23. He also wrote it to all the countries—to Sampsames, the Spartans, Delos, Myndos, Sicyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, Halicarnassus, Rhodes, Phaselis, Cos, Side, Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene.
24. They also sent a copy of these things to Simon the high priest.
25. King Antiochus besieged Dor for a second time, continually making war engines and throwing his forces against it. He forced Trypho to stay inside and restricted his movement.
26. Simon sent two thousand select troops to fight for Antiochus. He also sent silver, gold, and a large amount of military equipment.
27. But Antiochus wouldn’t accept them. He broke all the agreements that he had made with Simon in the past and became like a stranger to him.
28. He sent Athenobius, one of his leading political advisors, to talk with Simon: "You hold control of Joppa and Gazara and the elevated fortress in Jerusalem. They are cities of my kingdom.
29. You have devastated their territory. You have done great damage in the land. You have taken possession of many places in my kingdom.
30. Now hand over the cities that you have captured and the money you have received from the places you have conquered beyond Judea’s borders.
31. Or you can pay me 28,500 pounds of silver for the destruction you have caused and another 28,500 pounds for the tribute money of the cities. Otherwise, I will come and make war on you."
32. So the king’s advisor Athenobius came to Jerusalem. When he saw the magnificence of Simon, including his special cupboard that had gold and silver on it, all representing his considerable position, he was amazed. But he delivered the king’s message.
33. Simon replied, "We haven’t taken foreign land or property. We’ve taken only our ancestors’ inheritance, which was unjustly stolen by our enemies.
34. Now that we have the opportunity, we will hold on firmly to their inheritance.
35. As for Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they were causing a lot of problems for our people and land. But we’ll give you 5,700 pounds of silver for them." Athenobius didn't say a word.
36. Instead, he returned with great anger and told the king what Simon had said. He also reported on Simon’s wealth and all that he had seen, and the king was enraged.
37. Meanwhile, Trypho escaped on a ship and went to Orthosia.
38. The king made Cendebeus supreme commander of the coastal lands, and he gave him infantry and cavalry.
39. He commanded him to camp against Judea, to secure Kedron and its gates, and to wage war against the people. Then the king went to hunt down Trypho.
40. Cendebeus came to Jamnia and bothered the people. He invaded Judea and killed the prisoners of war.
41. Following the king’s orders, he fortified Kedron. He stationed cavalry and troops there so that they could go out and raid along the roads of Judea.