GIASONE. — High priest (175–172 B.C.), brother of Onias III, whom he supplanted by infamous intrigues. His name was Jehôsûa', which he rendered in the Greek form 'Iâxow.
He intrigued with Antiochus IV (v.) Epiphanes, obtaining from him, in return for considerable sums, the high priesthood and support for the Hellenization of Jerusalem. He officially introduced Hellenism into Jerusalem: he built a gymnasium; he encouraged the youth to adopt Greek customs (2 Macc. 4:7–17). He persecuted faithful Jews; he sent a mission to the games at Tyre, with 300 silver drachmas for a sacrifice to Hercules! He received Antiochus with great pomp in Jerusalem (2 Macc. 4:18–22). Shortly afterward (172), he sent to Antiochus the sums agreed upon; the messenger, Menelaus, who was even worse than he, betrayed and supplanted him, purchasing the high priesthood with an additional 300 silver talents. G. fled to Ammanitis (2 Macc. 4:23–26). During Antiochus’ second expedition into Egypt (168), when the false rumor of his death spread, G., with about 1,000 men, marched against Jerusalem; he forced Menelaus to shut himself up in the citadel and took fierce vengeance on his fellow citizens. He could not hold out, however, and had to withdraw to Ammanitis and wander from country to country in search of asylum, until he died in exile among the Spartans, universally execrated (2 Macc. 5:5–10).