3 Maccabees 3:13

¹¹Now the king, elated with his prosperous fortune, and not regarding the superior power of God, but thinking to persevere in his present purpose, wrote the following letter to the prejudice of the Jews.

¹²King Ptolemy Philopator, to the commanders and soldiers in Egypt, and in all places, health and happiness!

— 3 Maccabees 3:13 —

¹⁴Since our Asiatic campaign, the particulars of which ye know, and which by the aid of the gods, not lightly given, and by our own vigor, has been brought to a successful issue according to our expectation,

¹⁵we resolved, not with strength of spear, but with gentleness and much humanity, as it were to nurse the inhabitants of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and to be their willing benefactors.