15. And king Alexander heard all the promises which Demetrius had sent to Jonathan: and they told him of the battles and the valiant deeds which he and his brethren had done, and of the toils which they had endured;
16. And he said, Shall we find such another man? and now we will make him our Friend and confederate.
17. And he wrote letters, and sent them to him, according to these words, saying,
18. King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting:
19. We have heard of you, that you are a mighty man of valour, and meet to be our Friend.
20. And now we have appointed you this day to be high priest of your nation, and to be called the king’s Friend (and he sent to him a purple robe and a crown of gold), and to take our part, and to keep friendship with us.
21. And Jonathan put on the holy garments in the seventh month of the hundred and sixties year, at the feast of tabernacles, and he gathered together forces, and provided arms in abundance.
22. And Demetrius heard these things, and he was grieved, and said,
23. What is this that we have done, that Alexander has been beforehand with us in establishing friendship with the Jews, to strengthen himself?
24. I also will write to them words of encouragement and of honor and of gifts, that they may be with me to aid me.
25. And he sent to them according to these words: King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting:
26. Forasmuch as you⌃ have kept your covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, and have not joined yourselves to our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.
27. And now continue you⌃ still to keep faith with us, and we will recompense to you good things in return for your dealings with us,
28. and will grant you many immunities, and give you gifts.