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The First Book of Maccabees

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- Chapter 1 -

The reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles and profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death all that will not forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers.

1
Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes:
2
He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:
3
And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.
4
And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.
5
And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him.
6
And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.
7
And he called his servants the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
8
And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.
9
And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place:
10
And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth.
11
And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
12
In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.
13
And the word seemed good in their eyes.
14
And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.
15
And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:
16
And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.
17
And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms.
18
And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships:
19
And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death.
20
And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.
21
And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel.
22
And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
23
And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.
24
And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country.
25
And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.
26
And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.
27
And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed.
28
Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned:
29
And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
30
And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
31
And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.
32
And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel.
33
And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about:
34
And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed.
35
And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them:
36
And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem;
37
And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.
38
And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.
39
And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.
40
And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her.
41
Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.
42
Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning.
43
And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.
44
And all nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus.
45
And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.
46
And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that they should follow the law of the nations of the earth,
47
And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.
48
And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated.
49
And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel.
50
And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine’s flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.
51
And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that they should forget the law, and should change all the justifications of God.
52
And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.
53
According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom, and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things.
54
And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.
55
Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land:
56
And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.
57
On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:
58
And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets.
59
And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:
60
And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king.
61
Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.
62
And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.
63
Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus.
64
And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.
65
And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die than to be defiled with unclean meats.
66
And they would not break the holy law of God, and they were put to death:
67
And there was very great wrath upon the people.

The reign of Alexander and his Antiochus rifles and profanes the temple of and persecutes unto death all that will not forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers.

1
After Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip, who came out of the land of Chittim, and struck Darius king of the Persians and Medes, it came to pass, after he had struck him, that he reigned in his place, in former time, over(a) Greece.
2
He fought many battles, won many strongholds, killed the kings of the earth,
3
went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of a multitude of nations. The earth was quiet before him. He was exalted. His heart was lifted up.
4
He gathered together an exceedingly strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and principalities, and they paid him tribute.
5
After these things he fell sick, and perceived that he was going to die.
6
He called his honorable servants, which had been brought up with him from his youth, and he divided to them his kingdom while he was still alive.
7
Alexander reigned twelve years, then he died.
8
Then his servants ruled, each one in his place.
9
They all put crowns upon themselves after he was dead, and so did their sons after them many years; and they multiplied evils in the earth.
10
There came out of them a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he reigned in(b) the one hundred thirty seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11
In those days transgressors of the law came out of Israel and persuaded many, saying, let’s go make a covenant with the(c) Gentiles around us; for since we were separated from them many evils have befallen us.
12
That proposal was good in their eyes.
13
Some of the people eagerly went to the king, and he authorized them to observe the ordinances of the(d) Gentiles.
14
So(e) they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the laws of the(f) Gentiles.
15
They made themselves uncircumcised, forsook the holy covenant, joined themselves to the(g) Gentiles, and sold themselves to do evil.
16
The kingdom was established in the sight of Antiochus, and he planned to reign over Egypt, that he might reign over both kingdoms.
17
He entered into Egypt with a(h) great multitude, with chariots, with elephants, with cavalry, and with a great(i) navy.
18
He made war against Ptolemy king of Egypt. Ptolemy was put to shame before him, and fled; and many fell wounded to death.
19
They took possession of the strong cities in the land of Egypt, and he took the spoils of Egypt.
20
Antiochus, after he had defeated Egypt, returned in(j) the one hundred forty third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a(k) great multitude,
21
and entered presumptuously into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils.
22
He took the table of the show bread, the cups for the drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the veil, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple. He peeled it all off.
23
He took the silver, the gold, and the precious vessels. He took the hidden treasures which he found.
24
When he had taken all of these, he went away into his own land. He made a great slaughter, and spoke very arrogantly.
25
Great mourning came upon Israel, in every place where they were.
26
The rulers and elders groaned. The virgins and young men were made feeble. The beauty of the women was changed.
27
Every bridegroom took up lamentation. She who sat in the marriage chamber was mourning.
28
The land was moved for its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.
29
(l)After two full years, the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a(m) great multitude.
30
He spoke words of peace to them in subtlety, and they believed him. Then he fell upon the city suddenly, struck it very severely, and destroyed many people of Israel.
31
He took the spoils of the city, set it on fire, and pulled down its houses and its walls on every side.
32
They led captive the women and the children, and seized the livestock.
33
Then they fortified the city of David with a large, strong wall and with strong towers, and it became their citadel.
34
They put a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, there, and they strengthened themselves in it.
35
They stored up weapons and food, and gathering together the spoils of Jerusalem, they stored them there, and they became a great menace.
36
It became a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel continually.
37
They shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled the sanctuary.
38
The inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them. She became a habitation of foreigners. She became foreign to those who were born in her, and her children forsook her.
39
Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness,(n) her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, and her honor into contempt.
40
According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her exaltation was turned into mourning.
41
King Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42
and that each should forsake his own laws. All the nations agreed according to the word of the king.
43
Many of Israel consented to his worship, sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath.
44
The king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land,
45
and should forbid whole burnt offerings and sacrifice and drink offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Sabbaths and feasts,
46
and pollute the sanctuary and those who were holy;
47
that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean animals;
48
and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation;
49
so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
50
Whoever doesn’t do according to the word of the king, he shall die.
51
According to all these words wrote he to his whole kingdom. He appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, city by city.
52
From the people were gathered together to them many, everyone who had forsaken the law; and they did evil things in the land.
53
They made Israel to hide themselves in every place of refuge which they had.
54
On the fifteenth day of Chislev, in(o) the one hundred forty fifth year, they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar,(p) and in the cities of Judah on every side they built idol altars.(q)
55
At the doors of the houses and in the streets they burned incense.
56
They tore the books of the law which they found in pieces and set them on fire.
57
Anyone who was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the law, the king’s sentence delivered him to death.
58
Thus did they in their might to Israel, to those who were found month by month in the cities.
59
On the twenty-fifth day of the month they sacrificed upon the idol altar that was on top of the altar of burnt offering.
60
(r)They put to death women who had circumcised their children, according to the commandment.
61
They hung their babies around their necks, and their houses, and those who had circumcised them.
62
Many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things.
63
(s)They chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the food, and that they might not profane the holy covenant; and they died.
64
Exceedingly great wrath came upon Israel.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 That is, the Greek Empire. Compare 1 Maccabees 1:10 and 1 Maccabees 6:2 .
(b)1:10 circa B.C. 176.
(c)1:11 Or, nations:and so throughout this book.
(d)1:13 Or, nations:and so throughout this book.
(e)1:14 See 2 Maccabees 4:9 12.
(f)1:14 Or, nations:and so throughout this book.
(g)1:15 Or, nations:and so throughout this book
(h)1:17 Gr. heavy.
(i)1:17 Or, armament
(j)1:20 circa B.C. 170. See 2 Maccabees 5:11 .
(k)1:20 Gr. heavy.
(l)1:29 See 2 Maccabees 5:24 .
(m)1:29 Gr. heavy.
(n)1:39 See 2 Maccabees 6:6 .
(o)1:54 circa B.C. 168. See 2 Maccabees 5:11 .
(p)1:54 The two words rendered altarare different in the and so in 1 Maccabees 1:59 .
(q)1:54 The two words rendered altarare different in the and so in 1 Maccabees 1:59 .
(r)1:60 See 2 Maccabees 6:10 .
(s)1:63 See 2 Maccabees 6:19 and 7:1, etc.
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