2 Maccabees 4:30-38

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Murder of Onias

³⁰ While such was the state of affairs, it happened that the people of Tarsus and of Mallus revolted because their cities had been given as a present to Anti′ochis, the king’s concubine. ³¹ So the king went hastily to settle the trouble, leaving Androni′cus, a man of high rank, to act as his deputy. ³² But Menela′us, thinking he had obtained a suitable opportunity, stole some of the gold vessels of the temple and gave them to Androni′cus; other vessels, as it happened, he had sold to Tyre and the neighboring cities. ³³ When Oni′as became fully aware of these acts he publicly exposed them, having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. ³⁴ Therefore Menela′us, taking Androni′cus aside, urged him to kill Oni′as. Androni′cus^[a] came to Oni′as, and resorting to treachery offered him sworn pledges and gave him his right hand, and in spite of his suspicion persuaded Oni′as^[b] to come out from the place of sanctuary; then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him out of the way.^{[c] 35} For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were grieved and displeased at the unjust murder of the man. ³⁶ When the king returned from the region of Cilic′ia, the Jews in the city^[d] appealed to him with regard to the unreasonable murder of Oni′as, and the Greeks shared their hatred of the crime. ³⁷ Therefore Anti′ochus was grieved at heart and filled with pity, and wept because of the moderation and good conduct of the deceased; ³⁸ and inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe from Androni′cus, tore off his garments, and led him about the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Oni′as, and there he dispatched the bloodthirsty fellow. The Lord thus repaid him with the punishment he deserved.