35
"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.
37
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,
39
made him one of his Friends, and paid him high honors.
40
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.
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
and that he should be governor over them and that he should take charge of the sanctuary and appoint officials over its tasks and over the country and the weapons and the strongholds, and that he should take charge of the sanctuary,
43
and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all contracts in the country should be written in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple and wear gold.
44
"None of the people or priests shall be permitted to nullify any of these decisions or to oppose what he says, or to convene an assembly in the country without his permission, or to be clothed in purple or put on a gold buckle.
45
Whoever acts contrary to these decisions or rejects any of them shall be liable to punishment."