1 But Simon the foresaid betrayer of the money, and of his country, spake ill of Onias, as though he had stirred up Heliodorus to these things, and had been the mover of the evils:
1 But Simon, of whom we spoke before, who was the betrayer of the money, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils:
2 and the provider for the city, and defender of his nation, and the emulator of the law of God, he presumed to call a secret betrayer of the kingdom:
2 And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided for the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of God.
3 But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by certain of Simon's familiars:
3 But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon’s friends:
4 Onias considering the peril of the contention, and that Apollonius being governor of Cælesyria, & Phænicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king.
4 Onias, considering the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyria, and Phenicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king,
5 not as an accuser of the citizens, but considering with himself the common profit of the whole multitude.
5 Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with a view to the common good of all the people.
6 For he saw that without the king's providence it was unpossible that peace should be made in those matters, and that Simon would not cease from his folly.
6 For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly.
7 But after Seleucus' departure out of life, when Antiochus that was called the Noble, had taken the kingdom upon him, Jason the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the high-priesthood:
7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason, the brother of Onias, ambitiously sought the high priesthood:
8 going to the king, promising him three hundred three score talents of silver, & of other revenues four score talents,
8 And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents.
9 above this he promised also an hundred fifty more, if leave might be granted him to make a school, and a place for youth, and to entitle them, that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.
9 Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle them that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.
10 Which when the king had granted, and he had obtained the princedom, forthwith he began to transport his country men to the heathen rite.
10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens.
11 And these things being taken away, which of favour had been decreed by kings unto the Jews, and through John the father of the Eupolemus, who was ambassador with the Romans concerning amity and society, he disannulling the lawful rites of the citizens, made wicked ordinances.
11 And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favor by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John, the father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and brought in fashions that were perverse.
12 For he presumed under the very castle to set up a school, and to put all the goodliest youths in brothel houses.
12 For he had the boldness to set up, ¹under the very castle, a place of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses.
13 And this was not the beginning, but a certain increase, and going forward of the heathen and strange conversation, through the abominable never heard before, of Jason the impious and not a priest.
13 Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch, and no priest.
14 So that the Priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but the temple being contemned, & the sacrifices neglected, they hastened to be partakers of the game of wrestling, & of the unjust maintenance thereof, & in the exercise of the coyte.
14 Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus.
15 And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Greek glories for the best:
15 And setting nought by the honors of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories for the best:
16 by reason whereof they had dangerous contention, & they had emulation toward their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like to them, whom they had enemies & murderers.
16 For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like them, who were their enemies and murderers.
17 For to do impiously against the laws of God escapeth not unpunished, but this the time following will declare.
17 For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare.
18 And when the game used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, & the king was present,
18 Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king being present,
19 the wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men, carrying three hundred didrachmæs of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules, which they that carried it, requested that it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it ought not, but that it might be deputed for other charges.
19 The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men, to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges.
20 And these were offered indeed by him that sent them, unto the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that were present they were given to the making of gallies.
20 So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the making of galleys.
21 And Apollonius the son of Mnestheus being sent into Ægypt because of the nobles of Ptolomee Philometor the king, when Antiochus understood that himself was made an alien from the affairs of the kingdom, providing for his own commodities, departing thence he came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem.
21 Now when Apollonius, the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem.
22 And being magnifically received of Jason, and the city, entered in with torch lights, and with praises: and from thence he turned his army into Phænicia.
22 Where he was received in a magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia.
23 And after the time of three years Jason sent Menelaus brother of the foresaid Simon, carrying money to the king, and to bring answers of necessary affairs.
23 Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from him concerning certain necessary affairs.
24 But he being commended to the king, when he had magnified the presence of his power, wrested the high-Priesthood upon himself, over bidding Jason three hundred talents of silver.
24 But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25 And having received commission from the king, he came, having indeed nothing worthy of the priesthood: but bearing the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the wrath of a wild beast.
