76. the people of the city became afraid and opened the gates, and so Jonathan took possession of Joppa.
77. When Apollonius heard of it, he drew up three thousand cavalry and a large force of infantry. He marched toward Azotus as though he were going on through, but at the same time he was advancing into the plain, because he had such a large number of cavalry to rely on.
78. Jonathan pursued him toward Azotus, and the armies engaged in battle.
79. Apollonius, however, had left a thousand cavalry in hiding behind them.
80. Jonathan discovered that there was an ambush behind him; his army was surrounded. From morning until evening they showered his troops with arrows.
81. But his troops held their ground, as Jonathan had commanded, while the enemy’s horses became tired out.
82. Then Simon brought forward his force, and engaged the phalanx in battle. Since the cavalry were exhausted, the phalanx was crushed by him and fled,
83. while the cavalry too were scattered over the plain. They fled to Azotus and entered Beth-dagon, the temple of their idol, to save themselves.
84. But Jonathan burned and plundered Azotus with its neighboring towns, and destroyed by fire both the temple of Dagon and those who had taken refuge in it.
85. Those who fell by the sword, together with those who were burned alive, came to about eight thousand.
86. Then Jonathan left there and encamped at Askalon, and the people of that city came out to meet him with great pomp.
87. Jonathan and those with him then returned to Jerusalem, with much spoil.