27 He confirmed him in the high priesthood and in as many other honors as he formerly had. He made him one of his leading political advisors.
28 So Jonathan asked the king to free Judea and the three Samaritan districts from the payment of taxes. And he promised him 17,100 pounds of silver.
29 The king agreed. He wrote a letter to Jonathan about all these things:
30 King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan and to the nation of the Jews. Greetings!
31 This is a copy of the letter that we wrote about you to our advisor Lasthenes. We’re sending it to you also so that you may know what it says.
32 Greetings from King Demetrius to his father Lasthenes.
33 We have decided to treat the nation of the Jews well. They are our friends and keep their obligations to us. They show goodwill toward us.