Simon Accuses Onias
1 But Simon (mentioned earlier as the one who informed Apollonius about the money and brought trouble on the nation) also lied about Onias, claiming that he was responsible for the attack on Heliodorus and for the difficulties that followed. 2 He dared to accuse Onias of plotting against the government—Onias who not only had made donations to Jerusalem and had protected the Temple, but who was eager to see that all our laws were obeyed. 3-4 Apollonius son of Menestheus, the governor of Greater Syria, encouraged Simon in every evil thing he did, and Simon's opposition finally grew so strong that one of his trusted followers committed several murders. Onias realized how dangerous the situation had become, 5 so he went to the king, not for the purpose of making accusations against his own people, but for the common good of all Jews, both in their private and public lives. 6 He realized that without the king's cooperation there was no hope for peace, and Simon would keep on with his foolishness.
Jason Introduces Greek Customs
7 Later, when King Seleucus died and Antiochus (known as Epiphanes) became king, Jason the brother of Onias became High Priest by corrupt means. 8 He went to see the king and offered him 27,000 pounds of silver with 6,000 more pounds to be paid later. 9 Jason also offered him an additional 11,250 pounds of silver for the authority to establish a stadium where young men could train and to enroll the people of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch.
10 The king gave his approval, and just as soon as Jason took over the office of High Priest, he made the people of Jerusalem change to the Greek way of life. 11 He began by abolishing the favors that John had secured for the Jews from previous Syrian kings. (John was the father of the Eupolemus who later went to Rome to make an alliance and to establish ties of friendship.) Jason also did away with our Jewish customs and introduced new customs that were contrary to our Law. 12 With great enthusiasm he built a stadium near the Temple hill and led our finest young men to adopt the Greek custom of participating in athletic events. 13 Because of the unrivaled wickedness of Jason, that ungodly and illegitimate High Priest, the craze for the Greek way of life and for foreign customs reached such a point 14 that even the priests lost all interest in their sacred duties. They lost interest in the Temple services and neglected the sacrifices. Just as soon as the signal was given, they would rush off to take part in the games that were forbidden by our Law. 15 They did not care about anything their ancestors had valued; they prized only Greek honors. 16 And this turned out to be the source of all their troubles, for the very people whose ways they admired and whose customs they tried to imitate became their enemies and oppressed them. 17 It is a serious thing to disregard God's Law, as you will see from the following events.
Jerusalem under Syrian Influence
18 Once when the king was present for the athletic games that were held every five years in the city of Tyre, 19 that worthless Jason sent some men there from Jerusalem, who were also enrolled as citizens of Antioch, to take 22,500 pounds of silver to pay for a sacrifice to the god Hercules. But even these men did not think it was fitting to use such a large sum of money for a sacrifice, and 20 so the money originally intended as a sacrifice to Hercules was used for the construction of warships.
21 When Apollonius son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt to attend the crowning of Philometor as king, Antiochus learned that Philometor was opposed to his policies. Antiochus became concerned about the security of his own kingdom, so he went to Joppa and then on to Jerusalem. 22 There he was welcomed with great splendor by Jason and the people of the city who went out to greet him, shouting and carrying torches. From Jerusalem Antiochus led his army to Phoenicia.
Menelaus Becomes High Priest
23 Three years later, Jason sent Menelaus (brother of the Simon mentioned earlier) to take some money to the king and to get his decision on several important matters. 24 But when he stood before the king, Menelaus impressed him with his show of authority and offered 22,500 pounds of silver more than Jason had offered for his appointment to the office of High Priest. 25 As a result Menelaus returned to Jerusalem with papers from the king, confirming him as High Priest. But he possessed no other qualifications; he had the temper of a cruel tyrant and could be as fierce as a wild animal. 26 So Jason, who had cheated his own brother out of the office of High Priest, was now forced to flee to the land of Ammon. 27 Menelaus continued to be High Priest, but he never paid any of the money he had promised the king. 28 However, Sostratus, the captain of the fort in Jerusalem, kept demanding the money, since it was his responsibility to collect it. So finally, the two men were summoned to appear before the king concerning the matter. 29 Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus as acting High Priest, while Sostratus left the fort under the command of Crates, the commander of the mercenary troops from Cyprus.
