lyceus went with a very great power and was put to flight before the face of

the Jews, and that they were grown strong by the armor and power and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed, and that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Beth-Sura also his city. And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear and exceedingly moved, and he laid himself

down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined. And he remained there many days, for great grief came more and more upon him, and he made a count that he should die. And he called for all his friends and said to them, Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety. And I said in my heart, into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow wherein now I am, I

that was pleasant and beloved in my power. But now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without cause. I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me, and behold, I perish with great grief in a strange land. Then he called Philip one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom. And he gave him the crown and

his robe and his ring, that he should go to Antiochus his son, and should bring him up for the kingdom. So Antiochus died there in the year 149. And Lyceus understood that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had brought up young, and he called his name Eupator. Now they that were in the castle had shut up the Israelites round about the holy places, and they were continually seeking their hurt and to strengthen the Gentiles. And Judah's purpose

and he called together all the people to besiege them. And they came together and besieged them in the year 150, and they made battering slings and engines. And some of the besieged got out, and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them. And they went to the king and said, How long dost thou delay to execute judgment and to revenge our brethren? We determined to serve thy father, and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts. And for this they of our nation

are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances. Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders. And behold, they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the stronghold of Bathsura. And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them. Now when the king heard this,

he was angry, and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen. There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea, hired troops. And the number of his army was a hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained to battle. And they went through Idumia, and approached to Bathsura, and fought many days, and they made engines. But they sallied forth, and burnt them

with fire, and fought manfully. And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Beth-Zach-Arem over against the king's camp. And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march on fiercely towards the way of Beth-Zach-Kahrem. And the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets, and they showed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries to provoke them to fight. And they distributed the beasts by the legions, and there stood by every

elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads, and five hundred horsemen, set in order, were chosen for every beast. These before the time, wheresoever the beast was, they were there. And wheresoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it. And upon the beast there were strong wooden towers, which covered every one of them, and engines upon them, and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above, and an Indian to rule the beast. And the

rest of the horsemen he placed on this side, and on that side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward, that stood thick together in the legions thereof. Now, when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire. And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places, and they marched on warily and orderly. And all the inhabitants of

the land were moved at the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armor, for the army was exceeding great and strong. And Judas and his army drew near for battle, and there fell of the king's army six hundred men. And Eliezer the son of Sarah saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness, and it was higher than the other beasts, and it seemed to him that the king was on it. And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting

name. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it, and slew it. And it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there. Then they, seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem, and the king's army pitched their tents against

Judea and Mount Sion. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura, and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land. And the king took Bethsura, and he placed there a garrison to keep it. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days, and he set up their battering slings, and engines, and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows and slings. And they

also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year, and such as had stayed in Judea, of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them, and they were dispersed every man to his own place. Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus, while he lived, had appointed

to bring up his son Antiochus into reign, was returned from Persia and Media with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom. Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army, We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make

peace with them, and with all their nation, and let us covenant with them that they may live according to their own laws as before, for because of our despising their laws they have been provoked and have done all these things. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king and of the princes, and he sent to them to make peace, and they accepted of it. And the king and the princes swore to them, and they came out of the stronghold. Then the king entered into Mount Sion, and saw the

strength of the place, and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about. And he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city, and he fought against him and took the city. End of chapter 6. Chapter 7 In the hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from the city of Rome, and came up with few men into a city of the sea-coast, and reigned there. And it came to

pass as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus and Lyceus to bring them unto him. And when he knew it he said, Let me not see their face. So the army slew them, and Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom. And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel, and Alchemus was at the head of them who desired to be made high priest. And they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his brethren have destroyed

all thy friends, and he hath driven us out of our land. Now therefore send some men whom thou trustest, and let him go, and see all the havoc he hath made amongst us, and in the king's lands, and let him punish all his friends and their helpers. Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king. And he sent him to see the havoc that Judas had made, and the wicked Alchemus he made high priest, and

