Tibited with all peace, and the laws king. THEREFORE when the holy city was all means the money must be carried to the as yet were very well kept, because of the 14 So on the day he had appointed, Hegodliness of Onias the high-priest, and the liodorus entered in to order this matter. hatred his soul had of evil, But there was no small terror throughout 2 It came to pass that even the kings the whole city. themselves, and the princes esteemed the 15 And the priests prostrated themselves place worthy of the highest honour, and before the altar in their priests' vestments, glorified the temple with very great gifts: and called upon him from heaven, who made 3 So that Seleucus king of Asia al-the law concerning things given to be kept, lowed out of his revenues all the charges that he would preserve them safe, for them belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices. that had deposited them. 4 But one Simon of the tribe of Benja- 16 Now whosoever saw the countenance min, who was appointed overseer of the of the high-priest, was wounded in heart: temple, strove in opposition to the high-for his face and the changing of his colour, priest, to bring about some unjust thing in declared the inward sorrow of his mind. the city. 17 For the man was so compassed with 5 And when he could not overcome sadness and horror of the body, that it was Onias, he went to Apollonius the son of manifest to them that beheld him, what Tharseas, who at that time was governor of sorrow he had in his heart. Celesyria and Phenicia. 18 Others also came flocking together 6 And told him that the treasury in Jeru-out of their houses, praying and making salem was full of immense sums of money, public supplication, because the place was and the common store was infinite, which like to come into contempt. did not belong to the account of the sacri- 19 And the women girded with hairfices; and that it was possible to bring all cloth about their breast, came together in into the king's hands. the streets. And the virgins also that were 7 Now when Apollonius had given the shut up, came forth, some to Onias, and king notice concerning the money that he some to the walls; and others looked out was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who of the windows. had the charge over his affairs, and sent him 20 And all holding up their hands towith commission to bring him the foresaid wards heaven made supplication. money. 21 For the expectation of the mixed 8 So Heliodorus forthwith began his jour-multitude, and of the high priest who was ney, under a colour of visiting the cities of in an agony, would have moved any one to Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfil pity. the king's purpose. 22 And these indeed called upon Almigh9 And when he was come to Jerusalem, ty God, to preserve the things that had been and had been courteously received in the committed to them, safe and sure for those city by the high priest, he told him what that had committed them. information had been given concerning 23 But Heliodorus executed that which the money; and declared the cause for he had resolved on, himself being present which he was come and asked if these in the same place with his guard about the things were so indeed. treasury. 10 Then the high-priest told him that 24 But the spirit of the Almighty God these were sums deposited, and provisions gave a great evidence of his presence; so for the subsistence of the widows and the that all that had presumed to obey him, fatherless: falling down by the power of God, were 11 And that some part of that which struck with fainting and dread. wicked Simon had given intelligence of, be 25 For there appeared to them a horse longed to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of with a terrible rider upon him, adorned with great dignity: and that the whole was four a very rich covering: and he ran fiercely hundred talents of silver, and two hundred and struck Heliodorus with his fore-feet: of gold. and he that sat upon him, seemed to have 12 But that to deceive them who had armour of gold. trusted to the place and temple which is 26 Moreover there appeared two other honoured throughout the whole world, for young men beautiful and strong, bright and the reverence and holiness of it, was a glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood thing which could not by any means bey him, on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes. 13 But he by reason of the orders heground: and they took him up covered with 27 And Heliodorus suddenly fell to the had received from the king, said, that by great darkness: and having put him into a litter they carried him out. done. Seleucus son of Antiochus the great and elder brother of Autiochus Epiphanes. 28 So he that came with many servants, and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, was carried out no one being able to help 3 But when the enmities proceeded so him, the manifest power of God being far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon's friends: known. 29 And he indeed by the power of God 4 Onias considering the danger of this lay speechless, and without all hope of re-contention, and that Apollonius who was the governor of Celesyria, and Phenicia, was outrageous, which encreased the malice of Simon, went to the king, covery. 30 But they praised the Lord because he had glorified his place: and the temple, that a little before was full of fear and trouble, when the almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness. 