2Mac 4:1 

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. 

2Mac 4:2 

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. 

2Mac 4:3 

But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's 

faction murders were committed, 

2Mac 4:4 

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, 

2Mac 4:5 

He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, 

but seeking the good of all, both publick and private: 

2Mac 4:6 

For he saw that it was impossible that the state should 

continue quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did 

look thereunto. 

2Mac 4:7 

But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called 

Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured 

underhand to be high priest, 

2Mac 4:8 

Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and 

threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty 

talents: 

2Mac 4:9 

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. 

2Mac 4:10 

Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his 

hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish 

fashion. 

2Mac 4:11 

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: 

2Mac 4:12 

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. 

2Mac 4:13 

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; 

2Mac 4:14 

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; 

2Mac 4:15 

Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the 

glory of the Grecians best of all. 

2Mac 4:16 

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. 

2Mac 4:17 

For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws 

of God: but the time following shall declare these things. 

2Mac 4:18 

Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at 

Tyrus, the king being present, 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 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: 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 4:26 

Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being 

undermined by another, was compelled to flee into the country of 

the Ammonites. 

2Mac 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: 

2Mac 4:28 

For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. 

Wherefore they were both called before the king. 

2Mac 4:29 

Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the 

priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the 

Cyprians. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 4:31 

Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving 

Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 4:33 

Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and 

withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by 

Antiochia. 

2Mac 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. 

2Mac 4:35 

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. 

2Mac 4:36 

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. 

2Mac 4:37 

Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, 

and wept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that 

was dead. 

2Mac 4:38 

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. 

2Mac 4:39 

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. 

2Mac 4:40 

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. 

2Mac 4:41 

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. 

2Mac 4:42 

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. 

2Mac 4:43 

Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid 

against Menelaus. 

2Mac 4:44 

Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent 

from the senate pleaded the cause before him: 

2Mac 4:45 

But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son 

of Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king 

toward him. 

2Mac 4:46 

Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain 

gallery, as it were to take the air, brought him to be of 

another mind: 

2Mac 4:47 

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. 

2Mac 4:48 

Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the 

people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust 

punishment. 

2Mac 4:49 

Wherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that 

wicked deed, caused them to be honourably buried. 

2Mac 4:50 

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.