1 About that time Antioḵos came out of the country of Paras with dishonour;
2 for he had entered the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple and to hold the city; therefore the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight. And so it came to be, that Antioḵos being put to flight by the inhabitants returned with shame.
3 Now when he came to Aḥmetha, news was brought to him what had befallen Nikanor and Timotheos.
4 Then swelling with wrath, he thought to avenge upon the Yahuḏim the shame done to him by those that made him flee. Therefore he commanded his charioteer to drive without stopping, and to complete the journey, the judgment of Elohim now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this manner: that he would come to Yerushalayim and make it a common graveyard of the Yahuḏim.
5 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Almighty, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl smote him with an incurable and invisible plague; for as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was incurable came upon him and severe pain of the inner parts.
6 And that most righteously, for he had tortured other men’s inward parts with many and strange tortures.
7 However he did not cease at all from his boasting, but was still filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Yahuḏim and commanded to hasten the journey. But it came to be that he fell down from his chariot, dragged violently so that having a serious fall, all the members of his body were in severe pain.
8 And so he that shortly before thought he might command the waves of the sea – so proud was he beyond the condition of man – and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now thrown to the ground and dragged in a chariot, showing to all the manifest power of Elohim.
9 Therefore the worms crawled out of the body of this wicked man, and while he lived in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away and the filthiness of his smell was offensive to his whole army.
10 And the man that shortly before thought he could reach to the stars of the shamayim, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stench.
11 Therefore being plagued, he began to diminish his great pride and to come to the knowledge of himself by the punishment of Elohim – his pain increasing every moment.
12 And when he could not stand his own smell himself, he spoke these words: “It is right to be subject to Elohim, and a man who is mortal should not think proudly of himself as if he were Elohim.”
13 This wicked person also vowed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 who would no longer show favour to him, saying
14 that the qodesh city – to which he was going in haste to lay it level to the ground, and to make it a common graveyard – he would release.
15 And regarding the Yahuḏim – whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be thrown out with their children to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts – he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athĕnai.
16 And the qodesh Hĕyḵal, which he had previously plundered, he would embellish with costly gifts and restore all the qodesh utensils with many more, and out of his own revenue provide the charges pertaining to the offerings.
17 And that even he would also become a Yahuḏi himself and go through all the inhabited world and declare the power of Elohim.
18 But for all this, his agony would not cease; for the righteous judgment of Elohim had come upon him. Therefore in despair over his health, he wrote to the Yahuḏim the following letter containing the form of a plea, in this manner:
19 “Antioḵos, sovereign and governor, desires much joy, health and prosperity to his citizens the good Yahuḏim.
20 “If you and your children are well and your affairs are pleasing to you, I give very great thanks to Elohim, having my expectancy in the shamayim.
21 “As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and kindness in returning from Paras. But being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all;
22 not distrusting my health, but having great expectancy to escape this sickness.
23 “But considering that even my father, at the time he led an army into the high countries appointed a successor,
24 so that if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any news was brought that was grievous, those of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled.
25 “Also, considering that the bordering princes and neighbours of my reign wait for opportunities and expect what shall take place, I have appointed my son Antioḵos sovereign, whom I often entrusted and commended to many of you when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as follows.
26 “Therefore please, I ask you to remember the service that I have done for you in general, and in special, and that every man will remain trustworthy to my son and I.
27 “For I am persuaded that he, understanding my mind will kindly and favourably render your desires.”
28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he had treated other men, so he died a miserable death in a foreign country in the mountains.
29 And Philippos, who was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of Antioḵos went to Mitsrayim to Ptolemaeus Philometor.