Summary
A new king named Alexander, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, arrived and seized control of Ptolemais. King Demetrius, fearing he would lose Israel's loyalty, wrote to Jonathan with friendly words and gave him permission to raise an army. For the first time in a long time, the Jewish people were free to arm themselves. Jonathan moved back to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the city.
Both Demetrius and Alexander competed to win Jonathan's friendship. Alexander went further, he appointed Jonathan as high priest and sent him purple robes and a golden crown. Jonathan put on the sacred robes during the Festival of Tabernacles. Demetrius tried to top this with a list of amazing promises, no more taxes, freedom for prisoners, and rights for Jewish soldiers in his army. But the Jewish people remembered how badly Demetrius had treated them before. They chose to trust Alexander instead.
Alexander defeated Demetrius in a great battle. Demetrius fell that day. Alexander then made an alliance with Egypt by marrying the daughter of King Ptolemy. He invited Jonathan to meet both kings. When Jonathan arrived in grand style, some troublemakers tried to accuse him. But the king ignored them. Instead, he gave Jonathan honor, dressed him in purple, and made him a military governor. Jonathan went home to Jerusalem in peace.
A new challenger, Demetrius's son, soon appeared. His general Apollonius mocked Jonathan and challenged him to come down from the hills and fight. Jonathan accepted the challenge and defeated Apollonius's army near Azotus. Jonathan's brother Simon helped break the enemy cavalry. Jonathan burned the city, the pagan temple, and the people hiding there. King Alexander was so impressed that he gave Jonathan even more land and honors.
Historical Context
This chapter takes place around 152–147 BC. The Seleucid Empire was now torn apart by rulers fighting each other for power. This gave the Maccabees a huge advantage, both kings needed Jonathan's support and competed to win it. Jonathan played this situation wisely.
The appointment of Jonathan as high priest was a major moment. For years there had been no legitimate high priest, or the role had been filled by wicked and unqualified men like Alcimus. Jonathan's appointment, though made by a foreign king, restored a sense of proper religious leadership to the Jewish people. His rise shows how far the Maccabean family had come from being rebels in the hills.
