, and styled him one of his principal friends, and appointed his
brother Simon to be the general over the forces, from the Ladder of Tyre
unto Egypt. So Jonathan was so pleased with these grants made him by
Antiochus, that he sent ambassadors to him and to Trypho, and professed
himself to be their friend and confederate, and said he would join with
him in a war against Demetrius, informing him that he had made no proper
returns for the kindness he had done him; for that when he had received
many marks of kindness from him, when he stood in great need of them,
he, for such good turns, had requited him with further injuries.

5. So Antiochus gave Jonathan leave to raise himself a numerous army
out of Syria and Phoenicia and to make war against Demetrius's generals;
whereupon he went in haste to the several cities which received him
splendidly indeed, but put no forces into his hands. And when he was
come from thence to Askelon, the inhabitants of Askelon came and brought
him presents, and met him in a splendid manner. He exhorted them, and
every one of the cities of Celesyria, to forsake Demetrius, and to join
with Antiochus; and, in assisting him, to endeavor to punish Demetrius
for what offenses he had been guilty of against themselves; and told
them there were many reasons for that their procedure, if they had a
mind so to do. And when he had persuaded those cities to promise their
assistance to Antiochus, he came to Gaza, in order to induce them also
to be friends to Antiochus; but he found the inhabitants of Gaza much
more alienated from him than he expected, for they had shut their gates
against him; and although they had deserted Demetrius, they had not
resolved to join themselves to Antiochus. This provoked Jonathan to
besiege them, and to harass their country; for as he set a part of his
army round about Gaza itself, so with the rest he overran their
land, and spoiled it, and burnt what was in it. When the of Gaza saw
themselves in this state of affliction, and that no assistance came to
them from Demetrius, that what distressed them was at hand, but what
should profit them was still at a great distance, and it was uncertain
whether it would come at all or not, they thought it would be prudent
conduct to leave off any longer continuance with them, and to cultivate
friendship with the other; so they sent to Jonathan, and professed they
would be his friends, and afford him assistance: for such is the temper
of men,