14. King Alexander was in Cilicia at the time, because the people of that region were in revolt.
15. When Alexander heard about it, he came against Ptolemy in battle. Ptolemy marched out and met him with a strong force and caused him to retreat.
16. So Alexander fled into Arabia to seek protection there. King Ptolemy was triumphant.
17. Zabdiel the Arab cut off Alexander’s head and sent it to Ptolemy.
18. But King Ptolemy died three days later, and his troops in the fortress were killed by the inhabitants of the towns.
19. So Demetrius became king in the year 167.
20. In those days, Jonathan assembled the Judeans to attack the elevated fortress in Jerusalem. They built many engines of war to use against it.
21. Certain renegades who hated their nation went to King Demetrius and told him that Jonathan was attacking the elevated fortress.
22. When he heard this, he was angry and set out immediately to go to Ptolemais. He sent an order to Jonathan not to continue the attack but to meet him instead for a conference at Ptolemais as soon as possible.
23. When Jonathan heard this, he gave orders to continue the siege. He chose some of the elders of Israel and some of the priests and put himself in danger