4:19 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.
4:20 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.
4:21 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:
4:22 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.
4:23 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.
4:24 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.
4:25 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.
4:26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined
by another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
4:27 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:
4:28 For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore
they were both called before the king.
4:29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the
priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the
Cyprians.
4:30 While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made
insurrection, because they were given to the king’s concubine, called
Antiochus.
4:31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving
Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
4:32 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.
4:33 Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew
himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.
4:34 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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