Simon’s Sons Defend Judea

King Antiochus was pressing Tryphon at Dor by the sea. He surrounded the city from land and sea with a great force. Simon sent two thousand chosen men to help him, along with silver, gold, and weapons. But Antiochus would not accept the help. Instead, he cancelled his agreements with Simon and turned against him.

The king sent Athenobius to Jerusalem with hard demands. He said Simon must hand over Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel in Jerusalem, or pay a very large sum of silver. Simon answered that he had not taken another people’s land, but was holding the inheritance of his fathers. He offered one hundred talents for Joppa and Gazara. Athenobius returned in anger, and the king was furious.

Then Tryphon escaped by ship. Antiochus appointed Cendebaeus over the sea coast and ordered him to camp against Judea, fortify Kidron, and fight the people. Cendebaeus came to Jamnia, began provoking the people, invaded Judea, took captives, killed people, and set up forces at Kidron so raids could be made on Judea’s roads.

John came up from Gazara and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus was doing. Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and reminded them that their family had long fought for Israel. Since he was now old, he told them to take his place and fight for their nation, asking that help from heaven would be with them. He chose twenty thousand fighting men and cavalry, and they camped at Modin.

In the morning they moved into the plain and saw a large enemy army, with a brook between them. The men were afraid to cross, so John crossed first, and they followed. He arranged the troops, with cavalry in the middle of the infantry. When the trumpets sounded, Cendebaeus and his army fled. Judas was wounded, but John chased the enemy as far as Kidron and the towers in the fields of Azotus.

He burned the towers, about two thousand of the enemy fell, and he returned to Judea in peace.