15. The sanctuary he made splendidand multiplied its furnishings.
16. When people in Rome and even in Sparta heard that Jonathan had died, they were deeply grieved.
17. But when they heard that his brother Simon had become high priest in his place and was master of the territory and its cities,
18. they sent him inscribed tablets of bronze to renew with him the friendship and alliance that they had established with his brothers Judas and Jonathan.
19. These were read before the assembly in Jerusalem.
20. This is a copy of the letter that the Spartans sent: “The rulers and the city of the Spartans send greetings to Simon the high priest, the elders, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people, our brothers.
21. The ambassadors sent to our people have informed us of your glory and renown, and we rejoiced at their coming.
22. In accordance with what they said we have recorded the following in the public decrees: Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, have come to us to renew their friendship with us.
23. The people have resolved to receive these men with honor, and to deposit a copy of their words in the public archives, so that the people of Sparta may have a record of them. A copy of this decree has been made for Simon the high priest.”
24. After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a large gold shield weighing a thousand minas, to confirm the alliance with the Romans.
25. When the people heard of these things, they said, “How shall we thank Simon and his sons?
26. He and his brothers and his father’s house have stood firm and repulsed Israel’s enemies, and so have established its freedom.” So they made an inscription on bronze tablets, which they affixed to pillars on Mount Zion.