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."