The Murder of Onias
30 Meanwhile, there was a revolt in the Cilician cities of Tarsus and Mallus, because the king had given those cities to Antiochis, his mistress. 31 So the king left Andronicus, one of his high officials, in command, while he hurried off to Cilicia to restore order. 32 Menelaus took advantage of this opportunity and presented Andronicus with some of the gold objects he had removed from the Temple in Jerusalem. He had already sold some of them to the city of Tyre and to other nearby cities. 33 When Onias heard about this, he fled for safety to a temple at Daphne near the city of Antioch and openly accused Menelaus. 34 Then Menelaus secretly persuaded Andronicus to kill Onias. So Andronicus went to Onias and deceived him with a friendly greeting and with promises of safety. Although Onias was suspicious, Andronicus finally lured him away from the safety of the temple and immediately murdered him in cold blood.
Andronicus Is Punished
35 The Jews and Gentiles were very angry because Onias had been murdered. 36 So when the king returned from the territory of Cilicia, the Jews of Antioch went to him and protested against this senseless killing. Many Gentiles felt the same way about the crime. 37 King Antiochus was deeply grieved and was so filled with sorrow that he was moved to tears when he recalled the wisdom and self-control that Onias had shown throughout his life. 38 Antiochus became so angry that he tore off Andronicus' royal robe, stripped him naked, and marched him around the city to the very spot where Onias had been murdered. Then Antiochus had this bloodthirsty murderer put to death. This was how the Lord gave him the punishment he deserved.
Lysimachus Is Killed
39 Meanwhile, with the support of his brother Menelaus, Lysimachus had on numerous occasions robbed the Jerusalem Temple and had taken many of its gold objects. When word of this spread around, crowds began to gather in protest against Lysimachus. 40 Finally, the crowds were becoming dangerous and were beginning to get out of control, so Lysimachus sent 3,000 armed men to attack them. They were led by Auranus, a man as stupid as he was old. 41 When the Jews in the Temple courtyard realized what was happening, they picked up rocks, pieces of wood, or simply handfuls of ashes from the altar and threw them at Lysimachus and his men in the confusion. 42 They killed a few of Lysimachus' men, wounded many of them, and all the rest ran for their lives. Lysimachus himself, that temple robber, was killed near the Temple treasury.
Menelaus Is Brought to Trial
43 Because of this incident Menelaus was brought to trial. 44 When the king came to the city of Tyre, the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sent three men to bring charges against Menelaus. 45 When Menelaus saw that he was losing the case, he offered Ptolemy son of Dorymenes a large bribe to persuade the king to decide in his favor. 46 Ptolemy then asked the king to go outside the courtroom with him, as though to get some fresh air, and there he persuaded him to change his mind 47 and declare Menelaus innocent of the charges against him. So Menelaus was set free, although he had caused the trouble; but the three men, whom even the cruel Scythians would have declared innocent, were sentenced to death. 48 The three men had spoken in defense of Jerusalem, its people, and the sacred objects stolen from the Temple, but they were quickly and unjustly executed. 49 Some of the people of Tyre, however, showed their disgust with this crime and their respect for these men by giving them a splendid funeral. 50 Menelaus stayed on in his position because of the greed of those in power. He grew more evil every day and became the worst enemy of his own people.
1 Simons, kas minēts iepriekš un bija nodevīgi izturējies pret dārgumu krātuvi un savu tēviju, sāka apmelot Oniju, ka viņš esot sakūdījis Hēliodoru un tā nodarījis lielu ļaunumu. 2 Par Oniju, kas bija pilsētas labdaris un dedzīgs Dieva likumu sargs un rūpējās par tautas kopību, viņš uzdrošinājās runāt kā par sazvērnieku, kas grib iegūt noteikšanu pilsētā. 3 Naidīgums bija aizgājis tiktāl, ka notika pat slepkavības, ko veica kāds Simonam uzticīgais. 4 Onija, redzēdams grūto stāvokli, ko radījis savstarpējais naidīgums, un to, ka Apollonijs, Menesteja dēls, Lejassīrijas un Foinīkijas militārais virspavēlnieks, sekmē Simona ļaundarības, 5 ieradās pie ķēniņa, nevis lai apsūdzētu savus pilsoņus, bet lai apspriestu to, kas derīgs – gan kopīgi visai tautai, gan katram atsevišķi. 6 Viņš redzēja, ka bez ķēniņa tālredzības nebūs iespējams iedibināt valstī mieru un Simons neatkāpsies no sava neprāta.
