25. When the people of Israel heard about all this, they asked themselves, “How can we express our thanks to Simon and his sons?
26. He, his brothers, and his father's whole family have been towers of strength for our nation. They have fought off our enemies and set the nation free.”So they recorded this on bronze tablets and set them up on columns on Mount Zion.
27. The inscription read as follows:“On the eighteenth day of the month of Elul in the year 172, that is, in the third year of Simon, the High Priest,
28. at a great assembly of priests, people, officials, and national leaders the following facts were made known to us:
29. Often when wars broke out in the country, Simon son of Mattathias, a priest of the Jehoiarib family, and his brothers risked their lives in protecting our nation, our Temple, and our Law against our enemies. They have brought great glory to our nation.
30. Jonathan united our people and became the High Priest before he died.
31. The enemies of the Jews plotted to invade the land and defile the Temple.
32. Then Simon assumed command and fought for his country. He spent a large amount of his own money to provide weapons and pay for his nation's armed forces.
33. He fortified the towns of Judea, and especially Bethzur on the border, where enemy weapons had previously been stored. He stationed a detachment of soldiers there.
34. He fortified the seaport of Joppa as well as the city of Gezer on the border of Azotus, which was previously occupied by enemy soldiers. He settled Jews there and provided the towns with everything that the people needed.
35. When the people saw Simon's patriotism and how he wanted to bring glory to his nation, they made him their leader and High Priest. They did this because of all that he had accomplished through his loyalty and because he had brought about justice and had tried in every way to bring glory to his nation.
36. “Under his leadership the Gentiles were driven out of the land. Enemy soldiers were forced out of the area north of the Temple, where they had built the fort, from which the soldiers used to go out and defile the holy Temple.
37. Simon settled Jews in the fort, strengthened it for the security of the country and the city of Jerusalem, and increased the height of the city walls.
38. As a result, King Demetrius confirmed him as High Priest,