3
But Dositheus, known as the son of Drimylus, a Jew by birth who later changed his religion and apostatized from the ancestral traditions, had led the king away and arranged that a certain insignificant man should sleep in the tent; and so it turned out that this man incurred the vengeance meant for the king.
4
When a bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in favor of Antiochus, Arsino#Ue went to the troops with wailing and tears, her locks all disheveled, and exhorted them to defend themselves and their children and wives bravely, promising to give them each two minas of gold if they won the battle.
5
And so it came about that the enemy was routed in the action, and many captives also were taken.
6
Now that he had foiled the plot, Ptolemy decided to visit the neighboring cities and encourage them.
7
By doing this, and by endowing their sacred enclosures with gifts, he strengthened the morale of his subjects.
8
Since the Jews had sent some of their council and elders to greet him, to bring him gifts of welcome, and to congratulate him on what had happened, he was all the more eager to visit them as soon as possible.
9
After he had arrived in Jerusalem, he offered sacrifice to the supreme God and made thank offerings and did what was fitting for the holy place. Then, upon entering the place and being impressed by its excellence and its beauty,
10
he marveled at the good order of the temple, and conceived a desire to enter the sanctuary.
11
When they said that this was not permitted, because not even members of their own nation were allowed to enter, not even all of the priests, but only the high priest who was pre-eminent over all—and he only once a year—the king was by no means persuaded.
12
Even after the law had been read to him, he did not cease to maintain that he ought to enter, saying, "Even if those men are deprived of this honor, I ought not to be."
13
And he inquired why, when he entered every other temple, no one there had stopped him.