Jonathan and the Changing Royal Alliances

King Ptolemy of Egypt gathered a huge force and many ships. He entered the cities of Syria speaking peace, and the people opened their gates to him, as Alexander had commanded. Yet he placed garrisons in the cities and sought control for himself. At Azotus, people tried to blame Jonathan for destruction from the war, but Ptolemy kept silent. Jonathan met him at Joppa, went with him as far as the river Eleutherus, and then returned to Jerusalem.

Then Ptolemy turned against Alexander. He sent to Demetrius and offered him his daughter, taking her away from Alexander. In Antioch he put on two crowns, one for Egypt and one for Asia. Alexander came to fight, but Ptolemy drove him away. Alexander fled to Arabia and was killed there. Three days after that, Ptolemy also died, and Demetrius became king.

In those days Jonathan was attacking the citadel in Jerusalem. Some lawless men reported this to Demetrius, and the king called Jonathan to Ptolemais at once. Jonathan ordered the siege to continue, then risked the journey himself, taking elders, priests, and rich gifts. Although complaints were made against him, he found favour with the king. Demetrius confirmed Jonathan as high priest and honoured him again. Jonathan then asked that Judea, the three provinces, and the country of Samaria be freed from tribute, offering three hundred talents.

Later Demetrius dismissed most of his troops, and trouble grew around him. Tryphon saw that the forces hated Demetrius and went to seek young Antiochus, the child of Alexander. Meanwhile Jonathan asked Demetrius to remove the troops from the Jerusalem citadel and from the strongholds, because they kept fighting against Israel. Demetrius answered with promises of honour, but first asked Jonathan for soldiers because his own forces had revolted. So Jonathan sent three thousand valiant men to Antioch.

In Antioch, a huge uprising broke out against the king. Demetrius fled into the palace court and called the Jews to help him. They spread through the city, fought, set the city on fire, seized spoil, and saved the king. After the people threw down their weapons and made peace, Jonathan’s men returned to Jerusalem. But Demetrius did not keep faith with Jonathan and treated him harshly.

Then Tryphon brought forward the young Antiochus as king. This new ruler confirmed Jonathan’s honours and appointed his brother Simon over the region from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt. What do you notice about promises made by rulers in this story?