Jāsons – virspriesteris
7 Kad Seleiks bija šķīries no dzīves un viņa vietā varu pārņēma Antiohs, kura pievārds bija Epifans, tad Jāsons, Onijas brālis, centās negodīgā ceļā iegūt virspriestera amatu, 8 apsolīdams ķēniņam veiksmes gadījumā trīs simti sešdesmit sudraba talantus un vēl no kādām citām nodevām astoņdesmit talantus. 9 Vēl viņš apsolīja tam parakstīt simt piecdesmit talantus, ja tas ar savas varas autoritāti ļautu viņam ierīkot sporta skolu un jauniešu treniņu laukumu, kā arī jeruzālemiešus rakstīt kā antiohiešus. 10 Ķēniņš piekrita, un Jāsons, ieguvis varu, tūlīt sāka savus cilts brāļus pieradināt pie grieķu paražām. 11 Viņš noraidīja jūdiem draudzīgos ķēniņu noteiktos likumus, kurus bija iedibinājis Jānis, Eipolema tēvs, tas, kurš kā sūtnis piedalījās delegācijā pie romiešiem, kad tika noslēgta draudzības un militārās palīdzības vienošanās. Atcēlis likumīgo valsts satversmi, viņš mēģināja ieviest pretlikumīgas paražas. 12 Pašā akropoles pakājē viņš nekavējoties lika uzcelt sporta skolu un pavēlēja spēcīgākiem jauniešiem, ietērptiem pēc grieķu paražas, tur trenēties. 13 Jāsons nebija īsts virspriesteris, viņa bezdievības un pārmērīgās nešķīstības dēļ grieķisko paražu un visa svešā piesavināšanās sasniedza tādu pakāpi, 14 ka priesteri vairs nedomāja par upurēšanas kalpošanu. Noniecinādami templi un nerūpēdamies par upuriem, viņi cītīgi nodevās sportiskām cīņām un diska mešanai, tādējādi rīkodamies pretlikumīgi. 15 No tēviem mantotos likumus viņi neturēja nekādā godā, toties augstu vērtēja grieķu uzskatus. 16 Un tādēļ viņus piemeklēja smaga nelaime – tos, kurus viņi tik cītīgi atdarināja un kuriem centās pēc iespējas vairāk līdzināties, viņi iemantoja sev par ienaidniekiem un soģiem. 17 Nevar jokot un bezdievīgi izturēties pret dievišķiem likumiem, tas viss nāks gaismā, kad pienāks laiks.
18 Kad sportiskās sacensības, kas tika rīkotas katru piekto gadu, notika Tīrā ar ķēniņa piedalīšanos, 19 nelga Jāsons sūtīja no Jeruzālemes antiohiešu delegāciju ar trīs simti drahmām kā ziedojumu Hērakla templim. Bet tie, kas nogādāja šo naudu, uzskatīja, ka tā nepienākas ziedojumam, un lūdza izlietot to citiem izdevumiem. 20 Tā nauda, kas bija sūtīta ziedojumam Hērakla templim, nogādātāju dēļ tika izlietota karakuģu būvei.
21 Kad vēlāk Apollonijs, Menesteja dēls, tika sūtīts uz Ēģipti sakarā ar Filomētora pasludināšanu par ķēniņu, Antiohs, dabūjis zināt, ka Ēģiptes ķēniņš kļuvis neuzticīgs viņam un viņa valdīšanai, sāka bažīties par savu drošību. Tāpēc viņš devās vispirms uz Jafu, pēc tam ieradās Jeruzālemē. 22 Jāsons un visa pilsēta viņu uzņēma lieliski, vedot vēršu vilktos ratos un pavadot ar lāpām. Pēc tam viņš devās uz Foinīkiju.
Menelājs – virspriesteris
23 Pēc trim gadiem Jāsons sūtīja Menelāju, iepriekš minētā Simona brāli, aizvest ķēniņam naudu un atgādināt dažas vajadzīgas lietas. 24 Viņš satikās ar ķēniņu un, glaimodams viņam, ieguva tā labvēlību un, piedāvājis trīs simti drahmu vairāk nekā Jāsons, panāca, ka virspriestera amats tiek viņam. 25 Ar ķēniņa pavēli viņš atgriezās Jeruzālemē, bet kā virspriesteris neko ievērības cienīgu nepaveica, jo viņam piemita nežēlīga tirāna gars un savās dusmās viņš bija kā mežonīgs barbars. 26 Jāsons, kas negodīgā ceļā bija padzinis no amata savu brāli, tagad, cita padzīts tādā pašā negodīgā ceļā, bija spiests bēgt uz ammanītu zemi. 27 Tā Menelājs ieguva varu, tomēr no ķēniņam apsolītās naudas neko nesamaksāja, 28 lai gan Sostrats, pilsētas cietokšņa pārvaldnieks, viņam to pieprasīja, jo naudas savākšana bija viņa uzdevums. Tad ķēniņš abus izsauca pie sevis. 29 Menelājs savā vietā virspriestera amatā atstāja savu brāli Līsimahu, Sostrats – Kratētu, kipriešu pārvaldnieku.
