because his soldiers showed great alacrity； he put the enemy to
flight。 And when the horsemen saw that the footmen ran away；
neither did they stay themselves； but they being very weary； by
the duration of the fight till the evening； and their hope from
the footmen being quite gone； they basely ran away； and in great
confusion also； till they were separated one from another； and
scattered over all the plain。 Upon which Jonathan pursued them as
far as Ashdod； and slew a great many of them； and compelled the
rest； in despair of escaping； to fly to the temple of Dagon；
which was at Ashdod； but Jonathan took the city on the first
onset； and burnt it； and the villages about it； nor did he
abstain from the temple of Dagon itself； but burnt it also； and
destroyed those that had fled to it。 Now the entire multitude of
the enemies that fell in the battle； and were consumed in the
temple； were eight thousand。 When Jonathan therefore had overcome
so great an army； he removed from Ashdod； and came to Askelon；
and when he had pitched his camp without the city； the people of
Askelon came out and met him； bringing him hospitable presents；
and honoring him； so he accepted of their kind intentions； and
returned thence to Jerusalem with a great deal of prey； which he
brought thence when he conquered his enemies。 But when Alexander
heard that Apollonius； the general of his army； was beaten； he
pretended to be glad of it； because he had fought with Jonathan
his friend and ally against his directions。 Accordingly； he sent
to Jonathan； and gave testimony to his worth； and gave him
honorary rewards； as a golden button； （8） which it is the custom
to give the king's kinsmen； and allowed him Ekron and its
toparchy for his own inheritance。
5。 About this time it was that king Ptolemy； who was called
Philometor； led an army； part by the sea； and part by land； and
came to Syria； to the assistance of Alexander； who was his
son…in…law； and accordingly all the cities received him
willingly； as Alexander had commanded them to do； and conducted
him as far as Ashdod； where they all made loud complaints about
the temple of Dagon； which was burnt； and accused Jonathan of
having laid it waste； and destroyed the country adjoining with
fire； and slain a great number of them。 Ptolemy heard these
accusations； but said nothing。 Jonathan also went to meet Ptolemy
as far as Joppa； and obtained from him hospitable presents； and
those glorious in their kinds； with all the marks of honor； and
when he had conducted him as far as the river called Eleutherus；
he returned again to Jerusalem。
6。 But as Ptolemy was at Ptolemais； he was very near to a most
unexpected destruction； for a treacherous design was laid for his
life by Alexander； by the means of Ammonius； who was his friend；
and as the treachery was very plain； Ptolemy wrote to Alexander；
and required of him that he should bring Ammonius to condign
punishment； informing him what snares had been laid for him by
Ammonius； and desiring that he might he accordingly punished for
it。 But when Alexander did not comply with his demands； he
perceived that it was he himself who laid the design； and was
very angry at him。 Alexander had also formerly been on very ill
terms with the people of Antioch； for they had suffered very much
by his means； yet did Ammonius at length undergo the punishment
his insolent crimes had deserved； for he was killed in an
opprobrious manner； like a woman； while he endeavored to conceal
himself in a feminine habit； as we have elsewhere related。
7。 Hereupon Ptolemy blamed himself for having given his daughter
in marriage to Alexander； and for the league he had made with him
to assist him against Demetrius； so he dissolved his relation to
him； and took his daughter away from him； and immediately sent to
Demetrius； and offered to make a league of mutual assistance and
friendship with him； and agreed with him to give him his daughter
in marriage； and to restore him to the principality of his
fathers。 Demetrius was well pleased with this embassage； and
accepted of his assistance； and of the marriage of his daughter。
But Ptolemy had still one more hard task to do； and that was to
persuade the people of Antioch to receive Demetrius； because they
were greatly displeased at him； on account of the injuries his
father Demetrius had done them； yet did he bring this about； for
as the people of Antioch hated Alexander on Ammonius's account；
as we have shown already； they were easily prevailed with to cast
him out of Antioch； who； thus expelled out of Antioch； came into
Cilicia。 Ptolemy came then to Antioch； and was made king by its
inhabitants； and by the army； so that he was forced to put on two
diadems； the one of Asia； the other of Egypt： but being naturally
a good and a righteous man； and not desirous of what belonged to
others； and besides these dispositions； being also a wise man in
reasoning about futurities； he determined to avoid the envy of
the Romans； so he called the people of Antioch together to an
assembly； and persuaded them to receive Demetrius； and assured
