The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 02
1 In those days Mattathias the son of
John, the son of Simeon, a priest ofthe sons
of Joarib, from Jerusalem rose up; and he
lived at Modin.
2 And he had five sons:† John, who was
surnamed Gaddis;
3 Simon, who was called Thassi;
4 Judas, who was called Maccabaeus;
5 Eleazar, who was called Avaran; and
Jonathan, who was called Apphus.
6 He saw the blasphemies that were committed
in Judah and in Jerusalem,
7 and he said, “Woe is me! Why was I
born to see the destruction of my people
and the destruction of the holy city, and
to dwell there when it was given into the
hand of the enemy, the sanctuary into the
hand of foreigners?
8 Her temple has become like a man who
was glorious.
9 Her vessels of glory are carried away
into captivity. Her infants are slain in her
streets. Her young men are slain with the
enemy’s sword.
10 What nation has not inherited her
palaces and taken possession of her spoils?
11 Her adornment has all been taken
away. Instead of a free woman, she has
become a slave.
12 Behold, our holy things, our beauty,
and our glory are laid waste. The Gentiles
have profaned them.
13 Why should we live any longer?
14 Mattathias and his sons tore their
clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned
exceedingly.
15 And the king’s officers who were enforcing
the apostasy came into the city
Modin to sacrifice.
16 Many of Israel came to them, and
Mattathias and his sons were gathered together.
17 The king’s officers answered and
spoke to Mattathias, saying, “You are a
ruler and an honorable and great man in
this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred.
18 Now therefore come first and do the
commandment of the king, as all the nations
have done, including the men of Judah
and those who remain in Jerusalem.
You and your house will be numbered
among the king’s‡ friends, and you and
your sons will be honored with silver and
gold and many gifts.”
19 And Mattathias answered and said
with a loud voice, “If all the nations that
are in the house of the king’s dominion
listen to him, to fall away each one from
the worship of his fathers, and have made
choice to follow his commandments,
20 yet I and my sons and my kindred will
walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21 Far be it from us that we should forsake the
law and the ordinances.
22 We will not listen to the king’s words,
to turn aside from our worship, to the right
hand, or to the left.
23 When he had finished speaking these
words, a Jew came in the sight of all to
sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin,
according to the king’s commandment.
24 Mattathias saw it, so his zeal was kindled,
and his guts trembled, and he vented
his wrath according to judgment, and ran
and killed him upon the altar.
25 He killed the king’s officer, who compelled
men to sacrifice, at the same time,
and pulled down the altar.
26 He was zealous for the law, even as
Phinehas did to Zimri the son of Salu.
27 Mattathias cried out in the city with
a loud voice, saying, “Whoever is zealous
for the law and maintains the covenant, let
him follow me!
28 He and his sons fled into the mountains,
and left all that they had in the city.
29 Then many who sought justice and
judgment went down into the wilderness
to live there
30 they, their children, their wives, and
their livestock—because evils were multiplied
upon them.
31 It was told the king’s officers and the
forces that were in Jerusalem, the city of
David, that certain men who had broken
the king’s commandment had gone down
into the secret places in the wilderness;
32 and many pursued after them, and
having overtaken them, they encamped
against them and set the battle in array
against them on the Sabbath day.
33 They said to them, “Enough of this!
Come out and do according to the word of
the king, and you will all live!
34 They said, “We won’t come out. We
won’t do the word of the king, to profane
the Sabbath day.”
35 Then the enemy hurried to attack
them.
36 They didn’t answer them. They didn’t
cast a stone at them, or block their secret
places,
37 saying, “Let’s all die in our innocence.
Heaven and earth testify for us, that you
put us to death unjustly.”
38 So they attacked them on the Sabbath,
and they died—they, their wives, their children,
and their livestock—in number a
thousand souls of men.
39 When Mattathias and his friends
found out about it, and they mourned over
them exceedingly.
40 One said to another, “If we all do as
our kindred have done, and don’t fight
against the Gentiles for our lives and our
ordinances, they will quickly destroy us
from off the earth.”
41 So they decided that day, saying,
“Whoever comes against us to battle on the
Sabbath day, let’s fight against him, and we
will in no way all die, as our kindred died
in the secret places.”
42 Then a company of the Hasidaeans,§
mighty men of Israel, everyone who offered
himself willingly for the law, were
gathered together to them.
43 All those who fled from the evils were
added to them, and supported them.
44 They mustered an army, and struck
sinners in their anger, and lawless men in
their wrath. The restfledto the Gentiles for
safety.
45 And Mattathias and his friends went
around and pulled down the altars.
46 They forcibly circumcised the boys
who were uncircumcised, as many as they
found in the coasts of Israel.
47 They pursued the arrogant, and the
work prospered in their hand.
48 They rescued the law out of the hand
of the Gentiles and out of the hand of the
kings. They never allowed the sinner to
triumph.
49 The days of Mattathias drew near that
he should die, and he said to his sons, “Now
pride and scorn have gained strength. It
is a season of overthrow and indignant
wrath.
50 Now, my children, be zealous for the
law, and give your lives for the covenant
of your fathers.
51 Call to remembrance the deeds of our
fathers which they did in their generations;
and receive great glory and an everlasting name.
52 Wasn’t Abraham found faithful in
temptation, and it was reckoned to him for
righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept
the commandment, and became lord of
Egypt.
54 Phinehas our father, because he
was exceedingly zealous, obtained the
covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Joshua became a judge in Israel for
fulfilling the word.
56 Caleb obtained a heritage in the land
for testifying in the congregation.
57 David inherited the throne of a kingdom
forever and ever for being merciful.
58 Elijah was taken up into heaven because
he was exceedingly zealous for the law.
59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed,
and were saved out of the flame.
60 Daniel was delivered from the mouth
of lions for his innocence.
61 “Thus consider from generation to
generation that no one who put their trust
in him will lack for strength.
62 Don’t be afraid of the words of a sinful
man; for his glory will be dung and worms.
63 Today he will be lifted up, and tomorrow he
will in no way be found, because he
has returned to dust, and his thought has perished.
64 You, my children, be strong, and show
yourselves men on behalf of the law; for in
it you will obtain glory.
65 Behold, Simon your brother, whom I
know to be a man of counsel. Always listen
to him. He shall be a father to you.
66 Judas Maccabaeus has been strong
and mighty from his youth. He shall be
your captain and shall fight† the battle of
the people.
67 Rally around all the doers of the law,
andavenge the wrongdone to yourpeople.
68 Repay the Gentiles, and obey the
commandments of the law.”
69 He blessed them, and was gathered to
his ancestors.
70 He died in‡ the onehundredforty sixth
year, and his sons buried him in the tombs
of his ancestors at Modin. All Israel made
great lamentation for him.