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So then they wrote it on tablets of brass, which they set upon pillars on Mount Zion. And this is the copy of the writing: The eighteenth day of the month of Elul, in the hundred threescore and twelfth year, being the third year of Simon the high priest,
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in Asaramel, in the great congregation of the priests and people and rulers of the nation and elders of the country, were these things notified unto us:
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Inasmuch as oftentimes there have been wars in the country for the maintenance of their sanctuary and the law, Simon the son of Mattathias of the posterity of Joarib, together with his brethren, put themselves in jeopardy and, resisting the enemies of their nation, did their nation great honor.
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(For after Jonathan, having gathered his nation together and been their high priest, was gathered to his people,
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their enemies purposed to invade their country, that they might destroy it and lay hands on the sanctuary.
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At that time Simon rose up and fought for his nation, and spent much of his own substance, and armed the valiant men of his nation and gave them wages,
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and fortified the cities of Judea, together with Beth-zur, that lieth upon the borders of Judea, where the weapons of the enemies had been before; but he set a garrison of Jews there.
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Moreover he fortified Joppa, which lieth by the sea, and Gazara, that bordereth upon Azotus, where the enemies had dwelt before; but he placed Jews there, and furnished them with all things suitable for the reparation thereof.)
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The people therefore, seeing the acts of Simon and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation, made him their governor and chief priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith which he kept toward his nation, and because he sought by all means to exalt his people.
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For in his time things prospered in his hands, so that the heathen were taken out of their country and those also who were in the City of David in Jerusalem, who had made themselves a tower out of which they issued and polluted all about the sanctuary, and did much hurt in the holy place.
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But he placed Jews therein and fortified it for the safety of the country and the city, and raised up the walls of Jerusalem.