17 And, persevering with much force, they obtained the places, killing those they met, and cutting down in all no less than twenty thousand.
18 Yet certain ones, when they had fled into two well-fortified towers, gave all appearance of fighting back.
19 So Maccabeus left behind Simon and Joseph, and likewise Zachaeus, and those who were with them, to fight against them. And since those who were with them were sufficient in number, he turned back to those who attacked more forcefully.
20 In truth, those who were with Simon, being led by avarice, were persuaded by money from certain ones who were in the towers. And accepting seventy thousand didrachmas, they allowed certain ones to flee.
21 But when what was done had been reported to Maccabeus, gathering together the leaders of the people, he accused those who had sold their brothers for money, having sent away their adversaries.
22 Therefore, he executed these who had acted as traitors, and he quickly captured the two towers.
23 And so, having success in arms and in all things that he took in hand, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.