43 In those days heq encamped against Gazarar, and compassed it round about swith armies; and he made tan engine of sieget, and brought it ups to the city, and smote one tower, and took itu. 44 And they that were in the engine of siege leaped forth into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city; and they of the city rent their clothes, 45 and went up von the wallv with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, making request to Simon to give them right hands. 46 And they said: ‘Deal not with us according to our wickednesses, but according to thy mercy.’ 47 And Simon was reconciled unto them, and did not fight against them; but he drove them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and sow entered into it with xsinging and giving of praisex y. 48 zAnd he put all uncleanness out of itz, and caused to dwell in it men who observed the Law; and he made it stronger (than it was before), and he built therein a dwelling-place for himself.

49 But they of the citadel of Jerusalem were hindered from going forth, a band from goinga into the countryb, cand from buying and sellingc; and they hungered exceedingly, and many of them perished through famine. 50 And they cried out to Simon dto take right hands; which thing he granted themd; but he cast them out from thence; and he cleansed the citadel from pollutions. 51 And hee entered into itf g on the three and twentieth day of the secondh month, in the one hundred and seventy-first yearg, with praise, and palm-branches, iand with harps and with cymbals, kand with viols, and with hymnsk, and with songsi; because a greatl enemy had been destroyed out of Israelm. 52 And he ordained that they should keep that day every year nwith gladnessn. oAnd the hill of the temple that was by the citadel he made stronger (than it was before); and he dwelt there, (both) he and his meno. 53 And Simon saw that John his son was (grown to be) a man, and he made him leader of all his forces; and he dwelt at Gazara.

14:1–3. Demetrius II imprisoned by Arsaces, king of Persia.