ll in the midst of the city, in order to exclude the
market-place from the garrison, which was in the citadel, and by that
means to hinder them from any plenty of provisions; and moreover, to
make the fortresses that were in the country much stronger and more
defensible than they were before. And when these things were approved of
by the multitude, as rightly proposed, Jonathan himself took care of
the building that belonged to the city, and sent Simon away to make
the fortresses in the country more secure than formerly. But Demetrius
passed over [Euphrates], and came into Mesopotamia, as desirous to
retain that country still, as well as Babylon; and when he should have
obtained the dominion of the upper provinces, to lay a foundation for
recovering his entire kingdom; for those Greeks and Macedonians who
dwelt there frequently sent ambassadors to him, and promised, that if he
would come to them, they would deliver themselves up to him, and assist
him in fighting against Arsaces, [12] the king of the Parthians. So
he was elevated with these hopes, and came hastily to them, as having
resolved, that if he had once overthrown the Parthians, and gotten an
army of his own, he would make war against Trypho, and eject him out of
Syria; and the people of that country received him with great alacrity.
So he raised forces, with which he fought against Arsaces, and lost all
his army, and was himself taken alive, as we have elsewhere related.

CHAPTER 6. How Jonathan Was Slain By Treachery; And How Thereupon The
Jews Made Simon Their General And High Priest: What Courageous Actions
He Also Performed Especially Against Trypho.

1. Now when Trypho knew what had befallen Demetrius, he was no longer
firm to Antiochus, but contrived by subtlety to kill him, and then take
possession of his kingdom; but the fear that he was in of Jonathan was
an obstacle to this his design, for Jonathan was a friend to Antiochus,
for which cause he resolved first to take Jonathan out of the way, and
then to set about his design relating to Antiochus; but he judging
it best to take him off by deceit and treachery, came from Antioch to
Bethshan, which by the Greeks is called Scythopolis, at which place
Jonathan met him with forty thousand chosen men, for he thought that
he came to fight him; but when he perceived that Jonathan was ready to
fight, he attempted to gain him by presents and kind treatment, and gave
order to his captains to obey him, and