4

Master of the City without oppofition or refiftance and led away Captive one hundred thoufand Jews.

JUDEA remained under fubjection to Egypt five years. Simon furnamed the Just was their Sovereign Pontiff, at this time Simon died after He had distinguishingly honoured the HighPriesthood nine years; highly eminent was this great and good Man for his Sanctity, Integrity and Patriotifm. Simon was the last member remaining of the Great Synagogue, confifting of one hundred and twenty. He had unweariedly meployed himself in completing the Canon of the Holy Scriptures and finally fettling the jewish Liturgy:

"The Books Simon added to the facred Canon were, the two books of the Chronicles, the "books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Efther and Ma"lachi."

Simon was fucceeded in his high Office by Eleazar his Brother, his Son being an infant, and Eleazar officiated as High Prieft fifteen He left a Son named Onias at the age of years.

Eleazar. Manaffes,

Onias the Second.

thirty,

thirty, but his Son was fet afide in order to make way for his Great Uncle Manaffes, and Manaffes was Uncle to Simon the Juft. The High Priest was very far advanced in years when He affumed the Dignity: Manaffes died foon after, and Onias his grand Nephew now thirty two fucceeded him.

ONIAS unlike his Ancestors was base, fordid, felfish and indolent, fo avaritious, his money was his God: his Avarice and meanness were moft wretchedly ill-timed, and at length arrived to fo high a pitch as to induce him to put · into his own Coffers, the tribute money he had engaged to pay to Syria, the fhameful detection and enquiry occafioned much diftrefs and trouble to his country.

Ar the Death of Onias, Simon the fecond was nominated to the High Priest-hood and fucceeded his Father: A Pontiff of amiable manners, true Dignity, and Piety, Zealous for God, of distinguished honour, conduct and bravery. At the Death of Simon the fecond, Onias the third took upon him the Government, and became their High Prieft, He also was a highly

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 preserved 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 Prieft-hood was treacherously taken from him by Jafon, 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 his Country impoverished by the large tribute, his Predeceffors had annually paid to Rome: Jason took the advantage of Young

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 offer, inftantly commanded his Commiffion to be made out, and figned an order for Onias's deposition and confinement, together with his banishment from Judæa, without this last caution, Jason would have had no prospect of enjoying, this his ill-gotten Dignity, as the amiable Character and fignal Piety of his Brother, muft 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 Commisfron 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,

tent, the valuable Privilege of making fuch of bis fubjects as he thought fit, Citizens of Antioch, (Metropolis of Syria, and of all the Eaft) conferring on them at pleasure, the freedom of that celebrated City. To this fuperb Amphitheatre, Jafon gave the name of GymnafiumA wonderful Change was foon experienced in Jerufalem-a general Apoftacy fucceeded-Academies were inftituted, and fuitable buildings erected both for the jewifh Youth, and for Men grown up, where indecencies disgraceful to humanity, in bold defiance of the Hebrew Laws, were publickly exhibited-both Priefts and Laity neglected the Service of the Temple, and they all flocked to the heathenish Amphitheatre, whereby the Jewish Laws, their Religion and Rights were all of them facrificed to the wild Ambition and impiety of Jason.

THE Young Prince, Antiochus Epiphanes, after his Coronation and establishment in his Kingdom, on hearing a report that the King of Egypt juft now come of Age, defigned to attempt the recovery of Palæftine, He fet out on a Tour through the Neighbouring Provinces, and visited Jerufalem in his way. Jafon most highly delighted to ingratiate himself in the favour of Antiochus, received his Majefty with great state and magnifi