60 Jonathan left Judea and led his army across the Jordan River. They were going from town to town, when the entire Syrian army arrived and offered to help them fight. So Jonathan took his forces to the town of Askalon, where the people welcomed and honored them.
61 He led his troops to the town of Gaza, but its people refused to let them enter. Then they surrounded the town and took everything of value from the villages nearby.When Jonathan's forces burned down these villages,
62 the people of Gaza begged him not to destroy their town. He agreed, but he sent the sons of Gaza's rulers as hostages to Jerusalem. After this, Jonathan led his army as far as Damascus.
63 Someone told Jonathan:King Demetrius the Second has sent a large force under the command of royal officers to the town of Kadesh in Galilee. The officers have orders to make you give up your position as high priest.
64 Simon stayed behind in Judea while his brother Jonathan set out to attack the army of Demetrius.
65 Simon attacked the town of Beth-Zur and kept it surrounded for a long time
66 before it surrendered to him. He took command of Beth-Zur and told its people to leave. Then he stationed his own troops there.