1Macc 1
1
And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out
of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he
reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,
2
And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,
3
And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch
that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted
up.
4
And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings,
who became tributaries to him.
5
And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.
6
Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up
with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
7
So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.
8
And his servants bare rule every one in his place.
9
And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them
many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.
10
And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus
the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty
and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11
In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let
us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed
from them we have had much sorrow.
12
So this device pleased them well.
13
Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who
gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:
14
Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of
the heathen:
15
And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves
to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.
16
Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt
that he might have the dominion of two realms.
17
Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants,
and horsemen, and a great navy,
18
And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled;
and many were wounded to death.
19
Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took its spoils.
20
And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty
and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,
21
And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick
of light, and all its vessels,
22
And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers
of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the
temple, all which he pulled off.
23
He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden
treasures which he found.
24
And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre,
and spoken very proudly.
25
Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;
26
So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble,
and the beauty of women was changed.
27
Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was
in heaviness,
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The land also was moved for its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was
covered with confusion.
29
And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute to
the cities of Juda, who came to Jerusalem with a great multitude,
30
And spoke peaceable words to them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him
credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much
people of Israel.
31
And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the
houses and walls thereof on every side.
32
But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.
33
Then built they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers,
and made it a strong hold for them.
34
And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.
35
They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together
the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:
36
For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to
Israel.
37
Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:
38
Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city
was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in
her; and her own children left her.
39
Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning,
her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.
40
As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned
into mourning.
41
Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
42
And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment
of the king.
43
Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed to idols,
and profaned the sabbath.
44
For the king had sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that
they should follow the strange laws of the land,
45
And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and
that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
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And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
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Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and
unclean beasts:
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That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable
with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
49
To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
50
And whoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should
die.
51
In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over
all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
52
Then many of the people were gathered to them, to wit every one that forsook the law;
and so they committed evils in the land;
53
And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for
succour.
54
Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they
set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and built idol altars throughout
the cities of Juda on every side;
55
And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.
56
And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt
them with fire.
57
And whoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the
law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.
58
Thus did they by their authority to the Israelites every month, to as many as were
found in the cities.
59
Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar,
which was upon the altar of God.
60
At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had
caused their children to be circumcised.
61
And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them
that had circumcised them.
62
Nevertheless many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to
eat any unclean thing.
63
Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they
might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.
64
And there was very great anger upon Israel.