32
So Athenobius, the king's Friend, came to Jerusalem, and when he saw the splendor of Simon, and the sideboard with its gold and silver plate, and his great magnificence, he was amazed. When he reported to him the king's message,
33
Simon said to him in reply: "We have neither taken foreign land nor seized foreign property, but only the inheritance of our ancestors, which at one time had been unjustly taken by our enemies.
34
Now that we have the opportunity, we are firmly holding the inheritance of our ancestors.
35
As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they were causing great damage among the people and to our land; for them we will give you one hundred talents." Athenobius did not answer him a word,
36
but returned in wrath to the king and reported to him these words, and also the splendor of Simon and all that he had seen. And the king was very angry.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.