1 Maccabees 2:1-28

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. 2And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis: 3Simon; called Thassi: 4Judas, who was called Maccabeus: 5Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus. 6And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem, 7He 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? 8Her temple is become as a man without glory. 9Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy. 10What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils? 11All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bondslave. 12And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it. 13To what end therefore shall we live any longer? 14Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore. 15In the mean while the kingšs officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice. 16And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together. 17Then answered the kingšs 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: 18Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the kingšs 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 kingšs friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards. 19Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the kingšs dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments: 20Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. 21God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances. 22We will not hearken to the kingšs words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left. 23Now 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 kingšs commandment. 24Which 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. 25Also the kingšs commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down. 26Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom. 27And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me. 28So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.