34. So Menelaus took Andronicus aside and urged him to do away with Onias. Andronicus came to Onias and persuaded him by deception, extending his strong hand with solemn pledges, to come out of safety despite his fear. Then with no regard for justice, he did away with him on the spot.
35. For this reason, not only Jews but also many other people were grieved and angry over the wicked murder of this man.
36. When the king had returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews in the city and some Greeks, feeling hatred for the senseless killing of Onias, obtained an audience with him.
37. Antiochus was deeply grieved, moved to pity and tears, because of the modest behavior and good conduct of the dead man.
38. Burning with anger, he immediately stripped off Andronicus’ purple robe, tore off his clothes, and dragged him around the whole city to the place where he had wrongfully killed Onias. There he rid the world of the murderer, giving him the punishment he deserved from the Lord.
39. With Menelaus’ approval, Lysimachus committed many sacrilegious acts against the city. There was a report that he smuggled much of the temple’s gold equipment abroad, so the populace gathered together against Lysimachus.
40. Because the crowds were aroused and furious, Lysimachus armed three thousand men and incited cruel force under the leadership of a certain Auranus, a man as senseless as he was old.
41. When the people saw Lysimachus’ assault, they grabbed stones and blocks of wood—some even took handfuls of ashes—and they hurled these at Lysimachus’ men, causing great confusion.
42. In the end, they wounded many, killed some, and forced all of them to flee. They overpowered and killed the temple plunderer Lysimachus near the treasury.
43. The people brought charges against Menelaus regarding these matters.
44. When the king arrived in Tyre, the council of elders sent three men to present the case before him.
45. But Menelaus, without an ally, promised enough money to Ptolemy, Dorymenes’ son, to gain the king’s support.