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Simon Plots against Onias
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1 I have already told you that Simon caused a lot of trouble for our country by telling Apollonius about the money in the temple. Then later, Simon lied and blamed Onias for the attack on Heliodorus and for all the terrible things that happened.
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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 ha terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.
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2 Simon even dared to claim that Onias was plotting against the government, although everyone knew that Onias had been generous to Jerusalem and that he had protected our nation and had been in favor of its laws.
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2 Thus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved well of the city, and tendered his own nation, and was so zealous of the laws.
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3 Simon hated Onias so much that he had even hired some men to commit murders.
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3 But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were committed,
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4 Apollonius,  p 4.4 Apollonius: See the note at 3.5. the governor of Southwest Syria Province, q 4.4 Southwest Syria Province: See the note at 3.5. started encouraging Simon with his evil plans. Finally, Onias understood that his life was in danger,
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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,
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5 and he asked King Seleucus for help. Onias did not want to bring charges against other Jews. He only hoped to find ways of privately and publicly doing good for the entire nation.
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5 He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but seeking the good of all, both publick and private:
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6 But he knew that he needed the king's help to bring peace to the country and to bring Simon to his senses.
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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.
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Jason Becomes High Priest
7 After the death of King Seleucus, r 4.7 King Seleucus: Seleucus IV (ruled 187-175 B.C.). Antiochus Epiphanes s 4.7 Antiochus Epiphanes: Antiochus IV (ruled 175-164 B.C.); he was the brother of Seleucus IV. became ruler. Shortly afterwards, Jason, the brother of Onias, became high priest by bribery.  4.7 1Macc 1.10.
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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,
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8 Jason went to the king t 4.8 went to the king: Or “wrote the king a letter.” and promised him three hundred sixty thousand silver coins from one of his accounts and eighty thousand from another.
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8 Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:
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9 He also agreed to pay one hundred fifty thousand silver coins for permission to do two things. He wanted to make the Jews in Jerusalem citizens of Antioch, u 4.9 to make ... Antioch: Or “to make a list of the Jews in Jerusalem who were citizens of Antioch.” Jason wanted the king's permission to turn Jerusalem into a Greek city whose citizens would have the same rights and privileges as citizens of Antioch, the most important city in the eastern Mediterranean. and he wanted to build a place where young Jewish men could exercise and have organized sports.v 4.9 build ... sports: These were not only places for exercise, but centers for military training and promoting the Greek way of life, and one was built in every major Greek city. The men trained naked, which was against the Jewish religion.
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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.
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Jason Forces the Jews To Live Like Greeks
10 King Antiochus gave Jason everything he wanted. But no sooner had Jason become high priest than he began forcing Jews to live like Greeks.
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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.
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11 He did away with our rights that John, the father of Eupolemus, had received from former kings. Eupolemus was the messenger who later went to the Romans and made them our friends and allies. 4.11 1Macc 8.17.
Jason put an end to our Jewish way of life and taught new customs that went against our laws.
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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:
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12 He eagerly built the place for exercise and sports near the temple. Then he ordered our finest young men to take part in activities there. x 4.12 to take part in activities there: The Greek has “to wear a sun hat.” The Greek god Hermes was the hero of athletes and was thought of as wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Greek athletes wore similar hats to show their devotion to Hermes and to protect their heads from the sun.
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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.
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13 Jason was so terribly evil that he did not deserve to be high priest. In fact, it was his fault that our people began to adopt the foreign customs that came with the Greek way of life.
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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;
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14 Even our priests gave up worshiping at the altar. They cared nothing about the temple, and they neglected offering sacrifices. And when the signal was given, they hurried off to take part in games that were against our teachings.
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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;
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15 They sneered at the values our ancestors had prized, and their only goal in life was to receive Greek honors.
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15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.
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16 This love of the Greek way of life caused the downfall of our country, when these foreign rulers became our enemies and punished our nation. They did this, even though many Jews liked and tried to follow their way of life.
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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.
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17 When people disobey God's Law, they are taking a big risk, as the following events will show.
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17 For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of God: but the time following shall declare these things.
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Jason and the Greeks
18 King Antiochus attended a sports festival that was held once every four y 4.18 four: Or “five.” years in the city of Tyre. While he was there,
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18 Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at Tyrus, the king being present,
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19 that evil Jason sent some messengers from Jerusalem to Tyre with three hundred silver coins for a sacrifice to the god Hercules. z 4.19 Hercules: One of the most popular Greek gods during this period.
Although these messengers were honorary citizens of Antioch, a 4.19 honorary ... Antioch: See the note at 4.9. they knew it was wrong to pay for a sacrifice to Hercules with the silver. So they decided instead
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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.
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20 to give the money for building warships.
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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.
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21 About this same time, Antiochus sent Apollonius b 4.21 Apollonius: See the note at 3.5. to Egypt, so that Apollonius could attend the crowning c 4.21 the crowning: One possible meaning for the difficult Greek text. of King Philometor. d 4.21 Philometor: Ptolemy VI (ruled 180-145 B.C.); he was fourteen at the time. When Antiochus learned that Philometor had become his enemy, he took actions to protect his kingdom. Then Antiochus left for Jerusalem, passing through the town of Joppa on the way.
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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:
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22 In Jerusalem, Jason and a cheering crowd with torches gave him a glorious welcome. From Jerusalem, Antiochus led his army to Phoenicia.
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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.
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Menelaus Becomes High Priest
23 Three years later, Jason sent a man by the name of Menelaus to King Antiochus with money in order to do some important business. Menelaus was the brother of the Simon who was mentioned earlier. e 4.23 Simon ... earlier: See 3.4-6; 4.1-3.
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23 Three years afterward Jason sent Menelans, the aforesaid Simon's brother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters.
