34
They stationed there a sinful people, men who were renegades. These strengthened their position;
35
they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great menace,
36
for the citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel at all times.
37
On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the sanctuary.
38
Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled; she became a dwelling of strangers; she became strange to her offspring, and her children forsook her.
39
Her sanctuary became desolate like a desert; her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into contempt.
40
Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory; her exaltation was turned into mourning.
41
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42
and that all should give up their particular customs.
43
All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44
And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land,