30 Jonathan then set out after them, but he could not overtake them because they had already crossed the River Eleutherus.
31 Then Jonathan turned aside and attacked a tribe of Arabs called Zabadeans. He defeated them and plundered their possessions.
32 Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, inspecting the entire area along the way.
33 Meanwhile, Simon had also set out on a campaign and had advanced as far as Ashkelon and the neighbouring fortresses. Then he turned aside to Joppa
34 and stationed a detachment of soldiers there because he heard that the people were planning to hand over the fortress of Joppa to the soldiers of Demetrius.
35 When Jonathan returned, he called the council of the leaders together and made plans with them to build fortresses in Judea,
36 to increase the height of the walls of Jerusalem, and to build a high wall to separate the fort from the city. This would isolate the fort, making it impossible for the enemy to buy or sell anything.