ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Βʹ 4
Septuagint (Brenton Greek text, with Apocrypha)Original language
Septuagint (Brenton Greek text, with Apocrypha)
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1Ὁ δὲ προειρημένος Σίμων ὁ τῶν χρημάτων καὶ τῆς πατρίδος ἐνδείκτης γεγονὼς, ἐκακολόγει τὸν Ὀνίαν, ὡς αὐτός τε εἴη τὸν Ἡλιόδωρον ἐπισεσεικὼς, καὶ τῶν κακῶν δημιουργὸς καθεστηκώς.
1But Simon, of whom we spoke before, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils:
2Καὶ τὸν εὐεργέτην τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τὸν κηδεμόνα τῶν ὁμοεθνῶν, καὶ ζηλωτὴν τῶν νόμων, ἐπίβουλον τῶν πραγμάτων ἐτόλμα λέγειν.
2And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided for the city, and defended his nation, and wed zealous for the law of God.
3Τῆς δὲ ἔχθρας ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον προβαινούσης, ὥστε καὶ διά τινος τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ Σίμωνος δεδοκιμασμένων φόνους συντελεῖσθαι,
3But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon’s friends:
4συνορῶν ὁ Ὀνίας τὸ χαλεπὸν τῆς φιλονεικίας, καὶ Ἀπολλώνιον μαίνεσθαι, ὡς τὸν κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης στρατηγὸν, συναύξοντα τὴν κακίαν τοῦ Σίμωνος,
4Onias considering the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king,
5ὡς τὸν βασιλέα διεκομίσθη, οὐ γινόμενος τῶν πολιτῶν κατήγορος, τὸ δὲ συμφέρον κοινῇ κατʼ ἰδίαν παντὶ τῷ πλήθει σκοπῶν.
5Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with a view to the common good of all the people.
6Ἑώρα γὰρ ἄνευ βασιλικῆς προνοίας ἀδύνατον εἶναι τυχεῖν εἰρήνης ἔτι τὰ πράγματα, καὶ τὸν Σίμωνα παῦλαν οὐ ληψόμενον τῆς ἀνοίας.
6For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly.
7Μεταλλάξαντος δὲ τὸν βίον Σελεύκου, καὶ παραλαβόντος τὴν βασιλείαν Ἀντιόχου τοῦ προσαγορευθέντος Ἐπιφανοῦς, ὑπενόθευσεν Ἰάσων ὁ ἀδελφὸς Ὀνίου τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην,
7But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the high priesthood:
8ἐπαγγειλάμενος τῷ βασιλεῖ διʼ ἐντεύξεως ἀργυοίου τάλαντα ἑξήκοντα πρὸς τοῖς τριακοσίοις, καὶ προσόδου τινὸς ἄλλης τάλαντα ὀγδοήκοντα,
8And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents.
9πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ὑπισχνεῖτο καὶ ἕτερα διαγράψαι πεντήκοντα πρὸς τοῖς ἑκατόν, ἐὰν συγχωρηθῇ διὰ τῆς ἐξουσίας αὐτοῦ, γυμνάσιον καὶ ἐφηβίαν αὐτῷ συστήσασθαι, καὶ τοὺς ἐν Ἰεροσολύμοις Ἀντιοχεῖς ἀναγράψαι.
9Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle them, that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.
10Ἐπινεύσαντος δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς κρατήσας, εὐθέως ἐπὶ τὸν Ἑλληνικὸν χαρακτῆρα τοὺς ὁμοφύλους μετῆγε.
10Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens.
11Καὶ τὰ κείμενα τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις φιλάνθρωπα βασιλικὰ διὰ Ἰωάννου τοῦ πατρὸς Εὐπολέμου, τοῦ ποιησαμένου τὴν πρεσβείαν ὑπὲρ φιλίας καὶ συμμαχίας πρὸς τοὺς Ῥωμαίους, παρώσατο· καὶ τὰς μὲν νομίμους καταλύων πολιτείας, παρανόμους ἐθισμοὺς ἐκαίνιζεν.
11And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John the father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and brought in fashions that were perverse.
12Ἀσμένως γὰρ ὑπʼ αὐτὴν τὴν ἀκρόπολιν γυμνάσιον καθίδρυσε, καὶ τοὺς κρατίστους τῶν ἐφήβων ὑποτάσσων, ὑπὸ πέτασον ἦγεν.
12For he had the boldness to set up, under the very castle, a place of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses.
