3 His hatred was so intense that one of Simon’s men had even attempted to commit murders.
4 Seeing the danger of the dispute—including how Menestheus’ son Apollonius, the governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, encouraged Simon’s evil—
5 Onias went to the king not to accuse his fellow citizens but to safeguard the public and private welfare of the people.
6 He recognized that without royal attention pubic affairs would not return to a peaceful state, and Simon would not cease from his madness.
7 After Seleucus died and Antiochus (who was called Epiphanes) received the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias gained the high priesthood by corruption.
8 He offered the king, in private communication, 20,520 pounds of silver, and an additional 4,560 pounds from another source of revenue.
9 He also promised to pay another 8,550 pounds of silver if he were permitted to set up, under his own authority, a gymnasium and a place for training the young people, and to enroll those living in Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch.