8. Subsequently, his officers began to rule, each in his own territory.
9. They ruled as kings, and after them their descendants ruled for many years. Together they caused much suffering across the earth.
10. From these descendants sprouted a sinful root—Antiochus Epiphanes. He was a son of King Antiochus, and he had been brought up in Rome as a hostage. Antiochus Epiphanes began to rule in the year 137 according to the calendar of the Greek kingdom.
11. At that time, some renegade Israelites emerged. These people went against their ancestral laws and encouraged many other Jews to join them. They spoke up, saying, "Let’s make an agreement with the Gentiles around us, because many horrible things have happened to us since we separated ourselves from them."
12. The proposal pleased their fellow Jews.
13. Some of them eagerly went to King Antiochus, who gave them permission to start living by the laws of the Gentiles.
14. Consequently, they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, following Gentile custom.
15. They even took steps to remove the marks of circumcision, utterly abandoning the holy covenant. They joined with Gentiles and gave themselves over to an evil course.
16. When Antiochus felt that his own kingdom was fully established, he determined also to take control of the land of Egypt so that he could rule over both kingdoms.