1And it came to pass, after that Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip [Loves horses], who came out of the land of Chittim, and struck Darius king of the Persians and Medes [Middle-land], it came to pass, after he had struck him, that he reigned in his stead, in former time, over Greece.

2And he fought many battles, and won many strongholds, and killed the kings of the earth,

3and went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of a multitude of nations. And the earth was quiet before him, and he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up,

4and he gathered together an exceeding strong host, and ruled over countries and nations and principalities, and they became tributary to him.

5And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

6And he called his servants, which were honorable, which had been brought up with him from his youth, and he divided to them his kingdom, while he was yet alive.

7And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.

8And his servants bare rule, each one in his place.

9And they did all put diadems ·crowns· upon themselves after that he was dead, and so did their sons after them many years: and they multiplied evils in the earth.

10And there came forth out of them a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome [Town of flowing waters], and he reigned in ⁰the one hundred thirty seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

11In those days came there forth out of Israel [God prevails] transgressors of Torah ·Teaching·, and persuaded many, saying, let us go and make a covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties· with the Gentiles that are round about us; for since we were parted from them many evils have befallen us.

12And the saying was good in their eyes.

13And certain of the people were forward herein and went to the king, and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the Gentiles.

14And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem [City of peace] according to the laws of the Gentiles;

15and they made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant ·binding contract between two or more parties·, and joined themselves to the Gentiles, and sold themselves to do evil.

16And the kingdom was well ordered in the sight of Antiochus, and he thought to reign over Egypt [Abode of slavery], that he might reign over the two kingdoms.

17And he entered into Egypt [Abode of slavery] with a great multitude, with chariots, and with elephants, and with horsemen, and with a great navy;

18and he made war against Ptolemy king of Egypt [Abode of slavery]; and Ptolemy was put to shame before him, and fled; and many fell wounded to death.

19And they got possession of the strong cities in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]; and he took the spoils of Egypt [Abode of slavery].

20And Antiochus, after that he had struck Egypt [Abode of slavery], returned in ¹the one hundred forty third year, and went up against Israel [God prevails] and Jerusalem [City of peace] with a great multitude,

21and entered presumptuously into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar (of incence), and the menorah ·lamp· of the light, and all that pertained there,

22and the table of the show bread, and the cups to pour withal, and the bowls, and the golden censers, and the veil, and the crowns, and the adorning of gold which was on the face of the temple, and he scaled it all off.

23And he took the silver and the gold and the precious utensils; and he took the hidden treasures which he found.

24And when he had taken all, he went away into his own land, and he made a great slaughter, and spoke very presumptuously.

25And there came great mourning upon Israel [God prevails], in every place where they were;

26and the rulers and elders groaned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed.

27Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness.

28And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob [Supplanter] was clothed with shame.

29And after two full years the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah [Praised], and he came to Jerusalem [City of peace] with a great multitude.

30And he spoke words of peace to them in subtelty, and they gave him credence: and he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it very sore, and destroyed much people out of Israel [God prevails].

31And he took the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof on every side.

32And they led captive the women and the children, and the cattle they took in possession.

33And they built the city of David [Beloved] with a great and strong wall, with strong towers, and it became to them a fortress.

34And they put there a sinful nation, transgressors of Torah ·Teaching·, and they strengthened themselves therein.

35And they stored up arms and food, and gathering together the spoils of Jerusalem [City of peace], they laid them up there, and they became a sore snare:

36and it became a place to lie in wait in against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel [God prevails] continually.

37And they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled the sanctuary.

38And the inhabitants of Jerusalem [City of peace] fled because of them; and she became a habitation of strangers, and she became strange to them that were born in her, and her children forsook her.

39Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Shabbatot ·To cease· into reproach, her honor into contempt.

40According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning.

41And king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

42and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king;

43and many of Israel [God prevails] consented to his worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath ·To cease·.

44And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem [City of peace] and the cities of Judah [Praised], that they should follow laws strange to the land,

45and should forbid whole burnt offerings and sacrifice and drink offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Shabbatot ·To cease· and feasts,

46and pollute the sanctuary and them that were holy;

47that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean beasts:

48and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation;

49so that they might forget Torah ·Teaching·, and change all the ordinances.

50And whoever shall not do according to the word of the king, he shall die.

51According to all these words wrote he to his whole kingdom; and he appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah [Praised] to sacrifice, city by city.

52And from the people were gathered together to them many, every one that had forsaken Torah ·Teaching·; and they did evil things in the land;

53and they made Israel to hide themselves in every place of refuge which they had.

54And on the fifteenth day of Chislev [Trust / Security / Folly / 9th month], in ²the one hundred forty fifth year, they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar (of burnt offerings), and in the cities of Judah [Praised] on every side they built idol altars.

55And at the doors of the houses and in the streets they burned incense.

56And they tore in pieces the books of Torah ·Teaching· which they found, and set them on fire.

57And wherever was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to Torah ·Teaching·, the king’s sentence delivered him to death.

58Thus did they in their might to Israel [God prevails], to those that were found month by month in the cities.

59And on the twenty fifth day of the month they sacrificed on the pagan altar that was over the altar (of burnt offerings) of Yah.

60And the women that had circumcised their children they put to death according to the commandment.

61And they hanged their babes about their necks, and destroyed their houses, and them that had circumcised them.

62And many in Israel [God prevails] were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things.

63And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: and they died.

64And there came exceeding great wrath upon Israel [God prevails].