13
Onias the high priest, induced by these words, although for other reasons anxious that king Seleucus should not suppose that Apollonius was slain by human device and not by Divine punishment, prayed for him;
14
and he being thus unexpectedly saved, departed to manifest to the king what had happened to him.
15
But on the death of Seleucus the king, his son Antiochus Epiphanes succeeds to the kingdom: a man of haughty pride and terrible.
16
Who having deposed Onias from the high priesthood, appointed his brother Jason to be high priest:
17
who had made a covenant, if he would give him this authority, to pay yearly three thousand six hundred and sixty talents.
18
And he committed to him the high priesthood and rulership over the nation.
19
And he both changed the manner of living of the people, and perverted their civil customs into all lawlessness.
20
So that he not only erected a gymnasium on the very citadel of our country, the guardianship of the temple.
21
At which Divine vengeance being grieved, instigated Antiochus himself against them.
22
For being at war with Ptolemy in Egypt, he heard that on a report of his death being spread abroad, the inhabitants of Jerusalem had exceedingly rejoiced, and he quickly marched against them.
23
And having subdued them, he established a decree that if any of them lived according to the laws of his country he should die.