Standing in Suffering: Simon's Courage and Comfort for the Afflicted

Simon Takes Command Simon heard that Trypho had assembled a large army to invade the land of Judah and destroy it, and he saw that the people were trembling and fearful. So he went up to Jerusalem, and gathering the people together he encouraged them, saying to them, “You yourselves know what great things I and my brothers and the house of my father have done for the laws and the sanctuary; you know also the wars and the difficulties which we have seen. By reason of this all my brothers have perished for the sake of Israel, and I alone am left. And now, far be it from me to spare my life in any time of distress, for I am not better than my brothers. But I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and your wives and children, for all the nations have gathered together out of hatred to destroy us.” The spirit of the people was rekindled when they heard these words, and they answered in a loud voice, “You are our leader in place of Judas and Jonathan your brother. Fight our battles, and all that you say to us we will do.” So he assembled all the warriors and hastened to complete the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it on every side. He sent Jonathan the son of Ab′salom to Joppa, and with him a considerable army; he drove out its occupants and remained there. Deceit and Treachery of Trypho Then Trypho departed from Ptolema′is with a large army to invade the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard. And Simon encamped in Ad′ida, facing the plain. Trypho learned that Simon had risen up in place of Jonathan his brother, and that he was about to join battle with him, so he sent envoys to him and said, “It is for the money that Jonathan your brother owed the royal treasury, in connection with the offices he held, that we are detaining him. Send now a hundred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, so that when released he will not revolt against us, and we will release him.” Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him, but he sent to get the money and the sons, lest he arouse great hostility among the people, who might say, “Because Simon did not send him the money and the sons, he perished.” So he sent the sons and the hundred talents, but Trypho broke his word and did not release Jonathan. After this Trypho came to invade the country and destroy it, and he circled around by the way to Ador′a. But Simon and his army kept marching along opposite him to every place he went. Now the men in the citadel kept sending envoys to Trypho urging him to come to them by way of the wilderness and to send them food. So Trypho got all his cavalry ready to go, but that night a very heavy snow fell, and he did not go because of the snow. He marched off and went into the land of Gil′ead. When he approached Bas′kama, he killed Jonathan, and he was buried there. Then Trypho turned back and departed to his own land. Jonathan’s Tomb And Simon sent and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried him in Mo′de-in, the city of his fathers. All Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and mourned for him many days. And Simon built a monument over the tomb of his father and his brothers; he made it high that it might be seen, with polished stone at the front and back. He also erected seven pyramids, opposite one another, for his father and mother and four brothers. And for the pyramids he devised an elaborate setting, erecting about them great columns, and upon the columns he put suits of armor for a permanent memorial, and beside the suits of armor carved ships, so that they could be seen by all who sail the sea. This is the tomb which he built in Mo′de-in; it remains to this day. Judea Gains Independence Trypho dealt treacherously with the young king Anti′ochus; he killed him and became king in his place, putting on the crown of Asia; and he brought great calamity upon the land. But Simon built up the strongholds of Judea and walled them all around, with high towers and great walls and gates and bolts, and he stored food in the strongholds. Simon also chose men and sent them to Deme′trius the king with a request to grant relief to the country, for all that Trypho did was to plunder. Deme′trius the king sent him a favorable reply to this request, and wrote him a letter as follows, “King Deme′trius to Simon, the high priest and friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting. We have received the gold crown and the palm branch which you sent, and we are ready to make a general peace with you and to write to our officials to grant you release from tribute. All the grants that we have made to you remain valid, and let the strongholds that you have built be your possession. We pardon any errors and offenses committed to this day, and cancel the crown tax which you owe; and whatever other tax has been collected in Jerusalem shall be collected no longer. And if any of you are qualified to be enrolled in our bodyguard, let them be enrolled, and let there be peace between us.” In the on

1 Maccabees 13:1-20 records Simon's accession to leadership after the death of his brothers Judas and Jonathan. Facing Trypho's invasion, he steadies a fearful people, fortifies Jerusalem, and discerns the deceit of a foreign offer. The text portrays suffering as the crucible in which faithful leadership is forged and the community is consoled.