of [or leader of] the people [or crowd],” is best interpreted with Goldstein as “in charge of the non-combatants.” It is they whom Jonathan sends with the baggage for safekeeping across the Jordan. The Nabatean Arabs must have maintained some degree of freedom from the Seleucids and seemed like a reliable refuge. 36. sons of Jambri from Medeba On the way, John and his party are intercepted by the Jambrites, an Arab tribe from Medeba, and taken captive. From verses 38 and 42 we gather that John dies