The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace:
It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified:
Now when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws were kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the high priest, and his hatred of wickedness,
This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.
About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt:
Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:
It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine’s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.
Then Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them all such as continued in the Jews’ religion, and assembled about six thousand men.
About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia
Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
Not long after the, Lysias the king’s protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.
When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.
In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,
After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy,
But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.