2Maccabees:4

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* 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 . * 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 . * But when their hatred went so far , that by one of Simon 's faction murders were committed , * 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 , * He went to the king , not to be an accuser of his countrymen , but seeking the good of all , both publick and private : * For he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue quiet , and Simon leave his folly , unless the king did look thereunto . * But after the death of Seleucus , when Antiochus , called Epiphanes , took the kingdom , Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest , * Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver , and of another revenue eighty talents : * 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 . * Which when the king had granted , and he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion . * 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 : * 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 . * 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 ; * 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 ; * Not setting by the honours of their fathers , but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all . * 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 . * For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of God : but the time following shall declare these things . * Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at Tyrus , the king being present , * 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 . * 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 . * 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 : * 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 . * Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus , the aforesaid Simon 's brother , to bear the money unto the king , and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters . * 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 . * 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 . * Then Jason , who had undermined his own brother , being undermined by another , was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites . * So Menelaus 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 : * For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs . Wherefore they were both called before the king . * Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood ; and Sostratus left Crates , who was governor of the Cyprians . * While those things were in doing , they of Tarsus and Mallos made insurrection , because they were given to the king 's concubine , called Antiochus . * Then came the king in all haste to appease matters , leaving Andronicus , a man in authority , for his deputy . * Now Menelaus , 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 . * Which when Onias knew of a surety , he reproved him , and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne , that lieth by Antiochia . * Wherefore Menelaus , 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry , and moved to pity , and wept , because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead . * 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 . * Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus , and the fruit thereof was spread abroad , the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus , many vessels of gold being already carried away . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against Menelaus . * Now when the king came to Tyrus , three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him : * But Menelaus , being now convicted , promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money , if he would pacify the king toward him . * Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery , as it were to take the air , brought him to be of another mind : * Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus 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 . * Thus they that followed the matter for the city , and for the people , and for the holy vessels , did soon suffer unjust punishment . * Wherefore even they of Tyrus , moved with hatred of that wicked deed , caused them to be honourably buried . * And so through the covetousness of them that were of power Menelaus remained still in authority , increasing in malice , and being a great traitor to the citizens .

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