1 In those days it was that Mattathias came forward, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of Joarib’s family; he was for Jerusalem no more, but would take up his dwelling on the hill-side at Modin. 2 Five sons he had, John, that was also called Gaddis, 3 Simon (or Thasi), 4 Judas (or Machabaeus), 5 Eleazar (or Abaron), and Jonathan (or Apphus) 6 and these saw well what foul things were a-doing in Juda’s country and the city of Jerusalem. 7 Alas, what needed it, cried Mattathias, I should have been born into such an age as this? To see my people and the holy city alike brought to ruin, to sit by while the enemy overcame her, 8 and in her very sanctuary the alien had his will? Temple of hers like a churl’s lot disregarded, 9 rare treasure of hers into exile carried away; young and old, in the open streets of her, put to the sword! 10 Never a race in heathendom but may parcel out her domains, grow rich with the spoil of her! 11 Gone, all her fair adornment; the mistress is turned maid; 12 laid waste, yonder sanctuary, that was our prize and pride, by Gentile feet dishonoured! 13 And would we live yet?
1 In diebus illis surrexit Mathathias filius Joannis filii Simeonis, sacerdos ex filiis Joarib, ab Jerusalem, et consedit in monte Modin: 2 et habebat filios quinque, Joannem, qui cognominabatur Gaddis: 3 et Simonem, qui cognominabatur Thasi: 4 et Judam, qui vocabatur Machabæus: 5 et Eleazarum, qui cognominabatur Abaron: et Jonathan, qui cognominabatur Apphus: 6 hi viderunt mala, quæ fiebant in populo Juda, et in Jerusalem. 7 Et dixit Mathathias: Væ mihi! ut quid natus sum videre contritionem populi mei, et contritionem civitatis sanctæ, et sedere illic, cum datur in manibus inimicorum? 8 Sancta in manu extraneorum facta sunt: templum ejus sicut homo ignobilis. 9 Vasa gloriæ ejus captiva abducta sunt: trucidati sunt senes ejus in plateis, et juvenes ejus ceciderunt in gladio inimicorum. 10 Quæ gens non hæreditavit regnum ejus et non obtinuit spolia ejus? 11 Omnis compositio ejus ablata est. Quæ erat libera, facta est ancilla. 12 Et ecce sancta nostra, et pulchritudo nostra, et claritas nostra desolata est, et coinquinaverunt ea gentes. 13 Quo ergo nobis adhuc vivere?
14 With that, they tore their garments about them, Mattathias and his sons, and went clad in sackcloth, mourning right bitterly. 15 And now the pursuivants of king Antiochus came to Modin; take refuge there who might, he must do sacrifice none the less, and burn incense, and leave the following of God’s law. 16 Out went the folk of Israel to meet them, some complaisantly enough, but Mattathias and his sons firm in their resolve. 17 And they singled out Mattathias from the rest; A man of mark, said they, and a great chieftain thou; brethren and sons thou hast a many. 18 Wilt thou not be the first to come forward and do the king’s bidding, with the whole world, and the men of Juda everywhere, and what is left of Jerusalem? To be the king’s friend, thou and thy sons with thee, gold and silver and much else for thy reward! 19 Loud rang the answer of Mattathias: What though king Antiochus have the whole world for his vassals? Obey the edict who will, forsaking the custom his fathers lived by, 20 both I and son of mine, both I and clansman of mine, will obey the law handed down to us. 21 Mercy of God! What needs it we should leave his will undone, his claims unhonoured? 22 To deaf ears king Antiochus proclaims the sacrifice; we swerve not from the law’s path, right or left.
14 Et scidit vestimenta sua Mathathias, et filii ejus: et operuerunt se ciliciis, et planxerunt valde. 15 Et venerunt illuc qui missi erant a rege Antiocho, ut cogerent eos, qui confugerant in civitatem Modin, immolare, et accendere thura, et a lege Dei discedere. 16 Et multi de populo Israël consentientes accesserunt ad eos: sed Mathathias et filii ejus constanter steterunt. 17 Et respondentes qui missi erant ab Antiocho, dixerunt Mathathiæ: Princeps, et clarissimus et magnus es in hac civitate, et ornatus filiis et fratribus: 18 ergo accede prior, et fac jussum regis, sicut fecerunt omnes gentes, et viri Juda, et qui remanserunt in Jerusalem: et eris tu, et filii tui, inter amicos regis, et amplificatus auro, et argento, et muneribus multis. 19 Et respondit Mathathias, et dixit magna voce: Etsi omnes gentes regi Antiocho obediunt, ut discedat unusquisque a servitute legis patrum suorum, et consentiat mandatis ejus: 20 ego et filii mei, et fratres mei, obediemus legi patrum nostrorum: 21 propitius sit nobis Deus: non est nobis utile relinquere legem, et justitias Dei: 22 non audiemus verba regis Antiochi, nec sacrificabimus transgredientes legis nostræ mandata, ut eamus altera via.
