After the death of Seleucus IV, his brother Antiochus IV took over the kingdom. To the proponents of the Hasmonean state he was the cause of the troubles that followed:
From them came forth a sinful shoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of king
Antiochus, who after being a hostage in Rome became king in year 137 of the
kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there came forth from Israel a lawless
generation who persuaded many others by saying, “Come let us make a treaty with
the peoples around us, since many evils have fallen upon us from the time we
separated from them.” This proposal seemed good in their eyes, and some of the
people eagerly went to the king who granted them permission to practice the
customs of the heathen. And they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem in accordance
with the customs of the nations. They became uncircumcised, gave up the holy
covenant to join the yoke of the gentiles, and sold themselves to cause evil.
1Macc.
1.10-15
But when Seleucus was dead and had been succeeded by Antiochus known as Epiphanes, Jason, Onias’s brother, obtained
the high-priesthood by corrupt means. He petitioned the king and promised him
360 talents in silver coin immediately, and 80 talents from future revenue. In
addition he undertook to pay another 150 talents for the authority to institute
a gymnasium, to arrange for the education of young men there, and to enrol in
Jerusalem a group to be known as Antiochenes. The king agreed and as soon as he had seized the
high-priesthood, Jason made the Jews conform to the Greek way of life.
2
Macc. 4.7-10