them that he would not be mindful of what they did to his father
in case he should he now obliged by them； and he undertook that
he would himself be a good monitor and governor to him； and
promised that he would not permit him to attempt any bad actions；
but that； for his own part； he was contented with the kingdom of
Egypt。 By which discourse he persuaded the people of Antioch to
receive Demetrius。
8。 But now Alexander made haste with a numerous and great army；
and came out of Cilicia into Syria； and burnt the country
belonging to Antioch； and pillaged it； whereupon Ptolemy； and his
son…in…law Demetrius； brought their army against him； （for he had
already given him his daughter in marriage；） and beat Alexander；
and put him to flight； and accordingly he fled into Arabia。 Now
it happened in the time of the battle that Ptolemy' horse； upon
hearing the noise of an elephant； cast him off his back； and
threw him on the ground； upon the sight of which accident； his
enemies fell upon him； and gave him many wounds upon his head；
and brought him into danger of death； for when his guards caught
him up； he was so very ill； that for four days' time he was not
able either to understand or to speak。 However； Zabdiel； a prince
among the Arabians； cut off Alexander's head； and sent it to
Ptolemy； who recovering of his wounds； and returning to his
understanding； on the fifth day； heard at once a most agreeable
hearing； and saw a most agreeable sight； which were the death and
the head of Alexander； yet a little after this his joy for the
death of Alexander； with which he was so greatly satisfied； he
also departed this life。 Now Alexander； who was called Balas；
reigned over Asia five years； as we have elsewhere related。
9。 But when Demetrius； who was styled Nicator； （9） had taken the
kingdom； he was so wicked as to treat Ptolemy's soldiers very
hardly； neither remembering the league of mutual assistance that
was between them； nor that he was his son…in…law and kinsman； by
Cleopatra's marriage to him； so the soldiers fled from his wicked
treatment to Alexandria； but Demetrius kept his elephants。 But
Jonathan the high priest levied an army out of all Judea； and
attacked the citadel at Jerusalem； and besieged it。 It was held
by a garrison of Macedonians； and by some of those wicked men who
had deserted the customs of their forefathers。 These men at first
despised the attempts of Jonathan for taking the place； as
depending on its strength； but some of those wicked men went out
by night； and came to Demetrius； and informed him that the
citadel was besieged； who was irritated with what he heard； and
took his army； and came from Antioch； against Jonathan。 And when
he was at Antioch； he wrote to him； and commanded him to come to
him quickly to Ptolemais： upon which Jonathan did not intermit
the siege of the citadel； but took with him the elders of the
people； and the priests； and carried with him gold； and silver；
and garments； and a great number of presents of friendship； and
came to Demetrius； and presented him with them； and thereby
pacified the king's anger。 So he was honored by him； and received
from him the confirmation of his high priesthood； as he had
possessed it by the grants of the kings his predecessors。 And
when the Jewish deserters accused him； Demetrius was so far from
giving credit to them； that when he petitioned him that he would
demand no more than three hundred talents for the tribute of all
Judea； and the three toparchies of Samaria； and Perea； and
Galilee； he complied with the proposal； and gave him a letter
confirming all those grants； whose contents were as follows：
〃King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother； and to the nation of the
Jews； sendeth greeting。 We have sent you a copy of that epistle
which we have written to Lasthones our kinsman； that you may know
its contents。 〃King Demetrus to Lasthenes our father； sendeth
greeting。 I have determined to return thanks； and to show favor
to the nation of the Jews； which hath observed the rules of
justice in our concerns。 Accordingly； I remit to them the three
prefectures； Apherims； and Lydda； and Ramatha； which have been
added to Judea out of Samaria； with their appurtenances； as also
what the kings my predecessors received from those that offered
sacrifices in Jerusalem； and what are due from the fruits of the
earth； and of the trees； and what else belongs to us； with the
salt…pits； and the crowns that used to be presented to us。 Nor
shall they be compelled to pay any of those taxes from this time
to all futurity。 Take care therefore that a copy of this epistle
be taken； and given to Jonathan； and be set up in an eminent
place of their holy temple。'〃 And these were the contents of this
writing。 And now when Demetrius saw that there was peace every
where； and that there was no danger； nor fear of war； he
disbanded the greatest part of his army； and diminished their
pay； and even retained in pay no others than such foreigners as
came up with him from Crete； and from the other islands。 However；
this procured him ill…will and hatred from the soldiers； on whom