1 Maccabees 14
3 Demetrius is overcome of Arsaces. 11 Simon being captain, there is great quietness in Israel. 18 The covenant of friendship with the Romans, and with the people of Sparta is renewed.
IN the hundredth, seventy and two year gathered King Demetrius his host, and departed unto Media, to get him help for to sight against Tryphon.
But when Arsaces the King of Persia and Media heard, that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent out of his princes to take him alive.
So he went, and overcame the army of Demetrius, and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, which kept him in ward.
Thus all them land of Juda was in rest, so long as Simon lived: for he sought the wealth of his nation: therefore were they glad to have him for their ruler, and to do him worship always.
Simon also won the city of Ioppe to his great honor to be an haven town, and made it an entrance unto the isles of the sea.
He enlarged also the borders of his people, and conquered the countries.
He gathered up many of their people that were prisoners, and he had the dominion of Gazaris, and Beth-sura, and the castle, which he cleansed from filthiness, and there was no man that resisted him,
So that every man tilled his ground in peace, and the land gave her fruits, and the trees gave their fruit.
The Elder sat in the open places, and consulted altogether for the common wealth, and the young men were honorably clothed and armed.
He provided vittles for the cities, and all kind of munition, so that his glorious fame was renowned unto the end of the world.
He made peace throughout the land, and Israel had perfect mirth and joy.
For every man sat under his vine, and the fig trees, and there was no man to fray them.
There was none in the land to fight against them: for the the Kings were overcome.
He helped all those that were in adversity among his people: he was diligent to see the Law kept, and he took away the ungodly, and wicked.
He beautified the Sanctuary, and increased the vessels of the Temple.
When the Romans heard, and the Spartans had knowledge, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.
But when they heard, that Simon his brother was made high Priest in his stead, and how he had won the land again with the cities in it,
They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship, and bond of love, which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren.
Which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem, and this is the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent,
THE SENATOR and city of Sparta unto Simon the great Priest, and to the Elders, and to the Priests, and to the residue of the people of the Jews their brethren send greeting.
When your ambassadors that were sent unto our people, certified us of your glory and honor, we were glad of their coming,
And have registered their ambassage in the public records in this manner, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Iason the Jews ambassadors came unto us, to renew amity with us.
And it pleased the people, that the men should be honorably entreated, and that the copy of their ambassage should be registered in the public records, that it might be for a memorial unto the people of Spartan: and a copy of the same was sent to Simon the chief Priest.
After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight, to confirm the friendship with them.
Which when the people understood, they said, What thanks shall we recompense again unto Simon and his children?
For he and his brethren, and the house of his father have established Israel, and overcome their enemies, and have confirmed the liberty thereof: therefore they wrote this in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.
The copy of the writing is this, In the eight and twenty day of the month Elul in the hundredth, seventy and two year, in the third year of Simon the high Priest.
In Saramel in the great congregation of the Priests, and of the people, and of the governors of the nation, and of the Elders of the country, we would signify unto you, that many battles have been forgotten in our country.
Wherein Simon the son of Mattathias (come of the children of Iareb) and his brethren put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies of their nation, that their Sanctuary, and Law might be maintained, and did their nation great honor.
For Jonathan gathered his nation together, and became their high Priest, and is laid with his people.
After that would their enemies have invaded their country, and destroyed their land, and lay their hands on their Sanctuary.
Then Simon resisted them, and fought for his nation, and spent much of his own substance, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them wages.
He fortified also the cities of Judea, and Beth-sura that lies upon the borders of Judea (where the ordinance of their enemies lay sometime) and set there a garrison of the Jews.
And he fortified Ioppe, which lies upon the sea, and Gazara that boarded upon Azotus (where the enemies dwelt afore) and there he placed Jews, and furnished them with things necessary for the reparation thereof.
Now when the people saw the faithfulness of Simon, and to what glory he thought to bring his nation unto, they made him their governor, and the chief Priest, because he had done all these things, and for the uprightness, and fidelity that he had kept to his nation, and that sought by all means to exalt his people.
For in his time they prospered well by him, so that the heathen were taken out of their country, and they also which were in the city of David at Jerusalem, where they had made them a cattle, out of the which they went, and defiled all things that were about the Sanctuary, and did great hurt unto religion.
And he set Jews in it, and fortified it, for the assurance of the land, and city, and raised up the walls of Jerusalem.
And King Demetrius confirmed him in his high priesthood for these causes,
And made him one of his friends, and gave him great honor.
For it was reported that the Romans called the Jews their friends, and confederates, and that they honorably received Simon’s ambassadors,
And that the Jews, and Priests consented, that Simon should be their prince, and high Priest perpetually, til God raised up the true Prophet,
And that he should be their captain, and have the charge of the Sanctuary, and so set men over the works, and over the country, and over the weapons, and over the fortresses, and that should be make provision for the holy things,
And that he should be obeyed of every man, and that all the writings in the country should be made in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple, and wear gold,
And that it should not be lawful for any of the people or Priests to break any of those things, or to withstand his words, or to call any congregation in the country without him, or be clothed in purple, or wear a collar of gold:
And if any did contrary to these things or break any of them, he should be punished.
So it pleased all the people to agree that it should be done to Simon according unto these words.
Simon also accepted it, and was content to be the high Priest, and the captain, and the prince of the Jews, and of the Priests, and to be the chief of all.
And they commanded to set up this writing in tables of brass, and to fasten it to the wall that compassed the Sanctuary in an open place,
And that a copy of the same should be laid up in the treasury, that Simon and his sons might have it.
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