3 Maccabees 1:15-17

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁵ “But since this has happened,” the king^[a] said, “why should not I at least enter, whether they wish it or not?”

Jewish Resistance to Ptolemy

¹⁶ Then the priests in all their vestments prostrated themselves and entreated the supreme God to aid in the present situation and to avert the violence of this evil design, and they filled the temple with cries and tears;^{(A) 17} those who remained behind in the city were agitated and hurried out, supposing that something mysterious was occurring.^(B)