1 In the year 151 of the Syrian Kingdom, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, sailed with a few soldiers from Rome to the coastal city of Tripolis, where he appointed himself king.
2 From there, Demetrius went to his ancestors' palace in Antioch, and he arrived just as some soldiers were arresting Antiochus and Lysias. The soldiers wanted to hand them over to Demetrius.
3 But he said, “I don't even want to look at them!”
4 The soldiers put them to death, and he took command of the whole kingdom.
5 Alcimus, leader of the unfaithful Jews, wanted Demetrius to appoint him high priest. So one day, he and his followers went to Demetrius
6 and brought charges against the other Jews. They said:Judas and his brothers have killed all of your trusted friends and forced us out of our country.
7 Please send an officer you can rely on and let him see the damage they have done to our property and to your kingdom. Then punish them and their followers.