20. Then Trypho made a move to invade the land and destroy it, circling round by the road to Adora. But Simon and his army moved along facing him wherever he went.
21. The enemy soldiers in the fort in Jerusalem kept sending messengers to Trypho urging him to come to them quickly by way of the desert and to send them supplies.
22. Trypho got all his cavalry ready for the invasion, but that night there was a heavy snowstorm, and he was not able to move up into the hills. So he withdrew and went into Gilead.
23. When he was near Baskama, he had Jonathan put to death and his body was buried there.
24. Then Trypho turned and went back to his own country.
25. Simon had the body of his brother Jonathan brought to Modein, to be buried in the town of their ancestors.
26. Everyone in Israel was in deep sorrow at the loss of Jonathan, and they mourned for him a long time.
27. Over the tomb of his father and his brothers Simon built a high monument that could be seen from a great distance. It was covered on the front and the back with polished stone.
28. He constructed seven pyramids side by side for his father, his mother, and his four brothers.
29. For the pyramids he created a setting of tall columns on which there were carvings. Some of these carvings were of suits of armour and some were of ships. It was a monument to their victories, which travellers from overseas could visit.
30. The tomb which he built in Modein is still there today.
31. Meanwhile, Trypho assassinated the young king, Antiochus the Sixth,
32. and took over his kingdom in Syria. He brought great troubles on that country.
33. Simon rebuilt the fortresses of Judea with high towers, strong walls, and barred gates; then he placed stores of supplies there.
34. He sent ambassadors to King Demetrius the Second to ask for tax relief for the land, since Trypho was doing nothing but rob them.
35. Demetrius sent the following letter in reply: