12
because he was Simon's son-in-law.
13
But he became too ambitious and wanted to take over the country. So he devised a plan to assassinate Simon and his sons.
14
Simon, together with his sons Mattathias and Judas, was visiting the towns in the area, in order to take care of their needs. They arrived in Jericho in the month of Shebat, the eleventh month, in the year 177.
15
Ptolemy, still plotting to murder Simon and his two sons, received them in a small fortress called Dok, which he had built. He gave a great banquet for them, but he had men hidden within the fortress.
16
When Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men came out of hiding and with swords in hand rushed into the banquet hall, where they killed Simon, his two sons, and some of the servants.
17
With this horrible act of treachery, Ptolemy returned evil for good.
18
Then Ptolemy wrote a report of what he had done and sent it to the king. In the letter he requested that troops be sent to help him and that the country and the cities be turned over to him.
19
He wrote a letter to the army officers inviting them to join him and promising them silver, gold, and gifts. Then he sent some of his men to Gezer to kill John,
20
and others to take control of Jerusalem and the Temple hill.
21
But someone ran to Gezer ahead of Ptolemy's men and reported to John that his father and his brothers had been killed and that Ptolemy was sending his soldiers to kill him.
22
John was horrified at this news, but, because he had been warned in advance, he was able to capture and put to death the men who had been sent to kill him.