1Mac 2:1 In those days arose Mattathias the
son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from
Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.
1Mac 2:2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:
1Mac 2:3 Simon; called Thassi:
1Mac 2:4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:
1Mac 2:5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.
1Mac 2:6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and
Jerusalem,
1Mac 2:7 He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my
people, and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into
the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers?
1Mac 2:8 Her temple is become as a man without glory.
1Mac 2:9 Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants
are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.
1Mac 2:10 What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her
spoils?
1Mac 2:11 All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a
bondslave.
1Mac 2:12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid
waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.
1Mac 2:13 To what end therefore shall we live any longer?
1Mac 2:14 Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on
sackcloth, and mourned very sore.
1Mac 2:15 In the mean while the king's officers, such as compelled the
people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice.
1Mac 2:16 And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his
sons came together.
1Mac 2:17 Then answered the king's officers, and said to Mattathias on this
wise, Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and
strengthened with sons and brethren:
1Mac 2:18 Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king's commandment,
like as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such
as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the
king's friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and
gold, and many rewards.
1Mac 2:19 Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all
the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every
one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his
commandments:
1Mac 2:20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our
fathers.
1Mac 2:21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.
1Mac 2:22 We will not hearken to the king's words, to go from our religion,
either on the right hand, or the left.
1Mac 2:23 Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the
Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin,
according to the king's commandment.
1Mac 2:24 Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and
his reins trembled, neither could he forbear to shew his anger according to
judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.
1Mac 2:25 Also the king's commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he
killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.
1Mac 2:26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did
unto Zambri the son of Salom.
1Mac 2:27 And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice,
saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let
him follow me.
1Mac 2:28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever
they had in the city.
1Mac 2:29 Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into
the wilderness, to dwell there:
1Mac 2:30 Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle;
because afflictions increased sore upon them.
1Mac 2:31 Now when it was told the king's servants, and the host that was at
Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's
commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,
1Mac 2:32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them,
they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.
1Mac 2:33 And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto
suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye
shall live.
1Mac 2:34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the
king's commandment, to profane the sabbath day.
1Mac 2:35 So then they gave them the battle with all speed.
1Mac 2:36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them,
nor stopped the places where they lay hid;
1Mac 2:37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will
testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.
1Mac 2:38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they
slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of
a thousand people.
1Mac 2:39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they
mourned for them right sore.
1Mac 2:40 And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have
done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will
now quickly root us out of the earth.
1Mac 2:41 At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come
to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him;
neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered im the secret
places.
1Mac 2:42 Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty
men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.
1Mac 2:43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto
them, and were a stay unto them.
1Mac 2:44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger,
and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.
1Mac 2:45 Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down
the altars:
1Mac 2:46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel
uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.
1Mac 2:47 They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in
their hand.
1Mac 2:48 So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out
of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.
1Mac 2:49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said
unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of
destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
1Mac 2:50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your
lives for the covenant of your fathers.
1Mac 2:51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so
shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.
1Mac 2:52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness?
1Mac 2:53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was
made lord of Egypt.
1Mac 2:54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the
covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
1Mac 2:55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.
1Mac 2:56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the
heritage of the land.
1Mac 2:57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting
kingdom.
1Mac 2:58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into
heaven.
1Mac 2:59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the
flame.
1Mac 2:60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.
1Mac 2:61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their
trust in him shall be overcome.
1Mac 2:62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be
dung and worms.
1Mac 2:63 To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found,
because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.
1Mac 2:64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the
behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.
1Mac 2:65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel,
give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.
1Mac 2:66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from
his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
1Mac 2:67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye
the wrong of your people.
1Mac 2:68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of
the law.
1Mac 2:69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
1Mac 2:70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons
buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made
great lamentation for him.