give everyone of their families a place for building their
houses； and a portion of the land for their husbandry； and for
the plantation of their vines； and thou shalt discharge them from
paying taxes of the fruits of the earth for ten years； and let
them have a proper quantity of wheat for the maintenance of their
servants； until they receive bread corn out of the earth； also
let a sufficient share be given to such as minister to them in
the necessaries of life； that by enjoying the effects of our
humanity； they may show themselves the more willing and ready
about our affairs。 Take care likewise of that nation； as far as
thou art able； that they may not have any disturbance given them
by any one。〃 Now these testimonials which I have produced are
sufficient to declare the friendship that Antiochus the Great
bare to the Jews。
CHAPTER 6。
How Antiochus Made A League With Ptolemy And How Onias Provoked
Ptolemy Euergetes To Anger； And How Joseph Brought All Things
Right Again； And Entered Into Friendship With Him； And What Other
Things Were Done By Joseph； And His Son Hyrcanus。
1。 After this Antiochus made a friendship and league with
Ptolemy； and gave him his daughter Cleopatra to wife； and yielded
up to him Celesyria； and Samaria； and Judea； and Phoenicia； by
way of dowry。 And upon the division of the taxes between the two
kings； all the principal men framed the taxes of their several
countries； and collecting the sum that was settled for them； paid
the same to the ＇two＇ kings。 Now at this time the Samaritans were
in a flourishing condition； and much distressed the Jews； cutting
off parts of their land； and carrying off slaves。 This happened
when Onias was high priest； for after Eleazar's death； his uncle
Manasseh took the priesthood； and after he had ended his life；
Onias received that dignity。 He was the son of Simon； who was
called The Just： which Simon was the brother of Eleazar； as I
said before。 This Onias was one of a little soul； and a great
lover of money； and for that reason； because he did not pay that
tax of twenty talents of silver； which his forefathers paid to
these things out of their own estates； he provoked king Ptolemy
Euergetes to anger； who was the father of Philopater。 Euergetes
sent an ambassador to Jerusalem； and complained that Onias did
not pay his taxes； and threatened； that if he did not receive
them； he would seize upon their land； and send soldiers to live
upon it。 When the Jews heard this message of the king； they were
confounded； but so sordidly covetous was Onias； that nothing of
things nature made him ashamed。
2。 There was now one Joseph； young in age； but of great
reputation among the people of Jerusalem； for gravity； prudence；
and justice。 His father's name was Tobias； and his mother was the
sister of Onias the high priest； who informed him of the coming
of the ambassador； for he was then sojourning at a village named
Phicol； （13） where he was born。 Hereupon he came to the city
＇Jerusalem＇； and reproved Onias for not taking care of the
preservation of his countrymen； but bringing the nation into
dangers； by not paying this money。 For which preservation of
them； he told him he had received the authority over them； and
had been made high priest； but that； in case he was so great a
lover of money； as to endure to see his country in danger on that
account； and his countrymen suffer the greatest damages； he
advised him to go to the king； and petition him to remit either
the whole or a part of the sum demanded。 Onias's answer was this：
That he did not care for his authority； and that he was ready； if
the thing were practicable； to lay down his high priesthood； and
that he would not go to the king； because he troubled not himself
at all about such matters。 Joseph then asked him if he would not
give him leave to go ambassador on behalf of the nation。 He
replied； that he would give him leave。 Upon which Joseph went up
into the temple； and called the multitude together to a
congregation； and exhorted them not to be disturbed nor
aftrighted； because of his uncle Onias's carelessness； but
desired them to be at rest； and not terrify themselves with fear
about it； for he promised them that he would be their ambassador
to the king； and persuade him that they had done him no wrong。
And when the multitude heard this； they returned thanks to
Joseph。 So he went down from the temple； and treated Ptolemy's
ambassador in a hospitable manner。 He also presented him with
rich gifts； and feasted him magnificently for many days； and then
sent him to the king before him； and told him that he would soon
follow him； for he was now more willing to go to the king； by the
encouragement of the ambassador； who earnestly persuaded him to
come into Egypt； and promised him that he would take care that he
should obtain every thing that he desired of Ptolemy； for he was
highly pleased with his frank and liberal temper； and with the
gravity of his deportment。
3。 When Ptolemy's ambassador was come into Egypt； he told the
king of the thoughtless temper of Onias； and informed him of the