23 Before he had done speaking, a Jew came to offer the false gods sacrifice, there in full view of all, before the altar at Modin, as the king bade. 24 Mattathias took fire at the sight of it; one heave of anger his heart gave, and his zeal for the law could contain itself no longer; there on the altar the sacrificer was slain. 25 Nor spared he the pursuivant of king Antiochus that enjoined it; the altar, too, he pulled down. 26 Not Phinees himself struck a better blow for the law, when he slew Zamri, the son of Salom![1] 27 And now Mattathias raised a cry in the city, Who loves the law? Who keeps the covenant unbroken? Out with you, and follow me! 28 So fled he with his sons into the hill-country, leaving his possessions behind, there in the city.
23 Et ut cessavit loqui verba hæc, accessit quidam Judæus in omnium oculis sacrificare idolis super aram in civitate Modin, secundum jussum regis: 24 et vidit Mathathias, et doluit, et contremuerunt renes ejus, et accensus est furor ejus secundum judicium legis, et insiliens trucidavit eum super aram: 25 sed et virum, quem rex Antiochus miserat, qui cogebat immolare, occidit in ipso tempore, et aram destruxit: 26 et zelatus est legem, sicut fecit Phinees Zamri filio Salomi. 27 Et exclamavit Mathathias voce magna in civitate, dicens: Omnis qui zelum habet legis, statuens testamentum, exeat post me. 28 Et fugit ipse, et filii ejus in montes, et reliquerunt quæcumque habebant in civitate.
29 Many there were that went out into the desert at this time, for love of truth and right; 30 took children and women-folk and cattle with them, and settled down there, castaways in a flood of misfortune. 31 But news of it reached Jerusalem, and the king’s men that were in David’s Keep; here were rebels lurking in the waste country, and drawing many over to their side. 32 So they went out in pursuit, and offered battle; on a sabbath day, as it chanced.[2] 33 What, still stubborn? cried they. Come out, and yield yourselves to the king’s pleasure; your lives shall be spared. 34 But the Jews’ answer was, come out and yield to the king’s pleasure they might not; law of the sabbath rest forbade it. 35 So the attack began in good earnest; 36 but the Jews made no resistance, never a stone flew, never a hiding-place of theirs was put in a state of defence; 37 Die we all, they said, innocent men, and let heaven and earth bear witness, it was for no fault of ours we died. 38 Thus, because it was a sabbath day when the attack was made, these men perished, and their wives and children and cattle with them; a thousand human lives lost.
29 Tunc descenderunt multi quærentes judicium, et justitiam, in desertum: 30 et sederunt ibi ipsi, et filii eorum, et mulieres eorum, et pecora eorum: quoniam inundaverunt super eos mala. 31 Et renuntiatum est viris regis, et exercitui qui erat in Jerusalem civitate David, quoniam discessissent viri quidam, qui dissipaverunt mandatum regis, in loca occulta in deserto, et abiissent post illos multi. 32 Et statim perrexerunt ad eos, et constituerunt adversus eos prælium in die sabbatorum, 33 et dixerunt ad eos: Resistitis et nunc adhuc? exite, et facite secundum verbum regis Antiochi, et vivetis. 34 Et dixerunt: Non exibimus, neque faciemus verbum regis, ut polluamus diem sabbatorum. 35 Et concitaverunt adversus eos prælium. 36 Et non responderunt eis, nec lapidem miserunt in eos, nec oppilaverunt loca occulta, 37 dicentes: Moriamur omnes in simplicitate nostra: et testes erunt super nos cælum et terra, quod injuste perditis nos. 38 Et intulerunt illis bellum sabbatis: et mortui sunt ipsi, et uxores eorum, et filii eorum, et pecora eorum usque ad mille animas hominum.
39 Great grief it was to Mattathias and his company when they heard what had befallen them; 40 and now there was high debate raised: Do we as our brethren did, forbear we to give battle for our lives and loyalties, and they will soon make an end of us! 41 Then and there it was resolved, if any should attack them on the sabbath day, to engage him, else they should be put to death all of them, like those brethren of theirs in the covert of the hills. 42 Now it was that the Assidaeans rallied to their side, a party that was of great consequence in Israel, lovers of the law one and all; 43 and all who would escape from the evils of the time made common cause with them, and came to their assistance. 44 So, mustering their forces, they wrought indignant vengeance upon sinners that were false to the law, till they were fain to take refuge among the heathen; 45 wherever they went, Mattathias and his company, they threw the altars down, 46 and whatever children they found uncircumcised, from one end of Israel to the other, they circumcised by right of conquest.[3] 47 Ere long, they drove the tyrant’s minions before them, and to such good purpose 48 that Gentile was none, king though he were, could restrain the law’s observance; against their onslaught the powers of evil could not make head.
