34. Simon also chose men and sent them to King Demetrius to obtain for the land an exemption from taxation, since Trypho did nothing but plunder.
35. King Demetrius replied favorably and sent him the following letter:
36. “King Demetrius sends greetings to Simon, high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and the Jewish people.
37. We have received the gold crown and the palm branch that you sent. We are ready to make a lasting peace with you and to write to our officials to grant you exemption.
38. Whatever decrees we have made in your regard remain in force, and the strongholds that you have built you may keep.
39. We pardon any oversights and offenses committed up to now, as well as the crown tax that you owe. Any other tax that used to be collected in Jerusalem shall no longer be collected there.
40. Any of you qualified for enrollment in our service may be enrolled. Let there be peace between us.”
41. Thus 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 records and contracts, “In the first year of Simon, great high priest, governor, and leader of the Jews.”
43. In those days Simon besieged Gazara and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege machine, brought it up against the city, and attacked and captured one of the towers.
44. Those in the siege machine leaped down into the city and a great tumult arose there.
45. Those in the city, together with their wives and children, went up on the wall, with their garments rent, and cried out in loud voices, begging Simon to grant them terms of peace.
46. They said, “Treat us not according to our evil deeds but according to your mercy.”
47. So Simon came to terms with them and did not attack them. He expelled them from the city, however, and he purified the houses in which there were idols. Then he entered the city with hymns and songs of praise.