Jonathan had determined to side with Alexander Balas, not trusting Demetrius, who in a second letter made promises that he could hardly have kept and conceded prerogatives that were almost impossible.
Jonathan memilih berpihak pada  Alexander Balas, karena tidak percaya kepada Demetrius, yang dalam surat keduanya membuat janji-janji bahwa sukar ditepati dan mengakui hak-hak istimewa yang hampir mustahil.