31
When their enemies decided to invade their country and lay hands on their sanctuary,
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then Simon rose up and fought for his nation. He spent great sums of his own money; he armed the soldiers of his nation and paid them wages.
33
He fortified the towns of Judea, and Beth-zur on the borders of Judea, where formerly the arms of the enemy had been stored, and he placed there a garrison of Jews.
34
He also fortified Joppa, which is by the sea, and Gazara, which is on the borders of Azotus, where the enemy formerly lived. He settled Jews there, and provided in those towns whatever was necessary for their restoration.
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"The people saw Simon's faithfulness and the glory that he had resolved to win for his nation, and they made him their leader and high priest, because he had done all these things and because of the justice and loyalty that he had maintained toward his nation. He sought in every way to exalt his people.
36
In his days things prospered in his hands, so that the Gentiles were put out of the country, as were also those in the city of David in Jerusalem, who had built themselves a citadel from which they used to sally forth and defile the environs of the sanctuary, doing great damage to its purity.
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He settled Jews in it and fortified it for the safety of the country and of the city, and built the walls of Jerusalem higher.
38
"In view of these things King Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood,
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made him one of his Friends, and paid him high honors.
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For he had heard that the Jews were addressed by the Romans as friends and allies and brothers, and that the Romans had received the envoys of Simon with honor.
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"The Jews and their priests have resolved that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until a trustworthy prophet should arise,