1   John came from Gazara and reported to his father Simon the results of Kendebaeus's campaign. 2   Simon summoned his two eldest sons Judas and John, and said to them: ‘My brothers and I and my

The high-priesthood of Simon father's family have fought Israel's battles from our youth until this day, and many a time we have been successful in rescuing Israel. 3   Now I am old, but mercifully you are in the prime of life. Take my place and my brother's and go out and fight for our nation. And may help from on high be with you.’

4   He then levied from the country twenty thousand picked warriors and cavalry, and they marched against Kendebaeus. After passing the night at Modin they rose early and proceeded to the plain, 5   where a large force of infantry and cavalry stood ready to meet them on the far side of a gully. 6   When his army had taken up a position opposite, John saw that his men were afraid to cross the gully. So he crossed first himself; his men saw him and followed. 7   John drew up his army with the cavalry in the centre of the infantry, for the enemy cavalry were very numerous. 8   The trumpets were sounded, and Kendebaeus and his army were routed; many of them fell, and the remainder took refuge in the fortress. 9   It was in this engagement that John's brother Judas was wounded. John kept up the pursuit until Kendebaeus reached Kedron, which he had rebuilt. 10   The enemy took refuge in the towers in the open country round Azotus, whereupon John set fire to Azotus. Some two thousand of the enemy fell in the fighting, and John returned to Judaea in safety.

11   Now Ptolemaeus son of Abubus had been appointed commander for the plain of Jericho. 12   He had great wealth, for he was the high priest's son-in-law. 13   But he became over-ambitious; he proposed to make himself master of the country and plotted to put Simon and his sons out of the way. 14   In the course of a tour to inspect the towns in that region and to attend to their needs, Simon came to Jericho with his sons Mattathias and Judas in the year 177, ^note in the eleventh month, the month of Shebat. 15   The son of Abubus, with treachery in his heart, received them at the small fort called Dok which he had built, and entertained them lavishly. But he had men in concealment there, 16   and when Simon and his sons had drunk freely, Ptolemaeus and his accomplices jumped up, seized their weapons, and rushed in to the banquet. They attacked Simon and killed him, along with his two sons and some of his servants. 17   It was an act of base treachery in which evil was returned for good.

18   Ptolemaeus sent news of this in a dispatch to the king, asking him to send troops to his assistance and to give him authority over the

The high-priesthood of Simon country and its towns. 19   He sent some of his men to Gazara to kill John, and wrote to the army officers urging them to join him, and offering them silver and gold and presents. 20   Other troops he sent to take Jerusalem and the temple hill. 21   But someone ran ahead and reported to John at Gazara that his father and brothers had been murdered, and that Ptolemaeus had sent men to kill him as well. 22   When John heard this he was beside himself; he arrested the men who came to kill him, and put them to death, because he had discovered their plot against his life.

23   The rest of the story of John, his wars and the deeds of valour he performed, the walls he built, and his exploits, are written in the annals of his high-priesthood from the time when he succeeded his father.

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