15 Antiokos (Antiochus) son of Demetrios the king sent a letter from the islands of the sea to Shim’on the priest and[fn] governor of the Yehudim, and to all the nation. 2 Its contents follow:

“King Antiokos to Shim’on the chief priest and[fn] governor, and to the nation of the Yehudim, greetings. 3 Whereas certain troublemakers have made themselves masters of the kingdom of our fathers, but my purpose is to claim the kingdom, that I may restore it as it was before; and moreover I have raised a multitude of foreign soldiers, and have prepared warships; 4 moreover I plan to land in the country, that I may punish those who have destroyed our country, and those who have made many cities in the kingdom desolate; 5 now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions which the kings who were before me remitted to you, and whatever gifts besides they remitted to you, 6 and I permit you to coin money for your country with your own stamp, 7 but that Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary should be free. All the weapons that you have prepared, and the strongholds that you have built, which you have in your possession, let them remain yours. 8 Every debt owed to the king, and the things that will be owed to the king from henceforth and for evermore, let them be remitted to you. 9 Moreover, when we have established our kingdom, we will glorify you and your nation and the temple with great glory, so that your glory will be made manifest in all the earth.

10 In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year,[fn] Antiokos went into the land of his fathers; and all the forces came together to him, so that there were few men with Trufon. 11 King Antiokos pursued him, and he came, as he fled, to Dor, which is by the sea; 12 for he knew that troubles had come upon him all at once, and that his forces had deserted him. 13 Antiokos encamped against Dor, and with him one hundred and twenty thousand men of war and eight thousand cavalry. 14 He surrounded the city, and the ships joined in the attack from the sea. He harassed the city by land and sea, and permitted no one to go out or in.