2 Maccabees 4:7-10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Jason as High Priest. 7 But Seleucus died,[a] and when Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes succeeded him on the throne, Onias’ brother Jason obtained the high priesthood by corrupt means:(A) 8 in an interview, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, as well as eighty talents from another source of income. 9 Besides this he would undertake to pay a hundred and fifty more, if he was given authority to establish a gymnasium and a youth center[b] for it and to enroll Jerusalemites as citizens of Antioch.
10 When Jason received the king’s approval and came into office, he immediately initiated his compatriots into the Greek way of life.
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- 4:7 Seleucus died: he was murdered by Heliodorus. Antiochus Epiphanes was his younger brother. Onias’ brother showed his enthusiasm for the Greek way of life (v. 10) by changing his Hebrew name Joshua, or Jesus, to the Greek name Jason.
- 4:9 Youth center: an educational institution in which young men were trained both in Greek intellectual culture and in physical fitness. Citizens of Antioch: honorary citizens of Antioch, a Hellenistic city of the Seleucid Kingdom that had a corporation of such Antiochians, who enjoyed certain political and commercial privileges.
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