1Mac 11:1 

And the king of Egypt gathered together a great host, like 

the sand that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships, and went 

about through deceit to get Alexander's kingdom, and join it to 

his own. 

1Mac 11:2 

Whereupon he took his journey into Spain in peaceable manner, 

so as they of the cities opened unto him, and met him: for king 

Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his 

brother in law. 

1Mac 11:3 

Now as Ptolemee entered into the cities, he set in every one 

of them a garrison of soldiers to keep it. 

1Mac 11:4 

And when he came near to Azotus, they shewed him the temple 

of Dagon that was burnt, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof that 

were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad and them 

that he had burnt in the battle; for they had made heaps of them 

by the way where he should pass. 

1Mac 11:5 

Also they told the king whatsoever Jonathan had done, to the 

intent he might blame him: but the king held his peace. 

1Mac 11:6 

Then Jonathan met the king with great pomp at Joppa, where 

they saluted one another, and lodged. 

1Mac 11:7 

Afterward Jonathan, when he had gone with the king to the 

river called Eleutherus, returned again to Jerusalem. 

1Mac 11:8 

King Ptolemee therefore, having gotten the dominion of the 

cities by the sea unto Seleucia upon the sea coast, imagined 

wicked counsels against Alexander. 

1Mac 11:9 

Whereupon he sent ambasadors unto king Demetrius, saying, 

Come, let us make a league betwixt us, and I will give thee my 

daughter whom Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy 

father's kingdom: 

1Mac 11:10 

For I repent that I gave my daughter unto him, for he sought 

to slay me. 

1Mac 11:11 

Thus did he slander him, because he was desirous of his 

kingdom. 

1Mac 11:12 

Wherefore he took his daughter from him, and gave her to 

Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that their hatred was 

openly known. 

1Mac 11:13 

Then Ptolemee entered into Antioch, where he set two crowns 

upon his head, the crown of Asia, and of Egypt. 

1Mac 11:14 

In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, because 

those that dwelt in those parts had revolted from him. 

1Mac 11:15 

But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him: 

whereupon king Ptolemee brought forth his host, and met him with 

a mighty power, and put him to flight. 

1Mac 11:16 

So Alexander fled into Arabia there to be defended; but king 

Ptolemee was exalted: 

1Mac 11:17 

For Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent 

it unto Ptolemee. 

1Mac 11:18 

King Ptolemee also died the third day after, and they that 

were in the strong holds were slain one of another. 

1Mac 11:19 

By this means Demetrius reigned in the hundred threescore and 

seventh year. 

1Mac 11:20 

At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in 

Judea to take the tower that was in Jerusalem: and he made many 

engines of war against it. 

1Mac 11:21 

Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went 

unto the king, and told him that Jonathan besieged the tower, 

1Mac 11:22 

Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately 

removing, he came to Ptolemais, and wrote unto Jonathan, that he 

should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him 

at Ptolemais in great haste. 

1Mac 11:23 

Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to 

besiege it still: and he chose certain of the elders of Israel 

and the priests, and put himself in peril; 

1Mac 11:24 

And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents 

besides, and went to Ptolemais unto the king, where he found 

favour in his sight. 

1Mac 11:25 

And though certain ungodly men of the people had made 

complaints against him, 

1Mac 11:26 

Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done 

before, and promoted him in the sight of all his friends, 

1Mac 11:27 

And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the 

honours that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his 

chief friends. 

1Mac 11:28 

Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free 

from tribute, as also the three governments, with the country of 

Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents. 

1Mac 11:29 

So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all 

these things after this manner: 

1Mac 11:30 

King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation 

of the Jews, sendeth greeting: 

1Mac 11:31 

We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto 

our cousin Lasthenes concerning you, that ye might see it. 

1Mac 11:32 

King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting: 

1Mac 11:33 

We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who 

are our friends, and keep covenants with us, because of their 

good will toward us. 

1Mac 11:34 

Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, 

with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, 

that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all 

things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in 

Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of 

them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of 

trees. 

1Mac 11:35 

And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes 

and customs pertaining unto us, as also the saltpits, and the 

crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them 

all for their relief. 

1Mac 11:36 

And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for 

ever. 

1Mac 11:37 

Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and 

let it be delivered unto Jonathan, and set upon the holy mount 

in a conspicuous place. 

