22. Now that we have discovered this, please send us a report about your situation.
23. In reply, we will send you a letter indicating that we are willing to share our possessions, including livestock and property, if you will do the same. We have given orders to our ambassadors to give you a full report about these matters.’ ”
24. Jonathan learnt that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with an even larger army than before.
25. Jonathan did not want to give them an opportunity to penetrate his own territory, so he left Jerusalem and went to meet them in the region of Hamath.
26. Jonathan sent spies into the enemy camp, who reported to him that the enemy forces were making plans to attack the Jews by night.
27. At sunset Jonathan ordered all his soldiers to be on the alert and to have their weapons ready for a surprise attack any time during the night. He also stationed guards all round the camp.
28. When the enemy soldiers learnt that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were panic-stricken and fled, leaving their campfires burning.
29. Jonathan and his men saw the campfires but did not realize what had happened until the next morning.
30. Jonathan then set out after them, but he could not overtake them because they had already crossed the River Eleutherus.
31. Then Jonathan turned aside and attacked a tribe of Arabs called Zabadeans. He defeated them and plundered their possessions.
32. Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, inspecting the entire area along the way.
33. Meanwhile, Simon had also set out on a campaign and had advanced as far as Ashkelon and the neighbouring fortresses. Then he turned aside to Joppa
34. and stationed a detachment of soldiers there because he heard that the people were planning to hand over the fortress of Joppa to the soldiers of Demetrius.
35. When Jonathan returned, he called the council of the leaders together and made plans with them to build fortresses in Judea,
36. to increase the height of the walls of Jerusalem, and to build a high wall to separate the fort from the city. This would isolate the fort, making it impossible for the enemy to buy or sell anything.
37. The people worked together to strengthen the city's defences because a part of the east wall along the valley of the Kidron had collapsed and the Chaphenatha section was in need of repair.
38. Simon also rebuilt the town of Adida in the foothills. He fortified it and constructed barred gates for it.
39. Then Trypho plotted a rebellion against King Antiochus so that he could make himself king of Syria.