1. Makkabeler 10

¹Yüz altmışıncı yılda, Antiohos oğlu Epifanes lakaplı Aleksandros gelip Ptolemais'i ele geçirdi; halk onu memnuniyetle kabul etti ve orada krallığını kurdu.

²Kral Demetrios bunu haber alınca son derece büyük bir ordu topladı ve onunla savaşmak üzere karşılamaya çıktı.

³Demetrios ayrıca Yonatan'ı onurlandırıp prestijini artırmak amacıyla ona barışçıl ifadeler içeren mektuplar gönderdi.

⁴Çünkü kendi kendine şöyle demişti: "O, Aleksandros ile bize karşı birleşmeden önce, onunla barış yapmakta elimizi çabuk tutalım.

⁵Yoksa kendisine, kardeşlerine ve ulusuna karşı geçmişte yaptığımız bütün kötülükleri hatırlayacaktır."

⁶Böylece ona asker toplama, silah imal etme ve kendisinin resmi müttefiki olma yetkisi verdi; ayrıca Akra kalesindeki rehinelerin de ona teslim edilmesini buyurdu.

⁷Yonatan Yeruşalim'e geldi ve mektupları bütün halkın ve kaledekilerin huzurunda yüksek sesle okudu.

⁸Kralın ona ordu toplama yetkisi verdiğini işitince kaledekiler büyük bir korkuya kapıldılar.

⁹Akra kalesindekiler rehineleri Yonatan'a teslim ettiler, o da onları ailelerine geri verdi.

¹⁰Yonatan Yeruşalim'e yerleşti; kenti yeniden inşa etmeye ve yenilemeye başladı.

¹¹Yapı işçilerine, surları ve Siyon Dağı'nın çevresini savunma amacıyla yontulmuş kare taşlarla inşa etmelerini buyurdu; onlar da bu doğrultuda hareket ettiler.

¹²Bakkides'in inşa etmiş olduğu kalelerde bulunan yabancı garnizon askerleri kaçtılar.

¹³Her biri kendi askeri karakolunu bırakıp kendi ülkesine döndü.

¹⁴Sadece Beytsur'da, yasayı ve buyrukları terk edenlerden bazıları kaldı; çünkü orası onlar için bir sığınak yeriydi.

¹⁵Kral Aleksandros, Demetrios'un Yonatan'a gönderdiği tüm vaatleri işitti; ayrıca ona Yonatan ile kardeşlerinin yaptıkları savaşlar, gösterdikleri kahramanlıklar ve katlandıkları zorluklar anlatıldı.

¹⁶Bunun üzerine, "Böyle eşsiz bir adamı bir daha bulabilir miyiz?" dedi, "Şimdi onu kendimize dost ve müttefik edinelim."

¹⁷Böylece ona bu sözler doğrultusunda bir mektup yazıp gönderdi:

¹⁸"Kral Aleksandros'tan kardeşi Yonatan'a selam!

¹⁹Senin hakkında, kudretli bir yiğit olduğunu ve dostumuz olmaya son derece layık bulunduğunu işittik.

²⁰Bu yüzden bugün seni ulusunun başkâhini atıyoruz, 'Kralın Dostu' olarak adlandırılmanı buyuruyoruz (ona mor bir kaftan ve altın bir taç gönderdi); bizim davamızı gütmeni ve bizimle dostluğunu korumanı istiyoruz."

²¹Böylece yüz altmışıncı yılın yedinci ayında, Çardak Bayramı'nda Yonatan kutsal başkâhinlik giysisini kuşandı; asker toplayıp çok sayıda silah hazırladı.

²²Demetrios bu gelişmeleri duyunca çok kederlendi ve şöyle dedi:

²³"Biz ne yaptık ki, Aleksandros Yahudilerle dostluk kurup kendini güçlendirmekte bizden önce davrandı?

²⁴Ben de onlara, bana yardım etsinler diye yüreklendirici, prestij artırıcı ve ödüller vaat eden sözler yazacağım."

²⁵Böylece onlara şu sözleri içeren bir mektup gönderdi: "Kral Demetrios'tan Yahudi ulusuna selam!

²⁶Bizimle yaptığınız antlaşmaları muhafaza ettiğinizi, dostluğumuzu sürdürdüğünüzü ve düşmanlarımızın tarafına geçmediğinizi duyduk ve sevindik.

²⁷Şimdi de bize karşı sadık kalmaya devam edin; bizim için yaptıklarınıza karşılık sizi iyiliklerle ödüllendireceğiz.

²⁸Birçok vergiden sizi muaf tutacağız ve size armağanlar vereceğiz.

²⁹Şimdi sizi serbest bırakıyorum ve bütün Yahudileri kelle vergisinden, tuz tekelinden ve taç vergisinden muaf tutuyorum.

³⁰Toprak mahsulünün üçte birinden ve ağaç meyvelerinin yarısından bana düşen payı almaktan bugünden itibaren vazgeçiyorum; Yahuda topraklarından ve Samiriye ile Celile'den buraya katılan üç bölgeden bugünden itibaren ve sonsuza dek bu paylar alınmayacaktır.

³¹Yeruşalim ve sınırları kutsal ve vergiden muaf olsun; ondalıklar ve vergiler onlardan talep edilmesin.

³²Yeruşalim'deki kalenin denetiminden de vazgeçiyor ve kaleyi korumak üzere kendi seçeceği adamları oraya yerleştirmesi için başkâhine devrediyorum.

³³Yahuda topraklarından krallığımın herhangi bir yerine tutsak olarak götürülmüş olan her Yahudiyi bedelsiz olarak özgür bırakıyorum; herkes onların hayvanlarından alınan vergileri bile bağışlasın.

