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Simon autem praedictus pecuniarum et patriae delator male loquebatur de Onia tamquam ipse Heliodorum instigasset ad haec et ipse fuisset incentor malorum
But Simon, of whom we spoke before, who was the betrayer of the money, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils:
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| 2 |
provisoremque civitatis ac defensorem gentis suae et aemulatorem legis Dei audebat insidiatorem regni dicere
And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided for the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of God.
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sed cum inimicitiae in tantum procederent ut etiam per quosdam Simonis necessarios homicidia fierent
But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon's friends:
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considerans Onias periculum contentionis et Apollonium insanire utpote ducem Coelesyriae et Foenicis ad augendam malitiam Simonis ad regem se contulit
Onias, considering the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyia, and Phenicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king,
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non ut civium accusator sed communem utilitatem apud semet ipsum universae multitudinis considerans
Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with view to the common good of all the people.
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videbat enim sine regali providentia inpossibile esse pacem rebus dari nec Simonem posse cessare ab stultitia sua
For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly.
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sed post Seleuci vitae excessum cum suscepisset regnum Antiochus qui Nobilis appellabatur ambiebat Iason frater Oniae summum sacerdotium
But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason, the brother of Onias, ambitiously sought the high priesthood:
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adito rege promittens ei argenti talenta sexaginta et trecenta et ex reditibus aliis talenta octoginta
And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents.
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super haec promittebat et alia centum quinquaginta si potestati eius concederetur gymnasium et ephoebian sibi constituere et eos qui in Hierosolymis erant Antiochenos scribere
Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle them that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.
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quod cum rex agnovisset et obtinuisset principatum statim ad gentilem ritum contribules suos transferre coepit
Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens.
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et amotis his quae humanitatis causa Iudaeis a regibus fuerant constituta per Iohannem patrem Eupolemi qui apud Romanos de amicitia et societate functus est legationem legitimam civium iura destituens prava instituta sancibat
And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John, the father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and brought in fashions that were perverse.
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etenim ausus est sub ipsa arce gymnasium constituere et optimos quosque ephoeborum in lupanaribus ponere
For he had the boldness to set up, under the very castle, a place of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses.
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erat autem hoc non initium sed incrementum quoddam et profectus gentilis et alienigenae conversationis propter impii et non sacerdotis Iasonis nefarium et inauditum scelus
Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch, and no priest.
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ita ut sacerdotes iam non circa altaris officia dediti essent sed contempto templo et sacrificiis neglectis festinarent participes fieri palestrae et praebitionis eius iniustae et in exercitiis disci
Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus.
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et patrios quidem honores nihil habentes graecas glorias optimas arbitrabantur
And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories for the best:
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quarum gratia periculosa eos contentio habebat et eorum instituta aemulabantur ac per omnia his consimiles esse cupiebant quos hostes et peremptores habuerant
For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like them, who were their enemies and murderers.
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in leges enim divinas impie agere inpune non cedit sed haec sequens tempus declaravit
For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare.
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cum autem quinquennalis agon Tyro celebraretur et rex praesens esset
Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king being present,
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misit Iason facinorosus ab Hierosolymis viros peccatores portantes argenti didragmas trecentas in sacrificiis Herculis quas postulaverunt hii qui adportaverant ne in sacrificiis erogarentur quia non oporteret sed in alios sumptus eas deputari
The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men, to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges.
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sed haec oblata sunt quidem ab eo qui miserat in sacrificium Herculis propter praesentes autem datae sunt in fabricam navium triremis
So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for thc making of galleys.
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misso autem in Aegypto Apollonio Mnesthei filio propter primatus Filometoris regis cum cognovisset Antiochus alienum se a negotiis regni effectum propriis utilitatibus consulens profectus inde venit Ioppen et inde Hierosolymam
Now when Apollonius, the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem.
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et magnifice ab Iasone et civitate susceptus cum facularum luminibus et laudibus ingressus est et inde Foenicen exercitum convertit
Where he was received in a magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia.
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et post triennii tempus misit Iason Menelaum supradicti Simonis fratrem portantem pecunias regi et de negotiis necessariis responsa perlaturum
Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from him concerning certain necessary affairs.
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at ille commendatus regi cum magnificasset faciem potestatis eius in semet ipsum retorsit summum sacerdotium superponens Iasonem talenta argenti trecenta
But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
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acceptisque a rege mandatis venit nihil quidem dignum habens sacerdotio animos vero crudelis tyranni et ferae beluae iram gerens
So having received the king's mandate, he returned, bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.
