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2 Maccabees 4
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1This Simon now, of whom we spoke before, having been a betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.
1The previously mentioned Simon, who had given information about the money against his country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodorus and had been the real cause of these evils.
2Thus 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.
2He dared to call him a conspirator against the state who was actually the benefactor of the city, the guardian of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws.
3But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were committed,
3When his hatred grew so great that even murders were perpetrated through one of Simon’s approved agents,
4Oniasseeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius , as being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase Simon's malice,
4Onias, seeing the danger of the contention, and that Apollonius the son of Menestheus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was increasing Simon’s malice,
5He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but seeking the good of all , both publick and private:
5appealed to the king, not to be an accuser of his fellow-citizens, but looking to the good of all the people, both public and private;
6For he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did look thereto.
6for he saw that without the king’s involvement it was impossible for the state to obtain peace any more, and that Simon would not cease from his madness.
7But after the death of Seleucus , when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,
7When Seleucus was deceased, and Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias supplanted his brother in the high priesthood,
8Promising to the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:
8having promised to the king at an audience three hundred sixty talents of silver, and out of another fund eighty talents.
9Beside this, he promised to assign one 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.
9In addition to this, he undertook to assign one hundred fifty more, if it might be allowed him through the king’s authority to set him up a gymnasium and a body of youths to be trained in it, and to register the inhabitants of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch.
10Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.
10When the king had assented, and Jason had taken possession of the office, he immediately shifted those of his own race to the Greek way of life.
11And the royal privileges granted of special favor to the Jewsby 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:
11Setting aside the royal ordinances of special favor to the Jews, granted by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went on the mission to the Romans to establish friendship and alliance, and seeking to overthrow the lawful ways of living, he brought in new customs forbidden by the law.
12For 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.
12For he eagerly established a gymnasium under the citadel itself, and caused the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat.
13Now 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;
13Thus there was an extreme of hellenization, and an advance of a foreign religion, by reason of the exceeding profaneness of Jason, who was an ungodly man and not a high priest;
14That 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;
14so that the priests had no more any zeal for the services of the altar; but despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to enjoy that which was unlawfully provided in the wrestling arena, after the summons to the discus-throwing.
15Not setting by the honors of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.
15They despised the honors of their fathers, and valued the prestige of the Greeks best of all.
16By reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had them to be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they followed so earnestly , and to whom they desired to be like in all things.
16For this reason, severe calamity overtook them. The men whose ways of living they earnestly followed, and to whom they desired to be made like in all things, these became their enemies and punished them.
17For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of God: but the time following shall declare these things.
17For it is not a light thing to show irreverence to God’s laws, but later events will make this clear.
18Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at Tyrus, the king being present,
18Now when certain games that came every fifth year were kept at Tyre, and the king was present,
19This ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem, who were Antiochians , to carry three hundred drachmas 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.
19the vile Jason sent sacred envoys, as being Antiochians of Jerusalem, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought not right to use for any sacrifice, because it was not fit, but to spend it for another purpose.
20This 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.
20Although the intended purpose of the sender this money was for the sacrifice of Hercules, yet on account of present circumstances it went to the construction of trireme warships.
21Now 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:
21Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the enthronement of Philometor as king, Antiochus, learning that Philometor had shown himself hostile toward the government, took precautions for the security of his realm. Therefore, going to Joppa, he travelled on to Jerusalem.
22Where he was honorably 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 to Phenice.
22Being magnificently received by Jason and the city, he was brought in with torches and shouting. Then he led his army down into Phoenicia.
23Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid Simon's brother, to bear the money to the king, and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters.
23Now after a space of three years, Jason sent Menelaus, the previously mentioned Simon’s brother, to carry the money to the king, and to make reports concerning some necessary matters.
24But 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.
24But he being commended to the king, and having been glorified by the display of his authority, secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25So 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.
25After receiving the royal mandates, he returned bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood, but having the passion of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage animal.
26Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined by another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
26So Jason, who had supplanted his own brother, was supplanted by another and driven as a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
27So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money that he had promised to the king , he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratis the ruler of the castle required it:
27Menelaus had possession of the office, but of the money that had been promised to the king nothing was regularly paid, even though Sostratus the governor of the citadel demanded it—
28For to him appertained the gathering of the customs. Therefore they were both called before the king .
