Editing Hasmonean dynasty (section)

====Territorial expansion====
In 145 BC, the [[Battle of Antioch (145 BC)|Battle of Antioch]] resulted in the final defeat of Alexander Balas by the forces of his father-in-law Ptolemy VI. Ptolemy himself, however, was among the casualties of the battle. Demetrius II Nicator remained sole ruler of the Seleucid Empire and became the second husband of [[Cleopatra Thea]].

Jonathan owed no allegiance to the new King and took this opportunity to lay siege to the [[Acra (fortress)|Acra]], the Seleucid fortress in Jerusalem and the symbol of Seleucid control over Judea. It was heavily garrisoned by a Seleucid force and offered asylum to Jewish Hellenists.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|9:20|NRSV}}; Josephus, ''l.c.'' xiii. 4, § 9</ref> Demetrius was greatly incensed; he appeared with an army at Ptolemais and ordered Jonathan to come before him. Without raising the siege, Jonathan, accompanied by the elders and priests, went to the king and pacified him with presents, so that the king not only confirmed him in his office of high priest, but gave to him the three [[Samaritan]] [[toparchies]] of [[Mount Ephraim]], [[Lod]], and [[Ramathaim-Zophim]]. In consideration of a present of 300 [[Talent (weight)|talent]]s the entire country was exempted from [[tax]]es, the exemption being confirmed in writing. Jonathan in return lifted the siege of the Acra and left it in Seleucid hands.

Soon, however, a new claimant to the Seleucid throne appeared in the person of the young [[Antiochus VI Dionysus]], son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea. He was three years old at most, but general [[Diodotus Tryphon]] used him to advance his own designs on the throne. In the face of this new enemy, Demetrius not only promised to withdraw the garrison from the City of Acre, but also called Jonathan his ally and requested him to send troops. The 3,000 men of Jonathan protected Demetrius in his capital, [[Antioch]], against his own subjects.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|9:21–52|NRSV}}; Josephus, ''l.c.'' xiii. 4, § 9; 5, §§ 2&ndash;3; "R. E. J." xlv. 34</ref>
As Demetrius II did not keep his promise, Jonathan thought it better to support the new king when Diodotus Tryphon and Antiochus VI seized the capital, especially as the latter confirmed all his rights and appointed his brother Simon (Simeon) [[strategos]] of the [[Paralia (Palestine)|Paralia]] (the sea coast), from the "Ladder of [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]]" to the frontier of [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Egypt]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|11:52–59|NRSV}}</ref>

Jonathan and Simon were now entitled to make conquests; [[Ashkelon]] submitted voluntarily while Gaza was forcibly taken. Jonathan vanquished even the strategoi of Demetrius II far to the north, in the plain of Hazar, while Simon at the same time took the strong fortress of Beth-zur on the pretext that it harboured supporters of Demetrius.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|9:53–74|NRSV}}; Josephus, ''l.c.'' xiii. 5, §§ 3&ndash;7</ref> Like Judas in former years, Jonathan sought alliances with foreign peoples. He renewed the treaty with the Roman Republic and exchanged friendly messages with [[Sparta]] and other places. However, the documents referring to those diplomatic events are of questionable authenticity.