Simon Thassi

"He exhorted them in these words: “You yourselves are fully aware of what I and my brothers and the house of my father have done for the laws and the sanctuary. You also know about the battles we have fought and the hardships we have endured. As a result, all of my brothers have perished for the sake of Israel, and I alone am left. Far be it from me, then, to give priority to my own life in any time of oppression, for I am not of any greater worth than my brothers. Rather, I will avenge my nation and the sanctuary and your wives and children, for all the nations have united to destroy us because of their hatred for us.”"

"Simon was allotted three thousand men for the march on Galilee, while eight thousand men were assigned to Judas for the march on Gilead."

"And he saw that the people were trembling with fear, he went up to Jerusalem. Assembling the people, he exhorted them [...]These words rekindled the spirit of the people and they replied by shouting, “You are our leader in place of Judas and your brother Jonathan. Fight our battles, and we will do whatever you tell us.”"