2 Maccabees 14:3–10

³Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had willfully defiled himself in the days of separation,^w realized that there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy altar^{* 4}and went to King Demetrius in about the one hundred fifty-first year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm and besides these some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he kept quiet.^{* 5}But he found an opportunity that furthered his mad purpose when he was invited by Demetrius to a meeting of the council and was asked about the attitude and intentions of the Jews. He answered:

⁶“Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose leader is Judas Maccabeus, are keeping up war and stirring up sedition and will not let the kingdom attain tranquility.^{* 7}Therefore I have laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood—and have now come here,^{* 8}first because I am genuinely concerned for the interests of the king, and second because I have regard also for my compatriots. For through the folly of those whom I have mentioned our whole nation is now in no small misfortune. ⁹Since you are acquainted, O king, with the details of this matter, may it please you to take thought for our country and our hard-pressed nation with the gracious kindness that you show to all. ¹⁰For as long as Judas lives, it is impossible for the government to find peace.”