2 Maccabees 4

1 O já mencionado Simão, delator do tesouro e de sua pátria, caluniava Onias, dizendo que era ele quem tinha se lançado sobre Heliodoro e que era ele o autor de seus males.

2 Ousava chamar de inimigo do Estado o benfeitor da cidade, o defensor de seus concidadãos, o ardoroso observante das leis.

3 O ódio foi tão longe que um dos partidários de Simão cometeu até mesmo assassinatos.

4 Considerando o lado la­mentável dessa questão e vendo o governador da Celessíria, Apo­lônio, filho de Menes­teu, excitar a malícia de Simão,

5 dirigiu-se Onias para junto do rei, não que ele tivesse a intenção de acusar seus conci­da­dãos, mas para advertir acerca dos interesses públicos e privados de todo o seu povo.

6 Via muito bem que, sem uma intervenção do rei, seria impossível restabelecer a paz e pôr termo aos desatinos de Simão.

7 Após a morte de Seleuco e tendo subido ao trono Antíoco, chamado Epífanes, Jasão, irmão de Onias, usurpou fraudulentamente o cargo de sumo sacerdote.

8 Em entrevista com o rei, ele lhe prometeu trezentos e sessenta talentos de prata e oitenta talentos de outras rendas.

9 Prometia-lhe, além disso, pagar outros cento e cinquenta talentos, se lhe fosse dado o poder de fundar um ginásio e uma efebia e de receber as inscrições dos antioquenos de Jerusalém.

10 O rei consentiu. Logo que subiu ao poder, Jasão arrastou seus concidadãos para o helenismo.

11 Apesar dos privilégios obtidos do poder real por João, pai de Eupólemo, que foi enviado aos romanos para concluir um pacto de aliança e de amizade, ele introduziu costumes contrários, desdenhando as leis nacionais.

12 Foi com alegria que fundou um ginásio ao pé da própria Acrópole, alistou os mais nobres dentre os jovens e os educou ao pétaso.

13 Por causa da perversidade inaudita do ímpio Jasão, que não era de modo algum pontífice, obteve o helenismo tal êxito e os costumes pagãos uma atualidade tão crescente,

14 que os sacerdotes descuidavam o serviço do altar, menosprezavam o templo, negligenciavam os sacrifícios, corriam, fascinados pelo disco, a tomar parte na palestra e nos jogos proibidos.

15 Não faziam caso das honras da pátria e amavam muito mais os títulos helênicos.

16 Foi por essa razão que logo uma atmosfera penosa os cercou, porque naqueles mesmos, cuja forma de vida invejavam e a quem ambicionavam igualar-se em tudo, encontraram inimigos e os instrumentos para seu castigo.

17 O seguinte fato mostrará que não foi fácil violar as leis divinas.

18 Como em Tiro se celebrassem os jogos quinquenais, com a presença do rei,

19 o ímpio Jasão mandou um grupo de antioquenos de Jerusalém levar trezentas dracmas de prata para o sacrifício de Héracles, mas os próprios portadores julgaram a coisa inconveniente e acharam melhor empregá-las em outras despesas.

20 A vontade de Jasão era de que elas fossem destinadas ao sacrifício de Héracles, mas, por causa dos que as levavam, foram destinadas à construção das galeras.

21 Apolônio, filho de Menesteu, tinha sido enviado ao Egito, por ocasião da posse do rei Filométor. Antíoco soube que este rei se lhe tornara hostil e procurou pôr-se em segurança. Veio, pois, a Jope e de lá dirigiu-se a Jerusalém.

22 Recebido magnificamente por Jasão e por toda a cidade, fez sua entrada à luz de fachos, entre aclamações. Depois disso, transportou o seu acampamento para a Fenícia.

23 Três anos mais tarde, Jasão enviou Menelau, irmão de Simão, já mencionado, para levar o dinheiro ao rei e lembrar-lhe os negócios urgentes;

24 mas, uma vez admitido à presença do rei, cumulou-o de encômios sobre a extensão do seu poder e, oferecendo trezentos talentos a mais que Jasão, obteve para si mesmo o pontificado.

25 Recebidas as ordens do rei, voltou, nada tendo em si que fosse digno do pontificado, mas excitado por sentimentos de um desumano tirano e de uma besta feroz.

26 Desse modo Jasão, que havia suplantado seu próprio irmão, suplantado por sua vez, viu-se forçado a exilar-se no país dos amonitas.

27 Quanto a Menelau, achava-se bem na posse da dignidade, mas não entregava de modo algum ao rei o dinheiro prometido,

28 se bem que ele lhe fosse reclamado por Sóstrato, governador da Acrópole, encarregado das cobranças dos impostos. Por esse motivo, ambos foram chamados a comparecer diante do rei.

29 Menelau designou para substituí-lo como sumo sacerdote seu irmão Lisímaco; Sóstrato deixou Crates, comandante dos cipriotas.

30 Entrementes, os habitantes de Tarso e de Malos se revoltaram, porque suas cidades haviam sido entregues a Antioquide, concubina do rei. 31 Partiu pois este a toda a pressa, para restabelecer a calma, deixando como seu lugar-tenente Andrônico, um de seus dignitários.

