n fight
the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and
registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount Sion.

14:27. And this is a copy of the writing. The eighteenth day of the
month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third
year under Simon, the high priest, at Asaramel,

14:28. In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the
princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things
were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country,

14:29. And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the children of Jarib, and
his brethren, have put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies of
their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: and
have raised their nation to great glory.

14:30. And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their
high priest, and he was laid to his people.

14:31. And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their
country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places.

14:32. Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much
of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them
wages.

14:33. And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura that lieth in
the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and he
placed there a garrison of Jews.

14:34. And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, which
bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he placed
Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for their
reparation.

14:35. And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he
meant to bring his nation, made him their prince and high 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
advance his people.

14:36. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the
heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were
in the city of David, in Jerusalem, in the castle, out of which they
issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and did
much evil to purity.

14:37. And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and of
the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem.

14:38. And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood.

14:39. According to these things he made him his friend, an