to every one of them to be grieved that he was not able to bring
so large a present； for that he had no more than five talents。
And when the servants heard what he said； they told their
masters； and they rejoiced in the prospect that Joseph would be
disapproved； and would make the king angry； by the smallness of
his present。 When the day came； the others； even those that
brought the most； offered the king not above twenty talents； but
Hyrcanus gave to every one of the hundred boys and hundred
maidens that he had bought a talent apiece； for them to carry；
and introduced them； the boys to the king； and the maidens to
Cleopatra； every body wondering at the unexpected richness of the
presents； even the king and queen themselves。 He also presented
those that attended about the king with gifts to the value of a
great number of talents； that he might escape the danger he was
in from them； for to these it was that Hyrcanus's brethren had
written to destroy him。 Now Ptolemy admired at the young man's
magnanimity； and commanded him to ask what gift he pleased。 But
he desired nothing else to be done for him by the king than to
write to his father and brethren about him。 So when the king had
paid him very great respects； and had given him very large gifts；
and had written to his father and his brethren； and all his
commanders and officers； about him； he sent him away。 But when
his brethren heard that Hyrcanus had received such favors from
the king； and was returning home with great honor； they went out
to meet him； and to destroy him； and that with the privity of
their father； for he was angry at him for the ＇large＇ sum of
money that he bestowed for presents； and so had no concern for
his preservation。 However； Joseph concealed the anger he had at
his son； out of fear of the king。 And when Hyrcanus's brethren
came to fight him； he slew many others of those that were with
them； as also two of his brethren themselves； but the rest of
them escaped to Jerusalem to their father。 But when Hyrcanus came
to the city； where nobody would receive him； he was afraid for
himself； and retired beyond the river Jordan； and there abode；
but obliging the barbarians to pay their taxes。
10。 At this time Seleucus； who was called Soter； reigned over
Asia； being the son of Antiochus the Great。 And ＇now＇ Hyrcanus's
father； Joseph； died。 He was a good man； and of great
magnanimity； and brought the Jews out of a state of poverty and
meanness； to one that was more splendid。 He retained the farm of
the taxes of Syria； and Phoenicia； and Samaria twenty…two years。
His uncle also； Onias； died ＇about this time＇； and left the high
priesthood to his son Simeon。 And when he was dead； Onias his son
succeeded him in that dignity。 To him it was that Areus； king of
the Lacedemonians； sent an embassage； with an epistle； the copy
whereof here follows：
〃Areus； King Of The Lacedemonians； To Onias； Sendeth Greeting。
〃We have met with a certain writing； whereby we have discovered
that both the Jews and the Lacedemonians are of one stock； and
are derived from the kindred of Abraham （14） It is but just
therefore that you； who are our brethren； should send to us about
any of your concerns as you please。 We will also do the same
thing； and esteem your concerns as our own； and will look upon
our concerns as in common with yours。 Demoteles； who brings you
this letter； will bring your answer back to us。 This letter is
four…square； and the seal is an eagle； with a dragon in his
claws。〃
11。 And these were the contents of the epistle which was sent
from the king of the Lacedemonians。 But； upon the death of
Joseph； the people grew seditious； on account of his sons。 For
whereas the elders made war against Hyrcanus； who was the
youngest of Joseph's sons； the multitude was divided； but the
greater part joined with the elders in this war； as did Simon the
high priest； by reason he was of kin to them。 However； Hyrcanus
determined not to return to Jerusalem any more； but seated
himself beyond Jordan； and was at perpetual war with the
Arabians； and slew many of them； and took many of them captives。
He also erected a strong castle； and built it entirely of white
stone to the very roof； and had animals of a prodigious magnitude
engraven upon it。 He also drew round it a great and deep canal of
water。 He also made caves of many furlongs in length； by
hollowing a rock that was over against him； and then he made
large rooms in it； some for feasting； and some for sleeping and
living in。 He introduced also a vast quantity of waters which ran
along it； and which were very delightful and ornamental in the
court。 But still he made the entrances at the mouth of the caves
so narrow； that no more than one person could enter by them at
once。 And the reason why he built them after that manner was a
good one； it was for his own preservation； lest he should be
besieged by his brethren； and run the hazard of being caught by
them。 Moreover； he built courts of greater magnitude than
ordinary； which he adorned with vastly large gardens。 And when he
had brought the place to this state； he named it Tyre。 This place
is between Arabia and Judea； beyond Jordan； not far from the
country of Heshbon。 And he ruled over those parts for seven
years； even all the time that Seleucus was king of Syria。 But
when he was dead； his brother Antiochus； who was called
Epiphanes； took the kingdom。 Ptolemy also； the king of Egypt；
died； who was besides called Epiphanes。 He left two sons； and
both young in age； the elder of which was called Philometer； and
the youngest Physcon。 As for Hyrcanus； when he saw that Antiochus
had a great army； and feared lest he should be caught by him； and
brought to punishment for what he had done to the Arabians； he
ended his life； and slew himself with his own hand； while
Antiochus seized upon all his substance。
CHAPTER 5。
How； Upon The Quarrels One Against Another About The High
Priesthood Antiochus Made An Expedition Against Jerusalem； Took
The City And Pillaged The Temples。 And Distressed The Jews' As
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