is mother was the sister of Onias the high priest. She
informed him of the coming of Ptolemy's ambassador. Thereupon Joseph came
to Jerusalem and reproved Onias for not taking thought for the security of
his countrymen and for bringing the nation into dangers by not paying this
money. Onias's answer was that he did not care for his authority, that he
was ready, if it were possible, to lay down his high priesthood, and that
he would not go to the king, for he cared nothing at all about these
matters. Joseph then asked him if he would give him leave to go as
ambassador on behalf of the nation. He replied that he would. So
Joseph went down from the temple and treated Ptolemy's ambassador in a
Hospitable manner. He also presented him with rich gifts and feasted him
magnificently for many days and then sent him to the king before him and
told him that he would soon follow him.

[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XII, 4:3b, 4a-c]
Now it happened that at this time all the principal men and rulers of the
cities of Syria and Phoenicia went up to bid for the taxes; for every year
the king sold them to the most powerful men of each city. And when the day
came on which the king was to let the farming of the taxes of the cities,
the taxes of Coele-Syria, Phoenicia, Judea and Samaria amounted altogether
to eight thousand talents. Thereupon Joseph accused the bidders of having
agreed together to estimate the value of the taxes at too low a rate and
he promised that he would give twice as much for them, and for those who
did not pay he would send the king their entire possessions, for this
privilege was sold together with the taxes. The king was pleased to hear
this offer, and because it increased his revenues he said he would confirm
the sale of the taxes to him.

[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XII, 4:5a-c, 3, 6a]
And Joseph took with him two thousand soldiers from the king, for he
desired to have assistance in order to compel those who refused in the
city to pay. And when the people of Askelon refused to pay anything, he
seized about twenty of their principal men and slew them, and gathered
what they had and sent it all to the king and informed him what he had
done. Ptolemy admired the spirit of the man, commended him for what he
had done and gave him permission to do as he pleased. By these means he
amassed great wealth and made vast profits by this farming of taxes. And
he made use of the wealth he had thus secured in order to support his
authority. This