goodness of the disposition of Joseph； and that he was coming to
him to excuse the multitude； as not having done him any harm； for
that he was their patron。 In short； he was so very large in his
encomiums upon the young man； that he disposed both the king and
his wife Cleopatra to have a kindness for him before he came。 So
Joseph sent to his friends at Samaria； and borrowed money of
them； and got ready what was necessary for his journey； garments
and cups； and beasts for burden； which amounted to about twenty
thousand drachmae； and went to Alexandria。 Now it happened that
at this time all the principal men and rulers went up out of the
cities of Syria and Phoenicia； to bid for their taxes； for every
year the king sold them to the men of the greatest power in every
city。 So these men saw Joseph journeying on the way； and laughed
at him for his poverty and meanness。 But when he came to
Alexandria； and heard that king Ptolemy was at Memphis； be went
up thither to meet with him； which happened as the king was
sitting in his chariot； with his wife； and with his friend
Athenion； who was the very person who had been ambassador at
Jerusalem； and had been entertained by Joseph。 As soon therefore
as Athenion saw him； he presently made him known to the king； how
good and generous a young man he was。 So Ptolemy saluted him
first； and desired him to come up into his chariot； and as Joseph
sat there； he began to complain of the management of Onias： to
which he answered； 〃Forgive him； on account of his age； for thou
canst not certainly be unacquainted with this； that old men and
infants have their minds exactly alike； but thou shalt have from
us； who are young men； every thing thou desirest； and shalt have
no cause to complain。〃 With this good humor and pleasantry of the
young man； the king was so delighted； that he began already； as
though he had had long experience of him； to have a still greater
affection for him； insomuch that he bade him take his diet in the
king's palace； and be a guest at his own table every day。 But
when the king was come to Alexandria； the principal men of Syria
saw him sitting with the king； and were much offended at it。
4。 And when the day came on which the king was to let the taxes
of the cities to farm； and those that were the principal men of
dignity in their several countries were to bid for them； the sum
of the taxes together； of Celesyria； and Phoenicia； and Judea；
with Samaria； ＇as they were bidden for；＇ came to eight thousand
talents。 Hereupon Joseph accused the bidders； as having agreed
together to estimate the value of the taxes at too low a rate；
and he promised that he would himself give twice as much for
them： but for those who did not pay； he would send the king home
their whole substance； for this privilege was sold together with
the taxes themselves。 The king was pleased to hear that offer；
and because it augmented his revenues； he said he would confirm
the sale of the taxes to him。 But when he asked him this
question； Whether he had any sureties that would be bound for the
payment of the money？ he answered very pleasantly； 〃I will give
such security； and those of persons good and responsible； and
which you shall have no reason to distrust。〃 And when he bid him
name them who they were； he replied； 〃I give thee no other
persons； O king； for my sureties； than thyself； and this thy
wife； and you shall be security for both parties。〃 So Ptolemy
laughed at the proposal； and granted him the farming of the taxes
without any sureties。 This procedure was a sore grief to those
that came from the cities into Egypt； who were utterly
disappointed； and they returned every one to their own country
with shame。
5。 But Joseph took with him two thousand foot soldiers from the
king； for he desired he might have some assistance； in order to
force such as were refractory in the cities to pay。 And borrowing
of the king's friends at Alexandria five hundred talents； he made
haste back into Syria。 And when he was at Askelon； and demanded
the taxes of the people of Askelon； they refused to pay any
thing； and affronted him also； upon which he seized upon about
twenty of the principal men； and slew them； and gathered what
they had together； and sent it all to the king； and informed him
what he had done。 Ptolemy admired the prudent conduct of the man；
and commended him for what he had done； and gave him leave to do
as he pleased。 When the Syrians heard of this； they were
astonished； and having before them a sad example in the men of
Askelon that were slain； they opened their gates； and willingly
admitted Joseph； and paid their taxes。 And when the inhabitants
of Scythopolis attempted to affront him； and would not pay him
those taxes which they formerly used to pay； without disputing
about them； he slew also the principal men of that city； and sent
their effects to the king。 By this means he gathered great wealth
together； and made vast gains by this farming of the taxes； and
he made use of what estate he had thus gotten； in order to
support his authority； as thinking it a piece of prudence to keep
w