2 Maccabees 1:10-17

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

A Letter to Aristobulus

¹⁰ The people of Jerusalem and of Judea and the council and Judas,

To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of King Ptolemy, and to the Jews in Egypt,

Greetings and good health.^(A)

¹¹ Having been saved by God out of grave dangers, we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king,^{[a] 12} for he drove out those who fought against the holy city.^{(B) 13} When the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a deception employed by the priests of the goddess^[b] Nanea.^{(C) 14} On the pretext of intending to marry her, Antiochus came to the place together with his Friends, to secure most of its treasures as a dowry.^{(D) 15} When the priests of the temple of Nanea had set out the treasures and Antiochus had come with a few men inside the wall of the sacred precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it. ¹⁶ Opening a secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the leader and his men; they dismembered them and cut off their heads and threw them to the people outside. ¹⁷ Blessed in every way be our God, who has delivered up those who have behaved impiously.