Antiochus's Penury, he went to Antioch and made him an offer of three hundred and fifty Talents, for the High Prieft-hood and the Government of Judæa. Antiochus accepted his of fer, inftantly commanded his Commiffion to be made out, and figned an order for Onias's depofition and confinement, together with his banifhment from Judæa, without this last caution, Jason would have had no profpect of enjoying, this his ill-gotten Dignity, as the amiable Character and fignal Piety of his Brother, must have revived the refentment and hatred of the People, and proved a conftant Check to his Authority and influence. AFTER this, Jason returned with his Commisfion and new Powers, and raising a powerful Party, fet about establishing himself in his Dignities, and the Government he had bafely purchased. Availing himself still of the empty treasury and neceffities of the Syrian Prince, He prefented Antiochus with one hundred and fifty Talents more, for liberty to erect in Jerufalem an Amphitheatre, in a foreign ftile, for training up the Hebrew Youth in Gymnastic Exercises, after the Grecian manner, and correfponding with the Olympic Games, and he tacked to his new Pa Before Chrift 175. tent, worthy Character of fignal Clemency, benevolence and Piety: It was in the eighth year of his Pontificate, the Jews loft their good friend and Protector, Antiochus King of Syria, and Antiochus was fucceeded in his Government by Seleu cus. JUDEA had enjoyed a profound peace now for fome years, and preferved a strict adherence to her Religion and Laws: the Common-wealth was arrived at high honours, courted by fovereign Princes, and the Jews had received many fumptuous and magnificent Prefents, and rich offerings to the Temple. AFTER Onias had thus wifely and religiously governed and inftructed the People four and twenty years, the High Priest-hood was treacherously taken from him by Jason, one of his Brothers. At the Death of Selencus King of Syria, Jafon was informed of the empty Coffers of the Kingdom: The Young Prince his Son on his coming to the Crown. found the treasury quite exhausted, and h large tribute, his Rome font impoverished by the naid Antiochus's Penury, he went to Antioch and made him an offer of three hundred and fifty Talents, for the High Prieft-hood and the Government of Judæa. Antiochus accepted his of fer, inftantly commanded his Commiffion to be made out, and figned an order for Onias's depofition and confinement, together with his banifhment from Judæa, without this laft caution, Jason would have had no profpect of enjoying, this his ill-gotten Dignity, as the amiable Character and fignal Piety of his Brother, must have revived the resentment and hatred of the People, and proved a conftant Check to his Authority and influence. AFTER this, Jafon returned with his Commiffion and new Powers, and raising a powerful Party, fet about establishing himself in his Dignities, and the Government he had bafely purchased. Availing himself ftill of the empty treasury and neceffities of the Syrian Prince, He prefented Antiochus with one hundred and fifty Talents more, for liberty to erect in Jerufalem an Amphitheatre, in a foreign ftile, for training up the Hebrew Youth in Gymnastic Exercises, after the Grecian manner, and correfponding with the pic Games, and he tacked to his new Pa Before Chrift 175. tent, |