16 ¹¹ Now Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed governor over the plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold, 16 ¹² for he was son-in-law of the high priest. 16 ¹³ His heart was lifted up; he determined to get control of the country, and made treacherous plans against Simon and his sons, to do away with them. 16 ¹⁴ Now Simon was visiting the cities of the country and attending to their needs, and he went down to Jericho with Mattathias and Judas his sons, in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat. 16 ¹⁵ The son of Abubus received them treacherously in the little stronghold called Dok, which he had built; he gave them a great banquet, and hid men there. 16 ¹⁶ When Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men rose up, took their weapons, and rushed in against Simon in the banquet hall, and they killed him and his two sons and some of his servants. 16 ¹⁷ So he committed an act of great treachery and returned evil for good.

16 ¹⁸ Then Ptolemy wrote a report about these things and sent it to the king, asking him to send troops to aid him and to turn over to him the cities and the country. 16 ¹⁹ He sent other men to Gazara to do away with John; he sent letters to the captains asking them to come to him so that he might give them silver and gold and gifts; 16 ²⁰ and he sent other men to take possession of Jerusalem and the temple hill. 16 ²¹ But some one ran ahead and reported to John at Gazara that his father and brothers had perished, and that "he has sent men to kill you also." 16 ²² When he heard this, he was greatly shocked; and he seized the men who came to destroy him and killed them, for he had found out that they were seeking to destroy him.

16 ²³ The rest of the acts of John and his wars and the brave deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he built, and his achievements,