Only verses 21-23 deal with Simon’s battles. These verses can be set up as a separate paragraph (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

So Simon went to Galilee: This information has already been provided in the previous verse. It will be better to say “In Galilee Simon and his soldiers.”

And fought many battles against the Gentiles may be expressed as “had to attack [or, fight against] the Gentiles many times.”

And the Gentiles were crushed before him may be rendered “He and his soldiers completely [or, decisively] defeated the Gentiles.”

Without being too repetitious of the previous verse, this one can be translated:

• In Galilee Simon and his soldiers had to attack [or, fight against] the Gentiles many times before they completely defeated them.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.