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.
34. We have confirmed, as their possession, the territory of Judea and the three districts of Aphairema, Lydda, and Rathamin. The latter districts, with the entire region bordering them, were added to Judea from Samaria. To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, we have granted release from the royal taxes the king formerly received from them each year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees.
35. Furthermore, we grant them release from all other payments due to us from the tenth-part gifts, the taxes, the salt pits, and the crown taxes from now on.
36. These exemptions are never to be canceled.
37. Therefore, be sure to make a copy of this letter. Give it to Jonathan and display it in a prominent place on the holy mountain.
38. King Demetrius saw that the land was quiet and that there was no opposition to him. So he dismissed his troops and sent them back to their homes. He kept only the foreign troops that he had recruited from the island nations. All the troops who had served under his predecessors hated him.
39. Now Trypho had formerly been one of Alexander’s supporters. He realized that the troops were grumbling against Demetrius. So he went to Imalkue the Arab, who was bringing up Antiochus the young son of Alexander.
40. Imalkue watched over Antiochus carefully until he might hand him over to become king in place of his father. Trypho also reported to Imalkue what Demetrius had done and told him about the hatred of the troops toward Demetrius. He remained there many days.
41. Now Jonathan sent to King Demetrius the request that he remove the troops in the elevated fortress from Jerusalem, as well as the troops in the fortress, because they continued fighting against Israel.
42. Demetrius sent this message back to Jonathan: "Not only will I do these things for you and your nation, but I will confer great honor on you and your nation if I get an opportunity.
43. In return, you would do well to send me some soldiers to help me, because my troops are in revolt."
44. Jonathan sent three thousand strong men to him at Antioch. When they came to the king, he rejoiced at their arrival.
45. At that time, the people of the city assembled, one hundred twenty thousand in number, and they wanted to kill the king.
46. But he fled into the palace. Then the people took control of the main streets of the city and began to fight.
47. So the king called the Jews to his aid. They rallied around him and spread out through the city. They killed about one hundred thousand people that day.
48. They set fire to the city, ravaged many goods, and saved the king.