1 Machabees Chapter 10
Alexander Bales sets himself up for king: both he and Demetrius seek to make Jonathan their friend. Alexander kills Demetrius in battle, and honours Jonathan. His victory over Apollonius.
10:1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander, the son of Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and took Ptolemais, and they received him, and he reigned there.
10:2. And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together an exceeding great army, and went forth against him to fight.
10:3. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan, with peaceable words, to magnify him.
10:4. For he said: Let us first make a peace with him, before he make one with Alexander against us.
10:5. For he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against his brother, and against his nation.
10:6. And he gave him authority to gather together a army, and to make arms, and that he should be his confederate: and the hostages that were in the castle, he commanded to be delivered to him.
10:7. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the hearing of all the people, and of them that were in the castle.
10:8. And they were struck with great fear, because they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an army.