12. For he said that he had sinned, so as to be consequently worthy of death; and that if he were saved, he would celebrate to all men the blessedness of the holy place.
13. Onias the high priest, induced by these words, although for other reasons anxious that king Seleucus should not suppose that Apollonius was slain by human device and not by Divine punishment, prayed for him;
14. and he being thus unexpectedly saved, departed to manifest to the king what had happened to him.
15. But on the death of Seleucus the king, his son Antiochus Epiphanes succeeds to the kingdom: a man of haughty pride and terrible.
16. Who having deposed Onias from the high priesthood, appointed his brother Jason to be high priest:
17. who had made a covenant, if he would give him this authority, to pay yearly three thousand six hundred and sixty talents.
18. And he committed to him the high priesthood and rulership over the nation.
19. And he both changed the manner of living of the people, and perverted their civil customs into all lawlessness.
20. So that he not only erected a gymnasium on the very citadel of our country, but neglected the guardianship of the temple.
21. At which Divine vengeance being grieved, instigated Antiochus himself against them.