2Mac 4:1 This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer
of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified
Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.
2Mac 4:3 But when
their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were
committed,
2Mac 4:4 Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, as
being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase Simon's
malice,
2Mac 4:5 He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but
seeking the good of all, both publick and private:
2Mac 4:6 For he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue
quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did look thereunto.
2Mac 4:7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes,
took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high
priest,
2Mac 4:8 Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and
threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:
2Mac 4:9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he
might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training
up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem
by the name of Antiochians.
2Mac 4:10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand
the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.
2Mac 4:11 And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by
the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome for
amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which were
according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law:
2Mac 4:12 For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself,
and brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear a
hat.
2Mac 4:13 Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of
heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly
wretch, and no high priest;
2Mac 4:14 That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar,
but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be
partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game
of Discus called them forth;
2Mac 4:15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory
of the Grecians best of all.
2Mac 4:16 By reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had them
to be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they followed so earnestly,
and unto whom they desired to be like in all things.
2Mac 4:17 For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of
God: but the time following shall declare these things.
2Mac 4:18 Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at
Tyrus, the king being present,
2Mac 4:19 This ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem, who
were Antiochians, to carry three hundred drachms of silver to the sacrifice
of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought fit not to bestow upon
the sacrifice, because it was not convenient, but to be reserved for other
charges.
2Mac 4:20 This money then, in regard of the sender, was appointed to
Hercules' sacrifice; but because of the bearers thereof, it was employed to
the making of gallies.
2Mac 4:21 Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for
the coronation of king Ptolemeus Philometor, Antiochus, understanding him
not to be well affected to his affairs, provided for his own safety:
whereupon he came to Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem:
2Mac 4:22 Where he was honourably received of Jason, and of the city, and
was brought in with torch alight, and with great shoutings: and so afterward
went with his host unto Phenice.
2Mac 4:23 Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid Simon's
brother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of certain
necessary matters.
2Mac 4:24 But he being brought to the presence of the king, when he had
magnified him for the glorious appearance of his power, got the priesthood
to himself, offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
2Mac 4:25 So he came with the king's mandate, bringing nothing worthy the
high priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a
savage beast.
2Mac 4:26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined
by another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
2Mac 4:27 So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money that he had
promised unto the king, he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratus the
ruler of the castle required it:
2Mac 4:28 For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore
they were both called before the king.
2Mac 4:29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the
priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.
2Mac 4:30 While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made
insurrection, because they were given to the king's concubine, called
Antiochus.
2Mac 4:31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving
Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
2Mac 4:32 Now Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a convenient time,
stole certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave some of them to
Andronicus, and some he sold into Tyrus and the cities round about.
2Mac 4:33 Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew
himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.
2Mac 4:34 Wherefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus apart, prayed, him to get
Onias into his hands; who being persuaded thereunto, and coming to Onias in
deceit, gave him his right hand with oaths; and though he were suspected by
him, yet persuaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary: whom forthwith he
shut up without regard of justice.
2Mac 4:35 For the which cause not only the Jews, but many also of other
nations, took great indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder
of the man.
2Mac 4:36 And when the king was come again from the places about Cilicia,
the Jews that were in the city, and certain of the Greeks that abhorred the
fact also, complained because Onias was slain without cause.
2Mac 4:37 Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and
wept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead.
2Mac 4:38 And being kindled with anger, forthwith he took away Andronicus
his purple, and rent off his clothes, and leading him through the whole city
unto that very place, where he had committed impiety against Onias, there
slew he the cursed murderer. Thus the Lord rewarded him his punishment, as
he had deserved.
2Mac 4:39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by
Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and the fruit thereof was spread
abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, many
vessels of gold being already carried away.
2Mac 4:40 Whereupon the common people rising, and being filled with rage,
Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began first to offer
violence; one Auranus being the leader, a man far gone in years, and no less
in folly.
2Mac 4:41 They then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus, some of them caught
stones, some clubs, others taking handfuls of dust, that was next at hand,
cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and those that set upon them.
2Mac 4:42 Thus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the
ground, and all of them they forced to flee: but as for the churchrobber
himself, him they killed beside the treasury.
2Mac 4:43 Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against
Menelaus.
2Mac 4:44 Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the
senate pleaded the cause before him:
2Mac 4:45 But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of
Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.
2Mac 4:46 Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery,
as it were to take the air, brought him to be of another mind:
2Mac 4:47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations, who
notwithstanding was cause of all the mischief: and those poor men, who, if
they had told their cause, yea, before the Scythians, should have been
judged innocent, them he condemned to death.
2Mac 4:48 Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the
people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
2Mac 4:49 Wherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that wicked
deed, caused them to be honourably buried.
2Mac 4:50 And so through the covetousness of them that were of power
Menelaus remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and being a
great traitor to the citizens.