32. Then Simon rose up and fought for his nation. He spent great amounts of his own money to arm soldiers of his nation and give them pay.
33. He fortified the towns of Judea and Beth-zur on the borders of Judea, where enemy weapons had been stored in the past, and placed a group of Jewish soldiers there.
34. He also fortified Joppa by the sea, along with Gazara on the borders of Azotus, where enemies formerly lived. He settled Jews there and provided whatever was needed to restore the towns.
35. The people saw Simon’s faithfulness and the honor that he had resolved to win for his nation. So they made him their leader and high priest, because he had done all these things and had acted toward his nation with justice and loyalty. He sought in every way to lift up his people.
36. In his days, things prospered under his leadership so that the Gentiles were driven out of the country, as well as those in David’s City in Jerusalem, who had built themselves an elevated fortress. Gentiles used to leave the elevated fortress and defile the sanctuary area, doing great damage to its purity.
37. He settled Jewish troops in the elevated fortress and fortified it for the safety of the country and of the city, and built the walls of Jerusalem higher.
38. In light of all these things, King Demetrius confirmed him as high priest.
39. He also made him one of the leading political advisors, and paid him other high honors.
40. For he had heard that the Jews were considered friends, allies, and brothers by the Romans, and that the Romans had welcomed the ambassadors of Simon with honor.
41. The Jews and their priests have resolved that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until a trustworthy prophet should arise.