40
And look who are meet among you to be in our court; let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.
41
Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred and seventieth year.
42
Then the people of Israel began to write in their documents and contracts: In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews.
43
In those days Simon encamped against Gazara and besieged it round about. He made also an engine of war and set it by the city, and battered a certain tower and took it.
44
And those who were in the engine leaped into the city, whereupon there was a great uproar in the city,
45
insomuch that the people of the city rent their clothes, and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.
46
And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.
47
So Simon was appeased towards them and fought no more against them, but put them out of the city and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.
48
Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built therein a dwelling place for himself.
49
Those also in the tower in Jerusalem were kept in such straits that they could neither come forth nor go into the country, nor buy nor sell; therefore they were in great distress for want of victuals, and a great number of them perished from famine.
50
Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them, which thing he granted them. And when he had put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions,