24 Now Yonatan (Jonathan) heard that Demetrios’ princes had returned to fight against him with a greater army than before, 25 so he marched away from Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and met them in the country of Hamat; for he gave them no opportunity to set foot in his country. 26 He sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were preparing to attack them at night. 27 But as soon as the sun was down, Yonatan commanded his men to watch, and to be armed, that all the night long they might be ready for battle. He stationed sentinels around the camp. 28 The adversaries heard that Yonatan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp then withdrew. 29 But Yonatan and his men didn’t know it until the morning; for they saw the fires burning. 30 Yonatan pursued after them, but didn’t overtake them; for they had gone over the river Eleutherus. 31 Then Yonatan turned towards the Aravim, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils. 32 He came out from there, and came to Damesek (Damascus), and took his journey through all the country.

33 Shim’on (Simon) went out, and took his journey as far as Ashkelon, and the strongholds that were near it. Then he turned towards Yafo (Joppa) and took possession of it; 34 for he had heard that they were planning to hand over the stronghold to Demetrios’ men. He set a garrison there to guard it.

35 Then Yonatan returned and called the elders of the people together. He planned with them to build strongholds in Yehudah (Judea), 36 and to make the walls of Yerushalem (Jerusalem) higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might be isolated, that its garrison might neither buy nor sell. 37 They were gathered together to build the city. Part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side fell down, and he repaired the section called Kafenata. 38 Shim’on also built Hadid in the[fn] plain country, made it strong, and set up gates and bars.