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.
42. He should govern them and take charge of the sanctuary, appointing officials to oversee its tasks and the weapons and the fortresses of the country.
43. Everyone should obey him. All contracts in the land should bear his name. In addition, he should be clothed in royal purple and wear gold.
44. None of the people or the priests can annul these decisions or oppose what he says. They cannot convene an assembly without his permission. No one else can be clothed in purple or put on a gold buckle.
45. Whoever fails to follow all of these decisions or acts contrary to them will be punished.
46. All the people agreed to give Simon the power to act in keeping with these decisions.
47. Simon accepted and agreed to be high priest, to command and rule the Jews and the priests, and to protect them all.
48. Also they gave orders to write this decision on bronze plates and to set them up in a public place in the sanctuary grounds.
49. Finally, they were to place copies in the treasury so that Simon and his sons would have access to them.