13
Simon set up camp at Adida at the edge of the plain.
14
When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan and that he was ready to meet him in battle, he sent this message to him:
15
"I am holding your brother Jonathan under arrest because while he was in office he did not pay his debts to the royal treasury.
16
However, I will release him if you will pay me 6,000 pounds of silver and send two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that he will not revolt against us when he is released."
17
Although Simon knew that they were deceiving him, he sent for the money and the two sons because he did not want to arouse the hostility of the Jews.
18
He was afraid that they might later say that Jonathan was put to death because Simon would not send the money and the boys.
19
So he did as Trypho had demanded, but Trypho broke his promise and did not release Jonathan.
20
Then Trypho made his move to invade the land and destroy it, circling around by the road to Adora. But Simon and his army moved along facing him wherever he went.
21
The enemy soldiers in the fort in Jerusalem kept sending messengers to Trypho urging him to come to them quickly by way of the desert and to send them supplies.
22
Trypho got all his cavalry ready for the invasion, but that night there was a heavy snowstorm, and he was not able to move up into the hills. So he withdrew and went into Gilead.
23
When he was near Baskama, he had Jonathan put to death and his body buried there.