43 In those days Shim’on encamped against[fn] Gezer, and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege engine, and brought it up to the city, and struck a tower, and captured it. 44 Those who were in the engine leapt out into the city; and there was a great uproar in the city. 45 The people of the city tore their clothes, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, asking Shim’on to give them[fn] his right hand. 46 They said, “Don’t deal with us according to our wickednesses, but according to your mercy.” 47 So Shim’on was reconciled to them, and didn’t fight against them; but he expelled them from the city and cleansed the houses where the idols were, and then entered into it with singing and giving praise. 48 He removed all uncleanness out of it, and placed in it men who would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built a dwelling place for himself in it.