20 Antiokos, after he’d defeated Mitsrayim, returned in[fn] the one hundred and forty third year, and went up against Yisrael (Israel) and Yerushalem with a[fn] great multitude, 21 and entered presumptuously into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. 22 He took the table of the show bread, the cups for the drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the veil, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple. He peeled it all off. 23 He took the silver, the gold, and the precious vessels. He took the hidden treasures which he found. 24 When he’d taken all of these, he went away into his own land. He made a great slaughter, and spoke very arrogantly. 25 Great mourning came on Yisrael, in every place where they were. 26 The rulers and elders groaned. The virgins and young men were made feeble. The beauty of the women was changed. 27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation. She who sat in the marriage chamber was mourning. 28 The land was moved for its inhabitants, and all the house of Ya’akov (Jacob) was clothed with shame.

29 After[fn] two full years, the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Yehudah (Judah), and he came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with a[fn] great multitude. 30 He spoke words of peace to them in subtlety, and they believed him. Then he fell onto the city suddenly, struck it very severely, and destroyed many people of Yisrael. 31 He took the spoils of the city, set it on fire, and pulled down its houses and its walls on every side. 32 They led captive the women and the children, and seized the livestock. 33 Then they fortified the city of David with a large, strong wall and with strong towers, and it became their citadel. 34 They put a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, there, and they strengthened themselves in it. 35 They stored up weapons and food, and gathering together the spoils of Yerushalem, they stored them there, and they became a great menace. 36 It became a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Yisrael continually. 37 They shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled the sanctuary. 38 The inhabitants of Yerushalem fled because of them. She became a habitation of foreigners. She became foreign to those who were born in her, and her children forsook her. 39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness,[fn] her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, and her honour into contempt. 40 According to her glory, so was her dishonour multiplied, and her exaltation was turned into mourning.