56. Trypho captured the elephants and occupied Antioch.
57. Then young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan: “I confirm you in the high priesthood and appoint you ruler over the four districts, and to be one of the King’s Friends.”
58. He also sent him gold dishes and a table service, gave him the right to drink from gold cups, to dress in royal purple, and to wear a gold buckle.
59. Likewise, he made Jonathan’s brother Simon governor of the region from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.
60. Jonathan set out and traveled through the province of West-of-Euphrates and its cities, and all the forces of Syria espoused his cause as allies. When he arrived at Askalon, the citizens welcomed him with pomp.
61. But when he set out for Gaza, the people of Gaza shut him out. So he besieged it, and burned and plundered its suburbs.
62. Then the people of Gaza appealed to Jonathan, and he granted them terms of peace. He took the sons of their leaders as hostages and sent them to Jerusalem. He then traveled on through the province as far as Damascus.
63. Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had come with a strong force to Kadesh in Galilee, intending to remove him from office.
64. So he went to meet them, leaving his brother Simon in the province.