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Now it came to pass, after two years, in the hundred forty and fifth
year, on the twenty-fifth day of that month which is by us called Chasleu,
and by the Macedonians Apelleus, in the hundred and fifty-third olympiad,
that the king came up to Jerusalem, and, pretending peace, he got possession
of the city by treachery; at which time he spared not so much as those
that admitted him into it, on account of the riches that lay in the temple;
but, led by his covetous inclination, (for he saw there was in it a great
deal of gold, and many ornaments that had been dedicated to it of very
great value,) and in order to plunder its wealth, he ventured to break
the league he had made. So he left the temple bare, and took away the golden
candlesticks, and the golden altar [of incense], and table [of shew-bread],
and the altar [of burnt-offering]; and did not abstain from even the veils,
which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied it of its secret
treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; and by this means cast the
Jews into great lamentation, for he forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices
which they used to offer to God, according to the law. And when he had
pillaged the whole city, some of the inhabitants he slew, and some he carried
captive, together with their wives and children, so that the multitude
of those captives that were taken alive amounted to about ten thousand.
He also burnt down the finest buildings; and when he had overthrown the
city walls, he built a citadel in the lower part of the city,
1
for the place was high, and overlooked the temple; on which account he
fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of
Macedonians. However, in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part
of the [Jewish] multitude, from whom it proved that the citizens suffered
many and sore calamities. And when the king had built an idol altar upon
God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither
according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that country.
He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own
God, and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples,
and raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon them
every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threatened
to punish any that should be found to have transgressed his injunction.
He also appointed overseers, who should compel them to do what he commanded.
And indeed many Jews there were who complied with the king's commands,
either voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced. But
the best men, and those of the noblest souls, did not regard him, but did
pay a greater respect to the customs of their country than concern as to
the punishment which he threatened to the disobedient; on which account
they every day underwent great miseries and bitter torments; for they were
whipped with rods, and their bodies were torn to pieces, and were crucified,
while they were still alive, and breathed. They also strangled those women
and their sons whom they had circumcised, as the king had appointed, hanging
their sons about their necks as they were upon the crosses. And if there
were any sacred book of the law found, it was destroyed, and those with
whom they were found miserably perished also.