³⁴Bütün bayramlar, Şabat günleri, yeni ay şenlikleri, belirlenmiş günler ile bayramdan önceki üç gün ve bayramdan sonraki üç gün, krallığımda yaşayan tüm Yahudiler için vergiden muafiyet ve serbestlik günleri olsun.

³⁵Hiç kimsenin herhangi bir konuda onlardan bir şey talep etmeye veya onlardan birini rahatsız etmeye yetkisi olmayacaktır.

³⁶Yahudilerden otuz bin kişi kralın ordusuna yazılsın ve kralın tüm ordularına yakıştığı şekilde onlara da ödenek verilsin.

³⁷Onlardan bazıları kralın büyük kalelerine yerleştirilsin, bazıları da krallığın güven gerektiren işlerinin başına getirilsin; yöneticileri ve komutanları kendilerinden olsun ve kralın Yahuda topraklarında buyurduğu gibi kendi yasalarına göre yaşasınlar.

³⁸Samiriye bölgesinden Yahuda'ya katılan üç bölge, tek bir yönetim altında sayılacak şekilde Yahuda'ya eklensin ve başkâhinden başka hiçbir otoriteye boyun eğmesinler.

³⁹Ptolemais'i ve ona bağlı toprakları, tapınağın gerekli giderlerini karşılaması için Yeruşalim'deki kutsal yere bir armağan olarak verdim.

⁴⁰Ben de kraliyet gelirlerinden, uygun yerlerden karşılanmak üzere her yıl on fifteen bin gümüş şekel veriyorum.

⁴¹Görevlilerin önceki yıllarda olduğu gibi ödemedikleri tüm fazla miktarlar, bundan böyle tapınağın işleri için verilecektir.

⁴²Bunun yanı sıra, her yıl tapınağın gelirlerinden alınan beş bin gümüş şekelden de vazgeçilmiştir; çünkü bu miktar orada hizmet eden kâhinlere aittir.

⁴³Krala borçlu oldukları veya başka bir neden yüzünden Yeruşalim'deki tapınağa ya da onun sınırları içine sığınan herkes serbest bırakılsın ve krallığımdaki tüm malları kendilerine geri verilsin.

⁴⁴Kutsal yerin işlerinin inşası ve onarımı için gereken harcamalar kralın bütçesinden karşılanacaktır.

⁴⁵Yeruşalim surlarının yeniden inşa edilmesi, çevresinin tahkim edilmesi ve Yahuda'daki surların yapımı için gereken tüm harcamalar kraliyet hazinesinden karşılanacaktır.

⁴⁶Yonatan ve halk bu vaatleri işitince onlara inanmadılar ve kabul etmediler; çünkü onun İsrail'de yaptığı büyük kötülükleri ve kendilerine ne denli şiddetli eziyetler çektirdiğini hatırladılar.

⁴⁷Ancak Aleksandros'tan memnun kaldılar; çünkü kendilerine barışçıl tekliflerle yaklaşan ilk önder oydu ve bu yüzden her zaman onun yanında savaştılar.

⁴⁸Kral Aleksandros büyük ordular toplayarak Demetrios'un karşısında karargah kurdu.

⁴⁹İki kral savaşa tutuştu; Demetrios'un ordusu bozguna uğrayıp kaçtı, Aleksandros ise onu kovalayarak onlara üstünlük sağladı.

⁵⁰Güneş batana dek savaşı kararlılıkla sürdürdü ve Demetrios o gün muharebede öldü.

⁵¹Bunun üzerine Aleksandros, Mısır Kralı Ptolemaios'a şu mesajı iletmek üzere elçiler gönderdi:

⁵²"Krallığımın topraklarına geri döndüğüm, atalarımın tahtına oturduğum, yönetimi ele geçirdiğim, Demetrios'u bozguna uğratıp ülkemizde egemenliği sağladığım için;

⁵³Çünkü onunla savaşa tutuştum, kendisi ve ordusu tarafımızdan tamamen ezildi ve onun krallık tahtına oturduk.

⁵⁴Şimdi aramızda bir dostluk ittifakı kuralım; kızını bana eş olarak ver ki seninle akraba olayım, sana ve ona şanına yaraşır hediyeler sunayım."

⁵⁵Kral Ptolemaios şöyle yanıt verdi: "Atalarının topraklarına döndüğün ve onların krallık tahtına oturduğun gün ne kutlu bir gündür!

⁵⁶Şimdi yazdığın her şeyi senin için gerçekleştireceğim; ancak Ptolemais'te buluşalım ki yüz yüze görüşelim ve söylediğin gibi seninle akraba olayım."

⁵⁷Böylece Ptolemaios ve kızı Kleopatra Mısır'dan yola çıkarak yüz altmış ikinci yılda Ptolemais'e ulaştılar.

⁵⁸Kral Aleksandros onu karşılamaya gitti; Ptolemaios kızı Kleopatra'yı ona verdi ve krallara yaraşır büyük bir ihtişamla Ptolemais'te düğünlerini gerçekleştirdi.

⁵⁹Kral Aleksandros, Yonatan'a kendisiyle görüşmeye gelmesi için bir mektup yazdı.

⁶⁰Yonatan büyük bir görkemle Ptolemais'te iki kralla buluştu; onlara ve dostlarına altın, gümüş ve pek çok değerli armağan sunarak onların gözünde büyük bir lütuf kazandı.

⁶¹İsrail'den bazı fesat ve yasa tanımaz adamlar onu suçlamak amacıyla bir araya geldilerse de kral onlara hiç kulak asmadı.

⁶²Üstelik kral, Yonatan'ın üzerindeki giysilerin çıkarılmasını ve ona krallara layık mor bir kaftan giydirilmesini emretti; askerler de bu emri yerine getirdiler.

⁶³Kral onu kendi yanına oturttu ve komutanlarına şöyle buyurdu: "Onunla birlikte kentin ortasına gidin ve hiç kimsenin herhangi bir hususta ondan şikayetçi olmamasını ve hiçbir sebeple onu rahatsız etmemesini ilan edin."

⁶⁴Onu suçlamaya gelenler, yapılan ilanı duyup onun mor kaftanlar içinde onurlandırıldığını görünce hep birlikte kaçtılar.

⁶⁵Kral onu büyük bir onura boğarak en yakın dostları arasına kaydetti, onu askeri komutan ve bölge valisi yaptı.

⁶⁶Yonatan esenlik ve büyük bir sevinç içinde Yeruşalim'e geri döndü.

⁶⁷Yüz altmış beşinci yılda, Demetrios'un oğlu Demetrios Girit'ten gelerek atalarının topraklarına ayak bastı.

⁶⁸Kral Aleksandros bunu haber alınca derin bir kedere kapıldı ve Antakya'ya geri döndü.

⁶⁹Demetrios, Çukur Suriye valisi Apollonios'u komutanlığa getirdi; o da büyük bir ordu toplayıp Yamnia'da ordugah kurdu ve başkahin Yonatan'a şu haberi gönderdi:

⁷⁰"Bize karşı tek başına kafa tutan sensin; senin yüzünden alay konusu ve rezil oldum. Neden dağlık bölgelerde bize karşı güç taslıyorsun?

⁷¹Eğer askeri gücüne güveniyorsan, ovaya yanımıza in de orada kozlarımızı paylaşalım; zira kentlerin askeri gücü benim arkamdadır.

⁷²Sorup öğren, kim olduğumu ve bize destek verenlerin kimler olduğunu; sana diyecekler ki: 'Karşımızda duracak gücünüz yoktur, çünkü atalarınız kendi topraklarında iki kez bozguna uğradılar.'

⁷³Şimdi de ne bir taşın, ne bir çakılın, ne de kaçacak bir sığınağın bulunmadığı bu ovada, atlı birliklere ve böylesine büyük bir orduya karşı asla dayanamayacaksın."

⁷⁴Yonatan, Apollonios'un bu kibirli sözlerini işitince çok öfkelendi; on bin seçkin askerle Yeruşalim'den çıktı ve kardeşi Şimon da ona destek olmak için katıldı.

⁷⁵Yafa önünde ordugah kurdu; fakat kent halkı, Apollonios'un Yafa'daki garnizonu nedeniyle kapıları açmadı; bunun üzerine kente saldırdılar.

⁷⁶Kent halkı korkuya kapılarak kapıları açtı ve Yonatan Yafa'yı ele geçirdi.

⁷⁷Apollonios bunu duyunca, üç bin atlı ve büyük bir piyade gücüyle sanki oradan geçiyormuş gibi Aşdot'a doğru yöneldi; atlı birliklerinin çokluğuna güvendiği için ovaya doğru ilerledi.

⁷⁸Yonatan onu Aşdot'a kadar takip etti ve iki ordu orada savaşa tutuştu.

⁷⁹Apollonios, arkalarında gizlice bin atlıdan oluşan bir pusu birliği bırakmıştı.

⁸⁰Yonatan arkasında bir pusu kurulduğunu fark etti; zira düşmanlar onun ordusunu kuşatmış, sabahtan akşama dek askerlerin üzerine ok yağdırıyorlardı.

⁸¹Fakat halk, Yonatan'ın emrettiği gibi mevzilerini terk etmedi; düşmanın atlıları ise yorgunluktan bitap düştü.

⁸²Bunun üzerine Şimon kendi taze birliklerini ileri sürerek düşman saflarına saldırdı; zira atlıların gücü tamamen tükenmişti. Düşmanlar onun önünde bozguna uğrayıp kaçtılar.

⁸³Atlılar ovaya dağıldı; canlarını kurtarmak için Aşdot'a kaçıp putları Dagon'un tapınağı olan Beyt-Dagon'a sığındılar.

⁸⁴Yonatan Aşdot'u ve çevresindeki kasabaları ateşe verip yağmaladı; Dagon tapınağını ve oraya sığınanları ateşe vererek tamamen yaktı.

⁸⁵Kılıçtan geçirilenler ve yangında can verenlerin sayısı yaklaşık sekiz bin kişiyi buldu.

⁸⁶Yonatan oradan ayrılarak Aşkelon önünde ordugah kurdu; kent halkı onu büyük bir saygı ve görkemle karşıladı.

⁸⁷Yonatan ve yanındakiler, ellerinde çok miktarda ganimetle Yeruşalim'e döndüler.

⁸⁸Kral Aleksandros bu zaferi haber alınca Yonatan'ı daha da onurlandırdı.

⁸⁹Kraliyet akrabalarına verilmesi gelenek olan altın bir toka gönderdi; ayrıca Ekron'u ve tüm topraklarını mülk olarak ona bağışladı.

¹ΚΑΙ ἐν ἔτει ἑξηκοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ ἀνέβη ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ τοῦ ᾿Αντιόχου ὁ ᾿Επιφανὴς καὶ κατελάβετο Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ ἐπεδέξαντο αὐτόν, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐκεῖ.

