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Apocrypha. ch'rist And he smote || ,0donarkes and his cir. 158. brethren, and the children of Phasiron in Vdmarr t^lcir tent' omwrra. ^ when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces, Simon and his company went out of the city, and burned up the engines of war,

68 And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflict ed him fore : for his counsel and travail was in vain.

60 Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, insomuch as he flew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.

70 Whereof when Jonathan had know ledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he lhould make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.

71 Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and sware unto him that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.

72 When therefore he had restored un to him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way into his own land, neither f came he any more into their borders.

73 Thus the sword ceased from Israel : but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and be gan to + govern the people ; and he destroy ed the ungodly men out of Israel.

N the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, II the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais : for the people had received him, by means whereof he reigned there.

2 Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight.

3 Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto I added he to tome any more.

judge. cir. isj. I Joseph. the son of Amioctui Efifbanes. Jonathan with loving words, so as he mag- Before nified him.

4 For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us :

5 Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brethren and his people.

6 Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide weapons, that he might aid him in battle : he commanded also that the hostages that were in the tower should be delivered him.

7 Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the tower :

8 Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him autho rity to gather together an host.

9 Whereupon they of the tower deliver ed their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered them unto their parents.

10 This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and re pair the city.

1 1 And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Sion round about with square stones for fortification ; and they did so.

12 Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled away ;

13 Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.

14 Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the law and the com mandments remained still : for it was their place of refuge.

15 Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan : when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,

16 He said, Shall we find such another man ? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.

17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,

18 King Alexander to his brother Jona than sendeth greeting :

19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.

20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king's friend ; (and