1 And Antiochus, son of Demetrius the king, sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priesta and governor of the Jews, 2 and to all the nationb; cand the contents thereof were after this mannerc:

‘King Antiochus to Simon the high-priest and governor, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting: 3 Forasmuch as pestilent fellows have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our dfathers, and my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it cas before,—I have, moreover, raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, 4 and have prepared ships of warc, and I have determined to land in the country, that I may punish them that have devastated our country, and them that have made many cities in thee kingdom desolate,—5 I therefore (herewith) confirm funto theef (the release from) all the exactions which the kings that were before me remitted unto thee, 6 cand whatsoever giftsg besides they remitted unto theec; hand I give thee leaveh ito coin money kfor thy countryk with thine own stampi. 7 And Jerusalem and the sanctuary shall be free; cand all the arms which thou hast preparedc, and the strongholds cwhich thou hast built, which thou hast in thy possessionc, let them remain unto thee. 8 And everything owing to the king, land the things that shall be owing to the king, let them be remitted unto thee from now and unto all timel. 9 Moreover, when we shall have establishedm our kingdom, we will glorify thee and thy nation and nthe Temple with great glory n, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.’

15:10–14. Antiochus VIII besieges Tryphon in Dor.