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,