ty to a better state, and
reforming the buildings as he pleased; for he gave orders that the walls
of the city should be rebuilt with square stones, that it might be more
secure from their enemies. And when those that kept the garrisons
that were in Judea saw this, they all left them, and fled to Antioch,
excepting those that were in the city Bethsura, and those that were
in the citadel of Jerusalem, for the greater part of these was of the
wicked Jews and deserters, and on that account these did not deliver up
their garrisons.

2. When Alexander knew what promises Demetrius had made Jonathan, and
withal knew his courage, and what great things he had done when he
fought the Macedonians, and besides what hardships he had undergone by
the means of Demetrius, and of Bacchides, the general of Demetrius's
army, he told his friends that he could not at present find any one
else that might afford him better assistance than Jonathan, who was
both courageous against his enemies, and had a particular hatred against
Demetrius, as having both suffered many hard things from him, and acted
many hard things against him. If therefore they were of opinion that
they should make him their friend against Demetrius, it was more for
their advantage to invite him to assist them now than at another
time. It being therefore determined by him and his friends to send to
Jonathan, he wrote to him this epistle: "King Alexander to his brother
Jonathan, sendeth greeting. We have long ago heard of thy courage and
thy fidelity, and for that reason have sent to thee, to make with thee a
league of friendship and mutual assistance. We therefore do ordain thee
this day the high priest of the Jews, and that thou beest called my
friend. I have also sent thee, as presents, a purple robe and a golden
crown, and desire that, now thou art by us honored, thou wilt in like
manner respect us also."

3. When Jonathan had received this letter, he put on the pontifical robe
at the time of the feast of tabernacles, [2] four years after the death
of his brother Judas, for at that time no high priest had been made.
So he raised great forces, and had abundance of armor got ready. This
greatly grieved Demetrius when he heard of it, and made him blame
himself for his slowness, that he had not prevented Alexander, and got
the good-will of Jonathan, but had given him time so to do. However, he
also himself wrote a letter to Jonathan, and to the people, the contents
whereof