Antiochus III Rewards the Jews

King Antiochus to Ptolemy [probably Ptolemy, son of Thraseas, governor of Coele-Syria under Antiochus III] sends a greeting.

“Since the Jews, upon our first entrance into their country, demonstrated their friendship toward us, and when we came to their city [Jerusalem] received us in a splendid manner—came to meet us with their council of elders, gave abundance of provisions to our soldiers and to the elephants—and joined with us in ejecting the garrison of the Egyptians that were in the citadel, we have thought fit to reward them and to retrieve the condition of their city, which had been greatly depopulated by such accidents as have befallen its inhabitants, and to bring those that have been scattered abroad back to the city. And, in the first place, we have determined, on account of their piety toward God, to bestow on them, as a pension, for their sacrifices of animals that are fit for sacrifice, for wine, and oil, and frankincense, the value of twenty thousand pieces of silver, and [six] sacred artabrae [an Egyptian measure (of Persian origin), equal to approximately forty liters] of fine flour, with 1,460 medimni [approximately 50 liters] of wheat, and 375 medimni of salt. And these payments, I would have fully paid them, as I have sent orders to you. I would also have the work about the Temple finished, and the cloisters, and if there is anything else that ought to be rebuilt. And for the materials of wood, let it be brought from Judaea itself, and out of the other countries, and out of Lebanon—tax free. The same should apply to those other materials that will be necessary in order to render the Temple more glorious. All the members of the nation shall live according to the laws of their own country. Let the Senate, the priests, the scribes of the Temple, and the sacred singers all be discharged from poll money and the crown tax, and other taxes also. In order for the city to recover its inhabitants sooner, I grant a discharge from taxes for three years to its present inhabitants and to such as shall come to it, until the month Hyperheretus [around October]. We also discharge them for the future from a third part of their taxes, so that the losses they have sustained may be repaired. And all those citizens that have been carried away and have become slaves, we grant them and their children their freedom and give order that their substance be restored to them.”

And these were the contents of this epistle. He also published a decree throughout his kingdom in honor of the Temple, which contained the following: “It shall be lawful for no foreigner to come within the Temple precinct, which is forbidden also to the Jews, unless they, according to their own custom, have purified themselves. Nor let any flesh of horses, mules, or asses be brought into the city, whether they are wild or tame; nor that of leopards, or foxes, or hares—in general, the flesh of any animal which is forbidden for Jews to eat. Nor let their skins be brought into it, nor let any such animal be bred up in the city. Let them only be permitted to use the sacrifices known by their forefathers, with which they have been obliged to make acceptable atonements to God. And anyone who transgresses any of these orders must pay to the priests three thousand drachmae of silver.”

Translated byWilliam Whiston, adapted byCarol Bakhos, in consultation withRalph Marcus.