57. So Ptolemy set out from Egypt—he and his daughter Cleopatra—and came to Ptolemais in the year 162.
58. King Alexander met Ptolemy, who gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. He celebrated her wedding at Ptolemais with much ceremony, as kings do.
59. King Alexander then wrote to Jonathan to come and meet him.
60. So he went with majestic apparel to Ptolemais and met the two kings. He gave silver and gold and many other gifts to them and their chief political advisors, and he found favor with them.
61. A group of troublemakers from Israel gathered together to slander him, but the king paid no attention to them.
62. Instead, he gave orders to take off Jonathan’s garments and to clothe him in purple. And they did so.
63. The king also seated him at his side, and he spoke to his officers: "Go with him into the middle of the city and announce that no one should bring charges against him about any matter. Furthermore, let no one annoy him for any reason."
64. His accusers saw the honor that was paid Jonathan in keeping with the proclamation. They saw him clothed in purple, so they all fled.
65. In this way, the king honored him and enrolled him among his chief political advisors, and made him general and governor of the province.
66. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem in peace and gladness.
67. In the year 165, Demetrius the son of Demetrius came from Crete to the land of his ancestors.
68. When King Alexander heard, he was greatly distressed and returned to Antioch.
69. Demetrius appointed Apollonius the governor of Coele-Syria, who assembled a large force and camped against Jamnia. Then Apollonius sent the following message to the high priest Jonathan:
70. You are the only one to oppose us. I have fallen into ridicule and disgrace because of you. Why do you assume authority against us in the highlands?
71. Now if you have confidence in your military forces, come down to the plain to meet us. Let’s match strength against strength there, because I have with me the forces of the cities.
72. Discover who I am and who the others are that are helping us, and you will learn that you cannot stand before us. Twice before, your ancestors were forced to flee in their own land.