1 Maccabees 1 PDF

1 Maccabees 1
1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated King
Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of
Greece.) 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. 3 He
advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him,
he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. 4 He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries,
nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him. 5 After this he fell sick and perceived that he was
dying. 6 So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and
divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. 7 And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he
died. 8 Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. 9 They all put on crowns after his death, and
so did their descendants after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth. 10 From them
came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He
began to reign in the one hundred thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11 In those days
certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the
Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us." 12 This proposal
pleased them, 13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the
ordinances of the Gentiles. 14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, 15 and
removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and
sold themselves to do evil. 16 When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to
become king of the land of Egypt, in order that he might reign over both kingdoms. 17 So he invaded Egypt
with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet. 18 He engaged King
Ptolemy of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell. 19
They captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt. 20 After
subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred forty-third year. He went up against Israel and
came to Jerusalem with a strong force. 21 He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the
lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. 22 He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups
for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the
front of the temple; he stripped it all off. 23 He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took
also the hidden treasures that he found. 24 Taking them all, he went into his own land. He shed much
blood, and spoke with great arrogance. 25 Israel mourned deeply in every community, 26 rulers and elders
groaned, young women and young men became faint, the beauty of the women faded. 27 Every bridegroom
took up the lament; she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning. 28 Even the land trembled for its
inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. 29 Two years later the king sent to the cities
of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force. 30 Deceitfully he spoke
peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow,
and destroyed many people of Israel. 31 He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses
and its surrounding walls. 32 They took captive the women and children, and seized the livestock. 33 Then
they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel. 34
They stationed there a sinful people, men who were renegades. These strengthened their position; 35 they
stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great
menace, 36 for the citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel at all times. 37
On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the sanctuary. 38 Because of
them the residents of Jerusalem fled; she became a dwelling of strangers; she became strange to her
offspring, and her children forsook her. 39 Her sanctuary became desolate like a desert; her feasts were
turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into contempt. 40 Her dishonor now grew as
great as her glory; her exaltation was turned into mourning. 41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom
that all should be one people, 42 and that all should give up their particular customs. 43 All the Gentiles
accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to
idols and profaned the sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of
Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices
and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the
priests, 47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean
animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything
unclean and profane, 49 so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 He added, "And
whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die." 51 In such words he wrote to his whole
kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice,
town by town. 52 Many of the people, everyone who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the
land; 53 they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had. 54 Now on the fifteenth day of
Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering.
They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah, 55 and offered incense at the doors of the houses
and in the streets. 56 The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. 57
Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to
death by decree of the king. 58 They kept using violence against Israel, against those who were found month
after month in the towns. 59 On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar that
was on top of the altar of burnt offering. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had
their children circumcised, 61 and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants
from their mothers' necks. 62 But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat
unclean food. 63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and
they did die. 64 Very great wrath came upon Israel.
1 Maccabees 2
1 In those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib, moved from
Jerusalem and settled in Modein. 2 He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, 3 Simon called Thassi, 4 Judas
called Maccabeus, 5 Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 6 He saw the blasphemies being
committed in Judah and Jerusalem, 7 and said, "Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the
ruin of the holy city, and to live there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to
aliens? 8 Her temple has become like a person without honor; 9 her glorious vessels have been carried into
exile. Her infants have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe. 10 What nation has not

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