15 Ptolemy pretended he was glad to see Simon and his sons. Then he invited them to a banquet in their honor at a small fortress that he had built and named Dok.Some of Ptolemy's soldiers were hiding near the dining room.
16 As soon as Simon and his sons were drunk, the soldiers rushed out of their hiding places with swords in their hands. They attacked Simon, his two sons, and some of their servants, killing them all.
17 So Ptolemy betrayed a friend and proved that he could not be trusted.
18 Ptolemy wrote and told King Antiochus that he had killed Simon. He asked the king to give him soldiers and to put him in command of Judea and its towns.
19-20 Ptolemy also wrote letters to the Jewish army commanders, promising them silver and gold and other gifts if they would help him.Some of Ptolemy's troops set out to take over Jerusalem and the temple hill, while others went to murder John in Gazara.
21 But someone warned John, “Ptolemy has already murdered your father and brothers. And now he has sent soldiers to kill you!”
22 John was shocked by this news. He found out which soldiers had come to kill him, and he had them arrested and put to death.