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assembly； and persuaded them to receive Demetrius； and assured
them that he would not be mindful of what they did to his father
in case he should he now obliged by them； and he undertook that
he would himself be a good monitor and governor to him； and
promised that he would not permit him to attempt any bad actions；
but that； for his own part； he was contented with the kingdom of
Egypt。 By which discourse he persuaded the people of Antioch to
receive Demetrius。
8。 But now Alexander made haste with a numerous and great army；
and came out of Cilicia into Syria； and burnt the country
belonging to Antioch； and pillaged it； whereupon Ptolemy； and his
son…in…law Demetrius； brought their army against him； （for he had
already given him his daughter in marriage；） and beat Alexander；
and put him to flight； and accordingly he fled into Arabia。 Now
it happened in the time of the battle that Ptolemy' horse； upon
hearing the noise of an elephant； cast him off his back； and
threw him on the ground； upon the sight of which accident； his
enemies fell upon him； and gave him many wounds upon his head；
and brought him into danger of death； for when his guards caught
him up； he was so very ill； that for four days' time he was not
able either to understand or to speak。 However； Zabdiel； a prince
among the Arabians； cut off Alexander's head； and sent it to
Ptolemy； who recovering of his wounds； and returning to his
understanding； on the fifth day； heard at once a most agreeable
hearing； and saw a most agreeable sight； which were the death and
the head of Alexander； yet a little after this his joy for the
death of Alexander； with which he was so greatly satisfied； he
also departed this life。 Now Alexander； who was called Balas；
reigned over Asia five years； as we have elsewhere related。
9。 But when Demetrius； who was styled Nicator； （9） had taken the
kingdom； he was so wicked as to treat Ptolemy's soldiers very
hardly； neither remembering the league of mutual assistance that
was between them； nor that he was his son…in…law and kinsman； by
Cleopatra's marriage to him； so the soldiers fled from his wicked
treatment to Alexandria； but Demetrius kept his elephants。 But
Jonathan the high priest levied an army out of all Judea； and
attacked the citadel at Jerusalem； and besieged it。 It was held
by a garrison of Macedonians； and by some of those wicked men who
had deserted the customs of their forefathers。 These men at first
despised the attempts of Jonathan for taking the place； as
depending on its strength； but some of those wicked men went out
by night； and came to Demetrius； and informed him that the
citadel was besieged； who was irritated with what he heard； and
took his army； and came from Antioch； against Jonathan。 And when
he was at Antioch； he wrote to him； and commanded him to come to
him quickly to Ptolemais： upon which Jonathan did not intermit
the siege of the citadel； but took with him the elders of the
people； and the priests； and carried with him gold； and silver；
and garments； and a great number of presents of friendship； and
came to Demetrius； and presented him with them； and thereby
pacified the king's anger。 So he was honored by him； and received
from him the confirmation of his high priesthood； as he had
possessed it by the grants of the kings his predecessors。 And
when the Jewish deserters accused him； Demetrius was so far from
giving credit to them； that when he petitioned him that he would
demand no more than three hundred talents for the tribute of all
Judea； and the three toparchies of Samaria； and Perea； and
Galilee； he complied with the proposal； and gave him a letter
confirming all those grants； whose contents were as follows：
〃King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother； and to the nation of the
Jews； sendeth greeting。 We have sent you a copy of that epistle
which we have written to Lasthones our kinsman； that you may know
its contents。 〃King Demetrus to Lasthenes our father； sendeth
greeting。 I have determined to return thanks； and to show favor
to the nation of the Jews； which hath observed the rules of
justice in our concerns。 Accordingly； I remit to them the three
prefectures； Apherims； and Lydda； and Ramatha； which have been
added to Judea out of Samaria； with their appurtenances； as also
what the kings my predecessors received from those that offered
sacrifices in Jerusalem； and what are due from the fruits of the
earth； and of the trees； and what else belongs to us； with the
salt…pits； and the crowns that used to be presented to us。 Nor
