32 Bacchides plotted to kill Jonathan as soon as he found out that Jonathan was the new leader.
33 But his plan failed, because Jonathan and his brother Simon were warned and escaped with their followers to a camp near the water hole at Asphar in the desert around Tekoa.
34 On a Sabbath, Bacchides learned where the camp was, and he led his army across the Jordan River.
35 Jonathan's brother John was also one of the Jewish leaders. One day, on orders from Jonathan, he asked some friendly Nabateans to guard their huge stock of supplies.
36 But some people of the Jambri tribe from Medeba captured John and the supplies, then rode away.
37 Later, Jonathan and his brother Simon were told:The Jambri tribe is holding a big wedding celebration, and the bride is being brought here from the town of Nadabath. Many soldiers are guarding her because she's the daughter of a very important man from Canaan.
38 Meanwhile, Jonathan and Simon had learned that this tribe had murdered their brother John. So they left camp and set an ambush on a hillside overlooking the road.