Before Book 46 2 Machabees
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
11:12. And he took away his daughter, and gave her to Demetrius, and alienated himself from Alexander, and his enmities were made manifest.
11:13. And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two crowns upon his head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia.
11:14. Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time: because they that were in those places had rebelled.
11:15. And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him battle: and king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met him with a strong power, and put him to flight.
11:16. And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and king Ptolemee was exalted.
11:17. And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it to Ptolemee.
11:18. And king Ptolemee died the third day after: and they that were in the strong holds were destroyed by them that were within the camp.
11:19. And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty-seventh year.
11:20. In those days Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea, to take the castle that was in Jerusalem: and they made many engines of war against it.
11:21. Then some wicked men that hated their own nation, went away to king Demetrius, and told him that Jonathan was besieging the castle.
11:22. And when he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith he came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan that he should not besiege the castle, but should come to him in haste, and speak to him.
11:23. But when Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege it still: and he chose some of the ancients of Israel, and of the priests, and put himself in danger.
11:24. And he took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many other presents, and went to the king to Ptolemais and he found favour in his sight.
11:25. And certain wicked men of his nation made complaints against him.
11:26. And the king treated him as his predecessors had done before: and he exalted him in the sight of all his friends.
11:27. And he confirmed him in the high priesthood and all the honours he had before, and he made him the chief of his friends.
11:28. And Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free from tribute, and the three governments, and Samaria, and the confines thereof: and he promised him three hundred talents.
11:29. And the king consented: and he wrote letters to Jonathan of all these things, to this effect.
11:30. King Demetrius to his brother, Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.
11:31. We send you here a copy of the letter which we have written to Lasthenes, our parent, concerning you, that you might know it.
11:32. King Demetrius to Lasthenes, his parent, greetings.
11:33. We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep the things that are just with us, for their good will which they bear towards us.
11:34. We have ratified, therefore, unto them all the borders of Judea, and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda, and Ramatha, which are added to Judea, out of Samaria, and all their confines, to be set apart to all them that sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of them every year, and for the fruits of the land, and of the trees.
Apherema... is found only in the Greek version.
11:35. And as for other things that belonged to us of the tithes, and of the tributes, from this time we discharge them of them: the saltpans also, and the crowns that were presented to us.
11:36. We give all to them, and nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth and for ever.
11:37. Now, therefore, see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and set upon the holy mountain, in a conspicuous place.
11:38. And king Demetrius, seeing that the land was quiet before him, and nothing resisted him, sent away all his forces, every man to his own place, except the foreign army, which he had drawn together from the islands of the nations: so all the troops of his fathers hated him.
11:39. Now there was one Tryphon who had been of Alexander's party before: who seeing that all the army murmured against Demetrius, went to Emalchuel, the Arabian, who brought up Antiochus, the son of Alexander:
11:40. And he pressed him much to deliver him to him, that he might be king in his father's place: and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and how his soldiers hated him. And he remained there many days.
11:41. And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that he would cast out them that were in the castle in Jerusalem, and those that were in the strong holds: because they fought against Israel.
11:42. And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not only do this for thee, and for thy people, but I will greatly honour thee, and thy nation, when opportunity shall serve.
11:43. Now, therefore, thou shalt do well if thou send me men to help me: for all my army is gone from me.
11:44. And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king was very glad of their coming.
11:45. And they that were of the city assembled themselves together, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have killed the king.
11:46. And the king fled into the palace: and they of the city kept the passages of the city, and began to fight.
11:47. And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and they came to him all at once, and they all dispersed themselves through the city.
11:48. And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men, and they set fire to the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king.
11:49. And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had got the city as they would: and they were discouraged in their mind, and cried to the king, making supplication, and saying:
1:50. Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us, and the city.