Jonathan Defeats Apollonius

In the one hundred sixty-fifth year, Demetrius came from Crete into the land of his ancestors. When King Alexander heard this, he was greatly troubled and returned to Antioch. Then Demetrius appointed Apollonius over Coelesyria, and Apollonius gathered a great army and camped against Jamnia.

Apollonius sent a message to Jonathan the high priest, mocking him and daring him to come down from the mountains and fight on the plain. He boasted about his army and cavalry. When Jonathan heard it, he was stirred to act. He chose ten thousand men and went out from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother came to help him.

Jonathan went first against Joppa. The people of the city shut him out because Apollonius had a garrison there. Jonathan fought against the city, and the people became afraid and opened it to him. So Jonathan took control of Joppa.

When Apollonius heard, he gathered three thousand cavalry and a great army and moved toward Azotus and into the plain. Jonathan pursued him, and the armies met in battle. But Apollonius had secretly left a thousand cavalry behind them. Jonathan learned of the ambush as his army was surrounded and shot at from morning until evening. Still, his men held their ground as he commanded, and the enemy horses grew tired.

Then Simon brought his forces forward and struck the enemy line, and they fled. The scattered cavalry ran to Azotus and into the temple of Dagon to save themselves. Jonathan burned Azotus and the nearby cities, and he burned that temple with those who had fled into it. About eight thousand men died in the fighting and the fire. After that he went against Ascalon, returned to Jerusalem with much spoil, and was honoured by King Alexander, who sent him a gold buckle and gave him Ekron and its land.