The scene changes to Simon’s activities, so translators may begin a new paragraph here (so Good News Bible).

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: The Maccabees managed to get along smoothly enough with King Alexander and his son Antiochus~VI, but they owed King Trypho no loyalty at all, and Trypho knew that the Jews would no longer trust him (see verse 19). Simon was going to protect the measure of independence he and his brothers had fought hard to win, so he prepared Judea for invasion. While the Greek says simply that Simon “built” the strongholds, built up or “rebuilt” (Good News Bible) is better, since these fortified cities (strongholds) already existed. For gates and bolts, see the comments on 1Macc 12.38. The “stores of supplies” (Good News Bible) that were placed in the fortified cities were specifically stores of food, and it would be best to say so. Translators may begin this verse with “Simon, for his part, rebuilt….” This would contrast what Simon was doing in reaction to Trypho’s actions, without having to repeat “Meanwhile.” However, Simon himself didn’t do the rebuilding. He ordered workmen to do the job. So a possible model for the whole verse is:

• Simon, for his part, had workmen build huge thick walls, high towers, and strong gates for the fortresses in Judea. He also stored plenty of food in these fortresses.

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.