1 Now in the hundred threescore and twelfth year king Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media to get him help to fight against Tryphone.
2 But when Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entered within his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him alive:
3 Who went and smote the host of Demetrius, and took him, and brought him to Arsaces, by whom he was put in ward.
4 As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well.
5 And as he was honourable in all his acts, so in this, that he took Joppa for an haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea,
6 And enlarged the bounds of his nation, and recovered the country,
7 And gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the which he took all uncleaness, neither was there any that resisted him.
8 Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit.
9 The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel.
10 He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of the world.
11 He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy:
12 For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to fray them:
13 Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days.
14 Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away.
15 He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the temple.
16 Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.
17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein:
18 They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren:
19 Which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.
20 And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting:
21 The ambassadors that were sent unto our people certified us of your glory and honour: wherefore we were glad of their coming,
22 And did register the things that they spake in the council of the people in this manner; Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews’ ambassadors, came unto us to renew the friendship they had with us.
23 And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to put the copy of their ambassage in publick records, to the end the people of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial thereof: furthermore we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest.
24 After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league with them.
25 Whereof when the people heard, they said, What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons?
26 For he and his brethren and the house of his father have established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from them, and confirmed their liberty.
27 So then they wrote it in tables of brass, which they set upon pillars in mount Sion: and this is the copy of the writing; The eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the hundred threescore and twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest,
28 At Saramel in the great congregation of the priests, and people, and rulers of the nation, and elders of the country, were these things notified unto us.
29 Forasmuch as oftentimes there have been wars in the country, wherein for the maintenance of their sanctuary, and the law, Simon the son of Mattathias, of the posterity of Jarib, together with his brethren, put themselves in jeopardy, and resisting the enemies of their nation did their nation great honour:
30 (For after that Jonathan, having gathered his nation together, and been their high priest, was added to his people,
31 Their enemies prepared to invade their country, that they might destroy it, and lay hands on the sanctuary:
32 At which time Simon rose up, and fought for his nation, and spent much of his own substance, and armed the valiant men of his nation and gave them wages,
33 And fortified the cities of Judea, together with Bethsura, that lieth upon the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies had been before; but he set a garrison of Jews there:
34 Moreover he fortified Joppa, which lieth upon the sea, and Gazera, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt before: but he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all things convenient for the reparation thereof.)
35 The people therefore sang the acts of Simon, and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation, made him their governor and chief priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to exalt his people.
36 For in his time things prospered in his hands, so that the heathen were taken out of their country, and they also that were in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a tower, out of which they issued, and polluted all about the sanctuary, and did much hurt in the holy place:
37 But he placed Jews therein. and fortified it for the safety of the country and the city, and raised up the walls of Jerusalem.
38 King Demetrius also confirmed him in the high priesthood according to those things,
39 And made him one of his friends, and honoured him with great honour.
40 For he had heard say, that the Romans had called the Jews their friends and confederates and brethren; and that they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honourably;
41 Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest for ever, until there should arise a faithful prophet;
42 Moreover that he should be their captain, and should take charge of the sanctuary, to set them over their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the fortresses, that, I say, he should take charge of the sanctuary;
43 Beside this, 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:
44 Also that it should be lawful for none of the people or priests to break any of these things, or to gainsay his words, or to gather an assembly in the country without him, or to be clothed in purple, or wear a buckle of gold;
45 And whosoever should do otherwise, or break any of these things, he should be punished.
46 Thus it liked all the people to deal with Simon, and to do as hath been said.
47 Then Simon accepted hereof, and was well pleased to be high priest, and captain and governor of the Jews and priests, and to defend them all.
48 So they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the sanctuary in a conspicuous place;
49 Also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the treasury, to the end that Simon and his sons might have them.
Dēmētrija II sagūstīšana
1 Simt septiņdesmit otrajā gadā ķēniņš Dēmētrijs sapulcināja savu karaspēku un devās uz Mīdiju, lai dabūtu sev palīdzību karā pret Trifonu. 2 Kad Persijas un Mīdijas ķēniņš Asarks uzzināja, ka Dēmētrijs ir ienācis viņu zemē, viņš nosūtīja vienu sava karaspēka vadītāju, lai tas viņu saņemtu dzīvu. 3 Tas devās un sakāva Dēmētrija karaspēku, sagūstīja viņu pašu un aizveda viņu pie Arsaka, bet tas iemeta viņu cietumā.
