that he was not the legitimate successor to the office. The move was generally accepted as a stopgap measure in light of the extraordinary circumstances. When Jonathan died and Simon succeeded him as military and political leader, ridding the nation of the final vestiges of Syrian presence, “the Jews and their priests decided that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until a trustworthy prophet should arise” (1 Mace. 14:41). What eventuated instead was a new hereditary succession