The king Issues a decree:
‘his subjects were to become all one people and abandon their own laws and religion. The nations themselves everywhere complied with the royal command, and many in Israel accepted foreign worship, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. (Orders introducing foreign religious practices and forbidding sacrifice). ‘Such was the decree the King introduced to all his subjects. He appointed superintendents over the people and instructed the towns of Judaea to offer sacrifice, town by town. People thronged to their side in large numbers, every one of them a traitor to the law.’
1Macc. 1. 41-52
‘On the 15th day of Kislev he built the ‘abomination of desolation’ on the altar, and in the cities of Judea around they built altars, and offered incense at the doorsof houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that were found were torn up and burnt.’
1Macc.1.54-58