28
Furthermore he sent unto him Athenobius, one of his friends, to commune with him and say, Ye withhold Joppa and Gazara, with the tower that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my realm.
29
We thought it good, therefore, to write unto the kings and countries that they should do them no harm nor fight against them, their cities or countries, nor yet aid their enemies against them. The borders thereof ye have laid waste and done great hurt in the land, and gotten the dominion of many places within my kingdom.
30
Now therefore deliver the cities which ye have taken and the tribute from the places whereof ye have gotten dominion outside the borders of Judea;
31
or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the harm that ye have done and the tribute from the cities, another five hundred talents. If not, we will come and fight against you.
32
So Athenobius the king's friend came to Jerusalem; and when he saw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver plate, and his great retinue, he was astonished and told him the king's message.
33
Then answered Simon and said unto him, We have neither taken other men's land nor hold that which appertaineth to others, but the inheritance of our fathers, which our enemies had wrongfully in possession a certain time.
34
Therefore we, having opportunity, hold the inheritance of our fathers.
35
And whereas thou demandest Joppa and Gazara, albeit they did great harm unto the people in our country, yet will we give a hundred talents for them. Hereunto Athenobius answered him not a word,
36
but returned in a rage to the king, and made report unto him of these speeches and of the glory of Simon and of all that he had seen, whereupon the king was exceedingly wroth.
37
In the meantime Trypho fled by ship unto Orthosia.
38
Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the seacoast, and gave him a host of footmen and horsemen,