10 In the one hundred sixtieth year,[fn] Alexandros (Alexander) Epifanes (Epiphanes), the son of Antiokos (Antiochus), went up and took possession of Ptolemais. They received him, and he reigned there. 2 King Demetrios heard about this, and he gathered together exceedingly great forces, and went out to meet him in battle.

3 Demetrios sent a letter to Yonatan with words of peace, so as to honour him. 4 Because he said, “Let’s go beforehand to make peace with them, before he makes peace with Alexandros against us; 5 for he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and to his kindred and to his nation.” 6 So he gave him authority to gather together forces, and to provide weapons, and that he should be his ally. He also commanded that they should release the hostages that were in the citadel to him.

7 Yonatan came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and read the letter in the hearing of all the people, and of those who were in the citadel. 8 They were very afraid when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together an army. 9 Those in the citadel released the hostages to Yonatan, and he restored them to their parents.

10 Yonatan lived in Yerushalem and began to build and renew the city. 11 He commanded those who did the work to build the walls and encircle Mt. Tsiyon (Zion) with[fn] square stones for defence; and they did so. 12 The foreigners who were in the strongholds which Bakides had built fled away. 13 Each man left his place and departed into his own land. 14 Only at Beyt-Tsur, there were left some of those who had forsaken the law and the commandments, for it was a place of refuge to them.