1 Maccabees 1:1–9

1And it came to pass after Alexander, the son of Philip the Macedonian, who came from the land of Chittim, had smitten Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead. And he waged many wars, and won strongholds, and slew kings, and pressed forward to the ends of the earth, and took spoils from many peoples. But when the land was silenced before him, he became exalted, and his heart was lifted up. Then he gathered together a very mighty army, and ruled over lands and peoples and principalities; and they became tributary unto him.

And after these things he took to his bed, and perceived that he was about to die. Then he called his chief ministers, men who had been brought up with him from his youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was yet alive. And Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died. And his ministers ruled, each in his particular domain. And after he was dead they all assumed the diadem, and their sons after them ^[did likewise; and this continued for^[ many years. And these wrought much evil on the earth.