commanded him to take revenge upon the children of Israel. And they arose and came with a great army into the land of Judah, and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words deceitfully. But they gave no heed to their words, for they saw that they were come with a great army. Then they assembled to Alchemus and Bacchides, a company of the scribes, to require things that are just. And first the Ascidians, that were among the children of Israel, and they

sought peace of them. For they said, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, he will not deceive us. And he spoke to them peaceably, and he swore to them, saying, We will do you no harm nor your friends. And they believed him, and he took three score of them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that is written. The flesh of thy saints and the blood of them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. Then fear and trembling fell upon all the

people, for they said, There is no truth nor justice among them, for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they made. And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in Beth-Zika, and he sent and took many of them that were fled away from him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit. Then he committed the country to Alchemus, and left with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king. But Alchemus did what he could to maintain his

chief priesthood. And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got the land of Judah into their power, and did much hurt in Israel. And Judah saw all the evils that Alchemus and they that were with him did to the children of Israel, much more than the Gentiles. And he went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance upon the men that had revolted. And they ceased to go forth any more into the country. And Alchemus saw that Judas and they

that were with him prevailed. And he knew that he could not stand against them, and he went back to the king and accused them of many crimes. And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal lords, who was a great enemy to Israel, and he commanded him to destroy the people. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to Judas and to his brethren deceitfully, with friendly words, saying, Let there be no fighting between me and you. I will come with a few men to see

your faces with peace. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. And the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by force. And the thing was known to Judas, that he was come to him with deceit, and he was much afraid of him, and would not see his face any more. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered, and he went out to fight against Judas near Cepher Salama. And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five thousand men, and they fled into the city of David. And after

this Nicanor went up into Mount Sinai, and some of the priests and the people came out to salute him peaceably, and to show him the holocausts that were offered for the king. But he mocked and despised them, and abused them, and he spoke proudly, and swore in anger, saying, Unless Judas and his army be delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in peace, I will burn this house. And he went out in a great rage. And the priests went in and stood before the face of the altar and the

temple, and weeping they said, Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to be called upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for thy people. Be avenged of this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword. Remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer. Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and a camp near to Beth-Oren, and an army of Syria joined him. But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men, and Judas prayed

and said, O Lord, when they that were sent by King Sennachera blasphemed thee, an angel went out and slew of them a hundred and eighty-five thousand. Even so, destroy this army in our sight today, and let the rest know that he hath spoken ill against thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness. And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month, Adar, and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and he himself was first slain in the battle. And when his army saw

that Nicanor was slain, they threw away their weapons and fled, and they pursued after them one day's journey from Adazer, even till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with signals. And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and they pushed them with the horns, and they turned again to them, and they were all slain with the sword, and there was not left of them so much as one. And they took the spoils of them for Abuti, and they cut off

Nicanor's head and his right hand, which he had proudly stretched out, and they brought it and hung it up over against Jerusalem. And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day with great joy. And he ordained that this day should be kept every year, being the thirteenth of the month of Adar, and the land of Judah was quiet for a short time. End of chapter seven. Chapter eight. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree

to all things that are requested of them, and that whosoever have come to them, they have made Amity with them, and that they are mighty in power. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them and brought them under tribute, and how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their

counsel and patience, and had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter, and the rest pay them tribute every year, and that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perseus the king of the Setians, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them, and how Antiochus the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty

elephants with horsemen and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them, and how they took him alive, and appointed to him that both he and they that should reign after him should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon, and the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces, and those which they had taken from them, they gave to king Eumenes, and that they who were in Greece had a mind to go and

to destroy them, and they had knowledge thereof, and they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day, and the other kingdoms and islands that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power, but with their friends and such as relied

upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off, for all that heard their name were afraid of them, that whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned, and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom, and they were greatly exalted, and none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified there by, and that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men that sat in

council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right, and that they committed their government to one man every year to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy nor jealousy amongst them. So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them, and that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they

saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude, and they went to Rome a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house and said, Judas Maccabeus and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight, and this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it

