2 Maccabees 4:18-20

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Jason Introduces Greek Customs

¹⁸ When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present, ¹⁹ the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antioch′ian citizens from Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Her′cules. Those who carried the money, however, thought best not to use it for sacrifice, because that was inappropriate, but to expend it for another purpose. ²⁰ So this money was intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Her′cules, but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to the construction of triremes.