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24 Menelaus was introduced to the king and tried to impress him by acting like a powerful official. Then he bought the position of high priest by offering the king three hundred thousand silver coins more than Jason had offered.
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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.
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25 When Menelaus returned to Jerusalem, he carried papers from the king, saying he was the new high priest. But he was completely unfit for the job—he was cruel and had a violent temper worse than any wild animal.
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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.
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26 Jason had earlier cheated his brother Onias out of the position of high priest. And now someone was cheating him out of being high priest, and he had to run to the Ammonites for his own safety.
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26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined by another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
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27 Menelaus continued as high priest, though he never paid any of the money he had promised Antiochus.
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27 So Menelans got the principality: but as for the money that he had promised unto the king, he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratis the ruler of the castle required it:
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28 He was asked many times for it by an official named Sostratus, who commanded the enemy fortress in Jerusalem, and whose duty it was to collect the king's money.
Finally, the king ordered both men to come to him and discuss the matter.
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28 For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore they were both called before the king.
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29 Menelaus let his brother Lysimachus act as high priest while he was away. Sostratus assigned his responsibilities to Crates, the commander of the soldiers from Cyprus.
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29 Now Menelans left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.
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Onias Is Murdered
30 About this time, King Antiochus gave the cities of Tarsus and Mallus to his lover Antiochis. But the cities rebelled,
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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.
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31 and the king hurried off to put down the revolt, leaving a senior official named Andronicus in charge of the kingdom.
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31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
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32 Menelaus now saw his chance to steal some gold dishes from the temple, and he did it. Then he gave the dishes to Andronicus. Earlier, he had also taken gold dishes from the temple and sold them to the people of Tyre and of other nearby cities.
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32 Now Menelans, 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.
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33 Onias found out what had happened and ran for safety to a temple f 4.33 ran ... temple: In ancient times temples were thought of as places where people could run for safety from their enemies. at Daphne, not far from the city of Antioch. There he started publicly accusing Menelaus.
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33 Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.
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34 Shortly after this, Menelaus met privately with Andronicus and persuaded him to kill Onias. So Andronicus went to the temple and warmly greeted Onias. Then he lied to Onias by shaking his right hand g 4.34 shaking his right hand: A public sign of friendship and support. and promising to treat him with kindness. Onias didn't really trust Andronicus, but Andronicus talked him into leaving his place of safety in the temple. Then without any regard for the Law, Andronicus murdered him on the spot.
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34 Wherefore Menelans, 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.
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The King Punishes Andronicus
35 Our people were shocked and outraged by this violent murder, and so were many from other nations.
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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.
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36 When King Antiochus returned from Cilicia, the Jews in Antioch h 4.36 in Antioch: Or “in each city.” asked him to do something about this senseless crime. Many Greeks also told the king how much they despised this brutal murder.
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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.
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37 The king cried and grieved terribly as he thought about Onias, a man of common sense and self-control.
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37 Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead.
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38 Then he became furious and tore off Andronicus' clothes, including his royal robe. He made Andronicus walk naked through the whole city until they reached the place where Andronicus had murdered Onias. Right then and there, the king had this butcher put to death.
This was how the Lord gave Andronicus the punishment he deserved.
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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.
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Lysimachus Is Killed
39 In the meantime, Menelaus had been helping his brother Lysimachus rob the Jerusalem temple of its gold dishes and other sacred objects. News of these crimes spread, and a crowd got together to complain about Lysimachus.
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39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelans, and the fruit thereof was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, many vessels of gold being already carried away.
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40 But since this crowd was turning into an angry mob, Lysimachus handed out swords to about three thousand followers. He put a foolish old man named Auranus in command of this force, then ordered a brutal attack.
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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.
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41 Our people saw Lysimachus and his troops running toward them. So they immediately picked up rocks, as well as handfuls of ashes i 4.41 ashes: The fighting took place in the temple courtyard where priests scattered ashes from the sacrifices. and chunks of wood. They threw them wildly at the attackers,
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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.
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42 wounding many and killing a few, while the rest ran away. The temple robber Lysimachus was killed not far from the temple treasury.
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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.
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Menelaus Is Set Free
43 Because of what had happened, Menelaus was charged with serious crimes
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43 Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against Menelans.
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44 and put on trial in the city of Tyre when King Antiochus arrived there. The Jerusalem council sent three messengers, who testified against him.
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44 Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him:
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45 When Menelaus realized that he was going to be punished, he offered a huge bribe to the king's friend Ptolemy, j 4.45 Ptolemy: Greek “Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes.” because he wanted Ptolemy to influence the king to say he was innocent.
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45 But Menelans, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.
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46 So Ptolemy took Antiochus out on a porch, saying they needed a breath of fresh air. He convinced Antiochus to change his mind
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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:
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47 and to drop the charges against Menelaus, the cause of the trouble.
Afterwards, Antiochus sentenced the three messengers to death. Even the cruelest judge k 4.47 cruelest judge: The Greek text has “Scythians,” people who were known for their cruelty. would have freed those men,
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47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelans 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.
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48 but Antiochus had them quickly and wrongfully killed. He did this because they had spoken in behalf of Jerusalem, its people, l 4.48 its people: Some ancient manuscripts have “the nearby towns.” and the sacred dishes that had been stolen.
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48 Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
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49 The citizens of Tyre were so disgusted by the murder of these three men that they honored them with elaborate funerals.
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49 Wherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that wicked deed, caused them to be honourably buried.
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50 But because our rulers were greedy, Menelaus was allowed to continue as high priest. He grew so cruel that we considered him our worst enemy.
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50 And so through the covetousness of them that were of power Menelans remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and being a great traitor to the citizens.
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© 1999 American Bible Society |
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