[
257]
When the Samaritans saw the Jews under these sufferings, they no
longer confessed that they were of their kindred, nor that the temple on
Mount Gerizzim belonged to Almighty God. This was according to their nature,
as we have already shown. And they now said that they were a colony of
Medes and Persians; and indeed they were a colony of theirs. So they sent
ambassadors to Antiochus, and an epistle, whose contents are these: "To
king Antiochus the god, Epiphanes, a memorial from the Sidonians, who live
at Shechem. Our forefathers, upon certain frequent plagues, and as following
a certain ancient superstition, had a custom of observing that day which
by the Jews is called the Sabbath.
1
And when they had erected a temple at the mountain called Gerrizzim, though
without a name, they offered upon it the proper sacrifices. Now, upon the
just treatment of these wicked Jews, those that manage their affairs, supposing
that we were of kin to them, and practiced as they do, make us liable to
the same accusations, although we be originally Sidonians, as is evident
from the public records. We therefore beseech thee, our benefactor and
Savior, to give order to Apollonius, the governor of this part of the country,
and to Nicanor, the procurator of thy affairs, to give us no disturbance,
nor to lay to our charge what the Jews are accused for, since we are aliens
from their nation, and from their customs; but let our temple, which at
present hath no name at all be named the Temple of Jupiter Hellenius. If
this were once done, we should be no longer disturbed, but should be more
intent on our own occupation with quietness, and so bring in a greater
revenue to thee." When the Samaritans had petitioned for this, the
king sent them back the following answer, in an epistle: "King Antiochus
to Nicanor. The Sidonians, who live at Shechem, have sent me the memorial
enclosed. When therefore we were advising with our friends about it, the
messengers sent by them represented to us that they are no way concerned
with accusations which belong to the Jews, but choose to live after the
customs of the Greeks. Accordingly, we declare them free from such accusations,
and order that, agreeable to their petition, their temple be named the
Temple of Jupiter Hellenius." He also sent the like epistle to Apollonius,
the governor of that part of the country, in the forty-sixth year, and
the eighteenth day of the month Hecatorabeom
2