43
At that time Simon laid siege to Gezer and surrounded it with his army. He built a movable siege platform, brought it up to the town wall, attacked one of the towers, and captured it. 1
41
So in the year 170 the yoke of the Gentile oppressors was removed from the Jews.
42
People began to date their documents and contracts with these words: "In the first year of Simon, the great High Priest, commander and leader of the Jews."
43
At that time Simon laid siege to Gezer and surrounded it with his army. He built a movable siege platform, brought it up to the town wall, attacked one of the towers, and captured it.
44
The men who had been on the siege platform then moved rapidly into the town, and this created great confusion.
45
The men of the town, their wives, and their children tore their clothes in distress and climbed up on the top of the town wall. They pleaded loudly with Simon for a truce.