materials of several sorts； and replenished with sacred animals；
I desire therefore that you will grant me leave to purge this
holy place； which belongs to no master； and is fallen down； and
to build there a temple to Almighty God； after the pattern of
that in Jerusalem； and of the same dimensions； that may be for
the benefit of thyself； and thy wife and children； that those
Jews which dwell in Egypt may have a place whither they may come
and meet together in mutual harmony one with another； and he
subservient to thy advantages； for the prophet Isaiah foretold
that 〃there should be an altar in Egypt to the Lord God； （5） and
many other such things did he prophesy relating to that place。〃
2。 And this was what Onias wrote to king Ptolemy。 Now any one may
observe his piety； and that of his sister and wife Cleopatra； by
that epistle which they wrote in answer to it； for they laid the
blame and the transgression of the law upon the head of Onias。
And this was their reply： 〃King Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra to
Onias； send greeting。 We have read thy petition； wherein thou
desirest leave to be given thee to purge that temple which is
fallen down at Leontopolis； in the Nomus of Heliopolis； and which
is named from the country Bubastis； on which account we cannot
but wonder that it should be pleasing to God to have a temple
erected in a place so unclean； and so full of sacred animals。 But
since thou sayest that Isaiah the prophet foretold this long ago；
we give thee leave to do it； if it may be done according to your
law； and so that we may not appear to have at all offended God
herein。〃
3。 So Onias took the place； and built a temple； and an altar to
God； like indeed to that in Jerusalem； but smaller and poorer。 I
do not think it proper for me now to describe its dimensions or
its vessels； which have been already described in my seventh book
of the Wars of the Jews。 However； Onias found other Jews like to
himself； together with priests and Levites； that there performed
Divine service。 But we have said enough about this temple。
4。 Now it came to pass that the Alexandrian Jews； and those
Samaritans who paid their worship to the temple that was built in
the days of Alexander at Mount Gerizzim； did now make a sedition
one against another； and disputed about their temples before
Ptolemy himself； the Jews saying that； according to the laws of
Moses； the temple was to be built at Jerusalem； and the
Samaritans saying that it was to be built at Gerizzim。 They
desired therefore the king to sit with his friends； and hear the
debates about these matters； and punish those with death who were
baffled。 Now Sabbeus and Theodosius managed the argument for the
Samaritans； and Andronicus； the son of Messalamus； for the people
of Jerusalem； and they took an oath by God and the king to make
their demonstrations according to the law； and they desired of
Ptolemy； that whomsoever he should find that transgressed what
they had sworn to； he would put him to death。 Accordingly； the
king took several of his friends into the council； and sat down；
in order to hear what the pleaders said。 Now the Jews that were
at Alexandria were in great concern for those men； whose lot it
was to contend for the temple at Jerusalem； for they took it very
ill that any should take away the reputation of that temple；
which was so ancient and so celebrated all over the habitable
earth。 Now when Sabbeus and Tlteodosius had given leave to
Andronicus to speak first； he began to demonstrate out of the
law； and out of the successions of the high priests； how they
every one in succession from his father had received that
dignity； and ruled over the temple； and how all the kings of Asia
had honored that temple with their donations； and with the most
splendid gifts dedicated thereto。 But as for that at Gerizzm； he
made no account of it； and regarded it as if it had never had a
being。 By this speech； and other arguments； Andronicus persuaded
the king to determine that the temple at Jerusalem was built
according to the laws of Moses； （6） and to put Sabbeus and
Theodosius to death。 And these were the events that befell the
Jews at Alexandria in the days of Ptolemy Philometor。
CHAPTER 7。
How Alexander Honored Jonathan After An Extraordinary Manner； And
How Demetrius； The Son Of Demetrius； Overcame Alexander And Made
A League Of Friendship With Jonathan。
1。 Demetrius being thus slain in battle； as we have above
related； Alexander took the kingdom of Syria； and wrote to
Ptolemy Philometor； and desired his daughter in marriage； and
said it was but just that he should be joined an affinity to one
that had now received the principality of his forefathers； and
had been promoted to it by God's providence； and had conquered
Demetrius； and that was on other accounts not unworthy of being
related to him。 Ptolemy received this proposal of marriage
gladly； and wrote him an answer； saluting him on account of his
having received the principality of his forefathers； and
promising him that he would give him his daughter in marriage；
