1Maccabees:11

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* And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host , like the sand that lieth upon the sea shore , and many ships , and went about through deceit to get Alexander 's kingdom , and join it to his own . * Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner , so as they of the cities opened unto him , and met him : for king Alexander had commanded them so to do , because he was his brother in law . * Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities , he set in every one of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it . * And when he came near to Azotus , they shewed him the temple of Dagon that was burnt , and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that were destroyed , and the bodies that were cast abroad and them that he had burnt in the battle ; for they had made heaps of them by the way where he should pass . * Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done , to the intent he might blame him : but the king held his peace . * Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa , where they saluted one another , and lodged . * Afterward Jonathan , when he had gone with the king to the river called Eleutherus , returned again to Jerusalem . * King Ptolemee therefore , having gotten the dominion of the cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast , imagined wicked counsels against Alexander . * Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius , saying , Come , let us make a league betwixt us , and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander hath , and thou shalt reign in thy father 's kingdom : * For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him , for he sought to slay me . * Thus did he slander him , because he was desirous of his kingdom . * Wherefore he took his daughter from him , and gave her to Demetrius , and forsook Alexander , so that their hatred was openly known . * Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch , where he set two crowns upon his head , the crown of Asia , and of Egypt . * In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia , because those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him . * But when Alexander heard of this , he came to war against him : whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host , and met him with a mighty power , and put him to flight . * So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended ; but king Ptolemee was exalted : * For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander 's head , and sent it unto Ptolemee . * King Ptolemee also died the third day after , and they that were in the strong holds were slain one of another . * By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and seventh year . * At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem : and he made many engines of war against it . * Then came ungodly persons , who hated their own people , went unto the king , and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower , * Whereof when he heard , he was angry , and immediately removing , he came to Ptolemais , and wrote unto Jonathan , that he should not lay siege to the tower , but come and speak with him at Ptolemais in great haste . * Nevertheless Jonathan , when he heard this , commanded to besiege it still : and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and the priests , and put himself in peril ; * And took silver and gold , and raiment , and divers presents besides , and went to Ptolemais unto the king , where he found favour in his sight . * And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him , * Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before , and promoted him in the sight of all his friends , * And confirmed him in the high priesthood , and in all the honours that he had before , and gave him preeminence among his chief friends . * Then Jonathan desired 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 . * So the king consented , and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner : * King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan , and unto the nation of the Jews , sendeth greeting : * We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning you , that ye might see it . * King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting : * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 , * And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus , that he might reign in his father 's stead : he told him therefore all that Demetrius had done , and how his men of war were at enmity with him , and there he remained a long season . * In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius , that he would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem , and those also in the fortresses : for they fought against Israel . * So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan , saying , I will not only do this for thee and thy people , but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation , if opportunity serve . * Now therefore thou shalt do well , if thou send me men to help me ; for all my forces are gone from me . * Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto Antioch : and when they came to the king , the king was very glad of their coming . * Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city , to the number of an hundred and twenty thousand men , and would have slain the king . * Wherefore the king fled into the court , but they of the city kept the passages of the city , and began to fight . * Then the king called to the Jews for help , who came unto him all at once , and dispersing themselves through the city slew that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand . * Also they set fire on the city , and gat many spoils that day , and delivered the king . * So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would , their courage was abated : wherefore they made supplication to the king , and cried , saying , * Grant us peace , and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and the city . * With that they cast away their weapons , and made peace ; and the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king , and in the sight of all that were in his realm ; and they returned to Jerusalem , having great spoils . * So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom , and the land was quiet before him . * Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake , and estranged himself from Jonathan , neither rewarded he him according to the benefits which he had received of him , but troubled him very sore . * After this returned Tryphon , and with him the young child Antiochus , who reigned , and was crowned . * Then there gathered unto him all the men of war , whom Demetrius had put away , and they fought against Demetrius , who turned his back and fled . * Moreover Tryphon took the elephants , and won Antioch . * At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan , saying , I confirm thee in the high priesthood , and appoint thee ruler over the four governments , and to be one of the king 's friends . * Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in , and gave him leave to drink in gold , and to be clothed in purple , and to wear a golden buckle . * His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt . * Then Jonathan went forth , and passed through the cities beyond the water , and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him : and when he came to Ascalon , they of the city met him honourably . * From whence he went to Gaza , but they of Gaza shut him out ; wherefore he laid siege unto it , and burned the suburbs thereof with fire , and spoiled them . * Afterward , when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan , he made peace with them , and took the sons of their chief men for hostages , and sent them to Jerusalem , and passed through the country unto Damascus . * Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius ' princes were come to Cades , which is in Galilee , with a great power , purposing to remove him out of the country , * He went to meet them , and left Simon his brother in the country . * Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long season , and shut it up : * But they desired to have peace with him , which he granted them , and then put them out from thence , and took the city , and set a garrison in it . * As for Jonathan and his host , they pitched at the water of Gennesar , from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor . * And , behold , the host of strangers met them in the plain , who , having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains , came themselves over against him . * So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle , all that were of Jonathan 's side fled ; * Insomuch as there was not one of them left , except Mattathias the son of Absalom , and Judas the son of Calphi , the captains of the host . * Then Jonathan rent his clothes , and cast earth upon his head , and prayed . * Afterwards turning again to battle , he put them to flight , and so they ran away . * Now when his own men that were fled saw this , they turned again unto him , and with him pursued them to Cades , even unto their own tents , and there they camped . * So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men : but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem .

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