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 except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly. 31 Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of Onias, that he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who was ready to give up the ghost. 32 So the high priest, considering that 7 But after the death of Seleucus, when the king might perhaps suspect that some Antiochus who was called the Illustrious, mischief had been done to Heliodorus by had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason the Jews, offered a sacrifice of health for the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the the recovery of the man. high priesthood: : 33 And when the high priest was pray- 8 And went to the king, promising him ing, the same young men in the same cloth-three hundred and sixty talents of silver, ing stood by Heliodorus, and said to him and out of other revenues fourscore talents: Give thanks to Onias the priest: because 9 Besides this he promised also a hunfor his sake the Lord had granted thee life. ||dred and fifty more, if he might have li34 And thou having been scourged by cence to set him up a place for exercise, God, declare unto all men the great works and a place for youth, and to entitle them, and the power of God. And having spoken that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians. thus, they appeared no more. 10 Which when the king had granted, 35 So Heliodorus after he had offered aand he had gotten the rule into his hands, sacrifice to God, and made great vows to forthwith he began to bring over his counhim, that had granted him life, and given trymen to the fashion of the Heathens. thanks to Onias, taking his troops with him, returned to the king. 36 And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which he had seen with his own eyes. 37 And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said: 11 And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favour 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. 38 If thou hast any enemy, or traitor to 12 For he had the boldness to set up, unthy kingdom, send him thither, and thouder the very castle, a place of exercise, and shalt receive him again scourged, if so be to put all the choicest youths in brothel he escape: for there is undoubtedly in that houses. place a certain power of God. 13 Now this was not the beginning, but 39 For he that hath his dwelling in the an increase and progress of heathenish and heavens, is the visiter and protector of that foreign manners, through the abominable place: and he striketh and destroyeth them and unheard-of wickedness of Jason, that that come to do evil to it. impious wretch and no priest. 40 And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury, fell out in this manner. CHAP. IV. UT Simon, of whom we spoke before, 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 Grecian Boman' the betrayer of the money, glories for the best: 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 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. 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 acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare. 18 Now when the game that was used tain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king them to Andronicus: and others he had being present, sold at Tyre, and the neighbouring cities: 19 The wicked Jason sent from Jerusa- 33 Which when On understood most lem sinful men to carry three hundred di-certainly, he reproved him, eeping himdrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Her-self in a safe place at Antioch beside phne. cules but the bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, be-dronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And 34 Whereupon Menelaus coming to Ancause it was not necessary, but might be he went to Onias, and gave him his right deputed for other charges. hand with an oath and (though he were 20 So the money was appointed by him suspected by him) persuaded him to come that sent it, to the sacrifice of Hercules; forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately but because of them that carried it, was slew him, without any regard to justice. employed for the making of galleys. 35 For which cause not only the Jews, 21 Now when Apollonius the son of but also the other nations, conceived indigMnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat nation, and were much grieved for the unwith the nobles of king Philometer, and just murder of so great a man. Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at 36 And when the king was come back from consulting his own interest, he departed Antioch, and also the Greeks went to him; thence, and came to Joppe, and from thence complaining of the unjust murder of Onias. to Jerusalem. 37 Antiochus therefore was grieved in his 22 Where he was received in a magnifi-mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, cent manner by Jason, and the city, and shed tears, remembering the sobriety and came in with torch-lights, and with praises: modesty of the deceased. and from thence he returned with his army 38 And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his into Phenicia. 23 Three years afterwards Jason sent purple, and to be led about through all the Menelaus brother of the aforesaid Simon,city: and that in the same place wherein to carry money to the king, and to bring he had committed the impiety against Onias, answers from him concerning certain ne-the sacrilegious wretch should be put to cessary affairs. 