40. According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning.
41. And king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
42. and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king;
43. and many of Israel consented to his worship, and sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath.
44. And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land,
45. and should forbid whole burnt offerings and sacrifice and drink offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Sabbaths and feasts,
46. and pollute the sanctuary and them that were holy;
47. that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean beasts:
48. and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation;
49. so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
50. And whoever shall not do according to the word of the king, he shall die.
51. According to all these words wrote he to his whole kingdom; and he appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, city by city.
52. And from the people were gathered together to them many, every one that had forsaken the law; and they did evil things in the land;