55. King Ptolemy replied, “It was a great day when you returned to your country and took the throne of your ancestors.
56. I agree to your proposals, but first meet me at Ptolemais. We can get acquainted there, and I will give you my daughter in marriage.”
57. So in the year 162 Ptolemy and his daughter Cleopatra left Egypt and arrived at Ptolemais.
58. King Alexander met them, and Ptolemy gave him his daughter in marriage. The wedding was celebrated there in Ptolemais with royal splendour.
59. King Alexander wrote asking Jonathan to come to meet him.
60. So Jonathan, in a show of splendour, went to Ptolemais and met the two kings. He presented them with gifts of silver and gold, and he also gave many gifts to the high officials who had accompanied them. Everyone was favourably impressed with him.
61. At the same time some traitorous Jews who wanted to make trouble for Jonathan made accusations against him, but King Alexander paid no attention to them.
62. He gave orders that Jonathan should be given royal robes to wear,
63. and he honoured him by letting him sit at his side. Alexander told his officers to take Jonathan into the centre of the city and to announce that no one was to bring charges against him for any reason and no one was to cause him any kind of trouble.
64. When his accusers saw the honours given to him, heard the announcement, and saw him clothed in royal robes, they all fled.
65. The king further honoured Jonathan by enrolling him in the First Order of the “Friends of the King” and by making him a general and governor of his province.
66. Jonathan returned to Jerusalem pleased and successful.
67. In the year 165 Demetrius the Second, the son of Demetrius the First, left Crete and arrived in Syria, the land of his ancestors.
68. When King Alexander heard about this, he was worried and returned to Antioch, the capital of Syria.
69. Demetrius reappointed Apollonius governor of Greater Syria. Apollonius raised a large army, set up camp near Jamnia, and sent the following message to Jonathan the High Priest: