11:60 Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond the water, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves unto him for to help him: and when he came to Ascalon, they of the city met him honourably. 11:61 From whence he went to Gaza, but they of Gaza shut him out; wherefore he laid siege unto it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them. 11:62 Afterward, when they of Gaza made supplication unto Jonathan, he made peace with them, and took the sons of their chief men for hostages, and sent them to Jerusalem, and passed through the country unto Damascus. 11:63 Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great power, purposing to remove him out of the country, 11:64 He went to meet them, and left Simon his brother in the country. 11:65 Then Simon encamped against Bethsura and fought against it a long season, and shut it up: 11:66 But they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, and then put them out from thence, and took the city, and set a garrison in it. 11:67 As for Jonathan and his host, they pitched at the water of Gennesar, from whence betimes in the morning they gat them to the plain of Nasor. 11:68 And, behold, the host of strangers met them in the plain, who, having laid men in ambush for him in the mountains, came themselves over against him. 11:69 So when they that lay in ambush rose out of their places and joined battle, all that were of Jonathan’s side fled; 11:70 Insomuch as there was not one of them left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Calphi, the captains of the host. 11:71 Then Jonathan rent his clothes, and cast earth upon his head, and prayed. 11:72 Afterwards turning again to battle, he put them to flight, and so they ran away. 11:73 Now when his own men that were fled saw this, they turned again unto him, and with him pursued them to Cades, even unto their own tents, and there they camped. 11:74 So there were slain of the heathen that day about three thousand men: but Jonathan returned to Jerusalem. 12:1 Now when Jonathan saw that time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them. 12:2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose. 12:3 So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time. 12:4 Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably. 12:5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians: 12:6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting: