21 So in the seuenth moneth of the hundreth and sixtieth yere, at the feast of the Tabernacles, Ionathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and prouided much armour.
22 Wherof when Demetrius heard, he was very sory, and said,
23 What haue we done that Alexander hath preuented vs, in making amity with the Iewes to strengthen himself?
24 I also will write vnto them words of encouragement [and promise them] dignities and gifts, that I may haue their ayde.
25 He sent vnto him therefore, to this effect: King Demetrius vnto the people of the Iewes, sendeth greeting:
26 Whereas you haue kept couenants with vs, & continued in our friendship, not ioyning your selues with our enemies, we haue heard hereof, & are glad:
27 Wherefore now continue yee still to be faithful vnto vs, and we will well recompence you for the things you doe in our behalfe,
28 And will grant you many immunities, and giue you rewards.
29 And now I doe free you, and for your sake I release all the Iewes from tributes, and from the customes of salt, and from crowne taxes,
30 And frō that which appertaineth vnto me to receiue for the third part of the seed, and the halfe of the fruit of the trees, I release it from this day forth, so that they shall not be taken of the land of Iudea, nor of the three gouernments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galile, from this day forth for euermore.
31 Let Ierusalem also bee holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths and tributes.
32 And as for the towre which is at Ierusalem, I yeeld vp my authoritie ouer it, and giue it to the high Priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to keepe it.
33 Moreouer I freely set at libertie euery one of the Iewes that were carried captiues out of the land of Iudea, into any part of my kingdome, and I will that all my officers remit the tributes, euen of their cattell.
34 Furthermore, I will that all the Feasts and Sabbaths, & New moones and solemne dayes, and the three dayes before the Feast, and the three dayes after the Feast, shall be all dayes of immunitie and freedom for all the Iewes in my realme.
35 Also no man shall haue authoritie to meddle with them, or to molest any of them in any matter.
36 [I will further] that there be enrolled amongst the kings forces about thirtie thousand men of the Iewes, vnto whom pay shall be giuen as belongeth to all the kings forces.
37 And of them some shalbe placed in the kings strong holds, of whom also some shall be set ouer the affaires of the kingdome, which are of trust: and I will that their ouerseers and gouernours be of themselues, and that they liue after their owne lawes, euen as the King hath commanded in the land of Iudea.
38 And concerning the three gouernments that are added to Iudea from the countrey of Samaria, let them be ioyned with Iudea, that they may be reckoned to be vnder one, nor bound to obey other authoritie then þe high priests
39 As for Ptolemais and the land pertaining thereto, I giue it as a free gift to the Sanctuary at Ierusalem, for the necessary expences of the Sanctuary.
40 Moreouer, I giue euery yeere fifteene thousand shekels of siluer, out of the Kings accompts from the places appertaining.
41 And all the ouerplus which the officers payed not in as in former time, from henceforth shalbe giuen towards the workes of the Temple.
42 And besides this, the fiue thousand shekels of siluer, which they tooke from the vses of the Temple out of the accompts yeere by yeere, euen those things shall be released, because they appertaine to the Priests that minister.
43 And whosoeuer they be that flee vnto the Temple at Ierusalem, or be within the liberties thereof, being indebted vnto the King, or for any other matter, let them be at libertie, and all that they haue in my realme.
44 For the building also and repairing of the workes of the Sanctuary, expences shalbe giuen of the Kings accompts.
45 Yea, and for the building of the walles of Ierusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, expences shall bee giuen out of the Kings accompts, as also for building of the walles in Iudea.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).