3 Maccabees 1

1Philopator, having learned from those who had returned of the seizure by Antiochus of the regions under his rule, gave orders to all his infantry and cavalry forces, took along his sister Arsinoe, and set out as far as the region of Raphia, where those with Antiochus had encamped.

2But a certain Theodotus, having planned to carry out the plot, took the best of the Ptolemaic weapons that had been assigned to him and was conveyed by night to Ptolemy’s tent, to kill him himself and in this way bring the war to an end.

3Dositheus, the one called son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth, but later having changed his customs and become estranged from the ancestral beliefs, lodged some obscure man in the tent in his place; and it happened that this man received that one's punishment.

4And when the battle had become fierce and affairs were turning more strongly in Antiochus’s favor, Arsinoe went repeatedly among the troops and earnestly urged them, with pity and tears, her hair let down, to help themselves and their children and wives courageously, promising to give two minas of gold to each man if they won.

5And so it happened that the opponents were destroyed in hand-to-hand combat, and many were also captured as prisoners of war.

6But after gaining control of the plot, he decided to visit the neighboring cities and encourage them.

7And after doing this, and distributing gifts to the sanctuaries, he made those under his rule confident.

8But when the Jews had sent to him, from the council of elders and the elders, men to greet him, bring gifts of hospitality, and rejoice over what had happened, it happened that he became all the more eager to come to them as quickly as possible.

9Then, after being conveyed to Jerusalem, and after sacrificing to the faithful God and offering thanks, and after doing something further for the place, indeed, when he came to the place and was struck with awe by its dignity and piety,

10And when he had marveled also at the good order of the sanctuary, he considered making plans to enter the temple.

11But when some said that this ought not to be done, because not even the Gentiles enter, nor all the priests, but only the high priest who is over all—and he only once a year—he would not be persuaded at all.

12And even when the law had been read out, he still did not stop insisting that he ought to enter, saying, “Even if they have been deprived of this honor, I ought not to be.”

13And he inquired for what reason no one among those present had prevented him from entering any sanctuary.

14And someone said, without thinking, that this very thing was being monstrously misrepresented.

15For your dwelling place is the heaven of heaven, unreachable by men.

16But since you were pleased to set your glory among your people Israel, you sanctified this place.

17Those left behind in the city were thrown into confusion and rushed out, being uncertain about what was happening.

18so that the lawless might not boast in their wrath, nor exult in the arrogance of their tongue, saying,

19We trampled the house of holiness, as the houses of abominations are trampled.

20And the mothers and nurses besides these, leaving behind the newborn children, some in their houses and others in the streets, kept gathering without turning back to the all-supreme sanctuary.

21And varied was the plea of those who had gathered for this, concerning those who were being impiously handed over by him.

22Along with these, those who had become emboldened concerning the citizens could no longer endure it when he pressed the matter completely and intended to carry out his purpose.

23But when they cried out to make a rush for the weapons, and to die courageously under the ancestral law, they caused considerable turmoil in the place, and only with difficulty by the old men and the elders

24having turned back, they returned to the same posture of supplication.

25And the multitude, as before, kept on with these men, pleading; but the elders around the king were trying in many ways to turn his arrogant mind away from the plot he had conceived.

26But after becoming emboldened and having by now sent everyone away, he was already making his approach, thinking to bring the matter spoken of before to completion.

27Therefore, when those around him saw these things, they turned to join our people in calling on the one who has all power to help in the present circumstances and not overlook the lawless and arrogant deed.

28And from the very dense and strenuous cry being raised by the crowds, there was an indescribable outcry.

29For it seemed that not only the people, but even the walls and the whole ground, were resounding, since then all things were being changed to death instead of the profanation of the place.

30But so that he might not become hateful to everyone by being hostile, he issued a written order: “But if any of them choose to conduct themselves among those initiated in the rites, he makes these equal citizens with the Alexandrians.”

31But some, lightly despising the supports of the city's piety, readily gave themselves over, as though they would share in some great renown from the association with the king that was to come.

32But most of them took courage with a noble spirit, did not depart from piety, exchanging even their possessions for life, and boldly sought to rescue themselves from the registrations.

33They had been instructed to obtain support, and they loathed those who withdrew from them, judging them as enemies of the nation, and depriving them of common association and serviceability.