And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him at Modin, the city of his fathers. [{468}] And all Israel made great lamentation over him, and mourned for him many days. And Simon built a monument upon the sepulcher of his father and his 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:--
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.
"King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest and Friend of kings, and unto the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting:--