12 ¹ When this agreement had been reached, Lysias returned to the king, and the Jews went about their farming.

12 ² But some of the governors in various places, Timothy and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, as well as Hieronymus and Demophon, and in addition to these Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not let them live quietly and in peace. 12 ³ And some men of Joppa did so ungodly a deed as this 12 ⁴ and this was done by public vote of the city. And when they accepted, because they wished to live peaceably and suspected nothing, the men of Joppa took them out to sea and drowned them, not less than two hundred. 12 ⁵ When Judas heard of the cruelty visited on his countrymen, he gave orders to his men 12 ⁶ and, calling upon God the righteous Judge, attacked the murderers of his brethren. He set fire to the harbour by night, and burned the boats, and massacred those who had taken refuge there. 12 ⁷ Then, because the city's gates were closed, he withdrew, intending to come again and root out the whole community of Joppa. 12 ⁸ But learning that the men in Jamnia meant in the same way to wipe out the Jews who were living among them, 12 ⁹ he attacked the people of Jamnia by night and set fire to the harbour and the fleet, so that the glow of the light was seen in Jerusalem, thirty miles distant.