4 Un Jūdejā bija miers visās Simona dienās, viņš meklēja savas tautas labumu, un tauta priecājās par viņa varu un godību visas viņa dienas. 5 Savai spožajai slavai viņš pievienoja arī to, ka ieņēma Jafu, lai tiem būtu osta, lai būtu pieeja jūras salām. 6 Viņš paplašināja savas tautas robežas un savaldīja visu zemi. 7 Viņš saņēma daudz gūstekņu un valdīja pār Gezeru, Bēt-Cūru un klints cietoksni, viņš izmēza visas nešķīstības no tā, un nebija neviena, kas viņam spētu turēties pretī. 8 Tauta mierā apstrādāja zemi, un zeme deva savu ražu un līdzenumu dārzi savus augļus. 9 Visi vecajie, uz ielām sēdēdami, sprieda par kopīgo labumu, un jaunieši tērpās goda drēbēs un kaujas tērpos. 10 Viņš pilsētas nodrošināja ar pārtikas krājumiem un nostiprināja tās ar kara ierīcēm; viņa slava izskanēja līdz pasaules malām. 11 Viņš panāca mieru virs zemes, un Israēls priecājās ar lielu prieku. 12 Katrs sēdēja zem sava vīnakoka un zem sava vīģes koka, un nebija neviena, kas tiem uzdzītu bailes. 13 Nebija vairs neviena, kas pret tiem karotu, un ķēniņi tika satriekti tajās dienās. 14 Viņš stiprināja visus savas tautas zemos ļaudis, viņš dzinās pēc bauslības un izdeldēja visus bauslības pārkāpējus un netiklos. 15 Viņš svētnīcu izgreznoja ar godību un vairoja tās piederumu skaitu.
Vienošanās starp Romu un Spartu
16 Romā un Spartā uzzināja, ka Jonatāns ir miris, un ļoti bēdājās. 17 Un, kad tie uzzināja, ka Simons, viņa brālis, ir kļuvis par augsto priesteri viņa vietā un ir pakļāvis zemi un pilsētas tajā, 18 tie rakstīja viņam uz vara plāksnēm par draudzības un kara savienības atjaunošanu, ko tie bija noslēguši ar Jūdu un Jonatānu, viņa brāļiem. 19 Vēstules tika nolasītas visas sapulces priekšā Jeruzālemē. 20 Šis ir tās vēstules noraksts, ko rakstīja spartieši:
“Spartiešu vadoņi un pilsēta sūta sveicienus augstajam priesterim Simonam, tautas vecajiem, priesteriem un visai pārējai jūdu tautai, mūsu brāļiem! 21 Sūtņi, ko jūs atsūtījāt pie mūsu tautas, mums izstāstīja par jūsu godu un spožo slavu, un mēs priecājāmies par viņu ierašanos. 22 Viņu vēstījumu mūsu tautas sapulcē mēs pierakstījām šādi: “Mēs, Israēla tautas sūtņi – Nūmēnijs, Antioha dēls, un Antipatrs, Jasona dēls, – esam ieradušies, lai atjaunotu ar jums draudzības līgumu.” 23 Un tauta ļoti labprāt un ar pienācīgu godu uzņēma šos vīrus un pierakstīja par piemiņu spartiešu tautai viņu sacītos vārdus rakstu rullī, kas tika lasīts priekšā tautai, bet šī pieraksta noraksts tika nodots augstajam priesterim Simonam.”
24 Pēc tam Simons sūtīja Nūmēniju uz Romu ar lielu zelta vairogu, kas svēra tūkstoš minas, lai noslēgtu ar viņiem kara savienību.
