2 And he dared to say that he was a traitor to the kingdom, though he provided for the city, and defended his people, and was zealous for the law of God.
3 But when the hostilities had proceeded to such an extent that even murders were committed by certain close associates of Simon,
4 Onias, considering the peril of this contention, and Apollonius to be mad, though he was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, which only augmented the malice of Simon, he brought himself before the king,
5 not so as to be an accuser of a citizen, but in view of his own consideration for the common good of the entire multitude.
6 For he saw that, without royal providence, it would be impossible to provide peace to events, nor would Simon ever cease from his foolishness.
7 But after the life of Seleucus expired, when Antiochus, who was called the illustrious, had assumed the kingdom, Jason, the brother of Onias, was ambitions for the high priesthood.
8 He went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and from other revenues eighty talents,