3 Maccabees 5:37-39

Common English Bible

³⁷ He summoned Hermon and said with a threat, “How often, you sorry creature, must I command you concerning these same matters? ³⁸ Equip the elephants yet again for the destruction of the Jews tomorrow.” ³⁹ But the king’s officials, who were reclining at the table with him, were taken aback by his unstable mind and began to protest as follows: