Jason (high priest)

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Jason (Hebrew: Yason, יסון) of the Oniad family, brother to Onias III, was a High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Jason became high priest after the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne of the Seleucid Empire.^{[citation needed]}

In an ongoing dispute between Onias II and Simon the Benjaminite over the attempted plunder of the Temple by Heliodorus, Jason offered to pay Antiochus in order to be confirmed as the new High Priest in Jerusalem. Antiochus accepted the offer and further allowed Jason to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and create a Greek-style Polis named after the king, Antioch.^{[citation needed]}

With the creation of Antioch, Jason abandoned the ordinances granting the Judeans religious freedom given under Antiochus III.

Jason's time as High Priest was brought to an abrupt end in 172 BCE when he sent Menelaus, the brother of Simon the Benjaminite, to deliver money to Antiochus. Menelaus took this opportunity to "outbid" Jason for the priesthood, resulting in Antiochus confirming Menelaus as the High Priest.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Jason's Tomb

A rock-cut tomb discovered in Jerusalem's Rehavia neighborhood has been identified as the burial site of Jason.^[1] It consists of a courtyard and a single Doric column decorating the entrance to the burial chamber, topped with a pyramid-shaped roof. On the walls are charcoal drawings of naval vessels. Among the carved inscriptions in Greek and Aramaic is one that laments the deceased Jason: "A powerful lament make for Jason, son of P.....(my brother) peace ...... who hast built thyself a tomb, Elder rest in peace." ^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ Jerusalem tombs
2. ^ Archaeological Sites in Israel - Jerusalem: Burial Sites and Tombs of the Second Temple Period

• Cohen, Shaye J.D. (2006). From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-22743-0. 

Preceded by Onias III

High Priest of Israel 175 BC—172 BC

Succeeded by Menelaus