1Mac 11:38 

After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet 

before him, and that no resistance was made against him, he sent 

away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain 

bands of strangers, whom he had gathered from the isles of the 

heathen: wherefore all the forces of his fathers hated him. 

1Mac 11:39 

Moreover there was one Tryphon, that had been of Alexander's 

part afore, who, seeing that all the host murmured against 

Demetrius, went to Simalcue the Arabian that brought up 

Antiochus the young son of Alexander, 

1Mac 11:40 

And lay sore upon him to deliver him this young Antiochus, 

that he might reign in his father's stead: he told him therefore 

all that Demetrius had done, and how his men of war were at 

enmity with him, and there he remained a long season. 

1Mac 11:41 

In the mean time Jonathan sent unto king Demetrius, that he 

would cast those of the tower out of Jerusalem, and those also 

in the fortresses: for they fought against Israel. 

1Mac 11:42 

So Demetrius sent unto Jonathan, saying, I will not only do 

this for thee and thy people, but I will greatly honour thee and 

thy nation, if opportunity serve. 

1Mac 11:43 

Now therefore thou shalt do well, if thou send me men to help 

me; for all my forces are gone from me. 

1Mac 11:44 

Upon this Jonathan sent him three thousand strong men unto 

Antioch: and when they came to the king, the king was very glad 

of their coming. 

1Mac 11:45 

Howbeit they that were of the city gathered themselves 

together into the midst of the city, to the number of an hundred 

and twenty thousand men, and would have slain the king. 

1Mac 11:46 

Wherefore the king fled into the court, but they of the city 

kept the passages of the city, and began to fight. 

1Mac 11:47 

Then the king called to the Jews for help, who came unto him 

all at once, and dispersing themselves through the city slew 

that day in the city to the number of an hundred thousand. 

1Mac 11:48 

Also they set fire on the city, and gat many spoils that day, 

and delivered the king. 

1Mac 11:49 

So when they of the city saw that the Jews had got the city 

as they would, their courage was abated: wherefore they made 

supplication to the king, and cried, saying, 

1Mac 11:50 

Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us and 

the city. 

1Mac 11:51 

With that they cast away their weapons, and made peace; and 

the Jews were honoured in the sight of the king, and in the 

sight of all that were in his realm; and they returned to 

Jerusalem, having great spoils. 

1Mac 11:52 

So king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the 

land was quiet before him. 

1Mac 11:53 

Nevertheless he dissembled in all that ever he spake, and 

estranged himself from Jonathan, neither rewarded he him 

according to the benefits which he had received of him, but 

troubled him very sore. 

1Mac 11:54 

After this returned Tryphon, and with him the young child 

Antiochus, who reigned, and was crowned. 

1Mac 11:55 

Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom 

Demetrius had put away, and they fought against Demetrius, who 

turned his back and fled. 

1Mac 11:56 

Moreover Tryphon took the elephants, and won Antioch. 

1Mac 11:57 

At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I 

confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over 

the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends. 

1Mac 11:58 

Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and 

gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, 

and to wear a golden buckle. 

1Mac 11:59 

His brother Simon also he made captain from the place called 

The ladder of Tyrus unto the borders of Egypt. 

1Mac 11:60 

Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities 

beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered 

themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to 

Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably. 

1Mac 11:61 

From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; 

wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof 

with fire, and spoiled them. 

1Mac 11:62 

Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, 

he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men 

for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the 

country unto Damascus. 

1Mac 11:63 

Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes were come to 

Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to 

remove him out of the country, 

1Mac 11:64 

He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the 

country. 

1Mac 11:65 

Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a 

long season, and shut it up: 

1Mac 11:66 

But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted 

them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and 

set a garrison in it. 

1Mac 11:67 

As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of 

Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to 

the plain of Nasor. 

1Mac 11:68 

And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, 

who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came 

themselves over against him. 

1Mac 11:69 

So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and 

joined battle, all that were of Jonathan's side fled; 

1Mac 11:70 

Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias 

the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of 

the host. 

1Mac 11:71 

Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, 

and prayed. 

1Mac 11:72 

Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, 

and so they ran away. 

1Mac 11:73 

Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned 

again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto 

their own tents, and there they camped. 

1Mac 11:74 

So there were slain of the heathen that day about three 

thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.