III. Jason his brother took possession of the High-Priesthood, excluding his nephew Onias IV. the son of Onias III. the lawful Heir of his Dignity. Jason obtained a confirmation of the Priesthood, which he had thus usurped, from Antiochus Epiphanes, by offering him a large sum of money. But Antiochus growing dissatisfied with Jason, dispossessed him, and put his brother Menelaus in his place, who bought the High-Priesthood at a better price. Thus the three brothers, Onias III. Jason and Menelaus successively possessed this great Dignity, while Onias IV. to whom of right it belonged, continued deprived of it. He was obliged to fly into Egypt, where he built the Temple Onion.
The Author of the second book of Maccabees relates this matter differently. 2 Macc. iv. 8, &c.He says, that Jason, growing uneasy to see the Priesthood too long enjoy’d by his brother Onias III. offered a large sum of money to Antiochus Epiphanes, in order to purchase this Dignity of him: he obtained it, and his brother Onias III. was deprived of it. Jason having afterwards sent one Menelaus to Antiochus, who was of the Tribe of Benjamin, and brother to Simon, Governour of the Temple; this Menelaus prevailed so effectually with Antiochus Epiphanes, by presenting him with a good sum of money, that he procured the High-Priesthood for himself, and Jason was divested of it. The same Author represents Jason to be a man of no Religion, who did all he could to abolish the worship of God in Jerusalem, and prevail with the very Priests themselves to go over to the Religion of the Greeks. He is to be looked upon as the first cause of all the misfortunes which the Jews underwent from Antiochus Epiphanes.
During the whole time of Menelaus’s usurpation, Jason kept himself concealed 2 Macc. iv. 26.in the Country of the Ammonites; but some time after, Epiphanes going into Egypt, and a report spreading that he was dead, Jason, attended with a body of a 2 Macc. v. 5, 6, &c.thousand men, made haste to Jerusalem, and entred the City, notwithstanding the resistance of the citizens. Hereupon Menelaus fled into the Citadel, and Jason began to treat the inhabitants after the manner which is generally practised in places taken forcibly and by storm. But the rumour of the King’s death being soon contradicted, he was obliged to fly a second time into the Country of the Ammonites. At length Aretas King of the Arabians, endeavouring to hem him in, in order to get him into his hands, he fled into Egypt, and not believing himself to be secure there, he went for refuge to Lacedæmon, a City in alliance with the Jews, to whom the Lacedæmonians said they were related. But he died there, and his body remained without burial, there being none in the place who had any compassion for him, and were inclined to pay the last offices to him, which are not refused even to strangers. Jason enjoyed the High-Priesthood no longer than from the year of the World 3830 to 3832, when Menelaus was appointed in his room.