sessed 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 nam