Chapter 1 _{33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.}