20. So although Jason designated this sum for a sacrifice to Hercules, the envoys spent it on equipping warships.
21. After Menestheus’ son Apollonius was sent to Egypt for the coronation of Ptolemy Philometor as king, Antiochus thought about his own security because he had received a report that the Egyptian king was hostile toward his government. So after sailing to Joppa, he came to Jerusalem.
22. Jason received him magnificently, and the people of the city welcomed him with torches and shouts. Then Antiochus took his army to Phoenicia.
23. Three years later, Jason sent Menelaus (brother of the previously mentioned Simon) to bring funds to the king and settle the accounts of some urgent business matters.
24. When he was introduced to the king, he honored him with an air of authority and bought the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by 17,100 pounds of silver.
25. When he received the king’s assent, he turned up holding no qualifications of the high priesthood but instead displaying the temper of a cruel tyrant and the wrath of a savage beast.
26. So Jason, who had replaced his brother in an unjust manner, was now displaced by another and forced to escape to Ammonitis.
27. Menelaus took authority but didn’t send any of the promised money to the king.
28. Sostratus the commander of the elevated fortress demanded settlement of the debt, for he had the responsibility of collecting payment. Finally, the two were summoned by the king.
29. Menelaus left behind as deputy of the high priesthood his own brother Lysimachus, and Sostratus left Crates, who was commander of the troops from Cyprus.