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He brought peace to the country, and Israel's joy knew no bounds.
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Everyone lived in peace among his own grapevines and fig trees, and no one made them afraid.
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In those days all the enemy kings had been defeated, and there was no one left in the land to fight the Jews.
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Simon provided help for all the poor among his people, and guided by the Law of Moses, he eliminated all wicked and lawless men.
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He provided the Temple with splendid furnishings and added a large number of utensils for use in worship.
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When the news that Jonathan had died reached Rome and Sparta, it brought great sorrow.
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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,
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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.
1
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These were read to the assembly in Jerusalem.
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What follows is a copy of the letter sent by the Spartans: "The people of Sparta and their rulers to Simon the High Priest, to the leaders and the priests of the Jews, and to all our Jewish brothers, greetings.
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The delegation that you sent to our people has told us how respected and renowned you are. Their visit has been a source of joy for us,