44 The king sent letters by messenger to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land;
45 to prohibit burnt offerings, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days,
46 to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers,
47 to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals,
48 to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to defile themselves with every kind of impurity and abomination;
49 so that they might forget the law and change all its ordinances.
50 Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was to be put to death.