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 hast