25 So having received the king’s mandate, he returned, bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.
26 And Jason indeed, who had circumvented his own brother, being himself deceived was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammanites.
26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
27 And Menelaus obtained the princedom: but concerning the money promised to the king he did nothing, whereas Sostratus that was governor of the castle exacted it.
27 So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had promised to the king, he took no care, when Sostratus, the governor of the castle, called for it.
28 For to him pertained the exacting of the tributes: for which cause they were both called out to the king.
28 For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king.
29 And Menelaus was removed from the Priest-hood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.
29 And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus, his brother, succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.
30 And when these things were a doing, it chanced the Tharsians, and the Mallotians to move sedition, because they were given for a gift to king Antiochus' concubine.
30 When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of Tharsus, and Mallos, raised a sedition, because they were given for a gift to Antiochus, the king’s concubine.
31 The king therefore came in haste to pacify them, one of his companions Andronicus being left substitute.
31 The king, therefore, went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy.
32 But Menelaus supposing that he had taken a convenient time, stealing certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in their near cities:
32 Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighboring cities:
33 Which thing when Onias understood most certainly, he rebuked him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch beside Daphne.
33 Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch, beside Daphne.
34 Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. Who when he was come to Onias, and right hands being given with an oath (although he was suspected of him) had persuaded him to come out of the sanctuary, immediately he slew him, not reverencing justice.
34 Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to justice.
35 For which cause not only the Jews, but also other nations likewise were offended, & took it grievously for the unjust murder of so great a man.
35 For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man.
36 But when the king was returned out of the places of Cilicia, the Jews went unto him at Antioch, and also the Greeks: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.
36 And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks, went to him: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.
37 Antiochus therefore was sorry in his mind for Onias, & being inclined to pity, he shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.
37 Antiochus, therefore, was grieved in his mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.
38 And his heart being incensed, he commanded Andronicus being spoiled of the purple, to be led about all the city: and that in the same place, wherein he had committed the impiety upon Onias, the sacrilegious person should be deprived of his life, our Lord repaying him worthy punishment.
38 And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord repaying him his deserved punishment.
39 And many sacrileges being committed of Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour being bruited abroad, the multitude gathered together against Lysimachus, much gold being now carried out.
39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the temple, by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumor of it was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, a great quantity of gold being already carried away.
40 But the multitudes making insurrection, & their minds replenished with anger, Lysimachus arming almost three thousand began to use unjust hands, a certain tyrant being captain far grown in age, and also in madness.
40 Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both in age and in madness.
41 But as they understood the endeavour of Lysimachus, some took stones, some strong clubs, & certain threw ashes.
41 But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, some strong clubs, and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus.
42 And many indeed were wounded, and certain also thrown to the ground, but all were put to flight: the sacrilegious person also himself they slew beside the treasury.
42 And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow himself, they slew him beside the treasury.
43 Concerning these things therefore judgement began to be commenced against Menelaus.
43 Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against Menelaus.
44 And when the king was come to Tyre, three men sent from the ancients, put up the matter unto him.
44 And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the ancients to plead the cause before him.
45 And when Menelaus was overcome, he promised Ptolomee to give much money to persuade the king.
45 But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much money to persuade the king to favor him.
46 Ptolomee therefore went to the king being in a certain court, as it were to cool himself, and brought him from his purpose:
46 So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind:
47 and Menelaus certes being guilty of all the evil was quitted of the crimes: and the poor wretches, who if they had pleaded the cause even before Scythians should be judged innocent, them he commanded to death.
47 So Menelaus, who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were condemned to death.
48 Quickly then did they unjustly suffer, which prosecuted the cause for the city, and the people, and the sacred vessels.
48 Thus they that prosecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
49 For the which thing the Tyrians also being offended, were very liberal towards the burial of them.
49 Wherefore even the Tyrians, being moved with indignation, were very liberal towards their burial.
50 But Menelaus because of their avarice that were in power, continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.
50 And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.