3 Maccabees 5:17-19

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁷ When this was done he urged them to give themselves over to feasting and to make the present portion of the banquet joyful by celebrating all the more. ¹⁸ After the party had been going on for some time, the king summoned Hermon and with bitter threats demanded to know why the Jews had been allowed to remain alive through the present day. ¹⁹ But when he, with the corroboration of the king’s^[a] Friends, pointed out that while it was still night he had carried out completely the order given him,