3 Maccabees 5:19-21

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

¹⁹ But when he, with the corroboration of his Friends, pointed out that while it was still night he had carried out completely the order given him, ²⁰ the king,^[a] possessed by a savagery worse than that of Phalaris, said that the Jews^[b] had benefited by today’s sleep, ‘but’, he added, ‘tomorrow without delay prepare the elephants in the same way for the destruction of the lawless Jews!’ ²¹ When the king had spoken, all those present readily and joyfully with one accord gave their approval, and all went to their own homes.