17. By this horrible act of treachery, Ptolemy returned evil for good.
18. Then Ptolemy wrote a report of what he had done and sent it to the king. In the letter he requested that troops be sent to help him and that the country and the cities be handed over to him.
19. He wrote a letter to the army officers inviting them to join him and promising them silver, gold, and gifts. Then he sent some of his men to Gezer to kill John,
20. and others to take control of Jerusalem and the Temple hill.
21. But someone ran to Gezer ahead of Ptolemy's men and reported to John that his father and brothers had been killed and that Ptolemy was sending his soldiers to kill him.
22. John was horrified at this news, but, because he had been warned in advance, he was able to capture and put to death the men who had been sent to kill him.
23. Now the rest of what John did from the time he succeeded his father: his wars, his deeds of courage, his rebuilding of walls, and his other achievements,
24. are all written in the chronicles of his reign as High Priest.