Editing Simon Thassi (section)

==History==
[[File:Judea Simon Makk.PNG|right|thumb|250px|Hasmonean Kingdom under Simon Maccabaeus<br />{{legend|lime|situation in 143{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}}}}{{legend|fuchsia|area expanded}}]]
Simon took a prominent part in the [[Jew]]ish revolt against the [[Seleucid Empire]] led by his brothers, [[Judas Maccabaeus]] and [[Jonathan Apphus]]. The successes of the Jews rendered it expedient for the Seleucid leaders in [[Syria (region)|Syria]] to show them special favour. Therefore, [[Antiochus VI]] appointed Simon ''[[strategos]]'', or military commander, of the coastal region stretching from the [[Ladder of Tyre]] to Egypt. As ''strategos'', Simon gained control of the cities of [[Beth-zur]] and [[Jaffa|Joppa]], garrisoning them with Jewish troops, and built the fortress of [[Hadid|Adida]].<ref name=je>{{Cite Jewish Encyclopedia|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13746-simon-maccabeus |title=Simon Maccabeus}}</ref>

After the capture of Jonathan by the Seleucid general [[Diodotus Tryphon]], Simon was elected leader by the people, assembled at [[Jerusalem]]. He at once completed the fortification of the capital, and made [[Jaffa|Joppa]] secure.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|13:8-13:11|KJV}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2848/2848-h/2848-h.htm#link132HCH0006 Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', Bk. 13, Ch. 6, §&nbsp;4].</ref>

At [[Hadid]] he blocked the advance of Tryphon, who was attempting to enter the country and seize the throne of Syria. Realizing he could gain nothing by force, Tryphon demanded a ransom for Jonathan and for the release of Jonathan's sons as hostages. Although Simon was aware that Tryphon would deceive him, both Josephus and 1 Maccabees state that he acceded to both demands so that the people might see that he had done everything possible for his brother. Jonathan was nevertheless treacherously assassinated, and the hostages were not returned. Simon thus became the sole leader of the people.<ref name=je />

As an opponent of Diodotus Tryphon, Simon decided to side with the Seleucid king, [[Demetrius II Nicator|Demetrius II]], to whom he sent a deputation requesting freedom from taxation for the country. The fact that his request was granted implied recognition of the political independence of [[Judea]].<ref name=je />

He became the first prince of the [[Hebrews|Hebrew]] [[Hasmonean dynasty]]. He reigned from 142 to 135{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}}.

The Hasmonean dynasty was established by a resolution, adopted in 141{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}} at a large assembly "of the priests and the people and of the elders of the land, to the effect that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet".<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|14:41|KJV}}</ref> Recognition of the new dynasty by the [[Roman Republic]] was accorded by the Senate about 139{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}}, when the delegation representing Simon was in [[Rome]]. Simon had made the Jewish people semi-independent of the [[Seleucid Empire]].

In February 135{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}},<ref name="Rogerson 2006">{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies |last=Rogerson |first=J. W. |year=2006 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=9780199254255 |quote=Simon Maccabee was killed by a Jewish rival in 135{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}}, the last of the Maccabees to 'die with his boots on', and his son John Hyrcanus (I) took over. Under Hyrcanus (135–104{{nbsp}}{{sc|bc}}) Jewish independence was finally achieved |page=292}}</ref> Simon and his two sons Mattathias and Judah were assassinated at a banquet at [[Dok (fortress)|Dok]] by his son-in-law [[Ptolemy (son of Abubus)|Ptolemy]], the Seleucid governor at [[Jericho]]. Simon's third son [[John Hyrcanus]] succeeded him as high priest and ruler of Judea but was unable to capture Ptolemy, initially because the latter held John's mother hostage, and subsequently because his army disbanded in observance of the custom at the time of resting every seventh year.