1   At this time a certain Mattathias, son of John, son of Symeon, appeared on the scene. He was a priest of the Joarib family from Jerusalem, who had settled at Modin. 2   Mattathias had five sons, John called Gaddis, 3    4   Simon called Thassis, Judas called Maccabaeus, Eleazar called Avaran, 5   and Jonathan called Apphus.

6   When Mattathias saw the sacrilegious acts committed in Judaea and Jerusalem, he said: 7   

  ‘Oh! Why was I born to see this,
  the crushing of my people, the ruin of the holy city?
  They sat idly by when it was surrendered,
  when the holy place was given up to the alien.
   8   Her temple is like a man robbed of honour;
   9   its glorious vessels are carried off as spoil.
  Her infants are slain in the street,
  her young men by the sword of the foe.
   10   Is there a nation that has not usurped her sovereignty, ^note
  a people that has not plundered her?
   11   She has been stripped of all her adornment,
  no longer free, but a slave.

Antiochus and the Jewish revolt

12   Now that we have seen our temple with all its beauty and splendour laid waste and profaned by the Gentiles, 13   why should we live any longer?’ 14   So Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and mourned bitterly.

15   The king's officers who were enforcing apostasy came to the town of Modin to see that sacrifice was offered, 16   and many Israelites went over to them. 17   Mattathias and his sons stood in a group. The king's officers spoke to Mattathias: ‘You are a leader here,’ they said, ‘a man of mark and influence in this town, with your sons and brothers at your back. 18   You be the first now to come forward and carry out the king's order. All the nations have done so, as well as the leading men in Judaea and the people left in Jerusalem. Then you and your sons will be enrolled among the King's Friends; you will all receive high honours, rich rewards of silver and gold, and many further benefits.’

19   To this Mattathias replied in a ringing voice: ‘Though all the nations within the king's dominions obey him and forsake their ancestral worship, though they have chosen to submit to his commands, 20   yet I and my sons and brothers will follow the covenant of our fathers. 21   Heaven forbid we should ever abandon the law and its statutes. 22   We will not obey the command of the king, nor will we deviate one step from our forms of worship.’

23   As soon as he had finished, a Jew stepped forward in full view of all to offer sacrifice on the pagan altar at Modin, in obedience to the royal command. 24   The sight stirred Mattathias to indignation; he shook with passion, and in a fury of righteous anger rushed forward and slaughtered the traitor on the very altar. 25   At the same time he killed the officer sent by the king to enforce sacrifice, and pulled the pagan altar town. 26   Thus Mattathias showed his fervent zeal for the law, just as Phinehas had done by killing Zimri son of Salu. 27   ‘Follow me,’ he shouted through the town, ‘every one of you who is zealous for the law and strives to maintain the covenant.’ 28   He and his sons took to the hills, leaving all their belongings behind in the town.

29   At that time many who wanted to maintain their religion and law went down to the wilds to live there. 30   They took their sons, their wives, and their cattle with them, for their miseries were more than they could bear. 31   Word soon reached the king's officers and the forces in Jerusalem, the city of David, that men who had defied the king's order had gone down into hiding-places in the wilds. 32   A large body of men went quickly after them, came up with them, and occupied

Antiochus and the Jewish revolt positions opposite. They prepared to attack them on the sabbath. 33   ‘There is still time,’ they shouted; ‘come out, obey the king's command, and your lives will be spared.’ 34   ‘We will not come out,’ the Jews replied; ‘we will not obey the king's command or profane the sabbath.’ 35    36   Without more ado the attack was launched; but the Israelites did nothing in reply; they neither hurled stones, nor barricaded their caves. 37   ‘Let us all meet death with a clear conscience,’ they said; ‘we call heaven and earth to testify that there is no justice in this slaughter.’ 38   So they were attacked and massacred on the sabbath, men, women, and children, up to a thousand in all, and their cattle with them.

39   Great was the grief of Mattathias and his friends when they heard the news. 40   They said to one another, ‘If we all do as our brothers have done, if we refuse to fight the Gentiles for our lives as well as for our laws and customs, then they will soon wipe us off the face of the earth.’ 41   That day they decided that, if anyone came to fight against them on the sabbath, they would fight back, rather than all die as their brothers in the caves had done.

42   It was then that they were joined by a company of Hasidaeans, stalwarts of Israel, every one of them a volunteer in the cause of the law; 43   and all who were refugees from the troubles came to swell their numbers, and so add to their strength. 44   Now that they had an organized force, they turned their wrath on the guilty men and renegades. Those who escaped their fierce attacks took refuge with the Gentiles.

45   Mattathias and his friends then swept through the country, pulling down the pagan altars, 46   and forcibly circumcising all the uncircumcised boys found within the frontiers of Israel. 47   They hunted down their arrogant enemies, and the cause prospered in their hands. 48   Thus they saved the law from the Gentiles and their kings, and broke the power of the tyrant.

49   The time came for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: ‘Arrogance now stands secure and gives judgement against us; it is a time of calamity and raging fury. 50   But now, my sons, be zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 51   Remember the deeds they did in their generations, and great glory and eternal fame shall be yours. 52   Did not Abraham prove steadfast under trial, and so gain credit as a righteous man? 53   Joseph kept the commandments, hard-pressed though he was, and became lord of Egypt.

Antiochus and the Jewish revolt 54   Phinehas, our father, never flagged in his zeal, and his was the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 55   Joshua kept the law, and he became a judge in Israel. 56   Caleb bore witness before the congregation, and a share in the land was his reward. 57   David was a man of loyalty, and he was granted the throne of an everlasting kingdom. 58   Elijah never flagged in his zeal for the law, and he was taken up to heaven. 59   Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael had faith, and they were saved from the blazing furnace. 60   Daniel was a man of integrity, and he was rescued from the lions' jaws. 61   As generation succeeds generation, follow their example; for no one who trusts in Heaven shall ever lack strength. 62   Do not fear a wicked man's words; all his success will end in filth and worms. 63   Today he may be high in honour, but tomorrow there will be no trace of him, because he will have returned to the dust and all his schemes come to nothing. 64   But you, my sons, draw your courage and strength from the law, for by it you will win great glory.

65   ‘Now here is Symeon, your brother; I know him to be wise in counsel: always listen to him, for he shall be a father to you. 66   Judas Maccabaeus has been strong and brave from boyhood; he shall be your commander in the field, and fight his people's battles. 67   Gather to your side all who observe the law, and avenge your people's wrongs. 68   Repay the Gentiles in their own coin, and always heed the law's commands.’

69   Then Mattathias blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers. 70   He died in the year 146, ^note and was buried by his sons in the family tomb at Modin. All Israel raised a loud lament for him.

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