1 Maccabees 6 Part 1

And king Antiochus was journeying through the upper countries; and he heard say, that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold; And that the temple which was in it was rich exceedingly, and that therein were golden shields, and breastplates, and arms, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, left behind there. And he came and sought to take the city, and to pillage it; and he was not able, because the thing was known to them of the city, And they rose up against him to battle: and he fled, and removed thence with great heaviness, to return unto Babylon. And there came one bringing him tidings into Persia, that the armies, which went against the land of Judah, had been put to flight; And that Lysias went first with a strong host, and was put to shame before them; and that they had waxed strong by reason of arms and power, and with store of spoils, which they took from the armies that they had cut off; And that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem; and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and Bethsura, his city. And it came to pass, when the king heard these words, he was astonished and moved exceedingly: and he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for. And he was there many days, because great grief was renewed upon him, and he made account that he should die. And he called for all his Friends, and said unto them, Sleep departeth from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for care. And I said in my heart, Unto what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood is it, wherein I now am! for I was gracious and beloved in my power. But now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were therein, and sent forth to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without a cause. I perceive that on this account these evils are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land. And he called for Philip, one of his Friends, and set him over all his kingdom, And gave him his diadem, and his robe, and his signet-ring, to the end he should bring Antiochus his son, and nourish him up that he might be king. And king Antiochus died there in the hundred and forty and ninth year. And Lysias knew that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had nourished up being young, and he called his name Eupator. And they that were in the citadel shut up Israel round about the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the Gentiles. And Judas thought to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them. And they were gathered together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war. And there came forth some of them that were shut up, and there were joined unto them certain ungodly men of Israel. And they went unto the king, and said, How long wilt thou not execute judgement, and avenge our brethren? We were willing to serve thy father, and to walk after his words, and to follow his commandments; And for this cause the children of our people besieged the citadel, and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our inheritances. And not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders. And, behold, they are encamped this day against the citadel at Jerusalem, to take it: and the sanctuary and Bethsura have they fortified. And if ye are not beforehand with them quickly, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to control them. And when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his Friends, even the rulers of his host, and them that were over the horse... You have to listen for the rest.

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