43. Many Jews also willingly adopted the king’s religion. They sacrificed to idols and violated the Sabbath.
44. The king sent messengers carrying letters to Jerusalem and the surrounding towns of Judah. He directed Jews to follow customs that had been unknown in the land.
45. He banned the regular practices of entirely burned offerings, sacrifices, and drink offerings in the sanctuary. He banned the observance of sabbaths and feast days.
46. The sanctuary and its priests were to be defiled.
47. They should build new altars, together with sacred precincts and shrines for idols. They should sacrifice pigs and other ritually impure animals.
48. Jews were no longer to circumcise their sons. They were supposed to make themselves repulsive to God by doing unclean and improper acts.
49. All of this was intended to make them forget the Law and change its regulations.