and assured him that he was coming to meet him at Ptolemais； and
desired that he would there meet him； for that he would accompany
her from Egypt so far； and would there marry his child to him。
When Ptolemy had written thus； he came suddenly to Ptolemais； and
brought his daughter Cleopatra along with him； and as he found
Alexander there before him； as he desired him to come； he gave
him his child in marriage； and for her portion gave her as much
silver and gold as became such a king to give。
2。 When the wedding was over； Alexander wrote to Jonathan the
high priest； and desired him to come to Ptolemais。 So when he
came to these kings； and had made them magnificent presents； he
was honored by them both。 Alexander compelled him also to put off
his own garment； and to take a purple garment； and made him sit
with him in his throne； and commanded his captains that they
should go with him into the middle of the city； and proclaim；
that it was not permitted to any one to speak against him； or to
give him any disturbance。 And when the captains had thus done；
those that were prepared to accuse Jonathan； and who bore him
ill…will； when they saw the honor that was done him by
proclamation； and that by the king's order； ran away； and were
afraid lest some mischief should befall them。 Nay； king Alexander
was so very kind to Jonathan； that he set him down as the
principal of his friends。
3。 But then； upon the hundred and sixty…fifth year； Demetrius；
the son of Demetrius； came from Crete with a great number of
mercenary soldiers； which Lasthenes； the Cretian； brought him；
and sailed to Cilicia。 This thing cast Alexander into great
concern and disorder when he heard it； so he made haste
immediately out of Phoenicia； and came to Antioch； that he might
put matters in a safe posture there before Demetrius should come。
He also left Apollonius Daus （7） governor of Celesyria； who
coming to Jamnia with a great army； sent to Jonathan the high
priest； and told him that it was not right that he alone should
live at rest； and with authority； and not be subject to the king；
that this thing had made him a reproach among all men； that he
had not yet made him subject to the king。 〃Do not thou therefore
deceive thyself； and sit still among the mountains； and pretend
to have forces with thee； but if thou hast any dependence on thy
strength； come down into the plain； and let our armies be
compared together； and the event of the battle will demonstrate
which of us is the most courageous。 However； take notice； that
the most valiant men of every city are in my army； and that these
are the very men who have always beaten thy progenitors； but let
us have the battle in such a place of the country where we may
fight with weapons； and not with stones； and where there may be
no place whither those that are beaten may fly。〃
4。 With this Jonathan was irritated； and choosing himself out ten
thousand of his soldiers； he went out of Jerusalem in haste； with
his brother Simon； and came to Joppa； and pitched his camp on the
outside of the city； because the people of Joppa had shut their
gates against him； for they had a garrison in the city put there
by Apollonius。 But when Jonathan was preparing to besiege them；
they were afraid he would take them by force； and so they opened
the gates to him。 But Apollonius； when he heard that Joppa was
taken by Jonathan； took three thousand horsemen； and eight
thousand footmen and came to Ashdod； and removing thence； he made
his journey silently and slowly； and going up to Joppa； he made
as if he was retiring from the place； and so drew Jonathan into
the plain； as valuing himself highly upon his horsemen； and
having his hopes of victory principally in them。 However；
Jonathan sallied out； and pursued Apollonius to Ashdod； but as
soon as Apollonius perceived that his enemy was in the plain； he
came back and gave him battle。 But Apollonius had laid a thousand
horsemen in ambush in a valley； that they might be seen by their
enemies as behind them； which when Jonathan perceived； he was
under no consternation； but ordering his army to stand in a
square battle…array； he gave them a charge to fall on the enemy
on both sides； and set them to face those that attacked them both
before and behind； and while the fight lasted till the evening；
he gave part of his forces to his brother Simon； and ordered him
to attack the enemies； but for himself； he charged those that
were with him to cover themselves with their armor； and receive
the darts of the horsemen； who did as they were commanded； so
that the enemy's horsemen； while they threw their darts till they
had no more left； did them no harm； for the darts that were
thrown did not enter into their bodies； being thrown upon the
shields that were united and conjoined together； the closeness of
which easily overcame the force of the darts； and they flew about
without any effect。 But when the enemy grew remiss in throwing
their darts from morning till late at night； Simon perceived
their weariness； and fell upon the body of men before him； and
because his soldiers showed great alacrity； he put the enemy to