1 Maccabees 1 — Greek text and reception

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After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated Darius king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled over Greece.

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He waged many wars, took possession of strongholds, and slaughtered kings of the earth.

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He passed through to the ends of the earth and took the spoils of a multitude of nations. The earth became quiet before him; he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.

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He gathered an exceedingly strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and rulers; they became tributary to him.

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After this he fell upon his bed and knew that he was dying.

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He summoned his distinguished officers, who had been brought up with him from his youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive.

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Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.

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His officers took power, each in his own place.

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They all put on diadems after his death, and their sons after them for many years; they multiplied evils on the earth.

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From them came a sinful root: Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, who had been a hostage in Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

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In those days lawless sons came out of Israel and persuaded many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the nations around us, because since we separated ourselves from them, many evils have overtaken us.”

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The proposal was good in their eyes.

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Some of the people eagerly went to the king, and he gave them authority to follow the ordinances of the nations.

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They built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the customs of the nations

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and made foreskins for themselves. They abandoned the holy covenant, yoked themselves to the nations, and sold themselves to do evil.

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The kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he planned to reign over the land of Egypt so that he might rule both kingdoms.

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He entered Egypt with a heavy force, with chariots, elephants, cavalry, and a great fleet,

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and waged war against Ptolemy king of Egypt. Ptolemy was driven back before him and fled, and many fell wounded.

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They seized the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.

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After striking Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came up to Jerusalem with a heavy force.

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He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for light and all its utensils,

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the table of presentation, the libation vessels, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold ornament on the front of the temple. He stripped everything off.

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He took the silver, the gold, the precious vessels, and the hidden treasures that he found.

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Having taken everything, he went away to his own land. He committed bloodshed and spoke with great arrogance.

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Great mourning came upon Israel in every place where they lived.

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Rulers and elders groaned; young women and young men grew weak, and the beauty of women was changed.

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Every bridegroom took up a lament, and the bride sitting in her bridal chamber mourned.

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The earth shook over its inhabitants, and the whole house of Jacob put on shame.

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After two full years, the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah. He came to Jerusalem with a heavy force.

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He spoke peaceful words to them deceitfully, and they trusted him. Then he suddenly fell upon the city, struck it a great blow, and destroyed many people of Israel.

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He took the spoils of the city and burned it with fire. He demolished its houses and its surrounding walls.

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They took the women and children captive and took possession of the livestock.

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They fortified the city of David with a great, strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.

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They stationed there a sinful nation, lawless men, and strengthened themselves in it.

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They stored weapons and food, gathered the spoils of Jerusalem, and deposited them there. They became a great trap.

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It became an ambush against the sanctuary and an evil adversary to Israel continually.

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They poured out innocent blood around the sanctuary and defiled the sanctuary.

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Because of them the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled, and she became a dwelling of foreigners. She became foreign to those born in her, and her children abandoned her.

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Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness; her festivals were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, and her honor into contempt.

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In proportion to her glory, her dishonor multiplied, and her exaltation was turned into mourning.

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The king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should become one people

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and that each should abandon his own customs. All the nations accepted the king's command.

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Many from Israel consented to his worship, sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.

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The king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to the land,

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to prevent whole burnt offerings, sacrifice, and libation in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and festivals,

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to defile the sanctuary and holy people,

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to build pagan altars, sacred precincts, and shrines for idols, and to sacrifice pigs and unclean livestock,

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to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to make themselves abominable through every uncleanness and profanation,

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so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances.

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Whoever did not act according to the king's command was to die.

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In accordance with all these commands he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed overseers over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, city by city.

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Many of the people gathered to them, everyone who abandoned the law, and they did evil in the land.

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They drove Israel into hiding in all their places of refuge.

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On the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, he built an abomination of desolation upon the altar. They built pagan altars in the surrounding cities of Judah.

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At the doors of the houses and in the squares they burned incense.

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The books of the law that they found they tore apart and burned with fire.

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Where a book of the covenant was found with anyone, or if anyone consented to the law, the king's decree put him to death.

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By their power they dealt in this way with Israelites found in the cities, month after month.

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On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the pagan altar that stood upon the altar.

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According to the decree, they put to death the women who had circumcised their children,

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hanging the infants from their necks; they also killed their households and those who had circumcised them.

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Many in Israel stood firm and fortified themselves against eating unclean things.

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They chose to die so that they would not be defiled by foods or profane the holy covenant, and they died.

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Very great wrath came upon Israel.