²καὶ ἤκουσε Δημήτριος ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ συνήγαγε δυνάμεις πολλὰς σφόδρα καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ εἰς πόλεμον.

³καὶ ἀπέστειλε Δημήτριος πρὸς ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐπιστολὰς λόγοις εἰρηνικοῖς ὥστε μεγαλῦναι αὐτόν.

⁴εἶπε γάρ· προφθάσωμεν τοῦ εἰρήνην θεῖναι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, πρὶν ἢ θεῖναι αὐτὸν μετὰ ᾿Αλεξάνδρου καθ᾿ ἡμῶν·

⁵μνησθήσεται γὰρ πάντων τῶν κακῶν, ὧν συνετελέσαμεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τὸ ἔθνος αὐτοῦ.

⁶καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν συναγαγεῖν δυνάμεις καὶ κατασκευάζειν ὅπλα καὶ εἶναι αὐτὸν σύμμαχον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ὅμηρα τὰ ἐν τῇ ἄκρᾳ εἶπε παραδοῦναι αὐτῷ.

⁷καὶ ἦλθεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἀνέγνω τὰς ἐπιστολὰς εἰς τὰ ὦτα παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας.

⁸καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν, ὅτι ἤκουσαν ὅτι ἔδωκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐξουσίαν συναγαγεῖν δυνάμεις.

⁹καὶ παρέδωκαν οἱ ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὰ ὅμηρα, καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτοὺς τοῖς γονεῦσιν αὐτῶν.

¹⁰καὶ ᾤκησεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἤρξατο οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ καινίζειν τὴν πόλιν.

¹¹καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὰ ἔργα οἰκοδομεῖν τὰ τείχη καὶ τὸ ὄρος Σιὼν κυκλόθεν ἐκ λίθων τετραγώνων εἰς ὀχύρωσιν· καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως.

¹²καὶ ἔφυγον οἱ ἀλλογενεῖς οἱ ὄντες ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασιν, οἷς ᾠκοδόμησε Βακχίδης.

¹³καὶ κατέλιπεν ἕκαστος τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ.

¹⁴πλὴν ἐν Βαιθσούρᾳ ὑπελείφθησάν τινες τῶν καταλιπόντων τὸν νόμον καὶ τὰ προστάγματα, ἦν γὰρ αὐτοῖς φυγαδευτήριον.

¹⁵Καὶ ἤκουσεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ὅσας ἀπέστειλε Δημήτριος τῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν, καὶ διηγήσαντο αὐτῷ τοὺς πολέμους καὶ τὰς ἀνδραγαθίας, ἃς ἐποίησεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς κόπους, οὓς ἔσχον,

¹⁶καὶ εἶπε· μὴ εὑρήσομεν ἄνδρα τοιοῦτον ἕνα; καὶ νῦν ποιήσομεν αὐτὸν φίλον καὶ σύμμαχον ἡμῶν.

¹⁷καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐπιστολὰς καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους λέγων·

¹⁸«Βασιλεὺς ᾿Αλέξανδρος τῷ ἀδελφῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν χαίρειν·

¹⁹ἀκηκόαμεν περὶ σοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ δυνατὸς ἰσχύϊ καὶ ἐπιτήδειος εἶ τοῦ εἶναι ἡμῖν φίλος.

²⁰καὶ νῦν καθεστάκαμέν σε σήμερον ἀρχιερέα τοῦ ἔθνους σου καὶ φίλον βασιλέως καλεῖσθαί σε (καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ πορφύραν καὶ στέφανον χρυσοῦν) καὶ φρονεῖν τὰ ἡμῶν καὶ συντηρεῖν φιλίαν πρὸς ἡμᾶς».

²¹καὶ ἐνεδύσατο ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὴν ἁγίαν στολὴν τῷ ἑβδόμῳ μηνὶ ἔτους ἑξηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ ἐν ἑορτῇ σκηνοπηγίας καὶ συνήγαγε δυνάμεις καὶ κατεσκεύασεν ὅπλα πολλά.

²²Καὶ ἤκουσε Δημήτριος τοὺς λόγους τούτους καὶ ἐλυπήθη καὶ εἶπε·

²³τί τοῦτο ἐποιήσαμεν ὅτι προέφθακεν ἡμᾶς ὁ ᾿Αλέξανδρος τοῦ φιλίαν καταθέσθαι τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις εἰς στήριγμα;

²⁴γράψω αὐτοῖς κἀγὼ λόγους παρακλήσεως καὶ ὕψους καὶ δογμάτων, ὅπως ὦσι σὺν ἐμοὶ εἰς βοήθειαν.

²⁵καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους· «Βασιλεὺς Δημήτριος τῷ ἔθνει τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων χαίρειν.

²⁶ἐπεὶ συνετηρήσατε τὰς πρὸς ἡμᾶς συνθήκας καὶ ἐνεμείνατε τῇ φιλίᾳ ἡμῶν καὶ οὐ προσεχωρήσατε τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἡμῶν, ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἐχάρημεν.

²⁷καὶ νῦν ἐμμείνατε ἔτι τοῦ συντηρῆσαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς πίστιν, καὶ ἀνταποδώσομεν ὑμῖν ἀγαθὰ ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ποιεῖτε μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν.

²⁸καὶ ἀφήσομεν ὑμῖν ἀφέματα πολλὰ καὶ δώσομεν ὑμῖν δόματα.

