14. And he confirmed all the humble of his people, and he sought the law, and he took away every iniquity and evil.
15. He glorified the sanctuary, and he multiplied the vessels of the holy places.
16. And it was heard at Rome, and even in Sparta, that Jonathan had passed away. And they were very sorrowful.
17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, had been made high priest in his place, and that he obtained the entire country and the cities in it,
18. they wrote to him on tablets of brass, so as to renew the friendship and alliance, which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his brothers.
19. And they were read in the sight of the assembly at Jerusalem. And this is a copy of the letters that the Spartans sent:
20. "The leaders and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the great priest, and to the elders, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, their brothers: greetings.
21. The ambassadors who were sent to our people have reported to us of your glory, and honor, and rejoicing. And we were glad at their arrival.
22. And we wrote down what was said by them in the councils of the people, as follows: 'Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with us.
23. And it pleased the people to receive the men gloriously, and to place a copy of their words in a section of the public books, so as to be a memorial for the people of the Spartans. Furthermore, we have written a copy of them to Simon, the great priest.' "
24. But after this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome, in possession of a great shield of gold, weighing over a thousand pounds, to confirm the association with them.
25. But when the people of Rome had heard these words, they said: "With what deeds of thanksgiving shall we repay Simon and his sons?