37. See to it, therefore, that a copy of these instructions be made and given to Jonathan. Let it be displayed on the holy mountain in a conspicuous place.’”
38. When King Demetrius saw that the land was peaceful under his rule and that he had no opposition, he dismissed his entire army, each to his own home, except the foreign troops which he had hired from the islands of the nations. So all the soldiers who had served under his predecessors became hostile to him.
39. When a certain Trypho, who had previously supported Alexander, saw that all the troops were grumbling against Demetrius, he went to Imalkue the Arabian, who was raising Alexander’s young son Antiochus.
40. Trypho kept urging Imalkue to hand over the boy to him, so that he might succeed his father as king. He told him of all that Demetrius had done and of the hostility his soldiers had for him; and he remained there for many days.
41. Meanwhile Jonathan sent the request to King Demetrius to withdraw the troops in the citadel from Jerusalem and from the other strongholds, for they were constantly waging war on Israel.
42. Demetrius, in turn, sent this word to Jonathan: “I will do not only this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honor you and your nation when I find the opportunity.
43. Now, therefore, you will do well to send men to fight for me, because all my troops have revolted.”
44. So Jonathan sent three thousand good fighting men to him at Antioch. When they came to the king, he was delighted over their arrival.
45. The populace, one hundred and twenty thousand strong, massed in the center of the city in an attempt to kill the king.
46. So the king took refuge in the palace, while the populace gained control of the main streets of the city and prepared for battle.
47. Then the king called the Jewish force to his aid. They all rallied around him and spread out through the city. On that day they killed about a hundred thousand in the city.
48. At the same time, they set the city on fire and took much spoil. Thus they saved the king.
49. When the populace saw that the Jewish force controlled the city, they lost courage and cried out to the king in supplication,
50. “Extend the hand of friendship to us, and make the Jews stop attacking us and the city.”
51. So they threw down their weapons and made peace. The Jews thus gained honor in the eyes of the king and all his subjects, and they became renowned throughout his kingdom. Finally they returned to Jerusalem with much plunder.
52. But when King Demetrius was sure of his royal throne, and the land was peaceful under his rule,
53. he broke all his promises and became estranged from Jonathan. Instead of repaying Jonathan for all the favors he had received from him, he caused him much distress.
54. After this, Trypho returned and brought with him the young boy Antiochus, who became king and put on the diadem.
55. All the soldiers whom Demetrius had discharged rallied around Antiochus and fought against Demetrius, who was routed and fled.