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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
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.
7
Later, when King Seleucus died and Antiochus (known as Epiphanes) became king, Jason the brother of Onias became High Priest by corrupt means.
1