1 Maccabees 2 — Greek text and reception

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In those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, arose from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.

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He had five sons: John, called Gaddi;

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Simon, called Thassi;

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Judas, called Maccabeus;

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Eleazar, called Avaran; and Jonathan, called Apphous.

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He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem

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and said, “Alas for me! Why was I born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city, and to sit there while she was given into the hand of enemies, the sanctuary into the hand of foreigners?

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Her temple has become like a man without honor.

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The vessels of her glory have been carried away captive; her little children have been killed in her squares, her young men by an enemy's sword.

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What nation has not taken possession of her royal places and seized her spoils?

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All her adornment has been taken away; instead of being free, she has become a slave.

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Look! Our holy places, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste, and the nations have profaned them.

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Why should we live any longer?”

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Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.

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The king's officials who were compelling apostasy came to the city of Modein to make the people sacrifice.

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Many from Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons gathered.

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The king's officials addressed Mattathias, saying, “You are a ruler, honored and great in this city, supported by sons and brothers.

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Now be the first to come forward and carry out the king's decree, as all the nations, the men of Judah, and those left in Jerusalem have done. You and your sons will be among the king's Friends, and you and your sons will be honored with silver, gold, and many gifts.”

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Mattathias answered in a loud voice, “Even if all the nations within the king's realm obey him, each abandoning the worship of his fathers, and have chosen his commands,

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I and my sons and my brothers will walk in the covenant of our fathers.

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Far be it from us to abandon the law and the ordinances!

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We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our worship to the right or to the left.”

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When he finished speaking these words, a Jewish man came forward in the sight of everyone to sacrifice upon the pagan altar in Modein, according to the king's decree.

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Mattathias saw and burned with zeal; his inward parts trembled. He gave vent to anger according to the judgment, ran forward, and slaughtered him upon the altar.

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At that time he also killed the king's officer who was compelling sacrifice, and he pulled down the altar.

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He was zealous for the law, just as Phinehas had acted toward Zimri son of Salom.

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Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and upholds the covenant come out after me!”

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He and his sons fled to the mountains and abandoned everything they had in the city.

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Then many who sought righteousness and judgment went down into the wilderness to settle there,

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with their sons, their wives, and their livestock, because the evils had become severe against them.

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It was reported to the king's men and the forces in Jerusalem, the city of David, that men who had rejected the king's command had gone down into hiding places in the wilderness.

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Many pursued them, overtook them, encamped against them, and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day.

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They said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and act according to the king's command, and you will live.”

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They said, “We will not come out, nor will we carry out the king's command by profaning the sabbath day.”

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They hurried into battle against them.

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But they did not answer them, throw a stone at them, or block the hiding places,

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saying, “Let us all die in our integrity. Heaven and earth bear witness concerning us that you are destroying us without judgment.”

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They attacked them in battle on the sabbath. They died, together with their wives, their children, and their livestock—about a thousand human lives.

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Mattathias and his friends learned of it and mourned for them greatly.

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Each said to his neighbor, “If we all do as our brothers have done and do not fight the nations for our lives and our ordinances, they will now quickly destroy us from the earth.”

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That day they resolved, saying, “If anyone comes against us for battle on the sabbath day, we will fight against him, and we will certainly not all die as our brothers died in the hiding places.”

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Then a company of Hasideans gathered to them, strong warriors from Israel, everyone who willingly offered himself for the law.

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All who were fleeing from the evils joined them and became their support.

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They organized an army and struck sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath. The rest fled to the nations for safety.

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Mattathias and his friends went around and pulled down the pagan altars.

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They forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys whom they found within the borders of Israel.

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They pursued the sons of arrogance, and the work prospered in their hands.

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They took the law out of the hand of the nations and the kings, and they did not allow the sinner to gain a horn.

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When the days drew near for Mattathias to die, he said to his sons, “Now arrogance and rebuke have grown strong—a time of overthrow and furious wrath.

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Now, children, be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.

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Remember the deeds of the fathers that they did in their generations, and receive great glory and an everlasting name.

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Was not Abraham found faithful in testing, and was it not reckoned to him as righteousness?

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Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the commandment and became lord of Egypt.

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Phinehas our father, by burning with zeal, received a covenant of everlasting priesthood.

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Joshua, by fulfilling the word, became a judge in Israel.

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Caleb, by bearing witness in the assembly, received an inheritance of land.

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David, through his mercy, inherited a royal throne forever.

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Elijah, by burning with zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven.

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Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael trusted and were saved from the flame.

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Daniel, in his integrity, was rescued from the mouth of lions.

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So consider it from generation to generation: all who hope in Him will not fail.

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Do not fear the words of a sinful man, for his glory will become dung and worms.

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Today he is exalted, and tomorrow he will not be found, because he has returned to his dust and his planning will perish.

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Children, be courageous and be strong in the law, because through it you will be glorified.

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Look, Simon your brother—I know that he is a man of counsel. Listen to him all your days; he will be your father.

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Judas Maccabeus has been a strong warrior from his youth. He will be your army commander and will fight the battle of peoples.

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Gather to yourselves all who carry out the law, and exact vengeance for your people.

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Repay the nations what is due to them, and attend to the law's command.”

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Then he blessed them and was gathered to his fathers.

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He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year and was buried in the tombs of his fathers in Modein. All Israel lamented him with a great lament.