2 Maccabees 14:3-5

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³ Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had willfully defiled himself in the days of separation,^[a] realized that there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy altar^{(A) 4} and went to King Demetrius in about the one hundred fifty-first year, presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm and besides these some of the customary olive branches from the temple. During that day he kept quiet.^{(B) 5} But he found an opportunity that furthered his mad purpose when he was invited by Demetrius to a meeting of the council and was asked about the attitude and intentions of the Jews. He answered: