35. And I also grant them relief from the payment of revenues now due to me from tithes, tolls, salt taxes, and special taxes.
36. None of the provisions mentioned in this letter shall ever be cancelled in the future.
37. “ ‘You are required to see that a complete copy of this decree is made and given to Jonathan, to be posted in a prominent place on the Temple hill.’ ”
38. When King Demetrius saw that the land was peaceful under his rule and there was no further resistance, he disbanded his whole army and sent everyone home, except the soldiers he had hired from the Greek islands. This made all the soldiers who had served under his predecessors hate him because they had lost their source of income.
39. One of Alexander's former supporters, Trypho, saw that all the soldiers were complaining about Demetrius, so he went to Imalkue, the Arab who was responsible for bringing up Alexander's young son Antiochus.
40. Trypho stayed there for a long time and kept urging Imalkue to hand the boy over to him, so that he could make him king in place of his father. He also told Imalkue about the decrees of Demetrius and how the soldiers hated him.
41. Jonathan sent a message to King Demetrius asking him to remove his troops from the fort in Jerusalem and from the fortresses in Judea, since they kept harassing the Jews.
42. Demetrius replied: “I will do what you request, and when the opportunity presents itself, I will bestow upon you and your nation the highest honours.
43. But now you can help me by sending soldiers to fight for me, because all my troops have revolted.”
44. So Jonathan sent 3,000 trained soldiers to Antioch. The king was delighted when they arrived,
45. because a mob of 120,000 had gathered in the city determined to kill him.
46. But he escaped to the palace while the mob took control of the streets and began to riot.
47. Then the king called on the Jewish soldiers for help, and they all rushed to his aid. They went through the whole city and killed at least 100,000 people.
48. They saved the king's life, but they plundered and burnt the city.
49. When the people saw that the Jews had complete control of the city, they lost courage and appealed to the king, requesting
50. him to arrange a truce and stop the Jewish attack.
51. The rebels threw down their arms and surrendered. The king and everyone in his kingdom now had great respect for the Jews, who returned to Jerusalem with a great deal of loot.
52. Demetrius was firmly established as king, and the country was at peace under his rule,
53. but he broke all his promises and turned against Jonathan. He did not reward him for his loyal service, but instead continued to harass him.