i
JASHTJBITE 1i
the dominioTi in IMoab' from marrying the two Moabite damsels: Jashubi-Lehem is Naomi and Kuth, who re- turned (Jashubi) to bread, or to Hclh-Miem, after the famine: and the 'ancient words' point to the book of Rutli as tlie source of the whole" (Smith).
Jash'ubite (Numb, xxvi, 24). See Jasiiub, 1,
Jasideans. See Yezidis.
Ja'siel (1 Chron. xi, 4G). See Jaasiel.
Ja'son ('I«(Tn)v, he that will cure, originally the name of the leader of the Argonauts), a common Greek name, which was frequently adopted by Hellenizing Jews as the equivalent of Jesus, Joshua {'irjcrovg ; comp. Josephus, A nt. xii, 5, 1 ; Aristeas, Hist, apud Hodj-, p. 7), probably with some reference to its supposed connection with iaa^ai (i. e. the healer). A parallel change occurs in Alcimus (Eliakim), while Nicolaus, Dositheus, Mene- laus, etc., were direct translations of Hebrew names. It occurs with reference to several men in the Apocrypha, and one in the New Testament,
1. Jason, the son of Eleazer (comp. Ecclus. 1, 27, 'Ir](Tovg vwg Stfja^ 'E\f o^ap, Codex A), was one of the commissioners sent by Judas Maccabeus, in conjunction with Eupolemus, to conclude a treaty of amity and mu- tual support with the Romans, B.C. 161 (1 Mace, viii, 17; Josephus, /I Jif. xii, 10, 6).
2. Jason, the father of Antipater, who was an envoy to Rome to renew the treaty, at a later period, under Jonathan Maccabteus, in conjunction with Nume- nius, the son of Antiochus (1 Mace, xii, 1(5; xiv, 22), is probably the same person as No. 1.
3. Jason of Cyrene, in Africa, was a Hellenizing Jew of the race of those whom Ptolemy Soter sent into Egypt (2 !Macc. i; Josephus, A^it. xii, 1 ; Prideaux, Con- nection, ii, 176). He wrote in five books the history of Judas jNIaccabaeus and his brethren, and the principal transactions of the Jews during the reigns of Seleucus lY Philopator, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and Antiochus V Eupator (B.C. 187-162), from which five books most of the second book of Maccabees (q. v.) is abridged. In all probability it was written in Greek, and, from the fact of its including the wars under Antiochus V Eupa- tor, it must have been written after B.C. 162. The sources from which Jason obtained his infonnation are unknown, and it is not certain when either he or his epitomizer lived. All that we know of his history is contained in the few verses of the 2d ilacc. ii, 19-23.
4. Jason, the high-priest, was the second son of Simon II, and the brother of Onias HI. His proper name was Jesus, but he had changed it to that of Jason ('I»;(Toric 'I«(Tov« 'iavTOV ).itT(x)v6fiaatv [Josephus, yl 7?y. xii, 5,1]). Shortly after the accession of Antiochus TV Epiphanes, Jason offered to the king -1-10 talents of yearly tribute if he would invest him with the liigh-priesthood, to the exclusion ofhis elder brother (^4 ]\Iacc. iv, 17) (B.C. cir. 175). Josephus says that Onias HI was dead on the accession of Jason to the high-priesthocd, and that Jason received this post in consequence of his nephew, Onias IV, the son of Onias HI, being as yet an infant {Ant, xii, 5, 1). Jason also offered a fiu-ther 150 talents for the license " to set him up a place of exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen" (2 Mace, iv, 7-9 ; Josephus, Ant. xii, 5, 1). This offer was immediately accepted by Antiochus, and Jason built a gymnasium at Jerusalem. The effect of this innovation was to produce a stronger tendency than ever for Greek fashions and heathenish manners, and they so increased under the superintendence of the wicked Jason that the priests despised the Temple, and " hastened to be par- takers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game of Discus (q. v.) called them forth" (2 Mace, iv, 14). Some of the Jews even "made them- selves uncircumcised," that they might appear to be Greeks when they were naked (1 INIacc. i, 15; Josephus, Ant. xii, 5, 1). At last, as was the custom of the cities who used to send embassies to Tyre in honor of Hercules (Curtius, iv, 2 ; Polybius, Reliq. xxxi, 20, 12), Jason sent
9 JASPER
special messengers (itujooiiQ) from Jerusalem, who were the newly-elected citizens of Antioch {^ Avrioxiig wrat;; comp. 2 Mace, iv, 9), to carry 300 drachmte of silver to the sacrifice of that god. See Hercules. The money, however, contrary to the wish of the sender, was not used for the sacrifice of Ilercides, but reserved for mak- ing triremes, because the bearers of it did not think it proper {ciu to fn) Ka^ljKnv) to employ it for the sacri- fice (2 Mace, iv, 19, 20). In B.C. 172 Jason also gave a festival to Antiochus when he visited Jerusalem, Jason and the citizens leading him in by torch-light and with great shoutings (2 Mace, iv, 22). Josephus mentions this visit, but says that it was an exjiedition ar/ainst Je- rusalem, and that Antiochus, upon obiaiiiiiig possession of the city, slew many of the Jews, and jjlundered it (jf a great deal of money {Ant. xii, 5, 3). The crafty Ja- son, however, soon found a yet more cunning kinsman, who removed him from his office in much the same manner as he had done with his brother, Onias HI. ^lenelaus, the son of Simon (.Josephus, A nt. xii, 5, 1 ; Si- mon's brother, 2 IMacc. iv, 23), governor of the Temple, having been sent by Jason to Antiochus, knew how, through flattery and by offering 300 talents more than Ja-son, to gain the favor of the king. Antiochus imme- diately gave him the office of high-priest, and Jason was forced to flee into the country of the Ammonites (2 Mace, iv, 26). See IMenelaus. In B.C. 170, Antiochus having undertaken his second expedition into Egj-jot, there was a rumor that he was dead, and Jason made an attack ujwn Jerusalem and committed many atrocities. He was, however, forced again to flee into the country of the Ammonites (2 jMacc. v, 5-7). At length, being accused before Aretas, king of the Arabians, he was com- pelled " to flee from city to city, pursued of all men. and being held in abomination as an open enemy of his country and countrymen," and eventually retired into Egypt (2 !Macc. v, 8). He afterwards retired to take refuge among the Lacedajmonians, '• thinking there to find succor by reason of his kindred" (2 Mace, v, 9 ; compare 1 Mace, xii, 7, 21 ; Josephus, Ant. xii, 4, 10 ; see Prideaux, Connect, ii, 140; YTaK\y.c\, ^[onatschriJt, 1853, p. 456), and perished miserably "in a strange land" (comp. Dan. xii, 30 sq. ; Mace, i, 12 sq.). His body re- mained without burial, and he had " none to mourn for him" (2 Mace, v, 9, 10). See High-priest.