Books Jesus Read

Chapter 3: Spiritual Legacy – Jonathan, Simon, and John Hyrcanus

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in his dominion. Jonathan then returned to Jerusalem in peace and joy. Now in the 165th year of the Greek kingdom, Demetrius II, the son of Demetrius the former king, left Crete and traveled to Syria, the land of his fathers. Alexander was distressed by the news and returned to Antioch. Demetrius II, meanwhile, appointed Apollonius governor of Coelesyria. And Apollonius assembled a vast army which camped in Jamnia. Then he sent a message to Jonathan, saying, “You alone stand against us, and I am mocked and reproached because of you. Are you so courageous, holed up there in the hill country? If you truly trust in your strength, then leave the hills behind and match forces with me in the plain, for my strength comes from the cities. Ask anyone and they will tell you about me, that you are not able to set foot in my land. Nor will you withstand our horsemen on the plain, where there are no rocks to hide among.” Jonathan, when he heard the taunts of Demetrius II, was stirred up. Choosing ten thousand men, he left Jerusalem. His brother Simon met him along the way and joined his forces. Jonathan encamped over against Joppa, which immediately shut its gates against him since a garrison had already been stationed there by Apollonius. Jonathan attacked the city which, for fear of him, reopened its gates. Thus, Jonathan took Joppa. As soon as Apollonius heard this, he summoned three thousand horsemen and a vast army. He led his forces to Azotus, making it look as if they were only passing through on their way elsewhere. Trusting in the strength of his calvary alone, he left his legions of infantry behind on the plain.