nts, even the king and queen themselves.
He also presented those that attended about the king with gifts to the
value of a great number of talents, that he might escape the danger
he was in from them; for to these it was that Hyrcanus's brethren
had written to destroy him. Now Ptolemy admired at the young man's
magnanimity, and commanded him to ask what gift he pleased. But he
desired nothing else to be done for him by the king than to write to his
father and brethren about him. So when the king had paid him very great
respects, and had given him very large gifts, and had written to his
father and his brethren, and all his commanders and officers, about him,
he sent him away. But when his brethren heard that Hyrcanus had received
such favors from the king, and was returning home with great honor, they
went out to meet him, and to destroy him, and that with the privity of
their father; for he was angry at him for the [large] sum of money that
he bestowed for presents, and so had no concern for his preservation.
However, Joseph concealed the anger he had at his son, out of fear of
the king. And when Hyrcanus's brethren came to fight him, he slew
many others of those that were with them, as also two of his brethren
themselves; but the rest of them escaped to Jerusalem to their father.
But when Hyrcanus came to the city, where nobody would receive him, he
was afraid for himself, and retired beyond the river Jordan, and there
abode, but obliging the barbarians to pay their taxes.

10. At this time Seleucus, who was called Soter, reigned over Asia,
being the son of Antiochus the Great. And [now] Hyrcanus's father,
Joseph, died. He was a good man, and of great magnanimity; and brought
the Jews out of a state of poverty and meanness, to one that was more
splendid. He retained the farm of the taxes of Syria, and Phoenicia, and
Samaria twenty-two years. His uncle also, Onias, died [about this time],
and left the high priesthood to his son Simeon. And when he was dead,
Onias his son succeeded him in that dignity. To him it was that Areus,
king of the Lacedemonians, sent an embassage, with an epistle; the copy
whereof here follows:

"Areus, King Of The Lacedemonians, To Onias, Sendeth Greeting.

"We have met with a certain writing, whereby we have discovered that
both the Jews and the Lacedemonians are of one stock, and are derived
from the kindred of Abraham [14] It is but just therefore that you, who
are our brethren, should se