13Ἦν δʼ οὕτως ἀκμή τις Ἑλληνισμοῦ, καὶ πρόσβασις ἀλλοφυλισμοῦ διὰ τὴν τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς καὶ οὐκ ἀρχιερέως Ἰάσωνος ὑπερβάλλουσαν ἀναγνείαν,
13Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch and no priest.
14ὥστε μηκέτι περὶ τὰς τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου λειτουργίας προθύμους εἶναι τοὺς ἱερεῖς, ἀλλὰ τοῦ μὲν ναοῦ καταφρονοῦντες, καὶ τῶν θυσιῶν ἀμελοῦντες ἔσπευδον μετέχειν τῆς ἐν παλαίστρᾳ παρανόμου χορηγίας, μετὰ τὴν τοῦ δίσκου πρόκλησιν.
14Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus.
15Καὶ τὰς μὲν πατρῴους τιμὰς ἐν οὐδενὶ τιθέμενοι, τὰς δὲ Ἑλληνικὰς δόξας καλλίστας ἡγούμενοι.
15And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories for the best:
16Ὧν χάριν περιέσχεν αὐτοὺς χαλεπὴ περίστασις, καὶ ὧν ἐζήλουν τὰς ἀγωγὰς, καὶ καθάπαν ἤθελον ἐξομοιοῦσθαι, τούτους πολεμίους καὶ τιμωρητὰς ἔσχον.
16For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like them, who were their enemies and murderers.
17Ἀσεβεῖν γὰρ εἰς τοὺς θείους νόμους οὐ ῥᾴδιον, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα ὁ ἀκόλουθος καιρὸς δηλώσει.
17For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare.
18Ἀγομένου δὲ πενταετηρικοῦ ἀγῶνος ἐν Τύρῳ, καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως παρόντος,
18Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king being present,
19ἀπέστειλεν Ἰάσων ὁ μιαρὸς θεωροὺς ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων Ἀντιοχεῖς ὄντας, παρακομίζοντας ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς τριακοσίας εἰς τὴν τοῦ Ἡρακλέους θυσίαν· ἃς καὶ ἠξίωσαν οἱ παρακομίσαντες μὴ χρῆσθαι πρὸς θυσίαν διὰ τὸ μὴ καθήκειν, εἰς ἑτέραν δὲ καταθέσθαι δαπάνην.
19The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges.
20Ἔπεμψεν οὖν ταῦτα, διὰ μὲν τὸν ἀποστείλαντα εἰς τὴν τοῦ Ἡρακλέους θυσίαν, ἕνεκεν δὲ τῶν παρακομιζόντων, εἰς τὰς τῶν τριήρων κατασκευάς.
20So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the making of galleys.
21Ἀποσταλέντος δὲ εἰς Αἴγυπτον Ἀπολλωνίου τοῦ Μενεσθέως διὰ τὰ πρωτοκλίσια Πτολεμαίου τοῦ Φιλομήτορος βασιλέως, μεταλαβὼν Ἀντίοχος ἀλλότριον αὐτὸν τῶυ αὐτῶν γεγονέναι πραγμάτων, τῆς κατʼ αὑτὸν ἀσφαλείας ἐφρόντιζεν· ὅθεν εἰς Ἰόππην παραγενόμενος, κατήντησεν εἰς Ἰεροσόλυμα.
21Now when Apollonius the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem:
22Μεγαλοπρεπῶς δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰάσωνος καὶ τῆς πόλεως παραδεχθεὶς, μετὰ δᾳδουχίας καὶ βοῶν εἰσπεπόρευται εἶθʼ οὕτως εἰς τὴν Φοινίκην κατεστρατοπέδευσε.
22Where he was received in a, magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia.
23Μετὰ δὲ τριετῆ χρόνον ἀπέστειλεν Ἰάσων Μενέλαον τὸν τοῦ προσημαινομένου Σίμωνος ἀδελφόν, παρακομίζοντα τὰ χρήματα τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ περὶ πραγμάτων ἀναγκαίων ὑπομνηματισμοὺς τελέσοντα.
23Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from him concerning certain necessary affairs.
24Ὁ δὲ συσταθεὶς τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ δοξάσας αὐτὸν τῷ προσώπῳ τῆς ἐξουσίας, εἰς ἑαυτὸν κατήντησε τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην, ὑπερβαλὼν τὸν Ἰάσωνα τάλαντα ἀργυρίου τριακόσια.
24But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25Λαβὼν δὲ τὰς βασιλικὰς ἐντολὰς παρεγένετο, τῆς μὲν ἀρχιερωσύνης οὐδὲν ἄξιον φέρων, θυμοὺς δὲ ὠμοῦ τυράννου, καὶ θηρὸς βαρβάρου ὀργὰς ἔχων.
