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1Alexander Epiphanes was the son of King Antiochus the Fourth. He landed on the Phoenician coast and captured the city of Ptolemais in the year 160 of the Syrian Kingdom. The people welcomed Alexander as their king.[#10.1 Better known as Alexander Balas (ruled Syria 150–145 b.c. ).; #10.1 See 1.10 and the note there.; #10.1 That is, 152 b.c.]
2When King Demetrius found out that Alexander was in Ptolemais, he got together a mighty army and set out to attack him.[#10.2 See 7.1; 8.31; 9.1.]
3Demetrius sent Jonathan a friendly letter that flattered him.
4-5He was thinking, “Jonathan could not have forgotten the terrible things I did to him and his brothers and his nation. If I don't hurry and make peace with him, he will join forces with Alexander and attack.”
6In the letter Demetrius said:
7Jonathan took this letter to Jerusalem and read it to everyone, including those in the fortress.
8His enemies were terrified by the letter, because it allowed him to build up an army.
9The soldiers in the fortress immediately released the hostages to Jonathan, and he let them go home to their parents.
10Jonathan moved to Jerusalem and began repairing and rebuilding the city.
11He ordered the workers to cut square blocks of stone and to build strong walls around Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The workers followed his orders.
12-13Bacchides had left foreign soldiers in the fortresses he had built, but they quickly returned home.
14Only a few Jews who were unfaithful to the Law stayed in Beth-Zur for their own safety.
15Someone told King Alexander, “Jonathan and his brothers are brave fighters who have fought many wars and who know what it means to suffer. And Demetrius has promised them many things if they will join him.”[#10.15 See verse 1 and the note there.]
16Alexander replied, “I'd better make Jonathan my friend and ally. I'll never find anyone else like him.”
17Alexander then sent Jonathan a letter, in which he said:
21During the Festival of Shelters, in the seventh month of the year 160 of the Syrian Kingdom, Jonathan became high priest; he also built up a strong army.[#10.21 That is, 152 b.c.]
22When King Demetrius heard the news about Alexander and Jonathan, he was deeply distressed and said,
23“What have we done? Alexander's agreement with the Jews has made him very powerful.
24Now I must write a friendly letter to the Jews and promise them better gifts and more honors. Then they'll come over to my side.”
25And so, Demetrius wrote:
46Jonathan and the others remembered how cruel King Demetrius had been to them, and they did not believe a word he had written.
47Instead, they sided with King Alexander, because he had come with the best offer of peace, and they remained his allies until he died.
48Alexander built up a mighty army and led it into battle against the army of Demetrius.
49-50The fighting was fierce and lasted until dark. Finally, the soldiers of Demetrius ran away, but Alexander and his army went after them and killed many, including Demetrius himself.[#10.49,50 Some manuscripts add “At one point, Alexander's troops ran away and the army of Demetrius went after them. Demetrius died in the fighting.”]
51King Alexander sent a message to King Ptolemy the Sixth of Egypt. It said:[#10.51 See the note at 1.18.]
55Ptolemy wrote back:
57In the year 162 of the Syrian Kingdom, Ptolemy and his daughter Cleopatra left Egypt and went to the city of Ptolemais.[#10.57 That is, 150 b.c.; #10.57 Cleopatra Thea III (died 121 b.c. ), not the more famous Cleopatra VII (69–30 b.c. ).]
58The two kings met each other, and Ptolemy let Alexander marry Cleopatra. They had a very fancy wedding, just as kings always do.
59Meanwhile, Jonathan the high priest received a letter from Alexander, inviting him to come to Ptolemais for a visit with him and Ptolemy.
60Jonathan accepted the invitation and won their friendship by giving both kings and their trusted friends some silver and gold, as well as many other gifts.[#10.60 See the note at 2.18.]
61One day, a group of troublemakers and rebels came from Judea and brought charges against Jonathan. But Alexander would not listen to them.
62Instead, he let Jonathan wear the purple robes of royalty
63and sit next to him. The king told his officers, “Take Jonathan to the center of the city and order everyone to stop bothering him with all these charges.”
64The troublemakers listened to the officers telling everyone to leave Jonathan alone. And when they saw Jonathan standing there in his purple robes, they realized how important he was. So they all ran away.
65Alexander gave Jonathan even more honors. He included him among his most trusted friends and made him governor of Judea and a general in the Syrian army.
66After this, Jonathan returned to Jerusalem, safe and sound.
67Demetrius the Second was the son of Demetrius, and in the year 165 of the Syrian Kingdom, he sailed from Crete to the land of his ancestors.[#10.67 That is, 147 b.c.]
68When Alexander heard about this, he became worried and returned to the city of Antioch.
69Demetrius appointed Apollonius ruler of Southwest Syria Province. So Apollonius built up a large army and set up camp near the town of Jamnia. Then he sent the following letter to Jonathan the high priest:[#10.69 “Coele-Syria” in traditional translations; it originally referred to the land between the Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountains, but at this time it included all Palestine and Phoenicia as well.]
74Jonathan was furious when he read this letter. He chose 10,000 soldiers, then left Jerusalem to meet his brother Simon, who was coming to help him.
75The two brothers surrounded the town of Joppa, because Apollonius had soldiers there. No one would let them in at first.
76But they attacked and frightened the people into opening the gates; then they took command of the town.
77When Apollonius found out that they had taken Joppa, he brought 3,000 cavalry and a large force of soldiers to the town of Azotus. He wanted the Jews to think he was only passing through the town. So he led his troops out to the nearby valley, where he was sure his cavalry could protect the soldiers.
78Jonathan followed Apollonius to Azotus, and a battle broke out
79when 1,000 of Apollonius' cavalry suddenly left their hiding places and attacked from behind.
80The cavalry surrounded Jonathan's troops and shot arrows at them from early morning until late afternoon.
81But Jonathan's forces held their ground, and he told them to keep fighting until the enemy cavalry wore themselves out.
82Then Simon led some of his soldiers into the battle and overpowered the enemy army. The enemy foot soldiers ran for their lives,
83and the cavalry scattered over the valleys.
Some of the enemy soldiers ran back to Azotus and hid in the temple of their god Dagon, thinking they would be safe.
84But Jonathan destroyed Azotus and the nearby towns and took everything of value. Then he burned down the temple with everyone inside.
85Eight thousand enemy soldiers died in the battle and the fire.
86Jonathan left Azotus and ordered his army to set up camp near the town of Askalon, where the people came out to honor him.
87Then Jonathan and his soldiers, loaded down with everything they had taken, returned to Jerusalem.
88When Alexander heard about Jonathan's victories, he gave him even more honors.
89He sent a gold buckle that only the most respected members of the king's family were allowed to wear. Alexander also gave Jonathan the town of Ekron and the land around it.[#10.89 This is one of the highest titles that Greek kings gave to their advisors and officials (see 3.32).]