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.
51 In words such as these he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people, and he ordered the cities of Judah to offer sacrifices, each city in turn.
52 Many of the people, those who abandoned the law, joined them and committed evil in the land.