1 ¹⁰ From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1 ¹¹ In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us." 1 ¹² This proposal pleased them, 1 ¹³ and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 1 ¹⁴ So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, 1 ¹⁵ and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.