7
but he brought back many prisoners of war and captured Gezer, Bethzur, and the fort in Jerusalem. He purified the fort, and there was no one to oppose him.
8
The Jews farmed their land in peace; the land produced its crops and the trees bore fruit.
9
The young men showed off their splendid military uniforms, while the old men sat around the city squares and talked about the great things that had happened.
10
Simon supplied the cities with food and provided them with weapons of defense. His fame spread everywhere.
11
He brought peace to the country, and Israel's joy knew no bounds.
12
Everyone lived in peace among his own grapevines and fig trees, and no one made them afraid.
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 eliminated 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,