Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/183

Apocrypha. leave his folly, unless the king did look thereunto.

7 But after the death of Seleucus, when of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which. q^ist cir. 1 74.. even the bearers thereof thought fit not to- bestow upotj. the sacrifice,, because it was Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the I not convenient, but to be reserved for other

kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias la boured underhand to be high priest,

8 Promising unto the king by inter cession three hundred and threescore ta lents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents :

9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up b 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.

10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the rule, he forthwith brought his own nation to the Greekisti fashion.

1 1 And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the means of e 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 :

12 Fqr 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.

13 Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish man ners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest

14 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

15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.

16 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*

17 For it is not a light thing to do wick edly against the law6 of God : but the time following shall declare these things.

18 Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyrus* sticking being present,

10 This ungracious Jason sent + special HgZtsam- messengers from Jerusalem, who were An- tiochians, to carry three hundred drachms Discus, which was a ltone with an bole in the roidit. er. 174. f Gr. mbi charges.
 * Or, /As

20 This money then, in regard of the j sender, was appointed to Hercules' sacri fice ; but because of the bearers thereof, it was employed to the malting of gallies.

21 Now when Apollonins the Jon- of cir. 173. Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the II coronation of king Ftolemus Philometor, 11 or, Antiochus, understanding him not to be tb">ntZin£' well affected to his affairs, provided for hia own safety : whereupon he came to Joppev and from thence to Jerusalem:

22 Where he was honourably, received of Jason, and of the city, and was brought u* with torch light, and with great shout ings : and so afterward. went with his host unto Phenice.

23 Three years afterward Jason sent Me- cir. 171. nelaus, the aforesaid Simon's brother,, tot bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of certain necestiiry matters.

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 talentsofsilver.

25 Sq he came with, the king's mandate* bringing nothing worthy the nigh priest hood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.

26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined by an-. other, was compelled to flee into tho country of the. Ammonites.

27 So Menelaus got the principality t cir. 171. but as for the money that:he had promised unto the king, he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratus the ruler of the castle required kc .n!.:..

28 For unto him appertained the gather ing of the customs. Wherefore they vxxe both called before the king.

29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysi-> machus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.

30 While thosei things, were in doing; they of Tarsus and Mallos made insorrec** tion, because they were given to the king's concubine, called Antiochis.

31 Therucame the king in all haste tot appease matters, leaving Andconicusy aL man in authority, for his deputy.

32 Now Menelaus* supposing that he had. gotten a convenient time, stole certain vessels of: gold-out of. the; temple,. ajid. gave