15
They had surgery performed to hide their circumcision, abandoned the holy covenant, started associating with Gentiles, and did all sorts of other evil things.
1
16
When Antiochus had firmly established himself as king, he decided to conquer Egypt and rule that country as well as Syria.
17
He invaded Egypt with a large fleet of ships and a powerful army, including chariots, elephants, and cavalry.
18
When the attack came, King Ptolemy of Egypt turned and fled, and many of his soldiers were killed.
19
Antiochus was able to capture the fortified cities of Egypt and plunder the whole land.
20
In the year 143, after the conquest of Egypt, Antiochus marched with a great army against the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.
21
In his arrogance, he entered the Temple and took away the gold altar, the lampstand with all its equipment,
22
the table for the bread offered to the Lord, the cups and bowls, the gold fire pans, the curtain, and the crowns. He also stripped all the gold from the front of the Temple
23
and carried off the silver and gold and everything else of value, including all the treasures that he could find stored there.
24
Then he took it all to his own country. He had also murdered many people and boasted arrogantly about it.
25
There was great mourning everywhere in the land of Israel.