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Also How Many Of The Jews Forsook The Laws Of Their Country； And
How The Samaritans Followed The Customs Of The Greeks And Named
Their Temple At Mount Gerizzim The Temple Of Jupiter Hellenius。
1。 About this time； upon the death of Onias the high priest； they
gave the high priesthood to Jesus his brother； for that son which
Onias left ＇or Onias IV。＇ was yet but an infant； and； in its
proper place； we will inform the reader of all the circumstances
that befell this child。 But this Jesus； who was the brother of
Onias； was deprived of the high priesthood by the king； who was
angry with him； and gave it to his younger brother； whose name
also was Onias； for Simon had these three sons； to each of which
the priesthood came； as we have already informed the reader。 This
Jesus changed his name to Jason； but Onias was called Menelaus。
Now as the former high priest； Jesus； raised a sedition against
Menelaus； who was ordained after him； the multitude were divided
between them both。 And the sons of Tobias took the part of
Menelaus； but the greater part of the people assisted Jason； and
by that means Menelaus and the sons of Tobias were distressed；
and retired to Antiochus； and informed him that they were
desirous to leave the laws of their country； and the Jewish way
of living according to them； and to follow the king's laws； and
the Grecian way of living。 Wherefore they desired his permission
to build them a Gymnasium at Jerusalem。 （15） And when he had
given them leave； they also hid the circumcision of their
genitals； that even when they were naked they might appear to be
Greeks。 Accordingly； they left off all the customs that belonged
to their own country； and imitated the practices of the other
nations。
2。 Now Antiochus； upon the agreeable situation of the affairs of
his kingdom； resolved to make an expedition against Egypt； both
because he had a desire to gain it； and because he contemned the
son of Ptolemy； as now weak； and not yet of abilities to manage
affairs of such consequence； so he came with great forces to
Pelusium； and circumvented Ptolemy Philometor by treachery； and
seized upon Egypt。 He then came to the places about Memphis； and
when he had taken them； he made haste to Alexandria； in hopes of
taking it by siege； and of subduing Ptolemy； who reigned there。
But he was driven not only from Alexandria； but out of all Egypt；
by the declaration of the Romans； who charged him to let that
country alone； according as I have elsewhere formerly declared。 I
will now give a particular account of what concerns this king；
how he subdued Judea and the temple； for in my former work I
mentioned those things very briefly； and have therefore now
thought it necessary to go over that history again； and that with
great accuracy。
3。 King Antiochus returning out of Egypt （16） for fear of the
Romans； made an expedition against the city Jerusalem； and when
he was there； in the hundred and forty…third year of the kingdom
of the Seleucidse； he took the city without fighting； those of
his own party opening the gates to him。 And when he had gotten
possession of Jerusalem； he slew many of the opposite party； and
when he had plundered it of a great deal of money； he returned to
Antioch。
4。 Now it came to pass； after two years； in the hundred forty and
fifth year； on the twenty…fifth day of that month which is by us
called Chasleu； and by the Macedonians Apelleus； in the hundred
and fifty…third olympiad； that the king came up to Jerusalem；
and； pretending peace； he got possession of the city by
treachery； at which time he spared not so much as those that
admitted him into it； on account of the riches that lay in the
temple； but； led by his covetous inclination； （for he saw there
was in it a great deal of gold； and many ornaments that had been
dedicated to it of very great value；） and in order to plunder its
wealth； he ventured to break the league he had made。 So he left
the temple bare； and took away the golden candlesticks； and the
golden altar ＇of incense＇； and table ＇of shew…bread＇； and the
altar ＇of burnt…offering＇； and did not abstain from even the
veils； which were made of fine linen and scarlet。 He also emptied
it of its secret treasures； and left nothing at all remaining；
and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation； for he
forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to
offer to God； according to the law。 And when he had pillaged the
whole city； some of the inhabitants he slew； and some he carried
captive； together with their wives and children； so that the
multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to
about ten thousand。 He also burnt down the finest buildings； and
when he had overthrown the city walls； he built a citadel in the
lower part of the city； （17） for the place was high； and
overlooked the temple； on which account he fortified it with high
walls and towers； and put into it a garrison of Macedonians。
However； in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the
＇Jewish＇ multitude； from whom it proved that the citizens
suffered many and sore calamities。 And when the king had built an
idol altar upon God's altar； he slew swine upon it； and so
offered a sacrifice neither according to the law； nor the Jewish
religious worship in that country。 He also compelled them to
forsake the worship which they paid their own God； and to adore
those whom he took to be gods； and made them build temples； and
raise idol altars in every city and village； and offer swine upon
them every day。 He also commanded them not to circumcise their
sons； and threatened to punish any that should be found to have
transgressed his injunction。 He also appointed overseers； who
should compel them to do what he commanded。 And indeed many Jews
there were who complied with the king's commands； either
voluntarily； or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced。
But the best men； and those of the noblest souls； did not regard
him； but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their
country than concern as to the punishment which he threatened to
the disobedient； on which account they every day underwent great
miseries and bitter torments； for they were whipped with rods；
and their bodies were torn to pieces； and were crucified； while
they were still alive； and breathed。 They also strangled those
women and their sons whom they had circumcised； as the king had
appointed； hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon
the crosses。 And if there were any sacred book of the law found；
it was destroyed； and those with whom they were found miserably
perished also。
5。 When the Samaritans saw the Jews under these sufferings； they
no longer confessed that they were of their kindred； nor that the
temple on Mount Gerizzim belonged to Almighty God。 This was
according to their nature； as we have already shown。 And they now
said that they were a colony of Medes and Persians； and indeed
they were a colony of theirs。 So they sent ambassadors to
Antiochus； and an epistle； whose contents are these： 〃To king
Antiochus the god； Epiphanes； a memorial from the Sidonians； who
live at Shechem。 Our forefathers； upon certain frequent plagues；
and as following a certain ancient superstition； had a custom of
observing that day which by the Jews is called the Sabbath。 （18）
And when they had erected a temple at the mountain called
Gerrizzim； though without a name； they offered upon it the proper
sacrifices。 Now； upon the just treatment of these wicked Jews；
those that manage their affairs； supposing that we were of kin to
them； and practiced as they do； make us liable to the same
accusations； although we be originally Sidonians； as is evident
from the public records。 We therefore beseech thee； our
benefactor and Savior； to give order to Apollonius； the governor
of this part of the country； and to Nicanor； the procurator of
thy affairs； to give us no disturbance； nor to lay to our charge
what the Jews are accused for； since we are aliens from their
nation； and from their customs； but let our temple； which at
present hath no name at all be named the Temple of Jupiter
Hellenius。 If this were once done； we should be no longer
disturbed； but should be more intent on our own occupation with
quietness； and so bring in a greater revenue to thee。〃 When the
Samaritans had petitioned for this； the king sent them back the
following answer； in an epistle： 〃King Antiochus to Nicanor。 The
Sidonians； who live at Shechem； have sent me the memorial
enclosed。 When therefore we were advising with our friends about
it； the messengers sent by them represented to us that they are
no way concerned with accusations which belong to the Jews； but
choose to live after the customs of the Greeks。 Accordingly； we
declare them free from such accusations； and order that；
agreeable to their petition； their temple be named the Temple of
Jupiter Hellenius。〃 He also sent the like epistle to Apollonius；
the governor of that part of the country； in the forty…sixth
year； and the eighteenth day of the month Hecatorabeom
CHAPTER 6。
How； Upon Antiochus's Prohibition To The Jews To Make Use Of The
Laws Of Their Country Mattathias； The Son Of Asamoneus