25So having received the king’s mandate, he returned bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.
26Καὶ ὁ μὲν Ἰάσων ὁ τὸν ἴδιον ἀδελφὸν ὑπονοθεύσας, ὑπονοθευθεὶς ὑφʼ ἑτέρου φυγὰς εἰς τὴν Ἀμμανῖτιν χώραν συνήλαστο.
26Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
27Ὁ δὲ Μενέλαος τῆς μὲν ἀρχῆς ἐκράτει, τῶν δὲ ἐπηγγελμένων τῷ βασιλεῖ χρημάτων οὐδὲν εὐτάκτει,
27So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had promised to the king he took no care, when Sostratus the governor of the castle called for it.
28ποιουμένου δὲ τὴν ἀπαίτησιν Σωστράτου τοῦ τῆς ἀκροπόλεως ἐπάρχου· πρὸς τοῦτον γὰρ ἦν ἡ τῶν φόρων πρᾶξις· διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν οἱ δύο ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως προσεκλήθησαν.
28For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king.
29Καὶ ὁ μὲν Μενέλαος ἀπέλιπε τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης διάδοχον Λυσίμαχον τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφόν, Σώστρατος δὲ, Κράτητα τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν Κυπρίων.
29And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.
30Τοιούτων δὲ συνεστηκότων, συνέβη Ταρσεῖς, καὶ Μαλλώτας στασιάζειν, διὰ τὸ Ἀντιοχίδι τῇ παλλακῇ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐν δωρεᾷ δεδόσθαι.
30When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of Tharsus and Mallos raised a sedition, because they were given for a gift to Antiochis, the king’s concubine.
31Θᾶττον οὖν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἧκε καταστεῖλαι τὰ πράγματα, καταλιπὼν τὸν διαδεχόμενον Ἀνδρόνικον, τῶν ἐν ἀξιώματι κειμένων.
31The king therefore went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy.
32Νομίσας δὲ ὁ Μενέλαος εἰληφέναι καιρὸν εὐφυῆ, χρυσώματά τινα τῶν τοῦ ἱεροῦ νοσφισάμενος ἐχαρίσατο τῷ Ἀνδρονίκῳ, καὶ ἕτερα ἐτύγχανε πεπρακὼς εἴς τε Τύρον καὶ τὰς κύκλῳ πόλεις.
32Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring cities.
33Ἃ καὶ σαφῶς ἐπεγνωκὼς ὁ Ὀνίας, παρήλεγχεν ἀποκεχωρηκὼς εἰς ἄσυλον τόπον, ἐπὶ Δάφνης τῆς πρὸς Ἀντιόχειαν κειμένης.
33Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch beside Daphne.
34Ὅθεν ὁ Μενέλαος λαβὼν ἰδίᾳ τὸν Ἀνδρόνικον, παρεκάλει χειρώσασθαι τὸν Ὀνίαν· ὁ δὲ παραγενόμενος ἐπὶ τὸν Ὀνίαν, καὶ πεισθεὶς ἐπὶ δόλῳ, καὶ δεξιὰς μεθʼ ὅρκων δοὺς, καίπερ ἐν ὑποψίᾳ κείμενος ἔπεισεν ἐκ τοῦ ἀσύλου προελθεῖν, ὃν καὶ παραχρῆμα παρέκλεισεν, οὐκ αἰδεσθεὶς τὸ δίκαιον.
34Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to justice.
35Διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν οὐ μόνον Ἰουδαῖοι, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν ἐδείναζον, καὶ ἐδυσφόρουν ἐπὶ τῷ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἀδίκῳ φόνῳ.
35For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man.
36Τοῦ δὲ βασιλέως ἐπανελθόντος ἀπὸ τῶν κατὰ Κιλικίαν τόπων, ἐνετύγχανον οἱ κατὰ πόλιν Ἰουδαῖοι συμισοπονηρούντων καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων, ὑπὲρ τοῦ παρὰ λόγον τὸν Ὀνίαν ἀπεκτάνθαι.
36And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Creaks went to him: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.
37Ψυχικῶς οὖν ὁ Ἀντίοχος ἐπιλυπηθεὶς, καὶ τραπεὶς εἰς ἔλεον, καὶ δακρύσας διὰ τὴν τοῦ μετηλλαχότος σωφροσύνην, καὶ πολλὴν εὐταξίαν,
37Antiochus therefore was grieved in his mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.
