Chapter 14 _{8 Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit.9 The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel.10 He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of the world.11 He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy:12 For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to fray them:13 Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days.14 Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away.15 He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the temple.16 Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein:18 They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren:19 Which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.20 And this is the copy of the letters that the Lacedemonians sent; The rulers of the Lacedemonians, with the city, unto Simon the high priest, and the elders, and priests, and residue of the people of the Jews, our brethren, send greeting:21 The ambassadors that were sent unto our people certified us of your glory and honour: wherefore we were glad of their coming,22 And did register the things that they spake in the council of the people in this manner; Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews' ambassadors, came unto us to renew the friendship they had with us.23 And it pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to put the copy of their ambassage in publick records, to the end the people of the Lacedemonians might have a memorial thereof: furthermore we have written a copy thereof unto Simon the high priest.24 After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold of a thousand pound weight to confirm the league with them.25 Whereof when the people heard, they said, What thanks shall we give to Simon and his sons?26 For he and his brethren and the house of his father have established Israel, and chased away in fight their enemies from them, and confirmed their liberty.}