²⁹καὶ νῦν ἀπολύω ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀφίημι πάντας τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους ἀπὸ τῶν φόρων καὶ τῆς τιμῆς τοῦ ἁλὸς καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν στεφάνων,

³⁰καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ τρίτου τῆς σπορᾶς καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ ἡμίσους τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ ξυλίνου τοῦ ἐπιβάλλοντός μοι λαβεῖν, ἀφίημι ἀπὸ τῆς σήμερον καὶ ἐπέκεινα τοῦ λαβεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ᾿Ιούδα καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τριῶν νομῶν τῶν προστιθεμένων αὐτῇ ἀπὸ τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος καὶ Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον.

³¹καὶ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἤτω ἁγία καὶ ἀφειμένη καὶ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς, αἱ δεκάται καὶ τὰ τέλη.

³²ἀφίημι καὶ τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῆς ἄκρας τῆς ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ δίδωμι τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ, ὅπως ἂν καταστήσῃ ἐν αὐτῇ ἄνδρας, οὓς ἂν ἐκλέξηται αὐτὸς τοῦ φυλάσσειν αὐτήν.

³³καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχὴν ᾿Ιουδαίων τὴν αἰχμαλωτισθεῖσαν ἀπὸ γῆς ᾿Ιούδα εἰς πᾶσαν βασιλείαν μου ἀφίημι ἐλευθέραν δωρεάν· καὶ πάντες ἀφιέτωσαν τοὺς φόρους καὶ τῶν κτηνῶν αὐτῶν.

³⁴καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἑορταὶ καὶ τὰ σάββατα καὶ νουμηνίαι καὶ ἡμέραι ἀποδεδειγμέναι καὶ τρεῖς ἡμέραι πρὸ ἑορτῆς καὶ τρεῖς ἡμέραι μετὰ ἑορτὴν ἔστωσαν πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι ἀτελείας καὶ ἀφέσεως πᾶσι τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ μου.

³⁵καὶ οὐχ ἕξει ἐξουσίαν οὐδεὶς πράσσειν καὶ παρενοχλεῖν τινα αὐτῶν περὶ παντὸς πράγματος.

³⁶καὶ προγραφήτωσαν τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων εἰς τὰς δυνάμεις τοῦ βασιλέως εἰς τριάκοντα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτοῖς ξένια ὡς καθήκει πάσαις ταῖς δυνάμεσι τοῦ βασιλέως.

³⁷καὶ κατασταθήσεται ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ὀχυρώμασι τοῦ βασιλέως τοῖς μεγάλοις, καὶ ἐκ τούτων κατασταθήσεται ἐπὶ χρειῶν τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐσῶν εἰς πίστιν· καὶ οἱ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔστωσαν ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ πορευέσθωσαν τοῖς νόμοις αὐτῶν. καθὰ καὶ προσέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν γῇ ᾿Ιούδα.

³⁸καὶ τοὺς τρεῖς νομοὺς τοὺς προστεθέντας τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ ἀπὸ τῆς χώρας Σαμαρείας προστεθήτω τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ πρὸς τὸ λογισθῆναι τοῦ γενέσθαι ὑφ᾿ ἕνα, τοῦ μὴ ὑπακοῦσαι ἄλλης ἐξουσίας ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως.

³⁹Πτολεμαΐδα καὶ τὴν προσκυροῦσαν αὐτῇ δέδωκα δόμα τοῖς ἁγίοις τοῖς ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς τὴν προσήκουσαν δαπάνην τοῖς ἁγίοις.

⁴⁰κἀγὼ δίδωμι κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτὸν δεκαπέντε χιλιάδας σίκλων ἀργυρίου ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων τῶν ἀνηκόντων.

⁴¹καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλεονάζον, ὃ οὐκ ἀπεδίδοσαν οἱ ἀπὸ τῶν χρειῶν, ὡς ἐν τοῖς πρώτοις ἔτεσιν, ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν δώσουσιν εἰς τὰ ἔργα τοῦ οἴκου.

⁴²καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις πεντακισχιλίους σίκλους ἀργυρίου, οὓς ἐλάμβανον ἀπὸ τῶν χρειῶν τοῦ ἁγίου ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου κατ᾿ ἐνιαυτόν, καὶ ταῦτα ἀφίεται διὰ τὸ ἀνήκειν αὐτὰ τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς λειτουργοῦσι.

⁴³καὶ ὅσοι ἐὰν φύγωσιν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν τὸ ἐν ῾Ιεροσολύμοις καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτοῦ ὀφείλοντες βασιλικὰ καὶ πᾶν πρᾶγμα, ἀπολελύσθωσαν καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ μου.

⁴⁴καὶ τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι καὶ τοῦ ἐπικαινισθῆναι τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἁγίων, καὶ ἡ δαπάνη δοθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λόγου τοῦ βασιλέως.

⁴⁵καὶ τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι τὰ τείχη ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ὀχυρῶσαι κυκλόθεν, καὶ ἡ δαπάνη δοθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λόγου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ τοῦ οἰκοδομηθῆναι τὰ τείχη τὰ ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ».

⁴⁶῾Ως δὲ ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ ὁ λαὸς τοὺς λόγους τούτους, οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ ἐπεδέξαντο, ὅτι ἐπεμνήσθησαν τῆς κακίας τῆς μεγάλης, ἧς ἐποίησεν ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἔθλιψεν αὐτοὺς σφόδρα.

⁴⁷καὶ εὐδόκησαν ἐν ᾿Αλεξάνδρῳ, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς ἀρχηγὸς λόγων εἰρηνικῶν, καὶ συνεμάχουν αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.