32 Menelau viu que a circunstância lhe era favorável e se reconciliou com Andrônico por meio de objetos de ouro roubados ao templo. Chegou igualmente a vendê-los em Tiro e nas cidades vizinhas.

33 Quando soube disso com clareza, Onias repreendeu-o, conservando-se retirado no território inviolável de Dafne, perto de Antioquia.

34 Por causa disso, Menelau tomou à parte Andrônico, e induziu-o a matar Onias. Andrônico dirigiu-se, pois, para junto dele, enganou-o com astúcia, deu-lhe garantias, que confirmou por juramento, levou-o a deixar seu esconderijo e matou-o no mesmo instante, sem nenhuma consideração pela justiça.

35 Não só os judeus, mas também muitos estrangeiros ficaram indignados e consternados com esse assassínio iníquo

36 e, quando o rei entrou nas cidades de Cilícia, tanto os judeus da cidade, como os gregos contrários à violência, vieram investigar o motivo da morte arbitrária de Onias.

37 Antíoco ficou profundamente abatido e, tocado de compaixão, chorou ao lembrar-se da sabedoria e da grande moderação do finado.

38 Excitado assim por uma cólera violenta, despojou imediatamente Andrônico de suas púrpuras, rasgou-lhe as vestes, mandou que levassem através de toda a cidade até o lugar onde havia lançado a mão sacrílega sobre Onias. E ali acabou com a vida do homicida. Assim o Senhor deu-lhe o merecido castigo.

39 Ora, em Jerusalém, Lisímaco, de acordo com Menelau, multiplicou os roubos sacrílegos e, divulgado o rumor, o povo revoltou-se contra Lisímaco, porque muitos objetos de ouro haviam sido levados.

40 Como a multidão se houvesse sub­levado em cólera, Lisímaco armou cerca de três mil homens e deu o sinal para uma injusta repressão, sob a chefia de um certo Aurano, homem avançado em idade e não menos em loucura.

41 Todavia, o povo tomou conhecimento da trama de Lisímaco, uns se muniram de pedras, outros de paus, alguns ajuntaram o pó da terra e atiraram sobre os homens de Lisímaco.

42 Desse modo, muitos foram os feridos, alguns mortos e os restantes postos em fuga. Quanto ao próprio sacrílego, mataram-no junto ao tesouro.

43 Por todas essas desordens, foi instaurado um processo contra Menelau.

44 Quando o rei veio a Tiro, três enviados da assembleia dos anciãos sustentaram a acusação diante dele.

45 Mas Menelau, que se julgava já derrotado, prometeu grande soma de dinheiro a Ptolomeu, filho de Dorimeno, para que ele lhe granjeasse o favor do rei.

46 Ptolomeu conduziu pois o rei para debaixo de um peristilo, como se fosse para tomar ar fresco, e fê-lo mudar de sentimento,

47 de modo que Menelau, posto que responsável por todo o mal, foi considerado pelo rei inocente de todas as acusações que pesavam sobre ele, e condenou à morte os infelizes que teriam sido julgados inocentes, mesmo se tivessem pleiteado diante dos citas.

48 Assim, os que só tinham tomado a palavra para defender os interesses da cidade, do povo e dos objetos sagrados sofreram essa pena injusta.

49 Por isso, os próprios tírios ficaram de tal maneira encolerizados com esse crime, que subvencionaram magni­fi­ca­mente os gastos de suas sepulturas.

50 Quanto a Menelau, por causa da cobiça dos poderosos, conservou seu cargo, mas cresceu em malícia e tornou-se o verdadeiro inimigo de seus concidadãos.

1 The previously mentioned Simon, who had given information about the money against his country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodorus and had been the real cause of these evils. 2 He dared to call him a conspirator against the state who was actually the benefactor of the city, the guardian of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws. 3 When his hatred grew so great that even murders were perpetrated through one of Simon’s approved agents, 4 Onias, seeing the danger of the contention, and that *4:4 Compare 2 Maccabees 4:21. See also 2 Maccabees 3:5. The Greek as commonly read means Apollonius, as being the governor...Phoenicia, did rage, and increase etc. Apollonius the son of Menestheus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was increasing Simon’s malice, 5 appealed to the king, not to be an accuser of his fellow citizens, but looking to the good of all the*4:5 Gr. multitude. people, both public and private; 6 for he saw that without the king’s involvement it was impossible for the state to obtain peace any more, and that Simon would not cease from his madness.