38καὶ πυρωθεὶς τοῖς θυμοῖς, παραχρῆμα τὴν τοῦ Ἀνδρονίκου πορφύραν περιελόμενος, καὶ τοὺς χιτῶνας περιῤῥήξας, περιαγαγὼν καθʼ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν, ἐπʼ αὐτὸν τὸν τόπον οὗπερ εἰς τὸν Ὀνίαν ἠσέβησεν, ἐκεῖ τὸν μιαιφόνον ἀπεκόσμησε, τοῦ Κυρίου τὴν ἀξίαν αὐτῷ κόλασιν ἀποδόντος.
38And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord repaying him his deserved punishment.
39Γενομένων δὲ πολλῶν ἱεροσυλημάτων κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ὑπὸ τοῦ Λυσιμάχου μετὰ τῆς Μενελάου γνώμης, καὶ διαδοθείσης ἔξω τῆς φήμης, ἐπισυνήχθη τὸ πλῆθος ἐπὶ τὸν Λυσίμαχον, χρυσωμάτων ἤδη πολλῶν διενηνεγμένων.
39Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, a great quantity of gold being already carried away.
40Ἐπεγειρομένων δὲ τῶν ὄχλων, καὶ ταῖς ὀργαῖς διεμπιπλαμένων, καθοπλίσας ὁ Λυσίμαχος πρὸς τρισχιλίους, κατήρξατο χειρῶν ἀδίκων, προηγησαμένου τινὸς Τυράννου προβεβηκότος τὴν ἡλικίαν, οὐδὲν δὲ ἧττον καὶ τὴν ἄνοιαν.
40Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both in age, and in madness.
41Συνιδότες δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐπίθεσιν τοῦ Λυσιμάχου, συναρπάσαντες οἱ μὲν πέτρους, οἱ δὲ ξύλων πάχη, τινὲς δὲ ἐκ τῆς παρακειμένης σποδοῦ δρασσόμενοι, φύρδην ἐνετίνασσον εἰς τοὺς περὶ τὸν Λυσίμαχον.
41But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, some strong clubs: and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus,
42Διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν πολλοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν τραυματίας ἐποίησαν, τινὰς δὲ καὶ κατέβαλον, πάντας δὲ εἰς φυγὴν συνήλασαν, αὐτὸν δὲ τὸν ἱερόσυλον παρὰ τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον ἐχειρώσαντο.
42And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow himself, they slew him beside the treasury.
43Περὶ δὲ τούτων ἐνέστη κρίσις πρὸς τὸν Μενέλαον.
43Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against Menelaus.
44Καταντήσαντος δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως εἰς Τύρον, ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ τὴν δικαιολογίαν ἐποιήσαντο οἱ πεμφθέντες ἄνδρες τρεῖς ὑπὸ τῆς γερουσίας.
44And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the ancients to plead the cause before him.
45Ἤδη δὲ λελειμμένος ὁ Μενέλαος ἐπηγγείλατο χρήματα ἱκανὰ τῷ Πτολεμαίῳ τῷ Δορυμένους πρὸς τὸ πεῖσαι τὸν βασιλέα.
45But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much money to persuade the king to favour him.
46Ὅθεν ἀπολαβὼν ὁ Πτολεμαῖος εἴς τι περίστυλον ὡς ἀναψύξοντα τὸν βασιλέα, μετέθηκε.
46So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind:
47Καὶ τὸν μὲν τῆς ὅλης κακίας αἴτιον Μενέλαον ἀπέλυσε τῶν κατηγορημάτων, τοῖς δὲ ταλαιπώροις, οἵτινες εἰ καὶ ἐπὶ Σκυθῶν ἔλεγον, ἀπελύθησαν ἄν ἀκατάγνωστοι, τούτοις θάνατον ἐπέκρινε.
47So Menelaus who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were condemned to death.
48Ταχέως οὖν τὴν ἄδικον ζημίαν ὑπέσχον οἱ ὑπὲρ πόλεως καὶ δήμων καὶ τῶν ἱερῶν σκευῶν προαγορεύσαντες.
48Thus they that prosecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
49Διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν καὶ Τύριοι μισοπονηρήσαντες τὰ πρὸς τὴν κηδείαν αὐτῶν μεγαλοπρεπῶς ἐχορήγησαν.
49Wherefore even the Tyrians being moved with indignation, were liberal towards their burial.
50Ὁ δὲ Μενέλαος διὰ τὰς τῶν κρατούντων πλεονεξίας, ἔμενεν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἐπιφυόμενος τῇ κακίᾳ, μέγας τῶν πολιτῶν ἐπίβουλος καθεστώς.
50And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.
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