beast.
[26] Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined by another, was compelled
to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
[27] So Menelans 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:
[28] For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore they were both called
before the king.
[29] Now Menelans left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus
left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.
[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.
[31] Then
came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
[32]
Now Menelans, 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.
[33] Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary
at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.
[34] Wherefore Menelans, 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.
[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.
[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.
[37] Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and wept, because
of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead.
[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.
[39] Now when many sacrileges had
been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelans, and the fruit thereof was spread
abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, many vessels of gold being
already carried away.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[43] Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against
Menelans.
[44] Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the
cause before him:
[45] But Menelans, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to
give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.
[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:
[47] Insomuch
that he discharged Menelans 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.
[48] Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the
people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
[49] Wherefore even they of Tyrus,
moved with hatred of that wicked deed, caused them to be honourably buried.
[50] And so through the
covetousness of them that were of power Menelans remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and
being a great traitor to the citizens.
2Mac.5
[1] About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt:
[2] And then it happened,
that through all the city, for the space almost of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the
air, in cloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of soldiers,
[3] And troops of horsemen in array,
encountering and running one against another, with shaking of shields, and multitude of pikes, and drawing
of swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden ornaments, and harness of all sorts.
[4] Wherefore
every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good.
[5] Now when there was gone forth a false
rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men, and suddenly
made an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the walls being put back, and the city at length