- Jason (high priest)
.Jason (
Hebrew : Yason, יסון) of the Oniad family, brother toOnias III , was a High Priest in theTemple in Jerusalem .Jason became high priest after the accession of
Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne of theSeleucid Empire.Fact|date=June 2008In 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-stylePolis named after the king,Antioch . Fact|date=June 2008With 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.Fact|date=June 2008Jason's Tomb
A rock-cut tomb discovered in Jerusalem's Rehavia neighborhood has been identified as the burial site of Jason. 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." [ [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early%20History%20-%20Archaeology/Archaeological%20Sites%20in%20Israel%20-%20Jerusalem-%20Burial Archaeological Sites in Israel - Jerusalem: Burial Sites and Tombs of the Second Temple Period ] ]References
*cite book
last = Cohen
first = Shaye J.D.
authorlink = Shaye J.D. Cohen
coauthors =
title = From the Maccabees to the Mishnah
publisher = Westminster John Knox Press
date = 2006
location = Louisville, Kentucky
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0-664-22743-0###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before=Onias III
title=High Priest of Israel
years=175 BC —172 BC
after=Menelaus
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