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APOLLONIUS.—1. A governor of Cœle-Syria and Phœnicia under Seleucus IV. (2Ma_4:4), who suggested the abortive attempt of Heliodorus on the Temple-treasury. To this he probably owes the title mysarches (2Ma_5:24), which the Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] renders odiosum principem, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘detestable ringleader,’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘lord of pollutions.’ In b.c. 168–167 he was sent to Hellenize Jerusalem, and he initiated the great persecution with a cruel massacre on the Sabbath (2Ma_5:24-26). Judas Maccabæus defeated and slew him, wearing his sword ever after (1Ma_3:10 ff., Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant. XII. vii. 7). 2. An envoy sent to Egypt by Antiochus IV., b.c. 173 (2Ma_4:21). 3. An official under Antiochus V. who molested the Jews (2Ma_12:2). 4. A governor of Cœle-Syria who fought against the Jews (b.c. 147) on the side of Demetrius (1Ma_10:69-85; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant. XIII. iv. 3f. is in error). From Jamnia he sent a pompous defiance to Jonathan Maccabæus, who, however, captured Joppa and defeated Apollonius.
J. Taylor.