30 Tajā laikā, kad risinājās šie notikumi, sadumpojās tarsieši un mallotieši, jo ķēniņš viņus bija uzdāvinājis savai piegulētājai Antiohidai. 31 Ķēniņš steidzās turp, lai dumpi apslāpētu, un savā vietā atstāja Andronīku, lai tas kārtotu valsts lietas. 32 Menelājs uzskatīja, ka viņam tā ir lieliska izdevība. Viņš piesavinājās no tempļa zeltlietas un, gribēdams pielabināties Andronīkam, dažas viņam uzdāvināja, citas viņš pārdeva Tīrā un apkārtējās pilsētās. 33 Kad Onija to uzzināja, viņš vispirms devās uz Dafni, drošu uzturēšanās vietu, kas atradās netālu no Antiohijas, un darīja zināmu Menelāja rīcību. 34 Tādēļ Menelājs, notvēris brīdi, kad Andronīks bija viens pats, uzkūdīja viņu Oniju nogalēt. Arī Andronīks devās pie Onijas, un, lai gan viņa ierašanās bija aizdomīga, viņš, zvērēdams un sniegdams savu labo roku, ar viltu pārliecināja Oniju iznākt ārā no drošās patvēruma vietas. Nekaunēdamies taisnības priekšā, Andronīks tūdaļ pat saņēma Oniju ciet. 35 Dusmas par to izrādīja ne tikai jūdi, bet arī daudzas citas tautas, kas smagi pārdzīvoja krietnā vīra netaisno nogalināšanu. 36 Kad ķēniņš atgriezās no Kilikijas, viņš satika pilsētas jūdus un arī grieķus, kuri tāpat bija sašutuši par Onijas netaisno nogalināšanu. 37 Antiohs dziļi dvēselē noskuma. Viņu pārņēma žēlums, un viņš raudāja par vīru, kam piemita krietns prāts un godīgums. 38 Tad, aizdedzies dusmās, viņš norāva Andronīkam purpura apmetni, saplēsa driskās drēbes un tādu lika vest apkārt pa visu pilsētu uz vietu, kur viņš bezdievīgi bija nogalinājis Oniju. Tur nešķīstais slepkava tika aizvākts no šīs pasaules. Tā Andronīks saņēma pelnīto Dieva sodu.
39 Kad Līsimahs ar Menelāja ziņu bija pilsētā daudzkārt aplaupījis tempļus un runas par to jau bija izplatījušās, tauta sāka kurnēt pret Līsimahu, jo daudzas zeltlietas jau bija aiznestas. 40 Kad pūlis, dusmu pārņemts, sacēlās, Līsimahs apbruņoja kādus trīs tūkstošus vīru un ķērās pie netaisniem varasdarbiem, par vadoni izvēloties kādu Auranu, kam bija diezgan daudz gadu un tikpat daudz neprāta. 41 Kad ļaudis redzēja Līsimaha ļaunos nodomus, vieni ņēma akmeņus, citi resnas nūjas, vēl citi saujām grāba pelnus, kas gadījās pie rokas, un meta virsū Līsimaha vīriem. 42 Tā viņi daudzus ievainoja, dažus notrieca zemē un visus piespieda bēgt, bet pašu Līsimahu, tempļu izlaupītāju, nogalināja pie dārgumu krātuves. 43 Par šīm lietām sākās tiesas izmeklēšana pret Menelāju. 44 Kad ķēniņš bija ieradies Tīrā, trīs vīri, kurus vecajie bija sūtījuši, viņam apsūdzēja Menelāju. 45 Menelājs tiesā jau bija zaudējis, bet viņš piesolīja lielu naudu Ptolemajam, Dorimena dēlam, lai tas mēģina iespaidot ķēniņu. 46 Ptolemajs, paaicinājis ķēniņu ārā kolonādes gaitenī, lai it kā atvēsinātos, panāca, ka ķēniņš maina savas domas, 47 un Menelājs, kas bija visa ļaunuma vaininieks, tika vaļā no visām apsūdzībām, bet tiem trim nelaimīgajiem tika piespriests nāves sods; pat ja skitu priekšā viņi tā būtu runājuši, viņi būtu palaisti vaļā nenotiesāti. 48 Tā visi tie, kas bija atklāti runājuši, iestādamies par pilsētu, par tautu un svētajiem traukiem, drīz pēc tam saņēma netaisnu sodu. 49 Tīras iedzīvotāji, kas par šādu nelietību bija sašutuši, viņiem sarīkoja cienīgu apglabāšanu. 50 Bet Menelājs ķēniņu mantkārības dēļ palika amatā, varens savā nekrietnajā uzpūtībā un pret pilsoņiem ļaunprātīgs.
