14 And he confirmed all the humble of his people, and he sought the law, and he took away every iniquity and evil.
15 He glorified the sanctuary, and he multiplied the vessels of the holy places.
16 And it was heard at Rome, and even in Sparta, that Jonathan had passed away. And they were very sorrowful.
17 But when they heard that Simon, his brother, had been made high priest in his place, and that he obtained the entire country and the cities in it,
18 they wrote to him on tablets of brass, so as to renew the friendship and alliance, which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his brothers.
19 And they were read in the sight of the assembly at Jerusalem. And this is a copy of the letters that the Spartans sent:
20 "The leaders and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the great priest, and to the elders, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, their brothers: greetings.