Onias (V)

V. ONIAS, Called otherwise Menelaus, whom Josephus¹ makes to be Son to Simon the just, and Brother of Onias III. spoken of before, and whom the second Book of the Maccabees makes to be Brother to a certain Simon of the Tribe of Benjamin, an Enemy and Accuser of Onias III. This Menelaus, or Onias V. was created High-priest in the Year of the World 3832, and was put to Death in 3842, before Christ 158, before the vulgar Æra 162. This is what the Scripture informs us about this High-priest². Jason the Usurper of the High-priesthood having sent Menelaus to Antioch, to carry Money to King Antiochus Epiphanes, and to know his Answer to some important Queries; Menelaus managed the King’s Temper so dextrously, that he got into his Confidence, and obtained the High-priesthood for himself, exclusive of Jason, upon an Offer of three Hundred Talents more than Jason had sent for it. And then having received the King’s Orders, he returned to Jerusalem puffed up with the new Dignity that had been conferred upon him. As for Jason, he was forced to withdraw into the Land of the Ammonites.

But Menelaus not being very punctual to send to the King the Money he had promised him, though Sostratus the Governor of the Castle had urged him to the Payment of it; they both received a Summons to appear before the King³, when the King conferred the High-priesthood on Lysimachus the Brother of Menelaus. In the mean Time Antiochus having been obliged in great Haste, to go to quell an Insurrection of some Cities in Cilicia, Me- Menelaus took the Opportunity of his Absence, to endeavour to put his Affairs on a better Footing. He engaged Andronicus on his Side, who had been made Governor of Antioch in the Absence of the King, and prevailed with him to put to Death Onias III. who had loudly accused Menelaus with taking away the precious Vessels of the Temple, selling some, and giving away others to procure Abettors to his Pretences. Andronicus, who had received a Part of these Vessels, treacherously put Onias to Death, as we have before related. But at the Return of Antiochus he was accused and convicted of this Crime, and put to Death in an ignominious Manner, as he well deserved.

As for Menelaus, he supported himself yet for some Time. Lysimachus, to whom Antiochus Epiphanes had given the High-priesthood⁴, having by the Counsel of Menelaus committed many Disorders, and Violences in the Temple; the People mutinied, and several of his Attendants were wounded, some slain, and himself was killed upon the Spot. Menelaus was accused as the Author of these Disorders. But Antiochus coming to Tyre, Menelaus by a large Sum gained to his Interest Ptolemy Son of Dorimenes, who had then much Credit at Court. So by his Means he not only escaped the Death he deserved, but even obtained the Condemnation of the Deputies sent by the Jews, to accuse him before Antiochus. He returned to Jerusalem more insolent than ever⁵, increasing in his Malice, and continually endeavouring to lay Snares for his Fellow Citizens. In the Interim, when Antiochus was gone into Egypt, and a Report was spread of his Death; Jason the false High-priest, of whom we have already spoke, took a Thousand Men along with him, and came to lay Siege to Jerusalem. He took it, and forced Menelaus to retire into the Citadel where the Syrians kept Garrison. But the Report of Antiochus’s Death being afterwards found false, Jason was obliged to withdraw, and Menelaus was again re-established at Jerusalem with new Authority⁶, which he made no other Use of but to distress the Citizens.

After the Death of Antiochus Epiphanes⁷, his Son Antiochus Eupator, under the Conduct of Lysias the Regent of the Kingdom, marched at the Head of his Troops against Jerusalem. Menelaus was then in the Army, and by a Spirit of Dissimulation pretended to intercede with Eupator in Favour of the Jews his Countrymen, flattering himself that he should soon recover his Authority at Jerusalem. But Lysias having acquainted Eupator, that Menelaus was the Cause of all the Troubles of Judea, the King caused him to be apprehended, and secured till his Return⁸. Then being come to Berea, he was carried to the Top of a Tower of fifty Cubits high, wherein had been brought together a great Quantity of Ashes, and from the Top of which nothing but a great Precipice could be seen. From hence Menelaus was thrown down, and died miserably; being suffocated in the Ashes, which served him both for a Grave and a Tomb.

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