26 Simon wanted to help Antiochus. So he sent him 2,000 of his best soldiers, together with silver and gold and many supplies.
27 Antiochus not only refused Simon's help, but he turned against him and broke every promise he had ever made.
28 Antiochus told his trusted friend Athenobius to meet with Simon and tell him:The towns of Joppa and Gazara and the fortress in Jerusalem are now under your control. But these places,
29 along with others you have taken, belong to me, the king.You have ruined the land around these towns and done a lot of other damage to my kingdom.
30 Simon, give back these towns and return the tax money from the places you captured outside of Judea.
31 If you don't want to do this, then pay 500,000 pieces of silver for damaging the towns you captured. And turn over to me 500,000 more to make up for the tax money you took from the towns.If you don't do this, it's war!
32 When Athenobius arrived in Jerusalem, he could not take his eyes off Simon's great wealth. Simon had a table with dishes made of gold and silver, and he owned many other valuable things. Then Athenobius told Simon what the king had said.