28for his job was the gathering of the revenues—so they were both called by the king to his presence.
29Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.
29Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus for his deputy in the high priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was over the Cyprians.
30While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made insurrection, because they were given to the king's concubine, called Antiochus.
30Now while this was the state of things, it came to pass that the people of Tarsus and Mallus revolted because they were to be given as a present to Antiochis, the king’s concubine.
31Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
31The king therefore quickly came to settle matters, leaving for his deputy Andronicus, a man of high rank.
32Now 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.
32Then Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a favorable opportunity, presented to Andronicus certain vessels of gold belonging to the temple, which he had stolen. He had already sold others into Tyre and the neighboring cities.
33Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lies by Antiochia.
33When Onias had sure knowledge of this, he sharply reproved him, having withdrawn himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lies by Antioch.
34Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus apart, prayed, him to get Onias into his hands; who being persuaded thereto, and coming to Onias in deceit, gave him his right hand with oaths; andthough he were suspected by him, yet persuaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary: whom forthwith he shut up without regard of justice.
34Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus aside, asked him to kill Onias. Coming to Onias, and being persuaded to use treachery, and being received as a friend, Andronicus gave him his right hand with oaths and, though he was suspicious, persuaded him to come out of the sanctuary. Then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him to death.
35For 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.
35For this reason not only Jews, but many also of the other nations, had indignation and displeasure at the unjust murder of the man.
36And 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.
36And when the king had come back from the places in Cilicia, the Jews who were in the city appealed to him against Andronicus (the Greeks also joining with them in hatred of the wickedness), urging that Onias had been wrongfully slain.
37Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and modest behavior of him that was dead.
37Antiochus therefore was heartily sorry, and was moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and well ordered life of him who was dead.
38And being kindled with anger, forthwith he took away Andronicus his purple , and tore off his clothes, and leading him through the whole city to that very place, where he had committed impiety against Onias, there killed he the cursed murderer. Thus the Lord rewarded him his punishment, as he had deserved.
38Being inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off Andronicus’s purple robe, and tore off his under garments, and when he had led him round through the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias, there he put the murderer out of the way, the Lord rendering to him the punishment he had deserved.
39Now 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.
39Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and when the report of them had spread abroad outside, the people gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, after many vessels of gold had already been stolen.
40Whereupon 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.
40When the multitudes were rising against him and were filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and with unrighteous violence began the attack under the leadership of Hauran, a man far gone in years and no less also in folly.
41They 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.
41But when they perceived the assault of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, others logs of wood, and some took handfuls of the ashes that lay near, and they flung them all in wild confusion at Lysimachus and those who were with him.
42Thus many of themthey 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.
42As a result, they wounded many of them, they killed some, and they forced the rest of them to flee, but the author of the sacrilege himself they killed beside the treasury.
43Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against Menelaus.
43But about these matters, there was an accusation laid against Menelaus.
44Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him:
44When the king had come to Tyre, the three men who were sent by the senate pleaded the cause before him.
45But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.
45But Menelaus, seeing himself now defeated, promised much money to Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, that he might win over the king.
46Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery, as it were to take the air, brought him to be of another mind:
46Therefore Ptolemy taking the king aside into a cloister, as if to get some fresh air, convinced him to change his mind.
47Insomuch 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, yes, before the Scythians, should have been judged innocent, them he condemned to death.
47He who was the cause of all the evil, Menelaus, he discharged from the accusations; but these hapless men, who, if they had pleaded even before Scythians, would have been discharged uncondemned, them he sentenced to death.
48Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
48Those who were spokesmen for the city and the families of Israel and the holy vessels soon suffered that unrighteous penalty.
49Therefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that wicked deed, caused them to be honorably buried.
49Therefore even certain Tyrians, moved with hatred of the wickedness, provided magnificently for their burial.
50And 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.
50But Menelaus, through the covetous dealings of those who were in power, remained still in his office, growing in wickedness, established as a great conspirator against his fellow-citizens.