24 But he being recommended to the punishment. death, the Lord repaying him his deserved king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high-priesthood committed by Lysimachus in the temple, 39 Now when many sacrileges had been for himself, by offering more than Jason by by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumor three hundred talents of silver. of it was spread abroad, the multitude gath 25 So having received the king's man-ered themselves together against Lysimadate, he returned bringing nothing worthy chus, a great quantity of gold being already of the high-priesthood; but having the carried away. mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a 40 Wherefore the multitude making an savage beast. with anger, Lysimachus armed about three insurrection, and their minds being filled thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far both in age and in madness. 26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammanites. 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 appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king. gone of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, 41 But when they perceived the attempt some strong clubs: and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus. and some struck down to the ground; but 42 And many of them were wounded, legious fellow himself, they slew him beside all were put to flight: and as for the sacri 29 And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeed-the treasury. ing; and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians. 43 Now concerning these matters an accusation was laid against Menelaus. three men were sent from the ancients to 44 And when the king was come to Tyre, plead the cause before him, 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 Antiochis the king's concubine. 31 The king therefore went in all haste mised Ptolemee* to give him much money, 45 But Menelaus being convicted, proto appease them, leaving Andronicus one of to persuade the king to favour him. his nobles for his deputy. 32 Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen cer- favourite of the king. * Ptolemee. The son of Dorymenus, a 46 So Ptolemee went to the king in allgoing to Lacedemon, as if for kindred sake certain court where he was, as it were to he should have refuge there: cool himself, and brought him to be of ano- 10 But he that had cast out many unbuther mind : ried, was himself cast forth both unlament. 47 So nelaus who was guilty of all the led and unburied, neither having foreign buevil, was acquitted by him of the accusarial, nor being partaker of the sepulchre of tions: and those poor men, who, if they had his fathers. pleaded their cause even before Scythians, 11 Now when these things were done, should have been judged innocent, were the king suspected that the Jews would condemned to death. forsake the alliance: whereupon departing 48 Thus they that prosecuted the cause out of Egypt with a furious mind, he took for the city, and for the people, and the sa-the city by force of arms. cred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punish- 12 And commanded the soldiers to kill, and not to spare any that came in their way, and to go up into the houses to slay. ment. .49 Wherefore even the Tyrians being moved with indignation, were liberal towards their burial. 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. CHAP. V. 13 Thus there was a slaughter of young and old, a destruction of women and children, and killing of virgins and infants. 14 And there were slain in the space of three whole days fourscore thousand; forty thousand were made prisoners, and as many sold. 15 But this was not enough: he preWonderful signs are seen in the air. Jason's sumed also to enter into the temple, the wickedness and end. Antiochus takes Je-most holy in all the world, Menelaus that rusalem and plunders the temple. traitor to the laws, and to his country, be T the same time Antiochus prepared ing his guide. Afor a second journey into Egypt. 16 And taking in his wicked hands the 2 And it came to pass that through the holy vessels, which were given by other whole city of Jerusalem for the space of kings and cities, for the ornament and the forty days there were seen horsemen run-glory of the place, he unworthily handled ning in the air, in gilded raiment, and arm-and profaned them. ed with spears, like bands of soldiers. 17 Thus Antiochus going astray in mind, 3 And horses set in order by ranks, run-did not consider that God was angry for a ning one against another, with the shakings while, because of the sins of the inhabitants of shields, and a multitude of men in hel- of the city: and therefore this contempt mets with drawn swords, and casting of had happened to the place. darts, and glittering of golden armour, and 18 Otherwise had they not been involved in many sins, as Heliodorus, who was put back of harnesses of all sorts. 4 Wherefore all men prayed that these sent by king Seleucus to rob the treasury, prodigies might turn to good. so this man also, as soon as he had come, 5 Now when there was gone forth a false had been forthwith scourged, and rumour, as though Antiochus had been from his presumption. dead, Jason taking with him no fewer than a thousand men, suddenly assaulted the city and though the citizens ran together to the wall, the city at length was taken, and Menelaus fled into the castle. for the place's sake, but the place for the 19 But God did not choose the people people's sake. 20 And therefore the place also itself 6 But Jason slew his countrymen without was made partaker of the evils of the peomercy, not considering that prosperity a-the good things thereof, and as it was for ple: but afterward shall communicate in gainst one's own kindred, is a very great saken in the wrath of Almighty God, shall evil, thinking they had been enemies, and be exalted again with great glory, when not citizens, whom he conquered. 