might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance. Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews by sea and by land forever, and far be the sword and enemy from them. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, and all their dominions, the nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart. Neither shall they give them whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms,

or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans, and they shall obey their orders without taking anything of them. And like man are also, if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart according as the time shall permit them. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans, and they shall observe their orders without deceit. According to

these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews. And if after this one party, or the other, shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified. Moreover concerning the evils that Demetrius the king hath done against them, we have written to him, saying, Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews? If therefore they come again

to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land. End of chapter 8 Chapter 9 In the meantime, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchus and Alchemus into Judea, and the right wing of his army with them. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in Maseloth, which is in Arabella. And

they made themselves masters of it, and slew many people. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem, and they arose and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men and two thousand horsemen. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laca, and three thousand chosen men with him. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and they were seized with great fear, and many withdrew themselves out of the camp,

and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down, because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged. Then he said to them that remained, Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them. But they dissuaded him, saying, We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return

to our brethren, and then we will fight against them, for we are but few. Then Judas said, God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them, but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against them, and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers and the archers went before the army, and they that were in the front were all men of valor. And

Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets, and they also that were on Judas' side, even they also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle was fought from morning even unto the evening. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came together with him, and the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them

even to the Mount Ossetus. And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him at their back. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other, and Judas was slain, and the rest fled away. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulcher of their fathers in the city of Modin. And all the people of Israel

bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days, and said, How is the mighty man fallen that saved the people of Israel? But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written, for they were very many. And it came to pass after the death of Judas that the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose up. In those days there was a

very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to Bacchides. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country. And they sought out and made diligent search after the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides. And he took vengeance of them, and abused them. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day that there was no prophet seen in Israel. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan,

Since thy brother Judas died there, is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides and them that are the enemies of our nation. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him. And Jonathan and Simon his brother knew it, and all that were with

them. And they fled into the desert of Thucua, and they pitched by the water of the lake Asphar. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the Sabbath day. And Jonathan sent his brother, a captain of the people, to desire the Nabothians, his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, which was copious. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with them. After this it was told

Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride out of Medaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan, with great pomp. And they remembered the blood of John their brother, and they went up and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw, and behold, a tumult, and great preparation. And the bridegroom came forth, and his friends, and his brethren, to meet

them with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and slew them. And there fell many wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains, and they took all their spoils. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother, and they returned to the bank of the Jordan. And Bacchides heard it, and he came

on the Sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan, with a great power. And Jonathan said to his company, Let us arise and fight against our enemies, for it is not now as yesterday, and the day before. For behold, the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan on this side, and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods. And there is no place for us to turn aside. Now therefore, cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle, and Jonathan

stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards. And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand men, and they returned to Jerusalem. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Amos, and in Bethoran, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars.

And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel. And he fortified the city of Bethsurah, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody. Now in the year 153, the second month, Alchemist commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed.

And he began to destroy. At that time Alchemist was struck, and his works were hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house. And Alchemist died at that time in great torment. And Bacchides saw that Alchemist was dead, and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years. And all the wicked held a council, saying, Behold, Jonathan, and they that are with him dwell at ease and

without fear. Now, therefore, let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night. So they went and gave him council, and he arose to come with a great army, and he sent secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea to seize upon Jonathan and them that were with him. But they could not, for their design was known to them. And he apprehended of the men of the country that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and he slew them. And Jonathan and Simon

and they that were with him were tired into Beth-Besson, which is in the desert, and he repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified it. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude, and sent word to them that were of Judea. And he came and camped above Beth-Besson, and fought against it many days, and made engines. But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country, and came with a number of men, and struck Oedorus and his

brethren and the children of Phaeseron in their tents, and he began to slay and to increase in forces. But Simon and they that were with him sallied out of the city and burnt the engines, and they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him exceedingly for his counsel, and his enterprise was in vain. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel to come into their country, and he slew many of them, and he purposed to return

with the rest into their country. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and swore that he would do him no harm all the days of his life. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken out of the land of Judah, and he returned and went away into his own country, and he came no more into their borders.

