ngly, he restored the captives,
and took his own men with him, and returned to the king at Antioch;
and after this his departure, he never came into Judea again. Then did
Jonathan take the opportunity of this quiet state of things, and went
and lived in the city Michmash; and there governed the multitude, and
punished the wicked and ungodly, and by that means purged the nation of
them.

CHAPTER 2. How Alexander [Bala] In His War With Demetrius, Granted
Jonathan Many Advantages And Appointed Him To Be High Priest And
Persuaded Him To Assist Him Although Demetrius Promised Him Greater
Advantages On The Other Side. Concerning The Death Of Demetrius.

1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, it fell out that Alexander, the
son of Antiochus Epiphanes, [1] came up into Syria, and took Ptolemais
the soldiers within having betrayed it to him; for they were at enmity
with Demetrius, on account of his insolence and difficulty of access;
for he shut himself up in a palace of his that had four towers which
he had built himself, not far from Antioch and admitted nobody. He was
withal slothful and negligent about the public affairs, whereby the
hatred of his subjects was the more kindled against him, as we have
elsewhere already related. When therefore Demetrius heard that Alexander
was in Ptolemais, he took his whole army, and led it against him; he
also sent ambassadors to Jonathan about a league of mutual assistance
and friendship, for he resolved to be beforehand with Alexander, lest
the other should treat with him first, and gain assistance from him; and
this he did out of the fear he had lest Jonathan should remember how ill
Demetrius had formerly treated him, and should join with him in this war
against him. He therefore gave orders that Jonathan should be allowed to
raise an army, and should get armor made, and should receive back those
hostages of the Jewish nation whom Baechides had shut up in the citadel
of Jerusalem. When this good fortune had befallen Jonathan, by the
concession of Demetrius, he came to Jerusalem, and read the king's
letter in the audience of the people, and of those that kept the
citadel. When these were read, these wicked men and deserters, who
were in the citadel, were greatly afraid, upon the king's permission
to Jonathan to raise an army, and to receive back the hostages. So he
delivered every one of them to his own parents. And thus did Jonathan
make his abode at Jerusalem, renewing the ci