21. It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:
22. and now, since this is come to our knowledge, you⌃ shall do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23. And we moreover do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you on this wise.
24. And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were returned to fight against him with a greater host than before,
25. and he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to set foot in his country.
26. And he sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were appointed in such and such a way to fall upon them in the night season.
27. But as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready for battle: and he put forth sentinels round about the camp.
28. And the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp
29. But Jonathan and his men knew it not till the morning; for they saw the lights burning.
30. And Jonathan pursued after them, and overtook them not; for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.
31. And Jonathan turned aside to the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.
32. And he came out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.
33. And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that were near to it. And he turned aside to Joppa, and took possession of it;
34. for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold to the men of Demetrius; and he set a garrison there to keep it.
35. And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judaea,
36. and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be all alone, that men might neither buy nor sell.
37. And they were gathered together to build the city, and there fell down part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha.
38. And Simon also built Adida in the plain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.
39. And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king.
40. And he was afraid lest haply Jonathan should not suffer him, and lest he should fight against him; and he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. And he removed, and came to Bethshan.
41. And Jonathan came forth to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.