Demetrius II Nicator Son of Demetrius I Soter. King of the Seleucid Empire from approximately 147–140 bc and again from 129–125 bc. Demetrius II arrived in Syria in 147 bc to retake the throne from Alexander Balas, who had overthrown Demetrius I around 150 bc (1 Maccabees 10:67–69). Alexander’s loyal ally, Jonathan Maccabeus, initially thwarted Demetrius’ attempts to regain power (1 Maccabees 10:70–89). With the aid of Ptolemy Philometer, Demetrius eventually defeated Alexander and made peace with Jonathan (1 Maccabees 11:1–37). The peace did not last since Demetrius did not keep his promises to the Jews (1 Maccabees 11:52–53). Jonathan allied with Trypho against Demetrius (1 Maccabees 11:54–57), but when Trypho betrayed and murdered Jonathan (1 Maccabees 12:39–53), Simon, Jonathan’s brother and the new leader of the Jews (1 Maccabees 13:1–11), joined forces with Demetrius to defeat Trypho (1 Maccabees 13:31–42). Around 140 bc, Demetrius entered Parthia to seek their help against Trypho, but he was imprisoned by Arsaces (1 Maccabees 14:1–3). While Demetrius was imprisoned in Parthia, his brother Antiochus Sidetes was the Seleucid king. According to Josephus, Arsaces released Demetrius when Antiochus invaded Parthia (Antiquities 13.253). The Parthians defeated Antiochus, who died in battle, so Demetrius regained the throne. He later died after a battle with the army of Ptolemy Physcon (Josephus, Antiquities 13.267–68).