2 Maccabees 14:3-5

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

³ Now a certain Alcimus, who had formerly been high priest but had wilfully defiled himself in the times of separation,^[a] realized that there was no way for him to be safe or to have access again to the holy altar, ⁴ and went to King Demetrius in about the one hundred and fifty-first year,^[b] 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. 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: