Books Jesus Read

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

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burned its villages and gathered up all its supplies. The people of Gaza then begged for terms of peace with Jonathan and he granted it, sending the sons of their leaders to Jerusalem as hostages. Now, Jonathan heard that some former officers of Demetrius II had come into Kadesh of Galilee with a large army, determined to put him out of office. Leaving Simon behind, he went to meet them. Simon, for his part, encamped against Beth-zur. Shutting it in, he besieged them for a long time. When, finally, the leaders asked for terms of peace, he granted it, sending their leaders into exile and leaving a garrison in charge of the city. Jonathan’s host, meanwhile, was

Jonathan tore his clothes, threw dirt on his head, and prayed. Then he arose and attacked the enemy, putting them to flight.

camped by the waters of Gennesaret. Early in the morning, they marched into the plain of Hazor, where an army of foreigners waited to ambush them. Their leaders came forward, handing themselves freely over to

Jonathan. Only then did their hosts emerge from hiding and move to surround Jonathan’s forces. Jonathan’s men found an escape route and fled from the ambush, leaving Jonathan alone with two of his commanders: Mattathias, son of Absalom, and Judas, son of Chalphi. Jonathan tore his clothes, threw dirt on his head, and prayed. Then he arose and attacked the enemy, putting them to flight. As soon as the deserters saw what Jonathan was able to do, they rejoined him, routing the enemy as far as Kadesh where they were camped. Three thousand Gentiles were slain that day, and Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.