32 “Simon took command of our army. He spent a lot of his own money to pay our soldiers and to buy weapons and armor for us.
33 He put up strong walls and towers in the towns of Judea, as well as in the border town of Beth-Zur, where the enemy used to store weapons. Then he stationed Jewish soldiers at Beth-Zur.
34 “Simon built a fortress in the coastal town of Joppa as well as in the town of Gazara, because it was close to Azotus, which had been a stronghold for our enemies. Simon settled Jews in Gazara, and he gave everyone in these towns whatever they needed to make the towns fit to live in.
35 “Simon was a dependable man who had high hopes for our country and did all he could to make our nation glorious. So we chose him to be our ruler and high priest.
36 “The Gentiles had built a fortress in Jerusalem and had stationed some soldiers there, who then attacked the rest of us and made the temple and everything else unclean. But Simon successfully forced the Gentiles out of Judea; he got rid of the troops in the fortress and was in full control of everything.
37 “Simon strengthened the walls of the Jerusalem fortress and stationed soldiers there to guard the country and city. He also made the walls around Jerusalem higher.
38 “Simon did everything well, so King Demetrius accepted him as our high priest.