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These threats Demetrius would have certainly carried into execution, had it not been for the intervention of a very singular and unexpected incident, which obliged him to employ his forces another way. One Tryphon (who had formerly served Alexander as governor of Antioch, but was laid aside in the reign of Demetrius) observing that the tyranny and oppression which was every where practised, the disbanding the Syrian soldiers, and retaining only foreigners in pay, together with many other grievances under which the people labored, had quite alienated their hearts, and made them ready for a general defection throughout the kingdom, he thought this the most favorable opportunity of putting in practice a scheme which he had long concerted, namely, to advance himself to the throne of the Syrian empire.

To this purpose Tryphon went into Arabia, and get. ting young Antiochus (son of the late Alexander) out of the hands of one Malchus, in whose care he had been placed, he took him into Syria, and on his arrival there, immediately proclaimed him king. The disaffection of the people to Demetrius was so great, that not only all the soldiers whom he had disbanded, but likewise others whom his ill conduct had made his enemies, flocked in great numbers to Tryphon, so that he soon found himself at the head of a very considerable army. Animated with this success, he immediately marched against Demetrius, when a severe battle took place, which terminated in favor of Tryphon, the army of Demetrius being totally routed, great numbers killed, and himself obliged to fly into Cilicia for safety. After the battle was over, Tryphon marched with his victorious army into Antioch, and immediately placed Antiochus on the throne, amidst the universal acclamations of the people.

By the direction of Tryphon, together with the advice of his friends about him, Antiochus, soon after his acces sion, sent an embassy to Jonathan, complimenting him with the title of friend and ally, confirming him in the office of high-priest, together with those places and digni ties he had formerly held, and granting him many very distinguished privileges. He likewise appointed Simon, the brother of Jonathan, governor of all those parts of

the country which reached from Tyre to the frontiers of Egypt. These compliments and indulgences were highly pleasing to Jonathan, who sent messengers back to Antiochus and Tryphon, with assurance of his friendship, and that he would readily join them against Demetrius as the common enemy.

Jonathan having received a commission from Antiochus to raise forces, left Jerusalem, and went into Syria and Phoenicia for that purpose. When he came to Askalon, he was received in great form by the people, who made him many valuable presents, and whom he invited, as he had done those in the other cities through which he had passed, to give up Demetrius, and espouse the cause of Antiochus, which request they unanimously agreed to.

Jonathan having thus got over the people of Askalon, and raised a great number of forces in the city, proceeded from thence to Gaza, where he met with a quite different reception, for, contrary to his expectation, they shut their gates against him, and declared for Demetrius. In consequence of this, Jonathan laid siege to the place, and in order to terrify them into submission, sent a detachment of his forces to destroy the adjoining towns and villages with fire and sword. The inhabitants of Gaza, having no reason to expect assistance from Demetrius, and seeing nothing before them but destruction, sent deputies to make submission to Jonathan, who received them in the most friendly manner. He readily accepted the conditions they offered, and having received hostages for the fulfilment of the same, and sent them to Jerusalem, he quitted Gaza, and proceeded with his forces towards Damascus.

In the mean time, Demetrius had encamped with a large army near Cades, a place bordering on Tyre and Galilee, with a view of enticing Jonathan out of his way, and defeating him. But Jonathan continued his route, leaving the care of Judea to his brother Simon, who, assembling together what forces he could, marched and attacked the strong fortress of Bethsura, then in possession of the partizans of Demetrius. The people of the garrison, being apprehensive they should all be put to the sword, requested Simon's permission to march unmolest

ed to Demetrius; which he readily granted, and placed another garrison of his own people in their stead.

By this time, Jonathan had advanced with his forces, which he had greatly increased on the way, as far as the plain of Nasor, where he encamped unsuspicious of any danger; but Demetrius, having notice of his situation, dispatched one of his parties to lay in ambush behind a mountain, while the main body advanced to attack Jonathan on the plain. As soon as Jonathan found himself thus beset, he gave the best orders to his soldiers the shortness of time would permit; but the Jews seeing the party of Demetrius, who were placed in ambush, and fearful of being surrounded by the enemy, the greater part of them threw down their arms, and precipitately fled. So general was the terror that only a very small party remained with Jonathan, who were encouraged to stand against the enemy by means of their leader, together with the two captains, Mattathias, the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi. These charged the front of the enemy in so desperate a manner, that their lines were soon broke, which being seen by those who had deserted from Jonathan, they immediately returned, and fell on with such fury, that Demetrius's army was entirely routed, no less than 3000 being killed on the spot, and the rest obliged to save themselves by a precipitate flight.

