2 Maccabees 4:18-22

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Jason Introduces Greek Customs

¹⁸ When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present,^{(A) 19} the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antiochenes from Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Hercules. 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.^{(B) 20} So this money was intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules, but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to the construction of triremes.

²¹ When Apollonius son of Menestheus was sent to Egypt for the coronation^[a] of Philometor as king, Antiochus learned that Philometor^[b] had become hostile to his government, and he took measures for his own security. Therefore upon arriving at Joppa he proceeded to Jerusalem.^{(C) 22} He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city and ushered in with a blaze of torches and with shouts. Then he marched his army into Phoenicia.