2 Maccabees 11:23-25

Common English Bible

²³ King Antiochus to his brother Lysias. Greetings!

After our father joined the gods, it was my desire that those who want calm be left alone to tend to their own business. ²⁴ We heard that the Jews haven’t agreed to change to the Greek way of life, as our father wanted, but preferred their own way of life and asked to be permitted to have their own law. ²⁵ Since we would choose for this nation to be free from unrest, we have decided to restore to them their temple and to let them conduct their life according to the customs of their ancestors.