7 When Seleukos (Seleucus) was deceased, and Antiokos (Antiochus), who was called Epifanes (Epiphanes), succeeded to the kingdom, Yason the brother of Honyo supplanted his brother in the high priesthood, 8 having promised to the king at an audience three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of another fund eighty talents. 9 In addition to this, he undertook to assign one hundred and fifty more, if it might be allowed him through[fn] the king’s authority to set him up a gymnasium and a body of youths to be trained in it, and to register the inhabitants of Yerushalem (Jerusalem) as citizens of Antiokeia. 10 When the king had assented, and Yason had taken possession of the office, he immediately shifted those of his own race to the Greek way of life. 11 Setting aside the royal ordinances of special favour to the Yehudim (Jews), granted by the means of Yohan (John) the father of Eupolemos, who went on the mission to the Romaios to establish friendship and alliance, and seeking to overthrow the lawful ways of living, he brought in new customs forbidden by the law. 12 Because he eagerly established a gymnasium under the citadel itself, and caused the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat. 13 Thus there was an extreme of hellenisation, and an advance of a foreign religion, because of the exceeding profaneness of Yason, who was an ungodly man and not a high priest; 14 so that the priests had no more any zeal for the services of the altar; but despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to enjoy that which was unlawfully provided in the wrestling arena, after the summons to the discus-throwing. 15 They despised the honours of their fathers, and valued the prestige of the Hellains (Greeks) best of all. 16 Because this reason, severe calamity overtook them. The men whose ways of living they earnestly followed, and to whom they desired to be made like in all things, these became their enemies and punished them. 17 Because it isn’t a light thing to show irreverence to God’s laws, but later events will make this clear.

18 Now when certain games that came every fifth year were kept at Tsor (Tyre), and the king was present, 19 the vile Yason sent sacred envoys,[fn] as being Antiochians of Yerushalem, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver to the sacrifice of Herakles, which even those carrying it didn’t think was right to use for any sacrifice, because it wasn’t fit, but to spend it for another purpose. 20 Although the intended purpose of the sender this money was for the sacrifice of Herakles, yet on account of present[fn] circumstances it went to the construction of trireme warships.

21 Now when Apolonios the son of Menestheus was sent into Mitsrayim (Egypt) for the enthronement[fn] of Filometor as king, Antiokos (Antiochus), learning that Filometor had shown himself hostile towards the government, took precautions for the security of his realm. Therefore, going to Yafo (Joppa), he travelled on to Yerushalem (Jerusalem). 22 Being magnificently received by Yason and the city, he was brought in with torches and shouting. Then he led his army down into Foinikai.