1   In the year 172, ^note King Demetrius mustered his army and went into Media to recruit additional forces for his war against Trypho. 2   When Arsakes king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius had entered his territories, he sent one of his generals to capture him alive. 3   The general marched out and defeated Demetrius, captured him and brought him to Arsakes, who put him in prison.

4   As long as Simon lived, Judaea was at peace. He promoted his people's welfare, and they lived happily all through the glorious days of his reign. 5   Among other notable achievements he captured the port of Joppa to secure his communications overseas. 6   He extended his nation's territories and made himself master of the whole land. 7   He repatriated a large number of prisoners of war. Without meeting any resistance he gained control over Gazara and Bethsura and over the citadel, and removed their pollution.

8   They farmed their land in peace, and the land produced its crops, and the trees in the plains their fruit. 9   Old men sat in the streets, talking together of their blessings; and the young men dressed themselves in splendid military style. 10   Simon supplied the towns with food in plenty and equipped them with weapons for defence.

The high-priesthood of Simon 11   His renown reached the ends of the earth. He restored peace to the land, and there were great rejoicings throughout Israel. 12   Each man sat under his own vine and fig-tree, and they had no one to fear. 13   Those were days when every enemy vanished from the land and every hostile king was crushed. 14   Simon gave his protection to the poor among the people; he paid close attention to the law and rid the country of lawless and wicked men. 15   He gave new splendour to the temple and furnished it with a wealth of sacred vessels.

16   The report of Jonathan's death reached Rome, and Sparta too, and they were deeply grieved. 17   When they heard, however, that his brother Simon had become high priest in his place, and was in firm control of the country and the towns in it, 18   they inscribed on bronze tablets a renewal of the treaty of friendship and alliance which they had established with his brothers Judas and Jonathan. 19    20   This was read before the assembly in Jerusalem. The following is a copy of the letter from Sparta:

  The rulers and city of Sparta to the High Priest Simon, to the Senate, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people, our brothers, greeting.

   21   The envoys you sent to our people have told us about your fame and honour; their visit has given us great pleasure. 22   We have entered a transcript of the message they brought in the minutes of the public assembly: ‘Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, envoys of the Jews, visited us to renew their treaty of friendship with us. 23   It was resolved by the public assembly to receive these men with honour and to place a copy of their address in the public archives, so that the Spartans might have it on permanent record. A copy of this document has been made for Simon the High Priest.’

24   After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a large gold shield, worth a thousand minas, to confirm the alliance with the Romans.

25   When the people heard of these events they asked themselves how they could show their gratitude to Simon and his sons. 26   For he, with his brothers and his father's family, had stood firm, fought off the enemies of Israel, and ensured his nation's freedom. 27   So an inscription was engraved on tablets of bronze and placed on a monument on Mount Zion. A copy of the inscription follows:

The high-priesthood of Simon

On the eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year 172, ^note the third year of Simon's high-priesthood, 28   at Asaramel, in a large assembly of priests, people, rulers of the nation, and elders of the land, the following facts were placed on record. 29   Whereas our land had been subject to frequent wars, Simon son of Mattathias, a priest of the Joarib family, and his brothers, risked their lives in resisting the enemies of their people, in order that the temple and law might be preserved, and they brought great glory to their nation. 30   Jonathan rallied the nation, became their high priest, and then was gathered to his fathers. 31   Their enemies resolved to invade their land and destroy it, and to attack the temple. 32   Then Simon came forward and fought for his nation. He spent large sums of his own money to arm the soldiers of his nation and to provide their pay. 33   He fortified the towns of Judaea, and Bethsura on the boundaries of Judaea, formerly an enemy arsenal, and stationed a garrison of Jews there. 34   He fortified Joppa by the sea, and Gazara near Azotus, formerly occupied by the enemy. There he settled Jews, and provided these towns with everything needful for their welfare. 35   When the people saw Simon's patriotism and his resolution to win fame for his nation, they made him their leader and high priest, in recognition of all that he had done, of his just conduct, his loyalty to his nation, and his constant efforts to enhance its renown. 36   His leadership was crowned with success, and the Gentiles were expelled from the land, as were also the troops in Jerusalem who had built themselves a citadel in the city of David, from which they sallied forth to bring defilement upon the whole precinct of the temple and do violence to its purity. 37   He settled Jews in it and fortified it for the security of the land and of the city, and he raised the height of the walls of Jerusalem. 38   King Demetrius confirmed him in the office of high priest, 39   made him one of his Friends, and granted him the highest honours; 40   for he had heard that the Romans were naming the Jews friends, allies, and brothers, and had gone in state to meet Simon's envoys.

41   The Jews and their priests confirmed Simon as their leader and high priest in perpetuity until a true prophet should appear. 42   He was to be their general, and to have full charge of the temple; and in addition to this the supervision of their labour, of the country, and of the arms and fortifications was to be entrusted to

The high-priesthood of Simon him. 43   He was to be obeyed by all; all contracts in the country were to be drawn up in his name. He was to wear the purple robe and the gold clasp.

   44   None of the people or the priests shall have authority to abrogate any of these decrees, to oppose commands issued by Simon or convene any assembly in the land without his consent, to be robed in purple, or to wear the gold clasp. 45   Whoever shall contravene these provisions or neglect any of them shall be liable to punishment. 46   It is the unanimous decision of the people that Simon shall officiate in the ways here laid down. 47   Simon has agreed and consented to be high priest, general and ethnarch of the Jews and the priests, and to be the protector of them all.

48   This inscription, it was declared, should be engraved on bronze tablets and set up within the precincts of the temple in a conspicuous position, 49   and copies should be placed in the treasury, in the keeping of Simon and his sons.

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