The Rise of Joseph Son of Tobias

After this, Antiochus [Antiochus III] made a treaty of friendship with Ptolemy [Ptolemy V Epiphanes], giving him his daughter Cleopatra [Cleopatra I Syra] to marry. He also gave him Coele-Syria, Samaria, Judaea, and Phoenicia as a dowry.¹ The division of the taxes between the two kings was paid to them by all the prominent men who purchased the right to farm the taxes of their several countries, and collecting the sum that was settled for them, paid the same to the [two] kings. Now at this time, the Samaritans were prospering and greatly mistreating the Judeans, both by cutting off parts of their land and by carrying off slaves, which greatly distressed the Jews. This happened when Onias [Onias II] was high priest; for after Eleazar’s death, his [Eleazar’s] uncle Manasseh took the priesthood, and after he died, Onias received that office. He was the son of Simeon, who was called “the Just.” Simeon was the brother of Eleazar, as I said before. This Onias was small-minded and exceedingly fond of money. For that reason, he did not pay that tax of twenty talents of silver that his forefathers paid out of their own estates. He provoked King Ptolemy Euergetes to anger, who was the father of Philopater. Euergetes sent an ambassador to Jerusalem and complained that Onias did not pay his taxes and threatened that if he did not receive them, he would confiscate their land and send soldiers to inhabit it. When the Jews heard the king’s message, they were upset, but Onias’ greed was so great that nothing caused him shame.

Now there was a certain Joseph, young in age, highly reputable among the people of Jerusalem for his gravitas, prudence, and sense of justice. His father’s name was Tobias, and his mother was the sister of Onias the high priest, who informed him of the coming of the ambassador; for he [Joseph] was then sojourning at a village named Phicol, where he was born. Hence, he came to the city [Jerusalem] and reproved Onias for not taking care of the well-being of his countrymen but bringing the nation into danger by not paying this money, on account of which Onias had received authority over them and had been made high priest. Joseph said to him that in case his avarice was so great as to put his country in danger on that account and allow his countrymen to suffer greatly, he advised him to go to the king and petition him to remit either the whole or a part of the sum demanded. Onias’ answer was this: that he did not care for his [Joseph’s] authority, and that he was ready, if it were possible, to lay down his high priesthood, and that he would not go to the king because he did not care to trouble himself with such matters. Joseph then asked him if he would give him permission to go as ambassador on behalf of the nation. He replied that he would give him permission. Joseph then went up into the Temple, convened the people, and exhorted them not to be disturbed or frightened because of his uncle Onias’ carelessness but encouraged them to remain calm and not be preoccupied with such matters. For he promised them that he would be their ambassador to the king and would persuade him that they had done him no wrong. And when the crowd heard this, they thanked Joseph. So he went down from the Temple and treated Ptolemy’s envoy in a hospitable manner. He also presented him with rich gifts and dined him magnificently for many days. Then he [Joseph] sent him [the envoy] on to the king and told him that he would soon follow. Joseph was now more keen to go to the king, as a result of the encouragement of the ambassador, who earnestly persuaded him to go to Egypt and promised him that he would help him obtain everything that he desired of Ptolemy, for he was highly pleased with Joseph’s dignified demeanor.

When Ptolemy’s ambassador went to Egypt, he told the king about Onias’ arrogance and informed him of Joseph’s favorable disposition. He also reported that, as the spokesman of the people, he [Joseph] was coming to the king to seek forgiveness on their behalf, for they did the king no intended harm. In short, he spoke so highly of Joseph that both the king and his wife Cleopatra were favorably predisposed to him before they even met him. So Joseph sent to his friends at Samaria, borrowed money from them, and got ready what was necessary for his journey—clothes, cups, and beasts of burden, which amounted to about twenty thousand drachmae—and went to Alexandria.

Now it happened that at this time, all the principal men and rulers went up out of the cities of Syria and Phoenicia to bid for tax-farming rights; for every year the king sold them to the men of the greatest power in every city. So these men saw Joseph journeying on the way and laughed at him for his poverty and simplicity. But when he came to Alexandria and heard that King Ptolemy was at Memphis, he went there to meet with him, which happened as the king was sitting in his chariot with his wife and with his friend Athenion, who was the very person who had been ambassador at Jerusalem and had been entertained by Joseph. As soon as Athenion saw him, he introduced him to the king and commented on how good and generous a young man he was. So Ptolemy saluted him first and desired that he come into his chariot. While Joseph sat there, as Ptolemy began to complain of the management of Onias, Joseph answered, “Forgive him, on account of his age, for surely you are aware that old men and infants are of the same level of intelligence, but from us young men, you will get everything you desire and shall have no reason to complain.” The young man’s wit and good humor so delighted the king that he regarded him as if they were longtime friends. His affection for Joseph was so great that he invited him to stay at the king’s palace and to be a guest at his own table every day. But when the king came to Alexandria, the principal men of Syria saw him [Joseph] sitting with the king and were upset.