15. Abubus’ son welcomed them deceitfully in the little fortress called Dok, which he had built. He threw a great banquet for them, but he hid men in the hall.
16. When Simon and his sons became drunk, Ptolemy and his men took their weapons. They rushed forward against Simon, and killed him and his two sons in the banquet hall, as well as some of his servants.
17. So he committed an act of great treachery, returning evil for good.
18. Ptolemy wrote a report about these matters and sent it to the king. He asked him to send troops to aid him and to turn over the towns and country to him.
19. He sent other soldiers to Gazara to kill John. And he sent letters to the captains asking them to come to him so that he could give them silver and gold and gifts.
20. He sent other troops to capture Jerusalem and the temple mount.
21. But someone ran ahead and told John at Gazara that his father and brothers had died, and also said, "He has sent men to kill you also."
22. When he heard this news, he was greatly shocked. He detained the men who had come to destroy him and killed them because he had learned about their intentions.
23. The rest of John’s actions, his wars, the brave deeds that he did, his achievements, and the building of the walls that he completed—
24. these are written in the records of his high priesthood, dating from the time when he became high priest after his father.