So the sword ceased from Israel, and Jonathan dwelt in Machmus, and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander the son of Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and took Ptolemaeus, and they received him, and he reigned there. And King Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together

an exceeding great army, and went forth against him to fight. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan with peaceable words, to magnify him. For he said, Let us first make a peace with him, before he make one with Alexander against us. For he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brother, and against his nation. And he gave him authority to gather together an army, and to make arms, and that he should be his confederate, and the

hostages that were in the castle he commanded to be delivered to him. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters and the hearing of all the people, and of them that were in the castle. And they were struck with great fear, because they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an army. And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build and to repair the city. And

he ordered workmen to build the walls and Mount Sion round about with square stones for fortification, and so they did. Then the strangers that were in the strongholds which Bacchides had built, fled away. And every man left his place and departed into his own country. Only in Bathsoura there remained some of them that had forsaken the law and the commandments of God. For this was a place of refuge for them. And King Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made Jonathan,

and they told him of the battles, and the worthy acts that he and his brethren had done, and the labors that they had endured. And he said, Shall we find such another man? Now therefore we will make him our friend and our confederate. So he wrote a letter and sent it to him according to these words, saying, King Alexander, to his brother Jonathan, greetings, we have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power and fit to be our friend. Now therefore

we make thee this day high priest of thy nation, and that thou be called the king's friend. And he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold, and that thou be of one mind with us in our affairs, and keep friendship with us. Then Jonathan put on the whole investment in the seventh month in the year 103 score at the feast day of the tabernacles, and he gathered together an army and made a great number of arms. And Demetrius heard these words and was exceeding sorry,

and said, What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath prevented us to gain the friendship of the Jews to strengthen himself? I also will write to them words of request, and offer dignities and gifts, that they may be with me to aid me. And he wrote to them in these words, King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting, whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have continued in our friendship, and have not joined with our enemies, we have heard of it, and are glad.

Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity towards us, and we will reward you with good things for what you have done in our behalf. And we will remit to you many charges, and will give you gifts. And now I free you and all the Jews from tributes, and I release you from the customs of salt, and remit the crowns, and the thirds of the seed, and the half of the fruit of trees, which is my share. I leave to you from this day forward, so that it shall not be taken of the land

of Judah, and of the three cities that are added thereto out of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for ever. And let Jerusalem be holy and free with the borders thereof, and let the tenths and tributes be for itself. I yield up also the power of the castle that is in Jerusalem, and I give it to the high priest to place therein such men as he shall choose to keep it. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried captive from the land of Judah and all my kingdom,

I set at liberty freely, that all be discharged from tributes, even of their cattle. And I will that all the feasts and the Sabbaths and the new moons and the days appointed, and three days before the solemn day, and three days after the solemn day, be all days of immunity and freedom for all the Jews that are in my kingdom. And no man shall have power to do anything against them, or to molest any of them in any cause. And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the number of

thirty thousand of the Jews, and allowance shall be made them, as is due to all the king's forces, and certain of them shall be appointed to be in the fortresses of the great king. And some of them shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, that are of trust. And let the governors be taken from among themselves, and let them walk in their own laws, as the king hath commanded in the land of Judah. And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of the country of Samaria, let them

be accounted with Judea, that they may be under one, and obey no other authority but that of the high priest. Ptolemaeus and the confines thereof I give as a free gift to the holy places that are in Jerusalem, for the necessary charges of the holy things. And I give every year fifteen thousand sickles of silver out of the king's accounts of what belongs to me. And all that is above, which they that were over the affairs the years before had not paid, from this time they shall

give it to the works of the house. Moreover, the five thousand sickles of silver which they received from the account of the holy places, every year shall also belong to the priests that execute the ministry. And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and in all the borders thereof, being indebted to the king for any matter, let them be set at liberty, and all that they have in my kingdom, let them have it free. For the building also, or repairing the works of the