⁴⁸Καὶ συνήγαγεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεὺς δυνάμεις μεγάλας καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐξεναντίας Δημητρίου.

⁴⁹καὶ συνῆψαν πόλεμον οἱ δύο βασιλεῖς, καὶ ἔφυγεν ἡ παρεμβολὴ Δημητρίου, καὶ ἐδίωξεν αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Αλέξανδρος καὶ ἴσχυσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς.

⁵⁰καὶ ἐστερέωσε τὸν πόλεμον σφόδρα, ἕως ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος, καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ Δημήτριος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

⁵¹καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου πρέσβεις κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους λέγων·

⁵²«᾿Επεὶ ἀνέστρεψα εἰς γῆν βασιλείας μου καὶ ἐκάθισα ἐπὶ θρόνου πατέρων μου καὶ ἐκράτησα τῆς ἀρχῆς, καὶ συνέτριψα τὸν Δημήτριον καὶ ἐπεκράτησα τῆς χώρας ἡμῶν

⁵³καὶ συνῆψα πρὸς αὐτὸν μάχην, καὶ συνετρίβη αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ὑφ᾿ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐκαθίσαμεν ἐπὶ θρόνου βασιλείας αὐτοῦ·

⁵⁴καὶ νῦν στήσωμεν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς φιλίαν, καὶ νῦν δός μοι τὴν θυγατέρα σου εἰς γυναῖκα, καὶ ἐπιγαμβρεύσω σοι καὶ δώσω σοι δόματα καὶ αὐτῇ ἄξιά σου».

⁵⁵Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Πτολεμαῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς λέγων· «᾿Αγαθὴ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἀνέστρεψας εἰς γῆν πατέρων σου καὶ ἐκάθισας ἐπὶ θρόνου βασιλείας αὐτῶν.

⁵⁶καὶ νῦν ποιήσω σοι ἃ ἔγραψας, ἀλλ᾿ ἀπάντησον εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, ὅπως ἴδωμεν ἀλλήλους, καὶ ἐπιγαμβρεύσω σοι, καθὼς εἴρηκας».

⁵⁷Καὶ ἐξῆλθε Πτολεμαῖος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, αὐτὸς καὶ Κλεοπάτρα ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα ἔτους δευτέρου καὶ ἑξηκοστοῦ καὶ ἑκατοστοῦ.

⁵⁸καὶ ἀπήντησεν αὐτῷ ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεύς, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτῷ Κλεοπάτραν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησε τὸν γάμον αὐτῆς ἐν Πτολεμαΐδι καθὼς οἱ βασιλεὶς ἐν δόξῃ μεγάλῃ.

⁵⁹καὶ ἔγραψεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ ᾿Ιωνάθαν ἐλθεῖν εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ.

⁶⁰καὶ ἐπορεύθη μετὰ δόξης εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα καὶ ἀπήντησε τοῖς δυσὶ βασιλεῦσι· καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον καὶ τοῖς φίλοις αὐτῶν καὶ δόματα πολλὰ καὶ εὗρε χάριν ἐναντίον αὐτῶν.

⁶¹καὶ ἐπισυνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄνδρες λοιμοὶ ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ, ἄνδρες παράνομοι, ἐντυχεῖν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ προσέσχεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεύς.

⁶²καὶ προσέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἐξέδυσαν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν πορφύραν, καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως.

⁶³καὶ ἐκάθισεν αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἄρχουσιν αὐτοῦ· ἐξέλθετε μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς μέσον τῆς πόλεως καὶ κηρύξατε τοῦ μηδένα ἐντυγχάνειν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ περὶ μηδενὸς πράγματος, καὶ μηδεὶς αὐτῷ παρενοχλείτω περὶ παντὸς λόγου.

⁶⁴καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδον οἱ ἐντυγχάνοντες τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, καθὼς ἐκήρυξε, καὶ περιβεβλημένον αὐτὸν πορφύραν, καὶ ἔφυγον πάντες.

⁶⁵καὶ ἐδόξασεν αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἔγραψεν αὐτὸν τῶν πρώτων φίλων καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὸν στρατηγὸν καὶ μεριδάρχην.

⁶⁶καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ μετ᾿ εἰρήνης καὶ εὐφροσύνης.

⁶⁷Καὶ ἐν ἔτει πέμπτῳ καὶ ἑξηκοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ ἦλθε Δημήτριος υἱὸς Δημητρίου ἐκ Κρήτης εἰς τὴν γῆν τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.

⁶⁸καὶ ἤκουσεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος βασιλεὺς καὶ ἐλυπήθη σφόδρα καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς ᾿Αντιόχειαν.

⁶⁹καὶ κατέστησε Δημήτριος ᾿Απολλώνιον τὸν ὄντα ἐπὶ Κοίλης Συρίας, καὶ συνήγαγε δύναμιν μεγάλην καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐν ᾿Ιαμνείᾳ. καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὸν ἀρχιερέα λέγων·

⁷⁰«Σὺ μονώτατος ἐπαίρῃ ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς, ἐγὼ δὲ ἐγενήθην εἰς καταγέλωτα καὶ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν διὰ σέ· καὶ διατί σὺ ἐξουσιάζῃ ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι;

⁷¹νῦν οὖν εἰ πέποιθας ἐπὶ ταῖς δυνάμεσί σου, κατάβηθι πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸ πεδίον, καὶ συγκριθῶμεν ἑαυτοῖς ἐκεῖ, ὅτι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐστι δύναμις τῶν πόλεων.

