THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 2

1 Maccabees 2

2 The mourning of Mattathias and his sons for the destruction of the holy city. 19 They refuse to do sacrifice unto idols. 24 The zeal of Mattathias for the Law of God. 33 They are slain and will not fight against because of the Sabbath day. 49 Mattathias dying commands his sons to stick by the words of God, after the example of the fathers.

IN those days stood up Mattathias the Priest, the sons of Ioannes, the son of Simeon, of the sons of Ioarib of Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.

And he had five sons, Ioanan called Gaddis,

Simon called Thassi,

Judas which was called Maccabeus,

Eleazar called Abaron, and Ioanthi, whose name was Apphus.

Now he saw the blasphemies, which were committed in Juda and Jerusalem:

And he said, Woe is me: wherefore was I born, to see this destruction of my people, and the destruction of the holy city, and thus to sit still? it is delivered into the hands of the enemies,

And the Sanctuary is in the hands of strangers: her Temple is, as a man that hath renown.

Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity: her infants are slain in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of the enemies.

What people is it, that hath not son possession in her kingdom, or hath not gotten of her spoil?

All her glory is taken away: of a free woman, she is become an handmaid.

Behold, our Sanctuary and our beauty, and honor is desolate, and the Gentiles have defiled it.

What helpeth it us then to live any longer?

And Mattathias rent his clothes, he, and his sons, and put sackcloth upon them, and mourn very sore.

Then came men from the King of the city of Modin to compel them to forsake God, and to sacrifice.

So many of the Israelites consented unto them: but Mattathias and his sons assembled together.

Then spake the commissioners of the King, and said unto Mattathias, Thou art the chief and an honorable man, and great in this city, and hast many children and brethren.

Come thou therefore first, and fulfill the King’s commandment, as all the heathen have done, and also the men of Juda, and such as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy family be in the King’s favor and thou and thy children shall be enriched with silver and gold, and with many rewards.

Then Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice, Though all nations that are under the King’s dominion, obey him, and fall away every man from the religion of their fathers, and consent to his commandments,

Yet will I and my sons, and my brethren, walk in the covenant of our fathers.

God be merciful unto us, that we forsake not the Law and the ordinances.

We will not hearken unto the King’s words to transgress our religion, neither on the right side, nor on the left.

And when he had left off speaking these words, there came one of the Jews, in the sight of all to sacrifice upon the altar which was at Modin, according to the King’s commandment.

Now when Mattathias saw it, he was so inflamed with zeal, that his reigns shook, and his wrath was kindled according to the ordinance of the Law: therefore he ran unto him, and killed him by the altar:

And at the same time he slew the King’s commissioner, that compelled him to do sacrifice, and destroed the altar.

Thus bare he a zeal to the Law of God, doing, as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.

Then cried Mattathias with a loud voice in the city, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the Law, and will stand by the covenant, let him come forth after me.

So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city.

Then many that sought after justice and judgment,

Went down into the wilderness to dwell there, both they, and their children, and their wives, and their cattle: for the afflictions increased sore upon them.

Now when it was told unto the King’s servants, and to the garrisons, which were in Jerusalem in the city of David, that men had broken the King’s commandment, and were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,

Then many pursued after them: and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and set the battle in array against them on the Sabbath day,

And said unto them, Let this now be sufficient: come forth and do according to the commandment of the King, and ye shall live.

But they answered, We will not go forth, neither will we do the King’s commandment, to defile the Sabbath day.

Then they gave them the battle.

But the other answered them nothing, neither can any one stone at them, nor stopped the private places,

When Mattathias and his friends understood this, they mourned for them greatly,

And said one to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not against the heathen for our lives, and for our Laws, then shall they incontinently destroy us out of the earth.

Therefore they concluded at the same time, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us upon the Sabbath day, we will fight against him, that we die not all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.

Then came unto them the assembly of the Asideans, which were of the strongest men of Israel, all such as were well minded toward the Law.

And all they that were fled for persecution, joined themselves unto them, and were an help unto them.

So they gathered a power, and smote the wicked men in their wrath, and the ungodly in their anger: but the rest fled unto the heathen, and escaped.

Then Mattathias and his friends went about, and destroyed the altars,

And circumcised the children by force that were uncircumcised, as many as they found within the coasts of Israel,

And they pursued after the proud men: and this act prospered in their hands.

So they recovered the Law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of Kings, and gave not place to the wicked.

Now when the time drew near, that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now is pride and persecution increased, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation.

Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous of the Law, and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.

Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time: so shall ye receive great honor and an everlasting name.

Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?

Ioseph in the time of his trouble kept the commandment, and was made the lord of Egypt.

Phinees our father, because he was zealous and fervent, obtained the covenant of the everlasting priesthood.

Iesus for fulfilling the word, was made the governor of Israel.

Caleb, because he bare witness before the congregation, received the heritage of the land.

David, because of his mercy obtained the throne of the kingdom for evermore.

Elias, because he was zealous and servant in the Law, was taken up even unto heaven.

Ananias, Azarias and Misael by their faith were delivered out of the flame.

Daniel, because of his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions.

And thus ye may consider throughout all ages, that whosoever put their trust in him, shall not want strength.

Fear not ye then the words of a sinful man: for his glory is but dung and worms.

Today he is set up, and tomorrow he shall not be found: for he is turned into his dust, and his purpose perishes.

Wherefore, my sons, take good hearts, and show yourselves men for the Law: for by it shall you obtain glory.

And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: give care unto him always: he shall be a father unto you.

And Iudas Maccabeus hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain and fight you the battle for the people.

Recompense fully the heathen, and give yourselves to the commandment of the Law.

So be blessed them, and was laid with his fathers,

And died in the hundredth, forty and six year, and his sons buried him in his father’s sepulcher at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.