3. I have now grown old, but you, by the mercy of Heaven, have come to maturity. Take my place and my brother’s, and go out and fight for our nation; and may the help of Heaven be with you!”
4. John then mustered in the land twenty thousand warriors and cavalry. Setting out against Cendebeus, they spent the night at Modein,
5. rose early, and marched into the plain. There, facing them, was an immense army of foot soldiers and cavalry, and between the two armies was a wadi.
6. John and his people took their position against the enemy. Seeing that his people were afraid to cross the wadi, John crossed first. When his men saw this, they crossed over after him.
7. Then he divided his infantry and put his cavalry in the center, for the enemy’s cavalry were very numerous.
8. They blew the trumpets, and Cendebeus and his army were routed; many of them fell wounded, and the rest fled toward the stronghold.
9. It was then that John’s brother Judas fell wounded; but John pursued them until Cendebeus reached Kedron, which he had fortified.
10. Some took refuge in the towers on the plain of Azotus, but John set fire to these, and about two thousand of the enemy perished. He then returned to Judea in peace.
11. Ptolemy, son of Abubus, had been appointed governor of the plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold,
12. being the son-in-law of the high priest.
13. But his heart became proud and he was determined to get control of the country. So he made treacherous plans to do away with Simon and his sons.
14. As Simon was inspecting the cities of the country and providing for their needs, he and his sons Mattathias and Judas went down to Jericho in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month (that is, the month Shebat).
15. The son of Abubus gave them a deceitful welcome in the little stronghold called Dok which he had built. He served them a sumptuous banquet, but he had his men hidden there.
16. Then, when Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men sprang up, weapons in hand, rushed upon Simon in the banquet hall, and killed him, his two sons, and some of his servants.
17. By this vicious act of treachery he repaid good with evil.