59. And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come to meet him.
60. And he went with pomp to Ptolemais, and met the two kings, and gave them and their Friends silver and gold, and many gifts, and found favor in their sight.
61. And there were gathered together against him certain pestilent fellows out of Israel, men that were transgressors of the law, to complain against him: and the king gave no heed to them.
62. And the king commanded, and they took off Jonathan’s garments, and clothed him in purple: and thus they did.
63. And the king made him sit with him, and said to his princes, Go forth with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and let no man trouble him for any manner of cause.
64. And it came to pass, when they that complained against him saw his glory according as the herald made proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all fled away.
65. And the king gave him honor, and wrote him among his Chief Friends, and made him a captain, and governor of a province.
66. And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.
67. And in the hundred and threescore and fifth year came Demetrius, son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers:
68. and king Alexander heard thereof, and he grieved exceedingly, and returned to Antioch.
69. And Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coelesyria, and he gathered together a great host, and encamped in Jamnia, and sent to Jonathan the high priest, saying,
70. You alone lift up yourself against us, but I am had in derision and in reproach because of you. And why do you vaunt your power against us in the mountains?
71. Now therefore, if you trust in your forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities.
72. Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help us; and they say, Your foot can’t stand before our face; for your fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.
73. And now you shall not be able to abide the horse and such a host as this in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee to.
74. Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him for to help him.
75. And he encamped against Joppa: and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa:
76. and they fought against it. And they of the city were afraid, and opened to him: and Jonathan became master of Joppa.
77. And Apollonius heard, and he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great host, and went to Azotus as though he were on a journey, and therewithal drew onward into the plain, because he had a multitude of horse, and trusted therein.
78. And he pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle.
79. And Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind them privily.