57. The young King Antiochus wrote to Jonathan and confirmed him as High Priest and as ruler over the four regions and gave him the title “Friend of the King.”
58. He sent him a gold dinner-service and authorized him to drink from gold cups, to wear a royal robe, and to wear the gold shoulder buckle awarded to “Relatives of the King.”
59. He also appointed Jonathan's brother Simon as governor of the territory from the Phoenician coast to the Egyptian border.
60. Jonathan then marched with his army through the towns of Greater Syria, and all the Syrian forces joined him as allies. He went to Ashkelon, where the people welcomed him with great honours.
61. Then he went to Gaza, but the people there barred their gates against him. So he laid siege to the city and burnt and looted the surrounding area.
62. The people of Gaza then asked for peace, and Jonathan arranged a truce. He took the sons of the leaders and sent them to Jerusalem as hostages. After that he marched on as far as Damascus.
63. Jonathan learnt that the officers of Demetrius had come to Kedesh in Galilee with a large army, intending to keep him from carrying out his plan.
64. So he left his brother Simon in Judea and set out to meet them in battle.
65. Then Simon laid siege to Bethzur and fought against it for a long time.