1 Alexander Epiphanes was the son of King Antiochus the Fourth. He landed on the Phoenician coast and captured the city of Ptolemais in the year 160 of the Syrian Kingdom. The people welcomed Alexander as their king.
2 When King Demetrius found out that Alexander was in Ptolemais, he got together a mighty army and set out to attack him.
3 Demetrius sent Jonathan a friendly letter that flattered him.
4-5 He was thinking, “Jonathan could not have forgotten the terrible things I did to him and his brothers and his nation. If I don't hurry and make peace with him, he will join forces with Alexander and attack.”
6 In the letter Demetrius said:Jonathan, you have my permission to build a strong army and to be my ally. And I have told my soldiers to release to you the hostages that I'm keeping in the fortress at Jerusalem.
7 Jonathan took this letter to Jerusalem and read it to everyone, including those in the fortress.
8 His enemies were terrified by the letter, because it allowed him to build up an army.