Simon's Rage
2 Maccabees 4, verse 1. The previously mentioned Simon, who informed about the money and his homeland, spoke evil things against Onias, claiming it was Onias himself who terrified Heliodorus and created the calamity. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 2. Simon dared to say that Onias, the man who was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws, plotted the whole matter. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 3. But when Simon's hatred progressed to the point that even murders were committed by those he approved, 2 Maccabees 4, verse 4. Onias realized the danger of Simon's love of strife, and that Apollonius, son of Menestheus and governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was even intensifying Simon's malice. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 5. So he went to the king, not to accuse his fellow citizens, but to look out for the common good, both public and private. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 6. For he saw that without the king's attention, matters could not reach a peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not cease from his fury.
Jason Makes the Jews Learn Greek Customs
2 Maccabees 4, verse 7. When Seleucus died and Antiochus, also called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias obtained the high priesthood by corruption. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 8. For through a petition, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and from another source of revenue, eighty talents. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 9. In addition to this, he promised to pay one hundred and fifty more if the king gave him permission to establish a gymnasium as a place for training young men, and for enrolling the men of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 10. When the king assented and Jason seized the high priesthood, he at once changed his countrymen over to the Greek way of life. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 11. He set aside the royal benefits to the Jews brought about through John, the father of Eupolemus, the ambassador who established friendship and alliance with the Romans. He also renounced and destroyed conformity to the laws, and created a new civic life contrary to the customs. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 12. For he eagerly founded a gymnasium under the citadel itself, and persuaded the most noble of the young men to wear the Greek cap. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 13. So there was the fullest expression of Hellenization and the adoption of foreign customs because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and not a true high priest. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 14. Therefore the priests were no longer eager to serve at the altar, but they despised the temple and neglected the sacrifices. Instead, they hastened to take part in the unlawful proceedings in the wrestling-school after the invitation to the discus. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 15. They counted the honors of their fathers as nothing, but regarded Greek honors as the best. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 16. For this reason, difficult circumstances overtook them, and those whose way of life they admired and wished altogether to assimilate became their enemies and punished them. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 17. For to act in an ungodly way against the divine laws is no light thing; but the following events will make this clear. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 18. When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present, 2 Maccabees 4, verse 19. the vile Jason sent ambassadors, since they were Antiochian citizens from Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for a sacrifice to Hercules. Those who carried the money, however, considered it inappropriate and best not to use the money for sacrifice, but to expend it for another purpose. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 20. So this money, intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules, was by the decision of those who carried it applied to the construction of battleships. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 21. When Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt to share in the festal proclamation of King Philometor, Antiochus learned that Philometor had become hostile to his government. So he was concerned for his own safety. Therefore, after he reached Joppa, he went on to Jerusalem. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 22. He was magnificently received by Jason and the city, being ushered in with torches and shouts. Then he encamped in Phoenicia.
Menelaus Buys the High Priesthood
2 Maccabees 4, verse 23. Then after a period of three years, Jason sent Menelaus, son of the previously mentioned Simon, to carry the money to the king and to complete the records of necessary business. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 24. But when he was commended to the king, Menelaus honored him with an appearance of authority and obtained the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 25. After he received the king's orders, although in no way worthy of the high priesthood, he returned, carrying the rage and savage cruelty of a tyrant and a wild beast and having the wrath of a barbarian. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 26. Thus Jason, after he undermined his own brother, was undermined by another, and was driven as a fugitive into the land of the Ammonites. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 27. So Menelaus took hold of the high priesthood, but he did not pay regularly any of the money promised to the king. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 28. Thus when Sostratus the commander of the citadel kept demanding payment, since the collection of revenue was his responsibility, the two of them were summoned before the king on this account. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 29. Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus as his court official in the high priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates in charge of his Cyprian troops.
Onias Is Murdered
2 Maccabees 4, verse 30. While these things were taking place, it came about that the cities of Tarsus and Mallus revolted because they were given as a gift to Antiochis, the king's concubine. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 31. So the king went quickly to put down the rebellion. He left Andronicus, a man highly regarded, to act as his regent. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 32. But Menelaus, thinking he had gained a convenient opportunity, pilfered some of the gold vessels from the temple and gave them to Andronicus. As it happened, he had already sold other vessels to Tyre and the neighboring cities. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 33. But when Onias found out exactly what had taken place, he condemned these acts, after he departed to a safe place at Daphne, located near Antioch. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 34. Therefore Menelaus took Andronicus aside and urged him to kill Onias. Thus Andronicus went to Onias and persuaded him with deceit. He welcomed him with sworn pledges and gave him his right hand. Although Onias was suspicious, Andronicus persuaded him to come out of his place of sanctuary. Then, with no sense of justice, he immediately put him to death. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 35. For this reason, not only the Jews, but also many of the other nations, took offense and were angry at the unjust murder of the man. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 36. So when the king returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews in the city pleaded with him regarding the senseless murder of Onias, and the Greeks also felt the common hatred of the crime. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 37. Therefore Antiochus was grieved at heart and filled with pity; and he wept on account of the decency and good behavior of the deceased. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 38. Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe from Andronicus and tore off his garments. Then he led him around the whole city to that very place where he sinned against Onias, and there he put the bloodstained man to death. Thus the Lord repaid him with the punishment he deserved.
Menelaus Tried for Lysimachus's Murder
2 Maccabees 4, verse 39. When much sacrilegious plunder by Lysimachus took place in the city with the consent of Menelaus, and when the report of this spread abroad, the people gathered together against Lysimachus, because many of the gold vessels had already been carried away. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 40. Thus, since the crowds were stirring and completely filled with wrath, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men and began an unjust attack, led by a certain Auranus, a man advanced in years but no less advanced in stupidity. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 41. So when the Jews became aware of the assault of Lysimachus, some picked up stones and clubs, and others took handfuls of ashes lying about, and threw them in utter confusion at Lysimachus and his men. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 42. As a result, they wounded many of them, killed some, and forced them all to flee. Then they killed the temple robber himself near the treasury. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 43. But a judgment concerning this was presented against Menelaus. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 44. For when the king arrived at Tyre, three men sent by the council of elders presented the case before him. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 45. But Menelaus, who was already defeated, promised considerable wealth to Ptolemy son of Dorymenes if he won over the king. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 46. Therefore Ptolemy took the king aside into a certain courtyard, as if to offer him refreshment, and persuaded him to change his mind. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 47. For he indeed acquitted Menelaus, the cause of all the evil, but he sentenced to death those unfortunate men who would have been freed uncondemned even if they pleaded before Scythians. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 48. So those who had spoken for the city, the people, and the holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 49. For this reason, even the Tyrians were indignant over the crime and provided magnificently for their funeral expenses. 2 Maccabees 4, verse 50. But Menelaus, because of the covetousness of those in power, remained in office, increased in malice, and brought about great treachery against his fellow citizens.