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20
At the same time Jonathan gathered together them that were in Judea to take the tower that
was in Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.
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Then came ungodly persons, who hated their own people, went unto the king, and told him
that Jonathan besieged the tower,
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Whereof when he heard, he was angry, and immediately removing, he came to Ptolemais,
and wrote unto Jonathan, that he should not lay siege to the tower, but come and speak with him
at Ptolemais in great haste.
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Nevertheless Jonathan, when he heard this, commanded to besiege it still: and he chose certain
of the elders of Israel and the priests, and put himself in peril;
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And took silver and gold, and raiment, and divers presents besides, and went to Ptolemais
unto the king, where he found favour in his sight.
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And though certain ungodly men of the people had made complaints against him,
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Yet the king entreated him as his predecessors had done before, and promoted him in the sight
of all his friends,
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And confirmed him in the high priesthood, and in all the honours that he had before, and gave
him preeminence among his chief friends.
28
Then Jonathan desired the king, that he would make Judea free from tribute, as also the three
governments, with the country of Samaria; and he promised him three hundred talents.
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So the king consented, and wrote letters unto Jonathan of all these things after this manner:
30
King Demetrius unto his brother Jonathan, and unto the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:
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We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our cousin Lasthenes concerning
you, that ye might see it.
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King Demetrius unto his father Lasthenes sendeth greeting:
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We are determined to do good to the people of the Jews, who are our friends, and keep
covenants with us, because of their good will toward us.
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Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of
Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and
all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments
which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.
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And as for other things that belong unto us, of the tithes and customs pertaining unto us, as
also the saltpits, and the crown taxes, which are due unto us, we discharge them of them all for
their relief.
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And nothing hereof shall be revoked from this time forth for ever.
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Now therefore see that thou make a copy of these things, and let it be delivered unto Jonathan,
and set upon the holy mount in a conspicuous place.
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After this, when king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance
was made against him, he sent away all his forces, every one to his own place, except certain bands
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KJV Bible