Simonu ieceļ par augsto priesteri, karavadoni un tautas vadoni
25 Kad jūdu tauta dzirdēja šo vārdu, tie sacīja: “Kā lai mēs pateicamies Simonam un viņa dēliem? 26 Viņš, viņa dēli un tēva nams ir nostiprinājušies, viņš ir uzvarējis Israēla ienaidniekus un izcīnījis brīvību.” To visu viņi uzrakstīja uz vara plāksnēm un piestiprināja pie akmens staba Ciānas kalnā. 27 Un šis ir noraksts no tā uzraksta:
“Simt septiņdesmit otrā gada elūla mēneša astoņpadsmitajā dienā, augstā priestera Simona trešajā gadā, 28 Asarmēlā lielajā priesteru, tautas un tautas vadītāju un zemes vecajo sapulcē mums darīja zināmu: 29 tā kā šajā zemē ir notikuši daudzi kari, Simons, Matatija dēls un priesteris no Joariba dzimtas, un viņa brāļi ir sevi pakļāvuši briesmām un stājušies pretī savas tautas ienaidniekiem, lai svētnīca un bauslība tiktu pasargāta; un viņš darīja lielu godu savai tautai. 30 Jonatāns apvienoja savu tautu un kļuva tiem par augsto priesteri; un viņš tika piepulcināts tēviem. 31 Bet, kad ienaidnieki nolēma ielauzties viņu zemē un izstiept rokas pret viņu svētumiem, 32 tad cēlās Simons un karoja par savu tautu, un iztērēja daudz savu paša līdzekļu, apbruņodams vīrus savas tautas karaspēkam un gādājot viņiem iztiku. 33 Viņš nostiprināja Jūdejas pilsētas un Bēt-Cūru pie Jūdejas robežas, kur iepriekš bija iebrucēju atbalsta vieta, un izvietoja tur Jūdejas vīru karaspēku. 34 Viņš nostiprināja arī piejūras pilsētu Jafu un Gezeru pie Azotas robežām, kurā iepriekš mitinājās iekarotāji, un nometināja tanī jūdus, apgādādams viņus ar visu to, kas nepieciešams tās pienācīgai aprīkošanai. 35 Un tauta redzēja Simona uzticību un godību, ko viņš centās sagādāt savai tautai, un iecēla viņu par vadoni visiem un augsto priesteri, jo viņš centās to visu piepildīt taisnīgumā un uzticībā, ko viņš saglabāja pret savu tautu, visādi cenzdamies to paaugstināt. 36 Viņa valdīšanas dienās un ar viņa rokām labi izdevās izdeldēt citas tautas no viņu zemes, kā arī tos, kas bija Dāvida pilsētā Jeruzālemē; tie bija cēluši sev klints cietoksni, no kura tie sagānīja zemi visapkārt svētnīcai un nodarīja lielu postu tās šķīstībai. 37 Viņš izvietoja klints cietoksnī jūdu vīrus, nocietināja to, lai zemei un pilsētai būtu drošība, viņš uzcēla augstākus Jeruzālemes mūrus. 38 Tādēļ ķēniņš Dēmētrijs viņu iecēla augstā priestera amatā 39 un drauga kārtā, un augstā godā. 40 Viņš dzirdēja, ka romieši ir pasludinājuši jūdus par draugiem, sabiedrotajiem un brāļiem un ar pienācīgu godu pieņēmuši Simona vēstnešus. 41 Tāpat arī to, ka visi jūdi un priesteri labprāt atzina Simonu un viņa pēcnācējus par vadoni un augsto priesteri uz mūžiem, līdz celsies patiesais Pravietis, 42 un ka viņš būtu tiem par karavadoni un rūpētos par svētnīcu, ka viņš ieceltu ļaudis, kas vadītu darbus svētnīcā un valstī, pie bruņojuma un nocietinājumiem. 43 Ka arī viņš pats rūpētos par svētnīcu un visi klausītu viņu, ka visi valsts papīri tiktu rakstīti viņa vārdā un viņš tērptos purpurā un zeltā. 44 Ka nevienam no tautas un priesteriem nav atļauts atcelt viņa pavēles vai runāt pret viņa vārdiem, sasaukt bez viņa valsts sapulci un valkāt purpura drēbes un zelta jostu. 45 Bet tas, kurš darīs pret šo lēmumu vai atcels kaut ko no tā, būs pelnījis sodu.” 46 Tā tautai labpatika pakļauties Simonam un darīt pēc šiem vārdiem, 47 bet Simons tos pieņēma un labprāt piekrita būt par augsto priesteri, karavadoni, jūdu tautas un priesteru vadītāju un valdīt pār visiem. 48 Šo rakstu pavēlēja uzrakstīt uz vara plāksnēm un izlikt svētnīcas pagalmos redzamā vietā, 49 bet norakstu no tā noglabāja mantnīcā Simonam un viņa dēliem.
