What offices and conditions does the inscription establish for Simon?

In year 172 Demetrius takes his army into Media seeking help against Tryphon. Arsaces, king of Persia and Media, sends a prince to capture him alive. The prince defeats his army and brings Demetrius into custody. Neither a Euphrates crossing nor chains are specified. Juda is described as resting throughout Simon’s days, with his pursuit of the nation’s good and his power pleasing the people. He takes Joppe as a haven giving entrance to the sea’s islands, enlarges the borders, gathers many captives and rules Gazara, Bethsura and the castle, removing uncleanness without resistance. The captives are not expressly called liberated.

People till their land in peace; land and trees yield produce. Elders sit in streets discussing the land’s good things, and young men wear glory and robes of war. Simon supplies cities with victuals and ammunition, gaining wide renown. Israel rejoices; each man sits without fear beneath vine and fig tree. No fighters remain against them in the land and kings are defeated. Simon strengthens those brought low, seeks the law, removes unjust and wicked men, glorifies the sanctuary and increases its vessels. These are the chapter’s praise and conditions, without an added claim of fulfilled prophecy or newly guaranteed commercial growth.

Rome and Sparta hear Jonathan has died and grieve, then hear of Simon’s high priesthood and control of the country and cities. Brass-table correspondence renews the alliance made with Judas and Jonathan and is read in Jerusalem. The Spartan princes and cities greet Simon, elders, priests and the people as brethren. They rejoice at reports of glory, honor and joy from Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, record the renewed friendship in public councils and send Simon a copy. Simon later sends Numenius to Rome with a thousand-pound gold shield to confirm the league. The edition’s following sentence identifies the people of Rome as asking what thanks they should give Simon and his sons; this summary does not silently substitute Israel as the speaker.

The writing engraved on brass and placed on Mount Sion is dated day 18 of Elul, year 172, Simon’s third year, at Asaramel. Its great assembly includes priests, people, princes and elders. It recounts frequent wars and the dangers Simon son of Mathathias of Jarib’s children and his brothers faced for law and holy places. Jonathan gathered the nation and became high priest before being laid to his people. Against enemies seeking to destroy the country and holy places, Simon resisted, spent much of his own money, armed valiant men and paid wages. He fortified Judean cities and Bethsura, formerly holding enemy arms, with Jewish garrisons. Joppe and Gazara near Azotus were fortified, settled with Jews and supplied for repair.

The inscription says the people made Simon prince and high priest for these acts, justice, faith and advancement of the nation. It recalls removing heathens including Jerusalem’s castle occupants, who had profaned the sanctuary’s surroundings, replacing them with defenders and raising Jerusalem’s walls. Demetrius confirmed his priesthood and friendship after hearing Rome’s recognition and honorable reception of Simon’s envoys.

The Jews and priests consent that Simon remain prince and high priest forever until a faithful prophet arises. The clause is preserved without interpreting it as a specified later constitutional procedure or extending the offices automatically to his heirs. He is to lead them, care for the sanctuary and appoint rulers over works, country, arms and strongholds. All must obey; writings must be in his name and he is to wear purple and gold. People and priests may not annul these provisions, contradict him, call an assembly without him, wear purple or a gold buckle. Violations bring punishment, whose severity is not quantified. The people approve; Simon accepts the offices of high priest, captain, prince and chief. The writing is to stand visibly within the sanctuary’s compass, with a treasury copy for Simon and his sons. Possession of that copy is distinct from an explicit hereditary grant.