holy places, the charges shall be given out of the king's revenues. For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, the charges shall be given out of the king's account, as also for the building of the walls in Judea. Now, when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credit to them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel, for he had afflicted them exceedingly. And their inclinations

were towards Alexander, because he had been the chief promoter of peace in their regard, and him they always helped. And King Alexander gathered together a great army, and moved his camp near to Demetrius. And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Demetrius fled away, and Alexander pursued after him, and pressed them close. And the battle was hard fought, till the sun went down, and Demetrius was slain that day. And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, with words

to this effect, saying, For as much as I am returned into my kingdom, and am set in the throne of my ancestors, and have gotten the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and possessed our country, and have joined battle with him, and both he and his army have been destroyed by us, and we are placed in the throne of his kingdom, now therefore let us make friendship one with another, and give me now thy daughter to wife, and I will be thy son-in-law, and I will give both thee and

her gifts worthy of thee. And King Ptolemy answered, saying, Happy is the day wherein thou didst return to the land of thy fathers, and saddest in the throne of their kingdom, and now I will do to thee as thou hast written, but meet me at Ptolemaeus, that we may see one another, and I may give her to thee as thou hast said. So Ptolemy went out of Egypt with Cleopatra his daughter, and he came to Ptolemaeus in the hundred and sixty second year, and King Alexander met him,

and he gave him his daughter Cleopatra, and he celebrated her marriage at Ptolemaeus with great glory after the manner of kings, and King Alexander wrote to Jonathan that he should come and meet him, and he went honorably to Ptolemaeus, and he met there the two kings, and he gave them much silver and gold in presents, and he found favor in their sight, and some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him to accuse him, and the king gave no heed to them,

and he commanded that Jonathan's garments should be taken off, and that he should be clothed with purple, and they did so, and the king made him sit by himself, and he said to his princes, Go out with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause. So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and him clothed with purple, they all fled away, and the king magnified him,

and enrolled him amongst his chief friends, and made him governor and partaker of his dominion, and Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and joy. In the year 165 Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, came from Crete into the land of his fathers, and King Alexander heard of it, and was much troubled, and returned to Antioch, and King Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who was governor of Zaleseria, and he gathered together a great army, and came to Jamnia, and he sent to

Jonathan the high priest, saying, Thou alone standest against us, and I am laughed at and reproached, because thou showest thy power against us in the mountains. Now therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try one another, for with me is the strength of war. Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help me, who also say that your foot cannot stand before our face, for thy fathers have twice been put to flight in their own

land. And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen, and so great an army in the plain, where there is no stone, nor rock, nor place to flee to? Now, when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose ten thousand men, and went out of Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him, and they pitched their tents near Joppae, but they shut him out of the city, because a garrison of Apollonius was in Joppae, and he laid siege to it,

and they that were in the city being affrighted, opened the gates to him, so Jonathan took Joppae, and Apollonius heard of it, and he took three thousand horsemen, and a great army, and he went to Azotus, as one that was making a journey, and immediately he went forth into the plain, because he had a great number of horsemen, and he trusted in them, and Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, and they joined battle, and Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand horsemen

behind them, and Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him, and they surrounded his army, and cast darts at the people from morning till evening, but the people stood still as Jonathan had commanded them, and so their horses were fatigued, then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the legion, for the horsemen were wearied, and they were discomfited by him, and fled, and they that were scattered about the plain fled into Azotus, and went into Beth Dagon,

their idol's temple, there to save themselves, but Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that were round about it, and took the spoils of them, and the temple of Dagon, and all them that were fled into it, he burnt with fire, so they that were slain by the sword with them that were burnt, were almost eight thousand men, and Jonathan removed his army from thence, and camped against Ascalon, and they went out of the city to meet him with great honor, and Jonathan returned into

Jerusalem with his people, having many spoils, and it came to pass when Alexander the King heard these words, that he honored Jonathan yet more, and he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is, to be given to such as are of the royal blood, and he gave him Acheron, and all the borders thereof in possession. End of chapter 10.