ut us have fought against us.

12:14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our
allies and friends, in these wars.

12:15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and
our enemies are humbled.

12:16. We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and
Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew
with them the former amity and alliance.

12:17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and salute you, and
to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.

12:18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.

12:19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:

12:20. Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, greeting.

12:21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews,
that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.

12:22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write
to us of your prosperity.

12:23. And we also have written back to you, That our cattle, and our
possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We, therefore, have commanded
that these things should be told you.

12:24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again
with a greater army than before to fight against him.

12:25. So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath:
for he gave them no time to enter into his country.

12:26. And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and
brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.

12:27. And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch,
and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels
round about the camp.

12:28. And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for
battle: and they were struck with fear and dread in their heart: and
they kindled fires in their camp.

12:29. But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the
morning: for they saw the lights burning.

12:30. And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they
had passed the river Eleutherus.

12:31. And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called Zabadeans:
and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.

12:32. And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all
that country.

12:33. Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the
neighbouring fortresses,