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et Iason quidem qui proprium fratrem captivaverat ipse deceptus profugus in ammaniten expulsus est regionem
Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
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Menelaus autem principatum quidem obtinuit de pecuniis vero regi promissis nihil agebat cum exactionem faceret Sostratus qui arce erat praepositus
So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had promised to the king, he took no care, when Sostratus, the governor of the castle, called for it.
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nam ad hunc exactio vectigalium pertinebat quam ob causam utrique ad regem vocati
For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king.
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Menelaus motus est sacerdotio succedente Lysimacho fratre suo Sostratus autem praelatus est Cypris
And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus, his brother, succeeding: and Sostratus alas made governor of the Cyprians.
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et cum haec agerentur contigit Tarsenses et Mallotas seditionem movere eo quod Antiochidi concubinae regis dono essent dati
When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of Tharsus, and Mallos, raised a sedition, because they were given for a gift to Antiochus, the king's concubine.
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festinanter itaque rex venit sedare illos relicto suffecto uno ex comitibus suis Andronico
The king, therefore, went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy.
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ratus autem Menelaus accepisse se tempus oportunum aurea quaedam vasa templo furatus donavit Andronico et alia vendiderat Tyro et per vicinas civitates
Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring cities:
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quod cum certissime cognovisset Onias arguebat eum ipse in loco tuto se continens Antiochiae secus Dafnen
Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch, beside Daphne.
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unde Menelaus accedens ad Andronicum rogabat ut Onian interficeret qui cum venisset ad Onian et datis dextris cum iureiurando quamvis esset ei suspectus suasisset asylo procedere statim eum peremit non veritus iustitiam
Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to justice.
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ob quam causam non solum Iudaei sed et aliae quoque nationes indignabantur et moleste ferebant de nece tanti viri iniusta
For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man.
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sed regressum regem de Ciliciae locis adierunt Iudaei apud Antiochiam simul et Graeci conquerentes de iniqua nece Oniae
And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks, went to him: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.
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contristatus itaque ad animam Antiochus et flexus ad misericordiam lacrimas fudit recordatus defuncti sobrietatem et modestiam
Antiochus, therefore, was grieved in his mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.
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accensusque animis Andronicum purpura exutum circumduci per totam civitatem iubet et eodem loco quo in Onian impietatem commiserat sacrilegum vita privari Domino illi dignam poenam tribuente
And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord repaying him his deserved punishment.
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multis autem sacrilegiis in templo a Lysimacho commissis Menelai consilio et divulgata fama congregata est multitudo adversus Lysimachum multo iam auro exportato
Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the temple, by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, a great quantity of gold being already carried away.
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turbis autem insurgentibus et animis ira repletis Lysimachus armatis fere tribus milibus iniquis manibus uti coepit duce quodam Tyranno aetate pariter et dementia provecto
Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both in age and in madness.
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sed ut intellexerunt conatum Lysimachi alii lapides alii fustes validos arripere quidam vero cinerem in Lysimachum iacere
But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, some strong clubs, and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus.
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et multi quidem vulnerati quidam autem et prostrati omnes vero in fugam versi sunt ipsum etiam sacrilegum secus aerarium interfecerunt
And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow himself, they slew him beside the treasury.
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de his ergo coepit iudicium adversus Menelaum agitari
Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against Menelaus.
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et cum venisset rex Tyrum ad ipsum negotium detulerunt missi viri tres a senioribus
And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the ancients to plead the cause before him.
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et cum superaretur Menelaus promisit Ptolomeo multas pecunias ad suadendum regi
But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much money to persuade the king to favour him.
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itaque Ptolomeus in quodam atrio positum quasi refrigerandi gratia regem adiit et a sententia deduxit
So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind:
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et Menelaum quidem universae malitiae reum criminibus absolvit miseros autem qui etiam si apud Scytas causam dixissent innocentes iudicarentur morte damnavit
So Menelaus, who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were condemned to death.
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cito ergo iniustam poenam dederunt qui pro civitate et populo et sacris vasis causam prosecuti sunt
Thus they that persecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
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quam ob rem Tyri quoque indignati erga sepulturam eorum liberalissimi extiterunt
Wherefore even the Tyrians, being moved with indignation, were very liberal towards their burial.
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Menelaus autem propter eorum qui in potentia erant avaritiam permanebat in potestate crescens in malitia et ad insidias civium
And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.
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