39 Et cognovit Mathathias et amici ejus, et luctum habuerunt super eos valde. 40 Et dixit vir proximo suo: Si omnes fecerimus sicut fratres nostri fecerunt, et non pugnaverimus adversus gentes pro animabus nostris et justificationibus nostris, nunc citius disperdent nos a terra. 41 Et cogitaverunt in die illa, dicentes: Omnis homo, quicumque venerit ad nos in bello die sabbatorum, pugnemus adversus eum: et non moriemur omnes, sicut mortui sunt fratres nostri in occultis. 42 Tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Assidæorum fortis viribus ex Israël, omnis voluntarius in lege: 43 et omnes, qui fugiebant a malis, additi sunt ad eos, et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum. 44 Et collegerunt exercitum, et percusserunt peccatores in ira sua, et viros iniquos in indignatione sua: et ceteri fugerunt ad nationes, ut evaderent. 45 Et circuivit Mathathias et amici ejus, et destruxerunt aras: 46 et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israël: et in fortitudine. 47 Et persecuti sunt filios superbiæ, et prosperatum est opus in manibus eorum: 48 et obtinuerunt legem de manibus gentium, et de manibus regum, et non dederant cornu peccatori.
49 Meanwhile, the life of Mattathias was drawing to an end. And this charge he gave to his sons: Here be days when tyrant and blasphemer have their will, when all is calamity and bitter retribution. 50 The more reason, my sons, why you should be jealous lovers of the law, ready to give your lives for that covenant your fathers knew. 51 Your fathers, what deeds they did in their time! Great glory would you win, and a deathless name, let these be your models. 52 See how Abraham was tested, and how trustfulness of his was counted virtue in him; 53 see how Joseph in ill fortune was true to the commandment still, and came to be ruler of all Egypt. 54 Here was Phinees, our own father, that grew hot in God’s cause, and earned the right of priesthood inalienable; 55 and Josue, that for his loyalty was given command of Israel; 56 and Caleb, that spoke out in the assembly, what broad acres were his! 57 David, for the tender heart of him, left a dynasty that fails not; 58 for Elias heaven opened, that was champion of the law; 59 by faith Ananias, Azarias and Misael overcame the furnace, 60 nor Daniel’s innocence might ravening lions devour. 61 No generation but proves it; want they never for strength that trust in God. 62 What, would you fear the tyrant’s threats? In dung and worms his glory shall end; 63 all royal state to-day, and to-morrow there shall be no news of him; gone back to the dust he came from, and all his designs brought to nothing!
49 Et appropinquaverunt dies Mathathiæ moriendi, et dixit filiis suis: Nunc confortata est superbia, et castigatio, et tempus eversionis, et ira indignationis. 50 Nunc ergo, o filii, æmulatores estote legis, et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum vestrorum, 51 et mementote operum patrum, quæ fecerunt in generationibus suis: et accipietis gloriam magnam, et nomen æternum. 52 Abraham nonne in tentatione inventus est fidelis, et reputatum est ei ad justitiam? 53 Joseph in tempore angustiæ suæ custodivit mandatum, et factus est dominus Ægypti. 54 Phinees pater noster, zelando zelum Dei, accepit testamentum sacerdotii æterni. 55 Jesus dum implevit verbum, factus est dux in Israël. 56 Caleb dum testificatur in ecclesia, accepit hæreditatem. 57 David in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in sæcula. 58 Elias, dum zelat zelum legis, receptus est in cælum. 59 Ananias et Azarias et Misaël credentes, liberati sunt de flamma. 60 Daniel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de ore leonum. 61 Et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem: quia omnes qui sperant in eum, non infirmantur. 62 Et a verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis, quia gloria ejus stercus et vermis est: 63 hodie extollitur, et cras non invenietur: quia conversus est in terram suam, et cogitatio ejus periit.
64 Nay, my sons, take courage; in the law’s cause rally you, in the law’s annals you shall win renown. 65 Here is your brother Simon, trust me, a man of prudence; to him ever give heed, he is your father now. 66 And here is Judas Machabaeus, from boyhood’s days a warrior; let him be your leader, and fight Israel’s battles. 67 All lovers of the law make free of your fellowship; bring your country redress, 68 and pay the Gentiles what they have earned; yet heeding ever what the law enjoins. 69 With that, he gave them his blessing, and became part of his race. 70 He was a hundred and forty-six years old when he died; his sons buried him where his fathers were buried, at Modin, and great lament all Israel made for the loss of him.
64 Vos ergo filii, confortamini, et viriliter agite in lege: quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis. 65 Et ecce Simon frater vester, scio quod vir consilii est: ipsum audite semper, et ipse erit vobis pater. 66 Et Judas Machabæus, fortis viribus a juventute sua, sit vobis princeps militiæ, et ipse aget bellum populi. 67 Et adducetis ad vos omnes factores legis: et vindicate vindictam populi vestri. 68 Retribuite retributionem gentibus, et intendite in præceptum legis. 69 Et benedixit eos, et appositus est ad patres suos. 70 Et defunctus est anno centesimo et quadragesimo sexto: et sepultus est a filiis suis in sepulchris patrum suorum in Modin, et planxerunt eum omnis Israël planctu magno.
[1] Cf. Num. 25.7.
[2] The words ‘as it chanced’ are not in the original, but it does not seem to be implied that the king’s men purposely chose the sabbath day for making their assault.
[3] It is not clear whether we are meant to understand that Gentile as well as Jewish children were circumcised.
