1. When the holy city was living in harmony, and people observed the laws rigorously because of Onias the high priest, who was devoted to God and hated evil,
2. the kings used to honor the place and glorify the temple by sending the best gifts.
3. Seleucus the king of Asia even supplied all expenses for the sacrificial service from his own revenues.
4. But a certain Simon from the tribe of Benjamin, who had been appointed administrator of the temple, had a difference of opinion with the high priest about the management of the city market.
5. Since he wasn’t able to overcome Onias, he went to Thraseas’ son Apollonius, who was governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia at that time.