32
and became king in his place, putting on the crown of Asia; and he brought great calamity upon the land.
33
But Simon built up the strongholds of Judea and walled them all around, with high towers and great walls and gates and bolts, and he stored food in the strongholds.
34
Simon also chose men and sent them to Demetrius the king with a request to grant relief to the country, for all that Trypho did was to plunder.
35
Demetrius the king sent him a favorable reply to this request, and wrote him a letter as follows,
36
"King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting.
37
We have received the gold crown and the palm branch which you sent, and we are ready to make a general peace with you and to write to our officials to grant you release from tribute.
38
All the grants that we have made to you remain valid, and let the strongholds that you have built be your possession.
39
We pardon any errors and offenses committed to this day, and cancel the crown tax which you owe; and whatever other tax has been collected in Jerusalem shall be collected no longer.
40
And if any of you are qualified to be enrolled in our bodyguard, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us."
41
In the one hundred and seventieth year the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel,
42
and the people began to write in their documents and contracts, "In the first year of Simon the great high priest and commander and leader of the Jews."