13. In those days all the enemy kings had been defeated, and there was no one left in the land to fight the Jews.
14. Simon provided help for all the poor among his people, and guided by the Law of Moses, he got rid of all wicked and lawless men.
15. He provided the Temple with splendid furnishings and added a large number of utensils for use in worship.
16. When the news that Jonathan had died reached Rome and Sparta, it brought great sorrow.
17. But when the Spartans heard that Simon had succeeded his brother as High Priest and that he was in control of the country and its towns,
18. they engraved on bronze tablets a renewal of the treaty of friendship which they had made with his brothers Judas and Jonathan and sent the tablets to him.
19. These were read to the assembly in Jerusalem.