s brethren, and raised
it aloft to the sight, with polished stone behind and before. And he
set up seven pyramids, one over against another, for his father, and
his mother, and his four brethren. And for these he made cunning
devices, setting about them great pillars, and upon the pillars he
fashioned all manner of arms for a perpetual memory, and beside the
arms ships carved, that they should be seen of all that sail on the
sea. This is the sepulcher which he made at Modin, and it is there
unto this day.

XXV.

_How Simon Made a Treaty of Peace with King Demetrius_.

Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew
him, and reigned in his stead, and put on himself the crown of Asia,
and brought a great calamity upon the land. And Simon built the
strongholds of Judaea, and fortified them with high towers, and great
walls, and gates, and bars; and he laid up provisions in the
strongholds. And Simon chose men, and sent to King Demetrius, to give
the country help, because all that Tryphon did was to plunder. And
King Demetrius sent unto him according to these words, and answered
him, and wrote a letter unto him, after this manner:--

{469}{470}

[Illustration]
JERUSALEM

From an old photograph in the possession of the Springfield Public
Library, and used by kind permission.

This is a beautiful picture of a portion of that city which was so
greatly beloved by the people of Judah.
[End illustration]

{471}

"_King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest and Friend of kings, and
unto the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting:_--

"The golden crown, and the palm branch, which ye sent, we have
received: and we are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, yea,
and to write unto our officers, to grant immunities unto you. And
whatsoever things we confirmed unto you, they are confirmed; and the
strongholds, which ye have builded, let them be your own. As for any
oversights and faults committed unto this day, we forgive them, and
the crown tax which ye owed us: and if there were any other toll
exacted in Jerusalem, let it be exacted no longer. And if there be any
among you meet to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and
let there be peace betwixt us."

In the hundred and seventieth year was the yoke of the heathen taken
away from Israel. And the people began to write in their instruments
and contracts, "In the first year of Simon the great high priest and
captain and l