Onias (III)

III. ONIAS, Son of Simon II. High Priest of the Jews¹, was established in the Priesthood in the Year of the World 3805, before Christ 195, befor the Vulgar Æra 199. Josephus the Historian relates the History of the Succession of Onias III. in a Manner very different from the Relation of it in the second Book of the Maccabees. For thus this Author represents it². The High Priest Simon had three Sons, Onias III. Jason or Jesus, Onias, otherwise Menelaus. Onias III. at his Death left a Son under Age called Onias. As he was not capable of exercising the High-priesthood, King Antiochus Epiphanes conferred it upon Jason the Brother of Onias III. But he did not long enjoy it, for falling into Disgrace with this Prince, he dispossessed him of the Priesthood, and gave it to Menelaus, otherwise called Onias. So that the three Sons of Simon the Just successively enjoyed this Dignity; but the two last were in Possession of it to the Exclusion of Onias IV. Son of Onias III. to whom it belong’d by Right of Succession. This is what Josephus relates in this Matter.

The second Book of the Maccabees tells it in a very different Manner. It says it was 2 Macc. i. ii iii. iv.under the Pontificate of Onias III. that the History of Heliodorus happened, who having been sent by King Seleucus to fetch away the Treasure at the Temple of Jerusalem, was hindered from it by the Angels that came to the Assistance of the Jews³. In Consequence of which Onias having been accused to the King of Syria, by one named Simon, as a Traytor to his Country, and Author of the Disturbances that happened at Jerusalem when Heliodorus came thither; he thought fit to make a Journey to Antioch, there to vindicate himself to the King, and to disprove the false Suggestions that had been raised against him. While this was doing King Seleucus died, and his Brother Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded him, at his Return from Rome⁴. Then Jason Brother to Onias came to Antioch, offered Money to Epiphanes for the High-priesthood, and obtained it. He then returned to Jerusalem while Onias continued at Antioch, deprived of his Dignity, nor could he obtain Justice from the King.

Three Years after a Jason having sent Menelaus Brother of Simon to Antioch, (it may be observed he does not call him Brother of Jason, or of Onias) to carry Money to the King, and to consult him in some Affairs of Importance; Menelaus insinuated himself into the King’s good Graces, and obtained the sovereign Priesthood from him, for which he gave three Hundred Talents above what Jason had given. Jason being thus deprived of this Dignity, was obliged to retire into the Country of the Ammonites. But as Menelaus was not able to pay what he had promised the King so soon as was expected, his Brother Lysimachus was substituted to this Office. In the mean while Antiochus Epiphanes being obliged to depart in Haste for Cilicia, to suppress the Rebellion of some Cities that had there revolted, he left as Governor at Antioch one Andronicus, who corrupted by the Money given him by Menelaus, put to Death Onias III. the lawful High-priest of the Jews.

Thus is this Matter related by the Author of the second Book of the Maccabees⁵. Menelaus being informed that the King was departed for Cilicia, came to Antioch with some Vases of Gold which he had stole from the Temple at Jerusalem, and with the Money that he had raised by the Sale of some other Vessels at Tyre, and the neighbouring Cities. He offered one Part of these Vessels to Andronicus, to whom the King had left the Government of the Country, to prevail with him to remove Onias III. out of the Way, who was continually reproaching him with the Sacrilege he had committed, in stealing the Vessels of the Temple. In the mean Time Onias kept himself in the Asylum of the Grove of Daphne, fearing that his Enemies might make some Attempt upon his Life, after having deprived him of the Dignity of the High-priesthood. Andronicus came himself to Daphne, spoke to Onias, promised with an Oath that no one should do him any Harm, drew him out of his Place of Refuge, and then most inhumanly and basely slew him. The unjust Death of so holy a Man filled with Indignation, not only the Jews, but even the Pagans themselves; and as soon as the King came back from Cilicia, they made their Complaints to him of this Murder. The King, though naturally but little inclined to favour the Jews, could not refrain from Tears, remembring the Wisdom and the Moderation that were always conspicuous in Onias. He caused Andronicus to be stripped of the Purple he wore, made him walk in Disgrace through the Streets of Antioch, and ordered him to be put to Death in the same Place where he had killed Onias. Thus the Lord brought upon him that Punishment he had so justly deserved.

There are few Persons to whom the Scripture gives greater Praises than to Onias III. ‘Tis thought to be to him that Areus King of the Lacedemonians wrote the Letter which is to be seen in the first Book of the Maccabees in these Words⁶. Areus King of the Lacedemonians to Onias the High-priest, greeting. It is found in Writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are Brethren, and that they are of the Stock of Abraham. Now therefore since this is come to our Knowledge, you shall do well to write to us of your Prosperity. But we have given Reasons that make it doubtful whether this Letter was written to Onias III. It is more probable it was sent to Onias I. See the Article LACEDEMON.

Jonathan Maccabæus sending Ambassadors to Rome in the Year of the World 3860, ordered them at their Return to make Lacedemon in their Way, and to renew the Alliance with the Lacedemonians, in the same Manner as they had done with the Romans⁷; and in the Letter he wrote⁸ to the Lacedemonians, he recites that of King Areus. Josephus also gives it intire⁹, but changes the Terms and Manner of Expression. As to the Relation of the Lacedemonians and the Jews, the Article of the Lacedemonians may be consulted, and the Dissertation we have composed on this Subject, before the first Book of the Maccabees. See the Character which the Author of the second Book of the Maccabees gives to the 2 Macc. iii. 1, 2, 3.High-priest Onias III. Now when the holy City was inhabited with all Peace, and the Laws were kept very well, because of the Godliness of Onias the High-priest, and his Hatred of Wickedness. It came to pass that even the Kings themselves did honour the Place, and magnifie the Temple with their best Gifts: Insomuch that Seleucus King of Asia, of his own Revenues, bare all the Costs belonging to the Service of the Sacrifices. See also what is said of him in the second Book of the Maccabees, Ch. xv. v. 12, 13, &c. where Onias appeared to Judas Maccabæus, accompanied by the Prophet Jeremiah, who presented a Sword to Judas.

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