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had taken the country and killed Antiochus and Lysias his protector.
3
Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest and had defiled himself willfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means could he save himself nor have any more access to the holy altar,
4
came to King Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold and a palm, and also some of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple; and so that day he held his peace.
5
However, having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprise, and being called into counsel by Demetrius and asked how the Jews stood affected and what they intended, Alcimus answered thereto:
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Those of the Jews who are called Hasideans, whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the realm be in peace.
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Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honor (I mean the high priesthood), have now come hither,
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first, verily for the unfeigned care I have for things pertaining to the king, and secondly, because I intend the good of mine own countrymen; for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of those aforesaid.
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Therefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, be careful for the country and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily showest unto all.
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For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
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This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, incensed Demetrius the more.
12
And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,