22. And when he heard it, he became angry. And immediately he came to Ptolemais, and he wrote to Jonathan that he should not besiege the stronghold, but that he should meet with him promptly, for a discussion.
23. But when Jonathan heard this, he ordered them to besiege it. And he chose some from the elders of Israel and from the priests, and he put himself in danger.
24. And he took gold, and silver, and vestments, and many other presents, and he went to the king at Ptolemais, and he found favor in his sight.
25. And some of the iniquitous from his nation came forward with objections against him.
26. And the king treated him just as those who were before him had treated him. And he exalted him in the sight of all his friends.
27. And he confirmed him in the high priesthood and in all the other honors that he held before, and he made him the leader of his friends.
28. And Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free from tribute, along with the three districts, and Samaria, and its confines. And he promised him three hundred talents.
29. And the king consented. And he wrote letters to Jonathan about all these things, continuing in this way:
30. "King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews: greetings.
31. We are sending you a copy of the letter that we wrote to Lasthenes, our parent, about you, so that you will know.
32. 'King Demetrius to Lasthenes, his parent: greetings.
33. We have determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends and who keep to what is just with us, because of their good will, which they hold toward us.
34. Therefore, we have assigned to them all the parts of Judea, and the three cities, Lydda and Ramatha, which were added to Judea from Samaria, and all their confines, to be set apart for all those sacrificing in Jerusalem, in place of that which the king previously received from them each year, and in place of the fruits of the land and of the fruit trees.
35. And, as for the rest of that which pertains to us from tithes and tributes, from this time forward, we release them from these, as well as from the drying areas of salt and the crowns that were presented to us.
36. All these, we concede to them, and nothing of these shall be revoked, from this time forward and for all time.