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commend you for this your fidelity； and exhort you to continue in
the same disposition； for which you shall be repaid； and receive
rewards from us； for I will free you from the greatest part of
the tributes and taxes which you formerly paid to the kings my
predecessors； and to myself； and I do now set you free from those
tributes which you have ever paid； and besides； I forgive you the
tax upon salt； and the value of the crowns which you used to
offer to me （3） and instead of the third part of the fruits ＇of
the field＇； and the half of the fruits of the trees； I relinquish
my part of them from this day： and as to the poll…money； which
ought to be given me for every head of the inhabitants of Judea；
and of the three toparchies that adjoin to Judea； Samaria； and
Galilee； and Peres； that I relinquish to you for this time； and
for all time to come。 I will also that the city of Jerusalem be
holy and inviolable； and free from the tithe； and from the taxes；
unto its utmost bounds。 And I so far recede from my title to the
citadel； as to permit Jonathan your high priest to possess it；
that he may place such a garrison in it as he approves of for
fidelity and good…will to himself； that they may keep it for us。
I also make free all those Jews who have been made captives and
slaves in my kingdom。 I also give order that the beasts of the
Jews be not pressed for our service； and let their sabbaths； and
all their festivals； and three days before each of them； be free
from any imposition。 In the same manner； I set free the Jews that
are inhabitants of my kingdom； and order that no injury be done
them。 I also give leave to such of them as are willing to list
themselves in my army； that they may do it； and those as far as
thirty thousand； which Jewish soldiers； wheresoever they go；
shall have the same pay that my own army hath； and some of them I
will place in my garrisons； and some as guards about mine own
body； and as rulers over those that are in my court。 I give them
leave also to use the laws of their forefathers； and to observe
them； and I will that they have power over the three toparchies
that are added to Judea； and it shall be in the power of the high
priest to take care that no one Jew shall have any other temple
for worship but only that at Jerusalem。 I bequeath also； out of
my own revenues； yearly； for the expenses about the sacrifices；
one hundred and fifty thousand ＇drachmae＇； and what money is to
spare； I will that it shall be your own。 I also release to you
those ten thousand drachmae which the kings received from the
temple； because they appertain to the priests that minister in
that temple。 And whosoever shall fly to the temple at Jerusalem；
or to the places thereto belonging； or who owe the king money； or
are there on any other account； let them be set free； and let
their goods be in safety。 I also give you leave to repair and
rebuild your temple； and that all be done at my expenses。 I also
allow you to build the walls of your city； and to erect high
towers； and that they be erected at my charge。 And if there be
any fortified town that would be convenient for the Jewish
country to have very strong； let it be so built at my expenses。〃
4。 This was what Demetrius promised and granted to the Jews by
this letter。 But king Alexander raised a great army of mercenary
soldiers； and of those that deserted to him out of Syria； and
made an expedition against Demetrius。 And when it was come to a
battle； the left wing of Demetrius put those who opposed them to
flight； and pursued them a great way； and slew many of them； and
spoiled their camp； but the right wing； where Demetrius happened
to be； was beaten； and as for all the rest； they ran away。 But
Demetrius fought courageously； and slew a great many of the
enemy； but as he was in the pursuit of the rest； his horse
carried him into a deep bog； where it was hard to get out； and
there it happened； that upon his horse's falling down； he could
not escape being killed； for when his enemies saw what had
befallen him； they returned back； and encompassed Demetrius
round； and they all threw their darts at him； but he； being now
on foot； fought bravely。 But at length he received so many
wounds； that he was not able to bear up any longer； but fell。 And
this is the end that Demetrius came to； when he had reigned
eleven years； （4） as we have elsewhere related。
CHAPTER 3。
The Friendship That Was Between Onias And Ptolemy Philometor； And
How Onias Built A Temple In Egypt Like To That At Jerusalem。
1。 But then the son of Onias the high priest； who was of the same
name with his father； and who fled to king Ptolemy； who was
called Philometor； lived now at Alexandria； as we have said
already。 When this Onias saw that Judea was oppressed by the
Macedonians and their kings； out of a desire to purchase to
himself a memorial and eternal fame he resolved to send to king
Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra； to ask leave of them that he might
build a temple in Egypt like to that at Jerusalem； and might
ordain Levites and priests out of their own stock。 The chief
reason why he was desirous so to do； was； that he relied upon the
prophet Isaiah； who lived above six hundred years before； and
foretold that there certainly was to be a temple built to
Almighty God in Egypt by a man that was a Jew。 Onias was elevated
with this prediction； and wrote the following epistle to Ptolemy
and Cleopatra： 〃Having done many and great things for you in the
affairs of the war； by the assistance of God； and that in
Celesyria and Phoenicia； I came at length with the Jews to
Leontopolis； and to other places of your nation； where I found
that the greatest part of your people had temples in an improper
manner； and that on this account they bare ill…will one against
another； which happens to the Egyptians by reason of the
multitude of their temples； and the difference of opinions about
Divine worship。 Now I found a very fit place in a castle that
hath its name from the country Diana； this place is full of
materials of several sorts； and replenished with sacred animals；
I desire therefore that you will grant me leave to purge this
holy place； which belongs to no master； and is fallen down； and
to build there a temple to Almighty God； after the pattern of
that in Jerusalem； and of the same dimensions； that may be for
the benefit of thyself； and thy wife and children； that those
Jews which dwell in Egypt may have a place whither they may come
and meet together in mutual harmony one with another； and he
subservient to thy advantages； for the prophet Isaiah foretold
that 〃there should be an altar in Egypt to the Lord God； （5） and
many other such things did he prophesy relating to that place。〃
2。 And this was what Onias wrote to king Ptolemy。 Now any one may
observe his piety； and that of his sister and wife Cleopatra； by
that epistle which they wrote in answer to it； for they laid the
blame and the transgression of the law upon the head of Onias。
And this was their reply： 〃King Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra to
Onias； send greeting。 We have read thy petition； wherein thou
desirest leave to be given thee to purge that temple which is
fall