11. He brought peace to the country, and Israel's joy knew no bounds.
12. Everyone lived in peace among his own vineyards 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 got rid of 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,
18. 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.
19. These were read to the assembly in Jerusalem.
20. 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.
21. The delegation that you sent to our people has told us how respected and renowned you are. Their visit had been a source of joy for us,
22. and a report of their visit has been written down in our public records, as follows: ‘Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, honoured representatives of the Jews, appeared before us to renew their treaty of friendship.
23. The assembly of the people was pleased to receive these men with all honours and to place a copy of their report in the public archives, so that the people of Sparta may have it on record. A copy of this document has been made for the High Priest Simon.’ ”