10 Now we will declare what came to pass under Antiokos Eupator,[fn] who proved himself a son of that ungodly man, and will summarise the main evils of the wars. 11 Because this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lusias to be chancellor and supreme governor of Coele-Syria and Foinikai. 12 Because Ptolemaios (Ptolemy) who was called Makron, setting an example of observing justice towards the Yehudim because of the wrong that had been done to them, endeavoured to deal with them on peaceful terms. 13 Whereupon being accused by the king’s friends[fn] before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn because he had abandoned Kupros (Cyprus) which Filometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiokos Epifanes, and failing to uphold the honour of his office,[fn] he took poison and did away with himself.

14 But when Gorgias was made governor of the district, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Yehudim. 15 Together with him the Edomim also, being masters of important strongholds, harassed the Yehudim; and received those who had taken refuge from Yerushalem (Jerusalem), they endeavoured to keep up the war. 16 But Makabi (Maccabaeus) and his men, having made solemn supplication and having implored God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Edomim. 17 Assaulting them vigorously, they took control of the positions, and kept off all who fought upon the wall, and killed those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.

18 Because no fewer than nine thousand had fled into two very strong towers having everything needed for a siege, 19 Makabi, having left Shim’on (Simon) and Yosef (Joseph), and also Zakay and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed. 20 But Shim’on and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas, let some of them slip away. 21 But when word was brought to Makabi of what was done, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22 So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers. 23 Prospering with his weapons in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.