SIMON MACCAB/EUS, si'mon mdWits, Jewish prince and high priest: d. 135 B.C. He was the second of the five sons of the high priest Mattathias, all of whom became famous in their struggle to free the Jews from Syrian domination. When dying attathias exhorted his sons to heed the advice of Simon whose abilities he highly regarded. Simon took an important share in the war for liberation pressed against the Syrians by Judah and Jona than, and after the death of Judah and the capture of Jonathan he was elected leader. He completed the fortification of Jerusalem, expelled all the Gentiles from Joppa, and after prevent ing Trypho from entering the country to seize the throne of Syria he sent a deputation to Demetrius II requesting freedom from taxa tion for Judea. Compliance with this request carried with it recognition of the political in dependence of the country and the Jews estab lished a new era, dating by the years of Simon.
The leadership was made hereditary in his family, thus founding the Hasmonman dynasty, and a new mintage of coins was begun. Simon strengthened his position by the capture of the city of Gazara, from which he expelled the pagan population, and in 142 B.C. he subdued the garrison at Akra. His reign lasted seven years and was remarkable for its peace and prosperity. He secured the friendship of Rome and the respect and esteem of other foreign powers, and by his own people was made high priest as well as ruler in 141 B.C. In 136 B.C. the country became again involved in war with Syria, and Simon entrusted the command of his armies to his sons, Judah and John, who were victorious. In 135 B.C. Simon and his sons Judah and Mattathias were slain at a banquet given him by his son-in-law, Ptolemus; and his son, John Hyrcanus I, succeeded to the throne.