History of the Maccabees

THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES

...then the residents of Jerusalem fled because of them. The city became a dwelling for strangers, and she became a stranger to her own offspring, for her children abandoned her. ⁴¹ Her sanctuary was laid waste and became like a wilderness. Her annual feasts were turned into mourning, and her Sabbaths into a reproach of shame; her honor was despised, ⁴² and her glory was filled with disgrace. Her high estate was brought low in mourning. ⁴³ Decrees were sent throughout the entire realm, commanding all the inhabitants of the land to forsake their own laws and to adhere to his single law. ⁴⁴ All the nations consented according to the royal command. ⁴⁵ And many from among the Israelites also turned to this lawless worship; they sacrificed to their idols and profaned their Sabbaths. ⁴⁶ The king sent messengers with decrees to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judea, to turn their glory toward foreign customs: ⁴⁷ to put a stop to whole burnt offerings, sacrifices, and holy drink offerings; ⁴⁸ to profane the Sabbaths and the annual feasts; ⁴⁹ and to defile the sanctuary. They were to build altars for dedication, to set up shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and common unclean animals, ⁵¹ and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to defile their souls with every kind of lawless uncleanness, so that they might utterly forget the Law and change the ordinances. ⁵² And whoever would not abide by the command of the king was to be put to death. ⁵³ In accordance with every word that the king wrote, he appointed overseers over all the places, ⁵⁴ and he commanded the cities of Judea to offer sacrifices, city by city. ⁵⁵ And many people gathered to them—all those who had rebelled against the Law—and they filled the land with evils. ⁵⁶ They drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they could find. ⁵⁷ In the one hundred and forty-fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month This was the month of Kislev, roughly December 167 BCE, he built the "image of abomination" the "Abomination of Desolation," likely a statue of Zeus Olympus upon the altar of refuge. ⁵⁸ Throughout all Judea, they built idol shrines around the cities, and at all the doors of the houses and in the streets of the cities, they burned incense. ⁵⁹ And any books of the Testaments the Torah or Law they found, they tore to pieces and burned with fire. ⁶⁰ Wherever the books of the Testaments were found with anyone, or if anyone anywhere remained faithful to the Law, the king’s decree put that person to death. ⁶¹ Thus they used their power against the Israelites, doing this to those they found month by month in the cities. ⁶² And on the twenty-fifth of each month, they offered sacrifices on the idol altars that were set upon the [altar of the Lord]. ⁶³ And the women who had circumcised their children were put to death according to the decree. ⁶⁴ They hung the infants from the people's necks according to the royal command, and they killed those who had performed the circumcision and their sons in the same manner. ⁶⁵ Yet many of the people of Jerusalem stood firm and strengthened themselves so that they would not eat of that uncleanness. They chose to die willingly rather than defile themselves with that common food, ⁶⁶ so that the holy Testaments would not be profaned. And many of them died. ⁶⁷ And there was very great wrath Armenian: "a feast of joy," likely a scribal error for "great wrath" (as in the Greek text), though it could sarcastically refer to the enemy's joy upon Israel.

CHAPTER 2

¹ In those days, Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, arose from Jerusalem and went to live in the stronghold of the caves in Modein. ² And he had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi; ³ Simon, who was called Thassi; ⁴ Judas, who was called Maccabeus; ⁵ Eleazar, who was called Avaran; and Jonathan, who was called Apphus. ⁶ And when he saw the blasphemies that were occurring in Judea and in Jerusalem, ⁷ he began to lament in his soul and said: "Woe is me! Why was I ever born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city of Jerusalem? For she remains surrendered into the hands of her enemies, ⁸ and the sanctuary has been given over to strangers. The temple has become like a man fallen from glory. ⁹ Her glorious vessels have been carried away into captivity. Her infants have been slaughtered in her streets, and her young men by the sword of the enemy. ¹⁰ What nation is there that has not inherited her dominion, or what nation has not seized her spoils? ¹¹ All her adornments have been stripped from her; instead of freedom, she has been sold into slavery. ¹² And all our beautiful ornaments, our holiness, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have profaned all these things. ¹³ Why then should we live any longer?" ¹⁴ At that time, Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into deep mourning. ¹⁵ Then the king's officers, who were enforcing the apostasy, came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifices. ¹⁶ Many of the Israelites went over to them, but Mattathias and his sons gathered together. ¹⁷ Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias, saying: "You are a leader, honored and great in this city, supported by sons and brothers among these people. ¹⁸ Now, come forward first and carry out the king's command, as all the nations have done, along with the men of Judea and those who remain in Jerusalem. Then you and your sons will be counted among the 'Friends of the King' a prestigious honorary title in the Seleucid court and will be honored with gold, silver, and royal gifts." ¹⁹ Mattathias answered in a loud voice and said: "Even if all the nations in the king’s realm obey the king's commands and have rebelled each from the laws of their ancestors, choosing the king's decrees, ²⁰ yet I and my sons and my brothers will walk according to the covenant of our fathers. ²¹ Heaven forbid that we should forsake the Law and the ordinances of God. ²² We will not turn aside to the king’s command, nor will we abandon the worship of our fathers; we will not turn to the right or to the left, and we will not heed the king’s decree." ²³ While these words were still in his mouth, a certain Jewish man stepped forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the idol altar there in Modein, according to the king's command. ²⁴ When Mattathias saw this, he burned with zealous anger; his heart trembled, and he was filled with righteous fury according to the judgment of the Law. He ran forward and killed the Jew right there upon the altar. ²⁵ He also killed the royal officer who was forcing the people to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar and destroyed the idol shrine. ²⁶ Thus he showed his zeal for the Law, just as Phinehas had done to Zimri son of Salu Armenian: Egoma. ²⁷ Then Mattathias cried out with a loud voice, saying: "Let everyone who is zealous for the Law and who wishes to maintain the covenant follow me!" ²⁸ So he and his sons fled to the mountains and left everything they possessed in the city. ²⁹ At that time, many who sought justice and righteousness went down into the wilderness ³⁰ to live there with their wives, their children, and their livestock, because their hardships had become so severe.

³¹ Word reached the king's officers and the troops that were in the City of David in Jerusalem that certain men, who had dared to reject the king's command, had gone down to the strongholds of the wilderness, and many had joined them. ³² They set out at once, pursued them, and caught up with them. They encamped against them and prepared for battle on the Sabbath day. ³³ First, they sent messengers and spoke to them, saying: "Enough of this! Come out now...