Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came
to the town of Modein
to make them offer sacrifice. Many from Israel came to them;
and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. Then the king's
officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: "You are a leader,
honored and great in this town, and supported by sons and
brothers. Now be the first to come and do what the king commands,
as all the Gentiles and the people of Judah and those that
are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will
be numbered among the Friends of the king, and you and your
sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: "Even
if all the nations that live under the rule of the king
obey him, and have chosen to obey his commandments, everyone
of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors, I and
my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant
of our ancestors. Far be it from us to desert the law and
the ordinances. We will not obey the king's words by turning
aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left."
When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward
in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in
Modein, according to the king's command. When Mattathias
saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He
gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the
altar. At the same time he killed the king's officer who
was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
. . .
Then Mattathias cried out in the town with a loud voice,
saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports
the covenant come out with me!" Then he and his sons fled
to the hills and left all that they had in the city.
At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice
went down to the wilderness to live there, they, their sons,
their wives, and their livestock, because troubles pressed
heavily upon them. . . .
Then there united with them a company of Hasideans,
mighty warriors of Israel, all who offered themselves willingly
for the law. And all who became fugitives to escape their
troubles joined them and reinforced them. They organized
an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and renegades
in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.
And Mattathias and his friends went around and tore down
the altars; they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised
boys that they found within the borders of Israel. They
hunted down the arrogant, and the work prospered in their
hands. They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles
and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper
hand.