7 When Seleucus was deceased, and Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes, succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias supplanted his brother in the high priesthood, 8 having promised to the king at an audience three hundred sixty talents of silver, and out of another fund eighty talents. 9 In addition to this, he undertook to assign one hundred fifty more, if it might be allowed him *4:9 Gr. through his. through the king’s authority to set him up a gymnasium and a body of youths to be trained in it, and to register the inhabitants of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. 10 When the king had assented, and Jason had taken possession of the office, he immediately shifted those of his own race to the Greek way of life. 11 Setting aside the royal ordinances of special favor to the Jews, granted by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went on the mission to the Romans to establish friendship and alliance, and seeking to overthrow the lawful ways of living, he brought in new customs forbidden by the law. 12 For he eagerly established a gymnasium under the citadel itself, and caused the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat. 13 Thus there was an extreme of hellenization, and an advance of a foreign religion, by reason of the exceeding profaneness of Jason, who was an ungodly man and not a high priest; 14 so that the priests had no more any zeal for the services of the altar; but despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to enjoy that which was unlawfully provided in the wrestling arena, after the summons to the discus-throwing. 15 They despised the honors of their fathers, and valued the prestige of the Greeks best of all. 16 For this reason, severe calamity overtook them. The men whose ways of living they earnestly followed, and to whom they desired to be made like in all things, these became their enemies and punished them. 17 For it is not a light thing to show irreverence to God’s laws, but later events will make this clear.

18 Now when certain games that came every fifth year were kept at Tyre, and the king was present, 19 the vile Jason sent sacred envoys,*4:19 See ver. 9. as being Antiochians of Jerusalem, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought not right to use for any sacrifice, because it was not fit, but to spend it for another purpose. 20 Although the sender intended that this money was for the sacrifice of Hercules, yet on account of *4:20 Some authorities read the bearers. present circumstances it went to the construction of trireme warships.

21 Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the *4:21 The exact meaning of the Greek word is uncertain.enthronement of Philometor as king, Antiochus, learning that Philometor had shown himself hostile toward the government, took precautions for the security of his realm. Therefore, going to Joppa, he travelled on to Jerusalem. 22 Being magnificently received by Jason and the city, he was brought in with torches and shouting. Then he led his army down into Phoenicia.

23 Now after a space of three years, Jason sent Menelaus, the previously mentioned Simon’s brother, to carry the money to the king, and to make reports concerning some necessary matters. 24 But he being commended to the king, and having been glorified by the display of his authority, secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 25 After receiving the royal mandates, he returned bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood, but having the passion of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage animal. 26 So Jason, who had supplanted his own brother, was supplanted by another and driven as a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites. 27 Menelaus had possession of the office, but of the money that had been promised to the king nothing was regularly paid, even though Sostratus the governor of the citadel demanded it— 28 for his job was the gathering of the revenues—so they were both called by the king to his presence. 29 Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus for his*4:29 Gr. successor. deputy in the high priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was over the Cyprians.

30 Now while this was the state of things, it came to pass that the people of Tarsus and Mallus revolted because they were to be given as a present to Antiochis, the king’s concubine. 31 The king therefore quickly came to settle matters, leaving for his *4:31 Gr. successor. deputy Andronicus, a man of high rank. 32 Then Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a favorable opportunity, presented to Andronicus certain vessels of gold belonging to the temple, which he had stolen. He had already sold others into Tyre and the neighboring cities. 33 When Onias had sure knowledge of this, he sharply reproved him, having withdrawn himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lies by Antioch. 34 Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus aside, asked him to kill Onias. Coming to Onias, and being persuaded to use treachery, and being received as a friend, Andronicus gave him his right hand with oaths and, though he was suspicious, persuaded him to come out of the sanctuary. Then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him to death. 35 For this reason not only Jews, but many also of the other nations, had indignation and displeasure at the unjust murder of the man. 36 And when the king had come back from the places in Cilicia, the Jews who were in the city appealed to him against Andronicus (the Greeks also joining with them in hatred of the wickedness), urging that Onias had been wrongfully slain. 37 Antiochus therefore was heartily sorry, and was moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and well ordered life of him who was dead. 38 Being inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off Andronicus’s purple robe, and tore off his under garments, and when he had led him round through the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias, there he put the murderer out of the way, the Lord rendering to him the punishment he had deserved.

39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and when the report of them had spread abroad outside, the people gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, after many vessels of gold had already been stolen. 40 When the multitudes were rising against him and were filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and with unrighteous violence began the attack under the leadership of Hauran, a man far gone in years and no less also in folly. 41 But when they perceived the assault of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, others logs of wood, and some took handfuls of the ashes that lay near, and they flung them all in wild confusion at Lysimachus and those who were with him. 42 As a result, they wounded many of them, they killed some, and they forced the rest of them to flee, but the author of the sacrilege himself they killed beside the treasury.

43 But about these matters, there was an accusation laid against Menelaus. 44 When the king had come to Tyre, the three men who were sent by the senate pleaded the cause before him. 45 But Menelaus, seeing himself now defeated, promised much money to Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, that he might win over the king. 46 Therefore Ptolemy taking the king aside into a cloister, as if to get some fresh air, convinced him to change his mind. 47 He who was the cause of all the evil, Menelaus, he discharged from the accusations; but these hapless men, who, if they had pleaded even before Scythians, would have been discharged uncondemned, them he sentenced to death. 48 Those who were spokesmen for the city and the families of Israel and the holy vessels soon suffered that unrighteous penalty. 49 Therefore even certain Tyrians, moved with hatred of the wickedness, provided magnificently for their burial. 50 But Menelaus, through the covetous dealings of those who were in power, remained still in his office, growing in wickedness, established as a great conspirator against his fellow citizens.