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were forced to throw down their arms； and to deliver themselves
up to Demetrius。 So he forgave them this their insolent behavior；
and put an end to the sedition； and when he had given rewards to
the Jews out of the rich spoils he had gotten； and had returned
them thanks； as the cause of his victory； he sent them away to
Jerusalem to Jonathan； with an ample testimony of the assistance
they had afforded him。 Yet did he prove an ill man to Jonathan
afterward； and broke the promises he had made； and he threatened
that he would make war upon him； unless he would pay all that
tribute which the Jewish nation owed to the first kings ＇of
Syria＇。 And this he had done； if Trypho had not hindered him； and
diverted his preparations against Jonathan to a concern for his
own preservation； for he now returned out of Arabia into Syria；
with the child Antiochus； for he was yet in age but a youth； and
put the diadem on his head； and as the whole forces that had left
Demetrius； because they had no pay； came to his assistance； he
made war upon Demetrius； and joining battle with him； overcame
him in the fight； and took from him both his elephants and the
city Antioch。
4。 Demetrius； upon this defeat； retired into Cilicia； but the
child Antiochus sent ambassadors and an epistle to Jonathan； and
made him his friend and confederate； and confirmed to him the
high priesthood； and yielded up to him the four prefectures which
had been added to Judea。 Moreover； he sent him vessels and cups
of gold； and a purple garment； and gave him leave to use them。 He
also presented him with a golden button； and styled him one of
his principal friends； and appointed his brother Simon to be the
general over the forces； from the Ladder of Tyre unto Egypt。 So
Jonathan was so pleased with these grants made him by Antiochus；
that he sent ambassadors to him and to Trypho； and professed
himself to be their friend and confederate； and said he would
join with him in a war against Demetrius； informing him that he
had made no proper returns for the kindness he had done him； for
that when he had received many marks of kindness from him； when
he stood in great need of them； he； for such good turns； had
requited him with further injuries。
5。 So Antiochus gave Jonathan leave to raise himself a numerous
army out of Syria and Phoenicia and to make war against
Demetrius's generals； whereupon he went in haste to the several
cities which received him splendidly indeed； but put no forces
into his hands。 And when he was come from thence to Askelon； the
inhabitants of Askelon came and brought him presents； and met him
in a splendid manner。 He exhorted them； and every one of the
cities of Celesyria； to forsake Demetrius； and to join with
Antiochus； and； in assisting him； to endeavor to punish Demetrius
for what offenses he had been guilty of against themselves； and
told them there were many reasons for that their procedure； if
they had a mind so to do。 And when he had persuaded those cities
to promise their assistance to Antiochus； he came to Gaza； in
order to induce them also to be friends to Antiochus； but he
found the inhabitants of Gaza much more alienated from him than
he expected； for they had shut their gates against him； and
although they had deserted Demetrius； they had not resolved to
join themselves to Antiochus。 This provoked Jonathan to besiege
them； and to harass their country； for as he set a part of his
army round about Gaza itself； so with the rest he overran their
land； and spoiled it； and burnt what was in it。 When the of Gaza
saw themselves in this state of affliction； and that no
assistance came to them from Demetrius； that what distressed them
was at hand； but what should profit them was still at a great
distance； and it was uncertain whether it would come at all or
not； they thought it would he prudent conduct to leave off any
longer continuance with them； and to cultivate friendship with
the other； so they sent to Jonathan； and professed they would be
his friends； and afford him assistance： for such is the temper of
men； that before they have had the trial of great afflictions；
they do not understand what is for their advantage； but when they
find themselves under such afflictions； they then change their
minds； and what it had been better for them to have done before
they had been at all damaged； they choose to do； but not till
after they have suffered such damages。 However； he made a league
of friendship with them； and took from them hostages for their
performance of it； and sent these hostages to Jerusalem； while he
went himself over all the country； as far as Damascus。
6。 But when he heard that the generals of Demetrius's forces were
come to the city Cadesh with a numerous army； （the place lies
between the land of the Tyrians and Galilee；）for they supposed
they should hereby draw him out of Syria； in order to preserve
Galilee； and that he would not overlook the Galileans； who were
his own people； when war was made upon them； he went to meet
them； having left Simon in Judea； who raised as great an army as
he was able out of the country； and then sat down before
Bethsura； and besieged it； that being the strongest place in all
Judea； and a garrison of Demetrius's kept it； as we have already
related。 But as Simon was raising banks； and bringing his engines
of war against Bethsura； and was very earnest about the siege of
it； the garrison was afraid lest the place should be taken of
Simon by force； and they put to the sword； so they sent to Simon；
and desired the security of his oath； that they should come to no
harm from him； and that they would leave the place； and go away
to Demetrius。 Accordingly he gave them his oath； and ejected them
out of the city； and he put therein a garrison of his own。
7。 But Jonathan removed out of Galilee； and from the waters which
are called Gennesar； for there he was before encamped； and came
into the plain that is called Asor； without knowing that the
enemy was there。 When therefore Demetrius's men knew a day
beforehand that Jonathan was coming against them； they laid an
ambush in the mountain； who were to assault him on the sudden；
while they themselves met him with an army in the plain； which
army； when Jonathan saw ready to engage him； he also got ready
his own soldiers for the battle as well as he was able； but those
that were laid in ambush by Demetrius's generals being behind
them； the Jews were afraid lest they should be caught in the
midst between two bodies； and perish； so they ran away in haste；
and indeed all the rest left Jonathan； but a few there were； in
number about fifty； who staid with him； and with them Mattathias；
the son of Absalom； and Judas； the son of Chapseus； who were
commanders of the whole army。 These marched boldly； and like men
desperate； against the enemy； and so pushed them； that by their
courage they daunted them； and with their weapons in their hands
they put them to flight。 And when those soldiers of Jonathan that
had retired saw the enemy giving way； they got together after
their flight； and pursued them with great violence； and this did
they as far as Cadesh； where the camp of the enemy lay。
8。 Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious victory； and slain two
thousand of the enemy； returned to Jerusalem。 So when he saw that
all his affairs prospered according to his mind； by the
providence of God； he sent ambassadors to the Romans； being
desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation had with
them formerly。 He enjoined the same ambassadors； that； as they
came back； they should go to the Spartans； and put them in mind
of their friendship and kindred。 So when the ambassadors came to
Rome； they went into their senate； and said what they were
commanded by Jonathan the high priest to say； how he had sent
them to confirm their friendship。 The senate then confirmed what
had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the
Jews； and gave them letters to carry to all the kings of Asia and
Europe； and to the governors of the cities； that they might
safely conduct them to their own country。 Accordingly； as they
returned； they came to Sparta； and delivered the epistle which
they had received of Jonathan to them； a copy of which here
follows： 〃Jonathan the high priest of the Jewish nation； and the
senate； and body of the people of the Jews； to the ephori； and
senate； and people of the Lacedemonians； send greeting。 If you be
well； and both your public and private affairs be agreeable to
your mind； it is according to our wishes。 We are well also。 When
in former times an epistle was brought to Onias； who was then our
high priest； from Areus； who at that time was your king； by
Demoteles； concerning the kindred that was between us and you； a
copy of which is here subjoined； we both joyfully received the
epistle； and were well pleased with Demoteles and Areus； although
we did not need such a demonstration； because we were satisfied
about it from the sacred writings （10） yet did not we think fit
first to begin the claim of this relation to you； lest we should
seem too early in taking to ourselves the glory which is now
given us by you。 It is a long time since this relat