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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.
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?
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.
12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned
it.
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.
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:
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.
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:
22 We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.
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.
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.
25 Also the king’s commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he
pulled down.
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.
30 Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore
upon them.
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,
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.
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.
34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king’s commandment, to profane the sabbath
day.
36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they
lay hid;
37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death
wrongfully.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised
valiantly.
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.
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:
50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an
everlasting name.
54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.
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.
64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye
obtain glory.
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.