⁷²ἐρώτησον καὶ μάθε τίς εἰμι καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ βοηθοῦντες ἡμῖν, καὶ λέγουσιν· οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν στάσις ποδὸς κατὰ πρόσωπον ἡμῶν, ὅτι δὶς ἐτροπώθησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἐν γῇ αὐτῶν.

⁷³καὶ νῦν οὐ δυνήσῃ ὑποστῇναι τὴν ἵππον καὶ δύναμιν τοιαύτην ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ, ὅπου οὐκ ἔστι λίθος οὐδὲ κόχλαξ οὐδὲ τόπος τοῦ φυγεῖν».

⁷⁴῾Ως δὲ ἤκουσεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τῶν λόγων ᾿Απολλωνίου, ἐκινήθη τῇ διανοίᾳ καὶ ἐπέλεξε δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ συνήντησεν αὐτῷ Σίμων ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ βοήθειαν αὐτοῦ.

⁷⁵καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐπὶ ᾿Ιόππην, καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὅτι φρουρὰ ᾿Απολλωνίου ἐν ᾿Ιόππῃ, καὶ ἐπολέμησαν αὐτήν.

⁷⁶καὶ φοβηθέντες ἤνοιξαν οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐκυρίευσεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ᾿Ιόππης.

⁷⁷καὶ ἤκουσεν ᾿Απολλώνιος, καὶ παρενέβαλε τρισχιλίαν ἵππον καὶ δύναμιν πολλὴν καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς ῎Αζωτον ὡς διοδεύων καὶ ἅμα προῆγεν εἰς τὸ πεδίον διὰ τὸ ἔχειν αὐτὸν πλῆθος ἵππου καὶ πεποιθέναι ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ.

⁷⁸καὶ κατεδίωξεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ εἰς ῎Αζωτον, καὶ συνῆψαν αἱ παρεμβολαὶ εἰς πόλεμον.

⁷⁹καὶ ἀπέλιπεν ᾿Απολλώνιος χιλίαν ἵππον ἐν κρυπτῷ κατόπισθεν αὐτῶν.

⁸⁰καὶ ἔγνω ᾿Ιωνάθαν ὅτι ἔστιν ἔνεδρον κατόπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν αὐτοῦ τὴν παρεμβολὴν καὶ ἐξετίναξαν τὰς σχίζας εἰς τὸν λαὸν ἐκ πρωΐθεν ἕως ἑσπέρας·

⁸¹ὁ δὲ λαὸς εἱστήκει καθὼς ἐπέταξεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν, καὶ ἐκοπίασαν οἱ ἵπποι αὐτῶν.

⁸²καὶ εἵλκυσε Σίμων τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ καὶ συνῆψε πρὸς τὴν φάραγγα, ἡ γὰρ ἵππος ἐξελύθη, καὶ συνετρίβησαν ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγον.

⁸³καὶ ἡ ἵππος ἐσκορπίσθη ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ, καὶ ἔφυγον εἰς ῎Αζωτον καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς Βηθδαγὼν τὸ εἰδωλεῖον αὐτῶν τοῦ σωθῆναι.

⁸⁴καὶ ἐνεπύρισεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν τὴν ῎Αζωτον καὶ τὰς πόλεις τὰς κύκλῳ αὐτῆς καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν Δαγὼν καὶ τοὺς συμφυγόντας εἰς αὐτὸ ἐνεπύρισε πυρί.

⁸⁵καὶ ἐγένοντο οἱ πεπτωκότες μαχαίρᾳ σὺν τοῖς ἐμπυρισθεῖσιν εἰς ἄνδρας ὀκτακισχιλίους.

⁸⁶καὶ ἀπῇρεν ἐκεῖθεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐπὶ ᾿Ασκάλωνα, καὶ ἐξῆλθον οἱ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ ἐν δόξῃ μεγάλῃ.

⁸⁷καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ᾿Ιωνάθαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ σὺν τοῖς παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἔχοντες σκῦλα πολλά.

⁸⁸καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν ᾿Αλέξανδρος ὁ βασιλεὺς τοὺς λόγους τούτους, καὶ προσέθετο δοξάσαι τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν.

⁸⁹καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ πόρπην χρυσῆν, ὡς ἔθος ἐστὶ δίδοσθαι τοῖς συγγενέσι τῶν βασιλέων, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν ᾿Ακκαρὼν καὶ πάντα τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς εἰς κληροδοσίαν.

¹In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there,

²Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.

³Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he magnified him.

⁴For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:

⁵Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.

⁶Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.

⁷Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower:

⁸Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an host.

⁹Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.

¹⁰This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair the city.

¹¹And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Sion and about with square stones for fortification; and they did so.

¹²Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away;

¹³Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.

¹⁴Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.

¹⁵Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,

¹⁶He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.

¹⁷Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,

¹⁸King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:

¹⁹We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.

²⁰Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king’s friend; (and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.

²¹So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.

²²Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,

²³What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?

²⁴I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities and gifts, that I may have their aid.

²⁵He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:

²⁶Whereas ye have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.

²⁷Wherefore now continue ye still to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense you for the things ye do in our behalf,

²⁸And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.

²⁹And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews, from tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,

³⁰And from that which appertaineth unto me to receive for the third part or the seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three governments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore.

³¹Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.

³²And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and give the high priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.

³³Moreover I freely set at liberty every one of the Jews, that were carried captives out of the land of Judea into any part of my kingdom, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes even of their cattle.

