1 Maccabees 1:1–10

Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius, king of the Persians and Medes:

²He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:

³And he went through even to the ends of the earth: and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.

⁴And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up:

⁵And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and they became tributaries to him.

⁶And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.

⁷And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

⁸And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.

⁹And his servants made themselves kings, every one in his place:

¹⁰And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them, many years; and evils were multiplied in the earth.