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.
30. While these things were happening, the people of Tarsus and Mallus rebelled when their cities were given as a gift to Antiochis, the king’s secondary wife.
31. The king swiftly set off to restore order to the situation, leaving Andronicus, one of his high-ranking officials, as his deputy.
32. Menelaus recognized an opportunity, seized some of the temple’s gold equipment, and made them a gift to Andronicus, though he had already sold some of them in Tyre and the surrounding cities.
33. When he became aware of what was happening, Onias made accusations against Menelaus after arriving at a safe and sacred place in Daphne near Antioch.
34. So Menelaus took Andronicus aside and urged him to do away with Onias. Andronicus came to Onias and persuaded him by deception, extending his strong hand with solemn pledges, to come out of safety despite his fear. Then with no regard for justice, he did away with him on the spot.
35. For this reason, not only Jews but also many other people were grieved and angry over the wicked murder of this man.
36. When the king had returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews in the city and some Greeks, feeling hatred for the senseless killing of Onias, obtained an audience with him.