The history of Hyrcanus the son of Simeon
1 Now Simeon, while he was yet alive, had appointed Jochanan his son to be captain; and having gathered to him very many troops, he sent him to vanquish a certain man who had come out against him, and was called Hyrcanus.
2 Now he was a man of great fame, powerful in strength, and of an ancient sovereignty.
3 Whom Jonathan encountered, and defeated: wherefore Simeon named his son Jochanan Hyrcanus; on account of his slaying Hyrcanus, and gaining a victory over him.
4 But when this Hyrcanus had heard that Ptolemy had killed his father, he was afraid of Ptolemy, and fled to Gaza: and Ptolemy pursued him with many followers.
5 But the citizens of Gaza helped Hyrcanus, and shut the gates of their city, and hindered Ptolemy from reaching Hyrcanus.
6 And Ptolemy returned, and departed to Dagon‘, having with him the mother of Hyrcanus and his two brothers. strongly fortified castle. Now Dagon had at that time a strongly fortified castle.
7 But Hyrcanus went to the Holy House, and offered sacrifices, and succeeded his father: and he collected a large army and went to attack Ptolemy. Wherefore Ptolemy shut the gate of Dagon upon himself and his company, and fortified himself therein.
8 And Hyrcanus besieged him, and made an iron ram to batter the wall, and to open it: and the battle between them lasted long,
9 and Hyrcanus prevailed against Ptolemy, and went up close to the castle, and almost took it.
10 When Ptolemy therefore saw this, he commanded the mother of Hyrcanus and his two brothers to be brought out upon the wall, and to be tortured most severely; which was done to them.
11 But Hyrcanus, seeing this, stood still; and fearing that they would be put to death, desisted from fighting.
12 To whom his mother called out, and said; “My son, do not be moved by love and filial piety towards me and your brethren, in preference to your father:
13 nor on account of our captivity be weakened in your desire of avenging him; but demand satisfaction for the rights of your father and mine, to the utmost of your power.
14 But that which you fear for us from that tyrant, he will necessarily do to us at all events: wherefore press forward your siege without any intermission.”
15 When therefore Hyrcanus had heard the words of his mother, he urged on the siege: wherefore Ptolemy increased the tortures of his mother and his brothers; and sware that he would throw them headlong from the castle, as often as Hyrcanus came near to the wall.
16 Therefore Hyrcanus feared, lest he should be the cause of their death; and he returned to his camp, still continuing “the siege of Ptolemy.
17 Now it happened, that the feast of tabernacles was at hand’; wherefore Hyrcanus went into the city of the Holy House, that he might be present at the feast and the solemnity and the sacrifices.
18 And when Ptolemy knew that he had departed to the Holy City, and was detained there, he seized upon the mother of Hyrcanus and his brothers, and slew them; and he fled into a place whither Hyrcanus could not come.