1 Maccabees 16:19-21

New Catholic Bible

¹⁹ He sent some troops to Gazara to do away with John, and he wrote letters to his military commanders inviting them to come to him so that he might reward them with silver, gold, and gifts. ²⁰ He also sent other troops to seize control of Jerusalem and the temple mount. ²¹ However, someone ran ahead and reported to John at Gazara that his father and his brothers had been murdered and that Ptolemy was sending men to kill him too.