1 Maccabees 15:25-36. Simon, the high priest in Jerusalem, has an uneasy peace with King Antiochus. Simon had been established as high priest by Antiochus' father, Demetrius, and in recognition of their agreement, Simon sends 2,000 armed men to Antiochus as Antiochus is besieging the city of Dor in his quest to regain the lands of his fathers. But when the Jewish soldiers arrive to help in the battle, Antiochus refuses to receive them and instead sends a friend as an emissary to Simon to tell him to relinquish the Jewish and other lands that he holds back to Antiochus or pay a thousand talents in tribute and restitution. Simon of course refuses and says the lands that he possesses are his people's hereditary land as well as two areas that were always causing them trouble. He says that he will pay a hundred talents for those two areas. The emissary returns to Antiochus with this message and with a report of the wealth and splendor of Simon and Jerusalem, and Antiochus is greatly angered.

How power corrupts! Once we set our mind on a goal it can easily become the only thing we see. Antiochus has set his mind on power and consolidating his control over the lands around him. It has obviously become his driving force to the point where he cannot even accept help from a friend and instead turns on the Jewish people and on Simon. Obviously, this will not end well.

Power is just another idol - without God as its mediator it controls us and leaves us empty. It will eventually leave Antiochus dead.