Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it. 2And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and assembled the people, 3And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen: 4By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for Israel's sake, and I am left alone. 5And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of trouble: for I am not better than my brethren. 6I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out of mere malice. 7And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard these words: 8And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brother: 9Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us. 10So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about. 11And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with him a new army, into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself remained there.