1 in illis diebus surrexit Matthathias filius Iohannis
filii Simeonis
sacerdos ex filiis Ioarim ab Hierusalem
et consedit in monte Modin
2 et habebat filios quinque
Iohannan qui cognominabatur Gaddis
3 et Simeon qui cognominabatur Thasi
4 et Iudas qui vocabatur Macchabeus
5 et Eleazarus qui cognominabatur Abaron
et Ionathas qui cognominabatur Apphus
6 hii viderunt mala quae fiebant in populo Iuda et in Hierusalem
7 et dixit Matthathias
vae mihi ut quid natus sum videre contritionem populi mei
et contritionem civitatis sanctae
et sedere illic cum datur in manibus inimicorum
8 sancta in manu extraneorum facta sunt
templum eius sicut homo ignobilis
9 vasa gloriae eius captiva abducta sunt
trucidati sunt iuvenes eius in plateis
et iuvenes eius ceciderunt gladio inimicorum
10 quae gens non hereditavit regnum eius et non obtinuit spolia eius
11 omnis conpositio eius ablata est
quae erat libera facta est ancilla
12 et ecce sancta nostra et pulchritudo nostra et claritas nostra desolata
est
et coinquinaverunt eam gentes
13 quo ergo nobis adhuc vivere
14 et scidit Matthathias et filii eius vestimenta sua
et operuerunt se ciliciis et planxerunt valde
15 et venerunt illuc qui missi erant a rege Antiocho
ut cogerent eos qui confugerant in civitate Modin
immolare et accendere et a lege Dei
discedere
16 et multi de populo Israhel consentientes accesserunt ad eos
sed Matthathias et filii eius constanter steterunt
17 et respondentes qui missi erant ab Antiocho dixerunt Matthathiae
princeps et clarissimus et magnus es in hac civitate
et ornatus filiis et fratribus
18 ergo accede prior et fac iussum regis sicut fecerunt omnes gentes
et viri Iuda et qui remanserunt in Hierusalem
et eris tu et filii tui inter amicos regis
et amplificatus argento et auro et muneribus multis
19 et respondit Matthathias et dixit magna voce
et si omnes gentes regi Antiocho oboediunt
ut discedat unusquisque a servitute patrum suorum
et consentiunt mandatis eius
20 ego et filii mei et fratres mei oboediemus legi patrum nostrorum
21 propitius sit nobis Deus
non est nobis utile relinquere legem et iustitias Dei
22 non audibimus verba regis
Antiochi
nec sacrificabimus transgredientes legis nostrae
mandata
ut eamus altera via
23 et ut cessavit loqui verba haec
accessit quidam Iudaeus in omnium oculis
sacrificare idolis super aram in civitate Modin secundum iussum regis
24 et vidit Matthathias et doluit et contremuerunt renes eius
et ascendit furor eius secundum
iudicium legis
et insiliens trucidavit eum super aram
25 sed et virum quem miserat rex Antiochus
qui cogebat immolari
occidit in ipso tempore et aram destruxit
26 et zelatus est legem sicut fecit Finees Zambri filio Salomi
27 et exclamavit Matthathias voce magna dicens
omnis qui zelum habet legis statuens testamentum exeat post me
28 et fugit ipse et filii eius in montes
et reliquerunt quaecumque habebant in civitate
29 tunc descenderunt multi quaerentes iudicium et iustitiam in desertum
30 ut sederent ibi
ipsi et filii eorum et mulieres eorum et pecora eorum
quoniam induraverunt super eos mala
31 et renuntiatum est viris regis
et exercitui qui erat in Hierusalem civitate David
quoniam discessissent viri quidam qui dissipaverunt mandatum regis
in loca occulta in deserto
et abissent post illos multi
32 et statim perrexerunt ad eos
et constituerunt adversus eos proelium in die sabbatorum
33 et dixerunt ad eos resistitis et nunc adhuc
exite et facite secundum verbum regis et vivetis
34 et dixerunt non exibimus
neque faciemus verbum regis ut polluamus diem sabbatorum
35 et concitaverunt adversus eos proelium
36 et non responderunt eis
nec oppilaverunt loca occulta
37 dicentes moriamur omnes in simplicitate nostra
et testes erunt super nos caelum et terra quod iniuste perditis nos
38 et intulerunt eis bellum sabbatis
et mortui sunt ipsi et uxores eorum
et filii eorum et pecora eorum usque ad mille animas hominum
39 et cognovit Matthathias et amici eius
et luctum habuerunt super eos valde
40 et dixit vir proximo suo
si omnes fecerimus sicut fratres nostri fecerunt
et non pugnaverimus adversus gentes
pro animabus nostris et iustificationibus nostris
citius disperdent nos a terra
41 et cogitaverunt in illa die dicentes
omnis homo quicumque venerit ad nos in bello die sabbatorum
pugnemus adversus eum et non moriemur omnes
sicut mortui sunt fratres nostri in occultis
42 tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Asideorum fortis viribus ex Israhel
omnis voluntarius in lege
43 et omnes qui fugiebant a malis additi sunt ad eos
et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum
44 et collegerunt exercitum et percusserunt peccatores in ira sua
et viros iniquos in indignatione sua
et ceteri fugerunt ad nationes ut evaderent
45 et circuivit Matthathias et amici eius
et destruxerunt aras
46 et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos
quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israhel in fortitudine
47 et persecuti sunt filios superbiae
et prosperatum est opus in manu eorum
48 et obtinuerunt legem de manibus gentium et de manibus regum
et non dederunt cornu peccatori
49 et adpropinquaverunt dies Matthathiae moriendi
et dixit filiis suis nunc confortata est superbia et castigatio
et tempus eversionis et ira indignationis
50 nunc ergo o filii aemulatores estote legis
et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum
51 et mementote operum patrum quae fecerunt in generationibus suis
et accipietis gloriam magnam et nomen aeternum
52 Abraham nonne in temptatione inventus est fidelis
et reputatum est ei ad iustitiam
53 Ioseph in tempore angustiae suae custodivit mandatum
et factus est dominus Aegypti
54 Finees pater noster zelando zelum Dei
accepit testamentum sacerdotii aeterni
55 Iesus dum implet verbum
factus est dux Israhel
56 Chaleb dum testificatur in ecclesia accepit hereditatem
57 David in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in saecula
58 Helias dum zelat zelum legis receptus est in caelum
59 Ananias Azarias Misahel credentes liberati sunt de
flamma
60 Danihel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de ore leonum
61 et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem
quia omnes qui sperant in eum non infirmantur
62 et a verbis viri peccatoris non timueritis
quia gloria eius stercus et vermis est
63 hodie extollitur et cras non invenietur
quia conversus est in terram suam et cogitatio eius periet
64 vos ergo filii confortamini et viriliter agite in lege
quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis
65 et ecce Simeon frater vester scio quod vir consilii est
ipsum audite semper et ipse vobis erit pater
66 et Iudas Macchabeus fortis viribus a iuventute sua
sit vobis princeps militiae et ipse aget bellum populi
67 et vos adducetis ad vos omnes factores legis
et vindicate vindictam populi vestri
68 et retribuite retributionem gentibus
et intendite in praeceptum legis
69 et benedixit eos et adpositus est ad patres suos
70 et defunctus est centesimo et quadragesimo et sexto anno
et sepultus est a filiis suis in sepulchris patrum suorum in Modin
et planxerunt eum omnis Israhel planctu magno
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.
2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:
3 Simon; called Thassi:
4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:
5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.
6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,
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?
8 Her temple is become as a man without glory.
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.
10 What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils?
11 All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bondslave.
12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.
13 To what end therefore shall we live any longer?
14 Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore.
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.
16 And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together.
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:
20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.
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.
26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.
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.
28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.
29 Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there:
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.
35 So then they gave them the battle with all speed.
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.
39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.
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 in 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.
43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.
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.
45 Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:
46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.
47 They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.
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.
52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.
57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.
59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame.
60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.
61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.
62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.
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.
66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people.
68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law.
69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.