After this victory, Jonathan returned to Jerusalem, from whence he dispatched ambassadors to Rome to renew former alliances, giving them directions to come back by the way of Lacedemon, on business of a similar nature. The Romans received the ambassadors with the highest respect, and dismissed them with letters, recommending that a safe passage might be granted them by the potentates of every dominion through which they might have occasion to pass. On their return, they delivered the following letter to the Lacedemonians.

Jonathan, the high-priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other people of the Jews, to the Lacedemonians their brethren, send greeting.

"By a letter of very antient date from your king Arcus,. "to our high-priest Onias (a copy of which we have en"closed) we find that we are nearly allied to you in "blood; and by the testimony we there gave to Arcus, "it appears how happy we were in the ratification of such "an alliance. Now we would inform you that we should, "ere this time, have claimed your friendship, but we left "the honor of giving the example to you. From the first "ratification of your friendship to the present time, we "have constantly prayed to God that you might live in "health and prosperity, and vanquish your foes. In all "our distresses and misfortunes from the malice of ambi"tious neighbors, we have been cautious not to trouble you, or other allies: but Divine Providence having put "an end to our wars, and our affairs being more at ease, "we have dispatched Numenius, the son of Antiochus, "and Antipater, the son of Jason (both men of honor and "senators) with letters to the Romans, and to your"selves, for renewing and strengthening the league of "friendship between us. Return what answer you think (6 proper; but let us know how we may serve you, that we may testify our affectionate regard by every means ❝ in our power.

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A short time after the return of the ambassadors, Jonathan, being informed that the forces of Demetrius (which were now greatly augmented) were advancing towards him, he hastened with all expedition to meet them at Amathis, being fully resolved, if possible, to prevent their entrance into Judea. He encamped about fifty fürlongs from the camp of Demetrius, from whence he sent spies to discover the design of the enemy; who, taking some prisoners, learnt from them it was intended to surprize him in his encampment. In consequence of this intelligence, Jonathan made every necessary preparation for overthrowing the designs of the enemy, by fixing centinels at the out-posts, and keeping his men under arms all night, previously acquainting them with what

was intended. In the mean time, Demetrius's commanders understanding that their plan had been discovered, were puzzled how to act, knowing themselves too weak to make an open attack; and, therefore, at length formed the resolution of decamping in the night, which they accordingly did, and covered their retreat with a number of fires. At day-break Jonathan marched to attack them, when finding their camp abandoned, he pursued them with the utmost expedition; but these endeavors proved fruitless, the enemy having retreated to a secure place beyond the river Eleutherus. In conséquence of this, Jonathan pursued his course to Arabia, where he plundered the country of the Nabatheans, took great numbers of their cattle, and made many of the inhabitants prisoners, whom he conducted to Damascus, and there sold for slaves.

In the mean time Simon proceeded with his forces through Judea and Palestine to Askalon, fortifying all the defensible places he came to in his way. From Askalon he went to Joppa, of which he soon made himself master and placed a proper garrison in it, to prevent its falling into the hands of Demetrius.

Jonathan, and his brother Simon, having taken the necessary measures to prevent any injury from the enemy abroad, returned to Jerusalem, and the people, being summoned to the temple by the high-priest, he made a proposition to repair the walls of the city, fortify them with towers, and to cut off the communication between the city and the castle by another wall: likewise to put the whole country in a state of defence by placing proper garrisons in such parts of it as were thought best for the security of the people. This proposition being unanimous. ly approved of, Jonathan took the care of the city upon himself, and committed the country department to his brother Simon.

During these transactions the treacherous and base Tryphon, who had no other views in getting young Antiochus into his hands than to answer his own wicked purposes, was concerting the completion of his plan for possessing himself of the throne of Syria; and he now resolved to make one bold push for accomplishing his

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