In those days, a root of sin arose from amongst them: Antiochus the Illustrious, son of King Antiochus, who had been held hostage in Rome; and he reigned in the 137th year of the Greek rule. In those days, children of iniquity arose from Israel, who led many astray, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the nations around us; for since we separated ourselves from them, many evils have befallen us.” And this proposal seemed good unto them. Some of the people were sent as delegates and went to behold the king; and he granted them permission to live according unto the laws of the Gentiles. And they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, in the manner of the nations; they concealed their circumcision, separated themselves from the holy covenant, joined the nations, and sold themselves to do evil. Then King Antiochus wrote to his entire kingdom, so that all might become one people, and that everyone might abandon their own particular law. All the nations complied with King Antiochus’s decree, and many in Israel submitted to this bondage, offered sacrifices to idols, and desecrated the Sabbath. On the fifteenth day of the month of Casleu, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, King Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation on the altar of God; and altars were built in all the surrounding cities of Judah; and incense was burned and sacrifices were offered at the doors of houses and in the streets; and the books of God’s law were torn up and burned; and if anyone was found in possession of the books of the Lord’s covenant, or if anyone observed the Lord’s law, he was put to death according unto the king’s decree. Then many of the people of Israel resolved in their hearts not to eat aught unclean, and they chose to die rather than defile themselves with unclean food; and they refused to violate God’s holy law, and they were put to death; and a very great wrath fell upon the people.