2 Maccabees 14:21–36

the compact was agreed to, and a day was fixed for the two leaders to meet by themselves. A litter was carried forward from each army; chairs of state were placed; Judas stationed armed men ready in suitable positions, lest the enemy should spring any treacherous attack; they carried through the conference duly. Nicanor stayed a while in Jerusalem and did nothing amiss; he even disbanded the hordes who had flocked to join his standard; he kept Judas always beside him; he had become heartily attached to the man, urged him to marry and beget children. He did marry, settled down, and enjoyed life.

But when Alcimus saw their mutual goodwill, he got hold of the treaty which had been concluded and went to Demetrius, alleging that Nicanor was ill affected toward the State, since he had appointed that, conspirator Judas to be his successor. At this the king fell into a passion and, exasperated by the calumnies of the scoundrel, wrote to Nicanor that he was displeased at the compact, and ordered him to send Maccabaeus instantly as a prisoner to Antioch. Nicanor was confounded by this news and sadly vexed at the thought of annulling the terms arranged, as the man had done no wrong. However, as the king could not be gainsaid, he bided his time to carry out the business by a stratagem. But Maccabaeus noticed that Nicanor was treating him with less friendliness and behaving more rudely than was his wont; so, reckoning this harshness was of a sinister character, he gathered a considerable number of his men and hid from Nicanor. The latter, conscious that he had been pluckily outwitted by Judas, went to the great and holy temple, while the priests were offering the usual sacrifices, and commanded them to deliver up the man. And when they swore they did not know where the man was whom he sought, he stretched forth his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: Unless you hand over Judas as my prisoner, I will raze this shrine of God to the ground, and break down the altar, and erect on this spot a temple of Dionysus for all to see. With these words he went away. But the priests stretched forth their hands to heaven, invoking Him who ever fighteth for our nation, thus: O Lord, who hast no need of aught, as it hath pleased thee to have among us a sanctuary where thou dwellest, so now, O holy Lord, from whom is all hallowing, keep free from defilement for evermore this house so lately cleansed, and shut every impious mouth.