Commentaria in II Machabaeorum
Chapter 4. Synopsis of the Chapter
Onias clears himself before king Seleucus of the calumnies laid against him by Simon. Next, verse 7, Seleucus being dead, Jason, brother of Onias the pontiff, he being excluded, bought the pontificate from Antiochus Epiphanes, brother and successor of Seleucus, for 300 talents. And the same leads the Jews from Judaism to Gentilism. Then, verse 23, Jason, who had thrust out his brother Onias from the pontificate by money given to the king, was in like manner fraudulently thrust out of the same by Menelaus, brother of Simon; and Menelaus was in like manner thrust out by his brother Lysimachus. Then, verse 34, the pontiff Onias, at the request of Menelaus, is slain by Andronicus; but Andronicus, at the instance of the people, Antiochus Epiphanes ordered slain in the same place. Lastly, verse 39, the sacrilegious Lysimachus is killed by the people, rising in sedition; but Menelaus, Ptolemy being corrupted with money, extorts an unjust sentence of acquittal.
1. But Simon, of whom we have spoken, the betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the author of the evils. 2. And he presumed to call him a traitor that had taken care of the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of God. 3. But when their enmities went so far that even murders were committed by some of Simon’s friends, 4. Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius was mad, who was the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, and increased the malice of Simon, 5. He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his citizens, but to consult for the good of all, both public and private. 6. For he saw that it was impossible for the state to be quiet, and for Simon to cease from his folly, unless the king took care of it. 7. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, took possession of the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the high priesthood: 8. And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues eighty talents. 9. Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle those that were at Jerusalem Antiochians. 10. Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, he forthwith began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens. 11. And putting down the privileges granted by special favour of the kings to the Jews, by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, and endeavouring to overthrow the lawful ways of living, he brought up new customs against the law. 12. For he took pleasure to set up a place of exercise under the castle itself, and to put all the noblest of the youths in brothel houses. 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 despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to be partakers of the game of Palestra, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus. 15. And setting naught by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories as the best. 16. For which cause a grievous danger came upon them, and they had those for enemies and avengers, whose ways they followed so earnestly, and to whom they desired in all things to be like. 17. For it is not a light thing to act wickedly against the divine laws: but this the time following will declare. 18. Now when the game that was kept every five years was celebrated at Tyre, the king being present, 19. The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules: but even they that carried them desired they might not be bestowed on the sacrifice, because it was not fit, but might be reserved for other charges. 20. So these monies, indeed, in respect to him that sent them, were appointed for the sacrifice of Hercules: but, because of the bearers, were employed for the building of galleys. 21. Now when Apollonius the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt, for the nobles of king Ptolemee Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was shut out from the management of affairs, consulting his own safety, he departed thence, and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem. 22. And was received in a magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and was brought in with torches, and with praises, and from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia. 23. And after the space of three years, Jason sent Menelaus, the 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 recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 25. So having received the king’s mandate he returned, bringing nothing worthy of the priesthood, but having the fierceness of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast. 26. And so Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined by another, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites. 27. And Menelaus held the principality: but as for the money that he had promised to the king, he took no care to pay it, when Sostratus the governor of the castle demanded it: 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 priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians. 30. When these things were in doing, it happened that they of Tharsus and Mallos raised a tumult, because they were given for a present to Antiochis, the king’s concubine. 31. The king therefore went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy. 32. Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, stealing certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave some of them to Andronicus, and some he had sold at Tyre and in the neighbouring cities. 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. And he coming to Onias, and giving him his right hand with an oath, (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come 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, took indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man. 36. And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks, complained to him of the unjust murder of Onias. 37. Antiochus therefore was grieved in mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, wept, remembering the sobriety and modesty of him that was dead. 38. And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and his garments to be rent off, and to be led about through the whole city, and in the same place where he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch to be put to death, the Lord rendering him a worthy punishment. 39. Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the city, by the advice of Menelaus, and the rumour was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, many vessels of gold being already carried away. 40. And the multitude rising, and their minds being filled with wrath, Lysimachus arming about three thousand men, began first to use violent hands, one Tyrannus being their leader, a man far gone in years, and no less in folly. 41. But when they understood the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught stones, others clubs, others took handfuls of dust which was next at hand, and cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and them that were with him. 42. Thus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the ground, and all of them they forced to flee: but the sacrilegious wretch himself they killed beside the treasury. 43. Of these matters therefore an accusation was begun against Menelaus. 44. And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent by the ancients to plead the cause before him. 45. But Menelaus seeing himself overcome, promised Ptolemee to give him much money, to pacify the king towards him. 46. So Ptolemee going to the king in a certain court, where he was refreshing himself, brought him off from his purpose: 47. And Menelaus who was guilty of all the mischief, he acquitted of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, he condemned to death. 48. Thus they presently suffered unjust punishment, who prosecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and for the sacred vessels. 49. Wherefore even the Tyrians being moved with hatred of that wickedness, furnished them honourably with things for their burial. 50. But Menelaus, through the covetousness of them that were in power, continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betrayal of his fellow citizens.