8 The generals each took control of their countries.
9 Then after Alexander's death, they crowned themselves kings. Their descendants also ruled as kings for many years and caused trouble all over the world.
10 Antiochus Epiphanes, the evil son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of these generals and had been a hostage in Rome. Then in the year 137 of the Syrian Kingdom, he became its ruler.
11 About this time, some worthless Jews rejected God's Law and talked many others into following them by saying, “Let's make an agreement with the Gentiles around here. We've had nothing but trouble ever since we stopped cooperating with them.”
12 Many of the people thought this was a good idea,
13 and with great enthusiasm they went to King Antiochus, who gave them permission to live like Gentiles.
14 So these Jews built a place in Jerusalem just like those in Gentile cities where young men exercise in the nude.