the city of David with a great and strong wall, and
with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them:

The city of David... That is, the castle of Sion.

1:36. And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they
fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour and victuals,
and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem;

1:37. And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.

1:38. And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an
evil devil in Israel.

An evil devil... That is, an adversary watching constantly to do harm,
as the evil spirit is always watching and seeking whom he may devour.

1:39. And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and
defiled the holy place.

1:40. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them and
the city was made the habitation of strangers, and she became a stranger
to her own seed, and her children forsook her.

1:41. Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days
were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were
brought to nothing.

1:42. Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her
excellency was turned into mourning.

1:43. And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people
should be one: and every one should leave his own law.

1:44. And all nations consented, according to the word of king
Antiochus.

1:45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to
idols, and profaned the sabbath.

1:46. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem,
and to all the cities of Juda; that they should follow the law of the
nations of the earth.

1:47. And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be
made in the temple of God.

1:48. And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days to be
celebrated.

1:49. And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy
people of Israel.

1:50. And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and
swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts,

1:51. And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let
their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the
end that they should forget the law, and should change all the
justifications of God.

1:52. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king
Antiochus, should be put to death.

1:53. According to all these words he wrote to