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.
14
And someone answered thoughtlessly that it was wrong to take that as a portent.
15
"But since this has happened," the king said, "why should not I at least enter, whether they wish it or not?"
16
Then the priests in all their vestments prostrated themselves and entreated the supreme God to aid in the present situation and to avert the violence of this evil design, and they filled the temple with cries and tears;
17
those who remained behind in the city were agitated and hurried out, supposing that something mysterious was occurring.