At a time of peace, wile
observing the law, Seleucus Nicanor king of Asia set a tax on the temple
service.
And a man Simon, raised a
faction against Onias, the good high priest.
The faction failed so Simon went
to Apollonius governor of Syria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia, and said the Jews
were holding back taxes.
So they went to the king Seleucus and he ordered them
to go to Jerusalem and take the treasury in the holy place.
So they did, then
the people prayed and angles on horses from heaven came.
Apollonius repented
and Onias prayed for Apollonius so the king would not think man had done this.
So Apollonius was spared and he reported back to the king.
After the king had
died his son Antiochus Epiphanies ruled. Antiochus dismissed Onias as high
priest and put in Jason (his brother) as long as Jason would pay 3660 talents
a year to the king.