I. aAnd it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of * bChettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and cMedes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece, 2 and made many wars, and won many dstrong holds, and slew the kings of the earth, 3 and went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon * he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. 4 And he gathered a mighty strong host, and ruled over countries, and nations, and * kings, who became tributaries unto him. 5 And after these things he efell sick, and perceived * that he should die. 6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and fhad been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. 7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then * died. 8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place. 9 And after his death they all put ffcrowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.

10 And there came out of them ga wicked root, hAntiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, * who had been ia hostage at Rome, and he reigned in * the hundred and thirty and seventh year * of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11 * In those days went there out of Israel iiwicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them * we have had much sorrow. 12 So this device pleased them well. 13 Then iicertain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: 14 whereupon jthey * built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen: 15 and kmade themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and ljoined themselves to the heathen, and mwere sold to do mischief.

16 * Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt, that he might have the dominion of two realms. 17 Wherefore nhe entered into Egypt, owith a great multitude, with chariots, and pelephants, and horsemen, and a great ppnavy, 18 and made war against qPtolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and rmany were wounded to death. 19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt, and he took the spoils thereof.

20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in * the hundred forty and third year, and swent up against Israel and Jerusalem owith a great multitude, 21 and tentered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away uthe golden altar, and wthe candlestick of light, and wall the vessels thereof, 22 and xthe table of the shewbread, and ythe pouring vessels, and ythe vials, and ythe censers of gold, and zthe vail, and athe crowns, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, * all which he pulled off. 23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the * precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found. 24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, chaving made a great massacre, and dspoken very proudly. 25 Therefore there was great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were; 26 so that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed. 27 eEvery bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness. 28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

29 * And after ftwo years fully expired ffthe king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem gwith a great multitude, 30 and spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel. 31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side. 32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle. 33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it gga strong hold for them. 34 And they put therein a hsinful nation, iwicked men, and fortified themselves therein. 35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare: 36 for it was ja place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel. 37 Thus kthey shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it: 38 insomuch lthat the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon llthe city was made a habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her. 39 lHer sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, mnher feasts were turned into mourning, nher sabbaths into reproach, her honour into contempt. 40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, 42 and oevery one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king. 43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his preligion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. 44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda, that they should follow * the strange laws of the land, 45 and qforbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should nprofane the sabbaths and festival days: 46 and qpollute the sanctuary and holy people: 47 rset up altars, and sgroves, and tchapels of idols, and usacrifice swine’s flesh, and xunclean beasts: 48 that they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation: 49 to the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50 And ywhosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, zhe said, he should die. 51 aIn the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed boverseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city. 52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit, every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land; 53 * and drove the Israelites into csecret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

54 Now the fifteenth day of the month dCasleu, in * the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up dthe abomination of desolation upon the altar, and ebuilded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side; 55 and burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. 56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire. 57 And wheresoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any fconsented to the law, * the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death. 58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities. 59 Now gthe five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, gwhich was upon the altar of God. 60 At which time, according to the commandment, hthey put to death certain women, * that had caused their children to be circumcised. 61 And hthey hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them. 62 * Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any iunclean thing. 63 Wherefore kthey chose rather to die, kthat they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died. 64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.