"Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, but I am had in derision and in reproach because of thee. And why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains? Now therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities. Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help us; and they say, 'Your foot cannot stand before our face; for thy fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.' And now thou shalt not be able to abide the horse and such a host as this in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto."
Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him to help him. And he encamped against Joppa: and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa: and they fought against it. And they of the city were afraid, and opened unto him: and Jonathan became master of Joppa.
XIX.
How Jonathan Put to Rout Apollonius and His Regiments of Cavalry.
And Apollonius heard, and he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great host, and went to Azotus as though he were on a journey, and from thence drew [{456}] onward into the plain, because he had a multitude of horse, and trusted therein. And Jonathan pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle.
And Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind them in ambush. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him. And they surrounded his army, and cast their darts at the people, from morning until evening: but the people stood still, as Jonathan commanded them: and their horses were wearied. And Simon drew forth his host, and joined battle with the phalanx (for the horsemen were tired), and they were discomfited by him, and fled. And the horsemen were scattered in the plain, and they fled to Azotus, and entered into Beth-dagon, their idol's temple, to save themselves.
And Jonathan burned Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, and them that fled into it, he burned with fire. And they that had fallen by the sword, with them that were burned, were about eight thousand men. And from thence Jonathan marched, and encamped against Ascalon, and they of the city came forth to meet him with great pomp. And Jonathan, with them that were on his side, returned unto Jerusalem, having many spoils.
And it came to pass, when King Alexander heard these things, he honored Jonathan; and he sent unto him a buckle of gold, as the custom is to give to such as are of the kindred of the kings: and he gave him Ekron and all the coasts thereof for a possession.