63 Wherefore they 0 chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy 7-»> covenant : so then they died. 64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.
CHAP. II.
IN those days || arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of m the fin the sons of 1 Joarib, from Jerusalem, and tF.aros, dwelt in Modin.
2 And he had five sons, Joannan, [| call- mfijfc ed 11 Caddis Tujaitm. 3 Simon, called Thassi : » i chron. ^ Judas, who was called Maccabeus : y or,'
5 Eleazar, called || Avaran : andjonathan, "^iied"" wn°k surname was Apphus.
6 And when he saw the blasphemies that terwardin were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,
7 He said, Woe is me ! wherefore was I I or, born to fee this misery of my people, and MarZ'^' °f tne noty c*tv» ana" to dwell there, when Seech. 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 with out glory.
»cb.».*3, p " 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 bond slave.
( or.ioji 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, tiling. 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 wife, 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 nave done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at Jeru salem : so slialt thou and thy house be iri the number of the king's friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards. ip 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 :
20cYetwillIandmysonsandmy brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
2 1 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 : where fore 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 d Phinees did unto Zambri 4 Numb, 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
