3 Maccabees 1:10-12

Revised Standard Version

¹⁰ he marveled at the good order of the temple, and conceived a desire to enter the holy of holies. ¹¹ When they said that this was not permitted, because not even members of their own nation were allowed to enter, nor even all of the priests, but only the high priest who was pre-eminent over all, and he only once a year, the king was by no means persuaded. ¹² Even after the law had been read to him, he did not cease to maintain that he ought to enter, saying, “Even if those men are deprived of this honor, I ought not to be.”