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[58]
This was what Demetrius promised and granted to the Jews by this
letter. But king Alexander raised a great army of mercenary soldiers, and
of those that deserted to him out of Syria, and made an expedition against
Demetrius. And when it was come to a battle, the left wing of Demetrius
put those who opposed them to flight, and pursued them a great way, and
slew many of them, and spoiled their camp; but the right wing, where Demetrius
happened to be, was beaten; and as for all the rest, they ran away. But
Demetrius fought courageously, and slew a great many of the enemy; but
as he was in the pursuit of the rest, his horse carried him into a deep
bog, where it was hard to get out, and there it happened, that upon his
horse's falling down, he could not escape being killed; for when his enemies
saw what had befallen him, they returned back, and encompassed Demetrius
round, and they all threw their darts at him; but he, being now on foot,
fought bravely. But at length he received so many wounds, that he was not
able to bear up any longer, but fell. And this is the end that Demetrius
came to, when he had reigned eleven years, 1
as we have elsewhere related.
2
1 Since the rest of the historians now extant give this Demetrius thirteen years, and Josephus only eleven years, Dean Prideaux does not amiss in ascribing to him the mean number twelve.
2 THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WAS BETWEEN ONIAS AND PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR; AND HOW ONIAS BUILT A TEMPLE IN EGYPT LIKE TO THAT AT JERUSALEM.
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