Now Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered a great host to invade the land of Judah, and to destroy it.

And when he saw that the people were in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem and assembled the people, and set up seven pyramids over the graves, one against the other, for his father and mother and his four brothers.

And he exhorted them, saying, Ye yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and the house of my father, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and what wars and hardships we have endured.

By reason whereof all my brethren are perished for Israel's sake, and I am left alone. And the people of Israel began to write in their deeds and instruments, the signature in the first year of Simon the high priest, commander of the Jews and their chief.

Now therefore, God forbid that I should spare mine own life in any time of trouble; for I am not better than my brethren. So they cried out to Simon, asking for quarter, and he granted them quarter, and brought them out from thence, and cleansed the citadel from pollutions.

But rather I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered together to destroy us for hatred.

When the people heard these words, their spirit was kindled within them.

And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou art our captain, Judas and Jonathan thy brother.

Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever thou commandest us, we will do it.

So he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and fortified it round about.

Then he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom to Joppa with a considerable number of soldiers, and he cast out those that were therein, and dwelt there.

And Tryphon marched from Ptolemais with a great army, purposing to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard.

And Simon pitched in Hadad, over against the plain.

Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up in the stead of his brother Jonathan, and that he was about to join battle with him, he sent ambassadors unto him.

Saying, We have taken Jonathan thy brother for no other cause, but for money that he owed unto the king, concerning the affairs which he managed.

Send therefore a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty we may not be betrayed; and then we will loose him.

Howbeit Simon knew that they spake deceitfully unto him, yet he sent the money and the children, lest he should procure to himself great hatred of the people, who might say,

Because he sent not the money and the children, therefore he perished.

So he sent the two children and the hundred talents, but Tryphon dealt falsely, and released not Jonathan.

And after this Tryphon came to invade the land and to destroy it, and he went about by the way of Adora. And Simon and his army resisted him wheresoever he advanced.

And they that were in the citadel sent messengers unto Tryphon, urging him to come to them by the way of the wilderness and send them provisions.

So Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night; but there fell a great snow, which hindered them, and he departed, and came into the land of Gilead.

And when he came near to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and buried him there.

Then Tryphon returned and went into his own land.

Thereupon Simon sent, and took the bones of his brother Jonathan, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.

And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and mourned for him many days.

Simon also built a lofty monument over the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, of polished stone behind and before.

And he adorned it with devices and carved work, and placed about it great pillars, even pillars of arms, for a perpetual memorial; and beside the arms, carved ships, so that they were seen of all that sail on the sea.

This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it remaineth unto this day.

Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew him.

And he reigned in his stead, and put on the crown of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.

But Simon built the strongholds of Judea, and fenced them with high towers and great walls, and gates, and bolts, and he laid up store of victuals in the fortresses.

And Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius, to the end that he should grant the country a remission of taxes; for all that Tryphon did was by way of robbery.

And King Demetrius sent unto him according to these words, and wrote him a letter after this manner:

King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting.

We have received the golden crown, and the palm branch, which ye sent unto us, and have determined to conclude a firm peace with you, and to give orders to the royal ministers that they make you remission of taxes due from you.

And whatsoever we have ordained for you, shall stand, and the fortresses which ye have built shall be unto you.

And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax which is due from you, and any other duties upon Jerusalem, we remit them.

And if there be any among you fit to be enrolled in our army, let them be enrolled; however, let there be peace betwixt us.

In the hundred and seventieth year the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel.

In those days Simon encamped against Gaza, and besieged it with his armies, and made engines of war, and brought them to the city, and smote one of the towers, and took it.

Then they that were in the engine rushed into the city, and there was a great tumult in the city.

And they of the city, with their wives, went up to the wall, their clothes rent, and cried with a loud voice unto Simon, desiring peace.

And said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.

So Simon was moved with compassion, and ceased fighting against them, and cast them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein were idols: and then he entered into it with praise and thanksgiving.

And he put all filthiness out of it, and placed therein men that would keep the law, and built him a dwelling place therein.

As for those that were in the citadel at Jerusalem, because they were hindered from going out and coming into the country, and from selling and buying, their famine was great, and many of them perished.

And he entered into it on the twenty-third day of the second month, in the hundred and seventy-first year, with praise and palm branches, and harps, and cymbals, and viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.

Moreover he ordained that that day should be kept every year with joy.

Then he fortified the mountain of the temple, which was by the castle, and dwelt there himself with his company.

Simon also saw that John his son was a valiant man, and made him captain of all the forces, and he dwelt in Gazara.