1 Maccabees 11

11And the king of Egypt gathered together great forces, as the sand which is by the sea shore ⁽for multitude⁽, and many ships, and sought to make himself master of Alexander’s kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom. And he went forth into Syria with words of peace; and they of the cities opened unto him ⁽the gates⁽, and met him, and king Alexander’s command was that they should meet him, because he was his father-in-law. Now when Ptolemy entered into the cities, he placed in each city his forces ⁽for⁽ a garrison. And when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon ⁽which had been⁽ burned with fire, and Azotus, ⁽which⁽ together with the suburbs thereof, had been pulled down, and the bodies scattered about, and them that had been burned, whom he had burnedin the war, for they had made heaps of them in his way. And they told the king what things Jonathan had done, in order to cast blame on him; and the king held his peace. And Jonathan met the kingwith pomp at Joppa, and they saluted one another, and they slept there. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called Eleutherus, and returned to Jerusalem.

But king Ptolemy made himself master of the cities upon the sea coast, unto Seleucia which is by the sea, and he devised evil devices concerning Alexander. And he sent ambassadors unto king Demetrius, saying: ‘Let us make a covenant with one another, and I will give thee ⁽to wife⁽ my daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign over thy father’s kingdom; for I have repented that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought to slay me.’ But he cast blame on him ⁽thus⁽, because he coveted his kingdom. And taking his daughter ⁽from Alexander⁽, he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity became manifest. And Ptolemy entered into Antioch, and put on himself the diadem of Asia; so he ⁽now⁽ had put two diadems upon his head, the diadem of Egypt and that of Asia.

But king Alexander was in Cilicia at that season, because they of those parts were in revolt. And Alexander heard of it, and he came against him in war; and Ptolemy led forth ⁽his host⁽, and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight. And Alexander fled into Arabia, that he might be sheltered there; but king Ptolemy was exalted. And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander’s head, and sent it to Ptolemy. And king Ptolemy died the third day ⁽after⁽; and they that were in his strongholds were slain by them that dwelt in the strongholds. And Demetrius became king in the one hundred and sixty-seventh year.

In those days Jonathan gathered together them of Judaea to take the citadel that was in Jerusalem; and he made many engines ⁽of war⁽ against it. And certain ones that hated their own nation, men that transgressed the Law, went unto the king, and reported unto him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. And ⁽when⁽ he heard it he was angered; but immediately on hearing it he set forth, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed. But when Jonathan heard ⁽this⁽, he commanded ⁽that the citadel should continue⁽ to be besieged; and he chose ⁽certain⁽ of the elders of Israel and of the priests and put himself in peril, and taking silver and gold and raiment, and divers presents besides, went to Ptolemais unto the king. And he found favour in his sight. And certain lawless men of them that were of the nation made complaints against him; but the king did unto him even as his predecessors had done unto him, and exalted him in the sight of all his Friends, and confirmed him in the high-priesthood, and whatsoever other honours he had before, and gave him pre-eminence among his Chief Friends. And Jonathan requested of the king, that he would make Judaea and the three provinces of the country of Samaria free from tribute; and he promised him three hundred talents. And the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan concerning all these things after this manner:

‘King Demetrius unto ⁽his⁽ brother Jonathan and unto the nation of the Jews, greeting; The copy of the letter which we wrote unto Lasthenes our kinsman concerning you, we have written also unto you, that ye may see ⁽it⁽. King Demetrius unto Lasthenes ⁽his⁽ father, greeting; We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and observe what is just toward us, because of their good will toward us. We have confirmed unto them, therefore, the districts of Judaea, and the three governments of Aphaerema, and Lydda, and Ramathaim—⁽these⁽ were added unto Judaea from the country of Samaria—and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the king’s dues which the king received of them yearly aforetime from the produce of the land and the fruits of trees. And as for the other things which appertain unto us, from henceforth, of the tenths and the tolls that appertain to us, and the saltpits, and the crowns that appertain to us, all these we will bestow upon them. And not one of these things shall be annulled from this time forth and for ever. Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given unto Jonathan, and let it be set upon the holy mount in a fitting and conspicuous place.’

And ⁽when⁽ king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place,—except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles—and ⁽therefore⁽ all the forces of his fathers were inimically disposed towards him. Now Tryphon was of those who aforetime had been of Alexander’s part, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrius, and he went to Imalkue the Arabian, who was nourishing up Antiochus, the young child of Alexander, and pressed sore upon him that he should deliver him unto him, that he might reign in his father’s stead; and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred wherewith his forces hated him; and he abode there many days.

And Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he should cast out of Jerusalem them of the citadel, and them that were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually. And Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying: ‘I will not only do this for thee and thy nation, but I will greatly honour thee and thy nation, if I find favourable occasion. Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men who shall fight for me; for all my forces are revolted.’ And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men unto Antioch. And they came unto the king; and the king was glad at their coming. And they of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men; and they were minded to slay the king. And the king fled into the palace, and they of the city seized the thoroughfares of the city, and began to fight. And the king called the Jews to ⁽his⁽ aid, and they were gathered together unto him all at once; and they dispersed themselves in the city; and they slew that day to the number of a hundred thousand. And they set the city on fire, and got many spoils that day, and saved the king. And ⁽when⁽ they of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves masters of the city as they would, they waxed faint in their hearts, and cried out to the king with supplication, saying: ‘Give us ⁽thy⁽ right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city.’ And they cast away their arms, and made peace. And the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all that were in his kingdom ; and they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils. And ⁽when⁽ king Demetrius was seated on his throne of his kingdom ⁽again⁽, and the land was quiet before him, he lied in all that he had spoken, and estranged himself from Jonathan and recompensed ⁽him⁽ not ⁽according to⁽ the benefits with which he ⁽had promised to⁽ recompense him; but he afflicted him sore.

Now after this Tryphon returned, and with him the young child Antiochus; and he reigned, and put on a diadem. And there were gathered unto him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away in disgrace; and they fought against him, and he fled, and was put to rout. And Tryphon took the elephants, and became master of Antioch. And the young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying: ‘I confirm unto thee the high-priesthood, and appoint thee over the four governments, and to be one of the king’s Friends. And he sent unto him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him leave to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle. And his brother Simon he made governor ⁽over the district⁽ from the Ladder of Tyre unto the borders of Egypt. And Jonathan went forth, and took his journey beyond the river, and through the cities; and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to be his confederates. And he came to Askalon, and they of the city met him honourably. And he departed thence to Gaza, and they of Gaza shut him out; and he lay siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them. And they of Gaza made request unto Jonathan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem. And he passed through the country as far as Damascus.

And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great host, with the object of hindering him from his purpose; and he went to meet them, but Simon his brother he left in the country. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and shut it up; and they made request to him that he would give them his right hand, and he gave it to them; but he put them out from thence, and took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it. And Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of…