7 Yet he did not get the principality, but the great Lord shall be reconciled. received confusion at the end, for the re- 21 So when Antiochus had taken away ward of his treachery, and fled again into out of the temple a thousand and eight hunthe country of the Ammonites. dred talents, he went back in all haste to 8 At the last having been shut up by Antioch, thinking through pride, that he Aretas the king of the Arabians, in order might now make the land navigable, and for his destruction, flying from city to city, the sea passable on foot; such was the hated by all men, as a forsaker of the laws haughtiness of his mind. and execrable, as an enemy of his country 22 He left also governors to afflict the and countrymen, he was thrust out into people; at Jerusalem, Philip, a Phrygiau Egypt. by birth, but in manners more barbarous than he that set him there: 9 And he that had driven many out of their country, perished in a strange land, 23 And in Garizim, Andronicus and Me ཁ nelaus, who bore a more heavy hand upon suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they the citizens than the rest. also should act in like manner against the 24 And whereas he was set against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice : Jews, he sent that hateful prince Apolloni9 And whosoever would not conform us with an army of two and twenty thou-themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, sand men, commanding him to kill all that should be put to death: then was misery to were of perfect age, and to sell the women be seen. and the younger sort: 10 For two women were accused to have 25 Who when he was come to Jerusa-circumcised their children: whom, when lem, pretending peace, rested till the holy they had openly led about through the city day of the sabbath: and then the Jews with the infants hanging at their breasts, keeping holiday, he commanded his men they threw down headlong from the walls. 11 And others that had met together in to take arms. 26 And he slew all that were come forth caves that were near, and were keeping the to see and running through the city with sabbath-day privately, being discovered by armed men, he destroyed a very great mul- Philip, were burnt with fire, because they titude. made a conscience to help themselves with 27 But Judas Machabeus, who was the their hands, by reason of the religious obtenth, had withdrawn himself into a desert servance of the day. place, and there lived amongst wild beasts 12 Now I beseech those that shall read in the mountains with his company: and this book, that they be not shocked at these they continued feeding on herbs, that they calamities, but that they consider the things might not be partakers of the pollution. CHAP. VI. Antiochus commands the law to be abolished; that happened, not as being for the destruc- sets up an idol in the temple; and perse-when sinners are not suffered to go on in Eleazar. UT king sent a But not long aftantioch, to compel the the Lord patiently expecteth, that when the Jews to depart from the laws of their fa-day of judgment shall come, he may punish thers and of God: them in the fulness of their sins): 2 And to defile the temple that was in 15 Doth he also deal with us, so as to Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupi-suffer our sins to come to their height, and ter Olympius; and that in Garizimt of Ju-then take vengeance on us. piter Hospitalis, according as they were 16 And therefore he never withdraweth that inhabited the place. his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not. 3 And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all 17 But let this suffice in a few words for warning to the readers. And now we And women thrust must come to the narration. 4 For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the Gentiles, and of men ly-a ing with lewd women. themselves of their accord into the holy 18 Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, places, and brought in things that were not a man advanced in years, and of a comely lawful. countenance, was pressed to open his mouth 5 The altar also was filled with unlawful to eat swine's flesh. things, which were forbidden by the laws. 19 But he choosing rather a most glori6 And neither were the sabbaths kept, ous death than a hateful life, went forward nor the solemn days of the fathers observ-voluntarily to the torment. ed; neither did any man plainly profess 20 And considering in what manner he himself to be a Jew. was come to it, patiently bearing, he deter7 But they were led by bitter constraint mined not to do any unlawful things for the on the king's birth-day to the sacrifices: and love of life. when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they 21 But they that stood by being moved were compelled to go about crowned with with wicked pity,t for the old friendship ivy in honour of Bacchus. 8 And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the Gentiles, by the Was the tenth. That is, he had nine others in his company. they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the sacrifice : 22 That by so doing he might be deli t That in Garizim, viz. the temple of the|| Samaritans. And as they were originally Philip. The governor of Jerusalem. strangers, the name of Hospitalis (which † Wicked pity. Their pity was wicked, signifies of or belonging to strangers) was inasmuch as it suggested that wicked proapplicable to the idol set up in their temple.llposal of saving his life by dissimulation. |