shall they be compelled to pay any of those taxes from this time
to all futurity。 Take care therefore that a copy of this epistle
be taken； and given to Jonathan； and be set up in an eminent
place of their holy temple。'〃 And these were the contents of this
writing。 And now when Demetrius saw that there was peace every
where； and that there was no danger； nor fear of war； he
disbanded the greatest part of his army； and diminished their
pay； and even retained in pay no others than such foreigners as
came up with him from Crete； and from the other islands。 However；
this procured him ill…will and hatred from the soldiers； on whom
he bestowed nothing from this time； while the kings before him
used to pay them in time of peace as they did before； that they
might have their good…will； and that they might be very ready to
undergo the difficulties of war； if any occasion should require
it。
CHAPTER 5。
How Trypho After He Had Beaten Demetrius Delivered The Kingdom To
Antiochus The Son Of Alexander； And Gained Jonathan For His
Assistant； And Concerning The Actions And Embassies Of Jonathan。
1。 Now there was a certain commander of Alexander's forces； an
Apanemian by birth； whose name was Diodotus； and was also called
Trypho； took notice the ill…will of the soldiers bare to
Demetrius； and went to Malchus the Arabian； who brought up
Antiochus； the son of Alexander； and told him what ill…will the
army bare Demetrius； and persuaded him to give him Antiochus；
because he would make him king； and recover to him the kingdom of
his father。 Malchus at the first opposed him in this attempt；
because he could not believe him； but when Trypho lay hard at him
for a long time； he over…persuaded him to comply with Trypho's
intentions and entreaties。 And this was the state Trypho was now
in。
2。 But Jonathan the high priest； being desirous to get clear of
those that were in the citadel of Jerusalem； and of the Jewish
deserters； and wicked men； as well as of those in all the
garrisons in the country； sent presents and ambassadors to
Demetrius； and entreated him to take away his soldiers out of the
strong holds of Judea。 Demetrius made answer； that after the war；
which he was now deeply engaged in； was over； he would not only
grant him that； but greater things than that also； and he desired
he would send him some assistance； and informed him that his army
had deserted him。 So Jonathan chose out three thousand of his
soldiers； and sent them to Demetrius。
3。 Now the people of Antioch hated Demetrius； both on account of
what mischief he had himself done them； and because they were his
enemies also on account of his father Demetrius； who had greatly
abused them； so they watched some opportunity which they might
lay hold on to fall upon him。 And when they were informed of the
assistance that was coming to Demetrius from Jonathan； and
considered at the same time that he would raise a numerous army；
unless they prevented him； and seized upon him； they took their
weapons immediately； and encompassed his palace in the way of a
siege； and seizing upon all the ways of getting out； they sought
to subdue their king。 And when he saw that the people of Antioch
were become his bitter enemies and that they were thus in arms；
he took the mercenary soldiers which he had with them； and those
Jews who were sent by Jonathan； and assaulted the Antiochians；
but he was overpowered by them； for they were many ten thousands；
and was beaten。 But when the Jews saw that the Antiochians were
superior； they went up to the top of the palace； and shot at them
from thence； and because they were so remote from them by their
height； that they suffered nothing on their side； but did great
execution on the others； as fighting from such an elevation； they
drove them out of the adjoining houses； and immediately set them
on fire； whereupon the flame spread itself over the whole city；
and burnt it all down。 This happened by reason of the closeness
of the houses； and because they were generally built of wood。 So
the Antioehians； when they were not able to help themselves； nor
to stop the fire； were put to flight。 And as the Jews leaped from
the top of one house to the top of another； and pursued them
after that manner； it thence happened that the pursuit was so
very surprising。 But when the king saw that the Antiochians were
were busy in saving their children and their wives； and so did
not fight any longer； he fell upon them in the narrow passages；
and fought them； and slew a great many of them； till at last they
were forced to throw down their arms； and to deliver themselves
up to Demetrius。 So he forgave them this their