³⁴Furthermore I will that all the feasts, and sabbaths, and new moons, and solemn days, and the three days before the feast, and the three days after the feast shall be all of immunity and freedom for all the Jews in my realm.

³⁵Also no man shall have authority to meddle with or to molest any of them in any matter.

³⁶I will further, that there be enrolled among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, unto whom pay shall be given, as belongeth to all king’s forces.

³⁷And of them some shall be placed in the king’s strong holds, of whom also some shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and I will that their overseers and governors be of themselves, and that they live after their own laws, even as the king hath commanded in the land of Judea.

³⁸And concerning the three governments that are added to Judea from the country of Samaria, let them be joined with Judea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, nor bound to obey other authority than the high priest’s.

³⁹As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I give it as a free gift to the sanctuary at Jerusalem for the necessary expenses of the sanctuary.

⁴⁰Moreover I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver out of the king’s accounts from the places appertaining.

⁴¹And all the overplus, which the officers payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shall be given toward the works of the temple.

⁴²And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they took from the uses of the temple out of the accounts year by year, even those things shall be released, because they appertain to the priests that minister.

⁴³And whosoever they be that flee unto the temple at Jerusalem, or be within the liberties hereof, being indebted unto the king, or for any other matter, let them be at liberty, and all that they have in my realm.

⁴⁴For the building also and repairing of the works of the sanctuary expenses shall be given of the king’s accounts.

⁴⁵Yea, and for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expenses shall be given out of the king’s accounts, as also for the building of the walls in Judea.

⁴⁶Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credit unto them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil that he had done in Israel; for he had afflicted them very sore.

⁴⁷But with Alexander they were well pleased, because he was the first that entreated of true peace with them, and they were confederate with him always.

⁴⁸Then gathered king Alexander great forces, and camped over against Demetrius.

⁴⁹And after the two kings had joined battle, Demetrius’ host fled: but Alexander followed after him, and prevailed against them.

⁵⁰And he continued the battle very sore until the sun went down: and that day was Demetrius slain.

⁵¹Afterward Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt with a message to this effect:

⁵²Forasmuch as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have gotten the dominion, and overthrown Demetrius, and recovered our country;

⁵³For after I had joined battle with him, both he and his host was discomfited by us, so that we sit in the throne of his kingdom:

⁵⁴Now therefore let us make a league of amity together, and give me now thy daughter to wife: and I will be thy son in law, and will give both thee and her as according to thy dignity.

⁵⁵Then Ptolemee the king gave answer, saying, Happy be the day wherein thou didst return into the land of thy fathers, and satest in the throne of their kingdom.

⁵⁶And now will I do to thee, as thou hast written: meet me therefore at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; for I will marry my daughter to thee according to thy desire.

⁵⁷So Ptolemee went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and they came unto Ptolemais in the hundred threescore and second year:

⁵⁸Where king Alexander meeting him, he gave unto him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great glory, as the manner of kings is.

⁵⁹Now king Alexander had written unto Jonathan, that he should come and meet him.

⁶⁰Who thereupon went honourably to Ptolemais, where he met the two kings, and gave them and their friends silver and gold, and many presents, and found favour in their sight.

⁶¹At that time certain pestilent fellows of Israel, men of a wicked life, assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: but the king would not hear them.

⁶²Yea more than that, the king commanded to take off his garments, and clothe him in purple: and they did so.

⁶³And he made him sit by himself, and said into his princes, Go 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.

⁶⁴Now when his accusers saw that he was honoured according to the proclamation, and clothed in purple, they fled all away.

⁶⁵So the king honoured him, and wrote him among his chief friends, and made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion.

⁶⁶Afterward Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.

⁶⁷Furthermore in the; hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius son of Demetrius out of Crete into the land of his fathers:

⁶⁸Whereof when king Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned into Antioch.

⁶⁹Then Demetrius made Apollonius the governor of Celosyria his general, who gathered together a great host, and camped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,

⁷⁰Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached: and why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?

⁷¹Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together: for with me is the power of the cities.

⁷²Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that take our part, and they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to stand before our face; for thy fathers have twice been put to flight in their own land.

⁷³Wherefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto.

⁷⁴So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and choosing ten thousand men he went out of Jerusalem, where Simon his brother met him for to help him.

⁷⁵And he pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.

⁷⁶Then Jonathan laid siege unto it: whereupon they of the city let him in for fear: and so Jonathan won Joppa.

⁷⁷Whereof when Apollonius heard, he took three thousand horsemen, with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as one that journeyed, and therewithal drew him forth into the plain. because he had a great number of horsemen, in whom he put his trust.

⁷⁸Then Jonathan followed after him to Azotus, where the armies joined battle.

⁷⁹Now Apollonius had left a thousand horsemen in ambush.

⁸⁰And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him; for they had compassed in his host, and cast darts at the people, from morning till evening.

⁸¹But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired.

⁸²Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the footmen, (for the horsemen were spent) who were discomfited by him, and fled.

⁸³The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol’s temple, for safety.

⁸⁴But Jonathan set fire on Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, with them that were fled into it, he burned with fire.

⁸⁵Thus there were burned and slain with the sword well nigh eight thousand men.

⁸⁶And from thence Jonathan removed his host, and camped against Ascalon, where the men of the city came forth, and met him with great pomp.

⁸⁷After this returned Jonathan and his host unto Jerusalem, having any spoils.

⁸⁸Now when king Alexander heard these things, he honoured Jonathan yet more.

⁸⁹And sent him a buckle of gold, as the use is to be given to such as are of the king’s blood: he gave him also Accaron with the borders thereof in possession.